Tag Archive for: Christianity

Why Do You Do What You Do: Truth or Incentives? – Part 2

Are you following the truth or are you following incentives that may cause you to turn your back on Christianity and throw Jesus under the bus? On this midweek podcast episode, Frank continues the conversation on the powerful incentives that often prevent us from denying ourselves and picking up our cross for Christ as we go through our daily lives. He’ll answer questions like:

  • What does FOMO (the fear of missing out) reveal about our underlying motivations?
  • Why does the question, “If Christianity were true, would you be a Christian?” often reveal a non-believer’s true intentions and desires?
  • What did Norman Geisler mean when he said, “Fraternity will almost always overcome theology.”?
  • What are some examples from the Bible when people follow incentives instead of following Christ?

Near the end of the program, Frank addresses two listener questions related to this topic–one from an Indian American who is struggling to commit to Christianity because his family wants him to embrace his Hindu roots, and the second from a Muslim seeking clarification on some differences between the Quran and the Bible. There’s no doubt that following Christ is ever an easy decision to make, and even Christians are susceptible to falling off the rails for the sake of convenience and not ruffling any feathers. But we hope this episode will encourage you no matter where you are on your journey with Jesus!

 

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY HERE. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

 

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Truth or Incentives? Part 1 – https://bit.ly/408gz0K

Book – ‘Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes’ – https://a.co/d/1dANcEz

Online Course – ‘How to Interpret Your Bible’ – https://bit.ly/3BoEhxD

Book – ‘The Anxious Generation’ – https://a.co/d/b08gb1p

Blog Post – ‘The Anxious Generation’ – https://bit.ly/3zW4ySM

Watchman Fellowship – https://www.watchman.org/

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Why Do You Do What You Do: Truth or Incentives?

Blaise Pascal, once said, “People almost invariably arrive at their beliefs not on the basis of proof, but on the basis of what they find attractive.” Have you ever taken the time to reflect on what it is that primarily motivates all of us to make decisions? Is it based on what’s objectively true or what we find attractive? Are we following facts or are we more inclined to follow our desires and self-preservation?

It’s a brand-new year, and since many of us set goals for 2025, Frank is kicking things off with an investigation into how incentives can often lead both Christians and non-Christians away from the truth; how to recognize when we’re being influenced by cultural peer pressure; and how incentives have historically led the masses to do the unthinkable. Listen as Frank answers questions like:

  • Is it possible to pursue your self-interests and reason at the same time?
  • What are the 3 incentives that cause people to sin and what makes them so powerful?
  • Are incentives inherently wrong?
  • How do “normal” people become proponents and active participants of genocide?
  • Where do we see examples of incentives in our schools, workplace, and health care system?
  • What is the root cause of bad economic policy here in the United States and all over the world?
  • What’s the 2nd most important truth in the Bible for our culture today?
  • Why do many pastors avoid talking about controversial issues?
  • What’s the driving force on social media that often causes both kids and adults to throw Jesus and Christianity under the bus?

Let’s face it, we’re all tempted to do the wrong thing for what we tell ourselves are good reasons, but in reality we are incentivized to lie to ourselves. When incentives push you to lie or follow what you find attractive, will you be committed to denying yourself and following Christ? Or will you conform to the cultural norms, compromising the truth for comfort and acceptance like so many people of the past and present? Tough question that even Peter failed to answer rightly. Pray and choose wisely!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY HERE. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Book – ‘Same as Ever: A Guide to What Never Changes’ – https://a.co/d/1dANcEz

Dr. Robert W. Malone on X: https://x.com/RWMaloneMD

Dr. Peter A. McCullough on X: https://x.com/P_McCulloughMD

Online Course – ‘Why Does God Allow Evil?’ – https://bit.ly/4gYjT5v

Online Course – ‘How to Interpret Your Bible’ – https://bit.ly/3BoEhxD

Blog Post – Sex at Work? https://crossexamined.org/sex-at-work

Book – ‘The Anxious Generation’ – https://a.co/d/b08gb1p

Blog Post – ‘The Anxious Generation’ – https://bit.ly/3zW4ySM

 

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What is Logos? A look at John 1:1-3

Introduction

One of my favorite passages in the gospels is the prologue of John (1:1-18). I particularly find the first three verses, John 1:1-3, and the use of the “Word”, or Logos in Greek, interesting.

In those three verses, a type of creation narrative arises, revolving around Logos, in which Logos is described as being divine, eternal, and the creator. Later in the prologue, in John 1:17, Logos is revealed to be Jesus Christ, thus applying the description of Logos as divine, eternal, and the creator to Jesus Christ. John 1:1-3 states,

“In the beginning was the Word [Logos], and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (ESV).

