Learning about Apologetics using the Book of Acts gives practical insight as to how we are to approach the world around us.
Here's a study using God's Word (the Book of Acts) and Richard Pratt's book, "Every Thought Captive" to prepare yourself and your small group with the basics of Apologetics (apologetics is a defense of the Gospel). I like to think of apologetics as a way of being a good steward of what God has given us: His Word.
1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to give a reason for the hope that we have in Christ and to be ready to give a defense of the Gospel at all times. And that means ALL times by EVERY one of us. We are living in times alluded to in 2 Peter 3:15 - 18 which touches on the urgency and power with which we believers need to properly defend our Faith.
Over the weeks, you'll have fun and good stimulating discussion. It is my prayer that you'll come away with practical ideas of how to better present Christ in you to your family, friends, neighbors, and strangers.
Richard Pratt's book "Every thought Captive" (check out the link below) is an excellent resource going through foundational Biblical truths and exposing current "post modern" and "post Christian" thought and world views and how to properly defend YOUR faith. Here are several other resources to consider.
For lesson backgrounds, click on the links to the Blog notes. All downloads are free for you or your church or home Bible study to use.
Introduction. Some introductory thoughts as to the purpose of this Study of "Acts and Apologetics". How the study came to be as well as why you should consider participating. God wants us to think and use every resource available as we properly and purposefully spread the Gospel to the world. Blog notes.
Some addtional thoughts: on 1 Peter 3:15 - 16 ; 2 Peter 3:14 - 18 ; Romans 1:18 - 25
Lesson 1 - Acts & Apologetics - Chapter 1 of the Book of Acts is packed with the basics of Apologetics and how Jesus Christ Himself, teaches us how to approach our world. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 1 - Getting Started
Lesson 2 - Speaking in Tongues - Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts offers some further insight as to how we are to speak and what we are to speak of. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 2 - Tongues
Lesson 3 - Peter's Keys - Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts continues as the Apostle Peter, a once lowly Galilean fisherman, follows Jesus' instruction and speaks. He allows the Holy Spirit to use him and his voice to help bring 3,000 people to faith in Christ. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 3 - Peters Keys.
Lesson 4 - Practicing what we Preach - Chapter 2 of the Book of Acts ends with a word picture of how this new community of believers were leading their lives and their impact on the surrounding neighborhood. That's very good, but what do we believers do with the Bible. How does the Bible relate to Apologetics. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 4 - Practical Preaching.
Lesson 5 - A Right Relationship - Looking at Pratt's "Every thought Captive," we start with REAL basics: Who is God and our relationship to Him. Do we know what we believe and do we believe what we know? Let's stop and take a check of our own personal beliefs or as is called now, our Christian world view. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 5 - Right Relationship
Lesson 6 - The Sin Problem - Sin. That awful 3 lettered word. Chapter 7 of the Book of Acts details Stephen's incredible "apologia" to the Jewish Sanhedrin. Stephen knew that man needed a Savior and God had set the wheels in motion millenia earlier. He told the Truth and for that they took his life. What are the noetic effects of sin? And we reference "Every Thought Captive," Chapter 3 and 4. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 6 - Sin Problem.
Lesson 7 - The Redemption Solution - Sin is ugly but the Redemption we have in Jesus Christ is Glorious! Redemption begins in the mind and then permeates through our entire being restoring our relationship to the way God had intended. References to Acts 8 and "Every Thought Captive," Chapter 5. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 7 - Redemption Solution
Lesson 8 - Defining a World View - What is a "world view"? Everyone has one. What makes up a world view and why is it important to understand as we formulate our apologetic. Born again, Bible believing Christians have a world view. Do you understand yours? How do you not only express it but live it. References to "Every Thought Captive," Chapter 7. Link to Blog notes Part 1 and Part 2 and personal example and commentary. Download Lesson 8 - Christian World View.
Lesson 9 - Non-Christian World View - The unbelieving world view is radically different. In forming our apologetic, we must understand how they think and more importantly, why they think the way they do. References to "Every Thought Captive," Chapter 6. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Why Christian Theism. Download Lesson 9 - Non-Christian World View.
Lesson 10 - The Islamic World View - Western philosophy and thinking, and Christianity in particular, is under seige in all sectors of society. Christianity is tolerated by many but is being "warred against" by zealot Muslims. What do they believe, how do they think? More importantly, how do we Christians share Salvation in Christ to this part of creation that God loves. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 10.
Lesson 11 - Actions and Attitudes - Acts 11:1 - 18; 17:1 - 9; 23:1 - 10; 24:24 - 27. The myths of Neutrality and Autonomy. What is the Christian believer's attitudes and actions to be like when presenting our Apologetic? References to "Every Thought Captive," Chapters 8 and 9. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 11 - Actions Attitudes.
Lesson 12 - Apologetic Strategies - Acts 25 - 26. Paul is standing before 2 leaders that "hold" his fate: the Roman Governor Festus and the Jewish King Agrippa. As we construct our own apologetic, we depend on God, His Word and His working in our lives. We remember that God is our Foundation as well as our Defense. Reference to "Every Thought Captive," Chapters 10 - 14. Link to Blog notes and commentary. Download Lesson 12 - Strategies.
Final Thoughts - A few closing personal thoughts on the importance of Apologetics. Apologetics is not the be all, end all. We need to have a heart for the lost. Final Commentary.
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Every Thought Captive By Richard Pratt / P & R Publishing In down-to-earth language Richard L. Pratt, Jr., has given us this helpful study manual on apologetics, the task of defending the faith. Far from a theoretical exposition, this training manual teaches how to answer nonbelievers and to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ." Pratt shows how the biblical doctrines about humanity and our relationship to our Creator determine how we should do apologetics. Within this theological framework he examines the premises, attitudes, and specific steps involved in a genuinely biblical defense of Christianity. Illustrations and review questions help to make this a valuable tool for individual or group study. |
