Grace Life Community Church

1. Grace Life Community Church Apologetics Conference 2014

3. Where are we Going? • Where are we now: A look at who we are and how we think . . . AND WHY?!? • The Big Questions • Does God exist? • What about Neo-Darwinian Evolution? • Are there errors in the Bible? • Why is Christianity exclusive – why are we the only ones who are right? • Theodicy – if God is Good and Omnipotent, why do we suffer? • SPEAK: A better method for apologetics- or, How to do apologetics without being sorry. • Q&A

4. Review • Books and resources mentioned: • Francis Schaeffer • How Should We Then Live* • Escape from Reason • Books recommended: • D.A. Carson • The Gagging of God* • Will Durant • The Story of Philosophy° • Neil Postman • Amusing Ourselves to Death° • James Sire • The Universe Next Door

5. It was shown . . . It breaks down • Michael Behe* • Darwin’s Black Box • Stephen Meyer* • Darwin’s Doubt • Ray Comfort • Introduction to 150th Anniversary of Origin Of Species • Dissent From Darwinism List

6. SOME HELP • Strobel • Case for Christ • Norman Geisler • From God to Us • BE CAREFUL: BART EHRMAN

7. SOME HELP • Strobel • Case for Christ • Case for the Real Jesus • Habermas • Case for the Resurrection

8. Some helps • D.A. Carson • How Long O’Lord? • Lee Strobel • The Case for Faith • John Macarthur • Safe in the Arms of God • BE CAREFUL: OPEN THEISM • Clark Pinnock • John Sanders • Greg Boyd

9. Answering Biblical Questions Apologetically Without Being Sorry 1 Peter 3:15

10. Why are we doing this? • 1 Peter 3:15 • GIVE AN ANSWER • 2 Corinthians 5:11ff • WE BELIEVE • Mark 12:28-34 • LOVE GOD, LOVE PEOPLE

11. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

12. 11 Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others. But what we are is known to God, and I hope it is known also to your conscience. 12 We are not commending ourselves to you again but giving you cause to boast about us, so that you may be able to answer those who boast about outward appearance and not about what is in the heart. 13 For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; if we are in our right mind, it is for you. 14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. (2 COR. 5:11-15)

13. 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (MARK 12:28-31)

14. Why are we doing this? • In 1 Peter 3:15 • Apologia • Means to give a defence • Used in the phrase, “Defence of the Gospel” • Phil. 1:7 • Phil. 1:16

15. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

16. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

17. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, alwaysbeing ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

18. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

19. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

20. 15. but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; -Peter 3:15 NAU

21. How do we do this? • S.P.E.A.K. • Start real Conversation • Pay attention • Evaluate their words • Ask questions • Kindly respond and guide • Write if possible • I write stuff down while they speak, if I can • Look for “hiccup”

22. LET’S HAVE DINNER

23. IGOR

24. “SPEAK” Apologetics • Start with their questions • Pay attention to their answers • Evaluatetheir words • Ask questions about what they said • Kindly respond and guide back through their thoughts and words • Who is in focus here?

25. Start with their Questions • What are they wondering? • What did they comment on? • What are they criticizing? • Igor – “The Bible is full of errors?”

26. Pay attention to their Answers • Good time to write down statements • This can freak some out, but once you explain that you want to listen well, it’s cool. • You can also keep your latter questions focused by pointing at things they actually said. • Make sure to keep good eye contact, though. • Focus on buzz words • Do not go “A.D.D.” on them – stick to THIS discussion • Igor – “A million errors in the Bible?!?”

27. Evaluate their Words • Pick out buzz words • Organize thoughts • Ask for clarification • Igor – “What do you mean by ‘errors’? Based on what?”

28. Ask Questions about what they Said • Ask for more clarification • Test with hypotheticals • Offer conclusions/comparisons • Igor – “Can we talk about the top 50?”

29. Kindly respond and guide them through their thoughts and words • Put your evaluations in order • Connect things they said • Propose questions that highlight the logical fallacies • Igor – “So, you don’t know the book or the author or 1 of the ‘errors’? Why do you believe that, then?”

30. Points of Concern • No one saved in a debate • The point is to listen • Look for a “hiccup” • Show respect • And… • The point is to Listen!

31. Sometimes . . . there’s a gap • There are things that might be an invisible wall between you and another – causing a distance between you. Being aware of these potential issues is important.

32. Terms of Distance • Syllogism • Exegetical Fallacies • Cultural Influence • Stereotyping • Main/Predicate bait and switch • Incorrect Hermeneutical Logic • Categorical Switch of Truth/Culture • Much like a practical syllogism – a blanket assumption

33. Terms of Distance • Caricatures • Micro-Argumentation • Emotional Rejection/Distrust • Wrong Definition • Disproportionate Stereotyping • An overemphasis on secondary Doctrine as Primary • Negative experience that is real • Wrong Definition

34. Terms of Distance • Doctrinal Conclusions • Satanic Influence • Genuine thoughtful doctrinal view, opposing biblical Christianity • Spiritual warfare is real

35. Two Big categories • Doctrinal Issues • Personal Issues • Which is it?

36. The Big Question WHAT HAPPENED?

37. You need to slow it down and realize . . . • God doesn’t need you to do this . . . He is letting you in on what He is doing • This may take a long time • It needs to be organic, natural • It needs to be a clear expression of love – NOT MAKING A SALE • It needs to be biblical

38. A Walk Back Home: A Progression of Degree to gain ground • Is it Possible? • Is it Probable? • Is it Likely? • Is it Actual?

39. HOW ABOUT A LITTLE PRACTICE?

40. A RECOMMENDATION

41. Stay in touch • rstansberry@carychristianschool.org • www.anunworthyservant.com • Twitter: @zoeesteatmis • Facebook

42. Grace Life Community Church Apologetics Conference 2014