Reliable Source // Better Than the Bible

Are you ever afraid someone will ask you why you believe what you believe? Do you fear someone might question what you believe? Responding to people's questions and challenges can get complicated. But what if you were confident you had the answer to the most important question about your faith? What if you could actually share a convincing faith in a cynical world? Our faith is solidly based on so much more than you might think! Let’s figure it out together!

If you’re a Christian, you want to be able to defend your decision to follow Christ.  You want to be able to share your confidence in Christ with confidence.  But there has to be more to say than “the Bible tells me so”, right? YES!  It’s even better than that…

Message Notes

We have something better than a book.
We have an event.

The Resurrection of Jesus Christ is the basis for our belief.

“Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the Word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born…
…if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are of all people most to be pitied.”

I Corinthians 15:1-8, 17-19 NIV

Profile of a Futile Faith: The Post-Crucifixion “Disciples”

But...something happened.
Something that changed everything.
The apostles performed many signs and wonders among the people. And all the believers used to meet together in Solomon’s Colonnade. No one else dared join them, even though they were highly regarded by the people. Nevertheless, more and more men and women believed in the Lord and were added to their number.
Acts 5:12-14

Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
Acts 5:17-18

The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. “We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name,” he said. “Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man’s blood.”
Acts 5:27-28

Peter and the other apostles replied: “We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead—whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him.”
Acts 5:29-32

When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death.
Acts 5:33

But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. Then he addressed the Sanhedrin: “Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered.
Acts 5:34-37

Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God.”
Acts 5:38-39

Your faith isn’t tied to a garden or a flood.

It’s tied to an empty tomb.
It’s tied to the change in the disciples.
It’s tied to something better.

Bottom Line

The foundation of our faith is not the Bible or personal experience. It’s better than that. It is the resurrection of Jesus Christ!

Next Steps

1. Discuss the Talking Points.

2. Work on your personal statement that answers the question, “Why are you a follower of Jesus?”

1 | And The Answer Is...