We talk about belief a lot in our culture. But what do we actually mean by it? In this session we look at what "belief" means in the context of the Resurrection. It is not just a passive bit of knowledge that sits in your head like the year WW2 ended. It is transformative, and is more something you do than something you think. #practiceresurrection

1. What Does it
Mean
to Believe in the
Resurrection?
Part 1: Belief
Acts 10:34-43

2. Change Gear
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FtUNQpu2b7Q

3. Gratitude
For what are you grateful?

4. Then Peter began to speak to them: ‘I truly understand that God shows
no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what
is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the
people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all.
That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the
baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth
with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and
healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We
are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They
put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the
third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who
were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him
after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the
people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the
living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone
who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.’

5. What Does it
Say?
• Emotional reaction
• What’s the setting?
• Who are the characters?
• How would you summarize it?
• What happened before/after?
• What scriptural references do
you pick up?

6. Focus
They put him to death by hanging him on
a tree; but God raised him on the third day
and allowed him to appear, not to all the
people but to us who were chosen by God
as witnesses, and who ate and drank with
him after he rose from the dead.
Acts 10:39b-41

7. What Does it
Mean?

8. Did the Resurrection
Happen?
• Give me an argument for
• Give me an argument against

9. "The plain consequence is (and it is a general maxim
worthy of our attention), 'That no testimony is sufficient
to establish a miracle, unless the testimony be of such
a kind, that its falsehood would be more miraculous,
than the fact, which it endeavours to establish….’
When anyone tells me, that he saw a dead man
restored to life, I immediately consider with myself,
whether it be more probable, that this person should
either deceive or be deceived, or that the fact, which
he relates, should really have happened. I weigh the
one miracle against the other; and according to the
superiority, which I discover, I pronounce my decision,
and always reject the greater miracle. If the falsehood
of his testimony would be more miraculous, than the
event which he relates; then, and not till then, can he
pretend to command my belief or opinion.“
David Hume C.18th Philosopher

10. “I know the resurrection is a fact, and
Watergate proved it to me. How?
Because 12 men testified they had seen
Jesus raised from the dead, then they
proclaimed that truth for 40 years, never
once denying it. Every one was beaten,
tortured, stoned and put in prison. They
would not have endured that if it weren't
true. Watergate embroiled 12 of the most
powerful men in the world-and they
couldn't keep a lie for three weeks.
You're telling me 12 apostles could keep
a lie for 40 years? Absolutely
impossible.”
― Charles Colson

11. You Pays Your Money and You
Takes Your Choice?
Epistemology 101
• Opinion
• Belief
• True Belief
Given the impossibility of empirical verification,
what sort of justification is available for belief
or disbelief in the resurrection?

12. Parti Pris
What you find plausible justification
will depend on your prior
commitments – your parti pris. There
is nothing rationally inescapable
about either perspective
(Read A Secular Age by Charles
Taylor for much, much more on this)

13. Critical Realism
• Knowledge of the real world
is possible, but difficult
• There are different levels of
reality, for which different
questions are appropriate
• How would you “explain” the
Mona Lisa?

14. Tacit Knowledge
How do scientists deal with the knowledge
that some of the things they believe are not
true – but they don’t know which ones?
They believe in the community practicing
science – who hold each other accountable
and face towards truth – A community of
practice - Michael Polanyi

15. Church
• Community of practice
• Orient one another towards
the truth of the Gospel
• the beloved disciple saying
“look! It’s Jesus” to one
another
• It’s like learning to wield a
surgeon’s scalpel from a
master

16. “Believe” in the Resurrection
• Not (merely) having an
opinion about whether it
happened or not
• Axis of transformation
• It becomes something which
is believable as your parti pris
changes
• Which makes it hard to
explain to outsiders

17. How To Practice
Resurrection
• Immerse yourself in the
story
• We live in stories first, and they
determine what we find
plausible
• Worship
• Enactment
• Eucharist
• Holy Week journey
• Spiritual practices
• Community where we point
Jesus out to one another

18. What
Does it
Mean to
Me?

19. Does It Matter?
• What is its existential significance?
• It only matters if it transforms you – if Jesus Christ really is
the risen lord in our life together, and our lives individually.

20. Reflective
Questions
• Do you really want it to
transform you?
• What would it be like if it
really happened?
• What demands might it make
on you?

21. Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Save us from the time of trial
and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and for ever. Amen.

22. In the deserts of this world, may you find signs
of God. In the wilderness of your lives, may you
be encouraged by God. In your joy and in your
sorrow, may you rejoice in God. a
And the blessing of God, the Father, the Son
and the Holy Spirit be amongst us and remain
with us ever more. Amen