But what is the background of Logos, and what in John 1:1-3 describes Logos as divine, eternal, and the creator?

Wisdom and Logos

To understand the meaning of Logos, we must understand what it is and where that term comes from. There are several options for where Logos came from, but the Jewish view of Wisdom is the most likely background. By giving a close look at the character Wisdom found in the Old Testament, and other Jewish writings, several similarities between itself and Logos are found. One similarity is the source of Wisdom, which Jewish thought places as the Most High, and that Wisdom was there before the world began, like Logos.[1] Like Logos, Wisdom took part in creation, was sent from heaven to dwell on earth, is the source of life, and is rejected by man.[2] Wisdom is also the tool by which God speaks to man and reveals himself. [3] These are all characteristics and actions that are similarly attached to Logos in John 1:1-18. Wisdom is frequently described in Proverbs, with one example found in Proverbs 8:22-30. This passage describes Wisdom as a helper of God in creation. [4] Another example is Proverbs 8:35 which states,

“For whoever finds me [Wisdom] finds life and obtains favor from the Lord.”

Like Logos, Wisdom is the giver, the source, of life. Another surprising parallel is that Wisdom is thought to be the daughter of God.[5] This is a close connection to our thoughts on Logos, or the Messiah, who we see as the son of God. Whether or not Jews believe that Wisdom is an actual being, the literary connection between Wisdom and Logos is undeniable.

Verse 1-2: Logos as God

Note the opening phrase in, in John 1:1-2:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.”

Here John exegetes the phrase “in the beginning” from Genesis 1:1 to mean before creation. In comparing the two passages, the origin of the mirrored phrase “in the beginning” in John 1:1-2 is obvious. [6] However, though John 1:1-2 pulls from Genesis 1:1, the purposes behind the passages are different. Genesis 1:1 is focused on creation, and God as creator. John 1:1-2 is focused on eternity and deity.[7] The whole purpose is to proclaim and affirm the eternal and divine nature of Logos.

Eternity and deity are intertwined in John 1:1-2, as Logos is described as being with God, from the beginning, and being God. He WAS in the beginning with God, he WAS there with God, and he WAS God. [8] In this first section, Logos is variously associated with God. Thus, the affirmation of the divinity of Logos. But there is special care to show a distinction between Logos and God. On one hand, Logos is described as God, but Logos is also shown to be distinct from God. [9] Logos being given a different name from God implies a distinction somewhere.[10] This is clarified in John 1:14 when Logos is revealed to be the Son, or the one, from the Father.

Verse 3: Logos as the Creator

Moving to verse three, we see another parallel between the prologue of John and the creation story in Genesis. John 1:3 mirrors Genesis 1:1 with the creation of the heavens and the earth. What is different in John 1:3, is the odd phrasing John used. Genesis 1:1 says,

“In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” Meanwhile, John 1:3 says, “All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.” This “creator” aspect is reappears in John 1:10, “the world was made through him.”

Looking closer at John 1:3, Meier makes a note of the usage of “was” in the first few verses of the prologue. Meier writes that John only used “was” for the eternal and divine. The Greek word eimi,  here translated as “was,” means “to be” or “to exist.” John did not use eimi to describe creation, he only used eimi to describe God and Logos. John used the Greek word ginomai which is translated as “was”, but it means “to become”.[11] Eimi implies an eternal nature that creation does not have, whereas ginomai implies something coming into being. John is telling his readers that all things came into being through Logos and that Logos did not come into being, but always existed.[12]

This explains the awkward phrasing found in John 1:3 and teaches, in part, that the universe has a beginning and that it is created, unlike Logos. The purpose of John 1:3 is that Logos had a role in creation; specifically, that God acted through Logos to create the world. Logos does not play a passive role, but an active role in creation, and could be described as the mediator of the creation act. [13]

Conclusion

Thus, we are given another reason as to why the gospel of John is widely known for having the most obvious claims of the divinity of Jesus. The prologue of John, especially John 1:1-3, plays no small role in proclaiming the divine nature of Jesus. Even if one only looks at the surface of John 1:1-3, a beautiful picture of Logos being with God, and being God, before the beginning is presented. However, so much depth, and beauty, is missed if one does not look into the Jewish background of Logos. Either way, it is impossible to miss the power and divine nature of our Lord Jesus Christ and the role he has played in the creation of all things.

Bibliography

Borgen, Peder. “Creation, Logos, and the Son: Observations On John 1:1-18 and 5:17-18.” Ex Auditu, 1987: 88-97.

