Bible Study June 28, 2012

Can you name these two men?

Billy Graham & Charles Templeton

• In 1936, at the age of 21, Charles Templeton converted to Christianity and became an evangelist. In 1945, at the age of 30, he co-founded Youth for Christ International, they hired Billy Graham as their first full-time evangelist. Graham and Templeton would tour Europe on crusade for Youth for Christ.
• Templeton was plagued with doubts about God. It began with a photograph in Life magazine. Picture of a black woman in Northern Africa. They were experiencing a devastating drought. She was holding her dead baby in her arms and looking up to heaven with the look of – why? I looked at that and thought, is it possible to believe that there is a loving or caring Creator when all this woman needed was rain? And how could a compassionate God allow such a ghastly illness like Alzheimer’s to torture its victims and their loved ones like it does?
• Charles Templeton was torn with questions he couldn't answer, much less defend.

Can You Answer These Questions?

If there is a loving God, why does He permit, much less create, earthquakes, droughts, floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters which kill thousands of innocent men, women, and children every year?


How can a loving, omnipotent God permit, much less create, encephalitis, cerebral palsy, brain cancer, leprosy, Alzheimer’s, and other incurable illnesses, to afflict millions of men, women, and children, most of whom are decent people?


How can one believe the biblical account of the creation of the world in six days when every eminent physicist agrees that all living species have evolved over millions of years from primitive beginnings?


Is it possible for an intelligent man or woman to believe that God fashioned the first male human being from a handful of dust and the first woman from one of the man’s ribs?

Why, in a world filled with suffering and starvation, do Christians spend millions on cathedrals and sanctuaries and relatively little on aid to the poor and the needy?


Why does the omnipotent God, knowing that there are tens of thousands of men, women, and children starving to death in a parched land, simply let them waste away and die when all that is needed is rain?


Why would the Father of all mankind have a Chosen People and favor them over the other nations on earth?


Why would a God who is “no respecter of persons” prohibit adultery and then bless, honor, and prosper a king who had seven hundred wives and three hundred concubines?


Jesus’ last words to His followers were “Go ye into the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. And, lo, I am with you always.” But, despite this and to this date, some two thousand years later, billions of men and women have never so much as heard the Christian Gospel. Why?


If I’m still plagued by doubts, then is it still possible to be a Christian?  




In 1957, at the age of 42, Charles Templeton the ministry and became an agnostic – his final book was entitled, “Farewell to God.” In 2001, at the age of 86, he died from Alzheimer’s disease.

We are beginning a 13-week series on Apologetics – what is apologetics?

• The Case for Hope, Jesus and the Christian Life
• Apologetics is the defense of the Christian faith; it has nothing to do with apology.
• Apologetics aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and attempt to expose the flaws of other world views.

What would be some reasons that apologetics would be important for you today? There are several reasons why we need apologetics.

1. We are commanded to defend the faith: 1 Peter 3:15.
2. It helps Christian’s know their faith. This is something that is sadly lacking among believers. Most don't know much about their faith, let alone be able to describe the Trinity, the two natures of Christ, His physical resurrection, or even to tell the difference between justification and sanctification.
3. Apologetics is an attempt to save people’s eternal lives. God takes sin very seriously. As Christians, we should be motivated to present the truth of salvation in Jesus. Salvation is not found in Buddhism, Islam, relativism, or in one's self: It is only found in Jesus. We need to not only defend God's word and truth, but also present the gospel to all people so they can be saved.
4. To counter the bad image Christianity has in the media and in culture. Televangelists and their scandals—both sexually and monetarily—are a disgrace to Christianity. The Catholic Church hasn't helped with its scandals involving priests. On top of that, the media is very biased against Christianity, and you will see negative opinions of Christianity promoted everywhere.
5. There is a constant threat of apostasy in the Christian church. Such is the case with the Metropolitan Community Church denomination, which openly advocates the support of homosexuality in violation of scripture (Rom. 1:18-32). Also, as of 2002, the Evangelical Lutheran Church is in risk of apostasy by entertaining the idea of accepting homosexual relationships into church. Or "The supreme court of the United Methodist Church was asked Thursday to reconsider the denomination's ban on gay clergy." (Church court of United Methodists asked to decide on gay clergy ban, NASHVILLE, Tennessee, Oct. 25, 2001, AP WorldStream via COMTEX). Such examples are demonstrations of the incredible need for defending biblical truth within those churches that claim to be Christian.
6. The many false teachings out there. Mormonism teaches that God used to be a man on another world, that he brought one of his goddess wives with him to this world, that they produce spirit offspring that are born into human babies, and that you have the potential of becoming a god of your own world. The Jehovah's Witnesses teach that there is no Trinity, that Jesus is Michael the Archangel, that there is no hell, and that only 144,000 people will go to heaven. Atheism denies God's existence, openly attacks Christianity and is gaining ground in public life and schools. Islam teaches that Jesus was not God in flesh, that Jesus did not rise from the dead, and that He did not atone for our sins. It teaches that salvation is partly based on one's works and partly based on Allah's grace. It teaches that the Holy Spirit is the angel Gabriel (Surah 2:97; 16:102); that Jinn are unseen beings created (51:56) from fire (15:27; 55:15); and that Muhammad was greater than Jesus. Even within the Christian church there are false teachings.
7. The rise of immorality in America. This is a threat not only to society but also to Christianity. This is a serious issue because an immoral society cannot last long. The Barna Research group statistics show that 64% of adults and 83% of teenagers said moral truth depends on the situation that you are in. 19% of the adult population believes that "the whole idea of sin is outdated." 51% believe that "if a person is generally good, or does enough good, he will earn a place in Heaven." When a society's morals fail, the society fails. Just look at history and think of Ancient Rome and Greece. Immorality seeps down into all areas of our culture. God tells us in Phil. 4:8, Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things. We cannot ignore God's word without a consequence.
8. Because schools are not friendly to Christianity. My own experience in non-Christian schools was a strong awakening to the unprovoked hostility that exists in school, where the philosophy teachers, history teacher, and even the art teacher all took shots at Christianity. Don Feder in the Conservative Chronicle, in his article of Sept. 22, 1993, titled "Fighting Censorship, PAW Does it Its Way," said that in some junior high libraries, book titles included The Joy of Gay Sex and How to Make Love to a Single Woman. There is an impressions series for grades one to six which promote the New Age and the occult; a controversial drug education program called Quest, which tells students that they alone can decide whether or not it's OK to use drugs; as well as texts that direct students to fantasize about suicide, attack religion and undermine family authority.

