A Seven-Session Study Guide

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Written by Jill Carattini and Betsy Childs

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I N T R O D U C T I O N

This study guide is meant to facilitate the seven-part video lecture series ApologeticsThen and Now. It has been divided into several sections: Review, Lecture Notes,Discussion, and Further Reading. The Lecture Notes section is a basic outline to becompleted as you view each video lecture. These notes will be helpful as you answer thediscussion questions.

If you are following the series as part of a large group, it will be beneficial to break intosmaller groups for the discussion questions. The discussion sections are intended tohelp you apply what you have learned from the lectures.

The last video session is a question and answer discussion with a panel of apologists.The discussion questions answered in the video are included in the study guide alongwith space to take notes on the answers. Because this video session is longer thanprevious sessions, there is no additional discussion section in the study guide. If timepermits, you may want to spend some time summing up your thoughts about theentire series.

Since the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Christians have been called upon to give a reasonfor the hope that is within them. It is our hope that this video series and study guidewill encourage and equip you to make apologetics a part of your daily life.

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S E S S I O N 1

Alister McGrathI. Lecture Notes

Apologetics: Learning from the Past

What does the Greek word apologia mean? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What are the two components of apologetics? 1. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________

Francis Schaeffer’s Approach

• Latent within every non-Christian belief system is ____________________________________________________________________________

• Our task is _______________________________________________

• This means ________________________________________________

“One day I was talking to a group of people in the digs of a young South African in Cambridge.Among others, there was present a young Indian who was of Sikh background but a Hindu byreligion. He started to speak strongly against Christianity, but did not really understand theproblems of his own beliefs. So I said, ‘Am I not correct in saying that on the basis of your system,cruelty and non-cruelty are ultimately equal, that there is no intrinsic difference between them?’He agreed. …The student in whose room we met, who had clearly understood the implicationsof what the Sikh had admitted, picked up his kettle of boiling water with whichhe was about to make tea, and stood with it steaming over the Indian's head.The man looked up and asked him what he was doing and he said, with a coldyet gentle finality, ‘There is no difference between cruelty and non-cruelty.’Thereupon the Hindu walked out into the night.”

Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There

An Example of Contradiction Incident at Cambridge University

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II. Discussion

1. The Greek word apologia means “defense.” How is this different from apologizingfor your faith? What is the difference between giving a defense and being defensive?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Professor McGrath outlines two key aspects of apologetics: positive and negative.What is the difference between the two?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. The psalmist speaks of beholding the fair beauty of the Lord. The Apostle Paul speaksof his faith in terms of exuberance. How can you communicate the beauty of theGospel with your life? What would prevent you from communicating the beauty of theGospel with your life?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Intentionally or unintentionally we all engage in apologetics. Have you ever seen yourlife as an apologetic? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Think back to your personal testimony. Can you remember what it was about theGospel that attracted you to the Christian faith?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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6. Professor McGrath spoke of Francis Schaeffer as having a ministry of listening. Howcan listening be a ministry? What is the difference between passive and active listening?Why is listening so vital to the task of apologetics? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Francis Schaeffer said,“The Christian, lovingly, must remove the shelter and allowthe truth of the external world and of what man is to beat upon him.” From what sortsof reality do people attempt to shield themselves? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. In the story Schaeffer tells about the Cambridge student, what was unlivable aboutthe Hindu student’s worldview? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Further Reading

Francis Schaeffer, The God Who Is There (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1998).

Francis Schaeffer, Escape from Reason (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1977).

Alister McGrath, Glimpsing the Face of God: The Search for Meaning in the Universe(Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 2002).

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S E S S I O N 2

Alister McGrathReview

In the first session,Alister McGrath discussed two components of apologetics: on theone hand, the apologist counters objections to the Christian faith, and on the other, heor she sets forth the attractiveness of the Gospel. It thus has a negative and a positiveaspect. Francis Schaeffer approached life with the understanding that latent withinevery non-Christian belief system is a fatal contradiction. He taught that the task ofapologetics is to find this point of contradiction and show that the belief system isunworkable. This means listening to others, helping them find the fatal flaw andappreciating its significance for their beliefs. Professor McGrath illustrated this with astory of how Francis Schaeffer uncovered the fatal flaw of a Hindu’s worldview, whoheld that there was no difference between cruelty and noncruelty.

I. Lecture Notes

Schaeffer’s Response to Sartre

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

• Jean-Paul Sartre was one of France’s most trendy thinkers in the 1950s andearly 1960s.

• He held the very radical view that ethics was not about the decision youreached; it was about exercising your freedom in reaching that decision.

• The decision is thus ethically neutral; the important thing is the process of judgment.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Schaeffer’s Masterstroke: ___________________________________________

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“The human soul was made to enjoy some object that is never fully given –nay, cannot even be imagined as given – in our present mode of subjectiveand spatio-temporal experience.”

