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An Approach to Teaching Christian Apologetics to the Believers in the Local Church

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An Approach to Teaching Christian Apologetics to the Believers in the Local Church Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity An Approach to Teaching Christian Apologetics to the Believers in the Local Church A Thesis Project Submitted to the Faculty of Liberty University School of Divinity in Candidacy for the Degree of Doctor of Ministry By Reba Gore Lynchburg, Virginia October 2020 Copyright © 2020 by Reba Gore All Rights Reserved ii Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity Thesis Project Approval Sheet ________________________________ Dr. Norman Mathers Assistant Professor ______________________________ Dr. Adam McClendon Associate Professor Director of Doctor of Ministry Program iii THE DOCTOR OF MINISTRY THESIS PROJECT ABSTRACT Reba Gore Liberty University John W. Rawlings School of Divinity, 2020 Mentor: Dr. Norman Mathers This research project is an academic research on apologetics, which will be taught in the in the future in local church. Many people in the Christian community may be attending the local church and living in their community that may not clearly understand apologetics. As followers of Christ, in the Christian community and the local church, can everyone defend the Faith and feel comfortable? In the Old and New Testament, God has given His road map for man. He came, lived, was buried and resurrected for all humankind that would accept Him as their personal Lord and Savior. As Christians, we are the Ambassadors of God, chosen by Him to witness this work and be a light in the darkness, to introduce others to the saving knowledge and power of Jesus Christ. This research will provide lessons to be taught in the local church to provide essentials that will stipulate an understanding of how to define and defend the Christian faith. This information will provide the Christian community with education, therefore, giving them the ability to accurately and confidently defend their faith. This academic research will give the necessary information to educate one on apologetics. Thesis project topic abstract length: 195 words Key words: apologetics, Christian education, defense of the Christian faith iv Acknowledgments I want to start with thanking God. I am so grateful that you have allowed me to participate in the Doctoral program, specifically the Doctor of Ministry (DMIN), with a concentration on Theology and Apologetics. Thank you, God, for bringing me this far and for always being with me every step of the way. All praises to my Lord and Savior Jesus. To my Pastor Bishop Donnie Neal Sr. and his wife, Elder Lady Latoya Neal, Pastor Brenda Bennett, all Net Breakers family, and partners; thank you so much for your support and encouragement. I love and appreciate you all. To my husband, Kenny, for you continuously providing support, encouragement, and patience throughout these challenging years of school. May God bless you for all that you have done in secret with all the sacrifices made far beyond what you could ever ask, hope, or think. Love you with all my heart. To my mother, Rosa, and dad, the late Raymond, I appreciate you so much for your support. It has been extremely challenging for you, Mom, although many times you wanted to talk, and I had to call you back. You are much appreciated. If God did not give you me, I would not be here. I am forever grateful to you and dad. Although dad is no longer with us, I know that you would be proud of the accomplishments thus far. May Dad continue to R.I.P. Love you both. To my children, Jessica, Chanta, although you are grown and on your own at times, you may not have understood why we could not always watch our grandchildren, Zoey, Brielle, and Zion. It is challenging when the grandchildren cannot come over. Family is the first and most important ministry. Love you all. Thank you to my Mentor Dr. Norman Mathers., for all your help and support on this project. I greatly appreciate everything that you have done to assist in helping me as my mentor to get through this project. May God continue to bless you and your family richly. v Contents Chapter 1: Introduction……………………………………………………………..…………..1 Ministry Context…………………………………………………………………….…...2 Worldview………………………………………………………………………..……….3 Definition of Apologetics……………………………………….……………………......4 Apologetics Functions……………………………………………………………………5 Problem Presented…………………………………………………………….……..…..7 Purpose Statement………………………………………………………………..…..... 8 Basic Assumptions……………………………………………………..………………...9 Definitions……………………………………………………………………………….10 Limitations and Delimitations.….………………………………………..……………12 Thesis Statement……………………………………………………….……………….13 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………………14 Chapter 2: Conceptual Framework …………………………………………………………..15 Literature Review………………………………………………………………..