This week I am again spotlighting some of the most influential Christian Apologists of our time and those who have highly influenced me in the search for truth:
1. One of my personal favorites, Nancy Pearcey, has been instrumental in solidifying my confidence that Christianity is factually true (and not just a personal preference or flavor of the month). With books like “Total Truth” she has become one of the few female role-models in Christian Apologetics. We desperately need more women doing this kind of work in our culture today.
2. Josh McDowell’s short but powerful book, “More Than A Carpenter” was one of the first Christian Apologetics books I read and, along with C.S. Lewis’ “Mere Christianity,” did more for bringing me to the Christian faith than any other because they were based on thoughtful reasoning and honest dialogue. Josh has also spent most of his life researching and defending the historicity, accuracy and reliability of the Christian Bible and this is so important to understand and defend in our culture of skepticism today.
3. Josh’s son Sean McDowell is one of today’s most notable Christian Apologist who, I believe, is doing more to positively influence the next generation than any one else. He has so many resources available to the younger generation (although completely applicable for the older generation!) Two of his books I highly recommend are: “Apologetics for A New Generation” and “Ethix: Being Bold in a Whatever World.”
1. NANCY PEARCY:
Nancy Pearcey, bestselling and critically acclaimed author, offers fresh tools to break free from presumed certainties and tests them against reality. “Total Truth,” “Saving Leonardo,” “How Now Shall We Live,” “Finding Truth” and “The Soul of Science” are Nancy’s must read books. Nancy is a Francis A. Schaffer Scholar and current Scholar in Residence at Houston Baptist University. Also check out her website where she thoughtfully addresses current events: “The Pearcey Report.“
A former agnostic, Pearcey demonstrates that a robust Christian worldview matches reality — that it is not only true but attractive, granting higher dignity to the human person than any alternative. Watch this 59 minutes Q & A by Nancy that gives insightful answers to tough questions, including her own journey to faith from skepticism.
2. JOSH MCDOWELL:
As a young man, Josh McDowell considered himself an agnostic. He truly believed that Christianity was worthless. However, when challenged to intellectually examine the claims of Christianity, Josh discovered compelling, overwhelming evidence for the reliability of the Christian faith. After trusting in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, Josh’s life changed dramatically as he experienced the power of God’s love.
After his conversion, his plans for law school turned instead to plans to tell a doubting world about the truth of Jesus Christ. After studying at Kellogg College, Josh completed his degree at Wheaton College and then attended Talbot Theological Seminary, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Master of Divinity degree. One of Josh’s many books includes “The New Evidence That Demands A Verdict,” this is a must for any serious Christian’s library along with his newest book “God Breathed, The Undeniable Power and Reliability of Scripture.“
Watch this 41 minute presentation as Josh gives his own heart-wrenching personal story and testimony that lead him from an angry skeptic to one of the top Christian Apologists of both the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
3. SEAN MCDOWELL:
Dr. Sean McDowell is a gifted communicator with a passion for equipping the church, and in particular young people, to make the case for the Christian faith. He connects with audiences in a tangible way through humor and stories while imparting hard evidence and logical support for viewing all areas of life through a Biblical worldview. Sean is an Assistant Professor in the Christian Apologetics program at Biola University, and he is the Resident Scholar for Summit California.
Watch Sean’s 28 minute insightful presentation that challenges us to answer the question: Can You Defend the Christian Faith?
Nancy, Josh and Sean are following the Biblical command for all Christians to share and defend the faith. How are you doing in this area of your Christian walk? Let them and others like them help you as they did me!
Now, who will want to harm you if you are eager to do good? But even if you suffer for doing what is right, God will reward you for it. So don’t worry or be afraid of their threats. Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong! 1 Peter 3:13-17 (NLT)
Join us next week as we look at more experts in the field of Christian Apologetics!
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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
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