Tell Someone: Answering Difficult Questions Unbelievers Ask

Notes: Tell Someone: Answering Difficult Questions Unbelievers Ask

John 9:1–7

Pastor Greg Laurie

Thursday, August 6, 2015 — 7:00 p.m.

If you were in an accident on the way home, are you right with God now?

Nonbelievers always seem to have a difficult question list that they throw at you when you start sharing with them.

That is usually their smoke screen.

We are to engage them in a dialogue, not a monologue.

1 Peter 3:15-16 NLT

[15] Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. [16] But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ.

Apologia means to give a legal defense as in a court of law.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23 NLT

[19] Even though I am a free man with no master, I have become a slave to all people to bring many to Christ. [20] When I was with the Jews, I lived like a Jew to bring the Jews to Christ. When I was with those who follow the Jewish law, I too lived under that law. Even though I am not subject to the law, I did this so I could bring to Christ those who are under the law. [21] When I am with the Gentiles who do not follow the Jewish law, I too live apart from that law so I can bring them to Christ. But I do not ignore the law of God; I obey the law of Christ. [22] When I am with those who are weak, I share their weakness, for I want to bring the weak to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone, doing everything I can to save some. [23] I do everything to spread the Good News and share in its blessings.

Jesus often responded to a question with a question.

1. How do we know the Bible is the word of God?

The Bible is actually 66 books, written over a 1500 year period.

2 Peter 1:20-21 NLT

[20] Above all, you must realize that no prophecy in Scripture ever came from the prophet's own understanding, [21] or from human initiative. No, those prophets were moved by the Holy Spirit, and they spoke from God.

1. I know the Bible is true, because it gave me the experience it claims it will give me.

The Bible tells me my sins would be forgiven. That I will experience peace, and I have.

God comforts those who mourn.

2. The Bible is true because it is confirmed by science.

Scriptures say the stars are as countless as the sands on the beach. Science used to say the starts could be numbered, but then more powerful satellites were made.

Hebrews 11:3 NLT

[3] By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen.

3. Archaeology proves the Bible.

4. The Bible predicts the future and it's been accurate every time.

What's the chance of 8 prophesies happening to Jesus as a coincidence:

1 in 1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

What about the person who has never heard the Gospel?

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

[11] Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God's work from beginning to end.

Romans 1:18-20 NLT

[18] But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. [19] They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. [20] For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.

We are built as seekers of God.

Jeremiah 29:13 NLT

[13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

Nonbelievers use this as a smoke screen:

How could a God of love allow suffering?

John 9:1-9 NLT

[1] As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth. [2] "Rabbi," his disciples asked him, "why was this man born blind? Was it because of his own sins or his parents' sins?" [3] "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him. [4] We must quickly carry out the tasks assigned us by the one who sent us. The night is coming, and then no one can work. [5] But while I am here in the world, I am the light of the world." [6] Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man's eyes. [7] He told him, "Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam" (Siloam means "sent"). So the man went and washed and came back seeing! [8] His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, "Isn't this the man who used to sit and beg?" [9] Some said he was, and others said, "No, he just looks like him!" But the beggar kept saying, "Yes, I am the same one!"

Jesus would vary His way of healing. Touching, sending them, even putting mud in their eye. God doesn't get caught up on routine.

All sickness and disabilities, even death itself is a result of sin.

Much suffering comes from evil people hurting others.

God gave us free will, in many ways our greatest blessing and our biggest curse.

God shows us kindness and love, and in turn we show love to Him.

Many things don't make sense but they still happen. It is the overall curse of sin.

1. Sometimes God will allow suffering and sickness to get our attention.

Psalm 119:67 NLT

[67] I used to wander off until you disciplined me; but now I closely follow your word.

God understands the loss of a child, because He lost one too.

2. Suffering can grow your faith.

You don't build muscle by eating donuts, no pain no gain.

James 1:2-4 NLT

[2] Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. [3] For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. [4] So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

Don't treat trials as intruders but as friends. They can drive you to God. Sometimes we need a designated driver.

3. Suffering can bring glory to God!

John 9:3 NLT

[3] "It was not because of his sins or his parents' sins," Jesus answered. "This happened so the power of God could be seen in him.

A disability can show us God's abilities.

Your suffering will not last forever.

2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT

[17] For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! [18] So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.

Heaven is forever.