Extemporaneous Apologetics Essentials

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Augustine Ramsey
5 years ago
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Extemporaneous Apologetics Essentials Vision To provide an event that will prepare students to: rightly handle the Word; communicate the truths of God with kindness, gentleness, and humility; and

1 Extemporaneous Apologetics Essentials Vision To provide an event that will prepare students to: rightly handle the Word; communicate the truths of God with kindness, gentleness, and humility; and carry out the mission of to always be ready to make a defense of the Christian faith. Extemporaneous Apologetics (EA) emphasizes and encourages systematic, in-depth study of various points of doctrine of the Christian faith while at the same time providing a limited preparation style speech delivered in a conversational manner. The event is not intended to replicate a real life apologetic scenario. Rather the event is designed to be a training ground to prepare the student to think biblically and apologetically. The mission of (CCA) is to assist parents who are home educating their children with the development of communication and critical thinking skills, equipping these children to be faithful servants of the Lord Jesus Christ by preparing them to give a defense of their faith to everyone who asks for a reason for the hope that is within them, and to do so with grace, seasoned with salt. Believers, in I Peter 3:15, are admonished to always be ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you The Christian should always be prepared to provide such an answer, and yet, do so with gentleness and respect. Goals Through preparation and competition, Extemporaneous Apologetics aims to: Definitions help students and families grow spiritually through systematic theological training; prepare students to give a defense for their faith; encourage study and research of essential doctrine; help students practice communicating theological truth with gentleness, kindness, respect, and humility. Apologetics is: the development of an engaging and intellectual defense of the Christian faith spoken with gentleness and respect in the language of the audience intended to remove misunderstandings and objections for the purpose of persuading the hearer that the Christian faith is reasonable and true

2 Further thoughts on the term apologetics: Apologetics is a defense taken from the Greek word apologia that requires thought and reasoning and thus requires development. It should be engaging and spoken with gentleness and respect as is instructed in 1 Peter 3:15. The defense should be spoken in the language of the audience as Paul did so well in Acts and as C.S. Lewis instructs in the following quote: We must learn the language of our audience... You have to find out by experience... you must translate every bit of theology into the vernacular... The purpose of apologetics is to remove misunderstandings and objections to clear the way for evangelism (Alistair McGrath, Mere Apologetics) thus we are seeking to persuade the hearer of the plausibility and truthfulness (veracity) of the claims of Christianity. Extemporaneous is: prepared in advance but delivered using few or no notes: extemporaneous lectures. Extemporaneous means "prepared in advance and carried out with few or no notes," while impromptu means "totally unprepared, performed on the spur of the moment Approach The primary resource needed to be prepared for EA is the Word of God. The topics that will be discussed in EA will come from classic, biblically-based theological references. A four-year topic rotation for the event is provided. Theological resources that are in agreement with the CCA Statement of Faith may be used in preparation for this event. Students are expected to put into their own words their understanding of truth and their reasoned defense of the faith through in-depth study of God s Word and doctrinal research. The student s reasoned and researched response should be communicated in a conversational tone that is respectful and with a kind, gentle, and humble attitude. Event Specifics A four-year topic rotation is provided. Based on topics from the rotation, students will fill a 3 x5 file box with scripture and quotations. Prepared speeches, student s original work, and facsimiles of sections from resources are NOT allowed in the file box. Students are encouraged to have quotes of scripture and outside resources that support their researched defense of the topic in the box. Students are discouraged from quoting one outside source extensively in lieu of presenting their own researched defense of the topic. At competition, students are allowed their file box, a blank 3 x5 card, and a Bible during preparation time. The file box and the Bible must remain at the preparation table during the presentation. During the round, students will be given a question or statement related to the topic. Students are given up to five minutes to prepare a five minute speech. Students are not required to use all of their prep time. This time allotment should allow students to utilize their file box adequately. Students are allowed to use the question/statement card, their original speech notes written on a 3 x5 card during preparation time, and any quote or scripture cards from the file box. The judge will ask the question/statement, and students will address the judge(s) in a conversational tone. Violations are given for not using scripture, failing to adhere to the topic, and going overtime.

