Christ Community Church

Introduction to Apologetics

Instructor: Luke Campbell

1 Peter 3:15 charges the church with the mandate to give a  defense to all who question our hope. But what does that     defense look like? How much are we to prepare? And what should we say? These questions, and many more, are all wrapped up in the discipline of apologetics.

In many churches, apologetics barely survives as a niche topic, if it hasn’t already been entirely forgotten. This course will seek to teach a biblical view of apologetics which radically  differs from the modern apathetic sentiment which clouds it; that it is indeed the duty of every believer to engage in this branch of theology and that its practice must never be divorced from Christian life. As aliens and strangers in this world, we are all ambassadors of a great kingdom and an almighty God, who “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Pet. 1:3), and we know that this hope will never put us to shame (Rom. 5:5). But will we be ashamed of this hope? Will we turn back from our defense when the time comes? It is the duty of every  Christian, young and old, to do otherwise.

However, the soldier who never trains, will fail when the attack comes. Likewise, the Christian who never prepares, will never be “prepared to make a defense to anyone” who questions their hope. As Christian soldiers we must set ourselves to drilling our tactics and sharpening the weapons of our apologia. That is what this course is all about: understanding the discipline of apologetics, and then preparing to put it into action. 

“But in your hearts honor 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; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”                                                       1 Pet. 3:15