Apologetics

I have been taking a Philosophy class this semester with one of the smartest individuals I have ever met, Dr. Bruce Little. Each week I walk away challenged, although sometimes a bit confused.  More information about Dr. Little and his ministry can be found here

Through this class I have realized that I have much to learn in the area of apologetics.  There are many individuals who are doing some great work in this area confronting head-on the work of people such as Richard Dawkins. 

Our culture are asking some good questions and we must be prepared to give an intelliegent well thought out response. 

A recent debate in Birmingham between John Lennox and Richard Dawkins gives us some good insight into the thoughts of an atheist and the response from a solid Christian apologist.  Here is part 1 of 11

Monday Quote

“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls–Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”

                                                              -Habakkuk

The joy that comes from salvation is our highest joy.  The victory we experience through Christ is unmatched.  Jesus reminded the disciples of this in Luke 10:20 and used Habakkuk to remind me today. 

Monday Quote

I have recently been reading Louie Giglio’s book, “I am not, but I know I AM.  Towards the end of book he addresses our pride in way that was particularly challenging.  We miss the plot of God’s story when we become consumed with self.  Sorry the quote is rather long.

“When I live like I am privileged, I missed the plot. In other words, when I start acting like I deserve a certain outcome or a higher standard of life, I have failed to strike the fatal low to self and am living like I actually have rights in this world apart from God. 

When I am demanding, I missed the plot, insisting that God and others meet my needs on the timetable that I see fit.

When I act pompous, I miss the plot, thinking that I am somebody while only proving that I haven’t had a good look at God today.

When I crumble under the pressure, I miss the plot, declaring that the outcome of life rests squarely on my shoulders, not HIS.

When I start protecting, I miss the plot, marking turf as though it were actually mine and forgetting that everything I have comes first from above.

When I crave the spotlight for myself, I miss the plot, losing sight of the story line and the one true Star.  And every time I do it I waste one of life’s fleeting chances to make my life truly count by amplifying Him. 

When I fail to celebrate the successes of other who are living for His fame, I miss the plot, thinking that possibly we are on different teams when we actually share supporting roles in the same story. 

When I dwell on the feeling of being unloved, unnoticed, or insignificant, I miss the plot, abandoning the miracle of knowing God on a first name basis.” 

Monday Quote

“Love God and do as you please.” 

                                                              -Augustine

This quote has been on my mind the last couple of weeks since I heard a recent sermon that asked the question, “Do you want to know the will of God for your life.”  Think about that for a minute. Do you really want to know the will of God for your life or do we just want to claim ignorance for the sake of comfort? 

Have a great week. 

Matt 

Share your Faith Fridays

Well I hope you will have an opportunity, you will take the opportunities you have this weekend to share your faith with our faith with our world.  Here is a recent lesson I learned about sharing. 

Often times we don’t share because we feel like we don’t have enough time to present the whole plan of salvation.  We think “I’m just checking out at the gas station they don’t have the time to hear all of The Roman Road.”  Let me challenge you not to think you have to close the deal every time  you share.  If you don’t get to Romans 10:9 it was not a lost effort. 

Share your faith inside the time God has granted you.  If you only have 25 seconds, then use those 25 seconds to present Christ.  Unfortunately, I think sometimes that it is my presentation that makes the gospel clear and reveals their need for Christ.  When that is the case I pray the Lord confronts me with my pride. 

1 Corinthians 2:1-3

 1When I came to you, brothers, I did not come with eloquence or superior wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.2For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3I came to you in weakness and fear, and with much trembling.

Have a good weekend. 

Monday Quote

“The Bible was not given to increase our knowledge, but to change our lives.”

                                                             -D.L. Moody

Have a great week 

Matt

Share Your Faith Fridays

I understand that I’m not exactly consistent when it comes to this whole blogging thing.  I struggle to post very often and admire those who post more than a couple of times a week. 

Today I’m going to begin a new “Share Your Faith Friday” the purpose to remind us to seek opportunities to share our faith with those we interact with.  By no means do I intend to relegate the sharing of the faith to one day a week, but only to serve as a reminder and give some tips or motivation for sharing Christ.  

 This first installment is an idea that an evangelism professor challenged me with, and that I have found very effective.  As you hit the local restaurants this weekend and prepare to pray, simply ask your server, “we are getting ready to pray for our food and just wanted to know if there was anything we could pray for you about.”  Sometimes they will open up and sometimes they will shut you out.  So far I have had a one sit down and tell me about her Dad’s death, another tell me about her kids and her concern for them, and another say no and walk off.  These are just a few of the responses you might receive, but it is an easy way to share your faith and open the door for future conversation as you talk with them throughout dinner. 

You may be already practing this and if so, give me some feedback.  Another hope of share your faith fridays is that it might become a place where you can post names that we can pray for together.

John 14:6–One way, so let’s be active

Matt

Monday Quote

As many of you, I grew up singing the old hymn, “Trust and Obey, for there is no other way to be happy in Jesus than to trust and obey.”  Now I realize they are two different words with two different definitions, but for years I have made the mistake of lumping the two together. 

I have been reading a book by Jerry Brides, Trusting God, in which he opens by discussing the differences between the two.  This is only a small excerpt and cannot do justice to his well thought out and delivered writings.

“I have spent a good portion of my adult life encouraging people pursue holiness; to obey God.  Yet, I acknowledge it often seems more difficult to trust God than to obey Him.  The moral will of God given to us in the Bible is rational and reasonable.  The circumstances in which we must trust God often appear irrational and inexplicable.”

“Obeying God is worked out within well-defined boundaries of God’s revealed will. Trusting God is worked out in an arena that has no boundaries.  We do not know the extent, the duration, or the frequency of the painful, adverse circumstances in which we must frequently trust God.”

I realize that is more than just a quote, but wanted to include the second set to give you more of an idea about where he was going. 

The question is do you trust God? 

Today I would say, “Absolutely, I trust God.”  Although I must realize I write this quote from a comfortable chair, in good health, with family in good health, with friends, a comfortable bed, plenty food, etc.  Is my trust for God dependent upon my circumstances or my relationship with Him?  I would hope to say my relationship with Him, but that will be tested when my circumstances change, and on earth I have learned the WILL change.