Subtopics touched on in this episode include Faith, Hope, Love; the Incarnation of Jesus Christ, His Death, Resurrection, Ascension & Second Advent and much more!!!

Pastor Bryan Wolfmueller is pastor of St. Paul and Jesus Deaf Lutheran Churches in Austin, TX. He is the author of Take They Our Life: Martin Luther’s Theology of Martyrdom (2019), A Martyr’s Faith for a Faithless World (CPH, 2019), Has American Christianity Failed? (CPH, 2016) and Final Victory: Contemplating the Death and Funeral of a Christian (CPH, 2010). He is the co-host of Table Talk Radio podcast, posts videos on YouTube at wolfmueller1, and has a number of other theological projects that all end up on his blog, www.wolfmueller.co. Bryan is a member of the Doxology Collegium. He and his wife Keri live with their four children in Round Rock, TX.

Find More Pastor Wolfmueller Here:
Pastor Wolfmueller's Blog:
https://wolfmueller.co/

Pastor Wolfmueller's YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/c/PastorBryanWolfmueller

DEFINITION:
"Apologetics is concerned with the defense of the Christian faith against charges of falsehood, inconsistency, or credulity. Indeed, the very word apologetics is derived from the Greek apologia, which means “defense.” It was a term used in the courts of law in the ancient world. Socrates, for example, gave his famous “apology,” or defense, before the court of Athens. And the apostle Paul defended himself (apologeomai) before the Roman officials (Acts 24:10; 25:8). As it concerns the Christian faith, then, apologetics has to do with defending, or making a case for, the truth of the Christian faith."

WHY DO WE NEED APOLOGETICS?

Unanswered questions are the number one reason people leave the Church

ARE APOLOGETICS NECESSARY IN EVANGELISM?

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT METHODS OF APPROACH USED IN APOLOGETICS?

PREACH THE WHOLE GOSPEL not simply the parts which we personally prefer. I.e. Sin & Hell ~C.S. Lewis

TRANSISTION TO CUMULATIVE CASE

Definition: See 1st Paragraph in FVoA p. 148. See last paragraph p. 151-152 FVoA

WHAT ARE THE "ONTOLOGICAL" & "COSMOLOGICAL" ARGUMENTS?

Ontological Argument:
There is something within the concept of God that guarantees His existence is necessary. Made famous by Anselm of Canterbury 1033-1109

Cosmological Argument:
WHAT IS THE COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENT?

ARE THE ONTOLOGICAL AND COSMOLOGICAL ARGUMENTS SOUND? (Unfortunately all philosophers since Kant have agreed that no version of the argument succeeds in making its case as a demonstrably sound argument.)

**Probable Case
WHAT MAKES A "PROBABLE CASE" ARGUMENT INFORMAL/UNIQUE?

A different approach "giving up the search for absolute certainty". ~Paul Feinberg FVoA p. 150

The probable case approach focuses on showing the probability of an argument.

ARE POSTMODERNISTS MORE OPEN TO HEARING PROBABLE CASE ARGUMENTS?

WHAT IS THE DESIGN ARGUMENT?

Teliological/Design Argument:
The argument that the universe exhibits design or order and is best explained as the work of an intelligent designer. Is evolution the rebuttal to the design argument?

CC's Issue With "Traditional Arguments" see p. 150 FVoA 3rd Paragraph

**CC TESTS FOR TRUTH:
See p. 153 FVoA

1. Consistency - A system of belief must not lead to a contradiction.

2. Correspondence/Empirical Fit - This test requires that any belief must correspond with reality.

3. Comprehensiveness - This criterion requires that we prefer theories or systems of belief that explain more of the evidence over those that might account for less.

4. Simplicity - This test instructs us not to multiply explanatory items unnecessarily. It has also been called Ockham’s razor. If an explanation is both simple and adequate, it is to be preferred.

5. Livability - For a belief to be true, it must be livable. This is not the same as our second test for truth, correspondence. That test is more theoretical, while livability is practical.

6. Fruitfulness - Here we ask what the consequences are of holding such a view of reality. Does it produce fruitful consequences? Take two systems of belief, one that holds that reality is totally disorganized and random, while the other holds that reality is characterized by regularities. On this criterion the latter theory will be preferred, as it will make things like science possible.

7. Conservation - By this I mean that when we find some anomaly to our theory, we first choose solutions that require the least radical revision of our view of the world. Put another way, we seek to modify the paradigm that we are using to understand reality rather than immediately making a radical shift to a new one. It is based in the belief that any system of belief that has reached the position of a reigning paradigm must have a good deal of evidence supporting it. Therefore, it is not wise to abandon it as a first move.

ARE THERE ANY WEAK POINTS IN CC?

WHAT IS SOME ADVICE YOU WOULD GIVE TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN ENGAGING IN APOLOGETICS OR EVANGELISM FOR THE FIRST TIME? (1 Peter 3:15)

It's ESSENTIAL one understands the fundamentals of the Christian faith BEFORE practicing Christian apologetics.

"The heart of apologetics is not about mastering or memorizing a set of techniques designed to manipulate arguments to get the desired conclusion. It is about being MASTERED by the Christian faith so that its ideas, themes and values are deeply imprinted on our minds and in our hearts."
~Alister McGrath

WHAT IS THE REMEDY FOR POSTMODERNISM?

Biblical Apologetics:
1) Acts 2:14-36 - Peter's Pentecostal Address
2) Acts 7:1-60 - Stephen's Final Address
3) Acts 10:1-48 - Peter & Cornelius
4) Acts 17:16-34 - Paul at Athens in the Areopagus

Notice the difference in approaches between Peter and Paul in Acts 2 & 17!

