The Jesus Documents

The Jesus Documents: Part IV – Extra-Biblical Evidence

By in Teaching & Study, The Jesus Documents

Having looked at the New Testament documents – and particularly the four Gospels – as reliable historical records of the existence, life and teachings of Jesus, we now want to briefly consider evidence outside the pages of these documents which help corroborate their record. A common misconception and erroneous criticism about Christianity is that there is no evidence outside the New Testament about Jesus. We hope to illustrate the error of that view in this message.

Below I have reproduced a short form of my Part IV – Extra-Biblical Evidence outline. If you want to skip the outline and just listen to the audio of this sermon, you can go directly to the page I have created for The Jesus Documentshere.Continue Reading

The Jesus Documents: Part III – Their Authorship

By in Apologetics, Teaching & Study, The Jesus Documents

The New Testament documents, and specifically the four Gospels, have withstood the test of almost 2,000 years of intense scrutiny, criticism, and efforts to discredit them as historical records. And a significant part of this discrediting effort involve questions about their authorship.

In this third lesson in our series we want to spend a little time talking about this issue, and the confidence we can have in their trustworthy nature. Below I have reproduced a short form of Part III – Their Authorship outline. If you want to skip the outline and just listen to the audio of the sermon, you can go directly to the page I have created forThe Jesus Documentshere.

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The Jesus Documents: Part II – The Sources

By in Apologetics, Series, The Jesus Documents

This is Part II of “The Jesus Documents,” a series presented to inform and remind believers that our faith in Jesus and the Gospel records is justified and well founded. Our intent in this series is not to give an exhaustive or overly in-depth presentation of all the evidence in support of our confidence, but an overview to build confidence and encourage more study by those willing. (You can email us at rcravy@effectivebiblestudy.com if you want a list of great resources.)

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” (I Peter 3:15) Many, perhaps most, believers are unable to articulate good reasons for their faith.Continue Reading

The Jesus Documents: Part I – An Introduction

By in Apologetics, Series, The Jesus Documents


In 2013 I presented a series of lessons I called “The Jesus Documents.” This was eight lessons reminding the church that we can trust the New Testament as a historical record concerning Jesus.

I have noted before that Apologetics (or “Christian Evidences“) are an important part of my teaching routine. The world is constantly hammering away at our faith in the truthfulness and reliability of the Bible records. And I believe in regularly educating our people about the both the evidence for and reasonableness of believing the Bible.Continue Reading