Brown, Raymond. “The Prologue of the Gospel of John: John 1:1-18.” Review & Expositor, 1965: 429-439.

Burge, Gary, Lynn Cohick, and Gene Green. The New Testament In Antiquity: A Survey Of The New Testament Within Its Cultural Contexts. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2009.

Kelber, Werner. “The Birth of a Beginning: John 1:1-18.” Semeia, 1990: 121-144.

Meier, John. “Biblical Reflection: John 1:1-18.” Mid-Stream, 1996: 391-394.

Pilcher, Charles. “Note: the Jewish background of the prologue of the Fourth Gospel.” The Reformed Theological Review, 1947: 30-31.

Rissi, Mathias. “John 1:1-18 (The Eternal Word).” Interpretation, 1977: 394-401.

References:

[1] Werner Kelber. “The Birth of a Beginning: John 1:1-18.” Semeia, 1990: 122; Brown, 430.

[2] Kelber, 122.

[3] Charles Pilcher. “Note: the Jewish background of the prologue of the Fourth Gospel.” The Reformed Theological Review, 1947: 30.

[4] Ibid.

[5] Ibid.

[6] Borgen, 92.

[7] Brown 430-431.

[8] John Meier. “Biblical Reflection: John 1:1-18.” Mid-Stream, 1996: 392.

[9] Mathias Rissi. “John 1:1-18 (The Eternal Word).” Interpretation, 1977: 397.

[10] To be clear, the use of distinction is not meant to make Logos a completely separate divine being from God, but that Logos is a separate divine personality within God. It is to separate the person that is Logos from the person that is the Father.

[11] Meier, 392.

[12] Ibid.

[13] Rissi, 397.

Recommended Resources:

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)      

How to Interpret Your Bible by Dr. Frank Turek DVD Complete Series, INSTRUCTOR Study Guide, and STUDENT Study Guide

How Can Jesus be the Only Way? Mp4, Mp3, and DVD by Frank Turek

Reflecting Jesus into a Dark World by Dr. Frank Turek – DVD Complete Series, Video mp4 DOWNLOAD Complete Series, and mp3 audio DOWNLOAD Complete Series

 

Thomas Moller began studying astrophysics at the University of Nebraska-Kearney, specifically in Cosmology. Through the study of the universe and the laws that guide it, a passion for understanding the Creator and Fine-Tuner of the universe provided the catalyst for Thomas diving deeply into theology. He then left the study of astrophysics to pursue a theology degree. Now graduated from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary, he is pursuing a master’s degree in theological studies at Houston Christian University. With a love of biblical theology, Thomas wants to help educate believers in how to study the Bible in its proper context. He also will tackle a multitude of topics in Christian living, culture, and literature. Though he no longer studies astrophysics at an academic institution, he still has a love for science and scientific arguments for God.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/3BylxvH

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The Top 3 Things Christians Need to Know About Government, Evolution, and the Health Crisis with Dr. Jay Richards

 

 

In our final podcast episode of 2024, Dr. Jay Richards returns to discuss three essential topics that often cause confusion and dissent among both Christians and non-Christians in America today: the history and purpose of government, macroevolutionary theory vs. intelligent design, and the root cause of chronic disease. Together, Frank and Jay address questions like:

  • What is the biblical purpose of government?
  • Where do our rights come from?
  • How should we define American exceptionalism?
  • Was America founded on Christianity or something else?
  • What did Thomas Jefferson mean by “separation of church and state” and how has the term been misused and misunderstood?
  • What is macroevolutionary theory and why does it fail to explain the origin of life and new life forms?
  • How should Christians respond to the “God of the gaps” objection?
  • Is Darwinism consistent with what we can observe in biology?
  • Why is America sicker than ever despite our ultra-advanced health care system and will RFK Jr. solve the problem?

From politics to science to health, Frank and Jay will cover a lot of essential truths in this year-end episode of ‘I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist’ that will still be relevant in the decades to come! If you want to learn more about any of these topics, be sure to check out our list of recommended resources below. Let’s continue standing for truth, defending the faith, and boldly living out the biblical worldview in every area of life in 2025!

