This was a presentation we used along with \'How to choose your God\' in our Church youth Bible Study group. It presents a logical framework to understand the existence of God and how God reveals Himself thru creation, conscience, communication (over the ages) and ultimately thru Christ.
2. Discussion questions: Does a present day person need something supernatural such as ‘God’ or some sort of ‘force’ to intervene or assist him in his personal life? [Context: Medical advancements, Cloning, Improved quality of life, Self-reliance, Increased control over ‘things’, DNA coding, etc.]
6. How would a pet dog and a street dog answer these questions?
7. How would an atheist answer these questions? Who am I (and what am I worth)? Where did I come from ? Why am I here? Where am I going when I die?
8. How would a God-believer answer these questions? Who am I (and what am I worth)? Where did I come from ? Why am I here? Where am I going when I die?
10. Discussion questions (contd.)3. Why is an Atheist an atheist?‘Why can’t he show up?’ Age of science and hence ‘need a proof’ ‘look @ the human suffering’ ‘why did it happen to me?’ ‘Look at natural catastrophes – control?’ ‘I don’t need a crutch called ‘god’
11. But what does the bible say?Psa.14:1The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good.Jn. 3:19-20 and this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. for everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.Is it doubt or denial?
12. Discussion questions (contd.)4. What are the implications of being an Atheist?◘ Everything is matter ◘ Death is final ◘ Morals/ethics are meaningless
18. Law implies a __ ___ Rule implies a ____ Design implies a _____ Command implies a _______ Creation implies a ______
19. Law implies a Law-Giver Rule implies a Ruler Design implies a Designer Command implies a Commander Creation implies a Creator
20. Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEING‘If God exists in the understanding, then he must exist in reality’
21. Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSE‘Nothings comes from nothing’
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23. Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGN‘everything is designed by an intelligent mind for a specific purpose in life.
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27. Arguments for the Existence of God:Ontological – argument from BEINGCosmological – argument from FIRST CAUSETeleological – argument from DESIGNAnthropological – argument from MAN‘Moral constants underlying human civilization’
29. Psalm 19:1-2 (paraphrase) The heavens are singing About how great God is; And the skies are shouting it out, “See what God has made!” Day after day … Night after night … They are speaking to us.
30. God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15; Acts 17:23)Special revelation - C - C
31. God’s revelation (4Cs)General revelation - Creation (Rom.1:20; Psa.19:1) - Conscience(Rom.1:19, 2:15)Special revelation - Communication (Heb.1:1) - C
35. For a person who believes in God, no proof is necessary;For a person who is determined not to believe in God, no proof is sufficient.
36. What to do when there are many gods?1. Pick a God who is outside humanity2. Pick a God you can know personally3. Pick a God who loves you unconditionally4. Pick a God who is all powerful5. Pick a God who knows human experience6. Pick a God who gives meaning to life
![Discussion questions: Does a present day person need something supernatural such as ‘God’ or some sort of ‘force’ to intervene or assist him in his personal life? [Context: Medical advancements, Cloning, Improved quality of life, Self-reliance, Increased control over ‘things’, DNA coding, etc.]](data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7)