Voddie Baucham - Expository apologetics: answering objections with the power of the word

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Voddie Bauchams book is both scriptural and fresh, aware of biblical principles, cultural trends, and human nature. I especially appreciate Bauchams expository approach, by which he brings Gods Word into every apologetic conversation. I recommend it as an excellent introduction to apologetics as it needs to be practiced today.

John M. Frame, J. D. Trimble Chair of Systematic Theology and Philosophy, Reformed Theological Seminary, Orlando

I am a fan of any book that takes apologetics out of the tower and puts it in the pew. Baucham does a wonderful job of just that. His pastoral style and sensitivity stand out as he takes a method of apologetics straight from the Scriptures and lays out how everyone can defend the faith with confidence.

C. Michael Patton, Founder, President, and fellow, The Credo House, Edmond, Oklahoma

Voddie Bauchams expository approach to apologetics reminds us of the power of Gods Word for responding to objections to the Christian faith. This book hits all the right notes and guides the reader to think biblically, confessionally, and theologically when engaging with those who reject Christianity. Bauchams book will encourage the church to engage unbelief from the perspective of Scripture, rather than from a lesser perspective.

K. Scott Oliphint, Professor of Apologetics and Systematic Theology, Westminster Theological Seminary; author, Covenantal Apologetics

Any biblical apologetic must rely on the Bible itself for its content and its force. Expositing the Bible in clear and cogent theological categories is essential for apologetics. By learning and applying the truths of this book, Christians can become better prepared to give a defense of the hope that is within them.

Douglas Groothuis, Professor of Philosophy and Director of the Apologetics and Ethics Masters Degree, Denver Seminary; author, Christian Apologetics

Other Crossway Books by Voddie Baucham

Joseph and the Gospel of Many Colors: Reading an Old Story in a New Way (2013)

Family Shepherds: Calling and Equipping Men to Lead Their Homes (2011)

What He Must Be:... If He Wants to Marry My Daughter (2009)

Family Driven Faith: Doing What It Takes to Raise Sons and Daughters Who Walk with God (2007)

EXPOSITORY APOLOGETICS

Answering Objections
with the
Power of the Word

VODDIE BAUCHAM JR.

Expository Apologetics: Answering Objections with the Power of the Word

Copyright 2015 by Voddie Baucham Jr.

Published by Crossway
1300 Crescent Street
Wheaton, Illinois 60187

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher, except as provided for by USA copyright law.

Published in association with Yates & Yates, www.yates2.com

Cover design: Jeff Miller, Faceout Studio

First printing 2015

Printed in the United States of America

Scripture quotations are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. 2011 Text Edition. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1-4335-3379-2
ePub ISBN: 978-1-4335-3382-2
PDF ISBN: 978-1-4335-3380-8
Mobipocket ISBN: 978-1-4335-3381-5

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Baucham, Voddie.

Expository apologetics : answering objections with the power of the word / Voddie Baucham, Jr.

1 online resource.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.

ISBN 978-1-4335-3380-8 (pdf) ISBN 978-1-4335-3381-5 (mobi) ISBN 978-1-4335-3382-2 (epub) ISBN 978-1-4335-3379-2 (tp)

1. Apologetics. 2. Preaching. I. Title.

BT1103

239dc23 2015007173

Crossway is a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

To David Shiflet
My friend, brother, and colaborer
for the sake of the gospel
and the man who encouraged me
to write this book

This book was born out of a conversation with my dear friend and colaborer, David Shiflet. I am grateful for his insightful and inquisitive mind that led him to see something in my preaching and teaching that I had not seen. I am also grateful for his willingness to engage me in conversations that led to greater clarity and insight on both his part and mine. Finally, I am grateful for his insistence that I write a book about what he helped me to clarify and systematize.

Special thanks are also due to those who make it possible for me to devote what little time I have to writing books. I am thankful to God for my wife, Bridget, for her support, encouragement, and steadfast love. I am grateful to my children for their contributions to my work. To Jasmine for her help in research, to Trey for our discussions, to Elijah, Asher, Judah, Micah, and Safya for their participation and engagement in catechism and family worship that have helped me put the pieces together. And to Amos and Simeon who, though too young to be engaged fully in the process right now (ages two and one at the time of this writing), the fact that God has given you to me serves as motivation to carry on in this great adventure of parenting and disciple making.

Finally, I am grateful to God for the people of Grace Family Baptist Church and my fellow elders who have labored alongside me during the development and writing of this material. To Joshua Loyd and Dale Ashworth, with whom I labored during the development of this project, and Stephen Bratton, who has been with me from the beginning to the end, I owe a debt of gratitude that can neither be expressed adequately nor repaid. I thank God for their partnership in the gospel and their support of my writing ministry.

Several years ago, a dear friend and brother came to me with a proposal that would change the trajectory of my ministry. We were working together in a leadership/elder training program in our local church. I was teaching a section on preaching, and he asked me a simple question, Have you ever thought about formalizing the process you use to do that thing you do in your preaching? He was curious as to whether (1) I was doing it on purpose, (2) I had a process I used to do it, and (3) it was something that could be taught to others.

Of course, that question led to a number of discussions about that thing I do. They centered around a tendency I had to argue with myself during sermons. I would make a point, then immediately say something like, I know what youre thinking... I would then express common objections to the proposition I had just made, then proceed to answer those objections.