If you enjoyed this podcast episode PLEASE HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY HERE. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Jay’s work at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phd

Follow Jay on X: https://x.com/DrJayRichards

Stephen Meyer at the Discovery Institute: https://www.discovery.org/p/meyer/

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine: https://segm.org/

Biological Integrity: https://biologicalintegrity.org/

The Privileged Planet – https://privilegedplanet.com/

Book – ‘Money, Greed, and God’ by Dr. Jay Richards: https://a.co/d/46pGwlS

Book – ‘Return of the God Hypothesis’: https://a.co/d/hI6RmYt

Book – ‘Undeniable’: https://a.co/d/5w0aCby

Book – ‘Eat, Fast, and Feast’: https://a.co/d/7zVgxmg

Book – ‘Good Energy’: https://a.co/d/igUjom0

 

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3 Reasons to Believe in God

In presenting apologetics there are certain points I focus on in order to systematically examine the evidence for the truth of Christianity.  While there are many other areas of interest and concern for the apologist, these areas are essential in determining the veracity of the Christian religion.

 

These main features of Christianity include:

  1. The existence of God
  2. The reliability of the Bible
  3. The divine claims of Jesus
  4. the evidence for the resurrection of Jesus.

I organize these four points in the form of a question, which can possibly be answered yes or no, in order to be objective in the analysis. I’d like to focus on point #1 by asking the question: “Does God Exist?”

Does God Exist?

Obviously, if God doesn’t exist then Christianity cannot be true.  It is pretty fundamental. There are dozens and dozens of arguments for God’s existence, but there are three powerful arguments for theism that are the most popular.  If you can just remember GOD’s name you can remember these three arguments:

G = Good and evil

O = Origins of the universe

D = Design of the universe

The ‘g’ in God’s name stands for good and evil.  The fact that there exists objective moral truth is evidence for God.  Check out this video titled “The Moral Argument” for a quick introduction.  The ‘o’ in God’s name stands origins of the universe.  This video, titled “The Kalam Cosmological Argument” provides evidence for the origins of the universe that deduces that existence of God.  There are many versions of the cosmological argument, but the kalam version argues from the beginning of the universe to the existence of God.  The ‘d’ in God’s name stands for design of the universe.  This video shows how design is the best explanation for the fine-tuning for life in the universe.

Good and Evil

The first of these arguments for God is from morality. The Moral Argument (or the argument from good and evil) can be summarized as such:

P1: If God doesn’t exist, objective moral truth does not exist.

P2: Objective moral truths does exist.

C: So, God exists.

Origins of the Universe

The second argument is from the first cause of the universe. The Kalam Cosmological Argument (or the argument from the origins of the universe) can be summarized:

P1: Whatever begins to exist has a cause.

P2: The universe began to exist.

C: So, the universe has a cause

Design of the Universe

The third of these arguments deals with the amazing design we see in the universe. The Fine-tuning Argument (or the argument from the design of the universe) can be summarized:

P1: The fine-tuning for life in the universe is either due to chance, necessity, or design.

P2: It is not due to chance or necessity.

C: So, it is due to design.

Check out this page for a complete presentation of these three arguments for God’s existence which provides a summary of each argument along with links to other articles and videos for the existence of God.

Recommended Resources:

I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist (Paperback), and (Sermon) by Norman Geisler and Frank Turek 

Macro Evolution? I Don’t Have Enough Faith to be a Darwinist (DVD Set), (MP3 Set) and (mp4 Download Set) by Dr. Frank Turek

Oh, Why Didn’t I Say That? Does Science Disprove God? by Dr. Frank Turek (DVD and Mp4)

Stealing From God by Dr. Frank Turek (Book, 10-Part DVD Set, STUDENT Study Guide, TEACHER Study Guide)

 

Steve Lee has taught Apologetics for over two and a half decades at Prestonwood Christian Academy.  He also has taught World Religions and Philosophy at Mountain View College in Dallas and Collin College in Plano.  With a degree in history and education from the University of North Texas, Steve continued his formal studies at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary with a M.A. in philosophy of religion and has pursued doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Dallas and is finishing his dissertation at South African Theological Seminary.  He has published several articles for the Apologetics Study Bible for Students as well as articles and book reviews in various periodicals including Philosophia Christi, Hope’s Reason: A Journal of Apologetics, and the Areopagus Journal.  Having an abiding love for fantasy fiction, Steve has contributed chapters to two books on literary criticism of Harry Potter: Harry Potter for Nerds and Teaching with Harry Potter.  He even appeared as a guest on the podcast MuggleNet Academia (“Lesson 23: There and Back Again-Chiasmus, Alchemy, and Ring Composition in Harry Potter”).  He is married to his lovely wife, Angela, and has two grown boys, Ethan and Josh.

Originally Posted Here: https://bit.ly/3VSB3cO

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What Every Christian Needs to Know About Economics and Transgenderism with Dr. Jay Richards

Charles Spurgeon once said that discernment is knowing the difference between right and “almost right”. But when there’s so much noise and confusion happening in the news and on social media these days, how can we tell the difference?

