This week we are looking at the importance of Christian growth, Christian Apologetics and worldview. This class will help us understand the importance of knowing what we believe as Christians and why we believe it. We can then be motivated to go out and share our faith with others, having confidence that what we believe is really true, and the ability to articulate that truth!

Defending our faith and developing a Biblical worldview based on our understanding of God’s Word takes time and practice, and must be part of a lifetime commitment we make to the LORD. It should form our purpose and identity in everyday life as we grow closer to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, modeling Him to our family, friends and neighbors. 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 if we know Jesus and what His Word teaches.

All class sessions include a time for prayer and reflection, a presentation, and a Bible study section. You will find the presentation overview and Bible study questions at the truthfaithandreason.com website, with basic answers for your review and, or to use as a leader’s guide.

Presentation Notes

Belief Blueprint
An Introduction to Christianity and the Defense of the Faith

Session Two: Christian Growth and the Importance of Apologetics

Prayer Cards:

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

Reflection from Session One:

What did you learn about the Christian faith, and Bible study, that you did not know before?

The Apologetic roadmap for this class
Questions you should be able to answer when you finish this class…

What is a Christian, and what are the core essentials of the faith?
What is the importance of using the hermeneutical method in Bible study?
What are four main areas I can work on to improve my Christian Walk?
What is a worldview, and the what is the importance of having a Christian worldview?
What is truth, and what is the importance of having truth in my worldview?
How did we get our Bible, and how do we know it hasn’t been changed over time?
What are some resources I can use to help me study the Bible and answer tough questions?

Homework Review

Using a study Bible, practice the following hermeneutical method for Proverbs 1-3:

1. Author-Audience-Dating: Who wrote it, to whom and when?

2. Purpose: Why was it written?

3. Context/Flow of Thought: What does it say?

Read Proverbs chapter 1

4. Interpretation/Summary: What does it mean? Based on the reading…

a. What do we learn about the importance of wisdom and how it applies to our relationship with God and others?

b. How does this passage contrast wisdom with foolishness?

5. Personal/Cultural Application: How do I use what I learned?

a. Verse 7 is the focus verse of this chapter (and many other proverbs), what do you think “the fear of the LORD” means?

b. What is the difference between knowledge, wisdom, and discernment; and how can we apply that understanding to our Christian Walk today?

Focus Verse

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”

1 Peter 3:15 (NIV)

How do I live a Christian life, and walk a Christian Walk?

Four Areas of Christian Growth to Practice

Bible Study (practicing hermeneutics)
Prayer
Discipleship
Apologetics

The Importance of Prayer

“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

-1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NASB)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

–Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

INTENTIONAL PRAYERTIME

Take some quiet time daily to spend with God in prayer

Use the Acronym ACTS (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication)

Jesus models prayer for us…

Jesus tells us:

“Keep alert and pray. Otherwise temptation will overpower you. For though the spirit is willing enough, the body is weak!” –Matthew 26:41

What Jesus said and how He modeled prayer can be found in:

- The Gospel of Matthew: 6:8-13, 11:25-26, 26:39 and 27:46
- The Gospel of Luke: 10:21, 22:42, 23:34, 23:46
- The Gospel of John: 11:41-43, 12:27-28, and 17:1-26.
- Great comfort can also be found from what Jesus says in John chapter 14.

The Importance of Discipleship

“Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:23-25 (NASB)

“Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)

The Importance of Apologetics

What is Apologetics?

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 Apologetics?
because we need to…

OWN OUR FAITH!

KNOW WHAT WE BELIEVE AND WHY WE BELIEVE IT

THEN SHARE IT WITH OTHERS!!!

Why learn to defend the faith? Simple answer: Because God’s Word tells us to…

Apologists’ Theme:

“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)

The Great Commission:

“And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.””

-Matthew 28:18-20 (NASB)

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:5-7 (NIV)

Paul’s witness included defending and giving reason for the faith:

“Yet Saul (Paul) grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ.”

-Acts 9:22 (NIV)

“While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with both Jews and God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there.”

-Acts 17:16-17 (NIV)

Paul wrote to the Corinthians:

“We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.”

-2 Corinthians 5:20a (NIV)

Paul, speaking about leadership in the Church, writes this to Titus:

“He must have a strong belief in the trustworthy message he was taught; then he will be able to encourage others with wholesome teaching and show those who oppose it where they are wrong.”

-Titus 1:9 (NLT)

Jesus’ Disciples gave dissertations in defense of the Gospel:

Apollos: For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah. -Acts 18:28

Peter: Acts chapters 2, 3, 10 and in both of his letters (1 and 2 Peter)

Stephen: Acts chapter 7

John: The majority of the Gospel of John is an apologetic as is his three letters (1, 2 and 3 John)

Jude: A half-brother of Jesus wrote in his letter to “contend earnestly” meaning fight for the truth! (1:3)

The early Church leaders (Polycarp, Clement, Origin, Justin, etc.) used apologetics in the first through third centuries after Jesus

Jesus Himself 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 by not only forgiving the paralytic’s sins, but by making him walk!

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)

The Apostle Peter wrote these warnings to the persecuted Church:

“But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories.” -2 Peter 2:1-3a (NIV)

“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)

The Apostle John wrote this warning to the believers during persecution and the beginning of false teaching (Gnosticism) in the Church:

“Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them. For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but whoever does the will of God lives forever.”

-1 John 2:15-17 (NIV)

“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 2:25-26 (NASB)

NOTE: Worldview presentation notes will be on session three and there will be a review next week.

Reflect and Discuss

What have you learned so far about apologetics and how it can help in your Christian Walk?
What is the importance of Prayer and Discipleship, and what does that look like in a Christian Walk?

Homework

Practice Bible study: The Gospel of Mark

1. Author-Audience-Dating: Who wrote it, to whom and when?

2. Purpose: Why was it written?

3. Context/Flow of Thought: What does it say?

Read Mark chapter 1

4. Interpretation/Summary: What does it mean? Based on the reading…

a) What did you learn about Jesus’ baptism, and John the Baptist?

b) What did you learn about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry?

5. Personal/Cultural Application: How do I use what I learned?

a) What are some important things you learned that you can share about Jesus with others?

b) What else do we learn from these passages?

Please continue to join us each week for Belief Blueprint!

———————————————————————

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