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis

• Develops the idea that nothing created or finite can _____________________________________________________________________________

• Knowing God’s creatures makes us long to know _______________________________________________________________________________

• Therefore, the beauty of nature __________________________________________________________________________________________

Learning from the Past

What are two things that we can take from reading and studying the apologetics of others?

1. ________________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________________

II. Discussion

1. How did the Algerian War show the inconsistency of Sartre’s worldview? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. We live in a world where we are encouraged to believe that all viewpoints are equallyvalid. Why is this unlivable? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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3. Central to much of C.S. Lewis’ thinking was the idea that nothing can make us trulyhappy other than God. Why is this such an important message for our world today? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Lewis writes,“The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was locatedwill betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, andwhat came through them was longing.” What are other things that we look to for ultimatesatisfaction that really leave us with more unfulfilled longing? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. How do the desires and longings within us point to the existence of God?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Lewis writes of “rumors” which hint that the world will not always be as it is now.What are some signposts of God’s existence that you can point to? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. How has the context in which we defend our faith changed over the ages? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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8. In the lecture Professor McGrath referred to several ways we can learn from apologistsof the past. Can you think of other ways we can learn from those who have gonebefore us?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

9. In the first session, Professor McGrath noted the difference between negative andpositive apologetics.How do Schaeffer’s and Lewis’approaches to apologetics as discussedin this lecture exemplify this difference? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Further Reading

C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001).

C.S. Lewis, God in the Dock (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans, 1994).

C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters (San Francisco: Harper San Francisco, 2001).

Alister McGrath, The Journey: A Pilgrim in the Land of the Spirit (New York:Doubleday, 2001).

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S E S S I O N 3

StuartMcAllisterReview

In the previous session, we saw how Francis Schaeffer showed the fatal flaw of Jean-Paul Sartre’s worldview by revealing the inconsistency between his existential philos-ophy and his position on the Algerian War. A master listener, Francis Schaeffer andhis apologetic provide an example of how we can gently and respectfully uncovercontradictions in other belief systems, counter objections to the Christian faith, andassist others in determining a coherent, livable worldview.

Professor McGrath then used C.S. Lewis as an example of the positive apologetic.Throughout his writing, Lewis develops the idea that nothing created or finite cansatisfy our longing. Knowing God’s world and God’s creatures makes us long to knowGod as their source and origin. The task of the apologist is to set out the full wonderof the Christian Gospel of redemption, to help others see the attractiveness of Christ.

I. Lecture Notes

Engaging Culture in an Ever-Changing World

Acts 17:22-23 Paul at Mars Hill ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Image of God As a “Point of Contact”

Psalms 8:3-8; Acts 17:24-29 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“The outcome of instant, total information is inflation – when more and more of anything isavailable, less and less is valuable.” Os Guinness

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In Search of Connections and Bridges ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Windows on the World: Movies and Stories As Great Conversation Starters____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Discussion

1. Stuart McAllister makes the statement,“Good apologists are good observers.” InActs 17, the Apostle Paul makes numerous observations about the Athenian culture.Why is it important for an apologist to be a good observer?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Stuart uses the phrase “ideational pandemonium” to describe the countless voicesand ideologies vying for our attention. Why might this “multiplication of voices” havea crippling effect on one seeking truth?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. James Sire defines nihilism as the “negation of everything – knowledge, ethics,beauty, reality. In nihilism no statement has validity; nothing has meaning.” Do yousee a connection between the countless warring ideas of our culture and nihilistic

“As ironic modern worshippers we congregate at the cinematic temple.” Geoffrey Hill

“The world outside has not become less real because the prisoner cannot see it.” J.R.R.Tolkien

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thinking? Can you think of any examples in popular culture (music lyrics, movies,politics, etc.) of nihilism?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Despite the secular appearance of our culture, Stuart notes that the search forGod never ultimately goes away. To what spheres have people relocated their searchfor spirituality? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What does it mean that every man and woman is made in the image of God? Howmight this be an advantage or a “point of contact” for the apologist? In the book ofEcclesiastes, King Solomon writes that God has set eternity in the hearts of men. Howdoes this encourage you as you deepen your understanding of apologetics? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Think about the comment Steve Martin’s character makes in the movie GrandCanyon:“All of life’s riddles are solved in the movies.” Many modern writers have notedthe deeper context in which our culture approaches movies and entertainment. Stuartremarks that whether they realize it or not, many people go to the movies seekingtranscendence. What does transcendence mean? Why do we search for it in stories? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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III. Further Reading

James Sire, The Universe Next Door (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 1997).

Barry Morrow, Heaven Observed (Colorado Springs: Navpress, 2001).

John Eldredge, The Journey of Desire (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2000).

