"Why it Makes Sense to Believe in God" by Hiram Kemp

April 12, 2026 - Sunday PM Sermon   In this episode Hiram addresses a growing number of Americans who claim no religious affiliation and offers practical tools Christians can use to talk with skeptics. Framing the conversation around both scripture and observable reality, the message aims to equip listeners to "meet people on their terms" — arguing that belief in God is not just a faith claim but is supported by everyday evidence. The episode lays out eight core reasons why belief in God makes sense: design (the finely tuned, Goldilocks conditions of the universe and the human body), mathematics (the universal and non-material reality of numerical truth), consciousness (human self-awareness and reason), morality and outrage (a universal moral law written on the human heart), beauty (aesthetic order that points to a Creator), hope (human longings for redemption), love (agape as a transcendent reality), and story/narrative (humans as story-telling beings whose deepest longings mirror the Bible’s grand narrative). Scripture is woven throughout the talk (Genesis, Romans, Psalms, John, Isaiah and others) and the speaker emphasizes that while these arguments are grounded in the Bible, many of them are also accessible to non-believers without opening a text. The episode includes a contemporary example — astronaut Victor Glover — who describes seeing God’s handiwork from space and how that perspective reinforced his faith. Historical and cultural illustrations are used to sharpen the moral argument (for example, the Nuremberg trials) and literary references such as J.R.R. Tolkien are invoked to explain why humans are wired for story. Practical application is stressed: the goal is not merely intellectual assent but to point people to Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection, and the life-change that follows — including baptism and public commitment. The episode closes with an encouragement to notice the signposts of God in everyday life — from sunsets and number systems to conscience and longing — a musical selection by Dale, and an invitation for listeners to respond to heaven’s call or request pastoral help in taking the next step.   Handout:   Why it Makes Sense to Believe in God — Hiram Kemp  1. _______________________________ (Romans 1:20)    2. ________________________________ (Job 38:4-5)    3. ________________________________ (Genesis 1:26-27)    4. ________________________ & ______________________ (Romans 2:14-15)    5. ________________________________ (Ecclesiastes 3:11)    6. ________________________________ (Romans 8:24)    7. ________________________________ (1 John 4:7-8)    8. ________________________________ (Acts 17:26-28)   Duration 34:46