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Galatians 5:16-23 teaches that at any moment we are either walking by the Holy Spirit or according to the sin nature. Walking by the Spirit, enjoying fellowship with God, walking in the light are virtually synonymous. During these times, the Holy Spirit is working in us to illuminate our minds to the truth of Scripture and to challenge us to apply what we learn. But when we sin, we begin to live based on the sin nature. Our works do not count for eternity. The only way to recover is to confess (admit, acknowledge) our sin to God the Father and we are instantly forgiven, cleansed, and recover our spiritual walk (1 John 1:9). Please make sure you are walking by the Spirit before you begin your Bible study, so it will be spiritually profitable.

Messages with tag - Apologetics

Acts (2010)
Tuesday, July 02, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 17:1-15
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 1 mins 55 secs
Would it surprise you to learn you could probably ace a pop culture quiz? Every day, without even trying, we soak up pagan ideas like a sponge. Listen to this lesson to learn how the Apostle Paul countered the trends of his day by teaching logical, reasonable truths from the Scriptures. Find out how we can learn to clarify our beliefs effectively so we stop one-shot, "drive-by" witnessing. See what it means to search the Scriptures daily like the Bereans.
Acts (2010)
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 17:16-34
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 3 mins 5 secs
Why do some people get mad as a hornet when talking about God? Listen to this lesson to learn the vital need for listening to others as they talk about what they already believe. See how the Apostle Paul skillfully used his insight into the Athenians to reason with them in a logical manner. Find out how he challenged them to worship the Creator rather than the creature. Discover key elements to sharpen your Bible study methods.
Proverbs (2013)
Sunday, August 18, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Proverbs 18:20-21 & Proverbs 12:14
Series: Proverbs (2013)
Duration: 54 mins 6 secs
"My Foolish Heart" "Fools in Love" So many pop song lyrics through the ages have been about fools. Listen to this lesson to learn that the Bible has a lot to say about fools, too. Find out which questions fools ask that need to be answered and which ones are just distractions and should be exposed with humility and respect. Discover how an reductio ad absurdum argument reduces what fools say to the absurd and how we can offer the fountain of life to those who so desperately need it.

Also includes 1 Peter 3:15-17

Acts (2010)
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
by Robert Dean
Passage: Acts 24:10-25:12
Series: Acts (2010)
Duration: 1 hr 1 mins 43 secs
Sounding more like a shadowy movie plot than actual events, the Apostle Paul arrives under heavily armed guards to Caesarea where his life converges with three kings. Listen to this lesson to learn that soon after his conversion, God promised Paul that he would give the good news of the Gospel to Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. Learn about the evil machinations of Felix and Festus, the dark history of their lives, and the political climate at the time Paul was being held. Marvel at his skillful defense of what he believes and understand that, like the Apostle, we can learn to trust that God is always behind the scenes working out His promises to us.
1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, February 09, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:13-17
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 6 mins 33 secs

Do you have trouble believing in the goodness of God when you see all the bad things that are happening in this world? Listen to this lesson to hear how we can know about and have confidence in the goodness of God. Beginning with God’s creation, see how its beauty illustrates His goodness to mankind. Find out that His character or essence is an all-encompassing goodness that we can rely on. As Christians living in a hostile culture, see the importance of being able to explain God’s goodness and His plan of salvation to those around us.

During this class Dr. Dean briefly discussed apologetics. Additional material on apologetics is available in the following resources:

Giving an Answer

Theology and Apologetics

1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, March 09, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 8 mins 57 secs

Do you become flustered when someone asks about your beliefs, especially someone who is hostile to you? Listen to this lesson to see that we need to be ready to answer everyone who asks us. Find out what apologetics means and the importance of it. Understand that this is a strong stand for the truth of the Scriptures and not an apology for what we believe. Imagine yourself as a missionary trying to tell someone about the gospel who believes in a perverted pagan worldview.

To help clarify some of the terminology used in the study of apologetics, Dr. Dean has begun developing an Apologetics Glossary.

During this class Dr. Dean discussed apologetics and referenced some additional material by Charlie Clough on the subject:

Giving an Answer

Theology and Apologetics

1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, April 06, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 12 mins 54 secs

Do you have a ready answer when someone asks you why you believe in God? Listen to this lesson to hear how to defend that the Scriptures are the only truth. Learn what facts are, how they can be interpreted differently, and how we can apply logic and rationalism, which is our common ground with unbelievers. Learn what evidences are and hear four basic elements in apologetics. Do not be in a hurry but find out where people are in their thinking and take them to the next step.

Additional information on apologetics by Charlie Clough is available here:

Giving an Answer

Theology and Apologetics

1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, June 01, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 8 mins 45 secs
Ready for a practice session on using apologetics? Listen to this lesson to apply what you’ve been learning by the use of a transcript from the movie God's Not Dead 1. Listen as the transcript for the movie scenes is read and follow along as Pastor Dean quizzes us so we can test what we’ve been learning.

During tonight's class Dr. Dean took us through three apologetics scenes from the movie God's Not Dead. See the transcript of the Three Arguments Used in the God's Not Dead available on this website.

You can view the movie God's Not Dead online or purchase it from Amazon.com

1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, June 29, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 4 mins 42 secs
What proof is there that Jesus really existed? Is He only mentioned in the Bible? Listen to this lesson to learn about many historical sources written in the early first century that mention Christ, including Gentile and Jewish sources. See how there is confirmation of the period of darkness on the day of the crucifixion and how there are attempts to explain it away as an eclipse. Hear and underline in your Bible a number of references where Jesus claimed to be the Son of God so you can locate them when talking to unbelievers.
1 Peter (2015)
Thursday, July 13, 2017
by Robert Dean
Passage: 1 Peter 3:15
Series: 1 Peter (2015)
Duration: 1 hr 7 mins 6 secs
Warning! This message describing the barbaric treatment of the Lord Jesus Christ is not for the faint of heart. See how it is overwhelming proof that Jesus actually died and did not merely swoon and was revived rather than resurrected. Hear a vivid description of His scourgings and the weapons that were used to deliver the blows. Learn the horrors of the cross and see photos of the various parts. Develop a deeper appreciation of how Jesus suffered all of these things because of our sins as described by the prophet Isaiah.

The Transcript: notes link below is for the “On the Physical Death of Jesus Christ” document that Dr. Dean referred to in the lesson.