1. Giving a Reason for what we Believe Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

2. Ps 14:1 Only a fool would say, “There is no God!” People like that are worthless; they are heartless and cruel and never do right. Prov 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing. (Edmund Burke) Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

3. It does NOT mean “apologising”! I Pet 3:15 Always be prepared to give a defence to everyone who asks you to explain the hope you have. Jude 3 continue your vigorous defence of the faith that was passed down to the saints once and for all. Act 18:4 Every Sabbath (Paul) would argue in the synagogue and try to persuade both Jews and Greeks. (see also Acts 26:28; II Cor 5:11) Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

4. No interest in truth but in pragmatism — “does it work?” Relativism — “works for you, not for all.” If no absolute truth, can be no objectivity therefore no discussion about anything. Moral decisions without external objective reality (i.e. spiritual absolute) like sorting numbers into order without reference to external standard. If mankind’s moral / ethical standards defined by Man, judgements such as “better” or “worse” equally meaningless. Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

5. “There is no such thing as absolute truth; two people could define truth in totally conflicting ways, but both could still be correct.” (72% agree) “There are no absolute standards that apply to everybody in all situations.” (71% agree) 53% of those who claim there is no such thing as absolute truth say they are born-again Christians. “No such thing as absolute truth; two conflicting definitions of truth could both still be correct.” (42% of those who say they are evangelical Christians agree) Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

9. You are Thinking Thinkers Exist You Exist Whatever has a Beginning has a Cause The outside world Exists & had a Beginning Universe could not Begin on its own 2 nd Law of Thermodynamics Universe winding down (sun using up fuel) Universe had a Beginning Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

10. Universe could not Begin on its own Universe winding down (sun using up fuel) Universe had a Beginning Universe cannot explain itself There must be something else That Something must be Supernatural The Supernatural must be the Prime Mover, Eternal, Omnipotent & Omniscient In the Beginning, God … Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

11. Don’t start arguing here! Best arguments begin with Jesus: He who has seen Me has seen the Father. Jn 14:9 Why is Jesus God? Because of resurrection! How can we know? Because of eye-witnesses! How can trust these accounts? Compare historical proofs of NT documents with other, contemporary, documentary evidence. Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

12. Internal evidence — date & authorship. Claim to be records of eye-witnesses & close associates. External evidence — Paul’s death in 64-65 AD under Nero not recorded in Acts Highly probable Acts completed before 64-65 AD Acts is “sequel”, so Gospel must be pre-64 AD. Luke claims to be using already existing works — probably Mark, possibly Matthew so these must have been written between 34-64 AD. Cannot be forgeries or inventions — simply not enough time! Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserve d

13. John Papias Irenaeus (Lyon) Eusebius (Caesarea) Polycarp Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved

14. Manuscripts Archaeology Prophecy Statistics Manuscripts Eyewitnesses (Luke) External Enemies Many have tried to disprove – all failed Old in New Revealed, Concealed Remember the maths Copyright 15/03/2011 By Steve Maclean. All rights Reserved