Westminster Presbyterian Church

Questions for Reflection - "Conversations: Sharing Our Faith with a Skeptical World"
"Can We Really Believe What the Bible Says?"

Luke 1:1–4; John 20:30–31

  1. Have you ever been at a loss for words to explain why you trust what the Bible says? Describe a conversation you've had.
  2. What are some of the questions you've heard about the reliability (believability) of the Bible?
  3. Talk about Pastor Thompson's last theory about why people are skeptical about the Bible: that if what the Bible claims to be true is true, then there are going to be implications for our lives. How does the Bible make you nervous?
  4. Why is it perhaps best to focus on Jesus when it comes to talking about the reliability of the Bible?
  5. What are some "monumental events" in your life or in your time? How well can you recall the details of what happened? How long ago did these events take place?
  6. How does thinking about #5 relate to Luke 1:1–4? Check as well I Corinthians 15:6–8 and I John 1:1–3. Why were eye witnesses important?
  7. What is "oral tradition"? Do we have any good examples of this in American culture? How did Jesus assure that his teaching would be remembered well?
  8. If there is time check out some of the historical references inside the New Testament in Acts 18:12–17;12:20–23; and Mark 6:14–29. Why are these important?
  9. Why do we know the New Testament is "honest"? What does Tim Keller mean by "the counter productive content of the New Testament"?
  10. Discuss Dr. N.T. Wright's conclusion: that the simplest and best explanation for what the New Testament claims to have happened is what the New Testament claims to have happened. What are the implications for our view of the "authority of scripture"?
  11. Read together John 20:30–31 and talk about the purpose of this Gospel and of the Bible as a whole. Has its purpose been effective in your life? Why or why not?

There is much more to say on this subject:
Roberts, Mark. Can We Trust the Gospels? Investigating the Reliability of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Crossways Books, 2007
Wright, N.T. The Last Word. Scripture and the Authority of God - Getting Beyond the Bible Wars. HarperSanFrancisco, 2005.
Keller, Timothy. The Reason for God - Belief in an Age of Skepticism. Dutton, 2008
Edwards, James R. Is Jesus the Only Savior? Eerdmans, 2005

Westminster Presbyterian Church
Pastors: Rev. Dr. Richard H. Thompson, Rev. John Burnett, Rev. Jennifer Kates Witten
32111 Watergate Road, Westlake Village, California 91361
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E-mail: info1@wpcwestlake.org
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