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Week 1 Course OrientationGo To Africa! 4Mind Altering Religion .. 5An Irrepressible Community 7A Little Backstory 7Scared Sheepless ...... 8

Week 2 Foundations of Christian Apologetics and Philosophy 10 An Argument For Arguments

Week 3 Answering Materialism.. 20No God or Any?

Week 4 Answering Pluralism... 28One Way or Many?

Week 5: Answering Skeptics of Scripture. 30Historical Reliability or Unhistorical Liability?

Week 6: Answering the Cults.... 33Is Jesus God or a Guru?

Week 7: Making the Right Call. 38 Come and See, Come and Reason, Come and Follow

Week 8: The Art and Science of a Good Conversation 46

Our Story, His Story, Your Story

Appendix 52

Bibliography.. 59

Incarnational Evangelism Course by Jeff Kennedy

TABLE OF C ONTENTS

Part 1: The Evidence for Christianity

Introduction

Part 2: Incarnational Apologetics


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Well call him Randal.During his junior year in college, Randall somehow managed to juggle a part-time job in

youth ministry, a full academic load at a Christian University, and a busy social life on campus. All-night cramming sessions and writing deadlines are a rite of passage that every student must

endure. But by the end of the semester, Randall had hit the wall. His breaking point came thenight before nals when he was jarred from his sleep by a noise coming up through his oor. Heburied his head in his pillow hoping the noise would just go away.

But it didnt. With each passing minute the commotion beneath his room grew louder and louder.

Dizzy with exhaustion, he slipped out of his covers and collapsed beside his bed. He could hearthe sound of a muzzled prayer reverberating through the oor joists Randall identied thenoise as the unintelligible chatter of a fellow student who was seeking Gods will. His room justhappened to be located above the prayer chapel in that college dormitory, and only occasionally

did he lose sleep as some desperate soul pleaded his case to an unseen God at an ungodly hour.But this night was the worst possible night for someone to conduct such a raucous all-night prayer

vigil.HELP ME GOD! Came the despairing petition from below. Help me to KNOW

your will. Speak to me and tell me WHERE to go, Oh God! Where do you want me to serve you? I NEED YOU TO SPEAK TO ME LORD!

Randall detected an unrelenting quality in the fellow students prayer. He knew that if God didnt answer the desperate student soon, hed never make it through his nals the following day.

He ran through a list of options as his exhausted mind began to hatch a truly evil plan.He pitched himself forward touching his forehead to the carpet. He hesitated slightly, trying toimagine the potential ramications of the action he was about to take. But all possible objectionswere being drowned out by the incessant pleading from below. Then he cupped his handsaround his mouth and with the loudest baritone voice that he could summon, he yelled throughthe oor,

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Introduction


Fearless Conversations * Week


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2. We refuse to harmonize our behavior and thoughts with the pattern of thisworld (Rom 12:2a). What is the pattern of this world? At the beginning of Romans, Paulidenties that we are all born into the same hopeless template:

The human race suppresses the knowledge of the truth through evil behavior (Rom

1:18). We have failed to acknowledge what should be obvious from creation: God is a

transcendent being of unimaginable power (Rom 1:19). Refusing to acknowledge Him, we then fail to glorify and appreciate God resulting in

futile thinking (Rom 1:20). We then replace God with unworthy, nite idols (Rom 1:22-23). The result of all this is being given over to a depraved mind which produces

every imaginable kind of evil and sin (Rom1:25-30). The end-game for this trajectory in life is death (Rom 1:32).

3. Instead of conforming to the above pattern of humanity, we are to betransformed by the renewing of our minds (Rom 12:2b). Paul taught that the key toresisting this pattern of depravity was a transformed mind. This means our minds need to bealtered (in a godly sense). We are to change our minds and adopt a new kind of thought-life.This new life of the mind is characterized by:

Embracing the truth instead suppressing it, beginning with a response of faith andrepentance (Rom 3:23ff.).

Acknowledging the obvious divinity and power of God through creation. Glorifying and thanking him for his provision. Putting God in his rightful place as the creator and sustainer of all things. Our minds are then renewed and we are set on a path to life instead of death.

Notice, that this is the reverse of the Romans 1:18-32 pattern.

4. The result is that we will be able to discern Gods will, which is good, pleasing, and perfect (Rom 12:2c). So, what is the will of God? Paul goes on to say thatGods will is for us to engage in Spirit-gifted ministry to each other (12:3-8). This mutuallybenecial ministry takes place in the atmosphere of self-less love (12:9-21)

Summary: Paul taught that the way in which we reject the godless pattern of this world isthrough obedient living, renewed thinking, and deploying our Spiritual gifts in an atmosphere of mutual service and love. That is Gods will for our lives! 1

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1 This is not to say that God couldnt or wouldnt speak to us in spectacular ways. But the pattern in the book of Acts isthat the NT Church obeyed Jesus directives to go into all the world rst. Jesus then guided them to specicassignments within the larger context of their obedience to his general mission.




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AN IRREPRESSIBLE COMMUNITY But, if we were only to camp out in passages like Romans twelve, then we would run therisk of practicing an ingrown version of Christianity that only focusses on the needs of insiders. 2

Jesus vision for His Church was that it would be an outgoing, missional enterprise. Jesus

stated very clearly that the Church would be an unstoppable force (Mt 16). Not even the powerof death itself could stop the mission of the church! And what is that mission? It is to reach those who are far from God. To make disciples of

all people groups by baptizing and teaching them to obey all that Jesus has commanded (Mt28:19-20). Jesus authorized the Apostles to disciple the nations and they in turn have passed thisresponsibility on to their disciples (thats us). But why is this Jesus passion? Why does Jesus long to nd the lost sheep?

A LITTLE BACKSTORY

The ubiquitous theme of Scripture is that God has created a race of beings that areworth redeeming. God, in his innite wisdom, chose to create people with a supernaturalaptitude to choose the good. The potential for unsolicited acts of love among these godlikecreatures was so awesome that God risked the cosmos on them, against his better knowledge of their actual future choices. As a result, Gods foreknowledge of mans choice to sin promptedhim to draft a rescue plan to save them. Even before mankind had a chance to sample thegarden contraband (Gen. 3:15ff), God took the initiative to move in our direction rst.

The rescue mission to end all rescue missions started with Gods choice of one man(Abraham), to bring forth one nation (Israel), who would bring forth one man (Jesus, the second

Adam), who would bring forth a new nation comprised of all tribes and ethnicities (the Kingdomof God). All who have faith in the Messiah are saved and reconciled to God.

Though God is equally the creator of all things, he does not equally love all things. Heloves us. He could easily throw the rest of his handiwork to the ames, but he cannot easilythrow men there. Though he owes us nothing, he spares nothing in our rescue. Now, we havebeen given the critical imperative to go into all the world and summon the nations to theLordship of King Jesus.

Why?Because God views the lost people of our world as harassed and helpless sheep without a

shepherd. The New Testament authors charge each new generation of believers to reach thoselost sheep. This alsois Gods wonderful plan for our lives!

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2 Indeed recent studies show that the church is becoming increasingly more inward and isolated from society. http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/462-six-megathemes-emerge-from-2010?q=fear.

ncarnational Evangelism Course by Jeff Kennedy

Fearless Conversations * Week 1
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SCARED SHEEPLESSLets get real. Most of us have never shared our faith with an outsi der. Though we are

comfortable with the notion that church is about mutual service and ministry, the idea of sharing Jesus story of redemption can be very intimidating. This is especially the case given the

inadequacy and lack of competence that most believers feel, due to a weak foundation in thefaith.The number one reason why believers dont make disciples is because of fear. 3 We are

self-conscious of our ignorance of Scripture and our inability to answer objections that wehavent prepared for. Were afraid to be labeled intolerant and judgmental. Or, were afraidthat someone will bring up the doctrine of hell and we wont be able to explain it adequately.

