APOLOGETICS Section #1

             I.      Survey Results

a.      Questionnaire revealed:

                                                               i.      2 types of approaches; 2 types of people

1.      Skeptical

2.      Non-skeptical

b.      Your Top Five Reasons People Don’t Believe the Bible:

                                                              i.      The Bible is full of errors and contradictions

                                                            ii.      Science disproves the Bible; sheer lack of evidence to support it

                                                          iii.      Bible teaching forces me to change, to give up freedom and fun

                                                          iv.      The Bible is just a bunch of myths & stories – many of which are found in other religions and fables

                                                            v.      The Bible is too old and is not relevant to me today

          II.      Introductory Statements

a.      Apologetics

                                                               i.      What is it?

                                                             ii.      Why is it important?

b.      Can apologetics save people?

                                                               i.      Personal testimony

c.      Apologetic Approaches

                                                               i.      Classical – stress reason, logic, proof; theism derived by a broad regard for rational thought

1.      C.S. Lewis, Thomas Aquinas

                                                             ii.      Evidentialism – stress facts, empirical evidence, defensive approach, probable reason

1.      Josh McDowell, Hugh Ross

                                                            iii.      Reformed – stress revelation, refutation of opposing views while offering faith-based theism as solution; offensive approach

1.      John Calvin

                                                           iv.      Fideism – faith; stress persuasion based on personal experience, personal belief; theism is largely beyond rational evidence or proof

1.      Martin Luther, Blaze Pascal, Kierkegaard

d.      Discussion:  Into which group do you fall?  What is your personal goal for participating in this lesson series?

       III.      Christianity Under Attack [The Case for Concern]

a.      The Bible – how people see it

                                                               i.      Your experiences

                                                             ii.      How do you witness?

b.      The Media – biased?

                                                               i.      TV, news, politics, talk shows, magazines, etc.

                                                             ii.      Where does the pressure come from to criticize Christianity?

c.      Education – schools & universities; what our children will face

                                                               i.      How to survive in school

                                                             ii.      How to live as a counter-culture

                                                            iii.      The threat is real

d.      Discussion:  What is the mindset of the world in which we live?  What is our role as an “ambassador for Christ” to this world?