1. LEADER PREPARATION

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1 apologetics: RESPONDING TO SPECIFIC WORLDVIEWS Lesson 4: Agnosticism This includes: 1. Leader Preparation 2. Lesson Guide 1. LEADER PREPARATION LESSON OVERVIEW Agnosticism is the worldview that states that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven. Compared to other worldviews and religions, this creates a unique challenge and a unique opportunity. In this lesson, your students will look at some key components of agnosticism and see how our world is designed with scientific clues that lead us to theological truth. LESSON OBJECTIVES 1. WHAT: When we study the teachings of agnosticism, we can see how to help people know for certain that God does exist and that they can know him personally. 2. WHY: Many people are confused about the existence of God and are deceived, but to not know the God of the universe is to miss out on an eternal relationship. 3. HOW: Your students will examine the claims of agnosticism and consider how the Bible and the world around us offer evidence to support God s existence. PRIMARY SCRIPTURE 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 SECONDARY SCRIPTUREs Job 12:7-12; Psalm 19:1-2; Ecclesiastes 3:11; Isaiah 40:26; Micah 6:8; Acts 17:16-26; Romans 1:20; 1 Corinthians 9:19-23; 2 Corinthians 4:18; Ephesians 1:5-11; Philippians 2:12-13 TEACHING PREP The overview below is designed to help you prepare for your lesson. We have included lots of content to help you prepare for the discussion on apologetics. While you may not want to convey this information word-for-word with your teenagers, you ll definitely want to refer to it as you lead and some of the content can help with further conversations with students.

2 Read 1 Corinthians 1: Agnosticism teaches that the existence of God cannot be proven or disproven. Agnosticism establishes itself on the premise of the difference between belief and knowledge. Atheism does not believe in God, while theism says our lives should be established upon the truth of God s existence. But agnosticism takes a neutral stance on the matter and believes it is a waste of time to think about such things. Consequently, agnosticism often encourages an unfavorable view toward religion. The agnostic worldview fails to give sufficient answers for many questions on how our world came about. When dealing with agnosticism, it is important to point out that the universe is an effect that would have required an equally powerful cause. There are only four possible explanations for how the universe was created. First, the universe doesn t really exist it s an illusion. This perspective is similar to the worldview of someone who holds to an extreme form of Buddhism. Second, the universe is eternal. This, too, is not possible because if the universe is made up of the material that we know it is and if the universe was eternally old, then it would have burned up all of its energy by now. Third, the universe came from nothing. It just appeared one day. However, our reason tells us that nothing cannot come from nothing something always creates something. The first law of thermodynamics says that energy cannot be created or destroyed. For there to be an effect, there must be a cause. Fourth, a divine architect created the universe. When looking at these options from a scientific perspective, it is clear that the only viable option for explaining the universe is the fourth option. When a person reaches this conclusion, he or she also is at a place of seeing that only a personal God can create humans in his image (Genesis 1:26-27) and can impart in them his personality, thought, and morality.

3 THE BEFORE & AFTER [optional] Text Message Questions We ve provided a couple of different text message questions to send out to your students prior to your meeting. Feel free to use one or both of the questions below. As with the rest of the curriculum, edit these questions to fit the needs of your ministry. Parent What are five things in this world that you are absolutely sure of? Bring this list with you when the group meets tonight. How can you respond to someone who isn t convinced God exists but also is open to the possibility? Great discussion awaits us tonight! We ve provided you with an below that you can send to parents following the lesson. Our hope is to encourage parents to continue the conversation at home. Feel free to edit and customize the to fit your ministry needs. Dear parents, Our students are continuing an extended series focused on various religions and worldviews. It s our hope and prayer that these conversations will engage our teenagers in some deep, thoughtful discussions about their faith and will help them be prepared for interactions with people of different beliefs. This week we examined the worldview of agnosticism. Agnosticism is based upon the premise that God may or may not exist. Agnostic teaching says that there is no way to prove if God exists or not, but even if we could, it wouldn t make any difference. Our students discussed how God has made himself known through his creation, and if we look closely we can see elements of his fingerprint and his design upon our lives. To keep the conversation flowing at home this week, consider asking these kinds of questions: How might you talk to someone about the existence of God by just looking out into creation?

4 In Acts 17, the Apostle Paul took time to examine the things that the Athenian culture worshipped why is this important as you consider sharing your faith or asking questions about someone s worldview? What are two or three key things you ought to do when talking to someone who holds a different worldview than you do? Our apologetics study is taking us on a great journey of discovery about other religions and worldviews, but more importantly it s helping our students consider why they believe what they do about Jesus Christ, the Bible, and their faith. Have a wonderful week!

