New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church

The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ

30 min · 10. mai 2026
episode The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ cover

Beskrivelse

Of the basic contours of the life of Jesus Christ, many scholars shed great doubt on the historicity of Jesus Christ’s resurrection. But what if there was a strong proof? A sermon on the credal statement from 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 Sermon outline: I. If Christ is risen nothing else matters. II. The disciples genuinely believed in Christ’s resurrection. III. The only explanation for the church is the resurrection of Jesus Christ IV. Christ is risen indeed V. Nothing else matters Quotes:  There was indeed a resurrection. I simply cannot explain why Christianity began without it. I’ve already said there were many other Messianic or would-be messianic movements around in the first century. Routinely, they ended with the violent death of the founder. After that, what happens? The followers either all get killed as well, or if there any of them left, they have a choice. They either quit the revolution, or they find themselves another messiah. We have examples of people doing both. If Jesus had died and stayed dead, they would either have given up the movement, or they would have found another messiah. Something extraordinary happened which convinced them that Jesus was the Messiah. -NT Wright I know on their own terms what they saw was the raised Jesus. That’s what they say and then all the historic evidence we have afterwards attest to their conviction that that’s what they saw. I’m not saying that they really did see the raised Jesus. I wasn’t there. I don’t know what they saw. But I do know as a historian that they must have seen something. -Paula Fredriksen The crucifixion proved beyond any doubt that Jesus was not the Messiah. But then something equally dramatic happened. The disciples came to believe that he was raised from the dead. That showed them that God had showered his special favor on Jesus. That meant he was not cursed by God (as one hanging on a tree) but was the one specially blessed by God. And that is absolutely the key to the disciples’ subsequent train of thought. -Bart Ehrman Since the beginning of my philosophical life I have followed the policy of Plato’s Socrates: We must follow the argument wherever it leads. The latest work I have seen shows that the present physical universe gives too little time for these theories of abiogenesis to get the job done. The philosophical question that has not been answered in origin-of-life studies is this: How can a universe of mindless matter produce beings with intrinsic ends, self-replication capabilities, and ‘coded chemistry’? Here we are not dealing with biology, but an entirely different category of problem. The evidence for the resurrection is better than for claimed miracles in any other religion. It’s outstandingly different in quality and quantity, I think, from the evidence offered for the occurrence of most other supposedly miraculous events. -Antony Flew Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 15:1-22 Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, 2 and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, 4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as to one untimely born, he appeared also to me. 9 For I am the least of the apostles, unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me. 11 Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed. 12 Now if Christ is proclaimed as raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is in vain and your faith is in vain. 15 We are even found to be misrepresenting God, because we testified about God that he raised Christ, whom he did not raise if it is true that the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile and you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ have perished. 19 If in Christ we have hope in this life only, we are of all people most to be pitied. 20 But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep. 21 For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. 22 For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/5-10-26-The-Historicity-of-the-Resurrection-of-Christ-1-Corinthians-15-1-22.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/05/2026-5-10-Easter-6.pdf] “The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, May 10, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/]. The post The Historicity of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/the-historicity-of-the-resurrection-of-jesus-christ/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

Kommentarer

0

Vær den første til å kommentere

Registrer deg nå og bli medlem av New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church sitt community!

Prøv gratis

Prøv gratis i 14 dager

99 kr / Måned etter prøveperioden. · Avslutt når som helst.

