What comes to mind when you think about the word, “argument?” Typically it is something negative. The fact is arguments can be negative and they can be positive because they are born from deep seeded conclusions that exist within our lives. Good arguments can keep us from bad decisions. Bad arguments lead to bad decisions.
2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)
This world is full of vain arguments and if we aren’t careful we erroneously default to feelings of inferiority and inadequacy when it comes to intellectualism.
THE MOST INTELLECTUALLY CRITICAL THINKER THAT EVER LIVED WAS JESUS CHRIST.
The assumption is that the Gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing so why try to explain, just trust God. Lazy faith has created a vacuum in our world and believers must rise up to action if we are going to effectively reach a lost and dying world!
We must train our children to be critical thinkers who establish their own Christian world view based on faith in God and the ability to love God with all of their hearts and all of their minds. MATT. 22:37
If a child at the dinner table tells the parents that they were talking about sexual preference at school today and the parents say well you just need to tell them about Romans chapter 1 the kid is then left with a frame of reference that works around the dinner table but does not work at school.
Ravi Zacharias says, “First you start with a point of relevance then you move to a point of reference and then you move to a point of disturbance. We must learn to argue truth from having discovered the point of relevance. We then illustrate from the point of reference and apply from a point of disturbance where we then confront with truth.”
People will immediately try to take you to a confrontation. Resisting this temptation is vital so you can back up and address the discussion from their own framework. When their framework falls apart in the conversation you can then provide the new framework from which truth can be effectively shared.
Reductio Adubsurdim is a specific style of debate, which embraces an opinion as true for the sake of argument. Absurd conclusions are drawn from the assumed position leaving the only logical conclusion to be for the person to abandon their position. ILL: All morality is relative and there is no right or wrong. This argument could be stated - assuming this is true then there would be nothing wrong with Hitler’s actions. This is an absurd conclusion so the only logical position would be for that person to abandon their position.
The Sadducees approached Jesus with intimidating questions in an attempt to ensnare Him through argument and debate. This would be the equivalent of theology professors of some prestigious university attempting to out-argue an individual in an organized debate, perhaps in front of crowds of ambitious students.
The Sadducees came to Jesus using this style of argumentation. Assuming Jesus held the position of believing in a resurrection they presented two absurd conclusions attempting to cause Jesus to abandon His position of believing in the resurrection:
Matt 22:23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and have children for him.
Conclusion #1: Resurrection would result in adulterous situation.
25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?
Conclusion #2: Resurrection would result in polygamous situation.
29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven.” (NIV)
Jesus’ response was intellectually superior to these leading theologians of their day. He basically said you tried to come at this from my frame of mind but you presupposed there is marriage in heaven. There is not therefore you have no argument against my position. Then he said something very specific to strategically address their contextual framework!
Matt 22:31-32 But about the resurrection of the dead, have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
This is exactly what Jesus was doing here. The Sadducees did not accept the authority of the prophets so Jesus didn’t refer to Daniel 12 which seemingly appears to be a better argument for the resurrection.
Dan 12:1-2 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people - everyone whose name is found written in the book - will be delivered. Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt.'‘ (NIV)
Probably with a smile he asked, “Have you not read, I am the God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob?” Of course they’d read this it was actually one of their pivotal and foundational scriptures upon which their belief structure was established.
Jesus took the most vital verse of scripture which defined their beliefs but denied their doctrine and drove it home as He was capitalizing on the tense of the verb, “I am.”
This verse actually endorsed the fact that God was and is the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. How could He still be their God lest they be raised from the dead. This is why the next verse of Scripture reads:
Matt 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (NIV)
It is our desire to make disciples who look, think, talk, pray and walk like Jesus did. This is why we want to bring a more concentrated expression of discipleship to our Destiny family and to others who want more formal training as leaders pursuing foundational truths discovered in Scripture.
The DESTINY CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE serves the purpose of inspiring and empowering next level living and next level leaders.
What does “next level you” look like? Wherever you are there is more. We want to help you discover, develop and deploy your next level Destiny!
Eph 3:17 We are to be rooted and we are to be grounded in love.
Notice it doesn’t say we should be either rooted or grounded but both rooted and grounded. Rooted is an agricultural term while grounded is an architectural term. Rooted speaks of a seed that is hidden that produces fruit. Grounded speaks of a foundation that is hidden upon which the public structure rests. Fruit and Structure are seen. The seed and foundation are unseen. That which is unseen must be our focus or that which is seen either won’t happen or won’t last.
God desires for us to devote ourselves to healthy roots and a strong foundation rather than chasing public fruit and visible structure.
If we don’t grow and build correctly the results will never stand the true test of time.
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take some time this week for true reflection on what you believe God sees as next level in your life. Make an investment in your future and your legacy by signing up today for Destiny Leadership Institute classes!
DISCUSSION GUIDE FOR COMMUNITY GROUP LEADERS
Click here for a downloadable pdf file of this guide.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. What comes to mind when you think about the word, “argument?”
2. How can arguments in our lives be good?
2 Cor 10:3-5 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. (NIV)
DISCUSSION QUESTION:
3. Does the world view Jesus as an intellectually critical thinker? Why or why not?
We must train our children to be critical thinkers who establish their own Christian world view based on faith in God and the ability to love God with all of their hearts and all of their minds.
The Sadducees approached Jesus with intimidating questions in an attempt to ensnare Him through argument and debate. This would be the equivalent of theology professors of some prestigious university attempting to out-argue an individual in an organized debate, perhaps in front of crowds of ambitious students. The result of these interactions continually left the crowds in amazement at the wisdom and revelation Jesus would express.
Matt 22:33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (NIV)
The idea behind The Destiny Leadership Institute is to have a more intentional approach to learning Kingdom Truth that defines every area of life. God created us with the drive to be enlightened. A child first born commonly begins looking toward light. Everybody has a God-given drive to understand the reality that we were born for more than where we’ve been and what we’ve known. Classes for the Institute are designed to inspire and empower next level living and next level leadership.
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
4. When you think about a “next level you” what are some of the characteristics that come to mind?
(If you have time at the end this is a great question to find out what God is speaking to your group overall.)
5. What is something God has been speaking to you or revealing in Scripture recently?
We Bring GP2RL Action Point:
Take some time this week for true reflection on what you believe God sees as next level in your life. Get signed up for Destiny Leadership Institute classes to explore more of God’s plan for the “next level you”!