The first session of a six-week series on apologetics at Above Bar Church, Southampton. May 2010

1. Apologetics

2. Always be prepared to give an answer to
everyone who asks you to give the reason
for the hope that you have. But do this
with gentleness and respect, keeping a
clear conscience . . .
1 Peter 3:15–16, NIV
2

3. If you could say just one thing to someone
about the hope you have, what would it be?
?

4. Always be prepared to give an answer
to everyone who asks you to give the
reason for the hope that you have. But do
this with gentleness and respect, keeping a
clear conscience . . .
1 Peter 3:15–16, NIV
4

5. apologia

6. apo = counter
logia = words

7. For since the creation of the world God's
invisible qualities – his eternal power and
divine nature – have been clearly seen,
being understood from what has been
made, so that men are without excuse.
Romans 1:20, NIV

8. Reasoned arguments
for Christian truth claims

9. Counter-arguments
to other ideas

10. Charlotte’s Web

11. Charlotte’s Web

12. Knowing

13. Showing

14. Knowing

15. the Holy Spirit’s witness

16. encouraging evidence

17. Showing

18. proclaiming

19. persuading

20. defending the reasonableness
of Christian truth claims

21. showing the inadequacy of
non-Christian truth claims

22. the Holy Spirit’s conviction

23. What are the most common objections to
Christianity which you encounter?
What are the most common alternative
?
worldviews which you encounter?

24. worldview clashes

25. Worldviews

26. A worldview is an interpretation of
influences, experiences, circumstances and
insight.
J. Mark Bertrand, Rethinking Worldview

27. A worldview framework

28. Perspectives / foundations
27

29. Perspective and foundations
28

30. Worldviews like maps

31. A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental
orientation of the heart, that can be
expressed as a story or in a set of
presuppositions (assumptions which may be
true, partially true or entirely false) which we
hold (consciously or subconsciously,
consistently or inconsistently) about the basic
constitution of reality, and that provides the
foundation on which we live and move and
have our being.

32. A worldview is a commitment, a fundamental
orientation of the heart, that can be
expressed as a story or in a set of
presuppositions (assumptions which may be
true, partially true or entirely false) which we
hold (consciously or subconsciously,
consistently or inconsistently) about the basic
constitution of reality, and that provides the
foundation on which we live and move and
have our being.

33. salvation

34. reality

35. • Is the physical world all there is?
• Or is it an illusion?
• Is there a God? What kind of God?
• Why is there suffering?

37. Imagine you are part of this conversation
• How would you feel?
• What worldview is being expressed?
• What would you want to say?
35

38. humanity

39. • What makes us human?
• Are we just animals? Or spiritual?
• Does life have any meaning?
• What happens when we die?
• Why do we suffer?

40. Collateral

41. What worldview is Vincent (Tom Cruise)
expressing?
How would you have wanted to respond?
? 39

42. knowledge

43. • How do I know what’s true?
• What is truth? Does it matter?
• What kinds of truth are there?
• What are good and bad reasons for
believing something?
• Where does wisdom come from?
• Where does meaning come from?

44. The History Boys

45. The History Boys

46. morality

47. • Do good and evil exist?
• Are there any moral absolutes?
• Should any action be tolerated?
• How do we know right and wrong?
• What values should we live by?
• What do goodness or beauty mean?
44

48. The Dark Knight

49. What’s the solution to
our most basic need?

50. • Self
• Human progress
• Nothing at all
• Spirituality

51. Darjeeling Ltd

52. www.damaris.org
www.culturewatch.org
www.tonywatkins.org
twitter.com/tonywatkins_
facebook.com/tonywatkinspage

53. 1

54. 2

55. 3