Apologetics

Sean Mcdowell Video: What is apologetics

Apologetics: The practice of defending one’s beliefs

Have you ever had to explain your beliefs to anyone else? Like why you love one particular band/movie/book?

We can believe alot of things, but its important to also know why we believe it and that becomes expecially true when it comes to our faith in Jesus.

1 Peter 3:15–16 ESV

but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Did you hear Sean talk about this verse in the video? First we honor Christ the Lord as Holy! If you havn’t put your faith in Jesus, then trying to answer and defend the faith is not going to help.

Imagine it this way, Your sitting in class and the teacher is assigning topics for a debate. And she assigns you to argue for the flat earth theory. So you have to find out what flat earthers believe and why they believe it. But then when the debate comes you have to defend that belief, even though you don’t beleive it.... that’s gonna be a train wreck, unless your a really good actor.

When it comes to apologetics, we give a defese for our beliefs, but more important than our answers is our life. notice what Peter says at the end of verse 15, and 16.

1 Peter 3:15–16 (ESV)

...yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame.

Misconception: Only special, or professional Christians need to have answers.

In the American church we have a problem. Many people in the pew see Pastors, Deacons, and Missonaries in the same way they view Doctors, Lawyers, and Politicians. As if because we hold a title, then we are the professional Christians. That we are held to a different standard to the average beleiver who works a full time job. In some ways that is true, the Bible does talk about how as pastors and leaders we are responcible for what we teach, but that doesn’t mean a Christian plubmer is exempt for his need for apologetics.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

The great commission is a command to believers, not just pastors. The pastor’s role is one of encouragement and equipping.

Ephesians 4:11–12 ESV

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ,

The church as a whole is called to the “work of the ministry.” And lets face the facts, soon as you start tying to explain the Gospel to someone else, they will have questions and you will need answers.

Illumination: All Christians are called and capable of sharing reasons for thier faith.

Think of it this way, who is responcible for winning a football game?

Quarterback throws the ball, recievers catch the ball, Linemen block, Defese- defends, Kickers kick field goals, Coaches call plays, Waterboys make sure no one passes out. Lots of people all have to do thier own jobs.

Imagine if the Defensive line got tired of not geting the glory at the afterparties, so they simply stopped playing… You’re gonna have a rough game.

If the church expects the pastor to do everything. We will never make the impact God has called us to make.

You have to be able to stand on your own faith.

Ephesians 4:13–14 ESV

until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, so that we may no longer be children, tossed to and fro by the waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by human cunning, by craftiness in deceitful schemes.

My job as student pastor is to help you learn to mature in your faith in the Gospel. So that you are not “tossed to a fro by every wind of doctrine”.

Did you know that thier are false teachers in this world who will try to convince you that thier versions of God, or Christianity are right. And I’m going to be honest, some of them sound good at first hear. They’re easy. Do whatever you want, because God loves you anyway. But its like the evil queen’s apple in snow white, It looks good, but its poisonus.

So this year we are going to deal with some hard topics. Things like how science and faith relate, The authority and reliablility of the Bible,, the problem of evil.

Be willing to ask questions. We might not have all the answers, but we will journey together to find some. Pray that God will help your faith grow over these coming weeks.