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A church that serves together grows together. Nothing stimulates church health and vitality like serving others together. On the night that he was betrayed, before the last supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. After this shocking action, he says, “I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.” Jesus sets the standard for his disciples. We should do just as he has done for us. And he served us by laying down his life for us. Jesus also gives the incentive. He says, “Blessed are you if you do them.” We are blessed if we follow in his footsteps in sacrificially serving others. Let me highlight some of those blessings. 1. Serving others trains our hearts in humility. Paul says in Philippians 2:3-4, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” Paul explains that humility means that we consider others as more important than ourselves. This humility manifests itself when we look out for the interests of others, when we serve others. It works the other way around as well. When we serve others, our hearts begin to value the other person as significant. ... Keep Reading

Gospel Conversations in Ongoing Relationships This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. As Mark Farnham wraps up this practical book on apologetics, he concludes by applying the principles to long-term relationships with unbelievers. In the abstract, the apologetic method Farnham has outlined in this book directly applies to spontaneous conversations that we might strike up with unbelievers we just meet. In reality, however, most of us are thinking of unbelievers with whom we have an ongoing relationship: a family member, a neighbor, a friend, or coworker. What does an apologetic conversation look like with someone we know? Farnham gives some practical guidance for these kinds of conversations. First, Farnham reminds us that “salvation is a work of the Holy Spirit” (p. 168). He touched on this in chapter 3 of his book, The Power of Apologetics. While it is the work of the Spirit to move in the hearts of unbelievers to lead them to repentance and faith, God delights to use us in the process. The relationships we have with unbelievers are gospel opportunities. Let’s be praying for these unbelievers that God has placed in our lives. Farnham says, “We should pray! Long-term, fervent, directed prayer for unbelievers is the best way for us to channel our angst into productive activity…I’ve noticed that when I allow weeks to go by without praying for my friends, I begin to lose my sense of urgency over speaking with them about Christ” (p. 172). ... Keep Reading

Logical Mistakes to Avoid This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. A common objection raised against the Christian faith is that it is not logical. Logic, however, is a gift of God who created this world and everything in it. The truth will be, must be, logical. “While it is true that Christians can be illogical and irrational, the Christian faith is neither of these things. The Christian faith is the only belief system that reflects the nature of the world and of truth as it is” (p. 151). Therefore, we ought to be logical as we defend and commend the Christian faith, while challenging our conversation partners logic, or lack thereof, behind their false beliefs. Farnham uses this chapter to equip us with some logic tools. “Logic is the art and science of reasoning well” (p. 152). Logical fallacies are, therefore, “flaws in reasoning that at first hearing seem to be true but on examination are found to be false” (p. 152). Farnham explains several logical fallacies with examples of how Christians and unbelievers might use each. The aim in this lesson is twofold: help Christians avoid using these logical fallacies and help Christians discern logical fallacies behind false beliefs. Let me briefly highlight several of the logical fallacies Farnham touches on. ... Keep Reading

Strategies for Effective Gospel Encounters This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. Mark Farnham has covered the core of his apologetic method already. He laid the foundation for apologetics. He provided a biblical view of unbelievers. He gave an overview of addressing the false beliefs of unbelievers. And he outlined the core components of the gospel to be sharing. In the last few chapters of his book, he provides some practical tips for navigating apologetic conversations with unbelievers. He wants to help equip his readers with some further tools. In this chapter, Farnham wants “to talk about specific tactics that Christians can use to expose unbelievers’ presuppositions and worldviews” (p. 138). Without confronting these false beliefs, one will not look for answers in the gospel. The first tactic is Listen for Mistaken Beliefs. Unbelievers often resist the gospel because they hold “facts” that actually prove to be unfounded. Farnham states, “You must automatically challenge any ‘fact’ that supposedly discredits the truth of the gospel…You must begin with the basic presupposition that this is God’s world and that everything in it declares his glory” (p. 139). We can do this by asking for sources of information or an explanation for how the “fact” discredits the Christian faith. “We dare not let mistaken or erroneous ideas go unchallenged during a discussion, lest we undermine the conversation later on” (p. 140). ... Keep Reading

Sharing the Gospel Effectively This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. I served in youth ministry for 14 years before receiving the call as pastor at Oak Hills. Early in those years I served on a team of local youth ministers who invited a well-known speaker to come in to the local high schools for student assemblies. During those school-day assemblies, the speaker gave a talk about positive self-image and self-esteem. Then there was an invitation to come back in the evening for another talk. Outside of the school context, the speaker could then present the gospel. There were a lot of funny stories. There were a lot of emotionally charged stories. Then the speaker spoke about how Jesus had made a difference in his life. No mention of sin. No mention of the cross. No explicit Scripture. Just a vague sense of Jesus’ love and how he makes life better. The speaker closed that message with the invitation, “Give Jesus a chance!” Was the gospel presented? Sadly, I do not believe the gospel was presented to that gathering. It is crucial to be clear on what the gospel is. The Good News is that sinful rebels can be forgiven and reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Our sin is our greatest problem. And the work of Christ on the cross is our only hope of rescue. In the previous chapter, Farnham said, “The end goal of apologetics is evangelism—leading other people to repent and place their trust in Jesus Christ for salvation” (p. 107). Now he wants to help us share the gospel effectively. “It is critical for us to share the gospel accurately, specifically, and effectively” (p. 126). He has four tactics to effectively share the gospel. ... Keep Reading

