Bridgeway Christian Church

Want to study Apologetics?  You won’t be sorry!
An “apologetic” is simply a defense. Peter commanded all believers to be ready with answers when people ask us about our faith. In 1 Peter 3:15, the word translated as “reason” is the word apologia, which means “a reasoned statement or argument.” Obeying this command just means you’ve got reasons for what you believe and you’re ready to talk with anyone who’s got questions. It doesn’t mean getting defensive. It doesn’t mean getting into fights. It means speaking the truth in love as we represent our Lord at work, at school, in our community and society. But in order to be prepared, we’ve got to know what we believe and why we believe it.
 
That’s what this 9-week course in defending the faith is all about—increasing your confidence as a Christian by exploring the reasons and evidences for the faith, and preparing yourself to be a more effective ambassador of Jesus Christ.
 
You’ll defend without being defensive
Apologetics can look more like diplomacy than combat. Sincerely asking “What do you mean by that?” or “How did you come to that conclusion?” can help critics consider their own assertions—perhaps for the first time. And if you get stumped, it’s no problem to say, “Let me think about that and get back to you.” Afterwards, do your homework. You’ll find there are good answers to the hard questions.
 
You’ll argue without being argumentative
Paul said we shouldn’t be contentious or petty. But he didn't prohibit arguments in the sense of having intelligent disputes about important issues. Understood this way, an argument is actually a good thing because it helps us discover and clearly communicate truth. That’s why we’re going to study some of the best arguments for the truth of the Christian faith together.
 
You’ll speak the truth in love
Since our church family grows in maturity through truth and love, false ideas and unloving attitudes are major obstacles to our discipleship. Indeed, gentleness and respect should be a natural part of our apologetic. We’ve got to present the truth because we love God and love people. It’s an obedience thing. It’s a love thing. And when people come to faith, it’s always a God thing.
 
You’ll be a better ambassador for Christ
Let’s embark on this journey together as an act of discipleship to Jesus. You won’t be sorry!

Class Details

When: Sundays 2:00pm-3:45pm – March 7th through May 16th
Where: Bridgeway Christian Church, in the Annex (the youth room in our former building, Suite 560, across the parking lot behind the church)
Topic: Defending the Faith is a 9-week introduction to Christian apologetics (see syllabus for details). There is no cost for this class, but please be sure to register.
Childcare?: Sorry, there is no childcare provided for this class.

> Download the course syllabus

> Sign up online

> Check out recommended resources:

Reasonable Faith, by William Lane Craig

Tactics, by Greg Koukl

About the Instructor: Mikel Del Rosario's primary interests are Biblical theology and Christian apologetics. He holds an M.A. in Christian Apologetics with an emphasis in Philosophy of Religion and Ethics from Biola University. An ordained minister and speaker, Mikel has taught at churches, schools, and colleges across the country and overseas. He is an Adjunct Professor of Religion at the University of Phoenix. As a former missionary and youth pastor, he has worked in discipleship-based church ministries for over 10 years. Contact Mikel at

Blueprints for Growth

Defending the Faith – An Introduction to Christian Apologetics is one in a series of new classes that are part of our Blueprints for Growth: a church-wide strategy for making disciples at Bridgeway. In the coming weeks, we will launch a number of classes designed to help us get better grounded in our walks with the Lord and get a better grasp of the Bible. We have assembled an array of gifted teachers who are passionate about what they are teaching. Please consider how God would want you to participate and join us in taking some solid steps toward spiritual growth.