A Case for the Bible: Week Five – An Introduction to Biblical Christian Apologetics and Joshua Chapters 13-16

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This week’s presentation focuses on an introduction to Christian Apologetics and the importance of all believers to practice giving answers for the hope that we have in Jesus and His Word found in the Bible. For the Bible study portion, we will read through Joshua chapters 13-16 and then discuss those chapters in our study groups. This website will post basic answers mid-week following the class for your review.

As Christians, it is more important than ever to know what we believe, and why we believe it, and then apply that to who we are on a consistent basis, and this can only be done effectively if we know what God’s Word teaches, especially the big picture that always points to Jesus!

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, an “apologetics” presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation notes and the Bible study survey format below, with basic answers to the survey format posted during the week. These things can be used as a leader’s guide, or to review your own study each week.

Watch this week’s presentation on this topic:

2025 A Case for the Bible Presentation Notes

Week 5: An Introduction to Biblical Christian Apologetics

Class Review and Prayer

Prayer Cards: Do you have anyone that you are hoping to share what you are learning with? Write that person(s) name down on your prayer card along with any other prayer request you might have (exchange with your table group at the end of the evening).

1.  What are the 66 books of the Christian Bible, and their categories?

2.  What are the three main covenants we are focusing on for this class?

3.  Go over the 12 steps in telling the “Big Picture of the Bible.”

4.  Recite the Bible study theme verse from 2 Timothy:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV)

Class Focus Questions and Overview

1.What are the four important areas of Christian Growth that we should be focusing on in our Christian Walk (from our Ministry Statement)?

2.What are the 66 books of the Christian Bible, their categories and description?

3.How should we study the Bible? Hermeneutics

4.What are the major Covenants in the Bible, and why are they important to know?

5.What are the 12 parts to the Bible’s “Big Picture” that help you tell the story?

APOLOGETICS

6.What is the history of the Bible? Authorship and Language

7.How did we get our Bible today? Transmission

8.How do we know the Bible has been transmitted correctly? Translation

9.How do we know we got the right books? Canonization

10.How can we trust that the Bible is the Word of God? Inspiration

(Note: The above will include evidence from archeology, prophecy fulfillment and science)

AN INTRODUCTION TO BIBLICAL CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS

The Importance of Christian Apologetics

“Christianity has so much evidence, it is like death by a 1000 paper cuts!”
-J. Warner Wallace

Can you answer questions like these?

  1. Why are you a Christian (and not of some other belief)?
  2. Does God exist? (If so which God?)
  3. Who am I, and where did I come from? (The origin-identity question/Evolution versus Creation argument)
  4. Why is there Evil and Suffering in the world? (Why doesn’t God stop it?)
  5. How do we know the Bible is the Word of God? (Or is it just a human invention?)
  6. Who is Jesus (who do I say Jesus is)?
  7. What is my destiny (what happens after we die)?

Questions like these are asked by people today, even Christians – Can we answer them from a Biblical Worldview? We should be able to…

What is Christian Apologetics? by gotquestions.org

  • Apologetics=apologia(ap-ol-og-ee’-ah) in the original Greek means to give a verbal defense, like one would do in a court of law.
  • It is used eight times in the New Testament: Acts 22:1; Acts 25:16; 1 Corinthians 9:3; 2 Corinthians 10:5 and 6; Philippians 1:7; 2 Timothy 4:16; and 1 Peter 3:15.
  • Jesus, his disciples and the early Christian martyrs gave us many examples of how to use apologetics: They provedfrom Old Testament Scripture who Jesus was; they confirmed it by providing evidence through miracles in Jesus’ Name; and they won arguments against the philosophies of the day with truth and reason.
  • Christian Apologetics today makes evidential cases for truth(vs. relativism and secular ideology), a Creator (vs. random evolutionary models), the historicity, reliability and inspiration of the Bible (vs. human invention), Jesus and the Resurrection (vs. myth).

Why learn to defend the faith?

Simple answer: Because Scripture tells us to.

“Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation, and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.

-1 Peter 3:13-17 (NASB)

We are warned to be prepared…

“And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many. …For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect.”  –

Matthew 24:4-5; 24 (NASB)

The Apostle Paul warned the believers in Colossae:

“See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception, according to the tradition of men, according to the elementary principles of the world, rather than according to Christ.” 

