Reasons Community. February 5, 2017

Transcription

1 Reasons Community February 5, 2017

2 Welcome to Reasons! February 5, 2017 Join us as we examine apologetics, worldview, science and faith topics through thought-provoking teaching, lively discussion, and a variety of media and formats. Whether you are seeking to be better equipped to answer tough questions about the Christian faith, or asking them yourself, we strive to engage, inform, encourage, and inspire clear thinking. Visit our website! reasons.community

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4 1 Peter 3:15 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect NIV 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 NASB

5 Without using the Bible, give me evidence that God exists

6 RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now Ravi Zacharias International Ministries Available via RightNow Media see links on website Sessions 5&6 Ravi Zacharias Apologetics 1. The Need 2. The Scriptural Imperative 3. The Task 4. The Criticisms 5. The Challenge 6. The Components 7. The Approach 8. The Goal 9. God can use You!

7 Last Week RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now 1. The Need for Apologetics a. Evangelism b. The struggles of the human heart and mind Materialism, Hedonism, Existentialism, Naturalism 2. The Scriptural Imperative a. 1 Peter 3:15 b. 2 Corinthians 10: The Task of Apologetics Session 5 Ravi Zacharias a. To clarify truth claims (Acts 2:14-16) b. To give answers to specific questions (Acts 9:22, 17:17, 18:4, 9:8-11) c. To remove obstacles (1 Corinthians 1:22)

8 This Week RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now 4. The Criticisms of Apologetics [Part 1 24:45 27:45] a. Diminishes biblical truth claims b. Dries up spontaneity c. Detracts from the role of the Holy Spirit d. Displaces faith by reason 5. The Challenge of Apologetics [Part 1 27:45 32:00] a. The Human Problem the human problem is not finiteness or smallness, but sinfulness and fallenness Os Guinness b. The Sinner s Insistence on his or her own view c. Pursues lie he or she will pursue a lie and chase that lie until they can believe it d. The mind and depravity - Session 5 Ravi Zacharias

9 Exercise Time 1. I m spiritual, not religious. Why should it matter whether there s a God or not? 2. The sooner we get rid of this superstitious fantasy of some Big Daddy in the sky, the better. Then science can take its proper place as the true savior of humanity. 3. Loving kindness is my religion. Just be good to others and don t worry whether there s a God. 4. If there really is a God, he doesn t care how much we suffer. 5. I used to go to church, but when I didn t get anything I prayed for, I realized that there wasn t any God listening. 6. How can you believe that this guy that lived two thousand years ago came back to life from the dead?! He might not even have lived at all! Do you expect me to believe that? It doesn t make any sense! 7. Christians are ignorant and bigoted! They think their religion is the only one that s right!

10 This Week RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now Session 5 Ravi Zacharias 5. The Components of Apologetics [Part 2 1:00 9:15] a. Identification you identify with the questioner b. Translation our message in their idiom c. Persuasion the illustration, the argument, reasoning d. Justification why your way and not the other person s? Why is yours true? 6. The Approach Issues of Truth and Relevance [Part 2 9:15 16:15] a. The Pragmatic this has worked in my life, and will therefore work in yours b. The Experiential this God of history is also the God of my experience c. The Philosophical the intellectual; answer / least de-fang the tough questions d. The Historical Christ who came, lived, died, and rose again in history e. The Community a worshiping community is a powerful apologetic

11 This Week RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now Session 5 Ravi Zacharias 8. The Goal [Part 2 16:15 17:00] a. Awaken a sense of need b. If Jesus is the answer, he will have an answer to that need c. Jesus is not only an answer, but must be seen to be true d. One cannot remain neutral

12 This Week RZIM Apologetics: Then & Now Session 5 Ravi Zacharias 9. Life is Broken God uses You to Help Put it Back Together For the. Who is focused on. The apologist helps by Materialist material things balancing with the soul Hedonist pleasure balancing with purpose Existentialist will balancing with reason Rationalist intellect balancing with emotions Post-modernist language balancing with reality Naturalist that which is close balancing with the transcendent

13 What s Ahead for Reasons! A new series starting February 19 th On Guard A science & faith series in Mar/April Origin film event & related March 31 st ++ A short series tying to the Reasons Conference Reasons Conference April 28 th -29 th A Reasons Lunch on ~June 4 th A Fellowship Sunday, a group outing, and??

14 New Series! Starting February 19 th On Guard Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision 10 weeks Video & Discussion Accompanying book available (optional)

15 New Series! Starting February 19 th Topics: 1. What is Apologetics 2. What Difference Does it Make if God Exists? 3. Why Does Anything at All Exist? 4. Why Did the Universe Begin? 5. Why is the Universe Fine-tuned for Life? 6. Can We Be Good without God? 7. What about Suffering? 8. Who Was Jesus? 9. Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? 10. Is Jesus the Only Way to God?

16 Film Event March 31 st ORIGIN: Design, Chance, and the First Life on Earth Lad Allen and Paul Nelson In person for Q&A Faith Bible Church, The Woodlands 7 to 9pm

17 Reasons Community February 5 th, 2017