This is an exciting weekend. It is the opening weekend of The Case for Christ, a faith film releasing in over 1,100 theaters nationwide on April 7.

The Case for Christ is likely already showing in several of your favorite movie theaters starting this weekend. 

If you haven't already heard of the book The Case for Christ, it tells the story of Lee Strobel, who was an award-winning, legal editor at the Chicago Tribune in the 1980's. Lee was an avowed atheist, but one day his wife came home to tell him she had decided to believe in Jesus. This was difficult news for him, and set him on a journey to investigate the claims of Christianity in order to prove it false, and save his wife from what he considered to be a cult.

After nearly two years of meeting with experts, and weighing the evidence, Lee concluded, as an atheist, that there was an avalanche of evidence pointing to the truth of Jesus Christ, and Lee chose to put his faith in Christ.

In 1998, he shared the story of his journey in the book The Case for Christ, which has gone on along with follow up books, to be read by more than 14 million people worldwide.

If you follow my posts, you probably know about this movie already, and my friendship with Lee.

He has spoken at several of our conferences, and has become a friend over the past few years. We've been thrilled to partner as a ministry on the impact of this Pure Flix film by sharing it with as many people as we can.

Opening weekend for a film is very important. This is especially true for faith-based films.

Packing out theaters on opening weekend will potentially cause The Case for Christ to be shown in more than 2,000 theaters nationwide on Easter weekend, doubling the initial impact, and paving the way for the film to impact millions of people around the world in consecutive months.

It is my great hope that you will see the film this weekend, and take a few friends along with you. Consider buying group tickets for your church, or doing a theater buyout in your city. And share your excitement about the film with everyone you know. Let's all mobilize behind this film to help it have the biggest impact possible.

Here are 4 reasons why you should see The Case for Christ movie this weekend:

1. Lee's story is iconic and unforgettable

There are just some stories in the Christian world that you can't get out of your mind. Lee's story is one of those.

Several years ago, we spent time with Elizabeth Sherrill, who was the ghost writer of The Cross and the Switchblade for David Wilkerson, My Hiding Place for Corrie Ten Boom, God's Smuggler for Brother Andrew, and others. It amazes me that she played such a role in telling stories that lived on in the Church.

Lee's story reminds me of these iconic and unforgettable stories -- his story is such a God-story that needs to be told to more people.

2. Lee's story helps us see the logic behind our faith

Not many of us are as qualified as Lee to investigate the claims of Christianity with the keen mind of a journalist. Lee was trained by the best, and was an award winning journalist. He took these investigative skills and applied them to Christianity in a way few could do. 

Lee believes Christianity is an investigable faith, in the way journalists investigate their stories and weigh the evidence. 

He started out as a hardened atheist who thought faith was ridiculous and a crutch for the weak, and gradually realized "it would take more faith for him to maintain his atheism than to to put his truth in Christ."

The Case for Christ movie gives some of this rock-solid evidence in an entertaining story format.

3. Lee's story gives us a long view of what God can do in a person's life

From spiritual skeptic, to dedicated believer, Lee's life shows us with crystal clarity that Jesus changes everything.

We all know that Christians are not perfect. Christians are nowhere near perfect, but yet Jesus changes everything. Jesus changes the trajectory of our lives. 

And with Lee, we see such a dramatic difference that Christ can make. People in our culture need to see the impact that Christ can make on a person's life.

4. Lee's story will have your friends and your neighbors talking

It is not often that such a powerful, well done, solid Christian film plays in our local theaters. We need to treasure these opportunities. 

The Case for Christ movie is releasing in theaters nationwide, and will have multiplied thousands talking about faith and the reality of Jesus. This is an easy inroad to talk about faith with your friends and neighbors who need the Lord, and I hope and pray you won't let it pass you by.

For more information, and for showtimes near you, go to TheCaseForChristMovie.com