Apologetics Profile

Colossians tells us that all things were made through Christ and for Christ. John tells us that all things came into being through the Word who was and is God incarnate, the second Person of the Trinity, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through what God has made, Romans 1 tells us, the whole world knows something of God's invisible attributes - His "eternal power and divine nature," for example. But critics of Christianity deny that Jesus is God in the flesh. How can we as Christians be better equipped to respond to the critics of the incarnate Christ? This week we continue our discussion with Dr. Rob Bowman, Jr.,, president of the Institute for Religious Research about his new book The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.  Rob will give us more insights from his "HANDS" acronym  about how we can known Jesus is both Lord and God and how we can give an intelligent defense of what the Bible says of Jesus to non-Christians.

Dr. Rob Bowman Jr.,  is an evangelical Christian apologist, biblical scholar, author, editor, and lecturer. He has lectured on biblical studies, religion, and apologetics at Biola University, Cornerstone University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rob is the author of over sixty articles and the author or co-author of fifteen books including Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism, Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski, and Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith, co-authored with Kenneth D. Boa. Dr. Bowman holds the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and South African Theological Seminary. He is widely regarded as the leading evangelical scholar addressing the uses and interpretations of the Bible by such religious groups as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

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"The whole world has gone after Him" the Pharisees said to one another about Jesus of Nazareth (John 12:19). He healed the sick, cured the lepers, brought sight to the blind, commanded the winds and the waves, fed the hungry, and even raised His friend Lazarus from the dead. Who is this Jesus? Some say He was just a prophet. Some say He was merely a teacher, but others believed Him to be, the Christ, the Son of the living God, Lord, and Savior. This week and next on the Profile we'll be talking to Dr. Rob Bowman, Jr.,, president of the Institute for Religious Research about his new book The Incarnate Christ and His Critics.  What do the critics of Christianity say about Jesus? What does the Bible say of Jesus? Using the pneumonic acronym "HANDS" Rob provides us with invaluable wisdom about answering non-believers' critiques of Jesus.

Dr. Rob Bowman Jr., a former staff member at Watchman Fellowship, is an evangelical Christian apologist, biblical scholar, author, editor, and lecturer. He has lectured on biblical studies, religion, and apologetics at Biola University, Cornerstone University, and New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Rob is the author of over sixty articles and the author or co-author of fifteen books including Jesus’ Resurrection and Joseph’s Visions: Examining the Foundations of Christianity and Mormonism, Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ, co-authored with J. Ed Komoszewski, and Faith Has Its Reasons: Integrative Approaches to Defending the Christian Faith, co-authored with Kenneth D. Boa. Dr. Bowman holds the M.A. and Ph.D. degrees in biblical studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and South African Theological Seminary. He is widely regarded as the leading evangelical scholar addressing the uses and interpretations of the Bible by such religious groups as Jehovah’s Witnesses and Mormons.

Related Links: FREE Four-Page Profile Articles from Watchman Fellowship!

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © 2025 Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

Word-faith teachers claim that faith is a kind of power or force that we can utilize to our advantage to help us prosper physically, financially, and spiritually. This week philosopher and apologist Dr. Richard G. Howe will continue to unpack the problematic doctrines and practices of the word-faith prosperity heresy and give us sound, biblical insights as to how we can prevent and counter-act these false teachings. 

Dr. Richard G. Howe is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. He is Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina where he also serves as Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and as the Provost. Dr. Howe is Past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.

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The word-faith prosperity gospel is not really the Gospel at all. Much of the heretical theology and practice within the word-faith movement comes from much older and long-standing occult beliefs and practice. This week and next on Apologetics Profile, we'll be featuring president of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker's conversation with Dr. Richard Howe about the occult influences in the doctrines of highly popular word-faith teachers such as Kenneth Hagin, Kenneth Copeland, Benny Hinn and Joyce Meyer.

Dr. Richard G. Howe is a writer as well as a public speaker and debater in churches, conferences, and university campuses on issues concerning Christian apologetics and philosophy. He is Norman L. Geisler Chair of Christian Apologetics at Southern Evangelical Seminary in Charlotte, North Carolina where he also serves as Professor of Philosophy and Apologetics and as the Provost. Dr. Howe is Past President of the International Society of Christian Apologetics.

