If you're planning on giving a lecture or talk about an apologetics topic, but you're having a hard time putting together your presentation, this resource is for you. In the past we've featured the PowerPoint directory, but since then a great resource has come on the scene supplying FREE apologetics PowerPoints: The PowerPoint Apologist. They supply polished and professional Christian apologetic Powerpoint presentations that you can download and use free of charge in your church or classroom setting to teach and defend the truths of the Christian faith.

Check out The PowerPoint Apologist here.
Enjoy.

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with John Warwick Montgomery. Original audio here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.

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Possible Worlds: Ways the actual world could have been. In the actual world I have brown hair, but perhaps there is a possible world in which I have blond hair. A set of alternatives to the actual world constitutes a possible world if it is maximal in scope -- every possible state of affairs is either included or excluded. The concept of possible worlds is widely used to make sense of such modal concepts as "necessity" and "possibility," and these terms figure prominently in the ontological argument and debates about the problem of evil. Leibniz is usually credited with first using the concept of a possible world.1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 94.

Today's interview is with Chad Meister, professor of philosophy at Bethel College. He talks about his background and how he got into philosophy and apologetics, a defense of philosophy as a tool in apologetics, what philosophy is and isn't, his book Building Belief: Constructing Faith from the Ground Up, the starting points for apologetic/evangelistic engagement, ontology/epistemology distinctions when reasoning about God's existence, the role of the Holy Spirit, advice for communicators, and more.
Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews podcast here or in iTunes.

"The mind can atrophy, like the muscles, if it is not used. Atrophy of the mental muscles is the penalty that we pay for not taking mental exercise. And this is a terrible penalty, for there is evidence that atrophy of the mind is a mortal disease."

- Mortimer J. Adler
& Charles Van Doren

Mortimer J. Adler & Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book (New York, NY: Simon & Schuster, Inc., 1972), p. 345.

[HT: Ken Samples]

It was with much anticipation that I began reading Victor Reppert's book C.S. Lewis's Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument from Reason.  Shortly after discovering the discipline of apologetics, theArgument from Reason (AFR) was one of the first arguments I remember coming across and I recall wondering, "Why don't more apologists use this argument?" 

It was with this question, and others like it, that I began reading Reppert's book and not only did I find the answers to a number of my questions, but it became apparent to this reviewer that the AFR is a much richer argument than I had previously imagined.  However, I want to be sure to point out that this book is not just for those interested in the AFR.  Lewis enthusiasts will also greatly benefit from it's pages as Reppert addresses questions about Lewis's apologetic methodology and further dispels some of the various myths that surround Lewis and his history.  These include Lewis's supposed loss of confidence in apologetic arguments and the popular claim that philosopher Elizabeth Anscombe demonstrated Lewis's AFR to be invalid.

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Please use Apologetics315's Amazon affiliate links when doing your Christmas Shopping. Thanks!
• Textual Criticism in a Nutshell
• Ten Quotes on Christian Apologetics
• 12 Quotes: Thinking About Christianity
• Great, Simple online Bible: Literal Word
• Cold-Case Christianity Promo Video
• Encouragement for Evangelical Philosophers
• What helps a Jehovahs Witness break free?
• What Training Do We Need to Interpret the Bible?
• Thanksgiving Resources from Stand to Reason
• What Comes First? Epistemology or Metaphysics?
• So Who Exactly Are We Supposed to Thank on Thanksgiving?
• When Nothing is Extraordinary: Another Problem with ECREE
• William Lane Craig debates James Crossley on the resurrection of Jesus
• New Film Showcases C.S. Lewis's Unheeded Warnings on the Abuse of Science

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• Exclusivity: How can there be just one true religion? MP3
• Suffering: If God is good, why is there so much evil in the world? MP3
• Absolutism: Don't we all have to find truth for ourselves? MP3
• Injustice: Hasn't Christianity been an instrument for oppression? MP3
• Hell: Isn't the God of Christianity an angry Judge? MP3
• Doubt: What should I do with my doubts? MP3
• Literalism: Isn't the Bible historically unreliable and regressive? MP3

Enjoy.

