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WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?

SUPERMARKET OR ANTIDOTE?SUPERMARKET OR ANTIDOTE?

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To form beliefs, we must investigate the world and its To form beliefs, we must investigate the world and its issues to discover facts and truths about them. The issues to discover facts and truths about them. The reason we will use this process as we move forward?reason we will use this process as we move forward?

Because truth is true whether you believe it or not, truth does Because truth is true whether you believe it or not, truth does not require belief to be true.not require belief to be true.

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SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.SPIRITUALLY SPEAKING.

WE MUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WE MUST BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND OUR SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO OUR SITUATION TO BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHY AND ANTIDOTE IS UNDERSTAND WHY AND ANTIDOTE IS NECESSARY.NECESSARY.

IT IS THE GOAL OF GOD’S LAW TO IT IS THE GOAL OF GOD’S LAW TO GIVE US THAT UNDERSTANDING, GIVE US THAT UNDERSTANDING, THAT DIAGNOSIS, AND THE GOAL OF THAT DIAGNOSIS, AND THE GOAL OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST TO PROVIDE THE ANTIDOTE.PROVIDE THE ANTIDOTE.

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BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD RATHER BE IN BUT MOST PEOPLE WOULD RATHER BE IN THE SUPERMARKET, AND WE MUST THE SUPERMARKET, AND WE MUST PERSUADE THEM THAT THEY NEED TO GO PERSUADE THEM THAT THEY NEED TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

THEY WILL HAVE MANY OBJECTIONS, THEY WILL HAVE MANY OBJECTIONS, BARRIERS, BIASES, MISCONCEPTIONS, BARRIERS, BIASES, MISCONCEPTIONS, PRESUPPOSITIONS, DISTORTIONS OF PRESUPPOSITIONS, DISTORTIONS OF FACTS AND ANY NUMBER OF EXCUSES.FACTS AND ANY NUMBER OF EXCUSES.

THIS IS WHAT CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS THIS IS WHAT CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS FOR, TO REMOVE THESE HINDRANCES FOR, TO REMOVE THESE HINDRANCES THAT STAND BETWEEN A PERSON AND THAT STAND BETWEEN A PERSON AND THE CROSS OF CHRIST.THE CROSS OF CHRIST.

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SO WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?SO WHAT IS APOLOGETICS?

a branch of theology devoted to the a branch of theology devoted to the defense of the divine origin and defense of the divine origin and authority of Christianity authority of Christianity

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SOME CHRISTIANS SEE APOLOGETICS SOME CHRISTIANS SEE APOLOGETICS AS PRE-EVANGELISM; IT IS NOT THE AS PRE-EVANGELISM; IT IS NOT THE GOSPEL, BUT PREPARES THE SOIL GOSPEL, BUT PREPARES THE SOIL FOR THE GOSPEL.FOR THE GOSPEL.

OTHERS MAKE NO DISTINCTION, OTHERS MAKE NO DISTINCTION, SEEING APOLOGETICS, THEOLOGY, SEEING APOLOGETICS, THEOLOGY, PHILOSOPHY, AND EVANGELISM AS PHILOSOPHY, AND EVANGELISM AS DEEPLY ENTWINED FACETS OF THE DEEPLY ENTWINED FACETS OF THE GOSPEL.GOSPEL.

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WHATEVER ITS RELATION TO THE WHATEVER ITS RELATION TO THE GOSPEL, APOLOGETICS IS AN GOSPEL, APOLOGETICS IS AN EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ENTERPRISE EXTREMELY IMPORTANT ENTERPRISE THAT CAN PROFOUNDLY IMPACT THAT CAN PROFOUNDLY IMPACT UNBELIEVERS AND BE USED AS A UNBELIEVERS AND BE USED AS A TOOL THAT CLEARS THE WAY TO TOOL THAT CLEARS THE WAY TO FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST.

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WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE WE NEED TO ENGAGE THE CULTURE!CULTURE!

CHRISTIANS MUST BE INFORMED IN CHRISTIANS MUST BE INFORMED IN DOCTRINE, THE HISTORY OF OUR FAITH, DOCTRINE, THE HISTORY OF OUR FAITH, PHILOSOPHY, LOGIC, AND OTHER PHILOSOPHY, LOGIC, AND OTHER DISCIPLINES AS THEY RELATE TO DISCIPLINES AS THEY RELATE TO CHRISTIANITY.CHRISTIANITY.

WE NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS, ARGUMENTS WE NEED TO KNOW THE FACTS, ARGUMENTS AND THEOLOGY AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO AND THEOLOGY AND UNDERSTAND HOW TO USE THEM IN A WAY THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY USE THEM IN A WAY THAT WILL EFFECTIVELY ENGAGE THE CULTURE. ENGAGE THE CULTURE.