……..15 Theological Foundations……………………………………..………………….……..30 Theoretical Foundations……………………………………………………………….33 Chapter 3: Methodology ………………………………………………………………………41 Intervention Design……………………………………………………………….........41 Implementation of Intervention Design………………………………………………57 Chapter 4: Results……………………………………………………………………………...64 Chapter 5: Conclusion…………………………………………………….…………………..137 The Need for Christian Apologetics: Where to go from here………………………137 Bibliography……………………………………………………………………………………147 Appendix A Lesson one Short Quiz……..…………..…………………………………..….….152 Appendix B Lesson two Short Quiz……..……………………………………………………..153 Appendix C Lesson three Short Quiz…………………………………………………………..154 Appendix D Lesson four Short Quiz….……………………………………………………..…155 Appendix E Lesson five Short Quiz……………………………………………….……..…….156 IRB Approval……………………………………………………………….………………….157 vi Illustrations Figures 1. What is Apologetics and Why is it Necessary? 66 2. Apologetics 67 3. Apologetics Approaches 69 4. Books in the Bible 133 5. Biblical Books 134 6. Books of Bible with descriptions 135 vii viii Abbreviations DMIN Doctor of Ministry GSP Generic Structure Potential KJV King James Version LUSOD Liberty University School of Divinity NIV New International Version NLT New Living Translations ESV English Standard Version ix x Chapter 1 Introduction "Christian Apologetics"- what does it mean to the local church? Is there a clear understanding of the Christian faith, and can one defend and define the faith? Whenever one is associated with Christianity, they should have a desire to learn as much as humanly possible about the Christian doctrine, foundation, Jesus Christ, and why one believes in Christianity. It is never acceptable to take someone's word for anything. Look it up in the Bible. The Word of God provides a reminder to study to show thyself approved according to 2 Timothy 2:15.1 The Old, as well as the New Testament, has been inspired and written by God through man. The Holy Scriptures reveal how humankind should live and encourages the people of God, through His purpose. It is crucial to attend training sessions whenever they are offered and get as much information as possible. Barnabas was going to Tarsus to look for Saul. He found him, then he brought him back to Antioch. They stayed there for an entire year, having meetings with churches and teaching many people. It was in Antioch that the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:25-26). God has called and chosen man to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. To believe in Jesus, one must believe by faith that He is and be introduced to Him. How can they hear without a preacher? “How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them (Romans 10:14)?” This is an academic study of Apologetics to present to a local church. 1 2 Timothy 2:15 (NIV), Unless otherwise noted, all biblical passages referenced are in the New International Version Bible (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2003). 1 As Christians, the education is "Christ-centered education," and the benefits of Christian education notwithstanding, academics is not promoted in the Bible as the recommended route to discipleship formation as it is expected by Jesus."2 Apologetics is defined as the religious proof of defending Christianity and Christian doctrine. There are also many different approaches and methods to apologetics, which will be discovered later in this research. It is challenging if people think that they can only attend Sunday morning service and get their questions answered. The pastor or whoever is preaching cannot stop in the middle of the sermon to answer a question. He or she must be willing to go the extra mile and take their Christianity and learning seriously. Attending this training will better equip them, and they will have no misconceptions on what they believe and why. This will give them the ability to properly be educated about what they believe. Ministry Context As Christians, the Word of God tells us to work hard and do not be lazy. Serve the Lord with a heart of devotion.3 The goal is to address this challenge, as well as try to explain why Christians should have a firm foundation on what they believe as Christians and why they believe in foundational Christian doctrines or apologetics. Surprisingly, many individuals are professing Christianity and they do not have a firm understanding or foundation of Christianity. In 2 Peter, the apostle Peter provides two essentials that give a sure foundation for the Christian faith: (1) apostolic witness to Jesus and (2) written prophetic revelation of God as seen in 2 William Cox and Robert Peck, “A Christian Education as Discipleship Formation,” Christian Education Journal 15, no. 2 (2018): 247. 3 Romans 12:11 (NLT),
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