  • Eksklusive podkaster
  • 20 timer lydbøker i måneden
  • Gratis podkaster

Alle episoder

181 Episoder

episode 5. The Church of Christ cover

5. The Church of Christ

Many Americans are lonely and lacking connection and belonging, and the Church is created by God to provide these very things for us. But how do we make a church that helps and does not harm? A sermon on the description of the church in Acts 2:42-47 Sermon quotes: Luke here says that those were gathered into the Church that would be saved. For he teaches that this is the means to attain salvation, if we are incorporated into the Church. For as like as there is no remission of sins, so neither is there any hope of salvation. -John Calvin, 16th c. They frequently joined in the ordinance of the Lord’s supper. They continued in the breaking of bread, in celebrating that memorial of their Master’s death, as those that were not ashamed to own their relation to, and their dependence upon, Christ and him crucified. They could not forget the death of Christ, yet they kept up this memorial of it, and made it their constant practice, because it was an institution of Christ, to be transmitted to the succeeding ages of the church. -Matthew Henry, 17th c. One might perhaps say that the Holy Spirit opened a school in Jerusalem that day; its teachers were the apostles whom Jesus had appointed; and there were 3,000 pupils in the kindergarten! -John Stott Scripture text: Acts 2:42-48  And they were devoting themselves to the Apostles’ teaching and to the Communion, namely, the breaking of bread, and to the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-12-26-The-Church-of-Christ-Acts-2-42-47.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-7-12-Pentecost-7.pdf] “The Church of Christ” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, July 12, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/]. The post 5. The Church of Christ [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/5-the-church-of-christ/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

I går33 min
episode 4. The Message of Christ cover

4. The Message of Christ

Many things compete for our attention and devotion. While these things can scratch our itches they can never fully satisfy. A sermon on Peter’s sermon on Pentecost. Outline:  I. The veracity of the message II. The simplicity of the message III. The inclusivity of the message IV. The power of the message Quotes: And, if you please, let us compare those expressions in the Gospel, that you may learn what a sudden change has taken place in Peter. “A damsel,” it is written, “came out unto him, saying, ‘Thou also wast with Jesus of Nazareth.’” And, says he, “I know not the Man.” And being again questioned, “he began to curse and to swear.” But see here his boldness, and his great freedom of speech. “Even this Jesus, Whom ye crucified.” He does well to end with this, thereby agitating their minds. For when he has shown how great it is, he has then exposed their daring deed, so as to show it to be greater, and to possess them with terror. For men are not so much attracted by benefits as they are chastened by fear. -St. John Chrysostom, 4th c. The prophet doth signify that there shall be no difference of age or kind, but that God admitteth all, one with another, unto the partaking of his grace. It is said, therefore, all flesh, because both young and old, men and women, are thereby signified. -John Calvin, 16th c. Now it is proper for an Israelite, when he is by baptism to come into a new dispensation of this covenant, to ask, “What must be done with my children? Must they be thrown out, or taken in with me?” “Taken in” (says Peter) “by all means; for the promise, that great promise of God’s being to you a God, is as much to you and to your children now as ever it was.” -Matthew Henry, 18th c. The argument in a nutshell is simply this: God established His Church in the days of Abraham and put children into it. They must remain there until He puts them out. He has nowhere put them out. They are still then members of His Church and as such entitled to its ordinances. -B. B. Warfield, 1899 Scripture text: Acts 2: 2:14-41 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17 “‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; 18 even on my male servants and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 19 And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; 20 the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 21 And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’ 22 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— 23 this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men. 24 God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. 25 For David says concerning him, “‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; 26 therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. 27 For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. 28 You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’ 29 “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. 32 This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. 33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/7-5-26-The-Message-of-Christ-Acts-2-14-41.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/2026-7-5-Pentecost-6.pdf] “The Message of Christ” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, July 5, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/].   The post 4. The Message of Christ [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/4-the-message-of-christ/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

5. juli 202636 min
episode Love Is Not Jealous cover

Love Is Not Jealous

As Shakespeare famously wrote in Othello, Envy is the green eyed monster. Envy or jealousy is not the way of true love. Quotes: O, beware, my lord, of jealousy; It is the green-eyed monster which doth mock The meat it feeds on – William Shakespeare, Othello III.iii All of life is gift. – Alexander Schmeman, For the Life of the World What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. – James 4:1-3 But I like not these great successes of yours; for I know how jealous are the gods. – Herodotus One of the tortures of jealousy is, that it can never turn away its eyes from the thing that pains it. – George Eliot Scripture text: 1 Corinthians 13 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known. 13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-28-26-Love-Is-Not-Jealous-Steve-Froehlich.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-6-28-Pentecost-5.pdf] “Love Is Not Jealous” preached by Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Steve Froehlich, Sunday, June 28, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/]. The post Love Is Not Jealous [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/love-is-not-jealous/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

