Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: “Why do you think that God is real and other gods or religions are not?”

Text:

Series: My Friends Are Asking

Introductory Thoughts:

…Proponents [of New Age Movement] are best identified by various “symptoms,” such as the following...

(1) They prefer the practice of spirituality over organized, classical expressions of religion.

(2) They believe that no single religious teacher can claim the allegiance of all; claims by Jesus as being the Way must be reinterpreted or rejected altogether.

(3) According to them, rather than the grace of God revealed in the Jesus of the Bible, “angels,” paranormal powers, or even raw human potential serve as “saviors” from the race’s predicament.

(4) Mixing and matching the objects of worship, they often identify themselves simultaneously in terms such as Buddhist, Jewish, and Presbyterian.

Ultimately the NAM represents a return to polytheism, or the belief in many gods.

Cabal, T. (2007).

How Should a Christian Relate to the New Age Movement?

In C. O. Brand, E. R. Clendenen, P. Copan, & J. P. Moreland (Eds.),

The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p.

1784).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

Here are 7 reason we are confident that God exists:

(1) The argument from creation -

First, God discloses Himself and His power to everyone by the marvels of His creation—the amazing life support system of planet earth.

We can discover some things about painters from their paintings.

Similarly, in the magnificence of creation, with its microscopic complexities and cosmic expanse, we realize our dependence upon the Creator’s powerful existence and intelligent design (; ).

Lewis, G. R. (2007).

What Is Divine Revelation?

In T. Cabal, C. O. Brand, E. R. Clendenen, P. Copan, & J. P. Moreland (Eds.),

The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p.

1823).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

(2) The testimony of the conscience -

God makes plain His moral nature and ethical principles for our wellbeing by implanting oughts and ought nots in every human spirit.

God makes plain His moral nature and ethical principles for our wellbeing by implanting oughts and ought nots in every human spirit.

Lewis, G. R. (2007).

What Is Divine Revelation?

In T. Cabal, C. O. Brand, E. R. Clendenen, P. Copan, & J. P. Moreland (Eds.),

The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p.

1823).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

(3) The canon of scripture - ,

(4) The manifestation of Christ -

God made His just and loving plan of redemption known supremely in Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah.

Lewis, G. R. (2007).

What Is Divine Revelation?

In T. Cabal, C. O. Brand, E. R. Clendenen, P. Copan, & J. P. Moreland (Eds.),

The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p.

1823).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

(5) The Christian experience -

(6) The emergence of the church -

God communicated His redemptive purposes through spokesmen called apostles.

Jesus taught and trained them for three years and they were eyewitnesses of His resurrection ().

Through Paul, an apostle who later saw the risen Christ, God revealed His plan to unite both Jewish and Gentile believers in one body, the church ().

God communicated His redemptive purposes through spokesmen called apostles.

Jesus taught and trained them for three years and they were eyewitnesses of His resurrection (Acts 1:21–22).

Through Paul, an apostle who later saw the risen Christ, God revealed His plan to unite both Jewish and Gentile believers in one body, the church (Eph 2:11–22).

Lewis, G. R. (2007).

What Is Divine Revelation?

In T. Cabal, C. O. Brand, E. R. Clendenen, P. Copan, & J. P. Moreland (Eds.),

The Apologetics Study Bible: Real Questions, Straight Answers, Stronger Faith (p.

1823).

Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers.

(7) The cosmological argument -

The name is used to refer to a family of arguments all of which hold that the existence of the world or universe...must be caused by God.

Cross, F. L., & Livingstone, E. A. (Eds.).

(2005).

In The Oxford dictionary of the Christian Church (3rd ed.

rev., p. 425).

Oxford; New York: Oxford University Press.

Anselm’s 3rd Cosmological Argument:

1. Something exists, and

2. owes its existence either to nothing or to something.

3. Nothing cannot cause something.

4.

There is, then, a something, which is either one or many.

5.

If many, the beings would be mutually dependent for their own existence or dependent on another.

6.

They cannot be mutually dependent for their existence.

Something cannot exist through a being on which it confers existence.

7. Therefore, there must be one being through which all other beings exist.

8.

This being must exist through itself.

9. Whatever exists through itself, exists in the highest degree of all.

10.

Therefore, a supremely perfect Being exists in the highest degree.

Geisler, N. L. (1999).

Cosmological Argument.

In Baker encyclopedia of Christian apologetics (p.

160).

Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books.

THE SITUATION IN COLOSSE AND WHY PAUL WAS WRITING

Culturally:

​The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and .

Why Was Colossians Written?

The False TeachingThe majority of scholars, confronted with the wealth of data about the false teaching, have argued that it is syncretistic, a mix of two or more religious and/or philosophical traditions.

While a quite astonishing variety of specific “mixes” has been proposed, the best argued and most persuasive has been presented by Clinton Arnold in a major monograph on the Colossian false teaching.

Arnold argues, “The Colossian ‘philosophy’ … represents a combination of Phrygian folk belief, local folk Judaism, and Christianity.

Populated by both Jews and Gentiles

Purpose of the letter: Epaphras had brought this report to Paul in prisonThis letter was apparently in response to these false teachers/teachings

​The Pillar New Testament Commentary: Colossians and .

Why Was Colossians Written?

The False Teaching3.

The false teachers denigrated Christ.

The assumption, widespread in the literature, that the false teachers were directly questioning the supremacy or sufficiency of Christ, especially in comparison with other spiritual beings, is based on what Paul says positively about Christ.

Approximately 11,000 Jews there in AD 62

Geographically:

Key verses:

It should be noted that any teaching, philosophy, understanding, that would either explicitly state or imply that Jesus Christ is not ultimately supreme or completely sufficient in redemption and the forgiveness of sins must be refuted and declared as heretical teaching.

Laodicea was approximately 12 miles to the west

Ephesus was approximately 100 miles away

Modern day Turkey

Theologically:

“syncretism” - the amalgamation or attempted amalgamation of different religions, cultures, or schools of thought.

PNTC: The majority of scholars, confronted with the wealth of data about the false teaching, have argued that it is syncretistic, a mix of two or more religious and/or philosophical traditions.