Apologetics and Evidence

            “The beehive is a good example of how different individuals can work together for one common goal. There is very little time to bicker when each bee’s contribution is necessary for survival. When each different group makes its contribution, the hive is strong” (Arnold and Black n. pag.).  It seems that this analogy draws the best picture as to why small groups should form in the first place—for one common goal. This common goal, since we are speaking of Christian small groups, should normally be focused on everyday life situations (such as apologetics, evangelism, philosophy, discipleship, divorce, serving, love, compassion, community, frustration, anxiety, theology, transparency, sex, addictions, etc.), and how the Bible and theology should be applied to these life situations. Small groups, it could be argued in any generation, should have an apologetic bent to them in order to build up new believers, and to encourage mature beli...

Often, people are hostile toward Christianity. It seems that a first step in helping someone come to know Christ personally is to help them change their belief about Christianity from hostility to sympathy. How do we encourage this hostility to turn into sympathy, let alone, humility? It seems that a major key for this is found in 1 Corinthians 9:19-23:   Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I ma...