New Churches Podcast | Season 1 | Episode 799

The Role of Apologetics in Church Planting

Ed Stetzer

Episode 799

Host Ed Stetzer chats with his colleague Craig Hazen, the Founder and Director of Christian Apologetics at the Talbot School of Theology. Together, they discuss the impact of apologetics within the church-planting sphere and how this study and practice grants us confidence to move forward in our missional calling to share the peace of Christ’s truth with the world.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover:

  • How to demystify apologetics for both yourself and your congregation
  • Ways to move from evangelism to apologetics as you minister to others
  • Why the college campus is a great place for this study and practice
  • How you can meet people where they are with the truth of Christ, no matter their starting point with the gospel
  • The role of joy within your apologetics engagement!

Helpful Resources:

  • Are you part of a new church plant? Learn more about our new church offer here.
  • Interested in learning more? Check out our Church Planting Primer.

Please subscribe to the podcast and leave a rating and review on iTunes.

Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):

Offer reasons for your faith and why it is you put your trust in Jesus. Apologetics is the ministry of helping people answer their questions. — Craig Hazen

Apologetics is going to become more and more important as the culture becomes more and more secular. — Ed Stetzer

We still make strong arguments, but we try to do so with gentleness and respect. The one thing that really juices up the gentleness and respect is having a deep knowledge of the subject. — Craig Hazen

Argumentation means different things to different people, but persuasive apologetics in the public sphere and in relationships is essential today. — Ed Stetzer

I’m much more sensitive to the Holy Spirit when I’m not working out of anxiety as I’m witnessing to a person. — Craig Hazen

The challenge is that a lot of people are just not safe conversation partners with spiritually questioning people. — Ed Stetzer

Published on January 25, 2024

Relationships Mission Pre-Launch Growing Multiplying
About the Podcast

New Churches Podcast

The New Churches podcast offers practical answers to your real ministry questions. We aren’t going to provide lofty pie-in-the-sky theories. Instead, we are going to help you in your real ministry context, with your real thoughts, questions, and issues.

See All Episodes

Subscribe

Meet the Author

Ed Stetzer

Ed Stetzer, Ph.D., is a professor and dean at Wheaton College where he also serves as Executive Director of the Wheaton College Billy Graham Center.  He is the incoming Dean of Talbot School of Theology at Biola University. He has planted, revitalized, and pastored churches; trained pastors and church planters on six continents; earned two master’s degrees and two doctorates; and he has written hundreds of articles and a dozen books. He is Regional Director for Lausanne North America, is the Editor-in-Chief of Outreach Magazine, and regularly writes for news outlets such as USA Today and CNN. His national radio show, Ed Stetzer Live, airs Saturdays on Moody Radio and affiliates. He serves at his local church, Mariners Church, as a Scholar in Residence and Teaching Pastor.

More Resources from Ed
Related Content
Podcast Episode

Leading Your Church in Fearless Prayer

New Churches Podcast Season 1 Episode 803

Episode 803 Host Ed Stetzer teams back up with colleague Craig Hazen to take a deep dive into John 15:7—Christ’s own words about fearless, expectant prayer. Discover the role of prayer in the life of the church planter as you...
Article

Online Bible Tools Every Preacher Should Know About

Justin Orr

Browse this list of 55 online Bible tools to discover new resources that will help you with Bible study, sermon preparation and related research.
Article

4 Ways to Equip Your Church in Biblical Hospitality

George Ross

Biblical hospitality transcends cultural norms with a tangible picture of the gospel. Here's 4 ways to lead your church in this practice as you draw nearer to the saints and strangers in your midst.