This fear is the exact opposite of what Jesus promised his disciples. He told them, Youwill receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be mywitnessess (Acts 1:8). Again, Paul afrmed this when he wrote to Timothy, For God has not

given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a self-disciplined mind (2 Tim 1:7). Yet, Idare say that most of us would struggle to nd evidence of this power that Jesus and Paul spokeof. The result of this tepid version of American Christianity is that the church is shrinking.

Dr. David Wheeler states, Just 10 years ago, every major denomination would have beencompelled to send missionaries to a nation like this. 4 Are you getting the picture yet ? Thereason why the church is in such a downward pattern is because often we have fail to incorporateboth aspects of Jesus and Pauls vision for the church. We are called to be an obedient, informed,self-disciplined people - a mutually supportive family, ministering to each other through Spiritual

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3 http://www.barna.org/culture-articles/462-six-megathemes-emerge-from-2010?q=fear. Accessed May 22, 2011.

4 David Wheeler, Incarnational Apologetics Lecture.



Consider these facts: 195 Million Americans are unchurched. Over half of all American churches did not add one new member through

conversion growth last year. In 1900 there were 27 churches for every 10,000 people. In 19 50 there were 17 churches for every 10,000 people.

In 2004 there were 10 churches for every 10,000 people. North America is the only continent where the church is not growing. Our Christian nation leads the world in every category of violent and domestic

crime. What was once the largest sending nation of missionaries in the world, is now the

13 th largest receiving nation for the Gospel. 4
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gifts in an atmosphere of seless love (Rom 12). And, we have a God-given mandate to boldlymake disciples of our community and the nations (Mt 16; 28:19).

WELCOME TO FEARLESS CONVERSATIONS

Fearless Conversations is a course designed to equip the believer with the knowledge andskills needed to accomplish the two purposes revealed above. In weeks one and two, well discuss the foundations of Christian apologetics andphilosophy. We want to help you understand why its important to give a reasoned response tofriends, neighbors, and skeptics. We want to tell you what apologetics is and whyyou should careabout it.

In weeks three through six, well explore the best answers for common objections to thefaith. We focus on these objections because we are commanded in scripture to be ready todefend our hope. This is a natural place to start, given that most believers cite their lack of

competence in answering objections as the primary reason for not sharing their story.In weeks seven through nine, well learn the art and science of incarnational apologetics.Though it is true that every presentation of the Gospel is an argument that challenges our falsebeliefs and assumptions, it is also true that the best way for the Spirit to work in peoples lives isthrough lifestyle evangelism. In this section, youll be encouraged to become familiar with thelarger narrative of redemption (a Salvation-historical perspective), and youll have theopportunity to craft a short back pocket testimony that can be easily memorized.

Lastly, we want to equip you with possible avenues of service in the body of Christ and toour community. Though we will walk you through a spiritual gifts assessment tool, we believethat the best way to discover your God-given gifts is to actually start serving somewhere. This is acritical piece of the course because it is in the context of service that we nd opportunities tostrengthen the faithof others and to share our faith with outsiders.

CONCLUSIONIm glad youve decided to take this bold step and become grounded in the evidence of

Christianity, and to learn the conversational and relational skills needed to share your faith withothers. It is my prayer that you will be strengthened and equipped to these ends.

Jeff KennedyPastor of Discipleship Training Eastpoint Church

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Foundations ofChristian Apologetics

I. WHAT IS APOLOGETICS? A. Denition: Apologetics come from the Greek word apologiameaning to offer a defense through the systematic us e of reason.

1. Christian Apologetics is a formal discipline. It is the branch of ChristianTheology which seeks to provide a rational justication for the truth claims of theChristian faith. 5 Though technically apologetics and evangelism should be viewed asseparate disciplines, biblically speaking the two go hand in hand and are inseparable.

2. Apologetics can be defensive or offensive. 6 Though we will primarily focus ondefending against objections to the faith, the apologist can also make a positive case(offense) for his faith (e.g. Paul before Festus and Agrippa in Acts 26:2).

3. Apologetics can be divided into four basic approaches (i.e. a basic taxonomyof methods):

The Classical approach: Through an examination of natural theology, thisapproach establishes that theism (the belief in the existence of God) is the one

correct worldview.7

The starting point for the classical apologist then, is not holywrit (the Scriptures) but is in the evidences a nd arguments that establish Godsexistence independentlyof special revelation. The apologist appeals to evidencessuch as the ontological argument, the apparent design of the universe, theobjectivit y of moral values and duties, and the anthropic ne tuning of thecosmos etc.

The Evidentialist method: The evidentialist approach is often referred to asthe one step method of argumentation. 8 The evidentialist method does notseek to establish a theistic worldview as the grid through which all historical and

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5 William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith: Christian Truth and Apologetics, 3 ed. (Wheaton: Crossway Books, 2008),15.

6 Craig, Reasonable Faith, 24.

7 Five Views on Apologetics, ed. by Steven B. Cowan (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2000), 15.

8 Five Views on Apologetics, 16.

a pol o get ics { uh -pol- uh - jet -iks}

That branch of Theology concernwith a rational defense of the Fait




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empirical data has to be interpreted (rst). They primarily argue, for example,that the historical evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus is so compelling thatthere must be a God to perform such an act. That is, the evidence for the miraclemay justify a theistic worldview. In contrast, the classical method establishes the

worldview rst, then the potential for subsequent extra-natural events.

Presuppositional Apologetics: The presuppositionalist method presupposesChristian theism. That is, we should start by assuming that Christianity is true.

Advocates of this method assert that the God hypothesis is not only the conclusionof our arguments, but that God provides the very conceptual framework thatmakes the arguments possible in the rst place. 9 This approach lands muchweight on the authority of Gods self revelation in Scripture.

Reformed Epistemology: This method is perhaps the most interesting of thefour, because it does not seek primarily to assert an evidence-based argumentfor Christianity. Instead, Reformed theory postulates that belief in God isproperly basic. Belief in God, just like our belief in other entities, does notrequire evidence and argumentation. Thus, the believer has epistemic warrant tobelie ve in Gods existence, even in the absence of a compelling argument to doso.10

B. Our Approach: In this course, we will be appealing primarily to the classical methodwhile supporting it with the many intellectual gems from the other three methods. Asbelievers, our goal is to present a cumulative casefor God. We offer this brief overview of apologetics methods because we will be referring back to the best insights from each of thesemethods.

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9 Five Views on Apologetics, 19.

10 Alvin Plantinga, Faith and Rationality: Reason and Belief in God (Indiana: University of Notre Dame Press, 1983), 73.This is not to say that any belief is warranted, but that some beliefs are properly basic given certain circumstances.

And though Gods existence is neither self-evident nor incorrigible, Plantinga points out that this criteria is somewhatarbitrary, given that there are other beliefs that are warranted yet dont t the criteria of either self-evidence orincorrigibility.




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II. AN ARGUMENT FOR ARGUMENTSNow that weve explored what Christian apologetics is, wehave to ask whywe should care about any of this in therst place. Again, weve established that fear and

apprehension is the primary driver behind our reluctance toshare our story. Fortunately, the writers of the New Testamentanticipated the need for believers to be thoroughly grounded in a solidfoundation of faith.

