A Discussion Guide on History's Most Important Event - Lee Strobel/Garry Poole - Getting Started

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Patrick

A discussion guide focused on “History’s Most Important Event,” examining the passion and key claims surrounding Jesus: who killed Jesus, what crime he committed, whether the events happened as depicted, why Jesus suffered and died, what the resurrection accomplished, and how the story is relevant today. The text frames the exploration through reader engagement, prompts for group conversation, and a “Getting Started” section that recounts an author’s skeptical-to-believing journey via research, interviews, and the emotional impact of The Passion of the Christ film.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages84

Reading Time3 h 32 min

AccessFree to download

Getting Started

① Discussion One

Why Did Jesus Suffer and Die?

Recommended Resources

Acknowledgments

About the Authors

Preface

# A DIS CUS SION GUIDE ON HISTORY'S MOST IMPORTANT EVENTGreat Value!sugg.只stail.itle:1.00 LOAN BOOKSiIth:$1.00064146911091431131X-001002etemcMTHE PASSIOJESUS LEE STROBEL/GARRY POOLE # A DIS CUS SION GUIDE ONHIS TORY'S MOST IMPORTANT EVENT LEE STROBEL/GARRY POOLE Experiencing tlbe Passion of JestusCopyright ◎2004 by Lee Strobel and Garry Poole Requests for information should be addressed to: Zondervan,Grand Rapids,Michigan 49530 ISBN:0-310-25932-0 All Scripture quotations,unless otherwise indicated,are taken from the Holy Bible:NewInternational Version0.NIV四.Copyright ◎1973,1978,1984by International Bible Soci-ety.Used by permission of Zondervan.All rights reserved. All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced,stored in a retrievalsystem,or transmitted in any form or by any means—electronic,mechanical,photocopy,recording,or any other—except for brief quotations in printed reviews,without the priorpermission of the publisher. This guide is neither affiliated with nor endorsed by Mel Gibson or Icon Productions. Interior design by Todd Sprague Printed in the United States of America PrefaceWho Really Killed Jesus?Discussion woWhat Crime Did Jesus Commit?①;Did It Actually Happen Like That?g①iDiscussionFouD:iveWhat Did the Resurrection Accomplish?②iHow IsSThis Story Relevant to Me?Epilogue # Getting Started ## ①iscussion One Why Dld Jesus Suffer and Die? Recommended ResourcesAcknowledgmentsAbout the Authors 5 9 IS 23 33 43 53 63 75 77 78 oo0e In a darkened conference room at Mel Gibson's stu-dio,the grisly execution of Jesus unfolded with jarringand vivid realism.Even though I was watching only arough cut of the film The Passion of the Christ,it wasas if I had a front-row seat to history! For the first time in my life,I felt as if I were reallyexperiencing what Jesus had endured.Book research,library studies,and interviews with scholars had givenme cognitive knowledge,but now my heart engagedwith history as never before.Tears flowed freely.Theemotional impact of the film forever changed the wayI would think about the crucifixion. Flash back nearly a quarter of a century. As a spiritual skeptic with an intellectual bent,Iused to think the idea of God was absurd,that Jesuswas merely a human being who was later mytholo-gized into a god,and that death would completelyextinguish my existence.I agreed with atheist BertrandRussell:"I believe that when I die I shall rot,and noth-ing of my ego will survive." Pretty grim—but hey,that's reality,I thought. Then my wife became a Christian.Bad news,I fig-ured.But in the ensuing months I became so intriguedby the positive changes in her character that I began touse my journalism and legal training to investigatewhether there was any credibility to Christianity.Forme,as legal editor of the Chicago Tribune,it was likepursuing the most important story of my life. Much of my investigation focused on the passion(that is,the suffering and death)of Jesus of Nazarethand the related claims of his resurrection.It was important for me to establish whether he did,indeed,die on the cross before I could determine ifthere was sufficient reason to believe he was seenalive afterward. So I plumbed the evidence through extensiveresearch and interviews with experts.Over time Ibecame knowledgeable about the facts surroundingJesus'demise.I could recite the probable size of thenails pounded into his hands and feet.I coulddescribe the wound to his side.I could detail hiscause of death.I became a repository of informationsurrounding this gruesomely efficient form of execu-tion the Romans had perfected. Ultimately,after a wide-ranging investigation thatspanned almost two years,I became convinced thatChrist's death and resurrection authenticated his claimto being the unique Son of God.Compelled by thefacts,I received him as my forgiver and leader. Yet despite all of the data,details,and documen-tation I had committed to me

FAQs

What key questions does this discussion guide aim to explore about Jesus?

It focuses on who really killed Jesus, what crime Jesus committed, whether the events happened like that, why Jesus suffered and died, what the resurrection accomplished, and how the story is relevant to readers today.

How does the “Getting Started” section introduce the author’s perspective?

It describes a skeptical viewpoint shaped by research, library study, and interviews, followed by investigation into the passion and resurrection claims and the emotional impact of watching the film.

What is the stated purpose of the guide for readers and discussion groups?

The guide is intended to help people explore the issues with other seekers and Christians in a nonthreatening environment where viewpoints and observations are invited.

Sep 29, 2026

Upload by Patrick