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- Step 2
- Step 3
- Step 4
- Step 5
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GETTING STARTED
Loading the player...The Bible says that the universe in which we live is like a giant loud speaker, shouting out for our attention; that the sky at night is like a great big signpost from God, pointing out something very important, “look” they say, “listen”!
Have you ever said to yourself if I was God I'd make myself a little bit clearer, I'd shout just a little bit louder?
- Examine the evidence
- Look where it's pointing
- Listen to what it's saying
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PIT STOP
Have a go at answering the questions below on your own.
A great big accident or a great big God; where do you think the evidence is pointing?
Whichever way you think the evidence is pointing, don’t be mistaken into thinking that all scientists believe that the evidence points away from a creator God.
What could a star-filled sky tell you about a God who made them?
The Milky Way Galaxy contains more than 200 billion stars but it’s quite a small galaxy really and there are thought to be over 100 billion more galaxies. Wow! If the universe has been created by God, imagine how awesomely powerful and brilliantly creative God must be.
If there is a creator God, what would he have to do, to prove to you he was real?
Next stepMany people answer this question by saying ‘come to earth in person’. The Bible claims that God has already done just that; Jesus was God on earth, in human form.
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BACK ON TRACK
Loading the player...Why do you sometimes feel guilty when you do something wrong? Why do you sometimes pray to a God you don’t really believe in? The things we do, the way we are; they’re like signposts within us pointing us to a God who made us this way.
Have you ever wondered why we do the things we do? Why human beings are the way we are?
- Signposts around us
- Signposts within us
- Signposts in front of us
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FINDING DIRECTION
Crowds of people often followed Jesus around; if Jesus was in town, then nobody would want to miss out. Some wanted to hear him teach, others to see a miracle, some to find out more and others to make fun. But who was this amazing man called Jesus?
Luke Chapter 19 verse 1-10
Zacchaeus the Tax Collector1Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he could not see over the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way.
5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today.” 6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.
7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be the guest of a sinner.”
8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”
9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society ® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Why do you think little Zacchaeus, made such a big effort to see who Jesus was? (v3-4)
News was travelling fast that Jesus was somebody very special. He’d been saying and doing some amazing things. Everyone was talking about his healings and other miracles, the kind of things that ordinary people can’t do. Zacchaeus wanted to see this Jesus; he wanted to know who Jesus really was.
Though they had never met, Jesus called “Zacchaeus” by name. (v5) What could this tell you about the true identity of Jesus?
The fact that Jesus knew who Zacchaeus was helps us to see who Jesus is. This is just one of many occasions when Jesus proved that he had supernatural powers. He was doing the kind of things you’d expect God to do if he came to earth in person. It also shows us that God is personal and relational; he cares about individuals.
Zacchaeus was selfish, deceitful and unpopular. Why do you think Jesus chose to go round to his house?
Jesus was showing that no-one is too bad to be changed by God’s power.
Why were the people complaining and muttering about what Jesus did? (v7)
It’s not surprising really. If God came to earth, you wouldn’t expect him to hang out with all the bad people, would you?
How do we know that this was a life-changing moment for Zacchaeus? (v8-9)
The proof that Zacchaeus had been changed was seen by his actions. He gave back more than he had taken.
Do you know anybody whose life has been changed by Jesus?
Adam the presenter of this course is just one of many. If you do know someone, then ask them to tell you their story.
If Jesus was interested in someone like Zacchaeus, then don’t you think he might be interested in someone like you?
Next stepAt the end of this story Jesus tells us that his mission on earth was to find and save ‘lost people’. If you are feeling lost in your search for the meaning to life and the truth about God, then maybe the reason you are doing this course is because Jesus has come looking for you too.
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ARE WE THERE YET?
Loading the player...More significant than Zacchaeus looking out for Jesus, was that fact that Jesus had come looking for him.
Of all the billions of people in the world today, why is it you that is listening to these words? Maybe it's a sign, a sign that God has come looking for you.