*PRAISE THE LORD!!

*Here Are Some Basics About Apologetics…*

Hope You All Find Useful

*HOW DOES APOLOGETICS RELATE TO EVANGELISM?📌*

'Evangelism' is generally understood to mean sharing the good news message (gospel) about
Jesus Christ. Apologetics is best seen as either pre-evangelism or as part of the process of
evangelism. It removes barriers to belief and prepares the ground for the seed of the gospel
to be sown. It is vital not to divorce apologetics strictly from evangelism. It is unlikely that
people who have intellectual objections to the existence of God or the historicity of Jesus
will receive the gospel message, and apologetics will help to remove these obstacles by
appealing to intellectual reasoning. At the same time, a person could be intellectually
convinced of the credibility and even the truth of the Christian faith but still not be a
Christian. The gospel appeals not only to the mind, it also appeals to the emotions and, most
importantly of all, to the will. Conversion occurs when the mind, heart, and will are
surrendered to God in repentance and faith. As such it will often be wise to share the gospel
as we engage in apologetic arguments.

*GOD BLESS YOUR MINISTRY & FAMILY🙏🏻*

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*A QUESTIONER🧐*

You need to consider who the person you are speaking with is. What cultural and religious
background do they come from? What experiences have they had that might lie behind their
question or color their perspective on Christianity? Where do they stand as regards the
Christian faith (hostile, indifferent, interested, challenged, formerly believed, believer,
doubting)? It is also worth considering at this stage what point in the gospel story they stick
at. It will usually be one of the following points:

1. God as Creator (does He exist?) / His character (is He really good and loving?)
2. Human sin (are we really that bad?) / need of God (can’t we live without God?)
3. Person of Jesus (did He exist and who was He?) and work of Jesus (why did He die and
did He really rise again?)
 4. Point of conversion (are they willing and ready to repent and believe?)
5. Christians lacking assurance (are they confident in God’s salvation and assured in His
love?)

*AN ANSWER📌*

Peter calls it a defence or a reason and he calls us to be prepared. Christians ought to be

thinking people. We must also be ready to respond or to come back to the person with an
answer if we don’t know how to. There are some excellent resources available to help us
(see the recommended reading). Of course, it may be that we don’t initially respond to the
question with an ‘answer’. We may learn from Jesus’ example that often the best way to
respond initially is with another question.

Asking questions can be a vital way to:

1. Clarify the question they are asking (“Do you mean ...?”)
2. Probe their motivation in asking (“What causes you to think that?)
3. Encourage them to reflect on what they are asking (“I have often wondered that too,
and it makes me ask ... What do you think?”)
4. Gently expose inconsistencies in their arguments (“If that is the case, does that not
mean ...?”)
5. Show a genuine concern for them and understand where they are coming from (“Is
that something that you’ve personally experienced?”)
6. Demonstrate our humility in not acting like a professional question answerer (“I’d love
to hear what you think about that yourself first.”)

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*PRAISE THE LORD!!*

*8 Essential Apologetics Facts that Show Christianity is Actually True*

*PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS – UNVEILING THE PILLARS OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

Is it unconventional to start with these essentials? In a world shaped by relativism, some
might think so. Yet, in today’s landscape, each of these is a prerequisite for effective
Christian apologetics.

1. Objective Truth Exists and is Knowable

2. Language is a Sufficient Medium to Relate Objective Truth
3. Every Natural Thing in Sensible Reality has a Distinct Nature

*CLASSICAL THEISM – THE CORE OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

Every concept discussed so far lays the necessary groundwork for constructing a compelling
argument supporting the truth of theism, the belief in one God who is distinct from and
actively engaged in His creation, especially when engaging with contemporary audiences.

4. It is True that the Theistic God Exists

5. If God Exists, then Miracles are Possible

*THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY – THE FULFILLMENT OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

The journey of a skilled apologist extends beyond what’s outlined. Reaching a point in a
conversation where you can compellingly argue for core Christian doctrines requires
significant effort.