–Colossians 2:8 (NASB)

Peter warned the early Church:

“Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires.”  

-2 Peter 3:3 (NIV)

 Toward the end of the first century, the Apostle John wrote this warning to believers who were being infiltrated by false teaching (Gnosticism):

“I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father; the one who confesses the Son has the Father also. As for you, let that abide in you which you heard from the beginning. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, you also will abide in the Son and in the Father. This is the promise which He Himself made to us: eternal life. These things I have written to you concerning those who are trying to deceive you.”  

-1 John 2:21-26 (NASB)

Jesus used apologetics:

(Jesus said…) But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me.  -John 5:36 (NLT)

In Matthew 9:1-8 Jesus gave apologetic evidence that He had the power to forgive sins on earth (only God can forgive sins). He not only forgave the paralytic’s sins, but He proved it by healing him of paralysis! In this miracle (and all of His others) Jesus provided evidence of who He was in fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecies and God’s Promise in the Covenants.

“And they brought to Him a paralytic lying on a bed. Seeing their faith, Jesus said to the paralytic, “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven.” And some of the scribes said to themselves, “This fellow blasphemes.” And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, “Why are you thinking evil in your hearts? Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—then He said to the paralytic, “Get up, pick up your bed and go home.” And he got up and went home. Matthew 9:2-7 (NASB)

RECOMMENDED APOLOGISTS AND APOLOGETIC WORKS:

Websites and Podcasts that focus on Christian Worldview and Culture

  1. Sean McDowell: https://seanmcdowell.org/
  2. Warner Wallace: https://coldcasechristianity.com/
  3. Alisa Childers: https://alisachilders.com/
  4. Creation Today with Eric Hovind: https://creationtoday.org/creation-today-podcast/
  5. Colson Center with John Stonestreet: https://colsoncenter.org/
  6. Stand to Reason with Greg Koukl: https://www.str.org/home
  7. The Natasha Crain Podcast with Natasha Crain: https://natashacrain.com/podcast/

Top Apologetics books for beginners:

  1. Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis – In this modern classic, Lewis makes a comprehensive case for Christianity beginning with the moral argument.
  2. More Than a Carpenter, by Sean and Josh McDowell – Told through the lens of Josh’s powerful story, MTAC makes a brief case for the resurrection, deity of Jesus, and the reliability of the New Testament.
  3. The Reason for God, by Tim Keller – With a pastoral heart, Keller makes a case for the Christian faith and addresses some of the top objections such as evil, hell, and the exclusivity of Christianity.
  4. The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel – As a former atheist and journalist, Strobel interviews leading Christian thinkers on the historical evidence for Jesus.
  5. Cold Case Christianity, by J. Warner Wallace – As a former atheist and cold-case detective, Wallace looks at the historical Jesus through the lens of forensic science.
  6. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions, by Greg Koukl – This book is not primarily about whatChristians believe, but a game-plan for thoughtfully engaging others in dialogue.
  7. Love Thy Body: Answering Hard Questions about Life and Sexuality, by Nancy Pearcey – She discusses transgenderism, abortion, euthanasia and other pressing moral issues and traces them to a dehumanizing view of the body.
  8. Evidence that Demands a Verdict, by Sean and Josh McDowell – This is a BIG book but offers an understandable and in-depth defense of the deity of Jesus, reliability of the Bible, and resurrection of Jesus.
  9. I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler – Top apologetic answers to tough questions are presented  in a winsome way.
  10. How We Got the Bible, by Neil R. Lightfoot – This book covers the answers to the most asked questions about the Bible. A classic for more than forty years.

Additional Recommendations:

Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus, by Nabeel Qureshi – A must read for anyone serious about Christian Apologetics. Follow Nabeel’s personal journey from Islam to Christianity.

Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side, 40 Conversations to Help Them Build A Lasting Faith, by Natasha Crain – An excellent resource for parents, those who are mentoring young kids, or those who are looking for answers to common questions asked in our culture today.

Live Your Truth, And Other Lies; and The Deconstruction of Christianity, by Alisa Childers – An excellent resource for understanding “false teaching” in Christian culture today.

