Lee Strobel at the National Outreach Convention
Sian and Lee Strobel
I was very pleased to attend Lee Strobel’s seminar at the National Outreach Convention in San Diego recently. He was confident that apologetics was even more necessary in the postmodern world than before. In the old days, listening to Christian talks was almost acceptable but now people who are not Christians are more likely to turn up if there is a debate and if both sides are heard. He described a very well attended debate at his church, Willow Creek, in Chicago. An atheist and a Christian were locked in debate. Many journalists were excited about this opportunity and the debate was heard throughout the country by many people, both Christian and non Christian. Many became Christians as a result.
Lee Strobel was a journalist and he enjoys looking for evidence. He applies this skill brilliantly to investigate the Christian faith. His first experience of doing this resulted in a dramatic life change. His conclusions resulted in his becoming a Christian. He searched for facts and he was surprised that it took him two years to find out “who was Jesus?” He thought that he would be able to dismiss the claims of Jesus quickly but he was proved wrong.
When I gave my life to Christ when I was seventeen, I had attended church for most of my life. Although I had never heard a good sermon before I went to college, I had heard important verses in the Bible in the Anglican liturgy, in the traditional village church that I attended growing up in England. Although no one applied these important truths to my life, I was aware that I had sinned and that Jesus was the Savior. I knew that forgiveness was important and that God was much more important than me. When I went to a good church, It did not take me long to believe, as I was already half way there.
Today in America, most kids do not attend church. This is true of most people in Europe too. We can’t expect people to become Christians overnight. The danger is that we give them a short message about Jesus and encourage them to sign up. However if they have not had the opportunity to ask questions, and do not understand the problem of sin and the importance of the cross, as well as the need to repent, their faith may well be ill founded.
We must teach the Bible and we also need to answer people’s questions and discuss important issues with respect and integrity. I recommend Lee Strobel’s DVDs and books as they address issues that I do not have time to investigate. I can lend a book or refer to one to help answer others’ tough questions. I purchased Lee Strobel’s DVD “The Case For Christ” which is broken into six sessions to investigate the evidence for Jesus. There is opportunity for discussion and Bible study, but the DVD gets people started and addresses some important issues.
I want to help people find out about Jesus. My priority is to pray for their salvation. If some show an interest I want to be equipped to teach them the Bible, to address their questions and to be a consistent friend, showing them the love of Christ. Let’s expect our friends to ask questions and let’s know how to help them as they investigate Christianity.
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I couldn’t agree more! I was so excited Sunday night to hear that you still have a group of 9 kids coming over each week to seek answers. We are so fortunate to know you and your beautiful family. Thank you for everything you do. You make a huge difference!
Linda
Lee is a fantastic speaker and a good writer. One of his books, “The Case For A Creator”, is one of my all-time favorite books. To understand why, I need to tell my story, as briefly as possible.
As long as I can remember I have been fascinated with American Indians. When I was in second grade, my father, who understood my interest, gave me a book on American Indians. My father also introduced me to two of his friends, who I later learned were authorities on American Indians.
I spent time talking to these two men, especially the older one. He was retired, and had a wonderful collection of American Indian artifacts (legally acquired), all of which are now in museums. We spent hour upon hour talking. The good doctor was very knowledgeable about Indian culture, and was free in sharing his knowledge with me.
When I was in fourth grade, I started carving a name on the woodwork in my home, especially in my bedroom. When my mother discovered my carving, I was in trouble. When she asked why I was doing it, and whose name it was, I told her it was the name of the person I would someday marry, who would be an American Indian. Neither my mother nor I knew such a person.
Many years later I ascended a narrow trail overshadowed by tall pinion pines at Mesa Verde to fulfill a lifelong dream of visiting the Indian cliff dwellings there. I stooped to enter a home that looked much as it had when its last resident had lived there when Genghis Khan was conquering northern China. As my eyes adjusted to the dim light, I realized that the walls were covered with hand prints. Upon closer examination I realized that the original occupant had plastered those walls eight hundred years ago, and when the mud dried, that Indian’s hand prints had been preserved for posterity.
I placed the palm of my right hand in some of those prints. My hand was larger. With my left hand I held the hand of that person whose name I had carved on the woodwork in my bedroom when I was in fourth grade – that American Indian who grew up far, far away from where I grew up and to whom I was now married.
At that moment I understood. Just like some long ago Indian’s hand prints are still preserved on the walls of his long ago home and look like he must have just finished the job, God’s hand prints are all over everything He has made. I see them! Do you?
Some day very soon I fully expect to be standing, holding the hand of the one whose name I have tried to carve all over my life as long as I can remember, looking at His hand prints all over His creation – that One who now seems so far, far away in some ways.
“The Case For A Creator” helps adjust one’s focus and discover God’s hand prints all over creation, especially those who are not certain of what they are seeing.