Rethinking Apologetics for a New Century

Session 1: Rethinking Apologetics:

Apologetics:

Apologetics: making a defense for our faith

The apologetics approach of the past is not working in today's culture

Our World:

Christians are viewed as bigoted, hypocritical, irrelevant, and intolerant.

Many believe that sharing your faith is offensive to others.

The lifestyle of the Christian community and non-·Christian community looks very similar. 

68% of children who grew up in church abandon their faith within five years after high school. 

People under the age of 35 with no religious affiliation has grown to the highest percentage in our country's history.

We are much more like the first century than the last century.

Our Communication:

YESTERDAY apologetics were about what we believe and why. And it was aimed at answering the skeptic's questions.

TODAY we need to aim apologetics first and foremost toward believers, especially young people.

YESTERDAY we needed to master facts, data, and history to intellectually prove what we believe is true.

TODAY we need to model a concerned and compassionate life-­ style that proves that what we actually believe is relevant.

YESTERDAY we needed to win the debate.

TODAY we need to win an audience. 

YESTERDAY we communicated on a level playing field that pre­sumed that TRUTH was objective reality.

TODAY we communicate on the shifting sands of "TRUTH" as a subjective reality.

YESTERDAY the Church and the culture shared a general knowl­edge of the Bible.

TODAY both the Church and the world are biblically illiterate.

YESTERDAY committed Christian men or women were admired.

TODAY committed Christian men or women have been called dangerous.

YESTERDAY we could begin with the truth and then express grace.

TODAY we must begin with grace in order to share the truth.

YESTERDAY the moral climate and the values of major institutions like education, medicine, and the media reinforced our values.

TODAY the moral climate of major institutions challenge and ridicule our faith.

Discussion Questions:

Question #1: Share with the group. What Christian influenced you by their life the most? What attracted you to become a follower of Christ? 

Question #2: What does God want to do in you and in those around you as you begin to embrace this new apologetic? 

Question #3: Do you agree or disagree that the apologetics of the past is not working today? Explain. 

Question #4: What do you think about this statement, "Yes­terday we needed to win the debate; today we need to win an audience." Do you see this to be true in today's culture? Give examples. 

Question #5: Have you seen a shift in belief from "objective truth" to "subjective truth"? Explain. Has it changed the way you communicate your faith? How? 

Question #6: Chip shared that the number one apologetic is your life. What is your life saying about your apologetics? 

Question #7: Chip shared that the number one apologetic is your life. What is your life saying about your apologetics?