Here are some initial resources designed to answer questions commonly asked by university/college students and young adults.
Life’s Greatest Questions – https://www.everystudent.com
Breakaway Ministries – Take the first step or next step toward Jesus.
– https://www.breakawayministries.org/
Missions is the most important topic for understanding purpose.
Those who pursue truth may have a change of opinion about what is true when confronted with evidence that contradicts their firmly held beliefs.
Those who pursue certainty over truth will overlook obvious facts that do not confirm to the ideas they hold to be certain. They might only look to find facts which uphold the ideas that they already believe to be true. They often discard obvious evidence contrary to those beliefs.
True Christianity is the most tolerant of all belief systems because it is based upon the pursuit of truth; which is ultimately found in the Author of truth and His written word. True Christianity has little to fear from other religions because the truth always prevails even when the messengers of truth do not. The idea that Christianity is bigoted for holding that there is only one path for eternal salvation is based on the assumption that the beliefs are false. On the other hand, while not holding to their beliefs as true, Christians can accept the people of other religions, realizing that every Christian was in unbelief also until the truth was recognized.
What is truth? When Pontius Pliate asked this question Jesus had already given His disciples the answer. Truth is found first and foremost in believing Him. John 14:6
What is the truth? The question itself proposes the idea that not all ideas are true.
The door to the truth is the will, not the intellect. In other words, a person who is not looking for truth will not see it, because he is not looking for it. Instead, he is looking for information to support what he already believes at the expense of truth.
The old saying applies: “A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.”
Since Adam and Eve people have been tempted to not believe or trust God. The choice to doubt God and believe other voices has been at the root of all kinds of evil.
Where do you find information that leads to what is actually true? What resources have other people assembled to help truth seekers make informed decisions? How can we identify the lies that are constantly being fed to us?
The links below are for the purpose of giving information to those people who are in pursuing truth. The information will help those individuals make their own informed decisions about what is, or is not, true. No presenter is perfect, but these people have consistently demonstrated an inclination to correct errors where found in their pursuit of truth.
Is the Bible Reliable? – https://carm.org/christianity/is-the-bible-reliable/
Is the Bible reliable? Josh McDowell – https://youtu.be/WfCWFix43E0?si=XFpfZSZ9UzDcfWrs
Why the Bible is Reliable – Dr. Frank Turek – https://youtu.be/3f5Flb6LY4I
Is the New Testament True? – Frank Turek (CrossExamined) – https://youtu.be/r64t88MGnvE
Fragments of Truth – Is the written text of the Bible of today historically authentic? – Is what we have now the same as what was written then? – youtu.be/ubYd9mmz_XI
The Truth About the Bible and Early Christianity: Wes Huff, Michael Kruger, Daniel Wallace – Sola Media – Has the text of the Bible been corrupted? – youtu.be/fqovqAmoecg
Josh McDowell – The Reliability of the Bible – https://youtu.be/wq-ZFG3lTiA
Everybody believes somebody. Is our trusted source reliable? There are only two sources for truth: God and everyone else. Which authority is your anchor for knowing what is true? Has your source been tested as reliable? What you believe, and whom you believe, really matters; resulting in great benefit or great harm. Is it what you believe true?
Lee Strobel – The Case for Christ – movie – https://youtu.be/99bbBKSrZfE
Patterns of Evidence – films – https://patternsofevidence.com/
Many beliefs do not match what the Bible teaches at face value due to:
People may tell you that the Bible does not mean what it says and that you need special knowledge to understand it. While there are some passages in the Bible that are clearly poetic or require historical context to understand what the original audience knew, as a general rule the Bible should be read and understood at face value.
There are lots of apps to help you read and study the Bible. One of my favorites is Blue Letter Bible (blb.org) because of all of the resources at my fingertips. blueletterbible.com I use the YouVersion Bible daily (bible.com) to listen to “The One Year Bible” audio in the Bible reading plans, or “Psalms and Proverbs in 31 Days.” I often use it in church. For web or social media posts I often use Bible Hub. (biblehub.com) Sometimes I use the apps from Bible Gateway, Logos, or Olive Tree. There are many more apps available for free or a fee. A quick search on the web will reveal many options.
