Basic Christianity by John Stott
Week 4: Part One — The Claims of Christ (The Resurrection)
Read Part One, Chapter 3 of Basic Christianity by John Stott. Key passages: 1 Corinthians 15:3-8; Luke 24:36-43.
Want the full guide for Basic Christianity?
Free Week 1 sample in 5 min · $24.99 for all 10 weeks · 7-day refund
Jesus did not simply claim to be divine — he offered the resurrection as the ultimate public validation of those claims. This week we examine the historical evidence Stott marshals for the most important event in history.
Discussion Questions
7 questions1.Stott argues that the resurrection is not a peripheral miracle added to Christianity, but the very cornerstone on which everything else rests. Why is the resurrection so central — not just evidentially, but theologically? What would Christianity be without it?
2.Stott reviews the evidence for the empty tomb. He considers and rejects several alternative explanations — the disciples stole the body, the women went to the wrong tomb, Jesus merely swooned. Walk through one of these theories. Why does Stott find it unsatisfactory? Do you find his reasoning convincing?
a.What would the disciples have had to believe to fabricate the resurrection — and what did they stand to gain by doing so?
b.Why is the fact that the Jewish authorities never produced a body significant?
3.The post-resurrection appearances are a key part of Stott's case. Paul lists specific named witnesses in 1 Corinthians 15:3-8, including a group of five hundred people, 'most of whom are still living.' Why would Paul make this kind of checkable, falsifiable appeal if the appearances were legendary rather than historical?
You're on Week 4 of 10
Don't lose momentum — get the rest of Basic Christianity
All 71 questions across 10 weeks, with closing prayers and a downloadable PDF for your group.
One-time purchase · 7-day refund · Covers your whole group