6. The Bible is Historically Reliable

7. Jesus was Resurrected, thus Proving to Be God
8. The Bible is the Inspired, Inerrant Word of God

*GOD BLESS YOU*

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*PRAISE THE LORD!!*

*8 Essential Apologetics Facts that Show Christianity is Actually True*

*PHILOSOPHICAL FOUNDATIONS – UNVEILING THE PILLARS OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

1. Objective Truth Exists and is Knowable

2. Language is a Sufficient Medium to Relate Objective Truth
3. Every Natural Thing in Sensible Reality has a Distinct Nature

*CLASSICAL THEISM – THE CORE OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

4. It is True that the Theistic God Exists

5. If God Exists, then Miracles are Possible

*THE CASE FOR CHRISTIANITY – THE FULFILLMENT OF CHRISTIAN APOLOGETICS*

6. The Bible is Historically Reliable

7. Jesus was Resurrected, thus Proving to Be God
8. The Bible is the Inspired, Inerrant Word of God

*GOD BLESS YOU*

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*PRAISE THE LORD!!*

*Apologetics of Jesus*

In Jesus's ministry, there were several tactics he used to convey his message and teachings.
The six apologetic tactics that Jesus used can be summarized as follows:

1. *Miracles*: Jesus performed various miracles to demonstrate his divine power and
authority, such as healing the sick, feeding the multitude, and walking on water. These
miracles were used to reveal his identity as the Son of God.
2. *Parables*: Jesus frequently used parables, which are short stories with moral lessons, to
convey spiritual truths in a relatable and understandable way. Through parables, Jesus
taught important lessons about love, forgiveness, and faith.
3. *Reasoning*: Jesus engaged in debates and discussions with religious leaders, using
logical arguments and scriptural knowledge to defend his teachings and challenge their
beliefs. He often provided reasoning to support his message.
4. *Testimony*: Jesus relied on the testimony of witnesses, such as John the Baptist, to
affirm his identity and mission. Testimonies from others helped validate his message and
establish credibility.
5. *Prophecy*: Jesus fulfilled numerous prophecies from the Old Testament, which served as
evidence of his messianic role and divine appointment. The fulfillment of prophecies
reinforced his authority and authenticity.
6. *Holy Spirit*: Jesus emphasized the role of the Holy Spirit in guiding believers,
empowering them for ministry, and revealing spiritual truths. The presence of the Holy Spirit
was a crucial aspect of Jesus's teachings and ministry.

These tactics, among others, were instrumental in Jesus's ministry to convey his message,
establish his authority, and demonstrate the truth of his teachings.

Each tactic played a unique role in reaching out to different audiences and addressing
various aspects of faith and belief.

*GOD BLESS YOU ALL*

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*PRAISE THE LORD*

*Here are some types of religions:*

*Christianity*
An Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus Christ. It's the
world's largest religion, with roughly 2.4 billion followers.

*Buddhism*
A non-theistic religion and philosophy that originated in India and was founded by Gautama
Buddha. It emphasizes moral discipline.

*Hinduism*
A family of religions with diverse beliefs, practices, and sacred texts.

*Judaism*
A monotheistic religion that believes in one god. Jewish communities can differ in their
beliefs, practices, politics, and more.

*Sikhism*
The world's fifth largest religion, with about 27 million followers. Sikhs believe in one god
who guides and protects them, and that everyone is equal in God's eyes.

*Confucianism*
An ethical guide to life that emphasizes strong character. It began as a revival of an earlier
religious tradition, but there are no Confucian gods.

*Taoism*
A philosophical system that promotes humility, pacifism, and living in harmony with nature
and each other. It doesn't have concepts of gods, an afterlife, or other supernatural beliefs.

*Zoroastrianism*
One of the world's oldest monotheistic religions, originating in ancient Persia. It contains
both monotheistic and dualistic elements, and some scholars believe it influenced Judaism,
Christianity, and Islam.

*Islam*
A monotheistic religion with over a billion followers worldwide.