In this lecture apologist Douglas Jacoby offers insights in studying the scriptures. He explores the right and wrong ways of reading the Bible, delves into the importance of reading, and challenges listeners to dig deeper into Bible study. More resources by Douglas Jacoby here. (Also check out the classic book How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Stuart & Fee.)

Full MP3 Audio here (1hr)
Enjoy.

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Paul Copan. Original audio here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.

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BA: Hello, this is Brian Auten of Apologetics315. Today I interview Christian apologist and philosopher Paul Copan. This is my second interview with Paul, the first covered a number of different topics for apologists, but today’s interview will focus on his recent book release entitled, Is God A Moral Monster?: Making Sense of the Old Testament God. I hope to explore just a few of the many questions that Paul covers in this extremely useful book. Thanks for joining me today Paul.

PC: Glad to be with you Brian, thank you.

BA: Well, I’ve enjoyed all of the books that I’ve read of yours, but I must say that this one in particular could be one of the weightiest in its subject matter. It covers the emotionally charged issues that surround the “God of the Old Testament,” and you’re looking at the moral and the ethical questions that are raised by these various historical narratives in the Old Testament. Why don’t you, Paul, if you could, just describe briefly what your overall goal is in writing this book.

Ontological Argument: A priori argument for God's existence holding that the concept of God implies his necessary existence. Anselm is credited with originating this argument with his claim that God is a being "than which none greater can be conceived" and that a being who existed only in thought would not be such a being.

The argument was defended by Rene Descartes and Gottfried Leibniz and attacked by David Hume and Immanuel Kant. In the twentieth century the argument was defended by Alvin Plantinga, Norman Malcolm and Charles Hartshorne. Some of the twentieth-century versions stressed the idea that necessary existence is an essential property of God.1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 85.

Today's interview is with Lou Markos, Professor in English and Scholar in Residence at Houston Baptist University. And he's a C.S. Lewis expert. He talks about literary apologetics (or cultural apologetics), why and how Christians should write and be involved in culture, his recent book On the Shoulders of Hobbits: The Road to Virtue with Tolkien and Lewis, the different approaches of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings, The Silmarillion, how we need cultural apologists today, HBU's apologetics program, advice for apologists, and the biggest apologetic lesson he has learned from C.S. Lewis.

Full Interview MP3 Audio here (52 min)
Books by Louis Markos include:
Enjoy.
Subscribe to the Apologetics 315 Interviews podcast here or in iTunes.

“God can and does speak to unbelievers through reason, beauty, moral failure, and the existence of evil. As a cloud of apologetical witnesses can testify, God has used philosophical arguments for his existence, scientific supports for the universe’s beginning (Big Bang) and its fine-tuning, and historical evidences for the resurrection of Jesus to assist people in embracing Christ—just as God uses the preaching of the gospel (Romans1:16) or the loving character of a Christian community (John 13:35). These are all part of the holistic witness to the reality of God and the gospel, all of which the Spirit of God can use to lead unbelievers to embracing Jesus Christ.”

- Paul Copan

[HT Christian Apologetics UK]

So you want to get into apologetics and you don’t know where to start? There’s a plan for that. And it’s not a difficult plan, but it will require you to get to work.

It’s a common question that people ask me: “What’s your advice for someone just starting out in apologetics?” It might seem like the answer would be complex or deep in some way. However, the answer I give is simple. Here it is, step by step.

THE PERSONAL STUDY PLAN
Here’s what you need to do to get started on your own personal study plan to get started in apologetics.

