1. Is God Really Real?
October 2017

2. Is God Really Real
Today we’ll tackle the question of God’s existence. This question is neither easy nor new; people have argued over the existence of God for thousands of years, and many continue to wrestle with it today. A Truth & A Lie Game

3. Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

4. LET US PRAY
Father in heaven, we pray to You, our good and gracious God. We ask the You guide this study, showing us Your presence and Your love. Help us to see Your hand in all that we do. Keep us faithful to You as we guide others into Your holy presence. Let us worship You in spirit and truth, as convicted individuals bound by Your endless love and grace. We ask this through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen

5. ATHESIM
the theory or belief that God does not exist.

6. Scene 1: Growing Trend in Atheism
Play Secession 1, Scene 1

7. Scene 1: Growing trend in Atheism
CIA study – less than 3% consider themselves atheist
There’s got to be a maker, this didn’t just happen by accident
People want to believe in God, why are we here, what happens after we die
It makes sense to have faith, gives people hope
Struggling against hostility in your Faith – Reading Elijah in 1 Kings 22-24, 27, 32-39

8. 1 Kings Verses Q’s What do these verses tell us about God?
Do you think you could have had the kind of trust in God that Elijah did?

9. Baal (bale or bahl)
Baal, the god of fire, storm, fertility, and life, should have been able to bring rain and provide water for the people. Nevertheless, they experienced a severe drought for over three years. When Elijah drenched the sacrifice with precious, scarce water, he did it to humiliate Baal and emphasize the enormity of God’s power. Only a miracle from God could burn the soaked sacrifice.

11. Scene 2 – Arguments for the Existence of God
Play Secession 1, Scene 2

12. Scene 2 – Arguments for the Existence of God
Argument from DESIGN – it makes sense that is we see something that has been made, then it is reasonable to assume that someone made it – the universe – the maker (but who created God – we’ll never have all the answer, they will always be mysteries filled in by faith)
Argument from CAUSALITY – something had to cause all of this, it didn’t just happen, something intelligent
Argument from your own HEART – growling heart – we can’t be satisfied, need something more – God

14. Scene 3 – The Problem of Pain

15. Scene 4

16. Apologetics
C. S. Lewis – The Chronicles of Narnia – had been an atheist but converted, not through faith but through sound and rational arguments for the belief in the existence of God – apologetics (reasoned arguments or writings in justification of something, typically a theory or religious doctrine)

17. Scene 5