A Classic Reborn! Behind the New "More Than A Carpenter" (w/Lee Strobel)

[@midgardette]

More Than was one of the first books I read after I got saved in 1974. Just celebrated my 50th anniversary as a Christian. Praise God.

[@Little_Muskrat13]

Sean is a national treasure for both Christians and non-Christians. The best there is !! God bless. ✝️

[@robertrubio1552]

This is the first Christian book (besides Scripture) I read, days after being saved in 1987. I've been recommending or buying to give away ever since!

[@unripetheberrby6283]

Lee Strobel looks so joyful! God bless him 🥺

[@BibleTalkSean]

I'm praying for you and your father, Sean. God bless you and yours, my friend.

[@ccreasman]

Josh was the most important person in my personal spiritual journey. I grew up in a Christian home, pastor’s kid, but wasn’t serious. At 20, I was ready to turn from the faith and then Josh came to my campus (Auburn University) and blew my world. I knew I had to take serious an investigation like Josh had done, so I devoured Evidence. In my life, Josh is #1 in my personal, spiritual Mt. Rushmore, and it’s been my honor to have a few private conversations with him. Now 40 years later, when I still wrestle with doubts, I turn back to Josh.

[@SeanMcDowell]

Amazing to hear!

[@emf49]

He was very important to me also. ❤ I had “Evidence that demands a Verdict” in my early days of conversion and have recently purchased the “The New Evidence…” book. I love the clarity of the answers addressing tough questions. . It’s brilliant. 😊

[@Little_Muskrat13]

And yet another thankful for Josh's book (s), back in the early 1980s.

[@godsgospelgirl]

I loved More Than a Carpenter. I also loved Don't Check Your Brains at the Door when I was a teen! Great format for curious teens.

[@moomin8251]

I just ordered 6 copies for my grandchildren for Christmas, praying they won't be left on a shelf.

[@michaelsbeverly]

Well, if they're brainwashed and indoctrinated and their parents have no respect for honesty, they'll be forced to read them. Sad. You should get a refund and instead teach the kids to think instead of using brainwashing.

[@perilouspete]

God bless you two and Josh McDowell!

[@pamelawomack1674]

I'm from the UK. I bought this book in 1977 and it really strengthened my faith. There were several other books by Canon Michael Green that were also similar and which greatly blessed and helped me and which are still worth reading.

[@roma544216]

Yes, yes, brothers we do read your books here in Ukraine and God truly impacted our lives through your great work! God bless your!!!

[@musicalnomad8]

I remember handing this book out in Turkey 🇹🇷 way back.

[@cephas888]

I just bought this the other day couldn't put it down. Definitely buying more copies to share.

[@godsgospelgirl]

@cephas888 Sometimes I put them in Little Free Libraries!

[@paulgleason7191]

Great conversation, thanks guys

[@JedidjahSlagter]

In 2018 I met your dad in Lebanon. My own husband waas just diagnosed with Alzheimer and now he is also diagnosed. Last year my husband passed last year. But God has been good!

[@yvonnekneeshaw2784]

Your dad IS honoured !! I read your dad’s book (memoir) yrs back and while already a Christian, it was very apparent that our Triune God can reach anyone, thus very encouraging. I love your You Tube channel. Love Lee Strobels’ story & books as well. Can we find a list of the authors that you mentioned for your students?? Because of Him 🇨🇦 ❤ PS both parents have exp dementia. Its a heart wrenching journey & grieving begins before final destination in Heaven.

[@GingerNinja83]

Sean..I love More than a carpenter, but the book that I read first that really touched me and I carry with me everywhere is 77 FAQS. Please do a video about the back story of that one sometime. Thanks for all that you do. Godbless!

[@sillifejourney]

I have given it to patient and hope to keep doing it. Praise God for the life of Josh Mcdowell🙏. - a psychiatrist here

[@unripetheberrby6283]

Ah That was a wonderful conversation! Will definitely pray those asked-prayers for you all...

[@FREDAFMK]

I could listen to you guys for a long time

[@emf49]

I’ve handed that book out to several people. It’s a wonderful evangelical tool.

[@morgspnc]

Lee’s story about this book is almost the same as my experience with Lee’s book 😅

[@daveolson722]

I met your dad back in the late 70s and yes, I do have a 1977 edition of more than a carpenter

[@SeanMcDowell]

Love hearing that!