5 apologetics: RESPONDING TO SPECIFIC WORLDVIEWS Lesson 4: Agnosticism GETTING THINGS STARTED [optional] 2. LEsson guide Welcome your students and invite them into your meeting area. Open in prayer, and then Give me some specific examples of movies, shows, and books that talk about spiritual matters not necessarily Christian themes, but spiritual themes. Why do so many movies, shows, and books discuss spiritual matters? What does this say about the spiritual appetite of our culture? What do you think is causing this increased appetite of spiritual entertainment? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: The reason we see so many movies, shows, songs, and books about spiritual matters is because, as King Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3, we all have eternity written on our hearts. We were created with a longing to know that there is something greater in this universe than us. Our culture will not stop making movies about spiritual things because people will always be asking questions about spiritual matters. Today we re looking at a worldview that doesn t always know how to respond to this deep longing. Agnosticism doesn t deny the existence of God, but it also doesn t affirm that God exists. As Christians we can understand the core of what others believe, know what Christianity teaches, and learn how to skillfully share the message of Jesus with others. TEACHING POINTS The goal of the Teaching Points is to help students capture the essence of each lesson with more discussion and less lecture-style teaching. The main points we have chosen are (1) Considering the existence of God, (2) Making known what is unknown, and (3) Discovering the meaning of life. Remember: All throughout these lessons, it s up to you to choose (1) how many questions you use, and (2) the wording of the main points keep ours, or change the wording to make it clearer for your audience.

6 Read 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 together as a group. Consider dividing verses among your students so everyone has a chance to read. SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Unlike atheism, agnosticism keeps the question of God s existence open-ended. Atheism stands opposed to the idea of God because within that worldview, there is no way to prove if God exists. Agnosticism, however, focuses its attention on the idea that we can neither prove nor disprove the existence of God. Let s see what we can learn from this Scripture and other passages in the Bible about our response to the agnostic worldview. 1. Considering the existence of God Tell us five things in this world that you re absolutely sure of. How can you be certain of these things? How do you know you re not imagining, or being fooled? How does this passage from 1 Corinthians 1 address agnostic teaching that encourages people to make up their own mind about God and establish a worldview on what they believe they can and cannot know? What s the difference between human wisdom and God s wisdom? If God knew that we would never know him through human wisdom, how might we respond to philosophies that have no place for God? Verse 25 gives a strong message about God s sovereignty and power. What are some examples of great things humans have done, and how do those things compare to what God has done? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: How we view God affects the way we think, which in turn impacts the way we live our lives. If there is no God, then we are free to live however we want, without any concern about eternal consequences. However, if there is a God and if God has certain standards for us, then there are great implications on obeying or disobeying him. And if there is a God, what is he like? What is his personality like? Is he loving? Does he demand discipline or is he lenient? Agnostic teaching claims that God cannot be proven or disproven just as a purple, polka-dot lion running around the surface of Venus cannot be proven or disproven. The probability of such a creature is extremely low, but from an agnostic perspective,

7 it doesn t matter if it exists or not. Agnosticism does not strive to seek whether or not there is a God because in agnosticism the question is not critical. But the fact that an agnostic cannot be sure whether God exists makes it reasonable for that person to consider Christianity. By this perspective, agnostics should not reject Christianity; rather they ought to explore Christianity. [NOTE: If your group has had conversations built around other lessons in this LIVE Apologetics volume, consider referencing some of those discussions particularly ones about who Jesus is and why we can trust the Bible.] Read Psalm 19:1-2, Isaiah 40:26, and Romans 1:20. What evidence do you see in creation that points to God as the author of life? How might you talk to someone about the existence of God by just looking out into creation? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: It is highly unlikely that a random act brought about the world, animals, and humans. The highly complex systems that are needed for life to be sustained, the complex system of brain function, a person s autoimmune system these are all indicators that there must be a divine architect who fashioned us together. One key attribute of humans that points to a divine creator is the presence of certain emotions. What is the mood like at a funeral service? Why? What causes people to experience those kinds of emotions? Read Ecclesiastes 3:11. What does it mean that God planted eternity in the human heart? What difference does it make if God planted eternity in our hearts or not? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Agnosticism teaches that everything we are as humans is the result of an evolutionary process. However, by looking at Ecclesiastes 3:11 and observing a typical funeral service, we can infer that God has planted eternity upon our hearts and that our hearts were made to be united for eternity. We were never intended to be separate. Before Adam and Eve sinned in the Garden of Eden, they experienced perfect union with God and with each other. After sin entered the world, separation occurred and ever since then, death and separation have created emotions such as grief, distress, and sorrow. So fundamentally speaking, emotions