As we approach the end of 2024, our friend Dr. Jay Richards returns to unpack some of the essentials of economics, the Christian worldview, and social trends so that you can be informed when it comes to the issues that matter the most. Join Frank and Jay as they discuss the importance of understanding the basics of economics and how it can help Christians think clearly about government policies, healthcare, and how it can equip believers to protect the most vulnerable populations in our society. Tune in as Frank and Jay answer questions like:

  • Does the Bible advocate for a specific economic system?
  • How did the government become so bloated, and why did it get involved in housing and education?
  • What’s the difference between socialism and free-market capitalism?
  • What’s the best way to help those in poverty and how do people end up trapped in the welfare system?
  • What did economist and philosopher Adam Smith mean by “the invisible hand”?

During the second half of the program, they’ll shift gears to examine the economic and cultural factors that are specifically driving the transgender movement. From the profit motives behind gender-affirming care to the resurgence of ancient Gnostic ideas, this thought-provoking conversation will shed light on how transgenderism became politicized, what’s causing the major spike in gender dysphoria, and how to end child transitioning for good!

Don’t miss this thought-provoking, year-end episode, and please consider making a tax-deductible donation to CrossExamined so that we can continue to help Christians defend the faith and do our part to make Christ known across the globe! 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Book – ‘Money, Greed, and God’ by Dr. Jay Richards: https://a.co/d/46pGwlS

Jay’s work at The Heritage Foundation: https://www.heritage.org/staff/jay-w-richards-phd

Society for Evidence-Based Gender Medicine: https://segm.org/

Biological Integrity: https://biologicalintegrity.org/

Previous podcast – ‘Money, Greed, and God’ with Dr. Jay Richards: https://bit.ly/3DvSZn7

 

Download Transcript

 

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How to Talk with Kids about Jesus

I used to think I knew how to talk with kids about Jesus to help them establish a lasting faith. It seemed simple enough. Read the Bible. And absolutely, the Bible is where we should begin. Reading the Bible together regularly is the best way to open a dialogue with your kids about Jesus. Everything about Jesus must begin with the Bible because that is how God chose to reveal His truths to us about Himself, the world, and Jesus.

But, that isn’t as simple as it used to be. My parents taught me that the Bible was truth, and that was that, until college, where I first faced atheism as the predominant worldview. (And my faith was shaken – but more on that later). But we didn’t have the internet. I know, I’m ancient.

Kids Today. . .

Today, children are confronted with atheist perspectives at younger and younger ages. In an information age, we must contend for the faith of our children in new ways. Holding fast to the accuracy and inerrancy of the Bible isn’t as simple as because I said so anymore. Starting to talk with kids about Jesus has to begin with why we believe the Bible is the word of God. We have to start to talk with kids about Jesus by establishing the Bible as a credible source.

Establishing the Bible as a credible source proves our faith is based on truth. Without that foundation, religion is simply a preference, as of little importance as a favorite flavor of ice cream. By teaching our children the Bible is a reliable historical document inspired by God, we prepare them to live a life built on the solid rock of Christ. And they will be able to answer many common atheist objections for themselves and others.

Quick Responses on the Reliability of the Bible

The Old Testament is reliable because it was copied carefully and contains accurate predictions. The discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls verifies that the Bible we have today matches the ancient documents from thousands of years ago.

We also know that Jesus believed the Old Testament was reliable. He quoted from it often in His teaching. So, if the New Testament accounts about Jesus are reliable, the OT is as well.

But is the New Testament really reliable?

Yes! And you don’t have to spend years studying apologetics to be able to demonstrate the reliability of the New Testament to your children.

Many Christian scholars have already done the heavy lifting for you! Just a few of the MANY worth following (click names for NT related content) are Gary Habermas, Natasha Crain, J. Warner Wallace of Cold Case Christianity, Sean McDowell, Greg Koukl and Stand to Reason, and MamaBear Apologetics.

We have to establish that the New Testament is reliable because it is through the text we come to know the real, historical Jesus.

And that brings us back to the Bible. We have to teach our children sound doctrine and theology. It’s not helpful to ask WWJD (What would Jesus do?) if we don’t know what He would do! As Christians and parents, we have to know what Jesus did and said and how that relates to what we believe.

So, as you read the Bible together, talk to kids about Jesus by using some critical reading skills.

