Then the Jewish leaders took Jesus from Caiaphas to the palace of the Roman governor. By now it was early morning, and to avoid ceremonial uncleanness they did not enter the palace, because they wanted to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and asked, ‘What charges are you bringing against this man? If he were not a criminal,’ they replied, ‘we would not have handed him over to you.’ Pilate said, ‘Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.’ ‘But we have no right to execute anyone,’ they objected. This took place to fulfill what Jesus had said about the kind of death he was going to die. Pilate then went back inside the palace, summoned Jesus and asked him, ’Are you the king of the Jews?’ ‘Is that your own idea,’ Jesus asked, ‘or did others talk to you about me?’ ‘Am I a Jew?’ Pilate replied. ‘Your own people and chief priests handed you over to me. What is it you have done?’ Jesus said, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.’ ‘You are a king, then!’ said Pilate. Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.’ ‘What is truth?’ retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, ‘I find no basis for a charge against him.’

-John 18:28-38

First: We live in a time of great opportunity.

…Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect…

-1 Peter 3:15b

Second: We live in a time of great ignorance.

If we hope to change the world beginning with this valley, we must reject shallow spirituality and intellectual laziness.

Third: We live in a time of a counterfeit gospel.

The human tendency is to travel the road of least resistance.

Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’

-Matthew 28:18-20

As we disciple the next generation we must begin with the idea of Truth.

Truth is objective. There are things that are true whether you believe them to be or not.

Truth is discoverable. There is a way to discover what is true and what is false.

Ultimate Truth is discovered in Jesus Christ and His gospel.

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

-John 14:6

Truth is Objective.

Objective Truth: A truth exists independently of individual perception or opinion and is true for everyone regardless of their beliefs or perspective.

For some reason, many will admit that objective reality exists but as soon as they begin discussing the topic of God, Faith, Religion and especially Christianity, suddenly, objective truth goes out the window. Why?

One: The misconception that Religion is totally based on feeling and is in no way related to anything factual.

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

-Hebrews 11:1 (KJV)

Two: If objective truth does exist concerning God, such truth is unknowable because God is not knowable.

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.

-Romans 1:18-20

Christianity is not based on feeling but reality.

What reality?

God exists.

He has chosen to reveal himself in creation: General Revelation.

He has chosen to reveal Himself in the person of Jesus Christ: Special Revelation.

In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom also he made the universe.

-Hebrews 1:1-2

For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

-2 Corinthians 4:6

Jesus answered, ‘I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’

-John 14:6

Truth is Discoverable

Is Truth knowable? How can it be discovered? How can you and I discover this Truth?

What do we mean by "Truth?"

• Truth is understood in terms of reality. A proposition is said to be true if the statement accurately reflects reality.

• Truth is knowable and discoverable through knowledge learned or knowledge given.

How can we discover what is True?

Propositional knowledge: Knowledge that something is factual, beyond reasonable doubt.

• Christ-followers believe the Bible is the Word of God because of the overwhelming evidence that points in this direction.

• Combine this with the miraculous nature of Fulfilled Prophecy and the evidence seems to point overwhelmingly to the truth that the Bible is indeed God’s revelation to us.

But the things which God announced beforehand by the Prophets, that His Christ should suffer, He has thus fulfilled.

-Acts 3:18

Of the Divine character of the Bible, I think no man who deals honestly with his own mind and heart can entertain a reasonable doubt. For myself, I must say; that having for many years made the evidences of Christianity the subject of close study, the result has been a firm and increasing conviction of the authenticity and plenary inspiration of the Bible. It is indeed the Word of God.

-Simon Greenleaf

Testimonial knowledge: We discover truths through the testimony of others who already know these truths.

Can the New Testament authors be trusted to accurately reflect the events of Jesus’ life?

I. Was it their intent to be historians?

Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

-Luke 1:1-4

2. Does a level of consistency exist between the accounts that were written (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John)?

If the Gospels would have been identical to each other, word for word, this would have raised charges that the authors corroborated together.

3. Did the authors stand to make great gain out of propagating their message? (The Bias Test)

• These disciples had nothing whatsoever to gain except criticism, ostracism and ultimately death.

• They certainly did not have anything to gain financially.

• Secular historians seriously doubt that a small group of disciples and a dead Messiah could transform the Greco-Roman world.

4. Did the authors try to manipulate the material so as to cover up anything that might be embarrassing or difficult?

‘They [the Disciples] look like a bunch of self-serving, self-seeking, dull witted people a lot of the time.’

-Dr. Craig Bloomberg, The Historical Reliability of the Gospels

Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.

-John 21:25

‘If they did not feel free to leave out stuff when it would have been convenient and helpful to do so, is it really plausible to believe that they outright added and fabricated material with no historical basis?’

-Dr. Craig Bloomberg

5. How trustworthy is the author concerning the people, places, and events about which he writes?

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene…

-Luke 3:1

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here…

-Acts 17:6

Where there have been contradictions between the historical records and the Biblical accounts—archaeological discoveries have proven the Biblical account to be more accurate.

Experiential knowledge: knowledge by acquaintance.

Taste and see that the Lord is good blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.

-Psalm 34:8b

I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death...

-Philippians 3:10

Experiential knowledge alone is insufficient to determine whether something is true or false. Experience alone cannot determine truth.

Experience is subject to objective truth—what is real.

When experiential knowledge accompanies propositional knowledge, the impact is impressive.

No pit is so deep that His love is not deeper still.

-Corrie Ten Boom

Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent.

-John 17:3

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us.

-1 Corinthians 2:10-12

Discipleship: If I am going to follow Jesus, what does that mean?

First: “Dirt Road Discipleship” means that I believe that objective truth exists and is discovered in the life, words, and teachings of Jesus Christ as revealed in the Bible.

Second: “Dirt Road Discipleship” means that I commit to seek the will of God and the truth of God for every area of my life—as revealed in Scripture.

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

-2 Timothy 3:16-17

The journey of my life is to conform my life to the image of Jesus Christ—as discovered in His revelation to us.

Third: “Dirt Road Discipleship” means that I become involved in a relationship with Jesus based on truth not mere feelings.

Fourth: “Dirt Road Discipleship” means that I love the Lord Jesus with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.

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