IN OTHER WORDS; CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICSIN OTHER WORDS; CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

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CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICSCHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS OF ONE OF THE FIRST TASKS OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS TO CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS TO PROVIDE INFORMATION. A NUMBER PROVIDE INFORMATION. A NUMBER OF WIDELY HELD ASSUMPTIONS OF WIDELY HELD ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT CHRISTIANITY CAN EASILY BE ABOUT CHRISTIANITY CAN EASILY BE CHALLENGED WITH A LITTLE CHALLENGED WITH A LITTLE INFORMATION.INFORMATION.

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A FEW ASSUMTIONS HELD BY A FEW ASSUMTIONS HELD BY OUR CULTURE.OUR CULTURE.

JESUS NEVER LIVED.JESUS NEVER LIVED. YOU CANT PROVE GOD EXISTS.YOU CANT PROVE GOD EXISTS. THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS THERE ARE NO SUCH THINGS AS

MIRICLES.MIRICLES. THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT JESUS THERE IS NO EVIDENCE THAT JESUS

ROSE FROM THE DEAD.ROSE FROM THE DEAD. THE BIBLE WASN’T WRITTEN UNTIL THE BIBLE WASN’T WRITTEN UNTIL

HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER THE LIFE HUNDREDS OF YEARS AFTER THE LIFE OF JESUS.OF JESUS.

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WHAT ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT GOT WHAT ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT GOT LEFT OUT OF THE BIBLE?LEFT OUT OF THE BIBLE?

ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY TEACH ALL RELIGIONS BASICALLY TEACH THE SAME THING.THE SAME THING.

IF GOD OF THE BIBLE IS REAL, HOW IF GOD OF THE BIBLE IS REAL, HOW COULD HE ALLOW EVIL?COULD HE ALLOW EVIL?

WHAT’S TRUE FOR YOU IS TRUE FOR WHAT’S TRUE FOR YOU IS TRUE FOR YOU; WHAT’S TRUE FOR ME IS TRUE YOU; WHAT’S TRUE FOR ME IS TRUE FOR ME.FOR ME.

CHRISTIANITY IS UNREASONABLE.CHRISTIANITY IS UNREASONABLE.

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Apologetics training equips Apologetics training equips believers to answer these types of believers to answer these types of

questions.questions.

It does it in 3 waysIt does it in 3 ways

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11stst,,– While Christian faith cannot be proven While Christian faith cannot be proven

by reason, Christian faith isn’t by reason, Christian faith isn’t irrational /contrary to reason.irrational /contrary to reason.

This is very important because it This is very important because it demonstrates that Christianity Is not simply demonstrates that Christianity Is not simply personal preference, a function of how personal preference, a function of how someone was raised, or a worldview someone was raised, or a worldview supported only by emotional considerations.supported only by emotional considerations.

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22ndnd

– It answers objections against the faith and It answers objections against the faith and seeks to remove misconceptions. seeks to remove misconceptions.

3rd3rd– Christian apologetics not only provides Christian apologetics not only provides

evidence and arguments for Christianity but evidence and arguments for Christianity but demonstrates the weaknesses of atheism and demonstrates the weaknesses of atheism and other belief systems logically incompatible other belief systems logically incompatible with historic Christian faith. It offers something with historic Christian faith. It offers something far better to replace there worldviews. far better to replace there worldviews.

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APOLOGETICS IN THE BIBLE

SOME BELIEVERS ARE SUSPICIOUS OF AND OPPOSED TO APOLOGETICS. THEY VIEW IT AS BEING CONTRARY TO

FAITH. THIS IS ROOTED IN A

MISUNDERSTANDING OF THE WORD “FAITH”

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FAITH AND BELIEF THESE WORDS ARE TRANSLATED IN

THE NEW TESTAMENT FROM THE WORD “PISTIS” DEFINITION INCLUDES:

FIRM PERSUASION A FIRMLY RELYING CONFIDENCE

WHEN WE TRUST SOMETHING, WE HAVE REASONS FOR IT, EVIDENCE THAT JUSTIFIES AND SUPPORTS IT.

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A CLAIM IS NOT TRUE JUST BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IT, OR UNTRUE BECAUSE WE DON’T BELIEVE IT.

1ST WE ASSESS THE EVIDENCE AND REASONS FOR ITS TRUTH.

2ND WE WEIGH THE EVIDENCE TO DETERMINE HOW WELL SUPPORTED THESE CLAIMS ARE.

3RD WE TRUST; WE EXERCISE FAITH BASED ON THE WEIGHT OF EVIDENCE.

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FAITH IS NOT CHRISTIAN-BRANDED HOPING OR WISHING.

OTHER BELIEF SYSTEMS HAVE THIS KIND OF FAITH.

TO BELIEVE SOMETHING WITHOUT FIRST REFLECTING ON IT OR LOOKING INTO IT IS NOT AN ACT OF FAITH, IT IS AN ACT OF FOOLISHNESS.

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THE WHOLE POINT OF CHRISTIANITY IS NOT THAT WE HAVE FAITH, THAT IS NO DIFFERENT THAN ANY OTHER RELIGION OR WORLDVIEW.

