How to Turn People’s Questions

About The DaVinci Code
Into a Teaching Opportunity

INTRODUCTION

1. This morning – What is wrong with the Da Vinci Code. Critics are saying the movie isn’t all that good.

2. However, it is true that people are talking about this movie.

3. Tonight I want to take a positive approach. How can we use that as a tool to accomplish something good? How can we turn people’s questions into teaching opportunities?

GIVE AN ANSWER IN THE RIGHT WAY

1 Peter 3:15, “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” Four qualities are in view here:

1. Readiness to respond. It’s easy enough to mind our own business and not engage people in conversation about controversial things.

2. Preparation. If we’re going to be ready to give a defense of our beliefs about Christ being the Son of God and the Bible being the inspired, inerrant word of God, then we have to know what we’re talking about.

3. Meekness. Not combative and argumentative

   1. Today there is a strong anti-Christian sentiment. Christians are often seen as self-righteous, pompous, arrogant, and hypocritical.

   2. We need the wisdom to be understanding. There are people who call themselves Christians who are self-righteous, pompous, arrogant, hypocritical, and just about any other critical adjective you might want to apply.

   3. We need to respond to these criticisms. Christians aren’t cowards and we need to be ready to defend the gospel of Christ.

      1. The dyed in the wool anti-Christian bigots aren’t likely to listen no matter what we say or how we say it.

      2. But everybody who is subject to being influenced by movies like The DaVinci Code aren’t in that category.

4. Fear.

   1. Peter does not mean that we should be afraid of the persecution which might come upon us if we don’t give satisfactory answers. We aren’t promised that our world will be free from persecution of believers. However, that isn’t what we need to fear [Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.]

   2. We should be afraid because the eternal destiny of souls is at stake. If we fail to speak the truth or if we fail to speak it in the right way, souls will be lost which might have been saved.

DON’T ARGUE WITH THOSE WHO ARE DETERMINED TO REJECT

1. When Jesus sent His disciples out on the limited commission, he told them that some would not listen to them. Matthew 10:14 "And whoever will not receive you nor hear your words, when you depart from that house or city, shake off the dust from your feet.”

2. Our aim should always be winning souls instead of winning arguments.

   1. Let them know that you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

   2. Let them know that you believe that the Bible is the inspired word of God.

   3. Let them know you care about their souls.

   4. Do your best to answer honest questions about the reasons for your faith.

   5. Be prepared to “shake off the dust” and move on when you learn that people have already shut their minds to the truth. However, be careful that you don’t make that judgment too hastily. Some have a hard crust that takes time, patience, and love to break through.

BE READY WITH SIMPLE ANSWERS WHY YOU BELIEVE WHAT YOU DO

1. If conversation about The DaVinci Code comes up –

   1. You might ask someone who has read the book or seen the movie, “What do you think about the ways it shows Jesus?”

   2. Expect one of three responses –

      1. Criticism – Agree with them.

      2. Agreement

      3. Doubt and Confusion

         1. Is it possible that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were married?

         2. Did people in the first century really not think that Jesus is the Son of God?

         3. Did Constantine really pick out just the books that favored his viewpoint and put them in the Bible?

2. Focus on the most important matters to build faith in those with whom you are talking.

   1. It might be an interesting conversation to talk about the Priory of Sion or the Holy Grail . . . but those are not biblical matters.

   2. The two great threats to faith in this material has to do with views about Christ and the Bible.

      1. Jesus Christ is the Son of God.

         1. The first beings in the New Testament to recognize Jesus as the Son of God were demons. The devil told Jesus, "If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." [Matthew 4:3].

         2. A group of demons called Jesus “You Son of God” [Matthew 8:29]. The disciples who were in the boat when Jesus walked on the water worshiped Him saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.” [Matthew 14:31].

         3. The high priest challenged Jesus at one of His trials – “Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!" [Matthew 26:63] Jesus replied, “It is as you said.”

         4. The Roman centurion witnessed the death of Christ and the things that happened (earthquake, etc.) and declared, "Truly this was the Son of God!" [Matthew 27:54].

         5. You are familiar in Matthew 16:16 with Peter’s confession, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

         6. These are just five statements taken from the gospel of Matthew. Many others can be added to this list. The New Testament books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Acts, Romans, 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Hebrews, and 1 John teach explicitly that Jesus is the Son of God. All the other books of the New Testament teach this truth implicitly. This claim was undeniably being made centuries before the time of the Roman emperor Constantine so there is no question but that The DaVinci Code is wrong in what it says about Jesus. But our faith in Christ’s identity as the Son of God depends on our confidence in the truthfulness of what the New Testament says about Him.

      2. The Bible is the word of God.

         1. John 8:31-32 “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, "If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 "And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free." Truth is knowable and truth makes us free.

         2. Hebrews 1:1-2 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, 2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;

         3. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

      3. If we can direct the conversation to discussing reasons for believing in the Christ of Scripture and in the Scripture as the word of Christ, we may be able to lead people on to an understanding of what the Bible teaches about their sins and their need for salvation.

CONCLUSION

1. Colossians 4:2-4 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving; 3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains, 4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

2. Pray for an open door to teach and remove their doubts.

3. Invitation