I. BE PREPARED – 1 Peter 3:15-17

15But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. 17It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.



What does it mean to be prepared to answer why you have hope? How does one prepare to defend their faith?



What is the hope that we have?

• Before Peter met Jesus, he only had mundane hopes. His biggest hope each day was for a bigger catch of fish. The fish that Peter caught spoiled quickly. Likewise, all of our hopes in this world for jobs, promotions, cars, fame, and fortune will perish, spoil or fade. They are all dead hopes.
• The Christian's witness must center in God's Son. He, after all, is the source of genuine hope. Thus, apologetics involves a concerted effort to declare the facts about Jesus Christ and to show forth the attractiveness of following Him. There are countless reasons why a person should follow the Savior; the believer's task is to share these.
• When have you been able to relate to hopelessness? Why are such times of difficulty important for sharing Christ without hurting someone? What is the “reason for the hope that is in you”?

What do you think it means to set apart Christ as Lord in your heart? Why is setting apart Jesus as Lord in our hearts not merely a private activity but one that becomes public?

• Keep your hearts at attention, in adoration before Christ, your Master (MSG)
• The starting point for making your case is to set apart Christ as Lord in your hearts.
• Set apart – means to keep something apart or above all other things in significance.
• The heart represents the motive for all thoughts, words, and actions.
• The results of setting Christ apart in our hearts are a life that reflects devotion to God and activities that are pure and honorable.
• This private devotion to God results in a public life that will be evident to others.
• Your walk will match your talk because people watch.

Is the goal of apologetics to win an argument?

• The goal is to lovingly respond to someone who asks questions about God.

How do we respectfully share the gospel without being soft on sin?




4 functions of apologetics:

1. Vindicate or prove Christianity as a belief system that should be accepted. Involves philosophical arguments as well as scientific and historical evidences for the Christian faith. Logical implications of the Christian worldview so that they can be clearly seen and contrasted with alternate worldviews.
2. Defend Christianity against attacks by critics of carrying belief systems. This function involves clarifying the Christian position in light of misunderstandings and misrepresentations; answering objections, criticisms, or questions from non-Christians; and in general clearing away any intellectual difficulties that nonbelievers claim stand in the way of their coming to faith.
3. Refute opposing beliefs. Answer the arguments non-Christians give in support of their beliefs.
4. Persuade people to commit their lives and eternal futures into the trust of the Son of God who died for them.

 
Luke writes in the book of Acts today where Paul shows us a classic example of an apologist approach in the midst of a mob of skeptics.


II. KNOW TO WHOM YOU ARE TALKING – Acts 21:40-22:3

40Having received the commander's permission, Paul stood on the steps and motioned to the crowd. When they were all silent, he said to them in Aramaic:

……………………………………….

1"Brothers and fathers, listen now to my defense." 2When they heard him speak to them in Aramaic, they became very quiet. Then Paul said: 3"I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.


The people were out for blood. They had seized Paul at the temple, thinking him a heretic, and would have killed him had the commander not intervened.



Why do you think the mob became “very quiet” when they heard Paul speak their language?

• Paul had connected with them by using their Hebrew language.
• He got their attention.

What was the significance of Paul’s next strategy – to share his background?

• He looked for things they shared in common.
• He too was Jewish, Jerusalem was his second home, he had been educated by one of the most respected teachers of their day, and in other words, he was just like them.

If you had to tell your story of what you were like before Christ, what would you say?

 
III. SHARE WHAT YOU KNOW – Acts 22:4-10

4I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison, 5as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished. 6"About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me. 7I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, 'Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?' 8" Who are you, Lord?' I asked. " 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. 9My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 10"'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. "'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.'



What was the focus of Paul’s defense in these verses? What details did he point out about himself?

• Continued establishing connections with the crowd, he too had persecuted followers of Christ, in fact his very own encounter with Jesus came while he was on his way to Damascus to arrest more followers. But there his life was changed forever.

At what point in life were you forever changed by Christ?

• A changed life is a powerful apologetic.
• Loving loyalty to God draws people to God.
• The best witnesses are authentic ones.

So, what will we do? Final points:

1. Make Christ Lord in your heart.
2. Be gentle and respectful.
3. Find common ground with the person you are talking to.
4. Tell your story in a winsome way.

Practice explaining what you believe and why you believe it. Be sure to include how you came to know Jesus but focus on how He guides your life today.

This week we begin a 13 week study on "Apologetics" and your role in the defense of your faith.  

See you on Thursday! 

In His Love, 

David