A. Some Observations About Arguments

1. On e can know the arguments without being argumentative.In fact, the New Testament writers instruct us to be kind and loving in our approach.

When responding to skeptics, a snarky, arrogant disposition is entirely out of place for Jesus disciples

Titus 3:1-2 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to beobedient, to be ready to do whatever is good, 2 to slander no one, to be peaceableand considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

2 Tim 2:25 Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God willgrant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth

2. We are commanded to know the arguments and to defend our faith.

1 Peter 3:15 But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared togive an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that youhave. But do this with gentleness and respect

Jude 1:3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about thesalvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith

that was once for all entrusted to Gods holy people.

Hebrews 6:1 Therefore, let us leave the elementary truths about Christ and goon to maturity, not laying again the foundation from acts that lead to death

Phil 1:27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of thegospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my

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ar gu ment { ahr -gy uh -m un nt}

A sound premise where the conclusiofollows based on the logical rules of inference, and is supported by eviden

which supplies epistemic warrantfor a belief.


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absence, I will know that you stand rm in one spirit, contending as one man forthe faith of the gospel.

3. Jesus constantly had to answer those who challenged his truth claims using logic, reason, and Scripture.

Mat 21:24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you one question. If you answer me, Iwill tell you by what authority I am doing these things...

4. Jesus supplied convincing evidences to his disciples.

Jn 14:11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me;

or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.

Act 1:3 After his suffering, he showed himself to these men and gave manyconvincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of fortydays and spoke about the kingdom of God.

5. Paul regularly defended the Gospel in Acts.

Act 14:1 At Iconium Paul and Barnabas went as usual into the Jewishsynagogue. There they spoke so effectively that a great number of Jews andGentiles believed.

Act 17:2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on threeSabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures

Act 17:17 So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to bethere.

Act 18:4 Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jewsand Greeks.

Act 18:19 They arrived at Ephesus, where Paul left Priscilla and Aquila. Hehimself went into the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.

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Act 18:26 He began to speak boldly in the synagogue. When Priscilla and Aquila heard him, they invited him to their home and explained to him the way of God more adequately.

Act 19:8 Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months,arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God.

Act 26:2 "King Agrippa, I consider myself fortunate to stand before you today asI make my defense against all the accusations of the Jews.

B. Common Objections to Learning Christian Apologetics

1. People dont get argued into the faith.

This is patently false - because every presentation of the Gospel is an argumentagainst a false belief system we already hold about ourselves. Even the simplestmessage such as, God loves me and has a wonderful plan for my life is a directconfrontation of my false belief that God is an angry tyrant who is indifferent tomy eternal status.

From the above sampling of passages in Acts, it is clear that Pauls primarymethodof evangelization was to reason and argue his case with the Jews and the Greeks.This resulted in the conversion of many who heard him debate including those in

the textile industry, synagogue rulers, ofcials, prisoners, and many others. The statement is too narrowly focussed on immediate evangelistic outcomes. The

purpose of apologetics and Christian philosophy is to provide an intellectualclimate where the Gospel can be heard as a credible option. 11

2. We just need to love people, not argue with them.

But Paul stated that we are to speak the truth in love (Eph 4:15). The nature of

truth is that it is intolerant of error. The nature of a loving heart is that it has thesalvation of the antagonist as its supreme concern. The Gospel is by nature acounter-cultural claim that should be shared in an environment of genuineconcern for the lost.

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3. We shouldnt rely on persuasive speech (like Paul said in Corinthians).

In context, Paul is comparing the power of the Gospel message with the richly

ornamented and vapid persuasion of the Greek philosophers. Yet, the book of 1Corinthians is rife with many convincing rhetorical arguments, solid logic, and anappeal to the Corinthians to engage their minds in worship (1 Cor. 12-14). To putit bluntly, Paul is making a persuasive case to the Corinthians using manyconvincing theological and philosophical arguments (particularly the evidence of

Jesus resurrection in 1 Cor 15:12-19).

4. But, Paul also stated t hat knowledge puffs up so we should avoid

becoming Christian egg heads.

The knowledge that Paul is refuting here is the Corinthian claim of esotericknowledge through the delivery system of cultic activity (8:1). The context is theCorinthian practice of idolatry and their cultural esteem for mere knowledge.Paul repeatedly casts knowledge (Gk. gnosis ) in a positive light, so long as it isaccompanied by love - its enviable counterpart (Phil 1:9).

Furthermore, in Pauls way of thinking, knowledge was the key to growth in faithand maturity in Christ. Believers grow as they are increased with, renewed

by, enriched through, and lled with the knowledge of God. This godlyknowledge in Christ is benecial when mutual affection and concern are ourhighest social priority. 12

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12 Robert Banks, Pauls Idea of Community: The Early House Churches in Their Cultural Setting (Peabody, MA: Hendricksonrev. 1994), 69.




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III. SORTING THROUGH WORLDVIEWSBelieve it or not, every person in your neighborhood,

your family, and on your job is a philosopher. Theymay not know it, but they all have an armchair

philosophy on life. Their perspective on the nature of what is real , what is true, and what is benecial is what wecall a worldview.

A. Denition: A worldview is a set of beliefs that answer the big questions of life:

1. Who are we? What sort of beings are we? Are we purely physical or spiritual or both?

2. What is the nature of reality? Is the cosmos Gods creation, or is it a uke product of purely natural and

undirected processes? Is reality merely an illusion or are we actually here?

3. What is the nature of good and evil? Is there real, objective moral good, and real objective evil in the world? Or... Are these merely social conventions? Is what we think of as objective morality

just an illusion produced from a mind conditioned by socio-biological factors?

4. What is the nature of truth? Is there objective truth or is all truth relative? What is the answer to the dilemma of evil and wrong in the world? What is the hope of the human species, or is there no hope?

Summary: A worldview is the implicit , or backstory that people view theworld through.

The answers to these questions color the lenses of our reality. How we respond to these questionsdetermines what set of assumptions we approach life with.

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world view { wurld -vyoo }

Comes from the German weltshauungmeaning the framework of fundament

ideas and beliefs through which to

interpret the world.




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B. A Survey of Available Worldviews

Wolrdview # 1: Materialism (a.k.a Naturalism)Materialistic philosophy maintains that existence is explainable solely in material terms, withno accounting of spirit or metaphysical consciousness. 13 Individuals who ho ld to this belief see no room for a transcendent being who is the creator and sustainer of all things. Lets look at some of the common objections to theism to see if they hold up.

1. Atheism: the positive assertion that there is no God. Though some atheistsattempt to identify it as mere non-belief, a belief-neutral position would actually bemore correctly dened as agnosticism (see below). The majority of new atheists (e.g. SamHarris, Richard Dawkins, Chris Hitchens, and Dan Dennett), attempt to show that theevidence is decisively against the existence of God. Thus, the atheist maintains that God infact does not exist, and once all the data is in, it will show that Gods existence is at the

very least an inspiring myth or possibly even a dangerous delusion. Despite the recordsales of books to this effect, Gallup has shown that the percentage of Americans whoclaim an atheistic perspective is the same as it was in the 1940s: about 10%. The vastmajority of deluded people in our population apparently still believe in some kind of supreme being who is behind creation. However, it is one thing to merely believe inGod, it is another thing to own that belief and live as if God actually does exist.

2. Agnosticism: the passive assertion that there is no God. This view admitsignorance and refuses to make a leap of belief until they receive convincing empiricalevidence to the contrary. Though agnostics may leave the door open to the possibility of Gods existence, they do afrm that the evidence is insufcient to warrant belief.However, it is important to note that there are far fewer agnostics than there are atheists.It seems that once a person makes the commitment to non-belief, they are inexorably leadto a defense of that non-belief, which results in a positive afrmation of Gods non-existence.