28. juni 202630 min
episode 3. The Spirit of Christ cover

3. The Spirit of Christ

What if the Creator of the universe came to live in our own bodies? That’s exactly the claim of Christianity, and the Holy Spirit empowers each Christian believer. A sermon on the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost. Sermon outline: I. The miracle of the Spirit II. The moment of the Spirit III. The meaning of the Spiri Sermon text: Acts 2:1-16, 36-41 When the day of Pentecost arrived, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 And divided tongues as of fire appeared to them and rested on each one of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance. 5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men from every nation under heaven. 6 And at this sound the multitude came together, and they were bewildered, because each one was hearing them speak in his own language. 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.” 12 And all were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 But others mocking said, “They are filled with new wine.” 14 But Peter, standing with the eleven, lifted up his voice and addressed them: “Men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and give ear to my words. 15 For these people are not drunk, as you suppose, since it is only the third hour of the day. 16 But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel. 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” 38 And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” 40 And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” 41 So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-21-26-The-Spirit-of-Christ-Acts-2-1-41.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-6-21-Pentecost-4.pdf] “The Spirit of Christ” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, June 21, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/]. The post 3. The Spirit of Christ [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/3-the-spirit-of-christ/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

21. juni 202635 min
episode 2. The Ministry of Christ cover

2. The Ministry of Christ

Church leaders often sin and harm those they lead. But this does not invalidate Christ’s design for the church. A sermon on Acts 1:12-26, the calling of Mathaias. Sermon outline:  I. The source of Church hurt is not Christ’s design, but sinful humans II. God himself will deal with bad pastors III. The church is to continue to appoint godly leaders IV. All of this is brought about by prayer Quotes:  Many are numbered with the saints in this world that will not be found among them in the day of separation between the precious and the vile. What will it avail us to be added to the number of Christians, if we partake not of the spirit and nature of Christians? Judas’s having obtained part of this ministry was but an aggravation of his sin and ruin, as it will be of theirs who prophesied in Christ’s name, and yet were workers of iniquity. -Matthew Henry, 18th c. Luke expresses two things that are proper to true prayer, namely, that they did persist, and that they were all of one mind. This was an exercise of their patience, in that Christ did make them wait awhile, when he could have sent the Holy Spirit right away; so God oftentimes delays, and, as it were, suffer us to languish, that he may accustom us to persevere. The hastiness of our petitions is corrupt, indeed a hurtful plague; wherefore it is no marvel if God do sometimes correct the same. In the meantime, as I have said, he exercises us to be constant in prayer. Therefore, if we will not pray in vain, let us not be wearied by the passing of time. -John Calvin, 16th c. Scripture text: Acts 1:12-26 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 And when they had entered, they went up to the upper room, where they were staying, Peter and John and James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot and Judas the son of James. 14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers. 15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, 16 “Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” 18 (Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. 19 And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms, “‘May his camp become desolate, and let there be no one to dwell in it’; and “‘Let another take his office.’ 21 So one of the men who have accompanied us during all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day when he was taken up from us—one of these men must become with us a witness to his resurrection.” 23 And they put forward two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also called Justus, and Matthias. 24 And they prayed and said, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this ministry and apostleship from which Judas turned aside to go to his own place.” 26 And they cast lots for them, and the lot fell on Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. Sermon Transcript [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/6-14-26-The-Ministry-of-Christ-Acts-1-12-26.pdf] Liturgy Bulletin [https://newlifeithaca.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/2026-6-14-Pentecost-3.pdf] “The Ministry of Christ” preached by Rev. Dr. Timothy R. LeCroy, Sunday, June 14, 2026 at 10:00AM at New Life Presbyterian Church in Ithaca, NY. Come see the beautiful Finger Lakes region, and worship God with us. www.newlifeithaca.org [https://newlifeithaca.org/]. Sermon music is from “We Will Feast in the House of Zion” provided by Sandra McCracken and with her permission. www.sandramccracken.com [http://www.sandramccracken.com/]. The post 2. The Ministry of Christ [https://newlifeithaca.org/sermons/2-the-ministry-of-christ/] first appeared on New Life Ithaca Presbyterian Church [https://newlifeithaca.org].

14. juni 202630 min