IF JUST HAVING FAITH WAS THE GOAL, ALL THE WORLD WOULD BE SAVED SINCE EVERYONE BELIEVES IN SOMETHING.

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FAITH ITSELF IS NOT THE OBJECT. WHAT DIFFERENTIATES RELIGIONS

IS THE OBJECT OF THERE FAITH. THE CONTENT OF FAITH IS WHAT

MATTERS. SO CONTENT OF A FAITH IS WHAT

WE MUST INVESTIGATE AND THEN EMBRACE OR REJECT.

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS MODELED IN THE NEW

TESTAMENTTHE GREEK WORD “APOLOGIA” IS

WHERE WE GET OUR WORD APOLOGETICS FROM.

IT IS USED TO DESCIBE A DEFENSE, AS IN A LEGAL DEFENSE OR MAKING

A CASE.IN THE NEW TESTAMENT IT IS TRANSLATED AS DEFENSE OR

VINDICATION.

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Acts 22:1 “Brothers and fathers, hear the defense that I now make before you.”

Philippians 1:7 It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Philippians 1:16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

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1 Peter 3:15-16 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, 16 having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.Jude 1:3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

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PAUL AT MARS HILLPAUL AT MARS HILL► Acts 17:22-34 Acts 17:22-34

So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, So Paul, standing in the midst of the Areopagus, said: “Men of Athens, I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed I perceive that in every way you are very religious. For as I passed along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar along and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you with this inscription, ‘To the unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not world and everything in it, being Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as live in temples made by man, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mankind life and breath and everything.and breath and everything.  And he made from one man every nation And he made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they allotted periods and the boundaries of their dwelling place, that they should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward should seek God, in the hope that they might feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, for “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your “‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’ own poets have said, “‘For we are indeed his offspring.’    Being then Being then God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold God's offspring, we ought not to think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has will judge the world in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him appointed; and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”from the dead.”  Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, Now when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”some mocked. But others said, “We will hear you again about this.”   So So Paul went out from their midst.Paul went out from their midst.  But some men joined him and But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them.woman named Damaris and others with them.

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►PAUL ARGUES FOR THE FAITH IN 2 PAUL ARGUES FOR THE FAITH IN 2 WAYS.WAYS.

►11STST HE FINDS COMMON GROUND. HE FINDS COMMON GROUND.

►22NDND PAUL ARGUES BASED ON FACTS PAUL ARGUES BASED ON FACTS THAT COULD BE INVESTIGATED BY THAT COULD BE INVESTIGATED BY ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED.ANYONE WHO WAS INTERESTED.

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►BEHIND PAULS BOLD APPROACH IS A BEHIND PAULS BOLD APPROACH IS A LOGIC AND COHERENCE THAT LOGIC AND COHERENCE THAT EMPOWERED HIM BECAUSE HE EMPOWERED HIM BECAUSE HE UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF UNDERSTOOD THE IMPORTANCE OF INTELLECT AS IT RELATES TO FAITH.INTELLECT AS IT RELATES TO FAITH.

►Matthew 22:37 Matthew 22:37 And he said to him, “You shall love the And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your with all your soul and with all your mind.mind.

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USE AND ABUSEUSE AND ABUSE

CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS NOT TO CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS IS NOT TO WIN ARGUMENTS.WIN ARGUMENTS.

THE HOLY SPIRIT SAVES PEOPLE, NOT THE HOLY SPIRIT SAVES PEOPLE, NOT US.US.

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TOLLERS AND JACKTOLLERS AND JACK

A GOOD EXAMPLE OF APOLOGETICS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF APOLOGETICS AT WORK IN A GRACIOUS CHRISTIAN AT WORK IN A GRACIOUS CHRISTIAN WAY CAN BE SEEN IN THE STORY OF 3 WAY CAN BE SEEN IN THE STORY OF 3 FRIENDS WHO WERE WALKING FRIENDS WHO WERE WALKING TOGETHER AND TALKING IN 1931.TOGETHER AND TALKING IN 1931.

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JACKJACK

TOLLERTOLLER

HUGO DYSONHUGO DYSON

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““JACK” =JACK” =

C.S. LEWISC.S. LEWIS

MERE CHRISTIANITY MERE CHRISTIANITY AND AND

THE CHRONICALS OF THE CHRONICALS OF NARNIANARNIA

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““TOLLER” = TOLLER” =

J.R.R. TOLKIENJ.R.R. TOLKIEN

THE LORD OF THE THE LORD OF THE RINGS TRILOGYRINGS TRILOGY

ANDAND

THE HOBBITTHE HOBBIT

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CONCLUSION IN THE LIGHT OF THE COMMAND TO

BE ABLE TO GIVE A DEFENSE FOR THE TRUTH THAT IS WITHIN US AND TO LOVE GOD WITH ALL OUR MINDS, WE MUST EQUIP OURSELVES WITH FACTS, EVIDENCE, AND ARGUMENTS FOR CHRISTIANITY.