Message 03 - Pre-Evangelism

Main Ideas / Concepts

• Christian apologetics is a “defense” of the truth of Christianity—given to believers who are asked why they hope in what they believe (rooted in 1 Peter 3).
• The goal is not only proclamation, but also substantiation:
  • Early Christian preaching included clarifying and defending what Christianity actually claimed.
  • New Testament authors present Christianity with reference to eyewitness testimony, similar in function to courtroom witness testimony.
• Apologetics matters even though God must ultimately convert people:
  • The speaker affirms a Reformed view: conversion requires the Holy Spirit changing the heart.
  • Human reasoning/arguments are still required as a faithful responsibility, but only God brings the “increase.”
  • Therefore, apologetics is part of God’s means—even if results are ultimately God’s work.
• “Pre-evangelism” is where apologetics is especially useful:
  • It addresses the intellectual and informational groundwork people need before they can trust Christ.
  • It helps stop misunderstanding and distortions (the speaker references past misconceptions and opponents being “shamed” when truth is defended).
• Saving faith is more than “belief that something is true”:
  • The speaker reviews the Reformation doctrine of justification by faith alone, clarifying that saving faith is not faith “alone” in a way that lacks spiritual life.
  • James is used to argue that faith without obedience/response is dead—i.e., not genuine saving faith.
• Saving faith has distinguishable levels/elements (recalled to explain where apologetics fits):
  1. Notitia (information/knowledge/content) — what the mind must be able to understand and process.
  2. Assensus (intellectual assent) — mental agreement that the propositions are true.
  3. Fiducia (personal trust/reliance/affection for Christ) — heart-level reliance flowing from a changed life, uniquely enabled by the Holy Spirit.

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Methodology / Instructional Bullet Points Presented

A. How apologetics supports “pre-evangelism” (based on the three levels of saving faith)

• Step 1: Provide the correct “content” (Notitia)

  • Explain that faith has an object (faith in something specific), not just sincerity.
  • Provide basic Christian content such as:
    • Jesus’ incarnation/birth “according to the scriptures”
    • Jesus’ suffering and crucifixion “for their sins”
    • Jesus’ resurrection from the dead
    • (and related core claims)
  • Ensure people understand foundational issues needed for response, such as:
    • need for a savior
    • understanding sin
    • God’s existence
    • estrangement from God and exposure to judgment

• Step 2: Seek/clarify “intellectual assent” (Assensus)

  • Address confusion that a “relationship with Jesus” can exist while rejecting the factual truth about Jesus.
  • Emphasize that saving relationship requires believing what is asserted about Jesus, including:
    • Jesus being the Eternal Son of God
    • Jesus’ death as real atonement
    • Jesus’ resurrection (contrasted with having a relationship with a “corpse”)
  • Use James-type reasoning to show that mere assent is insufficient:
    • even demons know/acknowledge truth but do not have saving trust (they tremble rather than repent).

• Step 3: Explain that “personal trust” (Fiducia) is Spirit-enabled

  • Clarify that even with accurate information and assent, saving trust requires the Holy Spirit.
  • Apologetics prepares the ground, but does not manufacture conversion.

B. How to defend Christianity rather than fall into “blind faith” thinking

• Reject the idea that the Bible teaches a “leap of faith into darkness.”
  • The speaker argues Christianity calls for moving from darkness into light, not trusting without reasons.
• Provide evidence aligned with New Testament claims
  • Stress the public, historically grounded nature of key events:
    • crucifixion and resurrection were not portrayed as hidden/private events
    • eyewitness testimony is central (e.g., “more than 500” mentioned in the speaker’s summary)
• Aim to show claims are “compelling” rather than demanding credulity
  • The apologetic task is to demonstrate that commitment is reasonable and honors Christ.
• Do the “homework” of engaging objections
  • The speaker criticizes avoiding responsibility by saying people “just have to take it on faith.”
  • Uses biblical examples where God validates missions with tangible signs (example: Moses confronting Pharaoh with signs like healing leprosy and staff becoming a snake).

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Lessons / Takeaways

• Apologetics supports evangelism by correcting misunderstanding and supplying necessary intellectual groundwork.
• Christian faith is not “anything sincerely believed,” but faith in specific truth claims.
• Truth knowledge and assent are necessary but not sufficient; saving trust depends on the Holy Spirit.
• Faith should be grounded in real evidence and coherent reasons, not blind credulity.
• Defending Christian truth is an act of honoring Christ by showing its claims are not nonsense or absurdity.

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Speakers / Sources Featured

• Peter (apostolic teaching; referenced through 1 Peter 3)
• Paul (referenced through Mars Hill / Athens and discussions with Agrippa)
• Luke (referenced through how Luke begins the Gospel via investigation and eyewitness sources)
• John Calvin (quoted indirectly: “stopping the mouths of the obstreperous” / bringing opponents to shame)
• James (referenced through James 2 about faith without works being dead)
• Luther (Martin Luther; referenced via justification by faith alone, but “not by a faith that is alone”)
• “Dr. Kennedy” (mentioned regarding demons believing yet not having saving faith)
• Reformed theologians / Reformed thinkers (as a source category; discussed as the speaker’s perspective)
• Scripture references used as sources:
  • 1 Peter 3
  • James 2
  • Genesis / Old Testament (Baal/trust in idols mentioned)
  • Acts (Mars Hill; Paul’s preaching in Athens)
  • Paul’s testimony themes (resurrection and public events)
  • Exodus (Moses/Pharaoh signs mentioned)