The Bible was meant for you. Words do change in meaning over time. People do hijack words and change the meaning. The culture in which you are reading may differ greatly from the culture in which the human author and the intended audience originally understood language. Also, the Bible was written in three languages which do not exactly correspond to English. The English language and cultural contexts have changed greatly since the Bible was first translated into English. Still, the central message of Bible is easy to understand in our language in nearly every translation. It will change your life if you simply read and believe what you do understand.
Dr. Howard Hendricks has laid out some very good principles for Bible Study. See what he has to say here on youTube:
– https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHVLAsJuPfmUeA6eOavI0NheF8Ra0sLu2
Evidence for divine authorship of the Bible…
Which English Bible should I use? – Issues with the English Bible Translations – https://youtu.be/O9DUWXorbI4
Every person who now has faith in Jesus Christ didn’t.
None of us were there when God created everything or when Jesus rose from the dead. Howc can we know what God wants us to know?
God wrote a book. As our Creator and Master Author, there are things He wants us to know that transcend generations. He inspired more than 40 human authors over 1400 years of history to write down what He wants their posterity to know. Book technology for transferring information is still the most durable and advanced means of communications. Even this web page can vanish with a blip in electricity, but written words of paper and stone have endured thousands of years.
As the Master Author and Educator, there are things God wanted people to know before others things would make sense. God’s story, His Story, has a beginning, a conclusion, a plot, characters, and a climax. If you jump around the book without letting the information build, then you end up with a confused jumble of ideas of God’s character, purpose, design, and plan. Of course, it does you no good if you don’t believe what God wants you to know, but you first have to hear it (or see it) before you are able to believe it.
There was a time in each of our lives when we did not believe in God, the Bible, the identity of Jesus Christ, or what He did for us. We did not know any of this information until someone told us. Then we had the opportunity to listen and decide for ourselves whether or not we would believe what we heard. From that point on, each of us have been learning, discovering and evaluating what we have heard… and passing on what we have learned for other people to know.
Rather than a collection of disconnected stories with a similar theme, an episodic narrative, the Bible is a dramatic plot where each unfolding story builds on the metanarrative to reveal God’s story of His glory.
We should never assume that the Bible foundations have been given to another person. We cannot assume that another person has heard and understood the message – especially drawing conclusions because they are in the church environment and are able to speak words from the Bible. One of the best ways to find out where people have gaps in their understanding is to teach them God’s word from beginning to end. stilluntold.org/basis/#foundations
When you intentionally teach the Biblical foundations, don’t be surprised if you hear, “I have never heard that before…” …From church people. Even more from people who have not attended church or read the Bible.
Many people look at the Bible as a jewelry box full of isolated gems to be enjoyed. Another way to look at it is as a bunch of disconnected stories that are loosely connected. In contrast, the Bible is more like a mosaic where each gem helps to paint the picture the artist wants the observer to see and understand. Rather, the Bible has an overarching dramatic plot where each chapter and each book leads the reader to the author’s ultimate conclusion and resolution.
The apostle Paul wrote, “For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.” 1 Cor 2:2 How could he say that? Wasn’t Paul a Jewish scholar with extensive knowledge of the Old Testament?
Jesus did not suddenly appear on the scene at the Christmas story. His appearance begins in Genesis 1:1, as shown in John 1:1 and Colossians 1:13-19.
At the core of all of Biblical history and of Christianity is the identity of Jesus. The knowledge of that identity begins in Genesis 1. (See Colossians) If people have never heard what God has written about His identity and purpose on earth, then they have never had the opportunity to exercise faith; to believe Him. Apologetic arguments fall on broken bells which do not resonate with the truth of God’s character. Truth spoken without love and respect is just loud noise. Faith comes by hearing God’s word. Biblical faith means, “believing God” (the God of the Bible who cannot lie). Biblical faith is not blind, but is accompanied with substance and evidence that the God who has spoken is reliable and demands trust. (Hebrews 11:1 & 6.)
Teaching the Bible foundationally helps people to see the character of God and the reliability of His word.
See stilluntold.org/bible-basis-of-missions/#foundations
“The beauty of the Chronological Bible Teaching system is this: you don’t have to argue a person into believing the Bible. If they listen, they will understand it. In understanding it they will either intelligently accept the Bible’s message or they will reject it. It’s their choice. “
— John Cross in “Now We See Clearly
The Bible has a setting and a conclusion. It has a plot, character development, protagonist(s), tragedy, story movement, a climax, and resolution. In the setting, God shows us His design of the way things should be. In the conclusion He shows His design restored as it should be.
