1. “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind.” Luke 10:27

2. Result Atheism – Agnosticism – Apathy

3. 2 Ways NOT to respond 1. 2.

4. Loving God with your mind Understanding the issue A rational response A simple argument Being equipped to engage 1. 2. 3. 4.

5. Loving God with your mind Understanding the issue A rational response A simple argument Being equipped to engage 1. 2. 3. 4.

6. Sin Hurts rejection Rational experience Church Gospel Don’t know Isaiah 64:6: We are all infected and impure with sin. When we display our righteous deeds, they are nothing but filthy rags. Like autumn leaves, we wither and fall, and our sins sweep us away like the wind. Romans 10:17: Consequently, faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ. John 3:12: I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? Change

7. Impact on believers Feeling defeated and marginalized Doubt Cocoon mentality – “I don’t care about facts, I have my faith” Unable to have productive conversations to share the faith Antagonism toward non-believers

8. Loving God with your mind Understanding the issue A rational response A simple argument Being equipped to engage 1. 2. 3. 4.

9. But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. 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. 1 Peter 3:15

10. Philosophy – Science – History – Archeology – Textual Criticism A Forceful Response

11. Loving God with your mind Understanding the issue A rational response A simple argument Being equipped to engage 1. 2. 3. 4.

12. A source of morality Is there such thing as objective right and wrong? If there is a moral law, there must be a law giver Candidates – The universe – The individual – Society/Culture – A transcendent Creator Conclusion: God exists Hebrews 10:16: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds.

13. A resurrection hypothesis New Testament scholars – from conservative Christians to liberal skeptics – agree on a number of “facts” regarding Jesus: – Jesus was a real, historical person – He was crucified and buried – His tomb was found empty – His followers had experiences of the resurrected Jesus – Based on these experiences, his followers started the Christian movement – most dying as martyrs These facts need an explanation Conclusion: God raised Jesus

14. God exists, and He raised Jesus from the dead… So what? 1 Corinthians 15:17-18, 32: If Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost… If the dead are not raised, “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” 1 Corinthians 15:20: But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead, the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.

15. Loving God with your mind Understanding the issue A rational response A simple argument Being equipped to engage 1. 2. 3. 4.

16. Ideas for life 1.Be encouraged and confident! 2.Prepare the youth 3.Evangelism is about winning souls, not winning arguments – Listen and demonstrate love – Discern your conversations – Trust the Holy Spirit to act 4.Remember: it may only be step one James 1:19-20: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Matthew 7:6: Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 1 Corinthians 12:3: No one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

17. Sin Hurts rejection Rational experience Church Gospel Don’t know 1 John 4:9-10: This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Change