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Defending the existence of God

OzSpen

OzSpen

C F Martin D28 acoustic guitar
Member
I've been impressed with viewing William Lane Craig's Reasonable Faith Animated Videos, defending the existence of God. They are only short and very thought provoking. I'm recommending them to pastors for clips in church services or small groups.

Could you and your church be helped with these kinds of explanations to equip the saints for the work of ministry to the unchurched?

Oz
 
Those look good. I think most churches would find those videos beneficial.
 
Free said:
Those look good. I think most churches would find those videos beneficial.
Click to expand...

I agree. However, even though they are only 5-6 min clips, they come with some thought provoking dynamics that involve other disciplines. Some people in the pew might find some concepts above the lay level. What do you think?

I'm used to William Lane Craig's arguments for the Kalam Cosmological Argument, so the clip dealing with this is easily understood by me. I'm going to use this one for religious education with teens. However, my engagement with teens in a school or youth group setting will involve much further explanation and answering of questions. I'm not so sure that the average youth group leader is able to think and engage at that apologetic level. I'm speaking for the Australian context. Is this kind of animation too advanced for the youth group in your church?

I remember 35 years ago in my denomination's conference in the USA listening to Ravi Zacharias speak. His content zoomed over my head. I had to do a lot of reading and studying to be brought up to speed with the concepts in his apologetic material. I've since learned to love his apologetic approach to dealing with lots of subjects.

Bill Craig can get very philosophically detailed at times, but these videos seem to be concise to reduce major concepts for absorption and discussion.

Oz
 
Free said:
Those look good. I think most churches would find those videos beneficial.
Click to expand...
I believe as Paul wrote in Romans, The creation itself is a witness of God.(Rom. 1:19-20), at least it was to me. If the Pastor / teacher is a born again believer, preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit, how is an animated video a proof of God. I do not understand this Spiritless kind of teaching? I have seen (usually in smaller country Churches) The Holy Spirit fill the house with His awe and peace that even the mentally handicapped witnessed to. I have had the Holy Spirit raise me right out of the pews to preach when no pastor showed up. If you knew how timid I was to stand in front of a group of people, you would realize it was a witness of the Holy Spirit as the sermon flowed easily and with conviction (not I but The Spirit of Christ in me). Where are the Spirit filled Churches? Certainly not on TV where you start off with telling a joke or make light of the chance to witness for God. Certainly not the many multi-million dollar preachers that everyone looks up to because of their mega buildings and fine artistry. They won't even recognize the lord when He comes. First, they are not expecting Him, and when He speaks they will not understand Him, and when they look, they will not know him. for He will not be in an expensive suit, or wearing diamond rings or wearing a Rolex nor arriving in a Caddie. Seek after God before it is to late and quit acting out as a script in a play.
 
Douglas Summers said:
I believe as Paul wrote in Romans, The creation itself is a witness of God.(Rom. 1:19-20), at least it was to me. If the Pastor / teacher is a born again believer, preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit, how is an animated video a proof of God. I do not understand this Spiritless kind of teaching? I have seen (usually in smaller country Churches) The Holy Spirit fill the house with His awe and peace that even the mentally handicapped witnessed to. I have had the Holy Spirit raise me right out of the pews to preach when no pastor showed up. If you knew how timid I was to stand in front of a group of people, you would realize it was a witness of the Holy Spirit as the sermon flowed easily and with conviction (not I but The Spirit of Christ in me). Where are the Spirit filled Churches? Certainly not on TV where you start off with telling a joke or make light of the chance to witness for God. Certainly not the many multi-million dollar preachers that everyone looks up to because of their mega buildings and fine artistry. They won't even recognize the lord when He comes. First, they are not expecting Him, and when He speaks they will not understand Him, and when they look, they will not know him. for He will not be in an expensive suit, or wearing diamond rings or wearing a Rolex nor arriving in a Caddie. Seek after God before it is to late and quit acting out as a script in a play.
Click to expand...

It so happens that I found the videos to be Spirit-led videos to demonstrate the existence of God to an unbelieving culture. Who are you to judge that this is 'Spiritless kind of teaching'. Your personal opinion, I guess.
 
OzSpen said:
It so happens that I found the videos to be Spirit-led videos to demonstrate the existence of God to an unbelieving culture. Who are you to judge that this is 'Spiritless kind of teaching'. Your personal opinion, I guess.
Click to expand...
Really Oz? I thought more of you than that.
 
