Podcast Summary: Red Rocks Church Weekend Messages

Episode: Am I Crazy for Believing in Jesus?
Date: March 7, 2026
Series: TikTok Theology
Host/Speaker: Red Rocks Church Lead Pastor

Episode Overview

This episode delves into a vulnerable and apologetic conversation centered on the rational reasons for Christian faith, specifically addressing the common question: "Am I crazy for believing in Jesus?" The message is part of the "TikTok Theology" series, aimed at exploring why Christians believe what they believe, encouraging listeners to be prepared to explain their faith—both to others and themselves—especially in tough times, doubts, or cultural skepticism.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Necessity of Knowing Why You Believe

• Christians are encouraged not to accept faith blindly or because it’s tradition.
• Reference to 1 Peter 3 instructing believers to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.”

  “Sometimes I need to remind myself, sometimes it’s, I want to share with somebody I love why I believe what I believe. But oftentimes life happens and I need to remind myself why I believe what I believe.” (07:55)

2. Addressing Doubt and Questioning Faith

• The speaker recounts a personal crisis of faith: after giving his life to God, circumstances seemed bleak, sparking internal questions about the reality of God and faith.
• Emphasis: Everyone faces moments where they wonder if belief in Jesus is "crazy", especially when life becomes difficult.
• Encouragement to investigate, ask questions, and not be paralyzed by doubt.
• "Truth is never afraid of questions. God’s not afraid of our questions." (20:18)

3. Christian Faith Is Based on Rational Claims

• The Christian claim is distinctive:

  “There’s no founder of any other major world religion who would dare make this claim... Christianity is based on a man who said, I am God and I’ll prove it.” (25:03)

• Jesus’ uniqueness: He didn’t just teach about God. He claimed to be God and provided reasons for people to believe.

A. Jesus Claimed to Be God

• Multiple biblical passages confirm Jesus’ explicit claims (Mark 14, John 8, etc.).
• Jesus used “I am”—the Old Testament divine self-reference—when asked if he was the Messiah.
• List of ten bold claims Jesus made that only God could authentically claim (see below).

B. Jesus Predicted His Own Death and Resurrection

• Jesus foretold specifics: how, by whom, and that he would rise on the third day (Mark 8:31).
• “Jesus called his shot... I’m going to tell you how I’m going to die and who’s going to kill me, and how long I’ll be buried, and then I’ll come back to life and then actually pull it off.” (36:17)

C. Jesus Rose from the Dead

• The entire Christian faith hinges on the resurrection.
• If anyone wants to disprove Christianity, they only need to prove the resurrection didn’t happen—but no one has in 2,000 years.
• Historical consensus: Jesus lived, was crucified, buried, and his tomb was found empty.

4. Historical Evidence Beyond the Bible

• Sources like Josephus, Tacitus, Thallus, and the Jewish Talmud mention Jesus, his crucifixion, and reports of his resurrection.
• Josephus (93 AD) described Jesus as a wise, virtuous man, crucified under Pilate, whose disciples reported seeing him three days after his death. (~50:00)
• Slide with 10 non-biblical historical sources mentioning Jesus and summarizing what extra-biblical historians affirmed:
  • Virtuous life, reputation for miracles, crucifixion under Pilate, claimed resurrection, disciple martyrdoms, Christianity’s growth, disciples’ exclusive worship of Jesus as God, etc.

5. Addressing Modern Skepticism: The Five Main Arguments Against the Resurrection

1. Jesus Never Really Died

• Refuted by:
  • All historical documents (including non-Christian sources) confirm his death.
  • “There’s not one record in any historical document that we've ever found that says anyone ever survived a flogging and Roman crucifixion. Not one.” (01:00:00)
• Scholars overwhelmingly agree: “To deny it would be to take a marginal position that would get you laughed out of the academic world.”

2. Roman Guards Stole the Body

• Improbable as Roman guards would face severe punishment or execution for dereliction of duty.
• Archaeological evidence: The Nazareth Inscription described severe penalties for removing bodies from tombs, reinforcing this unlikeliness.

