Shawn Mathis | Denver, Colorado
Podcast + Codes
Sermons Embed Enjoy sermons from this broadcaster
MyChurch: denverprovidence | Set 33764
Explaining and defending the Christian faith can seem a daunting job. Not only are believers to know what they themselves believe (doctrine, Bible passages, history, etc.), but to some extent they are to know what others believe. And this is even before thy step into the classroom to learn Apologetics 101.It cannot be denied that the entire enterprise of defending the faith is large and at times complex. With so much to learn and memorize, the mind may explode. Yet it is still possible to distill the enterprise into a simple, yet profound, summary--something easy to remember, like the ABCs:
Always Be Christ-centered
This catchy, nice one-liner has more depth than it appears. Young and old can remember it, yet it will take a life-time to master.
To Always Be Christ-centered is to put Him first and foremost in the thoughts and hearts of believers. This is accomplished through Spirit-wrought reflection of any indwelling sin, repentance and fleeing to Christ. In other words, daily prayer, bible reading and attendance to the means of grace.
To Always Be Christ-centered is also to try to put Him first in our explanation of Christianity. Many questions that inquisitive minds have about Christianity can easily lead off the path of salvation. Recalling this ABC can help turn the dialogue around from the minutia to the major questions: who is Christ? why does He matter?
This ABC of a Christian defense of the faith is a helpful tool. It should not replace hard work, prayer and humility but should enhance these efforts. The next time an unexpected question shots from the blue, remember your ABC.
Our Blog
-- recent blog posts -- 12/05/2023 - Rosaria Butterfield endorses: Is the... 12/02/2023 - The Bible and Voting for 2016 02/19/16 - Dealing with the Cruz-Carson Mess 09/07/15 - How American Can Stop Homegrown Islamic... 08/03/15 - Imprecatory Sermon against Murder of... 08/03/15 - Sexual hegemony grows: laid off from... 07/04/14 - Summary evidence of Christian influence... 05/29/14 - Family-integrated churches properly... 03/12/14 - Family integrated church talk at... 12/10/13 - Reflection on essay, Homeschool... 11/09/13 - Review of The Cross, Billy Graham's... 11/09/13 - How to respond to Doug Phillip's... 11/04/13 - Legal harassment of Christians in... 07/04/13 - Celebrating the Christian roots of July... 06/21/13 - Homeschooling academic success... 11/09/12 - Four more years of Obama 10/24/12 - A problem with Romney 07/24/12 - Christian news perspective on the... 03/07/12 - The Family in Crisis: Three Pastoral... 02/03/12 - Understanding Obama's speech in Colorado 10/29/11 - October 31: transformation of the West 09/13/11 - Christian patriot reflects on 9/11 09/13/11 - Family Integrated Church movement 04/21/10 - Growing Up Environmental 04/03/10 - Easter & Calvinism 03/22/10 - Hysterical Health Care 03/04/10 - Apologetics Examiner: Atheist professor... 02/08/10 - Black history month and Christianity... 01/27/10 - Answering Camping the doomsayer 01/19/10 - Robertson, Haiti and Some Local... 01/11/10 - Evangelicals' Top Moral Issues Evaluated 12/22/09 - What's the big deal about Christmas,... 12/19/09 - Some Thoughts on Christmas 12/13/09 - God Preserves His People (John 6:44) 12/03/09 - What Bunyan Confessed 11/24/09 - Famine in the American Churches 11/17/09 - Reinventing Church...Business? 11/09/09 - A Lesson from the Fall of the Wall 11/03/09 - October 31st: Protestantism & the West,... 11/03/09 - Political Roots: Protestantism & the... 10/31/09 - Early America: Protestantism & the... 10/30/09 - Birth of America: Protestantism & the... 10/30/09 - Education: Protestantism and the West,... 