  • What did Jesus do here?
  • Is there any religious or historical context we need to understand for this passage?
  • What did Jesus say?
  • Who was His audience?
  • What did Jesus mean by what he said? How can we know that?
  • What did the disciples think or ask about the situation?
  • Are there other Bible passages that relate to this topic?
  • Does Jesus appear in the Old Testament? If so, where? (Spoiler alert – He totally does!)

What if you don’t feel prepared to talk to kids about Jesus? It’s okay to learn alongside your kids! You don’t have to be an expert to get them thinking. You just have to be one step ahead to help someone follow along. And there are so many great resources available to you!

Books can be great resources to open conversations or to explain complicated concepts.

Any parent can be prepared to answer most of the primary questions about Jesus or the main atheist objections to Jesus with one easy to use resource, Talking with Your Kids about Jesus by Natasha Crain.

I was on the launch team for this book and it is AMAZING! I’ve already seen my daughter’s faith grow through the conversations we’ve had while reading this book.

Talking With Your Kids About Jesus

First, Talking with Your Kids About Jesus is like an apologetics 101. If you’ve never even dipped a toe into the waters of apologetics, this is where to start. While all about Jesus, the way Natasha explains each subject, she addresses many basic defenses for Christianity as a whole as well. It really is a great entry into learning how to defend our faith from the world’s skepticism.

The book is broken into 30 brief chapters. I can easily read one or two sitting in the doctor’s waiting room.

Some of the topics Natasha covers are:

  • Is Jesus real?
  • Was Jesus the Jewish Messiah?
  • Is Jesus God? Did he claim to be?
  • Is Jesus the only way to salvation?
  • Is Hell real?
  • Why did Jesus have to die and what was the purpose of His death?
  • What evidence do we have for the empty tomb and Resurrection?

Each chapter begins with a relatable situation that identifies the main question she will answer. Then she gives a basic survey of the evidence and information we have on that topic. The information is well-organized so it is easy for busy parents to digest. I love how each chapter ends with real examples showing ways to talk with your kids.

Natasha’s writing style is totally relatable as a woman and mom. Her funny and poignant anecdotes make the lessons very accessible.

I only wish I had this book years ago for my own faith! TWYKAJ truly covers almost every objection to Jesus I’ve ever heard and clarifies the primary beliefs of the Christian faith.

I would recommend TWYKAJ for anyone, but the conversations are going to be the most impactful if your children are old enough to understand the concepts, ages 7 and up would be my best estimate. My daughter is 9 and grasps the basics of each chapter. Make sure to tailor your resources to the age of your kiddos.

Your Kids Can Handle More Than You Realize

But don’t underestimate them. They spend all week at school being taught complicated history lessons and challenging math or science concepts, but are coloring pictures in Sunday School, singing songs about the Arky Arky.

Our kids can handle much more than we expect. Plus, there are amazing resources available for any age level.

A couple years ago, I started my daughter’s apologetic’s journey with a set of picture books. They use fictional stories to explain the creation of the universe, objective morality, and the resurrection of Christ.

And she loves the Cold Case Christianity for Kids books. God’s Crime Scene for Kids is all about the creation and fine-tuning of the universe, while Cold Case Christianity for Kids focuses on examining Jesus like a detective.

How important is it to talk with kids about Jesus? Crucial. Remember how I first encountered real atheism in college? I heard objections to Christianity that I’d never heard before. And because I had never heard them, they sounded very damning of Christianity.

When I learned there are more discrepancies between copies of the New Testament than there are words, I didn’t know how to keep believing it was true. So I walked away from living like it was true for most of the next two decades. But God never let me go. He kept coming after me until I turned my heart back to Him.

Thankfully, it was then I found apologetics and discovered answers for all my questions. I learned those text discrepancies can be accounted for through copy errors. We can easily reconstruct the original text from the thousands of copies we have. Not a single error affects any important Christian belief or doctrine. Apologetics totally rebuilt the foundation of my faith.

But, I don’t want my daughter to spend time lost in the wilderness of rebellion like I did. I want her to have the answers to all the questions now. And know that we have answers for almost every question.

She doesn’t need to doubt God’s love or Jesus’s existence like I did. She can know Jesus clearly and deeply from the beginning. She’ll still have to choose to follow Him for herself, but she will have a solid foundation.

If you want your children to have a real faith that will withstand the challenges of life and atheist objections, you need to have these kinds of conversations with your kids about Jesus. And you might be surprised at how much they will inform and bolster your faith as well.

