Discussion Questions
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Give a couple of examples from 1 Peter 3:15–16 as to why and how we should embrace apologetics in our faith journey.
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49 Replies
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In 1 Peter 3:15–16, the Apostle Peter highlights the importance of being prepared to explain our hope in Christ, showing our commitment to our faith and helping others understand it. We can embrace this by studying our beliefs and practicing how to articulate them clearly. Additionally, we should engage in discussions with gentleness and respect, fostering open dialogue and reflecting Christ’s love, which makes our message more inviting.
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We should embrace apologetics by 1st ensuring that our hearts are in line with God’s will in understanding who He is and His nature. We should also live a life reflecting our unwavering love for Christ.
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Friends and I share the Gospel on the streets and at the beach several times a week. It’s important to be able to explain, with gentleness and respect, why we trust Christ Jesus alone for eternal life.
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We should ALWAYS be prepared to answer why we follow Christ. What I like about the first video series is that it talks about where to start. Even if you do not have ALL the answers, we can at least start with answering a basic truth of WHY we follow him. And as the verse (and video) continues, we can learn how to do it with gentleness and respect.
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Be Prepared to Give an Answer (1 Peter 3:15a): The verse begins with, “Always be prepared to answer everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This teaches us that we should be ready to explain and defend our faith with clarity and conviction. Apologetics is a way to respond to questions and challenges about our beliefs thoughtfully, helping us articulate why we trust in Christ.
Do It with Gentleness and Respect (1 Peter 3:15b-16): The passage continues, “But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.” This emphasizes that how we engage in apologetics is just as important as the content. We are called to defend our faith not through argument or aggression but with kindness and humility, ensuring that we reflect Christ’s love even while addressing difficult questions.
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How is Christianity more than just a worldview? Provide some examples.
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28 Replies
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The most basic of worldviews will only consider the physical world. Christianity certainly considers the physical, but encompasses it with God, relationship, history, and salvation.
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Christianity is more than a worldview in that it is not just a set of assumptions about the basic makeup of the world. It is also a relationship with God. We do not just hold a philosophical model of the world in our heads. We commune with God, we fellowship with fellow believers.
#apologetics
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A worldview is “a set of assumptions about the basic makeup of the world.” But it is more than that. A worldview is multi-faceted, representing an understanding of the people involved, their philosophy of life, and their view of the nature of reality within their own culture and belief system.
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A worldview is simply our beliefs about the world and truth, but Christianity puts those beliefs into action. Our beliefs stem from our relationship with a risen Savior, and therefore following Christ should help to change other’s worldviews when we as Christians engage the world.
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James 1:22-25 explains that we are to be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Those who continue in it will be blessed in what he does. Christianity is not expected to be a spectator life but requires everyone who accepts Jesus as Lord, to be actionable and live out the word that they hear and read, trusting His Holy Spirit to give guidance and revelation as they do.
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What is a simple explanation of apologetics? What is apologetics not?
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66 Replies
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Apologetics is defending the reason for one’s faith. It is not apologizing for having faith in Christ.
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Apologetics in NOT apologizing for being a Christian. It is a defense of Christianity as objectively true, compellingly rational, and pertinent to all of life.
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Adopting the definition in this lecture, apologetics is the defence of Christianity as objectively true, compellingly rational, and pertinent to all of life. We seek to let the person know that Christianity is based on facts, and logical, and not make-believe. Apologetics is not apologizing for being a Christian. It is also not trying to win an argument or to silence the opponent. Hence we do not malign the character or the name of the other person, nor the object of his faith.
#apologetics
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Apologetics is a defense of the truth and relevancy of Christianity to all people. It is not an effort to strongarm any person into believing in Christ. It is not a defense of Christianity as faith without reason. The listener should be invited to challenge and question the precepts of Christianity in order to have true faith. Jesus welcomed challenges and questions. So should the apologist.
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Apologetics is a defense of our Christian beliefs.
It should not be judgmental and argumentative attacks on those who do not believe what we believe.
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What is the purpose of defending truth?
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32 Replies
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Truth is not relative or tied to one’s perspective. As Christians, we know the truth, and it nullifies other worldviews. Therefore it is necessary to defend the truth in order that others will be set free from the bondage of sin.
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The purpose ultimately is to lead the person to see that Christian belief in Jesus Christ as Saviour is logical and credible, and to influence him to consider it for himself. This is because we believe that truth sets a person free, so we hope to see this result in the person.
#apologetics
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I see the purposes of defending truth as (1) helping people to be freed from “the bondage of sin” and (2) having the opportunity to find greater meaning in their lives. An understanding of truth can lead to both of these goals.
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Defending truth should eventually bring unbelievers into a belief in Christ, who is the truth.
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There is an exhaustive amount of misconceptions and misinformation about God’s word. It is imperative that we know the scriptures so that the enemy, someone with limited knowledge, or with alternative motives does not have the privilege of misleading or misguiding us. We should be ready and willing to defend the truth not just to show what we know but to save and fulfill what is said in 1 Timothy 2:3-4, “This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.”
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Why does Dr. Groothuis use the “cumulative case” as his apologetic method for Christianity?
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26 Replies
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1 Peter 3:15–16 encourages believers to embrace apologetics by providing clear guidance on how to defend their faith. Here are two key examples from the passage:
1. Preparedness to give a reason for your hope (1 Peter 3:15):
The verse urges believers to “always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have.” This shows that apologetics is not just for a select few but for all believers. It emphasizes the importance of understanding and articulating the reasons for one’s faith, helping others see the rational and personal foundation behind the Christian hope.
2. Responding with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:16):
The passage also instructs that when defending the faith, believers should do so “with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience.” This highlights the approach we should take in apologetics: not with arrogance or hostility, but with humility, kindness, and integrity, so that our defense of the faith reflects the character of Christ.
In embracing apologetics, these principles help believers engage thoughtfully with others while maintaining a Christlike attitude in sharing the truth of the Gospel.
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It draws from all aspects of study and is the most comprehensive approach to bring unbelievers to Christ, much the same way a jury would be persuaded when provided with witnesses, character witnesses, and field experts.
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The “cumulative case”, in drawing from multiple sources, angles and disciplines, gives a more powerful argument. It is also the logical approach because different issues of the truth lend themselves better to different approaches. For example, in addressing the resurrection of Christ, we may examine the circumstantial evidences or the lack of it, like a lawyer does. In addressing the accuracy of transmission of the Bible, we may examine the archaeological evidence for the ancient manuscripts.
#apologetics
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The cumulative approach embraces the role of science in explaining the origin of the world and nature of the world. It considers history, the human condition, and Jesus. This approach is not a simple leap of faith that Christians are often described as taking. It is a leap into truth based on reason, an inquiring mind, and a desire for a more fulfilling life.
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His method brings all the “witnesses” to court. It incorporates history, science, philosophy and human experience into the discussion.