In this week’s class, we are continuing with our topic of Religious Pluralism by asking the question: Why Jesus? In our past several classes we have looked at the topic of Religious Pluralism, and why it is a harmful view to the foundational truths of Christianity. If all paths lead to God and Heaven, then it is important to ask who was Jesus, and why was it necessary for Him to do what He did if any faith will get you there?

Each week’s class includes prayer, an “apologetics” presentation, a review of last week’s Bible study, and a homework assignment. You can find the presentation notes, Bible study questions and additional resources below.

Watch this week’s class presentation on this topic:

2023 A Case for the Old Testament, The History Continues…

Religious Pluralism, Part 5 – Why Jesus?

Prayer and Reflection

1. Write out your prayer cards and exchange them at the end of the class.

2. Bible Practice: Memorizing helpful facts

a. What are the five categories of the Old Testament books in the Christian Bible and what are the 39 books of the Old Testament in each of those five categories? (Hint 5-12-5-5-12)

b. What are the “Major Historical Events” – the “Major Players” involved in those events – and the “Major Covenants” found in Genesis?

3. Memory Verse:

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

John 5:39-40 (NASB)

Why Jesus?

“A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic—on the level with the man who says he is a poached egg—or else he would be the Devil of Hell. You must make your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God; or else a madman or something worse. You can shut him up for a fool, you can spit at him and kill him as a demon, or you can fall at his feet and call him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about his being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us. He did not intend to.”

-C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Jesus said…

“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”

Matthew 5:17-20 (NIV)

Do we throw away the Old Testament because we have the New?

NO, NO, NO!

When you closely examine the life and teachings of Jesus and His followers you will see the true essence of Christianity emerge.

-Jonathan Morrow, Biola University Professor

Why is it important to understand that Jesus is in the Old Testament?

After defending His ministry, by healing on the Sabbath Day, Jesus Himself said to the Jewish leaders: You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me; and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.

John 5:39-40 (NASB)

The Road to Emmaus – The Best Bible study ever!

And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?” Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures. Luke 24:25-27 (NASB)

Paul explains why many did not understand what the Old Testament was teaching, and why many still do not understand it today:

Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:12-18 (NASB)

Why follow Jesus and not Muhammad, Confucius, Buddha or others?

Jesus is the only one who fulfilled the all the Old Testament prophecies about the coming Messiah
Jesus is the only one who claimed to be God incarnate, and then backed up His claim through His miraculous ministry showing His authority over creation and the physical Laws of Nature; and ultimately by defeating death and Satan, resurrecting from the grave
Jesus is the only one who claimed to provide eternal life for all who believe in Him (John 3; 14)
Christianity is the world’s most testable religion

Going Deeper

“Neighboring Faiths—A Christian Introduction to World Religions,” by Winfried Corduan
“So What’s the Difference? A Look at 20 worldviews, Faiths and Religions and How They Compare to Christianity,” by Fritz Ridenour
“God Among Sages” and “A World of Difference” both by Kenneth Richard Samples
“Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus” by Dr. Nabeel Qureshi

Join us as we continue the topic of Religious Pluralism next week…

Bible Study

Click here to check or review answers for Genesis chapters 33-36 given in the presentation

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be part of the next presentation or posted mid-week for your review, depending on the topic. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

Note: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for Discussion or Going Deeper questions. If you use these kinds of sources share them with your group.

1. Review of Class Topic: Before getting into the Bible study questions, discuss today’s class presentation by summarizing what you learned, commenting or asking any questions.

Read Genesis Chapter 37 through Chapter 38, then answer the following questions:

2. (Genesis 37:1-17) In the first part of this chapter we find the sons of Jacob working in the fields, pasturing the family’s flocks. What were Joseph’s two dreams and how did his brothers react when he told them about the dreams? How did his father react?

Discuss: What is wrong with Jacob’s decision to now put Joseph in charge of supervising his brothers?

3. (Genesis 37:18-36) In the second half of this chapter, something goes terribly wrong between Joseph and his brothers. What did the brothers plan to do when they first saw Joseph coming to check up on them, what did Reuben say, and what did they ultimately end up doing to Joseph (keep in mind which brother suggested it)? How did the brothers decide to deceive their father concerning Joseph?

Going deeper: It appears Reuben was not present when this incident happened to Joseph. How did Reuben respond when he found out what had happened, and what brother was next in line to be in charge if Reuben was absent? Keep that name in mind for an upcoming situation (you can share if you know the story).

4. (Genesis 38:1-30) This chapter is a side story that focuses on Judah, who most likely left the family for a time either because of guilt for what they had done to Joseph, or because he wanted to run away from his responsibility to the family. Note: This story is concurrent with the time of Joseph’s slavery, imprisonment and subsequent rise to power in Egypt that we will study in chapters 39-50. Who did Judah marry, how many children did they have and what was their connection to Tamar? What was her ultimate relationship to Judah and God’s Covenant Promise?

Going deeper: What is “Levirate Law” and how might it relate to this story? How do we see God’s hand in this story, and do you think Tamar was right in what she did (why, or why not)?

5. Review of class: Discuss some important things you have learned in the book of Genesis so far about the big picture of the Bible. Share any questions you might still have.

Please join us each week as we continue our case for the Old Testament!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in! Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15