Apologetics...

Welcome to the Apologetics class. 

There are two parts to this class. The first part (Lessons 1-9) consists of reading assigned books and writing summary papers. The resources for this are listed in the required reading section below.

The second part (Lessons 10-20) consists of examining crucial issues confronting the Christian faith. The resources are online articles and videos listed in each lesson. 
Worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your hope as a believer, always be ready to explain it. ​1 Peter 3:15 NLT
Required Readings
  1. So What's The Difference? by Fritz Ridenour. There's a reason this book has sold over 1 million copies. It may be the most concise and yet comprehensive examination of false beliefs and errant world-views, in print. Keep this book handy, you will refer to it for years to come. ​
    ​
  2. The "Case for..." book series by Lee Strobel. Lee Strobel is an award winning legal journalist who worked for the Chicago Tribune. He combines his talent as a writer and skill as an investigator to produce a series of award winning books on the major issues in apologetics. There is a "student collection" for younger readers.  ​​
Recommended Resources ​(Optional for furthere study).
Books
  1. Evidence That Demands a Verdict, Josh McDowell​
  2. More than a Carpenter, Josh McDowell
  3. Answers to Life's Difficult Questions, Rick Warren
  4. The Reason for God, Timothy Keller​
  5. ​Reasonable Faith, William Lane Craig
  6. Seven Men Who Rule from the Grave, Dave Breese​
  7. Charismatic Chaos, John MacArthur​
Websites:
  1. CARM.org 
  2. GotQuestions.org
  3. Veritas.org
  4. AnswersInGenesis.org
  5. ICR.org (Institute for Christian Research)
Lesson 1
  1. Read Chapters 1-3 in So What's The Difference by Fritz Ridenour. 

  2. Write a Summary Paper. 
Lesson 2
  1. Read Chapters 4-7 in So What's The Difference by Fritz Ridenour. 

  2. Write a Summary Paper. 
Lesson 3
  1. Read Chapters 8-12 in So What's The Difference by Fritz Ridenour. 

  2. Write a Summary Paper. 
Lessons 4-6
Pick one book of your choice from "The Case for..." series from the list below. 
  1. The Case for Christ. Evidence for Jesus. 
  2. The Case for Easter. Evidence for the Resurrection. 
  3. The Case for Faith. Answers to the toughest objections to Christianity. 
  4. The Case for a Creator. Scientific evidence that points towards God. 
  5. The Case for Grace. Evidence of transformed lives. ​​
Lesson 4
  1. Read the first third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lesson 5
  1. Read the middle third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lesson 6
  1. Read the last third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 7-9
Pick another book of your choice from "The Case for..." series from the list below. 
Picture
  1. The Case for Christ. Evidence for Jesus. 
  2. The Case for Easter. Evidence for the Resurrection. 
  3. The Case for Faith. Answers to the toughest objections to Christianity. 
  4. The Case for a Creator. Scientific evidence that points towards God. 
  5. The Case for Grace. Evidence of transformed lives. ​​
Lesson 7
  1. Read the first third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lesson 8
  1. Read the middle third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lesson 9
  1. Read the last third of the book you picked.

  2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 10
The reliability and canon of Scripture. Can we trust the Bible? How was it put together? These are important questions that must be satisfactorily answered for Christians to progress towards maturity using the Bible. 

1. Read from some of the following sources to develop your thoughts and generate notes. Spend at least two hours gathering information.
​ ​​   ​​2. Write a summary paper. 
Lessons 11
The existence of God. Is God real and if so, what evidence supports his existence?
​
1. Read from some of the following sources to develop your thoughts and generate notes. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult with readings from previous lessons. 

 
2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 12
Creation verses evolution. Am I divinely planned and sovereignly purposeful or the product of random chance and the result of progressive development?  The answer to this question establishes accountability, creates value and develops a sense of worth. 

1. Read from some of the following sources to develop your thoughts and generate notes. Spend at least two hours on this part of the assignment. You may consult with readings from previous lessons. 

  • The Bible. Here are a few starter verses. Use your Bible study tools (cross reference, concordance, etc) to find more. BibleGateway has good Bible study tools. 
    • ​​Psalm 139:13-16
    • Ephesians 1:4
 
​2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 13
Suffering and evil. If God is so powerful and loving, why is there suffering and evil in the world? ​Answers to this question help resolve a major dilemmas in Christian thought and evangelistic progress. 

1. Read from some of the following sources to develop your thoughts and generate notes. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult with readings from previous lessons. 


2. Write a Summary Paper. 
Lessons 14
What does the Bible have to say about gender issues? ​Women's role in the Church, abortion and sexual identity. 

1. Read from some of the following sources to develop your thoughts and generate notes. Spend two hours on this step. You may consult with readings from previous lessons. 

  ​​​
2. Write a Summary Paper 
Lessons 15
Secular humanism and post modernism. ​The ever increasingly popular idea of thinking and living  independent of principles rooted in the Bible and developing a worldview that is founded on the ideas and postulations of man. 
1. Read from some of the following sources. Include Scripture in your paper. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult previous readings. 

2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 16
Pluralism and relativism. The amalgamation of several belief systems into one (pluralism) requiring the rejection of absolute truth (except for the absolute truth that there are no absolute truths); relativism. :-)

  • The Bible. Here are a few starter verses. Use your Bible study tools (cross reference, concordance, etc) to find more. BibleGateway has good Bible study tools. 
    • ​​John 14:6, 17:17, 18:38
    ​
2. Write a Summary Paper 
Lessons 17
Hedonism. The pursuit of pleasure above all else. 
1. Read from some of the following sources. Include Scripture in your paper. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult previous readings. 


2. Write a Summary Paper 
Lessons 18
Is God good? This has been described as the most important apologetic question of our time. 
1. Read from some of the following sources. Include Scripture in your paper. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult previous readings. 

​​
2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 19
Atheism, agnosticism, skepticism. Those who don't believe God exists, those who aren't sure and those who only appear to be interested. 

​1. Read from some of the following sources. Include Scripture in your paper. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult previous readings. 
​  
2. Write a Summary paper. 
Lessons 20
Thinker and influencers. There are many people whose words have illuminated the logical, rational and philosophical foundation of the Christian faith. Here are are just a few. Spend two hours learning who they are and thier contribution to Christianity. 

1. Read from some of the following sources. Include Scripture in your paper. Spend at least two hours on this step. You may consult previous readings. 
​​2. Write a Summary paper. 
Congratulations! You finished the Apologetics class. We hope this has been a rich experience. You have been evaluated now it's time for you to evaluate us. Feel free to email us and let us know how we might improve this class. We would be encouraged to know how this class may have blesssed you as well.