Related Links: Here are some of our related 4-page Profiles on the Word Faith Movement, popular Prosperity Gospel preachers, the occult and New Age / Mind Science religions:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

In early 1820 a young farm boy by the name of Joseph Smith believed he had a vision of God the Father and Jesus Christ appearing to him, exhorting him not to join any of the existing churches of his day, for they were all corrupt. Just over 200 years later in 2023 in Wilmore, Kentuck in the main chapel on the campus of Asbury Theological Seminary, something of a revival began. For two weeks, thousands of people from all over the world came to Ashbury to see for themselves what was happening. During these two weeks, people prayed and sang worship songs. Many Christians, however, debated as to whether or not this was a genuine revival or just an emotive outpouring of mostly Gen-Z'ers. And most Evangelical Christians criticize Joseph's Smith's first vision as either legendary, completely fabricated, or theologically aberrant. How can we rightly discern whether or not people's personal experiences are truly from God? This week on the Profile we wrap up our conversation with theologian and literary scholar Dr. Jeffery Barbeau about his new book The Last Romantic - C.S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology and consider more of Lewis's insights and how they can equip us to think biblically about personal religious experiences.

Jeffery Barbeau (Ph.D., Marquette University) is professor of theology at Wheaton College, Editor of The Coleridge Bulletin, and a writer on British Romanticism, religion and literature, and the history of Christian thought. His other works include The Cambridge Companion to British Romanticism and Religion (2021), The Spirit of Methodism: From the Wesleys to a Global Communion (2019), and Religion in Romantic England (2018).

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

If you have ever had a deeply moving personal experience with God, you know it can be something that words cannot adequately convey. Perhaps it is deeply emotional, powerful, and moving. The experience solidifies your conviction that what you believe about God is true. You might also believe God "spoke" to you in that moment. But given that there are a multitude of other religions today with devotees who claim to have similar experiences, how can we know that what we have experienced is an authentic movement of the God who is there? This week and next on the Profile, we talk with theologian and literary scholar Dr. Jeffrey Barbeau about his new book The Last Romantic - C.S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology and how Lewis's thoughts about Romantic poetry might give us some insight about the nature of personal religious experiences and how properly to think about them.

Jeffery Barbeau (Ph.D., Marquette University) is professor of theology at Wheaton College, Editor of The Coleridge Bulletin, and a writer on British Romanticism, religion and literature, and the history of Christian thought. His books include monographs, anthologies, and edited books, including The Last Romantic: C. S. Lewis, English Literature, and Modern Theology (2025), The Cambridge Companion to British Romanticism and Religion (2021), The Spirit of Methodism: From the Wesleys to a Global Communion (2019), Religion in Romantic England (2018), and Sara Coleridge: Her Life and Thought (2014).

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Additional Resources

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PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

There are nearly seven million Latter-day Saints in the United States today. And yet despite the growth of Latter-day Saints in foreign countries, the LDS church in the US continues to see a significant decline in its membership. Since 2021, the LDS church in the US has experienced a decline in membership in 21 states. Through the growth of available information on line, many LDS are discovering for the first time many of the problems with the church's history and theology that have until quite recently been kept secret from members. This week on the Profile President of Watchman Fellowship James K. Walker continues his conversation with Founder of Mormon Research Ministries and the Utah Christian Research Center, Bill McKeever.

Bill McKeever founded Mormonism Research Ministry in 1979 with the hope of informing the Body of Christ about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. He has also made an effort to reach out the many individuals who are members of the LDS Church, desiring to show them in gentleness and respect the truth about God’s Word. His writings include In Their own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations, Answering Mormons’ Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints, and Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints.

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This week and next on the profile President of Watchman Fellowship, James Walker sits down with Bill McKeever, founder of Mormon Research Ministry (MRM) and the Utah Christian Research Center, about many of the challenges facing Latter-day Saints today regarding the church's history and theology. We hope these episodes will better equip you to engage and understand your LDS friends, neighbors, and missionaries that come to your door. 