*GOD BLESS YOU ALL*

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*UNIQUENESS OF CHRISTIANITY*

*Christianity is the only religion that teaches that God came to us. Romans 5:8 says, “But
God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for
us.” Jesus died for us before we did a thing for Him.*

*Further,*
First, all other religions exhort man to reach up to God and grasp hold of Him through their
own efforts. Christianity is the only religion where God reaches down to man.

Second, other religions are systems of do’s and don’ts to appease God; whereas Christianity
is a relationship with God.

Third, Christianity looks to the Bible as the singular source of Truth. Finally, Christianity is
based upon truly the most amazing event in all of human history—the resurrection.

*The major beliefs of the Christian faith are:*

1. Uniqueness of Jesus (Virgin Birth)

2. One God (The Trinity)
3. Necessity of the Cross (Salvation)
4. Resurrection and Second Coming
5. Inspiration of Scripture
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*PRAISE THE LORD*

*12 Essential Qualities for Christian Spirituality & Theology in a New Urban World*

*_To take head on oppressive structures like consumerism, militarism, multinational

capitalism, international communism, racism, and sexism, we need a spirituality of missional
engagement… Mission without spirituality cannot survive any more than combustion
without oxygen. ~ Orlando E. Costas_*
_A new urban world demands new, urban, missional forms of Christian spirituality and
theology that are:_
1. Glocal
2. Missional
3. Practiced
4. Prophetic
5. Questioning & Experimental
6. Christ-centered & Trinitarian
7. Spirit-empowered
8. Contextualized
9. Community-oriented
10. Grounded in Scripture
11. Joyful in Suffering
12. Pioneering

Around 66% of the world’s population will live in cities by 2050. But we must continue to see
the opportunities present for service among those outside these cities (around 34% of the
world will live in non-urban areas, and there’s great opportunities there). These 12 qualities
aren’t just for urban areas.

*GOD BLESS YOU ALL*

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*PRAISE THE LORD!!*

*WHY SPIRITUAL WARFARE MATTERS IN URBAN APOLOGETICS?*

*By: George Moore*

_“If you’re a Christian, you’re in a battle whether you realize it or not.” – Tony Evans_

*What is Spiritual Warfare?*

Apologetics involves giving solid evidence for what we believe as Christians and why.
Ultimately, our goal is to lead people to these three truths about Jesus Christ:

📌 He came and died for sinful humanity (John 3:16, 2 Cor. 5:21)
📌 He resurrected from the grave (Acts 26:22-23; Romans 8:11)
📌 He is the central figure in all of human history (Colossians 1:15-18).
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*Spiritual Warfare and Urban Apologetics*

Focus on spiritual warfare that could leave some lasting thoughts that I believe are vital
when it comes to the ministry of urban apologetics.

Here they are below:

_-Our Battle Is Not with People, but with Spiritual Wickedness in High Places_
_-Spiritual Warfare and the Presence of Love_
_-Spiritual Warfare and the Black Identity_

*Going Forward w/Spiritual Weapons and God’s Armor*

My hope is to help draw our hearts and minds back to the reality of our fight as a church. I
love the fact that God is raising up soldiers who are vigilant in declaring the truth of
Scripture and God’s love in the urban context. Remember, our enemy is not people, but the
accuser of brethren (Rev. 12:10), and he can only be defeated with spiritual weapons (2 Cor.
10:4).

These weapons are:

📌 Belt of Truth - truth holds the armor together
📌 Breastplate of Righteousness - righteousness guards our hearts
📌 Sandals of Peace - the Gospel’s peace stabilizes us
📌 Shield of faith - faith protects us from Satan’s attacks
📌 Helmet of Salvation - the mind of Christ, controlled by the Spirit
📌 Sword of the Spirit - God’s Word, that is able to cut through any lie and pierce the hearts
of men.
📌 Prayer in the Spirit - where we get our strategy and strength from as soldiers.

*_As you go forth family, know that the Lord has given us all we need to complete the task
he has for us. (2 Peter 1:3) As we do this, we can have full confidence in the promise Jesus
has given his church, that the “gates of hell will not prevail against us.” (Matt. 16:18)._*

*GOD BLESS YOU*