Statistically most people would consider themselves theists, nevertheless we live in a culture that isincreasingly antagonistic to belief in God.

Philosopher J.P. Moreland states,We are fed secular ways of thinking at our mothers knee. We are socialized into anaturalistic, atheistic, or agnostic way of seeing the world. It is the very air we breathe.Recently, the New York Timespublished an article claiming that the difference between Europeand America is that Europe embraces secularism and America embraces religion. The articlerecommends that America follow in Europes steps. Secularizing factors such as this pelt usdaily, and they are so widespread and frequent that the y are hardly noticed. 14

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13 J.P. Moreland, The God Question: An Invitation to a Life of Meaning (Eugene: Harvest House, 2009), 40-41.

14 Moreland, The God Question, 33-34.




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Worldview #3: TheismTheism is the belief that God is a transcendent reality to the physical world. That is, inadditional to the natural world that is accessible through the ve physical senses, there is atleast one deity who exists independently of the sensate universe. There are several theisms

one needs to consider.

1. Monotheism: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism hold this view. It is the belief thatthere is one transcendent God who is the creator and sustainer of the cosmos. On this

view, God is not a created being who is subject to the laws of the physical universe.

2. Polytheism (not to be confused with Pantheism). Hinduism, Shintoism,Chinese folk religions, some versions of Buddhism, and neo-paganism hold to the belief in multiple (poly) gods. These gods are typically nite beings who are the product of acreated order and therefore, strictly speaking, do not t the job description necessary for atranscendent God who exists independently of his creation. Atheists such as Hitchensand Dawkins will at times charge monotheists with a form of atheism (i.e. we deny theexistence of other gods.) Yet this charge is without warrant because the monotheistnecessarily denes god as a prime-reality (transcendence) - not a contingent being within a pantheon of deities who owe their existence and emergence to this created order.

3. Deism: Deism is the belief that there may be a deity out there somewhere. But he

just created the earth, spun it like a top, and has left it running until it spins itself out.This deity has no interaction with the individual, and hasnt revealed himself in a specialway through any particular religion.

Worldview # 4: PantheismThis view teaches that all is god. The reason why I dont put this worldview in the categoryof theism is because the net effect of this view is actually atheism. That is, if everything isGod, then nothing is.

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Answering Materialism:No God or Any?In his book, The God Delusion,Biologist Richard Dawkinsdescribes naturalism: What most atheists do believe is thatalthough there is only one kind of stuff in the universe and it isphysical, out of this stuff comes minds, beauty, emotions, moral values- in short the full gamut of phenomena that gives richness to humanlife.17 Though some have tried to draw a distinction betweenmaterialism and naturalism, this distinction is, ironically, an unnaturalone. Both materialism and naturalism can be traced back to the same commitment that allthings owe their existenceand/or emergenceto the material. But, does this view of reality actuallysquare with reality?

I. Objection #1: Science and Faith are Incompatible. Answers: Science and faith are inextricably linkedScience can falsify and verifycertain religious claims

God is the best explanation for why there is something rather than nothing

Faith supplies (and historical did supply) the very conceptual foundation for science toourish

God is the best explanation for science itself

God is the best explanation for why naturalism isnt the natural inclination of the heart. 18

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17 Though some have attempted to downplay the naturalists commitment to materialism, these attempts have notbeen convincing. Armstrong, and Sellars agree that global naturalism denies sets, numbers, propositions etc. Buteven those who accept or ignore abstract entities (e.g. Poland and McGinn) still demand that the spatio-temporaluniverse consists only of entities which are accessible by the hard sciences. This is what Dawkins et. al. are referring to.

18 http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5355



Nat u ral ism{nach -er- uh -liz- uh m }

A view that everything in the universebe explained in purely natural term

Everything that exists is either materiaemerges from the material.
http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5355http://www.reasonablefaith.org/site/News2?page=NewsArticle&id=5355


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III. Objection #3: If all things have a creator, then who created God? Answer : This is a false dilemma because the question has a fundamental categoryproblem. This objection forces me to choose between no God and a created God

It seems reasonable that a transcendent being would have to have a transcendent skillset

But if specied complexity is evidence of design, then this forces us to ask who designedthe designer? since God himself is a complex being...

This question is based on a false a assumption. It assumes that 1) we must have anexplanation of the explanation, and 2) God is a complex being - which is likely not thecase. God might well be a simple being as to his constitution. We cannot confuse complexeffects with complex ontology. One might be simple as to their nature, yet do complexthings. We shouldnt conate the two. 20

22





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IV. Objection #4: What about the problem of evil? Isnt the existence of evil in theworld evidence that there cannot be a God?

Answers: The existence of evil wouldnt prove that there is noGod, it would onlysuggest that there might not be a good God...

God can allow certain short-term evils to accomplish long-term goods...

Some of the evil (though not all of it) is due to the choices people make (free will). Inorder for God to have beings who truly have choice, he must permit the possibility thatsome will make wrong choices and so hurt others in the process

The existence of evil is actually evidence for the existence of God. In order for theskeptic to have a conception of evil that is truly objectively evil , he would have to also have anotion of that which is truly objectively good and right

Some of those who have experienced the greatest evil are capable of the most profoundcompassion and good in the world. The problem of evil and suffering is typically an issuethat we westerners who have it good, object to when we see the suffering of people in 3 rd world countries for instance

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V. Hasnt Darwinian Evolution made the discussion of a supernatural creatorobsolete?

No. Any theory about how life has developed on the planet has little or nothing to say

about how life appeared in the rst placeor how the universe itself suddenly came into being out of nothing

Unlike the naturalist, the theist is free to follow the evidence in whatever direction it maylead. The naturalist is conned to a purely materialistic view of origins, and can admitno other competing views into the discussion. As philosopher Alvin Plantinga has stated,For the naturalist, evolution is the only game in town. So no matter how weak theevidence, no matter how improbable evolution may be, there is simply no other choice forthe philosophical materialist. This seems to be an inherently limited way to approachanything objectively

The theory of Darwinian Evolution is only one theory of evolution (and there are severaltheories including structuralism, cladism, punctuated equilibrium, and design theory toname a few competitors to darwinian gradualism). The specic claim that life has arisenout of purely natural and undirected processes is a theory that involves extravagant claimsbased on very limited instances of evolution (even if one did accept the few examples thatare usually paraded). It is a massive extrapolation from 1) polyphyletic evidence (lots of observable change within species) to 2) monophyletic claims (all these species come fromthe same parent ancestor), and involves 3) abiogensis (the belief that living matter sprang from non-living matter). Assumptions 2 and 3 have never been observed in nature. Thisis a narrative that is being imposed on the available evidence

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But isnt the Genesis story incompatible with evolution?No. The Genesis story is only incompatible with the specic Neo-Darwinian claim thatlife has arisen as a purely naturalistic and unguided process. The Genesis accountpermits all manner of interpretationsit is critical to remember that the Genesis account

is not a how account but a who account

Lastly, the purpose of the Genesis account is to answer the questions of ancientcosmology, not modern scientic questionswe must be careful that we do not imposequestions on an ancient text that it was not prepared to answer

VI. There are many things that are poorly designed, thus there cannot be a Godbecause he would only create perfection.

In our experience we come across man-made things all the time that lack perfection, yetwe dont assume that they lack designWe cannot presume to know what optimaldesign would be because we are nite creatures who cant possibly anticipate all of theconsequences of major design changes

If we infer to our actual experience, things that appear to be created and designed to nearperfection can experience entropy - that is, things wear out.

