Introduction to apologetics, continued:
What do you hope to gain from this study of apologetics?
Internal motivationsAnswer questions you have yourself – Mark 9:24Stronger personal faith – know why you believe – Luke 17:5; Colossians 2:6-7Defend your own faith against attacks – II Timothy 3:13-15External motivationsBetter able to answer questions of seekers (children, friends, coworkers) – Ephesians 4:11-14Persuade those in error – but to what end? Philippians 1:15-17“Win” an internet debate – Matthew 7:6Defeat opposition – to what end? Matthew 6:2, 5, 16Plant a seed – I Corinthians 3:6; Mark 4:31-32; Luke 8:11-15; 13:6-9Purpose in apologetics
I Peter 3:15 – Ready to make a defense – but in what way?I Peter 3:8-9, 15 – our attitudesI Peter 3:11 – seek peaceI Peter 3:12-14 – fearlessI Peter 3:16 – our conductI Peter 3:18 – Christ’s suffering led me to our sanctification.What must our willingness to suffer for Christ do for others?Final thoughts
Luke 12:11-12Jesus told his disciples not to prepare beforehand what they would say, because the Holy Spirit would teach them in that very hour what they should say.That promise was not made to us, but we can learn from it.Luke 21:12-15Similar instructions, promise worded differently. He would give them wisdom and utterance no opponent could refute.Their persecution would lead to an opportunity for testimony.Faith and science
What is faith?
Personal conviction that something is true when the believer has no first-hand knowledge of it.Romans 8:24II Corinthians 5:7Hebrews 11:1How do we develop faith?
DiscussTestimonyObservation of evidence (as opposed to direct observation)Secondary, tertiary, etc.ReasoningLuke 24; John 20:25-31What are some everyday things we believe or take for granted?
What is science?
Testing of theory against evidenceHow does science work?
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