DIGGING

DEEPER

Weekly Devotional
WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 8 12, 2014

Digging Deeper is an opportunity for you to continue
your study of Gods Word throughout the week.

MONDAY

Prove it. This is the cry of a generation that is both skeptical of truth
and hostile toward Christianity. The Bible holds the key to all mans
major needs in life, but it is important to remember that we cannot
force ideas into the minds of other people. This week, we will look at
ten Bible passages that tell us why it is important to be prepared to
defend what we believe.

APOLOGETICS MAY SIMPLY BE DEFINED AS:
THE DEFENSE OF THE CHRISTIAN FAITH

QUESTION: WHY DO APOLOGETICS?

We Are Commanded To Defend The Christian Faith

o But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being
ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to
give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with
gentleness and reverence. (I Peter 3:15)

We Are Commanded To Refute False Ideas About God

o We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing
raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are
taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
(2 Cor. 10:5)

TUESDAY




Too many people are turning away from Christianity, and God,
because they have questions and challenges that go unanswered.
Because of this, Christianity is viewed by many as an insanity that is
only for the weak-minded and misguided. Today we will look at two
passages that support the idea that we should be prepared to defend
our faith.

QUESTION: WHY DO APOLOGETICS?

We Are Commanded To Discern True From False Prophets

o Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits
to see whether they are from God, because many false
prophets have gone out into the world. (I John 4:1)

Jesus Corrected Error
o But Jesus answered and said to them, you are mistaken
not understanding the Scriptures nor the power of God.
(Matt. 22:29)

WEDNESDAY




We teach the truths of the Bible because it is part of growing as a
Christian. Jesus modeled this for us in His life, and it is part of our
purpose; there is a real need for it in this fallen world. C. S. Lewis said,
The first qualification for judging any piece of workmanship from a
corkscrew to a cathedral is knowing what it iswhat it was intended
to do and how it was meant to be used.

Jesus left His followers with a very specific mission statement when
He said, Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing
them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and
lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age (Matt. 28: 18-20).
Today we will look at two passages that support the idea that we
should be prepared to defend our faith.

QUESTION: WHY DO APOLOGETICS?

Jesus Rejected False Teachings

o This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is
far from me. But in vain do they worship me, teaching
as doctrines the precepts of men. (Matt. 15:8-9)

Paul Reasoned With People

o But Saul increased all the more in strength, and
confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by
proving that Jesus was the Christ. (Acts 9:22)

THURSDAY




The local church has a serious responsibility to defend the basic
concepts of the Christian faith but cannot keep up with the attacks
without basic tools and training that will equip Christians to love
people enough to answer their hard questions. One noted cult
researcher observed that the cults are the unpaid bills of the
church.

The church has failed to doctrinally train its members; it has failed to
make a real moral difference in the lives of its members; it has failed
to meet peoples deepest needs; and it has failed to provide people
with a sense of belonging. The failure of the church is wide and deep,
and this has made it easy for cults and other world religions to
flourish. Today, we will look at two Bible passages that tell us why it
is important to be prepared to prove and defend what we believe.

QUESTION: WHY DO APOLOGETICS?

Paul Refuted Those Who Opposed The Truth

o Holding fast the faithful word which is in accordance
with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort
in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict.
(Titus 1:9)

Paul Rebuked Those In Error

o This testimony is true. For this reason reprove them
severely so that they may be sound in the faith.
(Titus 1:13)

FRIDAY






The ultimate goal of all Bible study is to cause godly life change. No
matter how many times a person interacts with the Bible, it should
always be fresh and relevant. Every little nuance in the biblical text is
an opportunity to pull out wisdom and truth. For this reason, it is
important not to move too fast through the text. Today we will look at
two final passages that support the idea that we should be prepared
to defend our faith.

QUESTION: WHY DO APOLOGETICS?

Paul Defended The Gospel

o For it is only right for me to feel this way about you all,
because I have you in my heart, since both in my
imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of
the gospel, you all are partakers of grace with me.
(Phil 1:7)

Jude Urged That We Contend For The Faith

o Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you
about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write
to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the
faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.
(Jude 3)

Content for this publication was collected from various resources.
If you have questions or would like a digital copy of this publication,
contact Dr. Stephen Cutchins at cutchinsS@fbchnc.org.