1. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking

2. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 1.through the world we live in 2.through the Bible 3.through conscience 4.through miracle 5.through Christians

3. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 1. through the world we live in

4. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through the world we live in Yes: through the world we live in General Revelation Holy books Conscience Nature People Prayer or worship

5. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking The First Cause argument Thomas Aquinas said that everything in the world has a cause and an effect. Nothing can cause itself. There must be a First Cause. The only being powerful enough to do this is God. Who says there “must have been” a God? It could have “just happened”! Bertrand Russell Yes: through the world we live in Yes: through the world we live in

6. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking The Design Argument Yes: through the world we live in Yes: through the world we live in Isaac Newton “In the absence of any other proof, the thumb alone would convince me of God’s existence”

7. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking The Design Argument William Paley 1743-1805 William Paley went for a walk … He saw a rock – but he reasoned that it had always been there, just by chance … Then he saw a pocket watch. This was different – it had clearly been designed! Yes: through the world we live in Yes: through the world we live in The world we live in is well designed – by a designer!

8. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking The Design Argument Some people link this with the Big Bang theory and say the Big Bang was “designed”. Other examples for this argument: observable laws, e.g. gravity, movement of the planets, the complexity of DNA, the intricate nature of the human eye. The Goldilocks argument observes that our planet is the perfect distance from the sun for life Yes: through the world we live in Yes: through the world we live in

9. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 2. through the Bible

10. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through the Bible Yes: through the Bible a truthful record of God’s care for humankind … a truthful record of God’s care for humankind … … written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit … … written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit … … who helps us to read and understand it … … who helps us to read and understand it … … so asking His help makes sense! … so asking His help makes sense! HOWEVER different Christians interpret the Bible in different ways!

11. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through the Bible Yes: through the Bible Fundamentalist Fred Conservative Charlie Evangelical Eve Liberal Larry Post- modern Pippa

12. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 3. through conscience

13. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through conscience Yes: through conscience  throughout history and across cultures, there is significant agreement about what is right or wrong  this doesn’t always seem to be explainable by evolution and the survival of the fittest  nor does Richard Dawkins idea of “memes” command respect from his peers  this suggests that we are “created” this way

14. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 4. through miracle

15. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Special Revelation Meeting God. Moses sees a burning bush. God speaks to him. It changes his life. An encounter with God (or an angel). Paul is blinded by a bright light. Dreams or visions. Peter sees a vision that explains about unclean food Miracles. Jesus feeds 5000, demonstrating who He is. Prophecy. God speaks His heart through another human being. Yes: through miracle Yes: through miracle

16. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through miracle Yes: through miracle  for many people, miracle helps to convey the character and purpose of God …  … through healing …  … through provision …  … through rescue HOWEVER for others, the absence of a miracle that is yearned for may suggest God is absent or uncaring

17. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking 5. through Christians

18. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through Christians Yes: through Christians  this may be through character and changed lives …  … or through selfless acts of kindness.  It may also be through “revelatory gifts” – things like prophecy, words of knowledge, dreams, etc.

19. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through Christians Yes: through Christians … an ‘impression’ of words … dreams … visions

20. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through Christians Yes: through Christians … humanly audible words or sounds … scripture that ‘comes alive’ … something ordinary that God ‘highlights’

21. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through Christians Yes: through Christians … visible words or numbers … visual ‘impressions’ … physical sensation

22. Does God Still Speak Today ? Just Looking Yes: through Christians Yes: through Christians Revelation What God has actually revealed Interpretation What it means Application What you do with it!