This week we are starting our new Spring Class that continues our Winter Christian Apologetics’ class with “More Conversations.” This is the introductory presentation with an overview of the class and the conversational topics we have previously covered, and will cover in this class. We will also look at some recommended study aids, and focus on our Ministry Statement that points to the importance of prayer, Bible study, apologetics and discipleship in a Christian’s life. The outline notes from the presentation are below if you’d like to follow along, or take additional notes. Bible study questions on the book of Philippians follows as we will do a chapter by chapter study each week with answers posted mid-week for your review.

Watch the introductory presentation for this week:

Overview Notes From the Presentation

Christian Apologetics: More Conversations

Class introduction

Class Overview

• Presentation Notes
• Bible study reading and questions
• Additional information

Recommended Study Bible

Life Application Study Bible in the NASB, NIV or NLT version

Additional Resources to help you study

To build on your knowledge, and your Christian library, the following are recommended resources to help in your journey of faith…

Recommended Apps:

biblegateway.com

gotquestions.org

coldcasechristianity.com

Recommended Study Aids:

The Essential Bible Companion, by John Walton, Mark Strauss and Ted Cooper Jr.

Knowing the Bible 101, A Guide to God’s Word in Plain Language, by Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz

Rose Publishing – Maps, charts, timelines and overviews

Christian Apologetics – Conversational Topics

1. Why are you a Christian?
2. What is a Christian Worldview?
3. What is the importance of Truth in a worldview?
4. Does God exist?
5. If God exists, then why is there Evil and Suffering in the world?
6. Are Miracles possible?
7. How do we know the Bible is the Word of God?
8. Who is Jesus?

Follow our class website and weekly posts:

www.truthfaithandreason.com

Follow on Facebook and Twitter @ Teri Dugan (TFR)

Ministry Statement

The purpose of this class is to provide participants with the information and tools needed to address the questions asked of Christians in our culture today (1 Peter 3:15). This includes an emphasis on…

1. Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13; John 17:1-3 the entire chapter is a model)
2. Bible Study – proper Biblical interpretation through the use of hermeneutics (Matthew 22:37; 2 Timothy 2:15)
3. Apologetics – a defense of the historicity, inerrancy and inspiration of the Christian Bible (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21)
4. Discipleship (Matthew 28:18-20; Hebrews 10:23-25)

• This ministry believes that it is the responsibility of every person to invest serious time looking into the claims of Christianity because what we believe to be true about God, human purpose and destiny defines us in this life and more importantly in the next (John 14:1-3).

• This ministry is committed to providing Biblical truths based on the teachings of Jesus and his Apostles (John 14:6-7; 2 Peter 1:16-19; 1 John 1:1-4). The most important question we must answer in this life is the one Jesus asked of his disciples: “Who do you say that I am?” (Luke 9:18-20).

Four important areas of Christian growth

1. Prayer (emphasis on modeling Jesus)
2. Hermeneutics (Bible study in context)
3. Apologetics (sharing and defending our faith)
4. Discipleship (sharing our Christian walk with others)

Rate yourself for each area on a scale of 1-3:

Not confident: 1

Somewhat confident: 2

Very confident: 3

If you are a returning student, what areas, if any, have you improved on?

The Importance of Prayer

“I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer.” 

― Martin Luther

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

Steven Scott complied all of Jesus’ words in a book called “The Greatest Words Ever Spoken.”

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.

“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)

The Importance of Apologetics

“Christianity, if false, is of no importance, and if true, of infinite importance. The only thing it cannot be is moderately important.”

 –C.S. Lewis

• 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.

The Apologist’s Call

“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.

Reflection

If you only had one minute for each question, to the best of your ability, give an answer in your own words: (Note – these are building from the notes each week)

1. What are the four important areas for Christian growth?
2. What is Christian Apologetics?

Bible Study

Always remember to pray before you read or 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.

Daily Devotional

Challenge: Choose a wisdom book from the Bible that you’d like to read as a daily devotional (one chapter, or half a chapter a day), then during our next few classes discuss with your table group what you’ve chosen, what you are learning, or difficulties you might be having. Note any questions you may have, or anything that stands out to you as a life application. (Biblical wisdom books include: Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon or any other book of the Bible that you might like to read).

Class Bible study: The Book of Philippians

NOTE: Questions are taken directly from the chapters, and answers should be found and cited from the Scripture text in order to be Biblically accurate (unless asked to summarize in your own words). Study Bibles, commentaries and your own thoughts can be used for “Discussion” or “Going Deeper” questions. Cite your sources to share with your group.

To the best of your ability, answer the following questions about the book of Philippians (a good study Bible can help), then discuss with your table group:

The Hermeneutics:

1. Who authored the book and who was the audience? (Give as much background as you can, including authors’ history; and the cultural and political setting of the day)
2. What was the genre and purpose of the writing? (Was there a specific event(s) or situation(s) going on that prompted the author to write to this audience?)
3. Discuss: What are some other things that you already know about this book, if any? (For example: basic outline, key people, themes, places, etc.)

Read Philippians 1:1-30 with your table group, then answer the following questions:

4. What did Paul say that lets us know how he felt about the audience he was writing to?
5. Re-read 1:9-10. Discuss: Is this something we should be desiring as well, and if so, how can we practice to achieve it?
6. Why did Paul think his imprisonment turned out to be a good thing?
7. Discuss: Paul said Christ was being preached by some from good motives and some people were doing it with bad motives. Note: In most of Paul’s writings he denounces false teachers, and warns Christians to beware. In light of that, what point do you think Paul was trying to make? Cross-reference by reading Genesis 50:20 where Joseph is speaking to his brothers. Can we make any application from this for today?
8. What does Paul say in 1:21? What does he mean by this?
9. What does Paul tell the Philippians about how to conduct themselves as Christians?
10. Memory verse: Re-visit and recite Philippians 1:9-10

Join us next week as we continue our study in Christian Apologetics with a look at the importance of Hermeneutics and Discipleship!

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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