The Case for Christ - Benchmark Assignment PDF

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The Case for Christ - Lee Strobel - 2007, La Mirada Films Introduction: What is the issue? Lee: Lee Strobel is an atheist journalist investigator looking for the evidence of Jesus Christ. He was antagonistic against Jesus. Him and Leslie were happy and did not want Jesus to be a part of it.

Leslie: Leslie was an agnostic person who was simply confused about if she believed in Jesus or not. She started going to church without her husband and experienced a heart change. Her husband was not on board with Jesus yet and needed hard facts to prove God and Jesus are real.

PART ONE: EXAMINING THE RECORD (WHAT ARE MY SOURCES?) 

CAN THE BIOGRAPHIES OF JESUS BE TRUSTED? Biographies are eyewitness accounts of Jesus. Luke

states that he had carefully studied all the information given to him in order to tell it. Eyewitness

events were believed to be trusted and true.



DO JESUS’S BIOGRAPHIES STAND UP TO SCRUTINY? Rabbis were not able to comment on scripture

unless it was memorized. The community around them would quickly correct them to uphold the

integrity of the scripture. Therefore, we cannot scrutinize the word of mouth story telling of first

hand encounters because it was highly respected in that time.



WERE JESUS’ BIOGRAPHIES RELIABLY PRESERVED FOR US? Sacred texts were preserved in tradition

of oral tradition.



IS THERE CREDIBLE EVIDENCE FOR JESUS OUTSIDE HIS BIOGRAPHIES? Roman history refers to Jesus

in politics and critics. May records are taken about the disruption Jesus made.



DOES ARCHAEOLOGY CONFIRM OR CONTRADICT JESUS’ BIOGRAPHIES? Archaeology confirms

Jesus’ biographies because old text matches the claims Jesus made.



IS THE JESUS OF HISTORY THE SAME AS THE JESUS OF FAITH? Jesus of history is the same as the

Jesus of faith. People believe and keep faith in Jesus because of the evidence that he is Risen.

Lee: Lee’s investigation of Jesus was hard. At moment’s he thought he was understanding and then took many steps back right after.

Leslie: Leslie and her friends were praying for her husband’s heart to open up to Jesus.

PART TWO: ANALYZING JESUS (WHO WAS JESUS?) 

WAS JESUS REALLY CONVINCED HE WAS THE SON OF GOD? Jesus spoke with an authority when

teaching. Rabbi’s were taught to teach under the name of others or God. However, Jesus would

speak as if he was the authoritative Law.



WAS JESUS CRAZY WHEN HE CLAIMED TO BE THE SON OF GOD? Everyone was trying to find

criminally punished claims Jesus made about being the Son of God. Jesus was not crazy for claiming

to be the Son of God but in that day he would be considered it.



DID JESUS FULFILL THE ATTRIBUTES OF GOD? Jesus fulfilled both the human and god attributes the

messiah was supposed to obtain. Jesus was fully man but also performed miracles by healing, raising

dead, and exorcisms. This fits the picture of the Messiah.



DID JESUS—AND JESUS ALONE—MATCH THE IDENTITY OF THE MESSIAH? Does this make Jesus

different than other miracle workers who claimed to be back in the day? Jesus did not need recopies

or formulas to do the works of God. Jesus displayed ultimate power by forgiving sins. Jesus confirms

he has that authority by healing the man. Jesus was the only one who healed with authority. Many

prophecies were uniquely fulfilled by Jesus: his birth place, his life as a suffering servant, entrance

into Jerusalem, etc,. Jesus fulfilled at least four dozen prophecies, some written almost three

centuries before his birth.

Lee: Lee was emotionally challenged by his findings of Jesus. Lee felt as if he was losing Leslie to Christianity and grew angry.

Leslie: Leslie’s vale and character was transformed which caused Lee to feel convicted.

PART THREE: RESEARCHING THE RESURRECTION (THE ULTIMATE EVIDENCE) 

WAS JESUS’ DEATH A SHAM AND HIS RESURRECTION A HOAX? Jesus’ death was confirmed

through the injuries he received and preparation of his body. Jesus was in a popular man’s tomb.

The burial account could not have been made up and his tomb could not have been misplaced.



WAS JESUS’ BODY REALLY ABSENT FROM HIS TOMB? Jesus account of his resurrection could not

have been invented. Because in that time they would not have women as the prime witnesses.

Jesus’ ’ opponents confirmed the tomb was empty by claiming the disciples stole his body.



WAS JESUS SEEN ALIVE AFTER HIS DEATH ON THE CROSS? Jesus appeared to Peter and then to the

12, then to 500 people, to James, to the apostles, and then Paul. Hundreds of people were seen by

Jesus after of his death. When Paul wrote this the people were still alive to tell and confirm their

stores.



ARE THERE ANY SUPPORTING FACTS THAT POINT TOWARD THE RESURRECTION? Discouraged men

were concerned that Jesus was not the messiah after he died. However, when they witnessed him

after his death, they were sure he was the Messiah and worshipped him. They went from running

away after his death, to proclaiming the power of Jesus. Some even died for supporting the name of

Jesus. James and Paul did not believe in Jesus before his resurrection. These are extreme

testimonies that prove Jesus’ resurrection.

LEE’S DECISION Lee: Lee decided it would require more faith to support his atheism due to all the evidence he found. Lee’s character changed and his family grew and changed as well.

Leslie: Leslie was so excited and watched her family change from the inside out.

The Challenge 1. Made it a front burner issue.

2. Keep an open mind

3. Promise once you get the evidence that you will reach a verdict in the case for Christ....