| 1. | Why do we believe something is true? | |
| __ | I perceive it with my own senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, taste. | John 20:24-28 |
| __ | “I think, therefore I am.” (Rene Descartes) | Gen. 1:26-27 |
| __ | “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” (Thomas Jefferson) | Eccl. 2:9-11 |
| __ | The information is from a trusted source. | Gen. 3:1-7 |
| __ | It is implied by trusted facts. | James 2:14-17 |
| __ | To deny it contradicts trusted facts. | 1 Cor. 15:12-19 |
| __ | The evidence supports it. | Luke 7:18-23 |
| __ | I believe it on faith. | Matt. 8:5-13; Matt. 16:13-18; Heb. 11:1-3; Heb. 11:39-12:2 |
| __ | I believe it just because I want to. | Psalm 14:1 |
| 2. | When we know the truth, how do we convince others? | |
| __ | Appeal to reason. | (see above) |
| __ | Speak the truth in love. | Eph 4:15-16; Ezekiel 3:16.21 |
| 3. | The Pharisees were: | |
| __ | Good guys. | John 3:1-17; Phil. 3:4-6; Acts 23:6 |
| __ | Bad guys. | Matthew 23:27-28 |
| __ | Well educated, well motivated, sincere, but self-righteous. | (see above) |
| __ | Best represented by Nicodemus, Gamailel, and St. Paul. | Acts 5:33-42; Acts 22:1-3 |
| 4. | Jesus said “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth
shall make you free.” What does this imply for us? |
John 8:32 |
| __ | We are capable of knowing the truth and being free. | |
| __ | If we don’t know the truth, we will be captives to falsehood. | |
| __ | The truth hurts sometimes, but it’s better to know it and be free. | |
| 5. | Jesus said “I am the way, the truth, and the life.” What does this imply for us? |
John 14:5-7 |