3 Extemporaneous Apologetics Q & A 1. Why has the event been named Extemporaneous Apologetics (EA)? We have created a new event and a new way of thinking about apologetics. In changing the name, we hope to change the overall understanding of what competition style apologetics looks like. The name Extemporaneous Apologetics (EA) helps to communicate that the event is still limited preparation. In the new format, the students will know a more narrowed topic of study ahead of time. They will not know the exact wording or nature of the question/statement until competition though. The word extemporaneous carries with it a connotation of research and preparedness. In the past, competitors in Extemporaneous events have spent time understanding current events and filling their file box so they will be ready for competition. In the same way, students should be researching and studying the pre-selected theological topics so they will be ready, not just for EA competition, but for all of life. Unlike Extemporaneous events where students had 30 minutes preparation time, EA will have a shorter preparation time. 2. Why the time change from three minutes preparation and seven minutes speaking to five minutes preparation and five minutes speaking? There are two primary reasons for the time change. First, we want students to utilize their research. It is a value of CCA that students compete in EA and take the time to research and fill a file box. Therefore, we need to give students adequate time to access that information and compile it into a thoughtful speech. Giving them two additional minutes of preparation time will help significantly with this. Students will also benefit from being allowed to use these cards from their box. We want to encourage them to use the information they prepared. Students are not required to use all of their preparation time. Those who prepared well though will find this change incredibly helpful. Second, we have found that students tend to ramble and fill time with information that is unnecessary when given seven minutes to speak. They often think that to be judged well they need to use almost all of their time. If they have prepared well and if they are utilizing their EA box, then they should be able to communicate their reasoned reply to the statement or question in less than five minutes. 3. How is the ballot different? The headings for the ballot are: Content and Reasoning, Presentation, Tone, Vocal Delivery, and Physical Movement. The points under the first three sections have been modified to emphasize a researched and reasoned defense while communicating that information in a conversational manner. The ballot strives to emphasize content and scriptural support for the speeches. There is a one rank violation for failure to use scripture. We understand this requirement may not always mimic how apologetic conversations happen in real life. The tournament setting can in no way replicate a real life apologetic scenario. Tournaments are a training ground to prepare students for real life. Through disciplined study of the Word and practiced presentation to be respectful, kind, gentle, and humble, we hope to send forth students to be a light in our dark world. A point has been added to the ballot that states Speaks the truth with conviction. As students study and strengthen their belief in the truth in God s Word, they will be able to communicate these truths with certainty and confidence. The ballot has been changed to take out the term skeptic or unbeliever. We are now using the general term of questioner or person asking the question. We need to be prepared to speak apologetically with sound reason and convincing use of scripture and compelling argumentation to not just skeptics and unbelievers but to believers who are struggling, misinformed, or simply ignorant in certain areas of theology.

4 4. What will the topics be for competition? All topics may be found in the document Extemporaneous Apologetics Topic Rotation. This rotation covers four years. All topics may be found in classic, biblically-based theological references. Theological resources that are in agreement with the CCA Statement of Faith may be used in preparation for this event. The topic rotation is subject to change by CCA for the 2019, 2020, and 2021 tournament seasons. 5. How should students prepare for these topics? Ultimately, the method for preparing is left up to the parents. Parents are encouraged to work with their student on these important issues of faith and doctrine. All of the topics used on the current rotation can be found in a variety of classic, biblically-based theological references. The EA topics can all be found in the resource: Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith by Wayne Grudem, copyright (This is a condensed version of the larger work Systematic Theology.) In the new format of EA, students are being challenged to rightly handle the Word of God. Students should also be utilizing outside sources in their research. Students are able to fill their file box with quotes from their research in the Bible and in outside sources. Students will also want to think through the topic in terms of how they would put the issue into their own words for a questioner. They should be able to reinforce or illustrate their defense of the faith through analogies, examples, logic, and/or personal witness. Students can record these notes on the various topics in an EA journal or other similar tool. These notes are NOT allowed in the competition room. 6. Is the book Bible Doctrine required in order to compete in EA since it is mentioned specifically? No. Students are not required to use the book Bible Doctrine by Wayne Grudem in preparation for EA. The goal of Extemporaneous Apologetics is to help students advance their knowledge of biblical doctrine through participation in the event. The questions or statements the competitors will be asked to discuss will require concentrated study of specific subjects. Bible Doctrine can be used to identify the subject matter the student should master and can serve as a starting point for the student to establish their views on these topics. While the CCA Board approves the use of this text for EA, it is recognized that some families will have differing perspectives. 7. Will the student s replies to EA questions be judged right or wrong based on Bible Doctrine? No. Just as we ask judges to leave their bias behind when they enter a debate round, so we will ask judges to evaluate a student s answer in the EA round based upon the soundness of their reasoning. The event will be based upon the student s use of biblical references and outside sources. A well-reasoned view that is supported with biblical references and credentialed experts that is contrary to the views presented in Bible Doctrine should score better than a poorly articulated, unsupported view that is in agreement with Grudem. Judges will be asked to comment in their ballot about views that are inconsistent with conservative biblical thought, and inconsistent with the CCA Statement of Faith; we want our students to know when they have strayed from what is a common foundation of the families participating in CCA events. Such ballot comments, while encouraged, are not a voting issue. With their parents and coaches, the competitor can review such comments and learn from what that particular judge viewed as outside biblical bounds, and outside the Statement of Faith.

5 8. Why then was Bible Doctrine specifically mentioned for EA? Bible Doctrine is a popular theology book that is written on a level usable for high school students. It comes with a built-in study guide. The end of every chapter has terms to define, review questions, application questions, and a scripture memory verse. These end-of-chapter resources can serve as a starting point to prepare students for competition. They can also be used with other classic, biblically-based theological references. Also, the book Bible Doctrine is considered a Textbook+ resource. There are online resources for students and instructors/parents. CCA has been given approval to have access to these online resources. More information about accessing them will be communicated to the clubs/coaches.

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Thank you for coming! Rev 08/2015 trains Christian, homeschooled youth in speech and debate, in order to better communicate a biblical worldview. 12 18 years of age From multiple states Compete in multiple