Recommended Resources: 

Counter Culture Christian: Is the Bible True? by Frank Turek (Mp3), (Mp4), and (DVD)        

How Can Jesus be the Only Way? Mp4, Mp3, and DVD by Frank Turek

Defending Absolutes in a Relativistic World (Mp3) by Frank Turek

Another Gospel? by Alisa Childers (book)

 

Jennifer DeFrates is a former English and Social Studies teacher turned homeschool mom and Christian blogger at Heavennotharvard.com and theMamapologist.com. Jennifer is a 2x CIA graduate (the Cross-Examined Instructors Academy) and volunteers with Mama Bear Apologetics. She has a passion for discipleship through apologetics. Her action figure would come with coffee and a stack of books. She is also the reluctant ringleader of a small menagerie in rural Alabama.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/49PVw7w

 

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The Birthday That Changed the History of the World with Bill Federer

Why is December 25th celebrated as the birth of Jesus? Was it a date chosen to overshadow pagan festivals like Saturnalia or Sol Invictus, or does it have deeper Christian roots? While the Bible doesn’t provide a specific birthdate for Christ, it may offer more clues than you think!

Just in time for the holiday season, historian and author Bill Federer returns to unpack the fascinating origins of the Christmas story and its rich Christian heritage. One of our most popular topics, this episode dives deeper into the history, theology, and traditions surrounding the incarnation of Christ—a moment that forever changed the course of human history. Join Frank and Bill as they explore questions like:

  • How do the Dead Sea Scrolls provide evidence for Jesus’ actual birthday?
  • Why do some Christians celebrate Christmas on Jan. 6th?
  • When did Christians start celebrating Dec. 25th as the birthday of Jesus?
  • What is one of the most overlooked pro-life passages in the Bible?
  • What’s the story of King Herod and was he really capable of being a baby killer?
  • Why was there strife between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and how did Rome get involved in Jewish politics?
  • How many wise men brought gifts to Jesus and when did they visit Him?
  • Why are the Old Testament prophecies about Jesus so vague?
  • What’s the origin of the “12 days of Christmas”?
  • How does the history of the entire world center on the birth of Christ?

Tune in as Bill dispels some of the common myths surrounding the Christmas holiday and uses his gift of storytelling to connect the historical and biblical pieces together. This episode will be both enlightening and entertaining as it also lays out the message of the Gospel, so be sure to share it with a friend! Merry Christmas from the CrossExamined team and please check out our earlier conversation with Bill where he shares even MORE history behind some of today’s most beloved Christmas traditions with visuals included!

Did you enjoy this episode? HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING THE PODCAST HERE.

Resources mentioned during the episode:

VIDEO PODCAST: Is There Any CHRISTIAN Truth to Our CHRISTMAS Traditions? – CEevents.org
BILL’S WEBSITE: https://americanminute.com/
BILL’S BOOK: ‘There Really is a Santa Claus‘

 

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3 Simple Ways the Birth of Jesus Changed the World

“When we see Jesus as he is, we must turn away or else shamelessly adore him. That must be kept in mind for any authentic understanding of the power of Christian faith.”


This quote, from Dallas Willard’s book, “The Divine Conspiracy,” challenged me the moment I read it this week. There is no better time to remind ourselves of what it means to shamelessly adore Jesus than at Christmas. I’m convicted this week that shameless adoration becomes most possible when we truly grasp what our lives would be like if He had not yet been born. 5 minutes before His birth, the world was completely different.

5 minutes before His birth, the world was completely different.

It’s so easy to forget this, because all we know living in the second millennium AD is a post-Jesus world. But just a few minutes before the event we celebrate this week, the world looked very different.
How Jesus’ birth changed the world is a highly relevant and topical discussion to have with your kids this Christmas. Here’s a good (and simple!) analogy you can use to help them understand the deeper meaning of Jesus’ birth.

Ask your kids how things look different when they put on a pair of 3D glasses to look at a picture.

Here are some talking points for relating this to a basic understanding of how Jesus’ birth changed the world.

3D glasses change how you see because…

1. Important parts of the picture come forward and less important parts of the picture fall to the back.

This is the first thing you notice when you put on a pair of 3D glasses. In a flat picture, it’s up to the viewer to decide what’s most important. 3D glasses translate the flat picture into one that emphasizes some parts and de-emphasizes others.

Before Jesus was born, the religious experts of the time, the Pharisees, had a lot of things wrong. They had added a lot of their own rules and interpretations to the laws God had given hundreds of years before.

But after Jesus was born, we gained the witness of His life to tell us what is important and what is not. Jesus, being God Himself, was uniquely able to set the Pharisees – and ultimately us – straight. Living a life that glorifies God comes “forward” in our view while the material world falls to the background. Not only do we now know that glorifying God is most important in life, we now know what glorifies God and what does not.

