First Look

First Look 1 “How can we know about Jesus?

 Discussion Starters

Think of a particularly famous person.  What are they famous for?  Do you wish that that you could know them personally? 

If you met them what questions would you want to ask them?  Do you think they provide a role model worth following?

What do you know about Jesus?  How would you describe him?  Would you have liked to have met him?  If you had met him, what questions would you want to ask him?  Do you think he would be a good role model to follow?

A look at the Bible

Jesus is one of the most famous people in history. Many people say that they would have liked to have met him. He is often held up as a good role model, a loving man and wise teacher. But what can we really know about this man who lived over 2000 years ago and is his example really worth following? Our aim in these studies is to try and find out a bit more about Jesus, his life and his teaching so that we can make our own minds up about him.

Read Luke 1:1-4

How does Luke know about Jesus?

Why has he written his account?

To think about

Is there something so important to me that I would be willing to die for it?  Or is that sort of thing just for fanatics?

Am I ready to accept Luke’s evidence as reliable and trustworthy?  If not, what would it take for me to believe it?  What additional evidence am I lacking?

If you want to investigate the evidence further, then there are plenty of resources available to help you. Here are a couple of good books to check out (copies are available at the Chapel to borrow).

Josh McDowell, Evidence that demands a verdict. (Campus Crusade, 1972)

FF Bruce, The New Testament Documents, are they reliable? (IVP, 1981)

Craig Blomberg, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels. (IVP, 1987)

Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ. (Zondervan, 1998)

Go to Part 2: Who is this Man?