DEFENDING THE GOSPEL:
GIVING REASONS FOR OUR HOPE
SESSION: 1
Teacher: Bill Payne [1]
Goals:
1. To understand what it means to defend (apologia or apoplectics) the Gospel.
2. To realize that the proclamation of the Gospel and its defense are both critical as we engage in evangelism.
3. To understand our responsibility to defend the Gospel.
4.To understand the goal of apologetics?
5.To understand the role of apologetics in the church.
Lesson
1. Role Play: You have just presented the Gospel to me but now I am full of questions and challenges to the truthfulness of what you have said. How do you respond?
2. What does it mean to defend the Gospel and practice apologetics?
· Defense or apologetics comes from the Greek word apologia. It is found in eight New Testament passages (Acts 22:1, 25:16; I Corinthians 9:3, 7:11; Philippians 1:7, 16; II Timothy 4:16; I Peer 3:15). It means defense; answer; defend; defending; eagerness to clear; plea; reply to an accusation. Basically, apologetics involves the believer in defending the veracity (truthfulness) of the Christian faith, beginning with a commitment to God and His Word.
3. What is the difference between evangelism and apologetics?
· Evangelism is the ___________________________ of the Gospel while apologetics is ______________________
· The two work together. You can hardly do evangelism without the use of apologetics.
4. Does the Gospel need a defense?
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for
salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. (Romans 1:16) [2]
· What is Paul’s attitude toward the Gospel in this verse?
· Why does Paul hold this view?
· We need to be assured that people will not believe the Gospel based on clever arguments. It is God who saves people. We must, however, be clear regarding our responsibility in proclamation and defense of the message.
5. What is our responsibility?
but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always
being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an
account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1
Peter 3:15)
· What things does Peter say we should do in this verse?
· The word greet word translated account in this verse is apologia or defense.
And the Lord's bond-servant must not be
quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, with gentleness correcting those who
are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the
knowledge of the truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from
the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26)
·
What type of
attitude does Paul instruct Timothy to have toward those who oppose him?
·
How does Paul
instruct Timothy to deal this those who oppose him?
·
What is the
source of the delusion of those who need to be corrected?
·
Our
evangelism may often involve teaching.
Many people have serious misconceptions that block them from
understanding of the truth of the Gospel.
We must pray for the wisdom to know
when people have honest objections and they patiently correct them.
for the weapons of our warfare are not of
the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and
every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking
every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, (2 Corinthians 10:4-5)
·
According to
Paul, in what type of conflict are we involved?
·
What does
Paul tell the Corinthians is the goal of our conflict?
6. What role does the defense of the Gospel play
in the purpose of the Church?
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in
the Law?" And He said to him, "'You shall love the LORD your God with
all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the
great and foremost commandment.”
(Matthew 22:36-38)
·
In what ways
does having reasons for our hope deepen our Experience of the Gospel?
·
In what ways
does having reasons for our hope cause us to more completely Exalt the Lord in
Worship?
·
In what ways does
having reasons for our hope increase our ability to Edify our brothers and
sisters?
·
In what ways does
having reasons for our hope make our Evangelism more effective?
Optional Homework:
Read Chapter 1 of Apologetics to the Glory of God by John Frame