why do apologetics

7/31/2019 Why Do Apologetics

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Christian Apologetics:Christian Apologetics:

“Giving Credible Answers,“Giving Credible Answers,

to Culture's Questions” to Culture's Questions”



Attacked by the CriticsAttacked by the Critics

82 % of Gospels False82 % of Gospels False

16 % Doubtful16 % Doubtful

0 % of John is True0 % of John is True Jesus was not God Jesus was not God No Resurrection No Resurrection Jesus eaten by Dogs Jesus eaten by Dogs



Attacked by the CultsAttacked by the Cults

All Deny the Orthodoxy of Christianity!



Outline:Outline:

I. What is “Apologetics” ?

II. What is its Role in Evangelism?

III. Why We Need to do Apologetics?



Outline:Outline:I. What is “Apologetics”?

1. It is Giving a Reason for our Hope



“ “ Always being prepared to… Always being prepared to… [give] [give] a reasona reason (Gk: 'apologia')(Gk: 'apologia') for for

the hope that is in you.” the hope that is in you.” - 1 Peter 3:15- 1 Peter 3:15



Outline:Outline:I. What is “Apologetics”?I. What is “Apologetics”?

2. It is2. It is Defending Defending the Gospelthe Gospel



“ “ I am put here for the I am put here for the defensedefense

of the Gospel.” of the Gospel.” - Philippians 1:7 - Philippians 1:7




2. It is2. It is Defending Defending the Gospelthe GospelQ: Should we 'defend' GOD? (Spurgeon)

Acts 1:3, 2:22; John 5:31-47, 14:8-11

Exodus 3; 1 Kings 18; Isaiah 44-46




3. It is3. It is Answering Answering Good QuestionsGood Questions



“ “ Let your speech be always gracious, Let your speech be always gracious,seasoned with salt, so that you mayseasoned with salt, so that you may

know how you ought toknow how you ought to answer answer eacheach person.” person.”

- Colossians 4:6- Colossians 4:6




3. It is3. It is Answering Answering Good QuestionsGood QuestionsQ: Do unbelievers have legitimate

questions that need answers?

I did... 2 year investigation!



“ “ I found it necessary to write I found it necessary to writeappealing to you toappealing to you to contend for thecontend for the

faith faith that was once for all delivered that was once for all delivered to the saints.” to the saints.”

- Jude 3- Jude 3




4. It is4. It is Contending Contending for our Faithfor our FaithQ: Which issues and ideasQ: Which issues and ideas

might Christians need to contend for might Christians need to contend for

in today's culture?in today's culture?




5. It is5. It is Reasoning Reasoning with Unbelieverswith Unbelievers




5. It is5. It is Reasoning Reasoning with Unbelieverswith UnbelieversQ: Is GOD logical/reasonable? (Jn 1:1)Q: Is GOD logical/reasonable? (Jn 1:1)

Should our worldview be as well?

Jn 8:32; Acts 17:11; 1 Thess 5:21



Outline:Outline:I. What is “Apologetics” ?




It is Needed for “Pre-EvangelismIt is Needed for “Pre-Evang elism””

Often we cannot effectively evangelizeOften we cannot effectively evangelizeuntil we first pre-evangelize!!until we first pre-evangelize!!

There cannot be:There cannot be:

……the Son ofthe Son of GODGOD , ,

……the Word ofthe Word of GODGOD , ,

……and salvation ofand salvation of GODGOD , ,unless there is aunless there is a GOD!GOD!



Outline:Outline:I. What is “Apologetics” ?


III. Why We Need to do Apologetics?



OutlineOutlineIII. Why is Apologetics Needed?III. Why is Apologetics Needed?

A. The Scriptures teach it! A. The Scriptures teach it!

1. Give1. Give a reasona reason for your hope (1 Pt 3:15)for your hope (1 Pt 3:15)

2.2. Defend Defend the Gospel (Phil. 1:17)the Gospel (Phil. 1:17)

3.3. Answer Answer every question (Col. 4:6)every question (Col. 4:6) 4.4. Contend Contend for the Faith (Jude 3)for the Faith (Jude 3)




A. The Saints practiced it! A. The Saints practiced it!Justin Martyr Justin Martyr C.S. LewisC.S. LewisTatianTatian Francis SchaefferFrancis Schaeffer

AthenagorasAthenagoras Dr. Alvin PlantingaDr. Alvin Plantinga

TertullianTertullian Dr. Norman GeislerDr. Norman GeislerAugustineAugustine Dr. Phil FernandesDr. Phil Fernandes

AquinasAquinas Dr. William L. Craig Dr. William L. Craig

Jonathan Edwards Jonathan Edwards Dr. Ravi ZachariasDr. Ravi Zacharias




A. The Secular Culture needs it! A. The Secular Culture needs it!

The Christian Worldview teaches:The Christian Worldview teaches:- Existence of- Existence of AAbsolutebsolute truth, intruth, in relativisticrelativistic culture.culture.- An- An Exclusivistic Exclusivistic message, in amessage, in a pluralistic pluralistic society.society.- That- That SupernaturalSupernatural acts occur, in aacts occur, in a naturalisticnaturalistic age.age.