There seems to be no good reason to accept the thesis that there are poorly designedthings. This seems to involve an enormous amount of presumption on the part of theearthbound observer.

Perhaps our view of God as a cosmic mechanical engineer who has no room formesses is an incomplete view. Maybe hes also like a gardener who enjoys getting downinto the soil, tilling the ground and watching his creation take shape

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Answering MaterialismSmall Group Exercise

Groups will be assigned one of the arguments to defend. Pastor Jeff will play devils advocate.You have 10 minutes to talk through your assigned argument, and then 10 minutes of cross-examination. The group can choose a spokesperson or the whole group can chime in to defend

your particular argument.

Group I. Objection #1: Science and Faith are Incompatible.Interact with the various answers to this objection.

What do you feel is the strongest answer?

Which answer do you feel is the weakest or the most difcult to understand?

If someone raised this objection with you, how would you answer it in your own words?

Group II. Objection #2: There is insufcient evidence that God exists. What are the major evidences for Gods existence?

If you wanted to communicate the evidence of Gods existence from design, how would youillustrate this? What is a good word picture to describe it?

Group III. Objection #3: If all things have a creator, then who created God?Do you think this is a valid critique of Gods existence?

How would you answer this objection to a created God?

(if there are more than 3 groups)Group IV. Objection #4: What about the problem of evil? Isnt the existence of evil in theworld evidence that there cannot be a God?

Supposing we all agree that real, objective evil exists in the world? How could this possiblydisprove the existence of God?

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In what ways would the existence of evil and suffering assist us in showing Gods existence?

Group V. Hasnt Darwinian Evolution made the discussion of a supernatural creator obsolete?

Group VI. There are many things that are poorly designed, thus there cannot be a God becausehe would only create perfection.

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Answering Pluralism:One way, or many?I. Objection #1: But all roads lead to the sameplace.

Answer : How can competing systems lead everyoneto the same destination? Especially when those beliefs donot share the same worldview and core tenets.

II. Objection #2: Its arrogant to claim to be the only way. Answer : Its only arrogant if it isnt true. It would be arrogant to claim it is false when itis actual the case.

III. Objection #3: All truth is relative (radical pluralism). There are no absolutes,so YOUR truth is THE truth.

Answer : That is an absolute truth statement that denies the core truth claims of otherfaiths...This truth assertion requires rigorous argumentation to establish its viability...Thestatement is literally self-refuting, i.e. if its true, then its false

IV. Objection #4: Most truths are relative (modied pluralism). Only those areasbetween religions where there is signicant overlap are true.

Answer: This is, in fact, a new truth claimthat requires rigorous argumentation. What if this truth statement is not held by all faiths? Is it still true? The irony here is that in anattempt to mediate between faiths, the pluralist or postmodernist imposes a new truthassertion on us, namely that all religions have vital areas in common. Yet, since thistruth is not held by all faiths we must challenge its validity

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Fearless Conversations * Week 4pl u ral ism

{pl -er- uh -liz- uh m }Religious Pluralism seeks to harmon

competing religions by asserting that alregardless of their mutually exclusive

claims, are equally valid. Regardless diverse religions may be, they all shunderlying truths that overlap at criti

points.


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Answering PluralismSmall Group Exercise

What about the claim that Jesus has simply been misunderstood by well-intentioned followers?Lets take a brief look at Jesus own truth claims:

Matthew 7:14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life , and only a few nd it.

What is Jesus referring to here?

Who is Jesus speaking to?

John 3:36Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life , but whoever rejects the Son will not see life , forGods wrath remains on them.

Who is John speaking to when he says that whosoever believes has life?

What kind of life is John referring to?

What is very curious about Johns statement regarding Gods wrath?

John 14:6Jesus answered , I am the way and the truth and the life . No one comes to the Father exceptthrough me.

What does Jesus say that he is?

According to Jesus, what is the only way to come to the Father?

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http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:6&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7:14&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:6&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+14:6&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3:36&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John+3:36&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7:14&version=31http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+7:14&version=31


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Answering Skeptics ofthe ScripturesIs the Bible an unhistorical liability toChristianity?

I. Objection #1: Hasnt the Bible been corrupted throughmishandling and textual errors by scribes?

Answer : The manuscript witness for Scripture is an embarrassment of riches. 21 Currently there are over 5,700 manuscript witnesses to the New Testament. Some of theearliest of these are only separated from the Apostles by a relatively short interval of time

The earliest texts are statistically identical to the latest in all points essential . The claim byErhman and others that these texts have been hopelessly corrupted due to textual variantshas been widely refuted. 22 Most of the so called variants are due to the movable nu(the letter n in Greek that can oat between words), and variations in word order - none

of which effect the meaning of the text signicantly

The oral transmission culture of second-temple Judaism was impeccable. 23 Moreover,sages typically spoke in parables and narratives, which afforded their disciples the mostexibility when recalling the stories to later generations of disciples. This is why there aremany discrepancies between Gospel accounts of a supercial nature (paraphrases).

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21 Daniel B. Wallace, Reinventing Jesus(Grand Rapids: Kregel, 2006), 1-40.

22 Wallace, Reinventing Jesus, 56.

23 Keener, The Historical Jesus(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 148., Birger Gerhardsson, Memory and Manuscript: Oral Tradition and Written Transmission in Rabbinic Judaism and Early Christianity(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998), xi. KennethBailey "Middle Eastern Oral Tradition and the Synoptic Gospels," The Expository Times, Vol. 106, No. 12 (1995),363-367.



skep tic{skep- tik }

a person who questions the validity oauthenticity of something purporting to

factual.


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There is good evidence of early scribal activity among the disciples.It was common for disciples in the ancient world to take notes during lectures, and Jesusappears to promise the Pharisees he will send them scribes as well as prophets (Mt 13;23).24

The variation between Gospels can be accounted for by the practice of Informal,Controlled, Transmission in ancient semitic cultures. 25

II. Objection #2: The Bible contains errors or discrepancies.

Answer : So what if it did? All documents of antiquity contain some error,exaggerations, and anachronisms. Yet, we trust their testimony about the ancient world.

Examples of errors in ancient documents:

Josephus account of Masadas towers. The historian mentions some 37 towers on thewalls of Masada ( War VII, 287). Yet, only 27 towers were identied during theexcavations.

Josephus considered 1 Maccabees to be reliable; he paraphrased 1 Macc 1:11-13:42 inbooks 12 and 13 of his Antiquities of the Jews. With its extensive citations of ofcialdocuments and dates, 1 Macc is a meticulous record of the period to which it attests. Inparaphrasing the account, Josephus introduces error (from our perspective), yet hedoesnt from an ancient perspective. He repeatedly cites liberty as the purpose of theaccount, yet this word appears nowhere in the original Maccabean account.

Cassius doesnt even mention Bar Kochba in the revolt!

The burden of proof is on the skeptic to produce an unambiguous error that cannot beexplained by a rival hypothesis. Even if he could, it would not impugn the reliability of the ancient record signicantly. There are 12 major f acts of Jesus life that all fourGospels agree on. Take out John, and that number doubles. These facts are sufcient towarrant the belief in the general reliability of the Biblical text.

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24 Keener, The Historical Jesus(Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2009), 148.

25 "Informal Controlled Oral Tradition and The Synoptic Gospels," Temelios, Vol. 20, No. 2, (January 1995), 4-11."Middle Eastern Oral Tradition and the Synoptic Gospels," The Expository Times, Vol. 106, No. 12 (1995), 363-367.



