calvary updates 09/04/2026
One, would be that Jesus trusted it. From Matthew 5, we read: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished"(vss, 17,18). Scripture is upheld as an enduring eternal standard.
Two, Jesus commended those who taught others to follow it.
"Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven" (Matthew 5:19).
Three, the accounts of the gospels are based on eyewitness accounts.
"That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. 2The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us" (I John 1:1,2).
Four, the New Testament events are not fictional stories or imagined legends to bolster a belief in a deified Jesus.
C.S. Lewis says on reading the gospels, "I have been reading poems, romances, vision literature, legends and myths all my life. I know what they are like. I know none of them are like this. Of this [gospel] text there are only two possible views. Either this is reportage...or else, some unknown [ancient] writer...without known predecessors or successors, suddenly anticipated the whole technique of modern novelistic, realistic narrative" (Christian Reflections (1967), p. 155).
Five, the content is too counterproductive to be legend or falsified accounts
Timothy Keller said, "The working theory of many today is the gospels were written by the leaders of the early church to promote their policies. consolidate their power, and build their movement" (The Reason for God (2008), p. 108). I will summarize some of his main points to refute this. 1) If you're trying to enhance the perspective on Jesus, why would you make up the crucifixion. Only criminals were executed in that way. 2) If you wanted to enhance your leadership status, why would Peter include his denial of Jesus. 3) If you were crafting a story and you wanted to bolster the credibility of the resurrection as an actual event, you would not have women be the first ones to see Jesus. Women had such a low status in that culture that their testimony was not admissible in court. The only reason you would record the story in that way is because you felt bound to give the story exactly as it happened.
Six, there is not a huge time gap between the actually events and the New Testament records
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John were all written at the most 40-60 years after Jesus' death. Paul's letters were written just 15-25 years after Jesus' death. The truth is there were numerous eyewitnesses still alive when the gospels were recorded. See I Corinthians 15. These eyewitnesses, both believers and especially antagonists, would be ever at the ready to pounce on any falsehood. Two eyewitness are referred to in Mark 15:21: "A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." Why include the names of Alexander and Rufus? Because Mark was welcoming the scrutiny of any of his readers to doublecheck his facts.
Seventh, the authors recognized the hand of God on what they wrote
The Apostle Paul writes, All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work (2 Timothy 3:16,17, ESV).
I hope that helps you as you speak to others and give a logical account of the "hope that is in you" (I Peter 3:15).
Sunday September 6th Sunday School at 9:15 and Worship at 10:30 AM.
Our message this Sunday comes from I John 3 and is entitled Two Types of Children, Two Types of Lives, the key verse is from verse 10, This is how we know who the children of God are and who the children of the devil are: Anyone who does not do what is right is not God’s child, nor is anyone who does not love their brother and sister.
How's you encouragement meter registering? Come and receive some encouragement from one of our Sunday School. The first class will be going into I Kings to see how sin divided a nation. Our second study is, "Connecting with Others Like Jesus Did." Don't forget our donuts and coffee at 9:15 AM.
Song you will hear this Sunday
Men's Breakfast Saturday, September 5th, 8:30 AM
Peoria Chief's Baseball Game Saturday, Sept 5th at 7 PM.
Flourish Tuesday, September 8th, 10-12 noon
Prayer Wednesday, September 9th, 5:30-6:30 PM
Harvest Festival , Friday, October 9th, 5:30 PM
Today's readings were: I Samuel 28•I Corinthians 9 | Ezekiel 7•Psalm 45. If you are looking for a different reading plan, you might enjoy:
In his fear, what prophet did Saul ask to conjured up from the dead?
Thanks for checking in with us!
In Jesus joy,
Pastor Frank Winfrey
cell: 309-645-9621
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