What You'll Hear: Tricia got saved when she was 5 after a conversation with her Mom about everyone was not going to go to heaven. This occurred after her parents rededicated their lives. In her teen years, she wondered if that decision had been sincere, she told her parents and they nailed it down at that point. First professional job was as an RN as a director of home care. She got her Masters in Nursing and taught nursing part-time while raising children. She pursued apologetics to confirm her own beliefs, then after moving to NC taught apologetics at a high school and decided to get her PhD. We need apologetics today because people don't just accept the Bible as an authority.  Apologetics is pre-evangelism.  You can start with the Gospel and work your way back or start with basic realities and work toward the Gospel. Apologetics is not apologizing, it means to offer a defense, reasons for why we believe what we believe. Apologetics is not the Gospel.   The Gospel is the point, but apologetics is a good tool.  We can't argue someone into faith, but we can break down the blocks they have keeping them from receiving the Gospel. We can have confidence because we're on the side of truth (NOT truth is on our side because we were the ones that had to move). I don't have to convert someone, that is the job of the Holy Spirit.  Success is ours whenever we obey Him and obey the call. Break 16:00 - Next practical Tips for Apologetics in general and specifically at work First, check out heart and make sure we love the person, regardless what decision they make. Second, meet them at their point of need.  Most people aren't even thinking about spiritual issues and are just dealing with life.  What are their resources that they're using to deal with their heartache.  You can just say "may I pray for you about that". Third, keep the main thing the main thing.  Get back to the teachings of Jesus Christ. Fourth, be prepared and willing to no do this perfectly. Fifth, intentionally decide how we're going to get the knowledge we need to be prepared.  Listen to the podcast "Cross Examined with Frank Turek" and "Standing to Reason" with Greg Koukl. For the workplace, you don't have a lot of time.  What is something I could share in 1 minute, or 5 minutes, or in response to certain issues like why evil occurs.  It might be our job to just put a stone in their shoe. Consider the thing you work hardest at, and be willing to work that hard.  Break 2: 29:18 - Next talk about 3 questions to answer when talking to an Atheist First is the issue of Truth.  To say that truth doesn't exist is self-defeating. Second is there a God and what kind of God.  Why is it that contingent beings exist?  We can use science.   How can God exist and evil exist. Third, Jesus Christ is the remedy.  God in the flesh came and stood in our place so that we could have restored relationship with God and eternal life.  Why do we believe we have what the NT writers wrote? This is the classical approach to apologetics.   Different people have different points of connection, so over time we may come at this different ways.  Try saying "maybe I'm not explaining that very well" and then try a different approach. Stick with it.  That's part of being a Christian and not giving up on people, as long as they give us permission to do so. Say "that's a good question, let's think that through" A lot of people have a smorgasbord belief, they make their own religion.  You can ask them "wouldn't you like to know that's true?" Break 3: 49:11 - Next we'll ask Tricia some questions she has unique insight into, including making a big change late in life and how we as men can support our wives. If you or your spouse has dementia, remember that God is with you and for you, learn what you can moment by moment. Don't be afraid to take on a big challenge later in life, particularly learning apologetics.  Leverage your wisdom and life experience.  Focus on the process not the end result.  The learning will keep your mind sharp.  It's worth it, go out in a flame living for Christ rather than fizzling out.  You don't have to go back to school but you can determine to be a life long learner. Women and men are made different.  Women carry life and nurture life.  They're all about relationships. Go to www.ImpactApologetics.com for the Lifegivers Apologetics book. contact [email protected] Alicia Childers has a good podcast, also Momma Bear Apologetics As a husband, affirm what you can for your wife based on that season of life.  Don't over-focus on ministry when you're younger at the expense of family. Don't expect your spouse to meet your deepest needs.  They will fail us.  The Lord knows our deepest needs better than we can define them.  Ask for forgiveness when we're wrong.