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Here is one historians conclusion to the Ancient Historian Josephus, Despite anyexaggerations, discrepancies, contradictions, and plain errors...they (his writings) remainan extremely valuable source of geographical and historical detail for Palestine, the NearEast, and the Roman Empire of the 1 st Century A.D. 26

III. Objection #3: The New Testament is the result of an ecclesiastical lotteryi.e. Christianity won the Scripture Wars of the 2 nd century.

Answer : We must deal with history as we have it not as we would imagine it

The only available history shows that the canonization of Scripture was mostly adecentralized organicprocess, not a centralized organizational effort.27

Maybe the Bible won because it deserved to win. That is, the only competing documents in existence (e.g. The nag hammadi texts ) do not match the internal integrity,manuscript witness, doctrinal consistency, or universal acceptance of Scripture by theearliest Christians. 28

Conclusion: We can trust the Bibles portrait of Jesus as the primary source for Jesus of Nazareth.

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26 Josephus, the Essential Works: A Condensation of Jewish Antiquities...B y Flavius Josephus, Paul L. Maier.

27 Bruce Metzger, The Canon of the New Testament: Its Origin Development and Signicance(Oxford:Clarendon Press, 1987), 2.

28 F.F. Bruce, The Canon of Scripture(Downers Grove: Intervarsity Press, 1988), 18.




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Answering the CultsWas Jesus a Venerated Prophet or GodIncarnate

I. Objection #1: Jesus never called himself God Answer : This is atly wrong. We established the reliability of theScriptures in the previous session so we dont need to re-litigatethat case. So lets look at the testimony of Scripture

Jesus Assumed the Authority of God:Matt. 5:21 You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, You shall not murder; and

whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. 22 But I say to you that if you are angrywith a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment

Matt. 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, Lord, Lord, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but onlythe one who does the will of my Father in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me,Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, anddo many deeds of power in your name? 23 Then I will declare to them, I never knew

you; go away from me, you evildoers.

Matt. 7:28 Now when Jesus had nished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at histeaching, 29 for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Jesus Assumed the Prerogatives of Deity: To judge the living and the dead.John 5:2121 Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives lifeto whomever he wishes. 22 The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the

Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who doesnot honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

To forgive sins without ritual sacrifice or compliance to the law.Mark 2:55 When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, Son, your sins are forgiven. 6

Now some of the scribes were sitting there, questioning in their hearts, 7 Why does thisfellow speak in this way? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins but God alone? 8 At

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cult{kuhlt }

a quasi-religious organization usdevious psychological techniqu

to gain and control adherents



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once Jesus perceived in his spirit that they were discussing these questions among themselves; and he said to them, Why do you raise such questions in your hearts? 9

Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Stand up andtake your mat and walk? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man hasauthority on earth to forgive sins

Jesus Wielded the Power of God To heal broken bodies at willMark 2:99 Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, Your sins are forgiven, or to say, Stand up andtake your mat and walk? 10 But so that you may know that the Son of Man hasauthority on earth to forgive sinshe said to the paralytic 11 I say to you, stand up,take your mat and go to your home. 12 And he stood up, and immediately took the matand went out before all of them; so that they were all amazed and gloried God, saying,We have never seen anything like this!

To control the forces of nature at willLuke 8:22

One day he got into a boat with his disciples, and he said to them, Let us go across tothe other side of the lake. So they put out, 23 and while they were sailing he fell asleep.A windstorm swept down on the lake, and the boat was filling with water, and they werein danger. 24 They went to him and woke him up, shouting, Master, Master, we are

perishing! And he woke up and rebuked the wind and the raging waves; they ceased, andthere was a calm. 25 He said to them, Where is your faith? They were afraid andamazed, and said to one another, Who then is this, that he commands even the winds and

the water, and they obey him?

To defy and break the curse of sin - death!Luke 24:36 While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them,Peace be with you. 37 They were startled and terried, and thought that they wereseeing a ghost. 38 He said to them, Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in

your hearts? 39 Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see;for a ghost does not have esh and bones as you see that I have. 40 And when he hadsaid this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41 While in their joy they weredisbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, Have you anything here to eat? 42

They gave him a piece of broiled sh, 43 and he took it and ate in their presence.

Jesus Claimed to be Equal with GodMatt 26: 62 The high priest stood up and said, Have you no answer? What is it that they

testify against you? 63 But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, I put youunder oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God. 64

Jesus said to him, You have said so. But I tell you,

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From now on you will see the Son of Manseated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.

65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, He has blasphemed! Why do we stillneed witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66 What is your verdict? They

answered, He deserves death. 67 Then they spat in his face and struck him; and someslapped him, 68 saying, Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?

II. Objection #2: The Disciples didnt really believe Jesus was God - this was atheory that developed years after the Apostles disappeared from the scene.

Answer: Lets look at the testimony and activity of the Apostles Jesus is the Object of their WorshipMatt. 14:33

And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, Truly you are the Son of God.

Matt. 28:9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, Greetings! And they came to him, took hold of hisfeet, and worshiped him. 17

When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted.

John 9:35Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, Do you

believe in the Son of Man? 36 He answered, And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may

believe in him. 37 Jesus said to him, You have seen him, and the one speaking with youis he. 38 He said, Lord, I believe. And he worshiped him. 39 Jesus said, I came intothis world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see maybecome blind.

Matt. 4:10 Jesus said to him, Away with you, Satan! for it is written,

Worship the Lord your God,and serve only him.

Ex. 20:3You shall have no other gods before me.

The Apostles Claim that Jesus is One with God John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things came into being through him, andwithout him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4 in him was life,

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and the life was the light of all people. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and thedarkness did not overcome it.

John 1:14 And the Word became esh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory asof a fathers only son, full of grace and truth.

Phil 2: 55 Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus,6 who, though he was in the form of God,

did not regard equality with Godas something to be exploited,

7 but emptied himself,taking the form of a slave,being born in human likeness.

And being found in human form,8 he humbled himself

and became obedient to the point of death even death on a cross.

Col. 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the rstborn of all creation; 16 for in him allthings in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thronesor dominions or rulers or powersall things have been created through him and for him.17 He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 He is the headof the body, the church; he is the beginning, the rstborn from the dead, so that he mightcome to have rst place in everything. 19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleasedto dwell, 20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether

on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.

Titus 2:13while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great Godand Savior, Jesus Christ.

Lastly - Jesus claimed to be the only way to the Father (Jn 14:6). This exclusivist claim lead to hisdeath, so when people claim that we are all gods and that we must find the christ within they are mocking the agony and necessity of the cross. They are denying the power of the resurrection

of Jesus.See Appendix A for fullled prophecies

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Answering the CultsSmall Group Exercise

Was Jesus a Venerated Prophet or God IncarnateGroup I.Objection #1: Jesus never called himself God

What kind of authority did Jesus assume? Is there any parallel for his assumed authority in Jesusown rabbinic culture?

Explain this statement, Jesus Assumed the Prerogatives of Deity.

Group II and III.Objection #2: The Disciples didnt really believe Jesus was God - this was a theorythat developed years after the Apostles disappeared from the scene.

What do the letters of the Apostles (like Paul) reveal about the nature of Jesus? How does Phil

2:5-8; Col 1:15-20, Titus 2:13 show that Paul believed that Jesus was divine?

Lastly, according to John 1:1-2, what is Jesus called? When did Jesus start to exist? In whatsense can he be with God and actually be God?

