So Many Questions

In a series of short sessions, this course will not only help you know what to say in response to many common questions about Christianity, but also the principles behind answering the three basic categories of all apologetic questions. This easy-to-run, video-based course is ideal for small groups.

When was the last time you were asked one of these questions?

• How do I know God exists in the first place?
• Did Jesus really come back from the dead?
• Hasn't science disproved Christianity?
• You can't trust what the Bible says—it's been changed too much over the years!
• No-one can claim to have 'the truth'—everyone's opinion is valid.
• Wasn't Jesus just another great religious teacher?
• Discussing religion just divides people and causes problems!
• If the Bible is so clear, why can't Christians agree on what it says?
• Why is the Bible anti-gay?
• If God is good, why is there so much suffering in the world?
• Can't we just be good enough to please God?
• Christians are just a bunch of hypocrites!
• Do you have to go to church to be a Christian?

Find out how to answer these common questions.

Download the workbook's first session for free.

In a series of short sessions, So Many Questions will take you through each question, helping you to work out what to say, and providing an ‘expert’ answer from which to learn. You’ll also learn the basic principles behind all these answers.

About this course

Welcome to So Many Questions, a video-based training course on how to answer common questions about Christianity. By using this workbook and the accompanying videos, you will learn some general principles for answering people’s questions, as well as the specifics of how to answer 13 of the most frequently asked questions.

The course is divided into four main sections:

1. Introduction: This is comprised of four units which cover the general approach to answering people’s questions.
2. Knowing: Some questions presume that the best answer is the one with the best evidence. To answer these types of questions, we need to present the evidence (either historical, scientific or philosophical) that supports our conclusion. This section answers four such questions.
3. Meaning: Other questions presume that either there is no such thing as ‘the truth’ or that we cannot know for sure what ‘the truth’ about God is. This section answers four questions that are based on the assumption that we can’t know the truth.
4. Living: Finally, there are many questions concerned with how we ought to live. These questions seek to either understand or challenge the Bible’s teaching on moral issues.The five questions in this section illustrate how these sorts of questions can be answered.

In total, there are 17 units to this course (4 introductory units and 13 answers to questions).The basic format of each unit is simple:

• There are some starter questions which help you to start thinking about the main topic the unit will address.
• You then watch the relevant segment of video, taking notes in the space provided.
• There are further questions to help you think about the topic in more depth and summarize the main points you would use in formulating an answer.

For each of the 13 questions, there are summaries along with suggestions for extra reading in Appendix 1. These can also be used as the basis for further discussion if you would like to explore a particular topic in more detail.

Different ways to use the course

As each unit is quite brief, there is considerable flexibility in how the course might be used. Here are some suggestions:

• An individual or couple could work through one unit per week as part of their personal Christian growth (say each Friday night or Sunday afternoon).
• A small Bible study group could do one unit each week during their regular meeting together (taking just 15-20 minutes each week).
• The units could be grouped together to yield more intensive courses of different lengths—for example, a nine-week course (two units per session = 40 minutes) or even a six-week course (three units per session = 60 minutes).
• Group leaders/coordinators could also choose not to cover all the questions. For example, you could choose the eight most common or relevant questions for the members of your group, and put them together in whatever combination you think is best.
• The course could also be run as a series of two or three Saturday morning seminars where six or nine units are completed at a time.

Contributors

We’re very grateful to the following people, who gave of their time so generously in the filming of the DVD:

• Chris Braga is the senior minister at Summer Hill Anglican Church.
• Paul Grimmond serves on the campus of the University of New South Wales.
• Tony Payne is the Publishing Director at Matthias Media.
• Claire Smith first trained as a nurse and has completed a PhD in New Testament studies. She ministers with her husband Rob at St Andrew’s Cathedral, Sydney.
• Al Stewart, formerly the Anglican Bishop of the Wollongong region in Sydney, works with City Bible Forum in Sydney.

In producing this course, our goal has been to equip Christians like you to answer people’s questions wisely, graciously and compellingly. Our hope and prayer is that, as you do so, you will give glory to Christ by pointing people to him, and that, in his time and through his grace, many more might come to know him as their Lord.