[@terraloft]

A faith crisis at Stanford. Well now there's a testimony of God's grace and mercy and keeping and how many of us can say He is so good good Father

[@midimusicforever]

Awesome!

[@daleproctor3723]

The Internet Infidels’ “The Secular Web” site has in it’s Modern Library several articles reviewing Josh McDowell’s work (and many other apologists) under the section: Theism>> Christianity>> Christian Apologetics and Apologists, Criticisms of. Also of interest, biblical scholar, Kipp Davis, has on his KZbin channel a video entitled “Josh McDowell: Manuscript Hunting and Mythmaking for Jesus”.

[@RJSmith-jo7oe]

Is the book also in Dutch? I have a friend who does not speak English. If it's not available in Dutch, I'll consider translating it.

[@SeanMcDowell]

Yes it is. The new version is in the works.

[@RJSmith-jo7oe]

@@SeanMcDowell thank you for replying so quickly. In the Netherlands, and on Amazon, the Dutch version is sold out. I’ll wait for the new version, hope there will be a Dutch version as well.

[@kevinburtnick7818]

Is it available on audible!

[@ejesuitas]

What are the rest of the books please?

[@brittybee6615]

Oh my goodness. I just looked up (and bought) Evidence That Demands a Verdict on Audible. It’s 42 hours long. I realize people can read faster than they can narrate aloud, but still, who can read such a book in one sitting??

[@SeanMcDowell]

Don’t do it. Pace yourself! 😀

[@davet2625]

Great stuff. Here's something - Sometimes the gospels describe Jesus doing something and it says something like 'he did this in order that such and such a prophecy would be fulfilled'. And it's always seemed strange to me that Jesus, being conscious of prophecies, would deliberately take action to fulfil them. I think my instinct was that if he fulfils prophecies as a consequence of circumstances of birth / lineage, or fulfils prophecies unwittingly (if that term can be applied), then that is more confirmatory than if he consciously chooses to do things in order to fulfil prophecies - because anyone knowing of existing prophecies that depend on taking certain actions could consciously do them in order to fulfil them and thereby be a 'false Messiah'. But, it now occurs to me that all the instances of Jesus making a conscious choice in order to fulfil a prophecy, he was tacitly showing who he understood himself to be. So these instances actually form part of the apologetic in answer to the critique that says 'Jesus himself never claimed to be God, or God's Son in a unique way'. Jesus employed various ways of carrying out his earthly ministry with a view to not bringing events to a head in terms of his eventual arrest and crucifixion before the appointed time had come. Ie. Being careful as to when he began his ministry at all, being selective of the times and places he taught and healed, teaching in parables so as to hide in plain sight, etc. So I think his deliberate fulfilling of prophecies were part of that dynamic - he's tacitly laying claim to Messiah-ship without make the more direct claims that might have prematurely precipitated the climax of his story. Perhaps this is widely understood amongst Christians, but I've never heard it. Thoughts?

[@paradisecityX0]

"You're not just a carpenter" is what Joseph said to Jesus in the 1999 Jesus movie

[@edwardtbabinski]

Played a role in Strobel coming to faith? Tell us more. What exactly did Lee read BEFORE coming to faith?

[@RJSmith-jo7oe]

@@edwardtbabinski there is a movie called The Case for Christ which explains Lee Strobel's journey, since, as a nonbelieving journalist, he wanted to disprove the Christian worldview.

[@edwardtbabinski]

@ Strobel started looking into Christianity at age 25, and converted at 27. He was not well read in religion, philosophy or biblical studies but apparently began reading books suggested by his wife and/or her pastor since she converted and began attending church before him, and it was her new found happiness that inspired him to look into Christianity. Unfortunately, Lee won't say which books he read during those two years aside from the slim volume by Josh McDowell. All he says is that after "almost two years" studying Christianity, he became a Christian. That was in 1981. 6 years later, in 1987, he became a teacher pastor. Then 6 years after being a teaching pastor (in 1993) he published his first apologetic book, Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary: How to Reach Friends and Family Who Avoid God and the Churc h. Then 5 more years latter, or nearly 17 years after he had already converted and 12 years after having been a teacher pastor in his church, Strobel wrote The Case for Christ. So it was a book composed by "pastor Strobel." And the people he interviews in The Case for Christ were interviewed long after he converted. That work and his subsequent books are filled with conservative Christian arguments he read during the 16 years after he had already converted. I doubt we'll ever know what he read prior to converting, how many or few books, what their titles were. But he had little knowledge of religion and philosophy prior to conversion (as he admitted). Also how can one be impressed by an investigative journalist who claims to be interested in the truth but only interviews conservative Christians in his book, The Case for Christ? One might consider reading instead, or as a fair and balanced approach, something like Beyond Born Again (which is free online), or, The Case Against The Case for Christ, or any number of other works. I myself have edited nearly three dozen testimonies of former born again Christians, including the testimonies of theologians, ministers and Billy Graham’s best friend and fellow Evangelist, Chuck Templeton, who left the fold of hard line Evangelicalism/ Born Again Christianity. The book was titled, Leaving the Fold: Testimonies of Former Fundamentalists, and it included first hand testimonies from folks who remained Christians but whose views grew more moderate or liberal, as well as people who became adherents of more inclusive spiritualities, and, agnostics and atheists.