8 like grief are proof that not only is there a God, but we wear the fingerprint of the divine as his creation. 2. Making known what is unknown SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Many things in this world are unexplainable in human terms. How does a flower really blossom? How do birds know when to head south for the winter, and how did they ever learn which direction is south? Fortunately, we have the wisdom of God s Word. Scripture affirms for us that creation never stops speaking and if we let it, creation will always cry out and declare the majesty of God. Read Job 12:7-12. How can the bushes of the earth teach you about God? What processes in nature fascinate you, and how can those processes point to a God who is our Lord and creator? SAY SOMETHING LIKE: Agnostic teaching says that if you cannot see something, hear something, or hold something in a tangible way, then it probably doesn t exist. But not being able to see or hold something specific does not disprove its existence. If that were the case, then we could not believe in gravity, entropy, or reason and thought. In the book of Acts we read about a time the Apostle Paul used the culture of Athens to address some profound spiritual truths. Read Acts 17: Why might people build a shrine to an Unknown God? How is the Athenian shrine to an unknown God similar to modern-day agnostic teaching? What evidence does Paul start with when discussing this Unknown God, and why is this an important strategy? When Paul said that God doesn t live in manmade temples and that human hands can t serve his needs, what was Paul declaring about God? Paul took time to examine the things that the Athenian culture worshipped why is this important as you consider sharing your faith or asking questions about someone s worldview? Read 2 Corinthians 4:18. How will unseen things be made visible to us?

9 SAY SOMETHING LIKE: This Unknown God must have caused confusion for some people. If they had no idea who the God was, then there was no way they would know what that particular God did. Paul focused his audience s attention on something seen to expose what was unseen. The beauty, majesty, and grandeur of our world provide a great platform for people to gaze at as they contemplate the existence of a righteous God. 3. Discovering the meaning of life SAY SOMETHING LIKE: What is the meaning of life? Agnosticism says that God might not exist, but if there is no God, does life have purpose? Why are we here? When we look for the significance or point of our lives, we are basically asking why we exist. Where did I come from? What is the significance of my life s experiences? How should I spend my life? Read Philippians 2: How can you live out the keys to life that the Apostle Paul mentioned this passage? Why would we strive to live a life of pleasing God? Will God love us more if we please him, or is there another reason to pursue this? Read Ephesians 1:5-11. How does this passage of Scripture help you understand the meaning of life? Read Micah 6:8. What might it look like for you to live out this verse? Be as specific as possible. SAY SOMETHING LIKE: If we have a worldview that keeps us at the center of existence, then we have a limited perspective on what life is all about. Walking with Jesus gives us an opportunity to see life from an eternal perspective, and the key is to stay focused on that eternal perspective. Life is not meaningless; God does exist, and he has a wonderful plan to redeem us and allow us to enjoy him for the rest of eternity. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION [optional] SAY SOMETHING LIKE: It s important to keep in mind that when talking with someone who adheres to agnostic teaching, this person isn t convinced God doesn t exist; they re just saying they aren t sure if God exists or not. This nuance can be an open door into conversation about faith.

10 What pop culture elements movies, books, songs, TV shows could you potentially use as a platform to enter into spiritual conversations, just as the Apostle Paul did in Athens with the shrine to an Unknown God? How could you use this element and what might you say if you were able to use it as a platform to talk to someone who is not a Christian? Read 1 Corinthians 9: How can Paul s example help you as you take steps toward talking with people who adhere to other religions or worldviews? APPLICATION Ask students to form groups of two or three for these questions. What are two or three key things you ought to do when talking to someone who holds a different worldview than you do? What are two or three concepts from today s conversation that will equip you when talking to someone about agnosticism and Christianity? Bring everyone back together, and ask students to share some of their answers to the previous questions, as time permits. SUMMARY End your lesson here. Provide your teenagers with a quick summary or take-home challenge based on (1) the content of this lesson, (2) the dialogue that took place during the lesson, (3) your understanding of the issues and struggles your teenagers are facing, and (4) the big picture of your youth ministry and what your leadership team wants accomplished with the teaching and discussion time. FOR KEEPS [MEMORY VERSE] Encourage and/or challenge your teenagers to memorize the verse below. As I was walking along I saw your many shrines. And one of your altars had this inscription on it: To an Unknown God. This God, whom you worship without knowing, is the one I m telling you about (Acts 17:23).