Intro to Apologetics
The word “apologetics” comes to us from the apostle Peter’s first epistle, where he exhorts to “always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you” (1Peter 3:15b). The Greek word translated as “defense” is apologia, from which we get our English “apologetics.” Apologetics means to “give a defense”, or to provide a “reasoned statement or argument.” The idea communicated by the Holy Spirit through Peter is that as Christians, we ought to able to provide a logical well-reasoned argument for why we have placed our trust in Jesus for salvation.
In our class meetings, we will study Norman Geisler’s book, Twelve Points That Show Christianity Is True. Through lecture, group discussion and study, students will learn that God exists, that Christianity is true, that the Bible is an accurate trustworthy record of historical events, and most importantly that Jesus is in fact the only One who is able to save us from sin and death.
Class schedule:
- Truth about reality is knowable.
- Opposites cannot both be true.
- The theistic God exists.
- If God exists, then miracles are possible.
- Miracles can be used to confirm a message from God.
- The New Testament is historically reliable.
- The New Testament says that Jesus claimed to be God.
- Jesus’ claim to be God is confirmed by miracles.
- Therefore, Jesus is God.
- Whatever Jesus (who is God) teaches is true.
- Jesus taught that the Bible is the Word of God.
- Therefore, it is true that the Bible is the Word of God (and anything opposed to it is false).
Classes meet on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 pm beginning on Septermber 6 through November 29.
Lessons
Point 1 ~ truth about reality is knowable
Class 2 Historically most people have believed that what is true is self-evident to all. Point in fact in the Constitution of the United States our Founding Fathers wrote, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that […]
Point 2 ~ the opposite of true is false
Class 3 If truth exists, and we have proven that it does, then anything opposed to what is true must be false. While most people would recognize the unassailable logic of this statement nonetheless there are many today who reject this certainty. However, to reject this simple truth leads to many untenable conclusions that […]
Point 3 ~ It is true that the theistic God exists (Part 1)
Class 4 In our class tonight we will examine scientific evidence that demonstrates that the evidence for God’s existence is strong—stronger than the support for a natural explanation for the universe. Discoveries during the last century have forced even the staunchest agnostics and atheists to confess that the universe bears the “fingerprints of God”, […]
Point 3 ~ It is true that the theistic God exists (Part 2)
Class 5 This week we will continue to look at the evidence that proves that the theistic God exists. We’ll move from the observations of science to the philosophical and anthropological testimony that show that humans have an inherent universal understanding of morality and a need for a relationship with God—both of which lead […]
Point 4 ~ if God exists then miracles are possible
Class 6 Are miracles real? And if so, what are they and who can perform them? As seen in our previous classes only theism believes in a God Who both transcends the Universe He created, and is able to act in it. As such only theism believes in supernatural miracles. In our class this […]
Point 5 ~ miracles can be used to confirm a message from God
Class 7 In this lesson we will examine the importance of miracles to confirm a message from God, and a messenger of God. Since miracles by definition are supernatural (no natural cause) the manifestation of the miraculous points to God as the source of the miracle. Since God is perfect in all of His […]
Point 6 ~ the New Testament documents are historically reliable
Class 8 In our presentation this evening we will cover the second most important point in our study. If God exists (point 3), then miracles are possible (point 4). And since miracles are possible, then they can be used to confirm a message from God (point 5). The question we want to consider is […]
Point 7 ~ the New Testament says that Jesus claimed to be God
Class 9 Having established in our last class that the New Testament documents are historically reliable we can now ascertain what Jesus said of Himself. In our study this evening we will examine Jesus’ claim to be the Messiah, Who was predicted by the Old Testament prophets to be God in human flesh. […]
Point 8 ~ Jesus’ claim to be God was confirmed by a unique set of miracles
Class 10 With confidence that the New Testament is a historically accurate record of the life of Jesus our next step in evaluating His claim to be God is to look at the unique miracles surrounding His life. This evening we’ll review the convergence of three sets of unparalleled and unprecedented miracles in connection […]
Point 9 to 12 ~ Conclusion
Class 11 Since Jesus is God it follows that whatever He says must be true, for God cannot lie. Therefore, whatever Jesus says is true, must be true. Jesus said that the Bible is the Word of God, therefore it must be the inspired, inerrant, eternal Word of God. And, anything opposed to the […]