Unleashing Your Faith

Unleashing Your FaithPresuppositions

2

Discussing Truth and

Christian Convictions

Unleashing Your Faith

Set Christ apart as Lord in your heartsand always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess, yet do it with courtesy and respect…

1 Pet 3:15

AmbassadorModelCredo

Know Your

Audience

Proof, Defense, Offense

TacticsPresuppositions

Unleashing Your Faith

AmbassadorModelCredo

Know Your

Audience

Proof, Defense, Offense

TacticsPresuppositions

APOLOGETICS has a questionable reputation among non-aficionados. By definition, apologists defend the faith. They defeat false ideas. They destroy speculations raised up against the knowledge of God. Those sound like fightin’ words to many people.

- Gregory Koukl

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

The atheist who denies God’s existenceThe agnostic who doesn’t know what he

believesThe religionist who follows man-made traditionsThe elitist, who refuses to hear the voice of GodThe multitudes, who ignore God’s voice The believer who needs to be encouraged and

supported by the voice of God.

Our “Target Audience”

ARGUMENT

1. an oral disagreement; verbal opposition; contention; altercation:  a violent argument.

2. a discussion involving differing points of view; debate:  They were deeply involved in an argument about inflation.

3. a process of reasoning; series of reasons:  I couldn't follow his argument.

4. a statement, reason, or fact for or against a point:  This is a strong argument in favor of her theory.

5. an address or composition intended to convince or persuade 

- persuasive discourse

Arguments for the truth of the Christian faith

(vindication / proof / positive apologetics)

Aim – to show that Christianity is reasonable and rational.

Using philosophical arguments and evidence from science, archaeology and history to show that the

Christian faith has greater power than any alternative belief system to explain and interpret

the world we live in.

1

Arguments refuting accusations made against the Christian faith

(defence / negative apologetics)

Aim – to show that Christianity is not unreasonable / irrational.

Removing objections that are made against Christianity, for example claims of contradictions in the Bible,

alternative interpretations of historical and scientific evidence and misconceptions about Christian belief.

2

Refutation of opposing beliefs (offense)

Aim – to show that non-Christian belief systems are unreasonable / irrational

Focuses not on specific attacks againstChristianity but on undermining the foundations

of other belief systems.

3

Unleashing Your Faith – ATTITUDE

LET YOUR SPEECH ALWAYS BE WITH GRACE, SEASONED, AS IT WERE,

WITH SALT, SO THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU SHOULD

RESPOND TO EACH PERSON. (COLOSSIANS 4:6)

— Paul , the apostle

When you got up this morning and decided to come to worship at GSPC,

what did you assume about your day?

Defending Your Faith

Set Christ apart as Lord in your heartsand always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess, yet do it with courtesy and respect…

1 Pet 3:15-16

AmbassadorModelCredo

Know Your

Audience

Proof, Defense, Offense

TacticsPresuppositions

A Person’s System of Beliefs

A Person’s System of Beliefs

It’s Raining Outside

Creationism

Belief in Miracles

Trusting in Jesus

A Person’s System of Beliefs

It’s Raining Outside

Abortion is ok

Miracles are impossible

There is no God

Many and BIG differences

Few but still a BIG Difference

The Myth of Neutrality

Is it possible to set aside your worldview?

The Myth of Neutrality

Romans 8:5-7For those who live accordingto the flesh set their mindson the things of the flesh,

but those who live accordingto the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit.

For to set the mind on the flesh is death,

but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.

For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot.

indeed, it cannot

The Myth of Neutrality

The Bible portrays two possible states of mind:

According to the SpiritAccording to the flesh

The Myth of Neutrality

Jesus rose from the dead.

That authenticates Him!That’s impossible!Strange things can happen!So what…

What is the most important question in creation?

Is there or is there not a God?

Panentheism

Panentheism - “pan”, meaning all, “en”, meaning in, and “theism”, meaning God.

Panentheism considers God and the world to be inter-related with the world being in God and God being in the world.

Panentheism offers an alternative to both traditional theism and pantheism.

Panentheism seeks to avoid either isolating God from the world, or identifying God with the world as pantheism does.

The Myth of Neutrality

Romans 1:18-23For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.

For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.

For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking,and their foolish hearts were darkened.

Today’s Influencing Factors

Changed Culture - Christendom is dead - post modernism - sexual revolution o destruction of marriage o ordination of homosexuals - media influence - Sunday competition - pluralism - relativistic ethics

‘Promised Pluralism’

Hospitality vs. Reverance- Jesus is not necessarily the only way

Changed Church

The Myth of Neutrality

Your “AUDIENCE” is not a blank slate!

I enjoy my

sensuous lifestyle. I am unbiased

Science is theultimate judge. Abortion is abouta woman’s choice.

My priest wasmean to me.Religion is forwimps.SIN

The Myth of Neutrality

Autonomous Reasoning

… and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."

… and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you autonomous."

John 8:32

The Myth of Neutrality

Autonomous Reasoning

I’ll be the judge of that!

Who is this that darkens counsel by words without

knowledge?

The Myth of Neutrality

Autonomous Reasoning

I’ll be the judge of that!

The Myth of Neutrality

It is possible to set aside your worldview?

No!

Defending Your Faith

Set Christ apart as Lord in your heartsand always be ready to give an answer to anyone who asks about the hope you possess, yet do it with courtesy and respect…

1 Pet 3:15-16

AmbassadorModelCredo

Know Your

Audience

Proof, Defense, Offense

TacticsPresuppositions

Unleashing Your Faith

NEXT WEEK

21st Century Ambassador

Discussing Truth and

Christian Convictions