Getting Them to Jesus This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. What is the purpose of apologetics? Win an argument with an unbeliever? Expose false beliefs as foolish? Bolster your confidence and intelligence in the Christian faith? Protect the church from false teaching? Some of these might be good reasons to engage in apologetics, but they all fall short of the primary goal. Farnham warns, “Unless we are clear about where we are trying to lead our unbelieving conversation partners, we may find ourselves defending a general belief in God, or promoting a vague life change, instead of faithfully proclaiming the heart of Christianity itself” (p. 107). ... Keep Reading

Destroying Strongholds This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. Up to this point, Farnham has been laying the groundwork for his apologetics method. What is the nature of apologetics? Does the Bible commend and encourage apologetic work? What power lies behind apologetics? And what does the Bible teach us about unbelievers? Now he begins to lay out his apologetic method. What does an apologetic conversation with an unbeliever look like? 2 Corinthians 10:3-5 gives the background to Farnham’s apologetic method. Paul writes, “For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ.” The “strongholds” of unbelievers are the authorities on which they rely for some sense of security, significance, or acceptance. These may be science or human reason or religion or family or their own experience. Farnham’s apologetic method is aimed at weakening the unbeliever’s confidence in his or her “stronghold.” He writes, “As we converse with unbelievers, we seek to show the weakness and incoherence of their worldview” (p. 88). ... Keep Reading

Understanding Unbelievers This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. You might be wondering why I am using this space to present summaries of this book, Every Believer Confident. I have two primary reasons: one is pastoral, and one is selfish. As a pastor, Jesus calls me to “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12). Every Christian needs to be equipped for evangelism. I find this book to be an excellent resource for equipping us for sharing our faith. The selfish reason… writing each week for Touchpoint holds me accountable to keep working through the book. Writing also pushes me to think through the material on a deeper level. I pray that we all would benefit from this study and God would strengthen us for sharing our faith. Mark Farnham contends that one way to overcome the fear of sharing Christ with unbelievers is understanding the nature of unbelievers. In this chapter, he brings his readers to Romans 1, which, he says, “provides a detailed description of God’s view of the inner workings of unregenerate human hearts” (p. 67). Paul writes in verses 18-20, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” Farnham draws out several truths about unbelievers from this passage. ... Keep Reading

The Power of Apologetics This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. Before getting into the meat of apologetics (i.e. presenting the truths of the Christian faith), Mark Farnham lays the groundwork for apologetics in the opening chapters. He has explained his definition of and approach to apologetics. He has made a case from Scripture that God expects, even commands, his people to do the work of apologetics. In the third chapter he addresses the power of apologetics. In our modern, rational world, and with an understanding of apologetics as being defending truth, many would assume that the power of apologetics lies in one’s knowledge and thinking ability. This can be intimidating for many who feel inadequate for the task. Farnham, however, gives great encouragement for the apologetic task. This chapter is very important for us. ... Keep Reading

The Biblical Warrant for Apologetics This is a multi-part series interacting with Mark J. Farnham’s new book, Every Believer Confident: Apologetics for the Ordinary Christian. Farnham is the founder and director of Apologetics for the Church and professor of apologetics at Lancaster Bible College and Capital Seminary. He states, “The purpose of this book is to help you to know, appreciate, firmly grasp, proclaim, and defend the Christian faith. My ultimate goal is to strengthen your faith, so you can confidently and effectively persuade unbelievers to believe in Jesus Christ” (p. 16). Let’s dig into the book together and see how our faith might be strengthened. Farnham opens his book by explaining what apologetics is. We looked at this last week. In a nutshell, apologetics is the defending and commending of the Christian faith. Farnham contends that “apologetics and evangelism are designed to be complementary” (p. 19). In fact, he goes on to state, “If we abandon apologetics, we abandon evangelism” (p. 34). Apologetics is the means to address the concerns and objections unbelievers hold in order that they may be receptive to the truth of the gospel. In his second chapter, Farnham demonstrates that there is biblical warrant for apologetics. He is responding to some Christians’ rejection of apologetics. Some might feel that the gospel does not need to be defended by Christians; we merely need to present it. Farnham walks through the Bible to show that God has called his people, from the very beginning, to defend the truth and God’s glory. The defense of the truth starts in the Garden of Eden. In Genesis 2:15, God commands Adam to “work it and keep it.” That word “keep” literally means to guard or protect. The Fall of Genesis 3 results from the failure of Adam to defend his wife and the Garden from the lies of Satan. ... Keep Reading