Douglas Summers said:
Really Oz? I thought more of you than that.
Click to expand...
Oz is right. Your post was way off. We are to use our intellect in matters of the faith. Understanding the arguments that secular society uses against matters of faith and the existence of God is simply smart. And God expects this from us. To throw out the mind is to ignore a directive from God to love him also with the mind. The videos are standard arguments that have been around for many, many years. It's important Christians use their mind in all the ways possible to be prepared to give a defense for the hope we have.
 
Is this in a format a child could understand?

edit* forgot this..

II Corinthians 11:3 But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.
 
Douglas Summers said:
I believe as Paul wrote in Romans, The creation itself is a witness of God.(Rom. 1:19-20), at least it was to me. If the Pastor / teacher is a born again believer, preaching under the power of the Holy Spirit, how is an animated video a proof of God. I do not understand this Spiritless kind of teaching? I have seen (usually in smaller country Churches) The Holy Spirit fill the house with His awe and peace that even the mentally handicapped witnessed to. I have had the Holy Spirit raise me right out of the pews to preach when no pastor showed up. If you knew how timid I was to stand in front of a group of people, you would realize it was a witness of the Holy Spirit as the sermon flowed easily and with conviction (not I but The Spirit of Christ in me). Where are the Spirit filled Churches? Certainly not on TV where you start off with telling a joke or make light of the chance to witness for God. Certainly not the many multi-million dollar preachers that everyone looks up to because of their mega buildings and fine artistry. They won't even recognize the lord when He comes. First, they are not expecting Him, and when He speaks they will not understand Him, and when they look, they will not know him. for He will not be in an expensive suit, or wearing diamond rings or wearing a Rolex nor arriving in a Caddie. Seek after God before it is to late and quit acting out as a script in a play.
Click to expand...
What do you mean by "spiritless"?
 
turnorburn said:
Then we might want to consider this statement..

Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
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What do you think that verse is saying? Is it saying that all intelligent people can't enter the kingdom of heaven? Or is it saying that only ignorant people can enter the kingdom of heaven?
 
Papa Zoom said:
Oz is right. Your post was way off. We are to use our intellect in matters of the faith. Understanding the arguments that secular society uses against matters of faith and the existence of God is simply smart. And God expects this from us. To throw out the mind is to ignore a directive from God to love him also with the mind. The videos are standard arguments that have been around for many, many years. It's important Christians use their mind in all the ways possible to be prepared to give a defense for the hope we have.
Click to expand...
Oz was right because you agree with him, not because he was right as to the ministry of the Spirit.. Self will and ministering for Christ by the wisdom of the flesh. People have a zeal for God, but the Spirit is not given us to give us power, but the indwelling Spirit works through us to manifest its self. Man can not accept that God not only saved us by faith, but has made us a vessel to house the Holy Spirit to manifest God in us. God working through us, not us working for God.
 
Douglas Summers said:
Oz was right because you agree with him, not because he was right as to the ministry of the Spirit.. Self will and ministering for Christ by the wisdom of the flesh. People have a zeal for God, but the Spirit is not given us to give us power, but the indwelling Spirit works through us to manifest its self. Man can not accept that God not only saved us by faith, but has made us a vessel to house the Holy Spirit to manifest God in us. God working through us, not us working for God.
Click to expand...
It has nothing to do with my agreeing with him. Do you reject reason in offering arguments for the existence of God?
 
Free said:
What do you mean by "spiritless"?
Click to expand...
Spiritless is when you do what you think is the right thing to do...you own will. If Paul had listened to the Spirit in him, he might have preached longer and been even more fruitful through the witnessing of the Holy Spirit in Him. (Study acts 21: 1-26)
 
Papa Zoom said:
Oz is right. Your post was way off. We are to use our intellect in matters of the faith. Understanding the arguments that secular society uses against matters of faith and the existence of God is simply smart. And God expects this from us. To throw out the mind is to ignore a directive from God to love him also with the mind. The videos are standard arguments that have been around for many, many years. It's important Christians use their mind in all the ways possible to be prepared to give a defense for the hope we have.
Click to expand...

Well said.

We must always be ready to give answer

1 Peter 3:15
But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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,

Acts 17:11-12
Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Firstly we need to be as the Bereans, is what we have been taught in accordance with the truth, scripture.
Secondly we need to prepared to give an answer to those who question.

The answer of "That's what the bible says" just does not cut it today, not in this society we live in
 
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