3. Disciples Stole the Body

• Ancient cover story (Matthew 28): Guards were bribed to say this happened while they slept.
• Major problems with this theory:
  • Roman guards faced death for sleeping
  • How could untrained disciples overcome Roman guards and move a heavy stone unnoticed?
  • Most importantly, all but one disciple was martyred for their faith; people do not willingly die for what they know is a lie

4. Mass Hallucination

• Hallucinations are personal, not collective or sustained by large groups.
• Jesus appeared to different people, in different settings, over 40 days, with 500+ eyewitnesses.

  “If 500 people had the same hallucination at the same time, that would be a greater miracle than the Resurrection.” – Gary Habermas (01:14:30)

5. Some Other Unknown Theory

• Speaker asserts that historians and skeptics alike cannot present a plausible alternative that fits all the known facts.

6. Personal Experience Matters

• Alongside the intellectual and evidential arguments, experiencing a changed life and a relationship with Jesus deepens faith.
• Speaker recounts his own radical transformation from addiction and anxiety after saying yes to Jesus.

  “You can debate my beliefs about the Bible, my beliefs about Jesus, you can argue my thoughts on the resurrection, but you can’t argue away my experience.” (01:26:15)

7. Encouragement for Those with Doubts

• The story of doubting Thomas (John 20): Even close disciples struggled to believe until encountering the risen Jesus personally.
• Emphasis: Keep showing up, keep trying, even through doubt and pain—God works with those who continue to seek.

  “He’s doubting, but he’s trying. He’s hurting, but he’s trying. He’s got questions, but he’s trying. He’s mad, but he’s trying. He’s sad, but he’s trying. That’s all God wants.” (01:32:45)

Supplementary Resources Recommended

• The Case for Christ by Lee Strobel
• The Reason for God by Timothy Keller
• I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist
• Systematic Theology (noted as an indexed reference work)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Truth is not afraid of questions.” (20:18)
• “Christianity is based on a man who said, ‘I am God, and I’ll prove it.’” (25:03)
• “Our entire faith hinges on that one event... prove the resurrection didn’t happen, and Christianity falls.” (40:15)
• “Tell me what it would take to convince you your brother is the Son of God.” (01:10:40)
• “All God wants is for you to keep trying—even through doubts, fears, and pain.” (01:32:45)
• “You can’t argue away my experience. I know Jesus changed my life.” (01:26:15)

Timeline of Essential Segments

• 00:00-05:00 — Intro, worship shout-out, and set-up for series context
• 07:00-13:00 — The struggle of doubt, needing to know why you believe
• 20:00-26:00 — Christianity’s unique claim: Jesus said "I am God"
• 36:00-41:00 — Jesus predicted and accomplished resurrection
• 49:00-57:00 — Historical evidence outside the Bible (Josephus, etc.)
• 58:00-01:18:00 — Addressing skeptic theories against the resurrection
• 01:19:00-01:32:00 — Personal testimony, experiential faith
• 01:32:00-01:39:00 — “Doubting Thomas” and encouragement for doubters
• 01:39:00-end — Call to faith, prayer, and worship transition (skip ad/outro)

The Ten Bold Claims of Jesus (Referenced Slide)

(Approximate timestamp: 28:40)

• Claimed to be God
• Claimed he would judge the world
• Claimed he could give eternal life
• Claimed to see him was to see God
• Claimed to know him was to know God
• Claimed he could forgive sins
• Claimed titles exclusive to God
• Claimed he and the Father were one
• Claimed pre-existence in heaven with God
• Claimed he could answer prayers and grant salvation

Tone & Delivery

The message is direct, candid, warm, and full of both apologetic rigor and pastoral empathy. The host frequently utilizes humor, personal stories, rhetorical questions, and invitations to the doubting listener to keep exploring faith.

Conclusion & Takeaways

• Christianity welcomes both questions and doubts, and invites believers to investigate evidence and pair it with personal experience.
• There are sound historical and rational reasons for faith in Jesus, especially compared to other religious claims.
• “Am I crazy for believing in Jesus?” The answer, presented systematically, is “No”—there is solid factual and experiential grounding for faith.
• Final challenge: Don’t let doubts paralyze—keep seeking, keep asking, and remember: "The Lord is with me."
• Homework: Download the newly released church worship song, “The Lord is With Me,” and let it remind you of God’s presence in all circumstances.

For listeners struggling with doubts, the episode affirms: “You’re still here. You’re still trying. God can do something with that.”