My Talk at Crossroads Church, Jan. 8, 8:30 AM

Crossroads Church, Thornton

Doug Groothuis, Denver Seminary

Doug.Groothuis@denverseminary.edu

An Invitation to Apologetic Adventure and Warfare

1. A Passion for Truth

1. “The truth will set you free” (John 8:31-32)

2. Truth under fire: pluralism (2 Corinthians 8:4-6); false worldviews (atheism) and religion (Islam)

3. Do you care about God’s truth? (Acts 17:16)

4. Jesus is the Truth Incarnate, only Mediator (John 14:6; 1 Tim. 2:5)

2. What is Apologetics?

1. Making the case that Christianity is objectively true, rational, and pertinent to all of life (1 Peter 3:15-16; Jude 3; Acts 17:16-34)

2. Loving God with all of our mind (Matthew 22:37-40)

3. Part of the Great Commission adventure to disciple the nations (Matthew 28:18-20)

4. Part of spiritual warfare (Acts 13:1-12; Ephesians 6:10-19)

3. Issues in Apologetic Engagement

1. Be filled with the Holy Spirit to have a knowledgeable zeal for God’s glory and the salvation of the lost (Acts 1:8; Romans 9:1-3)

2. Be wise as a serpent, innocent as a dove, bold as a lion (Matthew 10:16; Proverbs 28:1)

3. Argue for the objective truth of Christianity (as a worldview), not just a lifestyle or a relative truth (Romans 3:4)

The universe (originally good, now fallen and awaiting its divine restoration) is created by the Triune God, who has revealed himself in nature, conscience, Scripture, and through the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, so that the universe may be judged and renewed, and so that people may be restored to God and experience new life eternally.

4. Understand the worldview of the person you are addressing (Acts 17:16-34)

5. Find logical and factual holes in their worldview: relativism, pantheism, Islam, etc. (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)

6. Build bridges from their worldview to the Christian worldview (Acts 17:16-34)

4. Four circles of Christian evidence (quick survey)

1. Cosmology: evidence for creation and design from science (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21)

2. Biology: evidence for design from science (Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:18-21)

3. History: strong historical evidence for the reliability of the Bible, especially the testimony about Jesus Christ (Luke 1:1-4)

4. Existential: the meaning that Christ gives to life (Blaise Pascal)

a. Understanding our uniqueness as human beings made in God’s image (Genesis 1:26)

b. Understanding ourselves as rebels against God (Genesis 3; Romans 3)

c. Knowing Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior (John 3:16-18; 10:10)

Resources on Apologetics

1. William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith, 3^rd ed. (Crossway, 2008). In-depth work defending Christianity scientifically, philosophically, and historically by a leading philosopher and debater. Also, see his web page: Reasonable Faith: www.reasonablefaith.org.

2. Douglas Groothuis, Truth Decay: Defending Christianity Against the Challenges of Postmodernism (InterVarsity Press, 2000).

3. Douglas Groothuis, On Jesus and On Pascal, both Wadsworth, 2003.

4. Doug Groothuis web page: www.DougGroothuis.com

Apologetics articles by Doug Groothuis: http://www.denverseminary.edu/become-a-student/master-of-arts-degree-programs/ma-with-a-major-in-philosophy-of-religion/articles-by-dr-douglas-groothuis

5. Doug Groothuis, Christian Apologetics. InterVarsity Press, forthcoming, August, 2011.