10/26/09 - October Revolution: Protestantism & the... 10/05/09 - The ABC of Apologetics 09/18/09 - The Bubble Will Burst 09/10/09 - Bible Denies Existence of Atheism 07/27/09 - Year of Calvinism: Famous Calvinists in... 07/04/09 - Fourth of July & Christianity 06/30/09 - Never Never Land 06/30/09 - Revival of Rousseau 05/14/09 - As the Church Goes So Goes the Culture 05/03/09 - In God We Trust...? 02/24/09 - Another Non-PC Black Hero 01/29/09 - Top Ten For This Year, & Next Year, &... 01/12/09 - The Future of Homeschooling 12/11/08 - Falsifying Scientific Arrogance 12/11/08 - 2012: The Year Evangelicals Owned... 11/08/08 - The End of the World? 10/31/08 - Luther vs. Halloween 10/21/08 - Halloween or Reformation Day? 10/20/08 - Fw: You Gotta Read This! 09/19/08 - Salvation is Impossible for Man 08/15/08 - Calm Examination of the "Famous... 08/05/08 - How God Votes 07/25/08 - No Surprise: Evangelicals Deny Solus... 07/14/08 - Evangelicals Biblically Illiterate? 06/20/08 - God's Smuggler & a Cranky Calvinist 06/04/08 - A Short Review: The Mystery of Godliness 04/29/08 - A New "Green Day" 03/24/08 - Mel's Misplaced Passion (3 of 3) 03/23/08 - Mel's Misplaced Passion (2 of 3) 03/13/08 - Mel's Misplaced Passion (1 of 3) 02/28/08 - A Non-PC Black Hero 01/24/08 - A Short Review 2: Christian Balance 01/07/08 - Top Ten List of 2008 12/31/07 - The Other Side of Christmas 12/20/07 - The Gospel of Action Figures 12/16/07 - The Other History of Jamestown 12/11/07 - Verbal Vomit or Golden Apples? 11/12/07 - III. Understanding the Means of Grace:... 11/01/07 - Deep Thought for Evangelicals on Their... 10/30/07 - II. Understanding the Means of Grace:... 10/16/07 - I. Understanding the Means of Grace:... 06/25/07 - Cain, Sin & the Will of God: A Plea 06/06/07 - Cain, Sin & the Will of God, 2 05/16/07 - Cain, Sin & the Will of God, I 04/19/07 - The 9mm Gospel 04/11/07 - Where in the World is the Church? 03/20/07 - Christian Tribalism IV: Remedied 03/09/07 - Christian Tribalism III: Illustrated 02/23/07 - Christian Tribalism 2: Defined 02/13/07 - Christian Tribalism 1: Resurgence 01/27/07 - My Head Hurts... 01/16/07 - End of the World As We Know It....? 01/06/07 - 2006: Year in Review 12/19/06 - Dr. Seuss the Calvinist 12/11/06 - Prager's Mostly Right: Vows & Values 11/24/06 - The Forgotten National Holiday 11/17/06 - Reformation Impact 6: Really: No... 11/10/06 - Reformation Impact 5: No Calvin, No... 11/07/06 - Reformation Impact 4: Science 11/02/06 - Reformation Impact 3: Economics 10/31/06 - Reformation Impact 2: Church 10/27/06 - Reformation Impact 1: Luther vs.... 10/11/06 - Who is the Greatest Man of the 20th... 09/15/06 - Apostolic Authority 08/31/06 - Man is Evil—Lessons From Katrina Part 3 08/30/06 - The Government Is God?--Lessons From... 08/29/06 - Blame It On God—Lessons From Katrina,... 08/14/06 - The Lost Art of Sleeping In 08/13/06 - Theological Storm: Federal Vision... 06/27/06 - OPC GA: Blessings From God 06/26/06 - OPC GA Info & Updates 06/17/06 - Biblical Literacy? 06/02/06 - Psalms 110: The Priest-King 05/17/06 - What is an Ordination Service All About? 05/04/06 - Was Luther Wrong? 04/29/06 - Ordination & Installation of New Pastor... 04/15/06 - Mel or Christ: Which Passion is... 03/27/06 - Sin, Misery & the Church 03/18/06 - Reformed Missions Update 03/14/06 - God: Our Santa Claus? 03/13/06 - Lawless Spirit? 03/02/06 - To Judge or Not To Judge 02/18/06 - Need I Say More? 02/10/06 - OPC Pastor At DU Update 01/24/06 - OPC Pastor At DU Abortion Talk 01/12/06 - Christ is Known by Name 12/14/05 - Christmas Needs Sin 12/08/05 - Middle-East Reformed Missions 11/30/05 - Finding God's Will His Way 09/18/05 - Election, Israel & Sovereign Grace 09/14/05 - God Protects His People 08/06/05 - Idolatry Destroys Culture 07/26/05 - Boiling Frogs & Random Sermons
Newer
Older
Top
