Thames Valley Churches of Christ

"Three Big Questions", Class One: “Did Jesus Exist?”, Malcolm Cox, TVCoC

Three Big Questions

Thames Valley churches of Christ, May 2019

“And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.” (Ephesians 2:22 NIV11)

Class One: “Did Jesus Exist?”

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.” (1 Peter 3:15–16 NIV11)

1.Procedure

a.Ask what they think of Jesus

b.Ask what kind of evidence they would need

c.Ask if they would be open to revising their opinion

d.Clearly, something happened or we would not have 2,000 years of Christendom

2. Tacitus - 55/56-c.118 CE

a.Annals: 116-117

•“Neither human effort nor the emperor's generosity nor the placating of the gods ended the scandalous belief that the fire had been ordered by Nero. Therefore, to put down the rumour, Nero substituted as culprits and punished in the most unusual ways those hated for their shameful acts ... whom the crowd called “Chrestians.” The founder of this name, Christ [Christus in Latin], had been executed in the reign of Tiberius by the procurator Pontius pilate ... Suppressed for a time, the deadly superstition erupted again not only in Judea, the origin of this evil, but also in the city [Rome], where all things horrible and shameful from everywhere come together and become popular.”

•QUESTION: WHAT DO WE NOW KNOW ABOUT JESUS?

b.Summary

i.……………existed

ii.…………….founded the movement

iii.Christus gave his …………. to the movement

iv.………….. by ………….. of Judea

v.During ………………. of P……………..

vi.During reign of…………..

vii.………………. spread to R…..…

viii.………………..began in J………

3. Josephus: 37-38-Early 2ndC CE

a.Jewish antiquities - Book 20

•“Being therefore this kind of person [i.e. a heartless Sadducee], Ananus, thinking that he had a favourable opportunity because Festus had died and Albinus was still on his way, called a meeting [literally, “Sanhedrin”] of judges and brought into it the brother of Jesus-who-is-called-Messiah…James by name, and some others. He made the accusation that they had transgressed the law, and he handed them over to be stoned.”

b.Book 18 quote:

•“Around this time there lived Jesus, a wise man,if indeed one ought to call him a man. For he was one who did surprising deeds, and a teacher of such people as accept the truth gladly. He won over many Jews and many of the Greeks.He was the Messiah. When Pilate, upon hearing him accused by men of the highest standing among us, had condemned him to be crucified, those who in the first place came to love him did not give up their affection for him,for on the third day, he appeared to them restored to life. The prophets of God had prophesied this and countless other marvellous things about him.And the tribe of Christians, so-called after him, have still to this day not died out.”

•QUESTION: WHAT DO WE NOW KNOW ABOUT JESUS from these two quotes?

c.Summary.

i.Jesus existed as a ……….

ii.He was called …….…

iii.He was known as someone who did ………..…

iv.He was known as a ………………

v.His ministry was effective with ……….. people and G……………

vi.He was accused by ruling …………. authorities.

vii.Pilot s…………. him to …………..…

viii.His followers continued their ………….…

ix.His followers were called ………….…

x.He was known as ………….…

xi.He founded a new …………..…

xii.It was still ………… at the time of writing.

4. Others

a.Lucian of Samosata: c. 125 – after 180 AD - “The Passing of Peregrinus” 

b.Celsus: 2nd-century Greek philosopher and opponent of early Christianity.

c.Pliny the Younger: (61 – c. 113), lawyer, author, and magistrate. 

d.Suetonius: c. 69 – after 122 AD), a Roman historian 

e.Mara bar Serapion: 1stC Stoic philosopher from the Roman province of Syria.

Conclusion

•Early writers; Romans; Rabbinic Judaism

Suggested questions for your friend…

•How does this evidence effect your view of Jesus?

•How does this evidence effect your view of Christianity?

•Would you like to know more?

