Conversational Apologetics by Michael Ramsden 1 Peter 3

Conversational Apologetics by Michael Ramsden 1 Peter 3: 15 -16 “ 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; 16 yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that when you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ may be put to shame. ”

1. “Set apart Christ as Lord” heart, mind, spirit command given to everyone continuous process 2. “Be Prepared” ready, willing and able staying in shape 3. “To Make a Defense” more than just giving answers, but also asking questions discern what questions to answer; define the issue; reveal “loaded questions” ask questions to make people think, expose contradictions 4. “To anyone who asks you for a reason” to make things clearer, not more confusing or complicated 5. “For the hope that you have”

THE Four Questions 1. What do you mean by that? 2. How do you know that to be true? 3. What difference does it make? 4. What if you’re wrong?

Argument: “There is no absolute truth. ” • statement itself is asserting an absolute truth • examples of rape, murder, Hitler • “Is there ever a time when rape is ok? ” “It is not what you believe that is important, but what is true. ” Argument: “Can you prove there is a God? ” • can you prove there is no God? • Argument from Creation, Design, Art, Order • Seeing the world makes us think that there is a Creator

Argument: “How can Jesus be the only way to God? Aren’t there many paths to heaven? ” (must come back w/ better responses in our study of sharing our faith with New Agers) • The Law of God (Ten Commandments) • People need to acknowledge the problem of sin • All beliefs are mutually exclusive, so they can’t all be true. • If Jesus was not the only way, why did he have to die on the cross? Argument: “The bible says we are reincarnated when we die. ” • What do you mean by reincarnation? • The bible talks about being born again spiritually not physically. Argument: “What about someone in Africa who has never heard the Gospel? Is he condemned to hell? ” • Are they really concerned about the people in Africa? • There is no excuse for people to say there is no God, but hearing about Jesus is a separate thing. But belief in God is not enough. God looks at the heart, therefore only He can judge. Romans 1 • What difference does it make?

Argument: “How can there be a loving God when there is so much evil and suffering in the world? ” • The existence of evil, proves there is evil in the world, but does not prove that God doesn’t exist. • Rom 6: 23 “For the wages of sin is death…” • The evil that we see in the world is a result of people choosing not to love and obey God. • God is also righteous and just and by his standards there will always be consequences to sin. • In God’s love, he is patient in waiting for people to come to repentance. note: Often times people ask this question because they have gone through a difficult or painful experience. We need to be aware and find out why they are questioning God’s love. It is important for us to show them God’s love.

Argument: “The church is filled with hypocrites. ”

Argument: “There is no absolute truth. ” Argument: “Can you prove there is a God? ” Argument: “How do you know the bible is true? ” Argument: “Doesn’t evolution prove the bible false? ” Argument: “How can Jesus be the only way to God? Aren’t there many paths to heaven? ” Argument: “I don’t believe in hell, so there can’t be one. ” Argument: “The bible says we are reincarnated when we die. ”

Argument: “How can there be a God when there is so much evil and suffering in the world? ” Argument: “What about someone in Africa who has never heard the Gospel? Is he condemned to hell? ” Argument: “The church is filled with hypocrites. ” Argument: “There are so many religions; how do I know which is the right one? ” Argument: “When I am old, I will get right with God. ” Argument: “Can God create a rock so big that He can’t lift it? ”