Apologetics | Giving the Mind what the Heart May Need

“The heart cannot embrace what the mind regards as nonsense.”

As followers of Jesus, our confidence in the Bible depends on what Jesus has said about it. Objections to the authority of the Bible have come and gone throughout the ages and each generation is going to be confronted with its own challenges, but the saying remains true: “…the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8) Ultimately, we trust the scriptures, because Jesus did (Mt. 4:1-10, 5:17-18).

In the study of apologetics, you will be contemplating the questions of

  1. “How do I know that Christianity is true?”
  2. “How can I show that Christianity is true?” 

First, know that the work God has done in your life through the Holy Spirit, and the experiences you have had as such, are a totally satisfactory and justified answer to the first question. Through God’s work in your life you can know that Christianity is true! 

As you dig into the second question, you will have the opportunity for a double-blessing!  The study of apologetics can be one of the most encouraging disciplines in the Christian life. The more we learn about science, archeology, critical theory, manuscripts, councils and world history, the more our gratitude for the Bible can grow. Also, as we begin to see that there are simple and compelling answers to most of our perplexing questions, the less likely we are to be “tossed to and fro” by every new objection that comes along.

In time, you may want to share your insights with others. Here you will be on a journey to “show that Christianity is true.”  As you go about showing that Christianity is true, it has been our experience that your life and your relationships with others are one of the best ways to “show that Christianity is true.”  As you witness to others, we encourage you to be their friend and to be patient, welcoming, and inviting to their various questions and objections.  We have found the link below highlighting how we can best come alongside those who have yet to experience the gift of faith in Jesus to be helpful. The video describes the Five Thresholds of Faith.

 

Below we offer you a list of our favorite resources for understanding where the Bible comes from, how it was put together, its relationship to science, history and archeology, and why we trust the Bible. In various ways, these are resources that have been insightful and personally helpful to us and to our kids as they were growing up.

 

Resources for Kids

  • “What’s in the Bible With Buck Denver” – Available on most major streaming platforms.
    • This show, brought to you by the creators of Veggie Tales shares the entire story of the Bible and also teaches kids about the history of how the Bible was put together.
  • RightNow Media – a resource with thousands of shows for kids and adults, available to everyone at Faith Community Church. Just reach out to Pastor Tim Prince ([email protected]).
    • They have an excellent Kids section, including a channel for kids called “Science and History” with shows that dive into the history and archeology of the Bible at a level kids can understand.
  • Mamabear Apologetics
    • Mamabear Apologetics is a resource created specifically for parents raising young kids. They cover just about every apologetics issue you can think of, but the reliability of the Bible is one of them. Mamabear Apologetics is:
    • A Book – HERE.
    • A Blog – HERE.
    • A Podcast – HERE.

 

Resources for Teens

  • “Ten Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer)” by Rebecca McLaughlin
    • The whole book is excellent, but chapter five is called “How Can You Believe the Bible is True?”
    • McLaughlin is one of the best Christian apologists out there for teens. A simple Google search will help you find her podcast, and a simple search on YouTube will help you find a treasure trove of videos that she’s done on topics relevant to teens.
  • Stand to Reason
    • This is an apologetics ministry for teens. You can find a wealth of material on their website www.standtoreason.org.   
  • Youtube Channel – “Red Pen Logic”
    • This popular Youtube channel features short (5-7 minute) responses to common objections to faith, including objections to the authority of scripture. The great thing about these videos is that he often plays clips from TikTok and Youtube that students are bound to encounter sooner or later and then debunks them using sound reason in just a few minutes.
    • Check it out HERE.
  • Youtube Channel – Mike Winger
    • Mike is a youth pastor on the West coast who speaks directly to teens at a deep level. He’s also includes clips of material students are going to encounter on YouTube and TikTok. The only downside is that most of his videos are about an hour long.
    • Check it out HERE.
  • Road Trip to Truth – RightNow Media
    • Take life’s biggest questions, throw in a mix of Gen Z college students, a healthy serving of experts and what do you get? Road Trip to Truth, seeks to teach us that the answers to life’s biggest questions are never that far off. Join the journey to find answers on the topics of evolution, depression, the reliability of the Bible, the existence of God, the veracity of the Bible, and of course, truth itself.
    • Just reach out to Pastor Tim Prince for access to RightNow Media ([email protected]).

 

Resources Written at an Undergraduate Level

  • “Why I Trust the Bible” by Bill Mounce
    • “Has the Bible been corrupted? What about alleged contradictions? How did we get the Bible? What about textual criticism?” This book answers many of the most relevant and pressing issues surrounding the reliability of the Bible.
  • “The Reliability of the New Testament” – Video Series
    • Check it out HERE.
    • This set of nine short (~10 minutes each) videos is a great introduction to all of the relevant questions surrounding
    • Some of these videos get a little philosophical (undergrad level), but overall a sharp teenager should find them helpful.
  • “The New Testament Documents: Are They Reliable?” – by F.F. Bruce
    • This is the classical study of what historical research reveals about the origin of the New Testament. It’s concise and compelling. Professor Bruce’s conclusion is that “there is no body of ancient literature in the world which enjoys such a wealth of good textual attestation as the New Testament. The evidence for our New Testament writings is ever so much greater than the evidence for many writings of classical writers, the authenticity of which no one dreams of questioning.”
  • “The Case for Christ” – by Lee Strobel
    • This is a classic, accessible story of the journey from atheism to faith by journalist Lee Strobel.

 

Resources Written for Those Who Want to Dig Deep

For those who choose to dig deeper you will begin to come across questions that may appear to be more controversial.  Chief among those questions is whether the days of creation in Genesis 1:1-2:4 are to be interpreted in a literalistic or figurative sense.  Please know that the elders of FCC, while fully agreeing on the core doctrines of creation, have a diversity of opinions on how the opening chapters of Genesis are to be understood within their historical context.  We find this topic to be a ‘discuss’ matter for our church and have a position paper concerning Creation and Creationism for those interested in knowing more. We have included resources on the reliability of the Bible from both William Lane Craig and Answers in Genesis because they provide helpful but different perspectives on this issue.

The Elders concur with Wayne Grudem when he points out: “When all of the facts are rightly understood, there will be “no final conflict” between Scripture and natural science.”

  • “Evidence That Demands a Verdict” by Josh and Sean McDowell
    • This comprehensive (700 page) volume makes a pretty exhaustive case for the reliability of the scriptures among other things. Great for people who want to take a deep dive.
  • “Revisiting the Corruption of the New Testament” Edited by Daniel B. Wallace
    • This book reviews and argues against Bart Ehrman’s book “The Orthodox Corruption of Scripture”. This is a great example of interaction with critical scholarship.
    • Includes a detailed discussion of the field of Textual Criticism.
  • Reasonable Faith – William Lane Craig
    • www.reasonablefaith.org 
    • Reasonable Faith is the apologetics ministry of William Lane Craig. He has a YouTube channel, podcast, books, everything that an undergrad would want to take a deep dive into almost any apologetics issue, including the authority of the Bible.
  • Answers in Genesis, Apologetics Web Series – Ken Ham
    • Check it out HERE.
    • Answers in Genesis is an apologetics ministry, dedicated to helping Christians defend their faith and proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ effectively. They focus on providing answers to questions about the Bible—particularly the book of Genesis—regarding key issues such as creation, evolution, science, and the age of the earth.