“Anyone who chooses to do the will of God will find out whether my teaching comes from God or whether I speak on my own.”  John 7.17

Resources

• https://preparetoanswer.wordpress.com/2018/02/01/why-should-i-believe-in-jesus/

• https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/jesus-historical-jesus/did-jesus-exist/

• https://www.douglasjacoby.com/

•The Evidence for Jesus (Hodder Christian Essentials), R.T France

•More than a carpenter, Josh McDowell

•The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel

• https://earlychurchtexts.com/public/pliny_letter_to_trajan_about_christians.htm

Next week

•“Did Jesus come back from the dead?”

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Southampton, Winchester, High Wycombe, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Amesbury, Sunday School, Reading University, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Bracknell Leisure Centre, Shevvy Dannatt, Mark Abril, Rachel Abril, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, tv coc, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,

"Three big questions", gentleness and respect

Information about the new series in the month of May. We’ll be tackling “Three big questions”. “Did Jesus exist?”; “Did Jesus rise again?”; “If there is a good God, how can he allow suffering?”.

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

Do you have a question about teaching the Bible? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send me your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: malcolm@malcolmcox.org.

If you’d like a copy of my free eBook on spiritual disciplines, “How God grows His people”, sign up at my website: http://www.malcolmcox.org.

Please pass the link on, subscribe, leave a review.

 

“Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.” (Psalms 100:2 NIV11)

 

God bless, Malcolm

 

PS: You might also be interested in my book: "An elephant's swimming pool", a devotional look at the Gospel of John

“Three Big Questions” - suitable for friends?

“Three Big Questions” - suitable for friends?

Information about the new series in the month of May. We’ll be tackling “Three big questions”. “Did Jesus exist?”; “Did Jesus rise again?”; “If there is a good God, how can he allow suffering?”.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org.

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

God bless,

Malcolm

Reading,tvcoc,Thames Valley churches of Chri,ICOC,Tim Dannatt,Malcolm Cox,ICCM,Lower Earley,Southampton,Winchester,High Wycombe,Oxford,Banbury,Deepcut,Frimley,Basingstoke,Salisbury,Amesbury,Sunday School,Reading University,Youth Ministry,Bracknell,Bracknell Leisure Centre,Shevvy Dannatt,Mark Abril,Rachel Abril,Churches of Christ,Christian churches near me,tv coc,International church,churches close to me,Thames Valley,Tha

"Three Big Questions" - suitable for teenagers?

Information about the new series in the month of May. We’ll be tackling “Three big questions”. “Did Jesus exist?”; “Did Jesus rise again?”; “If there is a good God, how can he allow suffering?”.

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

The Thames Valley Week ahead, 07 May 2019

The Thames Valley Week ahead

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

“Backs are against the wall”, Ben Dannatt, Thames Valley churches of Christ

2 Chron 32.1-23

 

Hezekiah’s life-story is one of commitment and recommitment to God despite the laxness of his forebears.

 

Sennacherib was the head of the strongest empire of the day. His armies were accustomed to steamrolling all opposition.

 

Hezekiah had his back against the wall, as do we are so many people in the world. How can we respond in a healthy way? So many things are way beyond our strength, power and wisdom.

 

Hezekiah‘s response was to pray, and to prayer with other people (Isaiah 37.14-15). Unity in prayer leads to partnership in the gospel and a display of the power of God. Not going through the motions of prayer, but fully giving our hearts’ concerns to God.

 

Our problems are not out of God’s league, even if they are out of ours.

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Southampton, Winchester, High Wycombe, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Amesbury, Sunday School, Reading University, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Bracknell Leisure Centre, Shevvy Dannatt, Mark Abril, Rachel Abril, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, tv coc, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,

"The Church United By Love": Class 4 - "Ever Closer Union", Chris Birtles, Thames Valley churches of Christ

• Establishing the Kingdom: Col 1.20; Eph 1.8-10; 2 Cor 5.19
• Koinonia - Love and Unity: Phil 1.3-6
• Called to Love and Unity: Eph 4.1-6
• Ever Closer Union: 1 Cor 1.9-10
• Paul calls for unity in Galatia: Gal 1.6-7
• Paul’s call to unity: Gal 5.13
• Paul’s call for greater unity in Philippi: Phil 1.3-4
• Love, unity and holiness: Phil 1.27-28
• New v Old: Phil 1.27-28; Acts 16.12; Phil 3.20

