"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 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." -1 Peter 3:15-16 (ESV)
What is Apologetics?
The word apologetics is derived from the Greek “apologia” meaning “speaking in defense”. As Christian apologists our aim is not to give an apology in the way we are typically accustomed to (saying sorry for something) but rather to give a defense for the Christian faith, answering questions about the truth of the Gospel.
Why Do We Study It?
We believe that faith in Jesus Christ is a response to the calling and conviction of the Holy Spirit and is based on a combination of both spiritual understanding and intellectual reason, which are granted by God Himself, the author of Truth. (Hebrews 11:1) We know that Scripture tells us we must be ready at all times to give an account for our faith. We are equipped for this task by knowing the Scriptures and understanding theology; however, we also believe that by studying and comparing other worldviews, we are able to go out into the world, meet people where they are, and articulate the Gospel in a way that resonates with the heart of the skeptic.
All belief systems make exclusive truth claims about existence, God, eternity, and morality. These beliefs form a worldview and represent a person’s understanding of the nature of reality…how reality is composed, how it works, and how we relate to the world around us.
Each worldview must deal honestly with these four questions:
- Origin: how did the universe and life begin?
- Morality: how do we know what is right and wrong?
- Meaning: is there purpose for our lives?
- Destiny: what lies beyond our death?
The answer to these questions put together must be coherent and logically consistent. We believe that Jesus wholly and uniquely answers all four questions in this way.
A proper understanding of apologetics can help strengthen the believer’s faith and embolden them to pursue conversation with skeptics, removing intellectual barriers to the Gospel.
Apologetics Night
Bring the whole family and join us every Wednesday night at 6:30 pm as we pursue deeper understanding of God’s Word and how we can relate it to the world around us. Adults meet in the sanctuary. Primary and elementary meet upstairs (curriculum based on Answers in Genesis). Students meet in the Resource Room.