Many people read the Bible as if it is a jewelry box full of gem when it is more of a mosaic and a road map revealing the movement of a single story and showing travelers the path with the destination.
Understanding the metanarrative of God’s book, the Holy Bible, Scripture, requires a careful study of the book of Genesis and following the key plot through the development of God’s story through to the conclusion.*
How do you intentionally establish Biblical foundations for understanding God’s person, purpose, plan, people and processes?
The best resource of which I am aware is the Firm Foundations series produced by Ethnos360. The course is a framework to guide people intentionally toward maturity of faith, clear understanding, and thriving ministry. If taught with humility, dependence upon the Holy Spirit, and the intent of revealing God’s character in action, it is by far the most effective resource I have seen to date for producing disciples. Interlocked is an excellent adaptation of this material for young people. Establish Series is the first part of the Firm Foundations series.
Here are some resources to help with laying solid foundations for solid faith based on an overview of the Bible.
True salvation in a Biblical sense is not based on some emotional experience. It’s based on fact and a clear understanding of those facts. It is only then that faith can be accurately placed. Chronological teaching gives the facts clearly because what you are learning is built on previously understood knowledge.
— John Cross in “Now We See Clearly” in Vimeo
From the Sample view of Volume One:
“Many teachers approach the Bible as if it were a treasure chest full of beautiful, precious gems. We assume that these jewels have not been given a definite pattern or design. We think that the responsibility is ours to arrange the jewels in some order which will enhance their beauty and cause them to be better appreciated. While recognizing the value of the Scriptures, many Bible teachers fail to see that there is a definite, divinely-given teaching outline which runs through the entire Word of God. We therefore proceed to arrange the Scriptures into what we consider to be comprehensive and lucid outlines. This is a basic mistake.”
Building On Firm Foundations – Must Read! – excerpt – https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/2238/8297/files/BFF_Vol_01_Sample.pdf…
“The Existence of God” – Billy Crone – getalifemedia.com/video/cl/existence.shtml
College Student CONFRONTS Cliffe Knechtle on the existence of God – Cliff Knechtle – youtu.be/aBGSGRLeNDs
Five Key Arguments – TACO & Faith.
Does God Exist? Five Quick Arguments. SeanMcDowell.org, 1. The beginning of the universe points to a beginner., 2. The fine-tuning is best explained by a fine-tuner., 3. The DNA points to the author of life., 4. A moral law points to a moral law giver., 5. The resurrection of Jesus points to God entering into human history.
Is Jesus Christ Christ the triune God in human flesh, and what is the evidence that His resurrection from the dead was real?
One of the great evidences of the extistence and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the fact that two thousand years later we are still talking about it. The existence of the global Church after two thousand years of opposition is an amazing evidence.
Another piece of tangible archeological evidence for the existence and resurrection of Jesus Christ is the recent disovery of the Meggido Mosaic. – youtu.be/kXz3244EuVo
Here are some resources to boost your inquiry into evidence…
The Lamb – by John R. Cross – A 40 minute video for children following the lamb of God in the Bible from Genesis to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. – https://youtu.be/aU4m09axKfc
Who is Jesus? – Billy Graham – youtu.be/L-wvdG55Ot4
Jack Hibbs – Jesus is not A god… Is Jesus God? Videos: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 – Jack Hibbs shows his audience the evidences in the Old Testament and New Testament that Jesus Christ is in fact the triune God.
The Case for Christ explained in 16 minutes – Lee Strobel – The 1 Corinthians 15 Creed of the resurrection, created within months of the crucifixion of Jesus, shows that Christianity was started immediately, not hundreds of years after the resurrection of Jesus. – youtu.be/OnJKQv5XkK0
Tetelestai.io – A quick overview of the theme of the Bible.
The Stranger on the Road to Emmaus – 11 hours – stilluntold.org/video
The King of Glory – Rock Int’l – 4 hours – https://youtu.be/Z3OYJbu4tSA
The Establish Series – stilluntold.org/ecourse
A Dozen Evidences for the Resurrection of Jesus – reasons.org/explore/blogs/reflections/a-dozen-evidences-for-the-resurrection-of-jesus
No amount of evidence can convince a person to believe. Each person is responsible for their own choices and will of necessity decide for himself or herself who and what to believe.