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The 1 st Invitation toDiscipleship:

Come and SeeThe art and science of Christian evangelism involves three invitations tothe unbeliever: Come and See, Come and Reason, and Come and Follow.Lets look briey at each of these...

Scriptures for the Come and See approach.Psalm 66:5(NIV)Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf !

Isaiah 66 :18-19 (Message) "I know ev erything they've ever done or thought. I'm going to come and then gather everyone all nations, all languages. They'll come and see my glory. I'll set up a station at the center. I'llsend the survivors of judgment all over the world: Spain and Africa, Turkey and Greece, and thefar-off islands that have never heard of me, who know nothing of what I've done nor who I am.I'll send them out as missionaries to preach my glory among the nations. They'll return with all

your long-lost brothers and sisters from all over the world. They'll bring them back and offerthem in living worship to God.

John 1:46" Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. "Come and see," said Philip.

John 4:29 Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did

The essence of the Come and See method of outreach is that it is invitational. We are inviting a person to see or hear the collective testimony of the church about Jesus.

(This method is implicitly used in Acts).

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evangelism[ih- van -j uh -liz- uh m]

The practice of spreading the GoNews of Jesus.
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=1&verse=46&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=1&verse=46&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=1&verse=46&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=66&verse=5&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=66&verse=5&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=1&verse=46&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=50&chapter=1&verse=46&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=66&verse=5&version=31&context=versehttp://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?book_id=23&chapter=66&verse=5&version=31&context=verse


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Two Critical Components tothe Come and See Conversation:

First: A spiritual conversation has to be started. Someone has to open the door to a discussion

about matters of faith, theology, belief in God etc.

The ve most effective catalysts of spiritual conversations are: Do you have any kind of spiritual beliefs? To you, who is Jesus? Do you think there is a heaven or a hell? When you die, what do think will happen to you?

If what you believe were not true, would you want to know that?

It is so critical to actually take the time to listen to peoples answers, before we offer our own

answers. If these questions are asked in a relational environment where there is mutual trust,

they can make a huge impact.

These questions (or similar ones) will help you to assess your neighbors readiness (taking their

temperature), and also help you gauge which worldview they are operating with.

Second: A spiritual conversation must lead to an invitation involving a low to moderate level of

commitment.

The best examples of invitation are: Bringing your friend to an Easter service or to church. Inviting them to a church function or connection event. Inviting their teenagers to get involved in youth group, and to come observe whats

going on. Throwing a party (porch group) or a game night and inviting friends. Invite them to attend ALPHA with you one season. Other _______________________

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The 2 nd Invitation to Discipleship:Come and Reason

Spiritual conversations must lead to a challenge of false ideas and faulty worldviews. In order to

be prepared to do this you must assess their worldview and be prepared to give every man a

ready defense of the Gospel. We must know the story that we are telling in order to make an

effective challenge to a faulty worldview (we will cover this next week in depth).

The believer must be prepared to answer the unbelievers questions:

How can Jesus be the only way to God? How can Christianity be true if Christians are no different than anyone else? How can God really send people to hell for not believing in Jesus? How can I know the Bible is not a book of fairy tales and ction? How can God x my life it is so messed up? Isnt being good, good enough for God?

We have already covered the available worldviews (see notes from week one), and we have spent

the last ve weeks covering answers to common objections (see notes from lessons two through

six).

Excellent resource: Share Jesus Without Fear , by William Fay, who offers short but good

answers to objections we have not covered in class.

Conclusion: At some point, you will have to share aspects of the Gospel which are inherentlyoffensive to many. Be sure to be disciplined about not being offensive in your methodsbecause the

messageof Jesus as the only path to salvation is already sufciently offensive to put your friends

and family on edge. Remember Peters caution to be ready to offer a defense but do it with

gentleness and meekness. You can be defend the Gospel without being defensive or arrogant.

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The 3 rd Invitation to Discipleship:Come and Follow

The key feature of the Come and Follow approach is that it calls the crowd to commitment. Itis calling a person to make a commitment of faith in Jesus, and become a Christ-follower.

Matthew 4:19 And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you shers of men."

Matthew 8:22 And Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and leave the dead to bury their own dead."

Matthew 10:38

And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

Matthew 19:21Jesus said to him, "If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and

you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me."

John 10:27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Once a person who has heard the gospel and interacted with it, the Holy Spirit will begin thework of conviction. He may use you to follow up with your friend on their experience. If you

sense they are ready to believe in Jesus and they have accurately understood the message of Jesus,

you will nd it helpful to use the following Decision Questions:

Do you believe that youre a sinner? (Rom. 3:23 all have sinned and are justied

freely).

Do want forgiveness of your sins? (Rom. 6:23 the wages of sin is death, but the gift of

God is eternal life in Christ Jesus).

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Do you believe that Jesus died on the cross for you and rose from the dead? (Rom. 10:9-11

For if you confess with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised Jesus from

the dead, you will be saved).

Are you willing to surrender your life to Jesus? (Mt. 10:38 And whoever does not take his

cross and follow me is not worthy of me). If you believe in him and receive him as Savior and Lord, you are a child of God (John

1:12).

Once a person has chosen to follow Jesus they are a disciple. The task now is to plug them

into the community of faith so that they can continue to grow in their knowledge and depth of

insight in the world. This will include a commitment to attend or facilitate a small group Bible

study, attend a Life Class or other spiritual growth course, or plug into an accountability group.

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Small Group ExerciseLets look at Jesus method of evangelism in the story of the Woman at the Well.

Summary: John 4:1-42 Verses 1-4: Jesus intentionally goes into a Samaritan territory, which was off limits to pious Jews.

Verses 6-15: After a long hot journey, Jesus rests at a sacred well called Jacobs Well. He sends hisdisciples to the local market to purchase food. While they are gone he strikes up aconversation with a Samaritan woman who is there in mid-day, drawing water from thiswell.The woman is astonished that Jesus would ask her for a drink. Typically women went tothe well in groups to carry the large heavy jars. It was very difcult for one person tocarry the large 36 in. pots back and forth.

Jesus makes her an offer of water that she cannot refuse: everlasting water the water of life.

Verses 16-26: Jesus prophesies to her that she has had ve husbands and the man she is now living withis not her husband. Samaritans did not believe in the prophetic books, so when she saysI can see you are a prophet, she is really saying, I can see you are THE prophet.Since the only prophet Samaritans accepted was Moses, and since they expected aprophet like Moses to come and be their messiah, she gured the real Messiah wouldknow the answer to a centuries old controversy: is the appropriate place of prayer really at theTemple in Jerusalem, or is it on that holy site in Samaria?

Jesus then corrects her theology and states that the place of worship is an obsolete issue.The true worshipers that the Father is seeking are worshipers in spirit and in truth.

Confused, she states that shell just wait to get it from the Messiahs lips when he arrives.

Jesus states that he is that Messiah.

Verses 27-38:The disciples return and are astonished that Jesus is speaking to this Samaritan woman.The woman returns to the town and tells everyone of her experience with Jesus.

The people believe the womans testimony.

Jesus is fed by this experience, and refuses the disciples food. They mistake this to meansomeone else offered him a meal while they were gone.

Jesus replies by saying that the harvest is ready and that the disciples are to open their eyesto the harvest of people to faith in him.

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1. According to verses 1-6, what is the rst barrier that Jesus scales? Answer: Jesus scales the geographical barrier. The scripture says that he had to go toSamaria. Jesus is compelled to a forbidden territory. Samaria was off limits for a pious rabbi.

Jesus crossed a denite boundary (a literal geographical one).