Christianity preaches aChristianity preaches a theistictheistic messagemessage In a world that is mostly In a world that is mostly non-theistic!non-theistic!



How Much of the World is Non-Theistic?How Much of the World is Non-Theistic?

Approximately 50% of it!Approximately 50% of it!



III. Why is Apologetics Needed? A. The Scriptures teach it.

B. The Saints practiced it.C. The Secular Culture needs it.

D. The Skeptics prove it.

OutlineOutline



- He reasoned his wayfrom skepticism.

- A Christian debaterhelped deliver him from

Manicheanism.

- A philosopher helped

him escape materialism.

Apologetics Helped St. Augustine:



Astronomy leads to belief in GOD

“ “ Now we see how Now we see how the astronomical evidencethe astronomical evidenceleads to a biblical view of the origin of the world.leads to a biblical view of the origin of the world.The details differ, but the essential elements in theThe details dif fer, but the essential elements in theastronomical and biblical accounts of genesis areastronomical and biblical accounts of genesis are

the samethe same: the [world began]… suddenly and sharply: the [world began]… suddenly and sharplyat a definite moment in time,at a definite moment in time,

in a flash of light and energyin a flash of light and energy""

-- R. astrow “God and the Astronomers”R. astrow “God and the Astronomers”



"Biochemical systems are"Biochemical systems are

Exceedingly complex, Exceedingly complex,

so much soso much sothat the chance of that the chance of their being formed their being formed through random shuffling through random shuffling

....is insensibly different from zero."..is insensibly different from zero."

So,So, there must be "...an intelligence, which designed there must be "...an intellig ence, which designed the biochemicals and gave rise to the origin of the biochemicals and g ave rise to the origin of carbonaceous lifecarbonaceous lif e"" - Sir Fred Hoyle, “Evolution from Space”

Biochemistry helps AtheistBiochemistry helps Atheist

Reason to a DesignerReason to a Designer



"The"The harmony of naturalharmony of naturallaw...reveals an intelligencelaw...reveals an intellig ence of such superiority that,of such superiority that,compared with it, all thecompared with it, all thesystematic thinking and systematic thinking and acting of human beings is anacting of human beings is an

utterly insignificant utterly insignificant reflection"reflection"-- “Heeren, Shew Me God”“Heeren, Shew Me God”

Physics Led EinsteinPhysics Led Einstein

to Belief in a Divine Mindto Belief in a Divine Mind



“ “ Nor do I claim to Nor do I claim to

have had any personalhave had any personalexperience of God or experience of God or any experience that mayany experience that may

be called super- naturalbe called super- naturalor miraculous.or miraculous. In short, In short,my discovery of themy discovery of the

divine has been adivine has been a pilgrimage of reason pilgrimage of reasonand not of faithand not of faith” (93” (93 ).

Atheist Philosopher believes in GodAtheist Philosopher believes in God



Atheist Scientist Finds GOD ThroughAtheist Scientist Finds GOD ThroughGenetic ResearchGenetic Research

“ “ Why would such a universal and Why would such a universal and uniquely human hunger [for God] uniquely human hunger [for God]

exist, if it were not connected toexist, if it were not connected to

some opportunity for fulfillment?...some opportunity for fulfillment?...

Creatures are not born with desiresCreatures are not born with desires

unless satisfaction for those desiresunless satisfaction for those desires

exists. A baby feels hunger: well,exists. A baby feels hunger: well,

there is such a thing as food. Athere is such a thing as food. Aduckling wants to swim: well,duckling wants to swim: well,

there is such a thing as water” there is such a thing as water” - Francis Collins “- Francis Collins “The Language of God”The Language of God”



- Skeptic converted in- Skeptic converted in

attempt to disproveattempt to disprove

ChristianityChristianity- The first chapter was- The first chapter was

titled titled “The Book that “The Book that

Refused to be Written.” Refused to be Written.”

Historical Evidence ConvincesHistorical Evidence ConvincesSkeptic of Christ's ResurrectionSkeptic of Christ's Resurrection



"To be"To be ignorant and simple now--not to be able toig norant and simple now--not to be able tomeet the enemies on their ground meet the enemies on their g round --would be to throw--would be to throwdown our weaponsdown our weapons , and to betray our uneducated , and to betray our uneducated

brethren who have, under God, no defense but usbrethren who have, under God, no defense but usagainst against the intellectual attacks of the heathen.the intellectual attacks of the heathen. Good Good

philosophy must exist, if for no other reason, philosophy must exist, if for no other reason,

becausebecause

bad philosophy needs to be answered.bad philosophy needs to be answered.

” ”

C. S. Lewis ExplainsC. S. Lewis Explains

Why Apologetics Must Be Done Why Apologetics Must Be Done



Why Apologetics? Why Apologetics?

A.A. TheThe ScripturesScriptures teach it.teach it.

B. TheB. The SaintsSaints practiced it.practiced it.C. TheC. The Secular CultureSecular Culture needs it.needs it.

D. TheD. The SkepticsSkeptics prove it.prove it.

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