Bill McKeever founded Mormonism Research Ministry in 1979 with the hope of informing the Body of Christ about the differences between Mormonism and Christianity. He has also made an effort to reach out the many individuals who are members of the LDS Church, desiring to show them in gentleness and respect the truth about God’s Word. His writings include In Their own Words: A Collection of Mormon Quotations (Morris Publishing, 2010), Answering Mormons’ Questions: Ready Responses for Inquiring Latter-day Saints (co-authored with Eric Johnson, Kregel, 2013), and Mormonism 101: Examining the Religion of the Latter-day Saints (Baker, 2015).

In addition, Bill serves as the editor of Mormonism Researched, a bi-monthly publication distributed free through Mormonism Research Ministry. He is the host of the daily radio program Viewpoint on Mormonism and has been a featured guest on many Christian and secular talk shows throughout the country.

Related Links: Get the rest of the story including some of our most popular podcasts on Mormonism, access to some of our key LDS articles and our free, 4-page Watchman Fellowship Profile on the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormonism):

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This week on Apologetics Profile, Watchman senior apologist Dr. Brady Blevins continues his conversation with counter-cult apologist Steve Matthews about the recent split of the International Christian Church (ICC) and its disfellowshipping of its charismatic and controversial founder, Kip McKean. The breakaway sect of the ICC now calls itself the Restored Church Worldwide and in January, made a surprising move to accept and "restore" McKean as a member in good standing. Here on part two Steve will share with us the details of the split and give us helpful insights as to how we can recognize and prevent heretical doctrines and practices from deceiving and dividing the body of Christ. To hear more about Kip McKean and the ICC, you can listen to our previous episodes with Steve here. 

Podcast: Kip McKean and the International Christian Churches (Part 1): www.watchman.org/KipMcKean1

Podcast: Kip McKean and the International Christian Churches (Part 2): www.watchman.org/KipMcKean2

Steve Matthews is a Christian countercult apologist who is not only passionate about researching the more established cults, but also in responding to the newer emerging groups as well. He has his M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Trinity International University and is host of the YouTube channel Exposing the Cults which is soon to be an in-depth website. More of Steve's content can be found at Exposing the Cults YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@ExposingTheCults.

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Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.

This week and next on the Profile, Watchman senior apologist Dr. Brady Blevins talks with counter-cult apologist Steve Matthews about the recent split of the International Christian Church (ICC), founded by the controversial and charismatic leader Kip McKean. Not only did the ICC recently split, it also disfellowshipped McKean himself for inappropriate behavior, some of which McKean has publicly acknowledged. The new breakaway from the ICC now calls itself the Restored Church Worldwide (RCW). In addition, this past January, the RCW "restored" McKean, not in a position of leadership, but as a member. Steve shares with us some of the details and background of the split and the history of McKean's association with the ICOC, the ICC, and now the RCW. For more background about the ICC and ICOC, you can listen to our previous episodes with Steve here. 

Podcast: Kip McKean and the International Christian Churches (Part 1): www.watchman.org/KipMcKean1

Podcast: Kip McKean and the International Christian Churches (Part 2): www.watchman.org/KipMcKean2

Steve Matthews is a Christian countercult apologist who is not only passionate about researching the more established cults, but also in responding to the newer emerging groups as well. He has his M.A. in Christian Apologetics from Trinity International University and is host of the YouTube channel Exposing the Cults which is soon to be an in-depth website. More of Steve's content can be found at Exposing the Cults YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/@ExposingTheCults

Related Links: Access additional Watchman Fellowship resources related to this week's podcast:

Additional Resources

FREE: We are also offering a subscription to our 4-page bimonthly Profiles here: www.watchman.org/Free

PROFILE NOTEBOOK: Order the complete collection of Watchman Fellowship Profiles (around 700 pages -- from Astrology to Zen Buddhism) in either printed or PDF formats here: www.watchman.org/Notebook

SUPPORT: Help us create more content like this. Make a tax-deductible donation here: www.watchman.org/Give

Apologetics Profile is a ministry of Watchman Fellowship For more information, visit www.watchman.org © Watchman Fellowship, Inc.