If you live in the Phoenix, AZ area, or know someone who does, and have teenagers then this is an event not to miss! I am partnering with Desert Palms Church in Chandler, AZ to put on a student apologetics conference this summer. There will be food, games, and deep dives into thinking like Christians about issues that matter. Spread the word!
Wednesday, July 12
Session 1: Why The World Craves Super Heroes
In this session Jacob will make a case for the existence of God based upon the innate desire for justice which all people experience. Using the example of superheroes (both of today and throughout history) students will grapple with the notion that there is both a strong desire for justice and a notable lack of true justice in the world. This desire for justice has been expressed through stories about super-human beings who can come to our aid. C. S. Lewis and Blaise Pascal have both made arguments for God’s existence from desire, demonstrating that all natural desires people experience correspond to some real end, in this case God alone is the sufficient means to fulfill our desire for justice. This presentation will use a mix of lecture with visual aids and interactive questioning of the audience.
Session 2: Tactic #1 “What do you mean by that?”
In this session Jacob will begin equipping students to engage others with confidence about things concerning their faith. Christians, both young and old, often get nervous about engaging in evangelism (sharing their faith) and apologetics (defending their faith). The latter sessions of each of our three days together will focus on giving students practical tools which will help them feel more comfortable engaging in conversation with people on issues that matter. Based upon Greg Koukl’s fantastic book, Tactics, students will learn how to fearlessly lead conversations toward truth by asking good questions. A major emphasis will be listening well to what others are saying, extending them respect, and courteously engaging them with truth. In this session students will learn how to ask questions to better understand what others think so that we have clarity about their concerns. The session will bounce back and forth between instruction from the front and students role-playing scenarios in small groups with a leader. No objection to our faith, or against deeply held convictions about anything else, need be a cause of fear when you have been trained in the art of tactical conversation.
Thursday, July 13
Session 1: Is it True that there is no Truth?
We live in a goofy world where people are constantly saying things that don’t make sense! Many people today believe that truth is “relative” to each person and that everyone can believe whatever they want to as if truth were a matter of personal opinion. It’s not at all uncommon, as a matter of fact, for the same person to believe two things at once which cannot possibly be true at the same time. In this session Jacob will teach students about the nature and foundation of truth and demonstrate that, try as they may, no one can escape the truth. Learning just a little bit about logic and good reasoning will go a long way in showing that we live in a real world with absolute truths that are inescapable. Pontus Pilate once asked Jesus “Quid est veritas” (Latin for, “What is truth?”) while not realizing that he was looking Truth itself in the face. Jesus has proclaimed to the world, “I am the way, the truth, and the life and no one comes to the Father except through me.”
Session 2: Tactic #2 “How did you come to that conclusion?”
Picking up from where they left off the night before, students will add a new tactic to their arsenal! Moving from information gathering about the other person’s claim or objection now students will learn how to inquire into the reasoning he or she has used to draw their conclusion. Often there is not much behind the assertion, as it turns out their bark is usually worse than their bite! Even when the other person’s anrguments are well reasoned, learning not just what a person thinks, but why they think it, is a crucial step in giving a good answer. Again students will bounce between instruction and role-play to ingrain these tools in their heads and hearts. This session will make them readier than ever to give an answer to anyone who asks them for a reason for their hope in Christ!
Friday, July 14
Session 1: Answering Your Questions!
Just like it sounds, students will be able to submit questions that they are wrestling with or would like answers to and Jacob will do his best to tackle them head on. Though he does not by any means think he knows everything, Jacob has spent the last 20 years studying and thinking about Christianity and what reasons there are to believe it's true. Further, he has studied broadly in issues related to theology and philosophy and has come into contact with many of the most common concerns people tend to express (both as Christians and as unbelievers). He is willing to hear what you have to ask and do his best to give an answer! Students will be able to submit questions anonymously throughout the conference by writing or they may ask them on the spot during this session.
Session 2: Tactic #3 Tailoring Questions to the Topic
In this final session students will learn about the kind of questions we can ask which expose flaws in the thinking of those who oppose Christian faith. Students will learn about some of the most common kinds of mistakes people make when reasoning (we call them “fallacies”). Because Christianity is true it has an incredible internal consistency, it never contradicts itself nor leads us to dead ends. Other worldviews, be it Atheism, Islam, Mormonism, etc., always have flaws and so do their objections. In fact, very often they have to borrow from the Christian worldview in order to make their arguments against Christianity! In small groups students will take what Jacob teaches them and tackle this slightly more challenging step of learning to tailor questions in such a way so as to expose inconsistencies in the arguments of those who oppose the truth. Once they have mastered the three key Tactics they will be ready to talk to anyone.