{"id":2985,"date":"2023-09-07T19:08:48","date_gmt":"2023-09-07T19:08:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2985"},"modified":"2023-09-14T19:04:54","modified_gmt":"2023-09-14T19:04:54","slug":"10-september-2023-how-do-we-know-that-god-exists","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2985","title":{"rendered":"10 September 2023: How do we know that God exists? (part 1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"396\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2531 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724.jpg 396w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724-300x258.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724-24x21.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724-36x31.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/20220724-48x41.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 396px) 100vw, 396px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>10 September 2023<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2973\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2991\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cWhen a live coal falls out from the hearth it soon goes cold and eventually goes out. Likewise to stay hot for Jesus, we all need to be in fellowship with one another. Do not neglect to assemble together to encourage and bless each other, giving the Lord Jesus all the glory.\u201d<br><\/em><br>Stella<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"No Longer Slaves (Official Lyric Video) - Jonathan David and Melissa Helser | We Will Not Be Shaken\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/f8TkUMJtK5k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><sup>Songwriters: Jonathan David Helser, Brian Mark Johnson, Joel D Case. For non-commercial use only.<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>How do we know that God exists?<\/strong> Before reading further, write some answers on a piece of paper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>(1) All people have an inner sense of God<\/em><\/strong> &#8211; but as we have seen in our studies in Romans especially in Romans 1:18-32 people know God but do not glorify Him as God or give thanks to Him (Rom. 1:21). They exchange the truth of God for a lie (Rom. 1:25) and suppress the truth of God by their wickedness. So sin within is the cause of people denying this inner sense of God such that they do not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God (Rom. 1:28). This is clear in the Old Testament (OT) also, which speaks very bluntly about this e.g.,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>The fool says in his heart there is no God.<\/p>\n<cite>Psalm 14:1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>The Lord obviously wants us to get this message for He repeats this Psalm almost word for word in Psalm 53. The more wickedness within the heart and mind the less room for the Lord, e.g., the arrogant wicked man:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u2026 in all his thoughts there is no room for God.<\/p>\n<cite>Psalm 10:4<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cSome people deny that they have an inner sense of God. But their awareness of God will often make itself evident in a time of personal crisis \u2026 Several years ago I was a passenger in a car with several friends, including a young woman who in conversation was firmly denying that she had any inner awareness of God\u2019s existence. Shortly thereafter the car hit a patch of ice and spun around in a complete circle at high speed. Before the car came to rest in a large snow bank (with no serious damage) this same woman could be heard distinctly calling out, \u201cLord Jesus, please help us!\u201d The rest of us looked at her in amazement when we realised that her agnosticism had been disproved by words from her own mouth.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Wayne Grudem (in his book &#8220;Systematic Theology&#8221;)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next week we will look at:<br><strong><em>(2) The evidence that is found in creation <\/em><\/strong><br><strong><em>(3) The evidence found in Scripture.&nbsp;<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cAtheism is rather in the lip than in the heart of man.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Francis Bacon<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse<\/strong><strong> of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>God said to Moses, \u201cI AM WHO I AM\u201d.<\/p>\n<cite>Exodus 3:14<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Father in heaven, thank You that You have not left Yourself without witness. Thank You for the witness we have within that You exist in Jesus Christ Name, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome \u201cWhen a live coal falls out from the hearth it soon goes cold and eventually goes out. Likewise to stay hot for Jesus, we all need to be in fellowship with one another. Do not neglect to assemble together to encourage and bless each other, giving the Lord Jesus all the glory.\u201dStella Worship Word &#8230; <a title=\"10 September 2023: How do we know that God exists? (part 1)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2985\" aria-label=\"Read more about 10 September 2023: How do we know that God exists? (part 1)\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-2985","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2985","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2985"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2985\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2999,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2985\/revisions\/2999"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2985"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}