 

Swimming against the tide: 

• Cities of men v City of God
• In Jesus new creation has come to life within the old
• The ekklesia must demonstrate what it means to be part of new creation within an often hostile environment
• Leaving behind destructive behaviour
• Phil 1.27-28

 

Paul’s call for greater unity in Philippi: Phil 2.1-2

• The comfort we take when the Spirit acts through our koinonia should lead us to greater unity

 

The Way of Jesus: Phil 2.3-8 (See also, Phil 1.1 - Paul and Timothy as examples of this Christ-like attitude)

 

Love is a Virtue: Gal 5.22

 

Love is Practical: John 3.16; 1 John 3.16-17

• Love leads to action
• Gal 5.22: Self-control – love may take effort and will-power

 

Now I wouldn't try to tell you


That it's easy to stand
 

Satan's throwing everything


That's at his command

 

But Jesus is faithful


His promise is true


And the things that He asks


He gives the power to do

 

You know He didn't die for you


Because it was fun


He hung there for love


Because it had to be done

 

And in spite of the anguish


His work was fulfilled


Cause love is not a feeling


It's an act of your will


 

Don Francisco – Love Is Not A Feeling

 

Love Is Unity: 1 Cor 6.15, 19; 10.17; 12.12-13

• Paul uses the image of the body, and especially the body of Jesus, as an illustration of the love-unity expected of followers of Jesus.

 

Love Is Rooted In Jesus: Ephesians 3:16-19

 

The Message of Love: John 3.16

• Actions speak louder than words...

 

Thy Kingdom Come: 2 Cor 5.17-19

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org.

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community.

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Southampton, Winchester, High Wycombe, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Amesbury, Sunday School, Reading University, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Bracknell Leisure Centre, Shevvy Dannatt, Mark Abril, Rachel Abril, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, tv coc, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,

 

 

"Three big questions", Promo 1

Information about the new series in the month of May. We’ll be tackling “Three big questions”. “Did Jesus exist?”; “Did Jesus rise again?”; “If there is a good God, how can he allow suffering?”. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

A reading of 2 Chronicles 32.1-23

This coming Sunday, 5 May 2019, Ben Dannatt will be preaching on the incident that happens when Sennacherib tries to take Jerusalem from King Hezekiah.

I have made a recording of this text in the hope that we might listen to it, meditate on it and consider its message to us before we hear Ben preach on Sunday. Let me know what, if anything, stands out to you.

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Southampton, Winchester, High Wycombe, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Amesbury, Sunday School, Reading University, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Bracknell Leisure Centre, Shevvy Dannatt, Mark Abril, Rachel Abril, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, tv coc, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,

The Thames Valley Week ahead, 29th April 2019

The Thames Valley Week ahead

 

Thank you for listening to this podcast. You can find more episodes in our feed. Our web site is http://www.tvcoc.org. 

 

Please add your comments on this week’s topic. We learn best when we learn in community. 

 

Do you have a question about the Bible or the Christian faith? Is it theological, technical, practical? Send us your questions or suggestions. Here’s the email: tvcochrist@gmail.com.

 

Thanks again for listening. Have a super day.

 

God bless,

 

Malcolm

 

Reading, tvcoc, Thames Valley churches of Christ, ICOC, Tim Dannatt, Malcolm Cox, ICCM, Lower Earley, Southampton, Winchester, High Wycombe, Oxford, Banbury, Deepcut, Frimley, Basingstoke, Salisbury, Amesbury, Sunday School, Reading University, Youth Ministry, Bracknell, Bracknell Leisure Centre, Shevvy Dannatt, Mark Abril, Rachel Abril, Churches of Christ, Christian churches near me, tv coc, International church, churches close to me, Thames Valley, Thames Valley location, Thames Valley church of Christ, the Thames Valley,