by Rob Lundberg
If you are looking for a good little primer in apologetics, let me recommend a short but very concise read from the late Dr. Norman Geisler and Dr. Joseph Holden. The book is entitled, “Living Loud: Defending Your Faith.” Without going. into full review, this book is designed for the one just learning what apologetics is, and why it is needed.
The purpose of this post though is to share with you something that I have have found helpful as a good reminder for understanding some of the features that are important for one engaging in this spiritual discipline. It is in the form of an acrostic using the letters, A-P-O-L-O-G-E-T-I-C-S.[1]
Just before the close of the opening chapter and the review questions, we find this little acrostics that explains the rules for using apologetics.[2]. That’s right apologetics has rules or guidelines that will keep us in line when we are engaging in the task.
You may want to copy these down or copy and paste the acrostic with a little note of reminder and tape it inside the front or back covers of your Bible. Please feel free to do so!
I have a few Bibles that I use, and have this acrostic on the inside front covers of those Bibles, not only as a reminder for me, but also for an illustration for those who may have a question about apologetics or even be critical of it.
We get a lot of brush back when the word apologetics even gets mentioned. Some are intimidated by the word. This need not be! And this acrostic will prayerfully help diffuse some of the criticism and be a good reminder to us as well.
Here is the acrostic
A – Always in prayer
P – Pre-evangelism (establishing a theistic worldview)
O – Obstacles removed
L – Loving your neighbor as yourself
O – Overcoming discouragements
G – Gospel message is the goal
E – Encourage friendships
T – Truth is communicated
I – Illuminate and illustrate the Scriptures
C – Communicate Christ and His credibility
S – Scripture is ALWAYS the final authority
With all that is going on in the culture and in the church, let me close with not 1 Peter 3:15-17, but with a passage that is appropriate to the times (not that any other verse would not, but this one sticks out in my mind).
“That you contend (not be contentious) earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints” – Jude 3.
I pray that this quick post is a help to you as you seek to give a reason for the hope that YOU have in Christ.
Blessings,
Rob
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Notes
[1] Norman Geisler and Joseph Holden, “Living Loud: Defending Your Faith.” (Nashville: B&H Publshing Group, 2002, 15.
[2] Ibid.
Rob is a blogger, writer and public speaker on a mission to equip the believer to think and articulate what they believe and to communicate the message of the gospel to a confused culture in a chaotic, “brave new world.”
He is available to come and speak to your church, college club, or group. Find out what people are saying. If you would like to support this ministry with a one time or a monthly gift, you can do that by clicking here
If you would like to book Rob for a speaking event, you can do so by emailing him at realissueapologetics@yahoo.com If you have other questions about apologetics or doing apologetics, or if you are looking for apologetics resources, contact our ministry by email.
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