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Lesson OneWhat is Apologetics?4 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson TwoArguments from Design4 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson ThreeMoral Argument4 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FourIdentity of Jesus4 Activities1 Assessment
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Lesson FiveChristianity and Other Religions4 Activities1 Assessment
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Course Wrap-UpCourse Completion1 Activity1 Assessment
Participants 347
Discussion Questions
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Give a couple of examples from 1 Peter 3:15–16 as to why and how we should embrace apologetics in our faith journey.
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51 Replies
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Defending the faith strengthens our own faith at the same time we may strengthen the faith in others with kindness and compassion. True faith brings us inline with the will of the living God that resides in us through belief of Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God strengthens our conscience by faith, heals our pain by faith, makes us resilient in hardship by faith, that we may find boldness with kindness in defending our faith by faith.
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It is vital that we maintain a heart that is in line with God’s will. Our lives should be a clear witness of God’s love for us.
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In 1 Peter 3:15–16, the Apostle Peter highlights the importance of being prepared to explain our hope in Christ, showing our commitment to our faith and helping others understand it. We can embrace this by studying our beliefs and practicing how to articulate them clearly. Additionally, we should engage in discussions with gentleness and respect, fostering open dialogue and reflecting Christ’s love, which makes our message more inviting.
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We should embrace apologetics by 1st ensuring that our hearts are in line with God’s will in understanding who He is and His nature. We should also live a life reflecting our unwavering love for Christ.
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Friends and I share the Gospel on the streets and at the beach several times a week. It’s important to be able to explain, with gentleness and respect, why we trust Christ Jesus alone for eternal life.
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How is Christianity more than just a worldview? Provide some examples.
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29 Replies
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A worldview is a subjective collection of basic assumptions about the world through the limited information that a person has exposed themself to. Information that has been unconsciously and consciously filtered by personal biases.
Christianity is a belief system grounded in truth. Starting at the beginning of human history and even infinitely before that. Christianity promises to explain everything in this world and beyond in the spiritual world. Well documented and researched withstanding millennia. Grounded in evidence through individual believers dramatic strengthening of character, not possible by there own will but by just believing in Jesus Christ.
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The most basic of worldviews will only consider the physical world. Christianity certainly considers the physical, but encompasses it with God, relationship, history, and salvation.
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Christianity is more than a worldview in that it is not just a set of assumptions about the basic makeup of the world. It is also a relationship with God. We do not just hold a philosophical model of the world in our heads. We commune with God, we fellowship with fellow believers.
#apologetics
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A worldview is “a set of assumptions about the basic makeup of the world.” But it is more than that. A worldview is multi-faceted, representing an understanding of the people involved, their philosophy of life, and their view of the nature of reality within their own culture and belief system.
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A worldview is simply our beliefs about the world and truth, but Christianity puts those beliefs into action. Our beliefs stem from our relationship with a risen Savior, and therefore following Christ should help to change other’s worldviews when we as Christians engage the world.
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What is a simple explanation of apologetics? What is apologetics not?
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67 Replies
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It’s a defense of the Christian faith to compassionately guide the subjective worldview of others to the objective truth of God with compassion and humility. Convince the mind to faith, it’s an important part of a person’s being. Convince the mind to confess Jesus is Lord and God will convince the heart by the Spirit of God.
However apologetics is not argumentative. Faith is an emotionally sensitive topic. You don’t want people to get defensive. Defensiveness rarely changes people’s minds.
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Apologetics is defending the reason for one’s faith. It is not apologizing for having faith in Christ.
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Apologetics in NOT apologizing for being a Christian. It is a defense of Christianity as objectively true, compellingly rational, and pertinent to all of life.
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Adopting the definition in this lecture, apologetics is the defence of Christianity as objectively true, compellingly rational, and pertinent to all of life. We seek to let the person know that Christianity is based on facts, and logical, and not make-believe. Apologetics is not apologizing for being a Christian. It is also not trying to win an argument or to silence the opponent. Hence we do not malign the character or the name of the other person, nor the object of his faith.
#apologetics
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Apologetics is a defense of the truth and relevancy of Christianity to all people. It is not an effort to strongarm any person into believing in Christ. It is not a defense of Christianity as faith without reason. The listener should be invited to challenge and question the precepts of Christianity in order to have true faith. Jesus welcomed challenges and questions. So should the apologist.
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What is the purpose of defending truth?
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33 Replies
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Is we as believers don’t defend the truth of the Word. Then people will carry on with their own world views that will keep them enslaved to sin, in this life and beyond.
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Truth is not relative or tied to one’s perspective. As Christians, we know the truth, and it nullifies other worldviews. Therefore it is necessary to defend the truth in order that others will be set free from the bondage of sin.
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The purpose ultimately is to lead the person to see that Christian belief in Jesus Christ as Saviour is logical and credible, and to influence him to consider it for himself. This is because we believe that truth sets a person free, so we hope to see this result in the person.
#apologetics
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I see the purposes of defending truth as (1) helping people to be freed from “the bondage of sin” and (2) having the opportunity to find greater meaning in their lives. An understanding of truth can lead to both of these goals.
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Defending truth should eventually bring unbelievers into a belief in Christ, who is the truth.
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Why does Dr. Groothuis use the “cumulative case” as his apologetic method for Christianity?
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26 Replies
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1 Peter 3:15–16 encourages believers to embrace apologetics by providing clear guidance on how to defend their faith. Here are two key examples from the passage:
1. Preparedness to give a reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15):
The verse urges believers to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This shows that apologetics is not just for a select few but for all believers. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and articulating the reasons for one’s faith, helping others see the rational and personal foundation behind the Christian hope.
2. Responding with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:16):
The passage also instructs that when defending the faith, believers should do so “with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.” This highlights the approach we should take in apologetics: not with arrogance or hostility, but with humility, kindness, and integrity, so that our defense of the faith reflects the character of Christ.
In embracing apologetics, these principles help believers engage thoughtfully with others while maintaining a Christlike attitude in sharing the truth of the Gospel.
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It draws from all aspects of study and is the most comprehensive approach to bring unbelievers to Christ, much the same way a jury would be persuaded when provided with witnesses, character witnesses, and field experts.
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The “cumulative case”, in drawing from multiple sources, angles and disciplines, gives a more powerful argument. It is also the logical approach because different issues of the truth lend themselves better to different approaches. For example, in addressing the resurrection of Christ, we may examine the circumstantial evidences or the lack of it, like a lawyer does. In addressing the accuracy of transmission of the Bible, we may examine the archaeological evidence for the ancient manuscripts.
#apologetics
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The cumulative approach embraces the role of science in explaining the origin of the world and nature of the world. It considers history, the human condition, and Jesus. This approach is not a simple leap of faith that Christians are often described as taking. It is a leap into truth based on reason, an inquiring mind, and a desire for a more fulfilling life.
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His method brings all the “witnesses” to court. It incorporates history, science, philosophy and human experience into the discussion.