2. CONVICTING THE GAINSAYER: A Christians Answer to Atheism
INTRODUCTION
CONVICTING THE GAINSAYER: A Christians Answer to Atheism

3. What would your answer be?

4. But sanctify Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear. --I Pet. 3:15 Apologia = give a defense

5. The unexamined life is not worth living
The unexamined life is not worth living. --Socrates The unexamined faith is not worth believing. --Norman Geisler

6. Jesus said to him, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. --Matt. 22:37

7. Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,… II Cor. 10:5

8. EVIDENCES

12. Circular Reasoning

13. We will rely on logic to begin with

14. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, -- Rom. 1:20

15. Paul in Athens (Acts 17:17): Therefore he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and with the Gentile worshipers, and in the marketplace daily with those who happened to be there.

16. End Intro.

17. LESSON 1
PEOPLE CAN CHANGE

18. Thanks to evolution, naturalism is now the dominant religion of modern society. Naturalism has replaced Christianity as the main religion of the western world and evolution has become its principle dogma. --John MacArthur

19. Worldviews Materialism vs Spiritualism

20. Why It Matters Rom. 3:23 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Rom. 6:23 The wages of sin is death…

21. God “cannot endure iniquity”. --Isa. 1:13

22. God’s remedy – Col. 1:14 …in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.

23. For the materialists,
this is irrelevant

24. The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” --Psa. 14:1

25. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, --Rom. 1:20

26. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. --John 3:16

27. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. --II Pet. 3:9

28. We should, therefore, “persuade.”

29. The great commission: “Make disciples of all men.” --Matt. 28:19

30. Penn Jillette

31. Is it possible to convert the atheist?

32. People can change!

33. The wicked can change. --Ezek. 18:27

34. King Manasseh II Chron. 33; II Kings 21

35. Manasseh Rebuilt the high places,
Caused his own children to pass through the fire,
Used witchcraft,
Practiced sorcery,
Murdered innocents,
Filled streets of Jerusalem with blood.

36. But he changed!
Removed foreign gods and idols from the house of the Lord,
Set an altar for the sacrifice to the Lord,
Began peace and thanksgiving offerings,
Ordered Judah to serve the Lord of Israel.

37. The Apostle Paul

38. Sins of the Corinthians: Fornication Idolatry Homosexuality Thievery Drunkenness Revelry Swindling

39. Christian Apologists:
1) Josh McDowell 2) C.S. Lewis 3) Russell Humphreys 4) Lee Strobell 5) J. Warner Wallace 6) Spike Psarris 7) Grady McMurtry 8) Others

40. What is the common denominator?

41. Anthony Flew Atheist – Evolutionist “Theology and Falsification”
Proposed the universe
is eternal
Signed the Humanist Manifesto III
“We stop and start with the universe itself.”

42. Yet he changed!

43. A look at true science points to
God
And
it isn’t
even
close!

44. But the gospel saves,
not evidences

45. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation… --Rom. 1:16

46. Change is a two-way street

47. Ezekiel warned the righteous not to fall away (13:24)

48. Hymenaeus in Alexander I Tim. 1:20; II Tim. 4:14

49. More recent examples

50. Bringing them to the table

51. Never give up on someone!

52. End Lesson 1