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S E S S I O N 4

StuartMcAllisterReview

In the last session, Stuart McAllister spoke of the image of God as a “point of contact”for apologetics. As apologists, we must search for connections and bridges for communication with those we seek to reach with the Good News of Christ. Stuartmentioned movies and stories as great conversation starters because of their capacityto be windows on the world. He discussed the concept of transcendence as that whichwe seek in the medium of story, recognizing that ultimately, these hints of another worldand the human longing for deeper meaning point us to our need for God Himself.

I. Lecture Notes

Cultivating a “Situation Specific” Mindset and Approach

• Listening, questioning, watching ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Examples of bridges into redemptive conversations ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Bridge Building ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

In the World, Not of the World, But for the World

• Understanding the mood and climate of our time and responding _________

“Our context necessarily provides the forms that clarify and distort our reception of thegospel.” William Dyrness

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• The careful use of humor and irony ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• The leadership of the Holy Spirit Proverbs 3:5-6, John 16:13 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

II. Discussion

1. In Luke chapter 13, Jesus makes reference to a tragedy that some in his audience mayhave witnessed firsthand. Review the story and discuss how this is an example of whatStuart calls a “situation specific” approach.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Stuart makes the point that we must cultivate bridge-building as an attitude andthen as a skill. What might be the danger in cultivating apologetic skills without alsocultivating an apologetic heart?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“One must keep on pointing out that Christianity is a statement which, if false,is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The one thing it cannotbe is moderately important.” C.S. Lewis

C.S. Lewis

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3. In I Corinthians 9:19-22, Paul talks about becoming all things to all people. Whatdoes this mean to you as you seek to defend your faith in different contexts? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. In his book Prophetic Untimeliness, Os Guinness challenges the prominentimportance that our culture has given to the idea of relevance. He suggests threeessentials for cultivating “untimeliness”: awareness of the unfashionable, appreciationfor the historical, and attention to the eternal. Discuss how each of these essentials playsa role in apologetics.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Stuart mentioned G.K. Chesterton’s use of humor to gain a hearing with those whomay have otherwise ignored him. Think of gifts, experiences, or even struggles thatyou have that could be used as points of contact as you minister to others.________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. Can you think of any movies you have seen or books you have read that have servedas fodder for fruitful conversations? Stuart has given many examples of cultural bridgesinto redemptive conversation. Can you think of others? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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7. Proverbs 4:23 reads,“Above all else guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.”Why is this an important thought to keep in mind as we attempt to engage in cultural apologetics? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

III. Further Reading

Brian Godawa, Hollywood Worldviews: Watching Films With Wisdom andDiscernment (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity, 2002).

William Dyrness, How Does America Hear the Gospel? (Grand Rapids, MI: WilliamB. Eerdmans, 1989).

Os Guinness, Prophetic Untimeliness: A Challenge to the Idol of Relevance (GrandRapids, MI: Baker Book House, 2003).

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S E S S I O N 5

RaviZachariasReview

As we attempt to engage in cultural apologetics, Scripture points us to the importanceof guarding our hearts and minds. Always keeping this in mind, the task of the apologistis to cultivate a “situation specific” mindset, building bridges with the culture, first asan attitude and then as a skill. Offering some examples of messages and bridges intoredemptive conversations, Stuart McAllister taught that we must seek to understandthe mood and climate of our time and respond appropriately; we are to be in the world,not of the world, but for the world. As apologists seizing the opportunities God hasplaced before us, we must continually remember to focus on the leadership of the HolySpirit in our listening, in our learning, and in our teaching.

I. Lecture Notes

The Struggles of the Human Means and Mind

• Materialism ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Hedonism __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Existentialism _____________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Naturalism __________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Scriptural Imperative

1 Peter 3:15-16 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________2 Corinthians 10:4-5 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Task of Apologetics

1. ________________________________________________________

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2. ________________________________________________________

The Criticisms of Apologetics

1. ________________________________________________________2. ________________________________________________________3. ________________________________________________________4. ________________________________________________________

The Challenge of Apologetics ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

II. Discussion

1. As a rationale for apologetics many people reference 1 Peter 3:15:“But in your heartsset apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asksyou to give the reason for the hope that you have.” However, Peter goes on to say,“Butdo this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speakmaliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander”(v. 16). Why are gentleness and respectfulness essential elements of apologetics? Whatwould a gentle and respectful apologetic look like? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. What does it mean to clarify truth claims?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Ravi speaks of apologetics as the task of removing obstacles so that people can geta direct look at the Cross. What are some of the intellectual and emotional obstaclesthat keep people from embracing the Gospel? What are some harmful stereotypes of

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the Christian faith that may cause people to reject it? Can you think of ways to addressthese stereotypes? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Think of an example in Scripture where you have seen apologetics in action. Whatspecific questions were raised? How were these questions answered? What observationscan you make about the methods that were used?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. What does it mean to listen to the experiential or emotional side of a question ratherthan just the philosophical? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What might lead people to reject the Gospel even when all intellectual barriers havebeen removed? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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III. Further Reading

William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1994).

