I am planning on teaching my small youth group basic apologetics. Any key Logos materials you would suggest?
I used a lot of different sources when I did the same thing. I found Geisler's Apologetics helpful for outlines and filled in using other sources, too many to list.
I would offer this thought: instead of giving "ammunition" to students to use against others of different beliefs, I would point out the differences between one and Christianity and give proofs why Christianity is true and more believable. This places the focuses on their faith instead of the others.
The Apologetics Study Bible:
Defending Your Faith
Answers to Tough Questions
Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics ---> may be too advanced
I would strongly emphasize this. "Ammunition" tends to get recycled and if it was wrong the first time, never gets corrected. As a member of a group often targeted by the ammunition, if gets hard not to laugh when presented with ammunition based on a book from the 1910's that was garbage to begin with. (Yes, I am serious and not exaggerating.) You'll be more sure that what you present is true if you focus on your/their faith.
In teaching an Intro level Apologetics course, I prepared primarily from McDowell, Baker Encyclopedia and a couple others.
For the students and the basis of the lectures I used The Unshakable Truth by Josh and Sean McDowell (not in Logos yet) - it is setup with 12 "truths" that flowed very well over a 12 week study for beginners.
I prepared primarily from McDowell
For students, this is a good resource: http://www.christianbook.com/dont-check-your-brains-the-door/josh-mcdowell/9781400317202/pd/317202
I am unsure why it isn't in Logos/Vyrso... but I did notice that CBD (apparently) has the updated (2011) eBook, whereas Kindle (apparently) has the old one.
The Unshakable Truth by Josh and Sean McDowell (not in Logos yet) - it is setup with 12 "truths" that flowed very well over a 12 week study for beginners.
Do you mean this? https://vyrso.com/product/39056/the-unshakable-truth-how-you-can-experience-the-12-essentials-of-a-relevant-faith
Don't forget Vyrso!
A 35 year old Asian friend recently commented, "I was half atheist, half Buddhist, and when I became a Christian I knew I was supposed to believe certain things and not believe other things, so I did. But I didn't know why. Now that I am hearing apologetics (she is attending an apologetic class a friend is teaching), I am at last understanding that believing these things is rational--it makes sense to me now!"
I hope the best for you as you plant seeds and water and as you provide them with ways to work with skeptics and mockers and seekers.
Not sure what the age group / format you are looking at is, but it might be worth it to take a look at https://vyrso.com/product/24355/coffee-house-chronicles-set . They are geared more for a high school / college age student and present apologetics in a real world story setting.
I would recommend Holman QuickSource Guide to Christian Apologetics.
It's ideally suited to teaching a youth group class, as the TOC shows:
Busenitz book Reasons We Believe would be my number 1 choice. I've taught apologetics and found this to be excellent in presentation and method, best I know of.
https://www.logos.com/product/43225/reasons-we-believe-50-lines-of-evidence-that-confirm-the-christian-faith
FWIW: Personally, I would begin with some simple basics re: Logic before I started anything on Apologetics. Logical, rational thinking is always the first tool required before any other pursuit, imo. (cf. John 1:1)
I do not have any Logos resource suggestions for you, however, even the most basic instruction on, say, informal fallacies is far more than the typical American curriculum would provide.
FWIW2 and slightly OT: Here is an interesting 10 minute talk on how we, as Americans, are so-o-o susceptible to the manipulation of truth and do not even perceive it much less think our way through it.
John Ankerberg (Vyrso), Dr. Robert A. Morey and Francis A. Schaeffer (Logos), in general, are my favorites. Rose Publishing has a few good ones if you are looking for brief, inexpensive overviews. Ankerberg's are affordable as well and I believe you can also get them in print from his ministry as also with the Rose materials which, in printed form, might make good handouts. I have a couple of resources by William Lane Craig which I haven't gotten around to reading yet. There are several others available. It depends basically on what you are aiming at (creationism v. evolution, cults, atheism, culture wars, etc.)
The best advice I could give for an apologetics course is "DON'T DO IT !"
