Page 3 - Masters Sample Courses

Phil. 1:1 – Paul describes his ministry as the defense and confirmation of the gospel
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Acts 18”22 – Apollos engaged in “public debate” and “arguing powerfully”

Notice these first believers argued, reasoned, disputed, confounded, and persuaded. Also notice that
they argued about the “confirmation of the gospel.” They were trying to convince their audience to
understand who Christ was and why He came. They were educating lost people about the good news of
the Gospel – that Christ, because of His great love, came to die to save people from their sin. Actually

an apologist is first and foremost, an evangelist!

Probably the premier Scripture that best explains to us our calling to become an apologist is these
verses:

I Peter 3:15-16 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
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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. (You need to memorize verse 15, please)

Notice that Peter states that the way we honor Christ is to be prepared to make a defense of your faith
to anyone who asks. However, Peter also gives us an important method in doing so: “with gentleness
and respect.” We are to answer others with the goal of not demonstrating intellectual superiority over
them, but to present our arguments with kindness, showing respect for the person asking the questions.
Apologetics involves not only KNOWING the answers, but in SHARING the answers understanding the
heart the questioning person and in presenting our information with love and compassion.

If you live your life by faithfully serving Jesus Christ and in sharing His love to others (sharing the
Gospel), people will take note. I Peter 3:16 says that some will slander or mock you or may revile you
for your beliefs. Peter explains that we should expect such responses. But he also shares that they will
ask you questions about how and why you believe what you believe. You become a quandary to them
since you stand out from the rest of the world. Most people remain silent, but you declare God to them.
It will elicit a response, often times with direct questions. Here are a few you must be prepared to
answer listed in categories:

God
Does God exist? How do you know He exists? Can you prove His existence? If God is so good and
loving, why would He send people to Hell, a place of eternal torment? Are you asking me to believe
using blind faith? How can I believe in God without seeing Him? You Christians say God is a trinity. The
word, Trinity, is not in the Bible. Do you believe in three Gods?

The Bible
Is the Bible full of errors? Doesn’t the Bible contradict itself? In light
of scientific facts, aren’t the first 11 chapters in Genesis pure fiction?
Some say the KJV version of the Bible is the only authoritative and
correct translation of the Bible. What about all the other
translations? Are they false translations? Has the Bible changed over
the years of being copied? Can you take the Bible literally? Can you
trust Paul’s writings? He seemed to be prejudiced against women. What about other religious books,

2 from a lecture by Ravi Zacharias introducing the importance of apologetics -
https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/course/apologetics-evangelism/#why-jesus