2. They give the picture richer details.

3D glasses transform a flat picture into one with depth. The details are richer, and the picture becomes alive!

Before Jesus was born, God had not fully revealed His plan for salvation of all people. The world only had part of the picture of who God is and how He relates to people.

But after Jesus was born, we were given some new and critical details that give our lives their fuller meaning. Now we know that God offers salvation to anyone who believes in Jesus as their Savior (this is a good chance to read John 3:16)!

3. They make the picture more tangible.

In the Captain EO 3D film at Disneyland, there is a little furry creature who jumps out so realistically, everyone in the audience starts petting him in the air. If you lift your glasses and see him on the flat screen, you would never think to reach out and touch him. The glasses bring him close.

Before Jesus was born, following God meant following the Law – a set of very strict rules related to worship.

But after Jesus was born, God came close. Through Jesus, we have been given the opportunity to enter into a relationship with God that wasn’t possible before. But just as you have to put on the right glasses for the little furry guy to come close to you during Captain EO, you have to build a relationship with Jesus through prayer and worship for Him to become tangible in your life. Christmas made that possible.

Merry Christmas to you and your families! May we all teach our children to shamelessly adore Jesus throughout the year.

Recommended Resources: 

Why We Know the New Testament Writers Told the Truth by Frank Turek (mp4 Download)

The Top Ten Reasons We Know the NT Writers Told the Truth mp3 by Frank Turek

Miracles: The Evidence by Frank Turek DVD and Mp4

Jesus, You and the Essentials of Christianity by Frank Turek (INSTRUCTOR Study Guide), (STUDENT Study Guide), and (DVD)      

 

Natasha Crain is a blogger, author, and national speaker who is passionate about equipping Christian parents to raise their kids with an understanding of how to make a case for and defend their faith in an increasingly secular world. She is the author of two apologetics books for parents: Talking with Your Kids about God (2017) and Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side (2016). Natasha has an MBA in marketing and statistics from UCLA and a certificate in Christian apologetics from Biola University. A former marketing executive and adjunct professor, she lives in Southern California with her husband and three children.

Originally posted at: https://bit.ly/4fAcsjV 

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Is THIS the REAL Mt. Sinai?

 

What would you expect to find at the REAL Mount Sinai? Could its true location be in Saudi Arabia rather than the traditional site in the Sinai Peninsula? Recent discoveries have reignited interest in Jabal al-Lawz as a possible candidate for the biblical Mount Sinai, and this week, you’ll have the chance to examine the evidence for yourself!

In this podcast episode, Frank unpacks some of the details of his recent trip to Saudi Arabia, including what he and the group saw as they climbed the mountain at Jabal al-Lawz. He’ll also discuss what fascinating markers distinguish this mountain as a great contender for Mount Sinai and why it’s more important than ever for trained archaeologists to continue exploring the site. During the episode, Frank will answer questions like:

  • Why was the Sinai Peninsula originally selected as Mount Sinai?
  • How long did it take Frank and the group to get up the mountain?
  • Why have there been so few excavations at Jabal al-Lawz?
  • Who is Hathor and what’s a possible explanation for all the cow drawings found on the mountain?
  • What evidence exists suggesting that Jabal al-Lawz is the true Mount Sinai?
  • What were Frank and the group AMAZED to see once they reached the top of Jabal al-Lawz?
  • What’s so special about the Split Rock of Horeb? And how many people were involved in the Exodus?

While it’s still too early to make a concrete conclusion on Jabal al-Lawz, the circumstantial evidence discussed in the podcast episode may cause you to seriously consider it to be the REAL Mount Sinai. To catch some of this exclusive footage for yourself, be sure to follow us on all our social media platforms and subscribe to the CrossExamined YouTube channel. And stay tuned for MUCH more exciting news about what Frank and the group were able to dig up in Egypt and Saudi Arabia!

Did you enjoy this episode? HELP US SPREAD THE TRUTH OF CHRISTIANITY BY SUPPORTING OUR MINISTRY HERE. 100% of your donation goes to ministry, 0% to buildings!

Resources mentioned during the episode:

Living Passages Unveils the True Mount Sinai in Saudi Arabia: http://youtu.be/JBaY–L5NPY
Frank Visits the Merneptah Stele in Egypt: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/gy-RanSnzik
Preaching the Good News at the Giza Pyramids: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Cf4JjuRFA0Q
Moses and the Split Rock of Horeb: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/HLgzLDXFCB8
Was the Golden Calf HERE? https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h5yAwssDU5Y

 

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