Here are this week's recommended apologetics links. Enjoy.
• Bad Pro-Choice Arguments
• 11 Objections to the Kalam
• Apologetics315 Book Review Team
• Where Are All the Women Apologists?
• Navy SEAL: Chad Williams Interview
• Understanding the Calling of the Apologist
• The Lack of Unbiased Evidence for Jesus
• Six reasons why people reject Christianity
• Review: Atheism’s New Clothes By David Glass
• Who Chose the Books of the Bible and Why?
• Five Ways Science Confirms the Existence of God
• The Sufficiency of Probability in Christian Faith
• What is the biggest challenge to today’s apologist?
• Who wrote the Gospels? video by Michael J. Kruger
• Why do famous atheists believe that God does not exist?
• "SEAL of God" Kindle book for FREE (former Navy SEAL)
• Apologetics: Fighting Last Year’s Battles, Last Year’s Way
• How Do We Know Truth Is Absolute, Unified, and Objective?
• Sean McDowell explains the pro-life view to ordinary people in an ordinary church
• William Lane Craig lectures against naturalism at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland
• 10 Misconceptions about the NT Canon: #9: “The Gospels Were Not Written by the Individuals Named in Their Titles”

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On September 29, 2012, Watermark Community Church hosted the Contending with Christianity's Critics Conference. This apologetics event had special guests, Ravi Zacharias, William Lane Craig, Frank Turek, John Stonestreet, Daniel Wallace, and Greg Koukl. Now all the media is available online from Watermark Community Church. Go right there with this link for audio/video. Want all the audios together? Use the RSS FEED here. Want to check out individual lectures? See below:

In this lecture, provided by Faith Bible Church, literary apologist Holly Ordway discusses the role of literature and culture in applying apologetics. (You may also be interested in her interviews with Ap315 here and here.) Holly is author of Not God’s Type: A Rational Academic Finds a Radical Faith, which is highly recommended by Apologetics 315.

Full MP3 Audio here (55 min)
Enjoy.

The following transcript is from an Apologetics 315 interview with Michael J. Kruger. Original audio here. If you enjoy transcripts, please consider supporting, which makes this possible.

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BA: Hello, this is Brian Auten of Apologetics 315. Today's interview is with Professor of New Testament, Dr. Michael J. Kruger. Dr. Kruger teaches at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC. His area of expertise is in the development of the New Testament canon, the Gospels, and the development of early Christianity. His latest book is Canon Revisited: Establishing the Origins, and Authority of the New Testament Books.

The purpose of today's interview is to learn more about the formation of the New Testament canon, the writing of the Gospels, and gain some insights from Dr. Kruger about understanding and defending the Gospel canon.

Well thanks for joining me for this interview, Dr. Kruger.

MK: Thanks, Brian. Good to be with you.

Worldview: Comprehensive set of basic or ultimate beliefs that fit together in a consistent or coherent manner. A full worldview would include answers to the following questions and more: What kinds of realities are there, and what is ultimately real? What explanation can be given of reality? What is knowledge, and how do we gain it? What is it to have a reasonable or justified belief? What is the good, what is the good life for a human person and how does a person achieve such a life? What is beauty, and how is it related to reality and goodness?1

1. C.Stephen Evans, Pocket Dictionary of Apologetics & Philosophy of Religion (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2002), p. 124.

"Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him."

—Proverbs 26:12

“When you see a book with Leland Ryken’s name, buy it; ask questions later.” For the past 25 years this has been my mantra whenever anyone has wondered about books for the humanities. Leland Ryken’s 1981 volume The Christian Imagination brought together essential essays linking a Christianly coherent liberal arts viewpoint for many. Ryken’s small, exceptional 1985 introduction to a Christian interpretation of literature, Windows to the World: Literature from a Christian Perspective, stoked my own literary fires, lighting the torches of my students. Ryken’s study Redeeming the Time: A Christian Approach to Work and Leisure still stands as the most direct, accessible work on the twin subjects ever written. Of course his books on Bible teaching, the Puritans, Scripture as literature, and Christian interpretation of the classics add to the depth of any learner’s understanding from the pen of a world class scholar. Over the last decade, Ryken has committed his attention to Bible translation. The Word of God in English: Criteria for Excellence in Bible Translation (2002) gives explanation for his oversight of The English Standard Version (2001) including the first ever Literary Study Bible (2007). Lest one would think Ryken simply a writer, he has spent 40 years at Wheaton College training students to properly understand the English canon from a Christian worldview. Consider the multiplicity of students who have had the privilege of Ryken’s literary erudition and expertise. How many homes and churches have a broadened understanding of life having sat under Ryken’s tutelage?!