Church Apologists in History:
1) Justin Martyr 100-165
2) Tatian 120-173
3) Irenaeus 135-200
4) Tertullian 160-230
5) Eusebius of Caesarea 260-340
6) John Chrysostom d. 407
7) Augustine 354-430
8) Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274
9) B.B. Warfield 1851-1921
10) G.K. Chesterton 1874-1936
11) C.S. Lewis 1898-1963
12) Walter Martin 1928-1989

BOOKS TO CHECK OUT:
"Tactics" - Greg Koukl

"Keeping Faith in an Age of Reason" - Jason Lisle

"Five Views of Apologetics" - William Lane Craig (Classical), Gary Habermas (Evidential), John Frame (Presuppositional), Kelly Clark (Reformed Epistemology), Paul Feinberg (Cumulative Case)

"Evidence That Demands A Verdict" - Josh & Sean McDowell

"Presuppositional Apologetics Stated & Defended" - Greg Bahnsen

"A History of Christian Apologetics" - Dr. John Warwick Montgomery

"Mere Apologetics" - Alister McGrath

Check out "Proselytize or Apostatize" here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOaSz_olYnkqL2OhjiJSy_g

We then move on to Mark 7 to show how all types of sin, not just sexual, begin in the heart. To start fighting sin, we MUST begin with the heart, therefore we must begin with the Gospel. God gives us His Holy Spirit, not only to save and seal us for the Day of Redemption, but so that we can begin overcoming sin with the SAME POWER THAT RAISED JESUS FROM THE DEAD! This is so important in the Christian faith that we could not pass up speaking concerning this very thing!

I must say at this point the same thing Travis brings up next. SEX IS A GOOD THING. We have perverted something good that God has given us in marriage, so what can we do about it now? We FIGHT!

We wrap up the show with more practical steps that ANYONE can begin implementing tonight in your battle with sexual sin and not only that, but really any sin or temptation you are currently struggling with! This episode is PACKED with practical, biblical, content that will help YOU begin your journey in overcoming this devilish sin that goes against our very body itself! May God bless you all on your endeavors to become like the Messiah Jesus Himself!

We all have battled depression, some of us have overcome yet still struggle from time to time while other's, tragically, have lost their lives to depression. How can I overcome this demon? Do I need medicine? How can the Church help? These are just some of the question's we go over in this episode!

P.S. If you or someone you know is struggling with depression...REACH OUT/TALK TO THEM, Your/their life may depend on it!

National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1-800-273-8255

For more Austin and interview style videos check out his YouTube channel here:
https://youtube.com/channel/UCFDYk_AG8Sf8ZNm0LlT4EpA

Michael leads us in giving his testimony concerning his experience using opiate’s. (Side note: beginning like a lot of addicts, Michael began using, not to “get high” but for post surgery rehabilitation. In pain, Michael took pain pills for comfort. This is my (Tyler) story as well. This seems to be a common denominator amongst many of those who end up becoming addicted to opiates especially.)

Noah then asks a great question about whether or not Mike had a walk with Jesus at all during this time in his life and if so, how did that effect Mike’s decision’s and possibly even outcome of his addiction?

For the addict we answer questions like “How do I reach out if I’m struggling with drug addiction to my church or family” and “What if I have been hurt before by the church and don’t trust very well” and for those who haven’t been pierced by this particular arrow from Satan’s quiver, “What can I do if I know someone struggling with drug use or addiction in general” (there is a difference between “drug use” and “active addiction”)?

This is important for the local church . “What is the appropriate heart to approach the addict with?” What ultimately drives a person to do what they do? Using the gospel to attack the root of drug addiction, sin, is how we fight this but do we put the gospel first, or is it central?

Mike and I then get into what addicts actually experience when going through “withdrawals” and give and addict POV for those who have never experienced this “HELL” those addicted to anything like this have probably experienced in one form or another and what we do, just to feel “normal”

A lot more is discussed in this episode in detail about drug addiction, even going on to answer the question “What happens when trust is broken between two people confided in each other to help?” but I would like to end with some practical steps those who are struggling with this particular sin and those who are feeling a desire to help someone in this situation can apply:

1. Find someone you can TRUST. This is key.
2. TALK to them. Be open and transparent, not feeling ashamed. We are forgiven! Also don’t give a cause for stumbling. Understand this is physical as well as mental and spiritual.
3. LISTEN. To the one helping, listen to the addicts story and to the addict, listen to the advice you’re given.
4. CENTER the conversation on The Gospel. The Gospel is the axe to strike the root of the tree that is sin for both sides.
5. FORGIVE. As I stated earlier, we are forgiven therefore if you backslide forgive yourself and get back up! To the accountability partner, if your partner backslides 70 X 7 times...forgive.
6. ENCOURAGE each other daily.
7. DON’T PUSH the addict to quit. Let God work in his or her life to grant repentance and faith.
8. PRAY

After, Ty lead’s our discussion into what it is to be “woke”. Today we are seeing more and more God fearing people moving into the woke movement and it is raising cause for concern. What does it mean to be “woke” and is there a problem with the movement? If so, what can we as born again believer’s in Jesus do about it?

We wrap up by taking a question from caller Michael about evangelism/discipleship and give you practical steps to start implementing tonight to become more like Jesus Christ!

Part 2 to be released soon, so stay tuned and God bless!!!

On the guest list we have some old and new friends on the show!
Michael Keaton
Joshua Davidson
Ty Brillhart
Joshua Sherman

We have A LOT to discuss on this one guys and gals! Join us as we dive into the corruption that we are seeing play out before our very eyes! Don't miss this one!!!

Join your host's Tyler and Noah as we discuss the election, politics, love and much more from a CHRISTIAN POV here at CSG!!!

Special Guest: Noah J. Chelliah.

Special Guest: Noah J. Chelliah.