I would suggest giving them a basic grounding in logical thought as a foundation before you jump into a bunch of arguments, etc. As a complimentary topic, working Greg Koukl's "Tactics" material into mix would be a good move (in my opinion).
As a complimentary topic, working Greg Koukl's "Tactics" material into mix would be a good move (in my opinion).
I agree with Ken, while not in Logos, Stand to Reason has a lot of great apologetics material for younger people. Their website is www.str.org.
1. You cannot either prove or disprove God — it is a presupposition with which you begin. Personally, I find the idea that there is no God sad.
This is the dead land This is cactus land Here the stone images Are raised, here they receive The supplication of a dead man's hand
....
This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends This is the way the world ends Not with a bang but a whimper. Under the twinkle of a fading star.
I find the presupposition that there is a God who created the universe and controls it in all respects more positive.
2. Establishing the Christian position by argument presumes that Christianity is a matter of thought. It is not. It is a matter of faith. I believe in the creator who loves his creation and seeks its good as exhibited in Jesus Christ. I believe in God's love for all men — and for ME. To reduce Christianity to logical argument is Gnostic.
To reduce Christianity to logical argument is Gnostic.
True, but we use reason to interpret scripture and to accept/reject beliefs ... well, at least we should. But as my tagline says ....
Establishing the Christian position by argument presumes that Christianity is a matter of thought. It is not. It is a matter of faith.
Christianity is a matter of relationship. The basis for that relationship isn't irrational. Faith requires trust, but it isn't a "leap in the dark." The goal of apologetics should not be to "make someone a christian" (that sort of faith would be Gnostic), but rather to eliminate barriers to faith.
Apologetics is necessary when refuting someone (gently) who is making a false claim about Christianity. If your goal is to equip a high schooler to address any question that someone might have about Christianity then it is essential that the high schooler have a thorough understanding about what the Bible teaches about every topic and not just the current hot button issues.
Put another way, I believe that apologetics is teaching Christian doctrine reactively. Systematic Theology is teaching Christian doctrine proactively. When you teach proactively, you equip them to know the answers to all the questions, even the ones that they aren't even dealing with yet.
That is why, as a high school teacher at my church, I teach through Systematic Theology. I use Wayne Grudem's version because it is one of the most recent so it addresses more current issues that historically have not been written about in too much detail (i.e. Women's roles in the church). Of course, that is just a starting point. I'd also suggest Historical Theology by Gregg Allison and John Frame's Doctrine of the Knowledge of God.
I hear and appreciate your feedback. George, I obviously disagree - I'm going to teach basic apologetics. I'm not trying to prove or disprove God. Apologetics is about a reasoned defense of what you believe. Peter tells us to be prepared to give an answer for our hope... I think that fits my goal here.
Yes I've been teaching theology. Yes I've been teaching the gospel. Yes I've been doing book studies. We're actually walking through Proverbs right now (and they love it!).
Anyway, Mark thank you for suggesting the Holman resource. I'm going to take a look. I'm also considering some time spent with the fallacy hound.
To reduce Christianity to logical argument is Gnostic. True, but we use reason to interpret scripture and to accept/reject beliefs ... well, at least we should. But as my tagline says ....
The one and true God can be known with certainty through the natural light of human reason by the means of those things that are made by God.
Absolutely not ! There must be some correspondence to be able to know something. There is no correspondence between the universe and God. Whatever you see or feel or hear is NOT GOD. God is wholly other and as such cannot be inferred from the universe (which is why you cannot prove the existence of God. In fact, to say that God "exists" is heresy since that would make him a part of the universe.
20 Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22 For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23 but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.
The Holy Bible: New Revised Standard Version (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989), 1 Co 1:20–25.
This is why we are not to make images of God since by doing so we are denigrating God to the level of the creation.
Restraint ... Patience ... M-m-must say nothing ... [:#]
This is more acceptable. True apologetics is CONFESSION.
Here's a nice collection that can give you a lot for many more sessions to come: https://www.logos.com/product/27359/paul-copan-apologetics-collection
I own two titles and I'm planning on buying the rest of the collection. Super nice!
DAL
