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2021 THEME: Life on the Edge
Series: The Agony and the Ecstasy
TITLE: The Defeat of the Cross
Scripture: John 11:25; Romans 5: 12-21; I Cor. 15:12-25
“If I were an enemy of Christianity, I would aim right at the Resurrection, because that is the heart of Christianity.” Billy Graham
“If Christ is risen, nothing else matters. And if Christ is not risen-nothing else matters.” Pelikan
I. CHALLENGES TO THE RESURRECTION
Objections to the Resurrection:
1. Christ (didn’t really die).
2. Someone (stole the body)
3. The disciples (made up the story).
II. RECLAIMING THE RESURRECTION
“The fact of Jesus’ resurrection is the benchmark from which we measure everything else about JC: his birth, his life, his teachings, his miracles, and even his death.” Clayton Bell
“Christianity is rightly seen as a life-changing experience, but it will transform you only if you accept as facts that certain events occurred in history…Christianity opens not with ‘Here’s how you have to live,’ but ‘Here’s what Jesus did for you in history. First, he died for our sins and was buried, and second, he was raised to life on the third day and he appeared to many eyewitnesses.” Keller
We must grasp and believe Christianity is an (historical faith).
Two arguments for the resurrection:
1) The tomb was (empty).
2) A large number of people (testified to seeing the risen Christ).
“It is impossible to account for the early Christian belief in Jesus as Messiah without the resurrection.” N.T. Wright
Theme: Life on the Edge / Series: Life Matters
Title: Putting Worry to Bed- Ecclesiastes 11