So The Next Generation Will Know, Preparing Young Christians for a Challenging World, by Sean McDowell and J. Warner Wallace – An excellent resource for helping the younger generation share their faith with Biblical truth and confidence.

The Big Book of Christian Apologetics, An A to Z Guide, by Norman L. Geisler – A comprehensive resource for all things related to Christian Apologetics.

An Apologetic for the question: What about the destruction of the Canaanites? by Frank Turek of CrossExamined.org

Bible Study

Each week we will have Bible study following the presentation. There will be questions presented here on the weekend, and basic answers will be posted mid-week for your review. This can also be used to make a leader’s guide for your own small group and future studies!

Always remember to pray before you study and ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and lead you into the truth found in God’s Word – pray for protection from the evil one who will try to discourage, distract and deceive us when we commit to growing closer to the LORD.

LET’S PRACTICE…

This week we will continue working on the content of the book, from our hermeneutical format…

***BEFORE STARTING THE REVIEW, DISCUSS ANYTHING FROM THE PRESENTATION YOU’D LIKE TO COVER, THEN…

From your homework this week, discuss with your groups what is in each chapter

Joshua chapters 13-16:

Content of the book: What is in each chapter?

Note: There are several ways to study a book of the Bible, you can choose the level you’re most comfortable with:

  1. Basic: Read the chapter, then write down a title for each chapter (you could include more than one depending on topics in that chapter or what your study Bible might have).
  2. Going Deeper: Take notes to summarize the chapter (no more than three to five sentences). However, you can add to your summaries if you glean something important from your study partners each week (leave some room).
  3. Advanced: Look for these things to put in your summary notes:
  • Is there anything in the chapter that relates to God’s Covenant Promises:
    • Abrahamic: (Nation, Land, or Blessing)
    • Mosaic: (Following the Law – protection vs. loss of protection due to disobedience)?
  • Where’s Jesus? Is there anything in this chapter that foreshadows/pictures Jesus?
  • Prophecy? Is there anything that is predicted and fulfilled later in the Old Testament; or predicted and fulfilled in Jesus (Messianic); or is apocalyptic in nature?
  • The Shelf: Note any questions or a-ha’s you have about the chapter.

LEADER QUESTIONS TO HELP GUIDE THE STUDY

***BEFORE STARTING, REVIEW AND DISCUSS ANYTHING FROM THE PRESENTATION YOU’D LIKE TO COVER, THEN…

Chapter 13:

  1. Discuss: Was there land left that Israel had not yet conquered, and if so, why?
  2. Research: What can you find out about the twelve tribes of Israel (who are they, what is where did they come from, what is their history etc.)? Why did the tribe of Levi not have land given to them? Note: You can use resources like gotquestions.org
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter 14:

  1. Discuss: What happened in this chapter?
  2. Research: Who was Caleb and what do we know about his story and character from Scripture (Numbers-Deuteronomy)?
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter 15:

  1. Discuss: What is special about the tribe of Judah, and why do you think they got the largest allotment of land?
  2. Research:
    1. Who is Othniel, and what can we know about him from the book of Judges?
    2. Who were the Jebusites and what did they do to cause problems for Israel later on?
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

Chapter 16:

  1. Discuss: What did this tribe not do that might hurt them in the future, and why?
  2. Research: Who was Ephraim, and why did this tribe get a special blessing as the largest settlement in the north?
  3. Going Deeper/Advanced: Are there any Covenants in view in this chapter? Is there a picture of Jesus in this chapter?

HOMEWORK:

Continue reading the book of Joshua, chapter 17-20, then follow the format we used this week and be prepared to discuss what you learned next week!

Please join us next week as we continue our Case for the Bible and A Study in the Book of Joshua!

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You will not find this material in the public school curriculum even though it is based on solid evidence and grounded in research. It is ironic that following the evidence to where it leads stops at the door of our public schools as they will not let a “Divine footprint” in!  Join us as we examine evidence for Christianity and learn how to become a thoughtful defender and ambassador of your faith.

Click into the resource page of this website to view many of the top Christian thinkers and apologists along with some of their work; connecting to these types of resources is essential in your Christian growth.

Please let me know what you think: Give feedback, ask questions or send concerns in the comment section of the blog.

Teri Dugan

TeriDugan@truthfaithandreason.com

1 Peter 3:15

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