[@JedidjahSlagter]

My husband was only 70 years old

[@martdavid84]

Things Trump needs to declassify on day One: - The JFK Files - The Sean & Josh interview!!!

[@SeanMcDowell]

Haha, it’s coming in due time!

[@terraloft]

The full accessibility now is preparing us for the famine of the Word the prophet Amos foretold. How vast will be that void!

[@pennyoneal2600]

Because God said so he is Iam

[@horridhenry9920]

I’m an atheist who spends 10x more time following apologists than fellow atheists. The arguments and claims in ‘More Than a Carpenter’ will only be convincing to those unfamiliar with counter apologetics and or have not read the Bible critically and are unfamiliar with the scholarship. We are faced with numerous arguments and claims about Christianity, but little in the way of objective evidence. What’s telling is that Christians are not a cohesive group and cannot agree among themselves what it all means. Lunatic, liar, lord, is a false trichotomy. Josh does not consider other explanations such as legend or literature.

[@RJSmith-jo7oe]

Well, it doesn't matter how much evidence one can present, ultimately, it's a heart issue, not a head issue. As Frank Turek says: if I can provide the Bible is true, would you become a Christian?

[@horridhenry9920]

@@RJSmith-jo7oe That’s easy, yes. Now prove it’s true. I would require objective evidence that points to the fact that Christianity is true and all other religions are false. If they are all true, we have a bigger problem.

[@RJSmith-jo7oe]

@horridhenry9920 Indeed, there can only be one truth.

[@daleproctor3723]

@@RJSmith-jo7oe If you care whether or not what you believe is actually true than it matters very much if there is evidence to support a claim. The heart is a body organ for pumping blood and plays no role in making decisions. If you make things a “heart issue” then you can end up believing in untrue things (and never know it). I don’t know why it matters whether or not a person would become a Christian should it be provable. If the god of the bible was demonstrably real, I would have to acknowledge that but, given the what an immoral monster the bible depicts your god as being, I don’t consider him the least bit worthy of worship.

[@gregorytoews8316]

​@@horridhenry9920Yes, if they're all true we have a problem. A problem similar to the earth being round and flat at the same time. Dislike of a truth (any truth) is always a bigger problem than disbelief of a truth. I may believe someone loves me, but I'm still free to hate or ignore them, in which case my belief is irrelevant, other than serving as an ironic form of self-destruction.

[@daleproctor3723]

I’m wondering if Sean, like Lee Strobel, is afraid of a certain former Christian KZbinr? Lee has blocked the guy from his X-Twitter even though he isn’t the rude troll type of commentator. As for Sean, it seems that every time I mention this critic of Christianity by name in the comments to Sean’s videos the post doesn’t seem to stick. So lame! So unimpressive!

[@shamounian]

what is lame is a female d-0-g like you who is barking here since he needs attention since you obviously have daddy issues.

[@michaelsbeverly]

Proof that lying to Christians is very profitable. Sadly, people think this tripe is scholarship, Sean, you should be embarrassed not proud of your dad and this work.

[@smallbeginning2]

You're very rude. You should leave. Don't bother yourself with it.

[@michaelsbeverly]

@@smallbeginning2 Being honest is not rude. Lying for profit is rude.

[@cbrooks97]

Saying things you disagree with isn't "lying".

[@michaelsbeverly]

@@cbrooks97 I didn't say it was. Telling lies is lying. Strobel presents himself and sells books as if a certain thing happened that did not happen, so he's a liar and a fraud.

[@cbrooks97]

@@michaelsbeverly Ah. You're one of those who doesn't believe he was ever an atheist?