Sermon Tone Analysis

The publicist for the late author and debater Christopher Hitchens asked Christian author Larry Taunton to arrange a series of debates between Hitchens, an outspoken atheist, and Christian thinkers.

Over the ensuing years, Hitchens and Taunton developed an unlikely friendship.

Hitchens stayed in Taunton's home, and prior to Hitchens' death from cancer, the two friends took two long road trips across America.

Here's how Taunton describes what happened on one of those trips:

My mind goes back to the Shenandoah.

The skies are clear, the autumn leaves are translucent in the early afternoon sun, and the road ahead of us is open … In a strong, clear voice, Christopher is reading from the eleventh chapter of the Gospel of John.

Reaching the twenty-fifth and twenty-sixth verses, his face lights up with recognition.

He stops.

"I know this one too," he says.

"I did not recall its connection with the resurrection of Lazarus."

"It's a great verse," I add, sensing we have reached a defining moment.

"Yes, Dickens thought so," Christopher says, and then, taking his reading glasses off, he turns to me and asks: "Do you believest thou this, Larry Taunton?" His sarcasm is evident, but it lacks its customary force.

"I do.

But you already knew that I did.

The question is, do you believest thou this, Christopher Hitchens?"

As if searching for a clever riposte, he hesitates and speaks with unexpected transparency: "I'll admit that it is not without appeal to a dying man."

And family… The resurrection is a true an amazing, necessary, and essential event.

But today, it seems, we continue to face opposition to its reality and to its necessity.

Many do not believe that Jesus rose from the grave and many do not care.

I was talking with one of the guys helping us install our PA talking about church attendance.

Back when people believed in God.

Back when people actually cared about stuff.

So again, do we believe that Jesus rose from the grave or even if he did do we care?

Today we will look at how not only did the resurrection happen, but it is absolutely necessary for salvation.

No resurrection, no salvation.

The grass withers the flower fades, but the Word of our God stands forever.

Do We Believe that Christ Rose from the Grave?

Do We Care?

The Good News

The first thing we will look at is the real denial of this Biblical event with April foolish argumentation.

The second thing we will explore is the real necessity of this thing we call the resurrection.

How important is it?

No resurrection, no salvation.

Finally, we will hear the good news of Jesus… He died for our sins according to the scriptures and He was buried and He was raised from the dead according to the scriptures.

Thesis: Though sin and the pattern of this world cause potential and actual doubt in the reality of the resurrection and apathy in its importance, it is the grace of Christ that awakens our hearts to the beauty and glory of the victory of Christ over the grave truly making us right with God.

I. Do We Believe that Christ Rose from the Grave?

-Can I get an eye-witness?

A. Barna research – 39% of the general population in America expressly denies that the resurrection actually took place

B. One thing that scientific evidence has shown us throughout history is that when people die that is it… there is no coming back

C.

One thing that Logic and Reason has shown us throughout history is that when people die that is it… there is no coming back

D. But the stories and the witness are overwhelming… something definitely happened – Jewish Historians and Roman Historians factually report…

1. Jesus was crucified as a Blasphemer under Jewish Law and as a troublemaker under Roman Law.

2. Jesus died under the strict procedure of the Roman Crucifixion.

3.

He was placed in a tomb with Roman and Jewish guards to guard against theft.

4. Three days after he was placed in a tomb, the tomb was empty.

5.

There was a widespread commotion in Jerusalem over the whereabouts.

6. So… how about it?

The Tomb was empty, and people saw Him.

E. Well, Jesus wasn’t really dead… that’s why the tomb was empty.

This was one way to answer the question.

1. Jesus slipped into a coma like state (probably from the sponge of sour wine spiked with a narcotic) and awoke in the tomb and slipped passed the guards and appeared to the Disciples and dies a little later from his wounds.

2. Easiest to refute… The Romans knew how to kill and how to tell the difference between someone who is dead from those alive.

3. Jesus who was horribly wounded whips beating, spear in the side, wounds in his hands and in his feet, loss of blood, body in shock, both physical and mental, figured out a way to leave a cold tomb, move the stone, slip pass the guards unnoticed and find his way to the place the disciples were hiding and say “see I told you, I said I was the Son of God and I would rise from the grave.

I am the Lord”… then collapse.

4.

And the disciple would be so inspired to become fanatics for Him and would become martyrs for the cause of Christ.

Maybe a bit April foolish?

F. Well, they stole his body… that’s why the tomb was empty.

This was another way to answer the question.

1.

The Roman soldiers were so frightened that they agreed to this knowing that it could cost them their heads.

2. Also, because they would lose their heads for falling asleep it is doubtful that they did and let us not for get that the disciples were also frightened that any thought of them stealing the body would be unlikely.

3.

This is what the Pharisees wanted them to say…

Matthew

4. The logical impossibility… how could they know who they were if they were asleep??

5.

And the disciples would be so inspired to become fanatics for Him and would become martyrs for the cause of Christ.

Maybe a bit April foolish?

G. Well all you have is an empty tomb… this doesn’t prove anything.

Yes it does.

All we needed was the fact that the tomb was empty.

Why?

1.

How about eyewitness accounts… remember the video

2. Eye witness accounts serve us today and it is enough to convict

3.

He was seen by individuals, two disciples, small groups of them, men and women, and crowds as many as 500.

H. Finally, and most importantly the Bible says it happened.

And really…that is all that we need.

I.

The Bible is the word of God.

The very breath of God.

It is useful for teaching correcting … It has overcome all opposition and attack throughout all of the years.

All the battles for its inerrancy, infallibility, and its authority and when the dust clears … it remains, just like Christ said that heaven and earth remain, but his Word will still remain.

II.

Do We care?

- “Please, when you present the gospel present it first of all as true not as helpful.”

A. Barna research – 35% of those who identify themselves as born again evangelicals deny that the resurrection actually took place.

- This means that belief in Christ’s Resurrection is no more important to a little more than 3 out of 10 Christians than it is to non-Christians.

It does not really matter all that much.

B. Does it matter to us?

Will we say today… what difference does it really make whether He did or He didn’t?

This is actually pretty common.

1.

Will we sit here today and say … look I’m not here to know or understand the intricacies of resurrection or even Christian doctrine.

I am here to find out what I need to do to get into heaven – guess what that is…

2. Will we sit here today and say … Really… come on what does this have to do with anything?

How is this going to help me get through the problems in my life?

How does the doctrine of the resurrection help me make ends meet?

3. Will we sit here today and say … Whether He rose or not, this is not going to fix my family issues or the people and boss at my place of employment

4. Will we sit here today and say … I have real problems today… real problems.

What does it matter… I need help, I need relief, I need peace in my life

5. Ok fine… he forgives us of sin, great by what does his resurrection have to do with anything – why do I need to hear it?

1 Corinthians 15:

C. Francis Schaffer – “Please, when you present the gospel present it first of all as true not as helpful”