Application: Jesus does not allow cultural barriers to stop him from reaching out. And neithershould we.

Matt. 28:19 All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore I tell you gointo all the world and make disciples of the nations. Baptizing them in the name of the Father,the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you.

Who does this passage state that we are to go to?

What are some practical ways that we can break this tendency to play it safe, and not to reach outto other sub-cultures of people?

2. According to verses 7ff, what is the second taboo that Jesus breaks? Who does he talk to that he is not supposed to be talking to? Answer: Jesus takes the initiative to start the conversation with a Samaritan woman. This was asocial taboo. Pious rabbis were not even to talk to their own wives or their sisters in public for concern over the appearance of impropriety.

The woman knows that if a Jewish rabbi were to touch the handle of her drinking jar that hewould be considered deled. Jesus is not at all concerned about being deled by those sinners.

Application: We must not only reach out to the neat and tidy of our culture. We mustembrace those whose lives are messy. We must not be afraid of cross contamination with peoplewho are far from God.

3. What is the word picture that Jesus uses to offer this woman everlasting life? Answer: Water. Water symbolized life in that dry and arid region. Having access to anunending supply of it would get any rst century Palestinians attention.

Application: Jesus offer is one of permanency and superiority. His water of Spirits life is apermanent solution and a superior one. Who should we be offering this living water of new Lifein the Spirit to.

4. In vv. 16-17, what does Jesus do that makes her a believer?

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Answer: He prophesies and tells her details about her life that only a prophet would know.

Start with fullled prophecies namely about Jesus. When speaking to friends andfamily or co-workers, you should point out the impossibility of one man fullling so manyprophecies as Jesus did. There are over 300 OT prophecies that have been fullled in

Jesus. Allow the Spirit to speak through you, and at times he can bring conviction through yourwords. Think of an example when youve said just the right thing at just the right time, orwhen God has given you a special insight into someones life in order to read their mail.

We should be open to being a vessel of the Holy Spirit to speak into the lives of others.

5. In vv. 19-24, does Jesus side-step the theological discussion, or does he fully engage it? Answer: Jesus lovingly yet authoritatively corrected her bad theology.

Scripture: 2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for rebuking, correction,instruction and training in righteousness.

Application: Can you think of a wrong idea that youve had to lovingly confront? Maybe itwas a wacky idea about Jesus, or a strange belief about religion (maybe a worldview challengelike we covered last week).How did you handle it? Did you feel prepared to have the discussion, or did you feel like youneeded more training in scripture in order to correct, rebuke and instruct?

6. In v. 28, what is womans immediate response and reaction after nding the true Messiah, Jesus? Who does she tell?

Answer: the woman becomes a catalyst for the Good News about Jesus to everyone else in her

town.

She says, come and see a man

Application: How can we do what she did? How can we invite friends and neighbors andacquaintances to come and see and come and hear the testimony of Jesus?

7. What is the major shift or change that the towns people make in vv. 41-42?

Answer: Their second hand faith becomes rst hand faith. They believe because theyexperience Jesus for themselves, not just based on the womans testimony.

Conclusion: We must tell people what Jesus has done in us, inviting them to come and see and come

and hear the collective witness of the church... We must lead them to faith based on our testimony Ultimately, they must experience the love and grace of God for themselves, if they are to

become intimate followers of Christ Jesus. Share the Story

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#1 - The Story of GodIt is critical that we rightly understand and be able toexplain Gods story to our friends and family. Thefollowing lesson will assist you to process the criticalpieces of that narrative as you seek to relay it to others.

Look up Genesis 1-2In this story, God is the creator of all things.

What doesnt the passage say about God?

Look up Genesis Genesis 22:18 Who did God start his redemptive plan through?

What was the promise made to him?

Look up Daniel 9:24ff What does the angel say to Daniel that God will do, when his Anointed One comes?

Look up Isaiah 53:1-5 What kind of things will the Anointed one have to go through?

Look up John 1:1-3 and John 18:31-33 What does this passage say about Jesus?

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story{ stohr -ee}

a narration of a chain of events told or written in prose or verse.


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#2 - The Story of Mankind

Look up Genesis 3 What happens to people in this story?

Look at verse 15. What does God say he will do to destroy the work of the Serpent?

Look up Romans 3:9-23 What Does Paul say about the entire human race?

What Does Paul say in vv. 22-24 is the hope of the human race?

Conversation Tips:

First, challenge your friend to recite as many of the 10 commandments as they remember.

Second, ask them if they have ever broken any of them, and which ones?

Third, ask them what they should expect a perfect God to do with them, if they are self admitted law breakers?

Lastly, state to them that we are not sinners because we sin . Instead, we sin because weresinners . In other words, we were all born morally corrupt because of our connection with

Adam, and Gods remedy for this is a new birth into a new family that of Jesus.

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#3 - Their Story

Building on the story of the Woman at the Well in John 4, What stuck out to youabout Jesus style and approach with her?

What is Relational Evangelism?Engaging those in our neighborhood, workplace, and social spheres, in order to build personalcredibility, resulting in propositional credibility.

The Gospel is a propositional truth. It asserts that Jesus is the God given answer to mankindsdilemma. This statement of fact must be accompanied by a living demonstration of the Gospelin front of them.

Heres what you need to know about your friends and acquaintances:

1. Are they multiple encounter people, or are they single encounter people? Are they the sort of people that will respond to a single clear and precise presentation of theGospel message, or will they need multiple exposures to the message?

2. Are they open to dialogue or more interested in sharing their own views?Do they prefer to listen to what you have to say, or listen to your pastor at church, avoiding directconversation about Christianity? Or do they engage you in dialogue and desire to have aconversation about their views and beliefs?

3. Do they prefer the story rst, then the propositions, or do they enjoy talking philosophy ,then a discussion about the Gospel accounts?

4. What is their background? Have they been burned by religion in the past, or have they had afairly good experience with religious people?

5. What is their Worldview (See notes from rst week)?6. What is their family history? Were they abused or neglected by their parents, or did they havea generally good experience with their family?

7. Do they have a religious person in their family? Is that person a genuine follower of Christ, orsome other religion? What is their general opinion of their religious family member?

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As you write out your story, and share with family or friends, follow these guidelines:

Use common, non-churchy language. Make sure your words are clear to the non-

Christian.

Avoid being argumentative

Listen without interruption, and recall what they said to you while they were talking.

Respect their right to end the conversation at any point without badgering them.

Use illustrative language, or metaphors to help explain foreign concepts.

Practice positive deconstruction of their worldview. Dont shame them into admitting

their worldview is false.

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A Template for Crafting Your Story

I have/have not always been a Christian. I grew up in a Christian/non-Christian home in

______________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________

My parents were generally ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

Several events (or one) brought me to a crisis of faith ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

I realized I needed something more in my life, and turned to faith in Jesus ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

The biggest change in my life since Ive become a follower of Jesus has been ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________

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May I share how something like this can happen to you? The scripture teaches that all men havebeen born sinners and that our sin distances us from God. Through the person of Abraham,God set into motion a covenant or a contract with the human race. This contract included

various sacrices, which foreshadowed what was to come. Gods end of the bargain in thiscontract was to provide a perfect savior who was able to reconcile us back to relationship with

God.

Jesus is authorized to save us because he was God come in human form, lived a sinless perfectlife, and died on a cross as the ultimate and nal sacrice for our sin. Jesus vindicated his claimas the perfect Savior and sacrice for sin by raising himself back to life three days afterward.Today, if you believe on Jesus, that God sent him, allowed him to suffer in your p

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