N.T.Wright, The Challenge of Jesus: Rediscovering Who Jesus Was and Is (DownersGrove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999).

J.P. Moreland, Scaling the Secular City (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1987).

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S E S S I O N 6

RaviZachariasReview

In the previous session, Ravi Zacharias presented the task of apologetics as clarifyingtruth claims and giving answers to specific questions. Responding to common criticismsof apologetics, Ravi instructed us to be aware and alert for times when these criticismsare valid, striving to avoid them as pitfalls. But it is essential that we remember thatthe challenge of apologetics goes beyond intellectual barriers, often extending to thehuman will and sinner’s insistence on his or her own view of the world.

I. Lecture Notes

The Components of Apologetics

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

• ________________________________________________________

The Approach

1. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The Goal ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________

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II. Discussion

1. Ravi tells the story about ministering over the course of a year to a man and womanfrom a Hindu background. What cultural roadblocks can you identify that they had toovercome to accept the Gospel?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

What cultural roadblocks to Christianity can you identify that someone from a Muslimbackground might face?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Ravi says that God has endowed each one of us with a unique capacity to reachcertain people. Think of people in your life that were instrumental in bringing you toChrist. What was it about their delivery of the message or your relationship with thisperson that persuaded you? Can you think of ways that God has uniquely equipped youto reach others?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Some people make pragmatic arguments for the Gospel based on the fact that it“works.” Ravi points out that it is not true because it works; it works because it is true.When are pragmatic arguments helpful in apologetics? When might they fall short? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Ravi mentions that relevant apologetics touch the nerve of human experience. Whatare some of the nerves of human experience that come to your mind?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

5. Humility is disarming. Keep in mind that just because you do not know the answerto a particular question should not mean that you cannot help the questioner find ananswer. If someone comes to you with rapid-fire philosophical questions that you feelill-equipped to answer, what are the some of the ways in which you can handle this?Can you think of some resources you can point them to? ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

6. What does Ravi mean by “de-fanging” a question? Can you think of an example ofwhen Jesus did this?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

7. Ravi says that one of the most powerful apologetics of our time is a worshippingcommunity. Why would he say this?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

8. Ravi notes that we must realize that Jesus Christ is not only an answer but is the truth.What would you say to someone who holds that Jesus is one of many answers or wantsto remain neutral?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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III. Further Reading

Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler, Is Your Church Ready? Motivating Leaders toLive an Apologetic Life (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003).

Ravi Zacharias and Norman Geisler, Who Made God? And Answers to Over 100Other Tough Questions of Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2003).

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S E S S I O N 7P A N E L D I S C U S S I O N

Amy Orr-Ewing, Alister McGrathRaviZacharias,StuartMcAllister

Review

In the last session, Ravi Zacharias distinguished the components of apologetics as beingmatters of identification, translation, persuasion, and justification. He presented fivedifferent approaches to issues of truth and relevance – the pragmatic, the experiential,the philosophical, the historical, and the community. Ravi encouraged the apologistto recognize that God has not only given us many ways to seek and understand Him,but he has also given each person unique giftings, experiences, and personalities tominister within a lost world. The goal of apologetics is always to awaken this senseof need; Jesus is not only an answer, but must be seen to be true. One cannot simplyremain neutral.

Q1. Given that apologetics assumes, at the most basic level, a commitment to reasonwith certain properties, how do you respond when someone rejects this reason as anaccessory element in the pursuit of truth?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q2. Given that there are multiple systems of Christian apologetics-evidential,philosophical,cultural, historical-how does one determine the relevance of each method?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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Q3. How does one defend the authority of the Scriptures?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q4. How do you respond to one who does understand the Gospel and its implicationsand promises, but is not longing for more of God?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q5. Why can't you prove a negative?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q6. Apologetics is giving a reason for our faith to others. How can we use it to sustainourselves through dark times when heaven is silent and God seems to disappear?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q7. When we say to an atheist that they can't be a full-blown atheist because they wouldhave to know everything there is to know, can't they say the same thing to us as theists?____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

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____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q8. What is the greatest challenge the church faces today, and is it any different fromthe church in past ages? What should be the church's response?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q9. What do you see the role of apologetics to be in a seeker-sensitive church? Can theycoexist effectively?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q10. Conscience, like desire, suggests the presence of the transcendent. How important,then, is experience in one's effort to build bridges with unbelievers?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Q11. What do we say to Christians who allegorize Scripture and read into God's Wordtheir own theology?________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________