The Christ Files

In The Christ Files, a four-session small group Bible study, scholar John Dickson examines the Christian faith through a historical look at the Christian faith and life of Jesus from both Scriptural and other non-Bible documentation. Unique among the worlds religions, the central claims of Christianity concern not just timeless spiritual truths, but tangible historical events as well. Historian John Dickson examines Christianitys claims in the light of history, opening you and your group to a wealth of ancient sources and explaining how mainstream scholars whether or not they claim Christian Faith personally reach their conclusions about historys most influential figure, Jesus of Nazareth. In The Christ Files, Dickson skillfully highlights sources and historical methods used to study Christianitys assertions. He illustrates how historians assess the reliability of data, and provides an honest and informed perspective on where historical issues or clear-cut and where personal faith comes into play. The Christ Files will help you and your small group expand your understanding of early Christianity and the life of Jesus. This 110-page Participant Guide includes seven chapters of reading and background contextual information, along with questions for four impactful small group sessions. It is meant for use in conjunction with the four-session The Christ Files DVD (sold separately). Chapter titles: 1. The Game of ScholarshipHow to Read between the Haedlines 2. Secret GospelsJesus in the Gnostic Writings 3. The TroublemakerJesus in Ancient Pagan Writings 4. Deceiver and MagicianJesus in Ancient Jewish Writings 5. Behind the New TestamentEarliest Christian Sources 6. Before the GospelsJesus in the Oral Tradition 7. Jesus in ContextBackground Sources for the Study of Jesus Small Group Study sessions include: 1. Gnostics and Romans 2. Jews and Christians 3. Lost Sources and Oral Traditions 4. Archaeologists and Artifacts