Class Notes for Apologetics Intro

What is many people’s faith based upon?
Is that enough to keep you going always?

Good starting point – nobody can deny what Christ has done for you in a personal sense
But if known only because "he lives within my heart" – what happens when you don’t feel it?

1 Peter 3:15 – be ready to make a defense
Acts 22:1 – 1 Corinthians 9:3 – Are you prepared to make a defense of anything you believe?
Formally – or informally? What if a friend or neighbor asks why you believe?

What are some reasons why we can’t back up what we believe?
What happened when you first encountered someone with a different world view?
How do you confront someone who begins sounding like they share your belief and then they alter it?
Spiritual heresies start eating at edges and then move slowly to the center

Do you know the difference between primary and secondary beliefs? When do you go to the wall?

Much opposition to Christian apologetics – even from within church

• Indifference – does it bother you when you see / hear wrong doctrine? Mormons, etc.
• Irrationalism – do you believe there is sound evidence and argument? we can’t know enough?
• Relativism – do you believe there are many ‘ladders’ to heaven? – this is just your way?
• Ignorance – do we really study? – Christian books (celebrities, how to, fiction)
• Cowardice – are we afraid? Colossians 4:4-6 – take every chance to show others
• Arrogance – do we know who’s wrong? (Acts 20:28-31) wrongly attacking legitimate people

Looking for Christian ambassadors – i.e. small island nation looking for tourism ambassador
Who do you want to be your ambassador? knows and loves – not swallowed almanac
Don’t just try to memorize the facts – absorb it so that you are ready to defend your faith
Priorities – God number 1 is wrong – He needs to permeate each area of your life (1 thru 100)

The Basics of Christian Faith –

• An intelligent, rational faithMatt 22:36-38-
  What happens when your mind can’t agree with the belief? weak faith
  Do you need 100% proof for everything in your life? we often go with less (travel odds)
  We will never know all the answers – but we shouldn’t be continually stumped – learn
  Matt 12:30 - No other alternative
• A historical, factual faith
  Not based on philosophies, myths or legends
  How do you feel when you hear that what you’ve learned about U.S. History was wrong?
  U.S. History – rewritten several times – Bible same as was and gets backed up by other writings
• An objective faith
  Is it true that it doesn’t make a difference what you believe, as long as you believe?
  In an object – Christ – Who He is – (Christ, Son of God) What He did (rose on third day)
  John 8:24, 14:6 – not just faith itself – but in whom – Zeal means nothing
• Based on Principles of Truth
  What if it was said that you must assume Bible as true and not open to honest examination?
  Open to being proved false Greatest minds of all time have tried to disprove, unsuccessfully
  Acts 26:24-26 – examine the evidence – Unlike some other religions – open to honest examination

Why do people reject Christ? What are we up against?

• Ignorance -John 7:40-43 – lack of accurate information (didn’t know? – half of the roast in pan)
• Pride -John 12:42-43 - sought approval of men rather than God – Do people still do this?
• Moral Problem - John 3:19-20 -reject doctrine that condemns behavior – love stuff over God

Rejection of Christ - Not problem of Mind – but the Will – Not Can’t, but Won’t
enough evidence to convince the sincere seeker
not enough evidence to force one against will when determined to reject it

We will attempt to learn what we believe so as to be able to defend attacks on our faith –
We’ll never know it all (Deut 29:29 – Some things only God knows)
Only God changes mind of rebellion – we are just to be ambassadors
Christians – our church, our class – sleeping giant – God-given potential to reach the lost with truth