Kristin Hileman kicked off a practical session on “Can I trust the Bible?”—framing it as the foundation for the whole "Defending Your Faith" series.

After a playful fact-or-fiction opener, she shared Sean McDowell’s story to underline this: if we ask people to stake their lives on an ancient book, we need reasons, not circular claims. She defined what Christians mean by “the Bible,” noted its own claims and fulfilled prophecy, and then offered three simple lenses we can remember: the character of the witnesses (specific names/places, eyewitness reports, even unflattering details, and costly devotion), the reliability of the copies (manuscript evidence and Dead Sea Scrolls consistency), and outside corroboration.

Kristin wrapped up the session with heart-level guidance from 1 Peter 3:15—be ready, gentle, and respectful; start with your story; ask what the other person already knows; admit what you don’t; and pray—trusting God to use both evidence and lived light to build confidence in Scripture.

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