Main Idea || For our faith to be irresistible, we must be confident & convinced that the story is true. Our doubting is a normal & starting point. “…some doubted” (Matt 28:17) “...I will never believe” (John 20:25) Jesus’ disciples were by his resurrection. 1 Thessalonians 4:14–18 (NLT) 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words. Jesus’ literal bodily is so encouraging. It proves that our #1 enemy has been defeated by Jesus : death It proves Jesus holds the power to forgive sin. It is our only hope to break free from self loathing shame & separation from God. It assures us that God has done everything needed for us to be forgiven & made alive forever. Do bad Christians disqualify Christianity? If I know the way home and am walking along it drunkenly, is it any less the right way because I am staggering from side to side! If it is not the right way, then show me another way. ~ Leonard Tolstoy The resurrection generates a for a future paradise that heals your painful past. Revelation 21:1–4 (NLT) Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea was also gone. 2 And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 1 John 3:2 (NLT) 2 Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION 1. Oftentimes it seems people distance themselves from the claims of Christ for reasons that seem less intellectual and more emotional. Do you agree? Why or why not? 2. In the encounter between Mary Magdalene and the angel at the empty tomb, the angel (according to the gospel of Mark) tells Mary and the other women with her to go tell the disciples and Peter that Jesus is going to Galilee. Author Scott Sauls says he believes that the words “and Peter” are two of the most hopeful words ever spoken. Do you also find this hopeful? 3. What if the flaws & failure of Christians, in the end, is the thing that makes the Christian movement irresistible to billions of souls all over the world?” Is it? Why? If we believe this, how could we do a better job of sharing that with others?