Strongholds
ChristopherMerola9-10-17
2Corinthians10:4-5“Fortheweaponsofourwarfarearenotofthefleshbuthavedivinepowertodestroystrongholds.WedestroyargumentsandeveryloftyopinionraisedagainsttheknowledgeofGod,andtakeeverythoughtcaptivetoobeyChrist…”
StrongholdsDefined:• Astrongholdisanincorrectthinkingpatternthathasmoldeditselfintoourwayofthinking.
• Strongholdsaffectourthinkingandfeelingandhowwerespondtovarioussituationsinlife.
1Corinthians1:23
• “butwepreachChristcrucified, toJewsastumblingblockandtoGentilesfoolishness…”
• 2CulturalStrongholdstotheGospel:LegalismandRelativism
Tertullian,anearlyChristianteacherandapologist (150-225AD)
“JustasJesuswascrucifiedbetweentwothieves,sothegospelisevercrucifiedbetweenthese twoerrors."(LegalismandRelativism)
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ApologeticsDefined• Apologia,aGreekword,,whichmeans
tospeakindefenseofabelief.Itwasusedindefensetoanaccusationorprosecutioninacourtoflaw.
• R.C.Sproul,referencing1Peter,writes that"Thedefenseofthefaithisnot aluxuryorintellectualvanity.ItisataskappointedbyGodthatyoushouldbeabletogiveareasonforthehopethatisinyouasyoubearwitnessbeforetheworld."
CreationMinistryInternational“Christianapologeticsisthereasoneddefense oftheChristianfaithagainstobjections,butalsoincludesthesettingforthofpositivegroundsforChristianity.ItisthedutyofallChristians,because:
-1Peter3:15:Alwaysbepreparedtogive ananswertoeveryonewhoasksyouto givethereasonforthehopethatyou have.’ -Jude3:“contendearnestlyforthefaith…”
FoundationalTruthsInTheBible
• Ahousethatisnotbuiltonafirmfoundationwillnotstand
• TruthdemonstratedthroughLogicandReason(Apologetics) destroysStrongholdsthatimpedetheGospel
1Corinthians9:20-21“WhenIwaswiththeJews,IlivedlikeaJewtobringtheJewstoChrist.WhenIwaswiththosewhofollowtheJewishlaw(Moses), Itoolivedunderthatlaw.EventhoughIamnotsubjecttothelaw,IdidthissoIcouldbringtoChristthosewhoareunderthelaw. WhenIamwiththeGentileswho donotfollowtheJewishlaw,ItooliveapartfromthatlawsoIcanbringthem toChrist.ButIdonotignorethelawofGod;IobeythelawofChrist.(Moral).”
WWJD:JesusUsedApologeticsFrequently
• Apologeticsisjustthestudyofhow touselogicandreasontodestroystrongholdstoadvancetheTruth
Mark12:14-17“Nowtellus—isitrighttopaytaxestoCaesar ornot?Shouldwepaythem,orshouldn’twe?’Jesussawthroughtheirhypocrisyand said,‘Whyareyoutryingtotrapme?ShowmeaRomancoin,andI’lltellyou.’Whentheyhandedittohim,heasked,‘Whose pictureandtitlearestampedonit?’‘Caesar’s,’theyreplied.‘Well,then,’Jesussaid,‘givetoCaesarwhatbelongs toCaesar,andgivetoGodwhatbelongstoGod.”.
KenHam–Acts2vsActs17Cultures
FrankTurek–TheMoralLaw
TheMoralLawWorksEveryTime• MoralLawinourhearts(RomansChapters1and2)
• TenCommandments:exposesmorallawbreaking
• 3FacesOfSin:LustoftheFlesh,theEyes,PrideOfLife Psychology:Controller,Rescuer,Victim Religion:Legalism,Sensationalism,Relativism Trauma:Fight,Flight,Freeze Communications:Aggressive,Passive,PassiveAggressive
WayOfTheMaster–TheMoralLawExposesSin
TwoWaystoWatchandShare
YouTube:MeekerSeeker BHCCwebsite(www.brighthopechurch.com):-FindYourFit:JustKeepItReal