There are many different kinds of evidence…
Apologetics, in Christianity, is the intellectual defense of the truth.
Josh McDowell Resources – https://www.josh.org/resources/
Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. https://seanmcdowell.org/
Professor John Lennox presents a 15 minute lecture contrasting the existence of God with atheistic views.
— https://youtu.be/otrqzITuSqE?si=4jSpJ3_pqWWTVTkA
Ahmed Deedat debates for Islam vs. Josh McDowell presents Christianity (video & audio). Josh starts at 45 minutes.
RZIM Ministries – Ravi Zacharias – philosophy and religion – https://www.rzim.org/
(Ravi Zahcarias – many videos from his presentations are also on YouTube.)
The case for Christ – Lee Stobel – https://leestrobel.com/
Institute for Creation Research – Icr.org – https://www.icr.org/homepage/
Answers in Genesis – Science and the Bible – Answersingenesis.org
“God of Wonders” Is an amazing documentary about intelligent design – youtu.be/6NIB_n8Y66o
Presuppositions and Facts. “What’s the best proof for Creation?”
Evolution’s Four Fatal Flaws –nwcreation.net/symposium/Heinz_Lycklama_Feb_19_2015.html
Evidence that Noah’s Flood Formed the Fossil Record – Dr. Jurt Wise (The Paleontology of the Flood) – https://youtu.be/xCdt6LjvFvA
AIG posts were “fact-checked” on Twitter. “Chimps and humans are not related.” Then AIG fact-checked the fact-checkers. Here are some of the facts they found. https://youtu.be/mIFaNDw0k9I
Evidence the Noah’s Flood Formed the Fossil Record – Dr. Kurt Wise (The Paleontology of the Flood) – https://youtu.be/xCdt6LjvFvA
If God knew each person by name before the first day of Creation, before He created the sun, moon, stars, and the environment in which we live, then each person has greater value to God than anything in or on the earth. All people were created in His image with a mind, will, and emotion, the capacity to choose, designed for relationships, and having the capacity to love other people selflessly.
God created us for an eternal relationship with Him. From our perspective, it began in time and continues past physical death, the destruction of these bodies, into eternity. If life is “a dressing room for eternity”, then what we do here matters immensely. The people around us matter immensely. How we treat the people around us matters immensely. God has eternal purpose for your short earthly life.
God knew each person before creation – https://www.openbible.info/topics/god_knew_us_before_we_were_born
Fearfully & Wonderfully Made – Dr David Menton – the unique miracle of the design of the human body – https://youtu.be/XAKnEm9xqU0
180Movie.com – Abortion. A comparison of worldviews in Nazi Germany and the USA today – by Ray Comfort & Kirk Cameron… https://www.180movie.com
Faith in History – William Federer – A 30-minute weekday video broadcast on world history. http://www.tct.tv/watch-tct/watch-live/tct/faith-in-history/
American Minute – by William Federer on world history –
Wallbuilders – David Barton – American History experts with the largest library of actual documents from the founding era. If you want to find reliable, documented history, with footnotes and credible sources, this is a great place to start.
David Barton, One Nation Under God- https://wallbuilders.com
Wallbuilderslive – Broadcast & Podcast – A half-hour daily weekday broadcast on current events and USA history from a Biblical worldview. – Wallbuilderslive.com
Evil ideas had a beginning and God told us that they will have an end. Meanwhile, how do you sort through the mess? People have all kinds of ideas. All have their roots in history.
Billy explores the historical origins of ideas contrary to what God has written in His book. https://getalifemedia.com/video/bibleclasses/worldreligions/introduction.shtml
See Kirk Cameron’s ”Monumental Movie” about the heritage of the USA. – http://monumentalmovie.com/
The Final Countdown Ultimate Version – https://getalifemedia.com/video/prophecy/fc.shtml
Behold Israel with Amir Tsarfati
Four Implications of Calvinism
Doctrinal Errors:
“And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved.” — 2 Thessalonians 2:10
“For whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” — Romans 10:13
For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. — John 3:17-18
