I. What makes Christianity different than any other religion?

A. Point out that it matters what you believe (i.e. Ideas have consequences.).

B. Find common ground in their concept of truth.

1. Not all religious views can be right (God can’t be both identical to the universe and separate from the Universe at the same time).

2. Someone has to be wrong.

3. If something exists, someone also must be right!

C. Help them see that Christ’s claims are totally unique compared to other major religious leaders (Jn. 14:6; I Tim 2:5; Acts 4:12).

D. Point out that the proof of His claims has no parallel among major religious leaders (I Cor. 15:3-6).

· For example, the only miracle Muhammad claimed in the Qur’an is translating the Qur’an (Muhammad never offered any other proof - Sura 3:181-184)

· See our web-site at: www.meeknessandtruth.org

E. Explain to them the difference between “Do versus Done” (See Bill Hybels’ book, Contagious Christian.).

· The best we can do is some feeble man-made formulas to work to God, enlighten ourselves, or try to gain God's favor. 

· In contrast to that is the Gospel which says it has been done, you just need to accept the gift that God has provided.

II. Outline of Argument for Defense of Christianity

A. Establishing the argument for a Theistic God.

1. The argument from effect to cause shows that God is an infinite power.

2. The argument from the reality of intelligent effects reveals that He is an intelligent cause.

3. The argument from the reality of moral effects reveals that He is a moral cause.

* This God is identical to the God described in the Bible - a Theistic God.

B. If God exists, then miracles are possible (A miracle is an act of God.).

C. The NT documents are historically reliable (See the article on our web-site, The reliability of the Bible.).

1. The reliability of the New Testament Manuscripts.

a. The New Testament has more Manuscripts.

b. The New Testament has earlier Manuscripts.

c. The New Testament is more accurately copied.

2. The reliability of the New Testament witnesses.

3. There is strong support for the historicity of the life and death of Christ outside the NT from contemporary 1st century sources.

D. In the NT Jesus claimed to be God (John 8: 58; 10: 30; 14: 9-11; Mark 2:5-11).

E. Jesus proved to be God by an unprecedented convergence of miracles.

1. The Miracle of fulfilled Prophecy (Where Christ would be born: Mich 5:2; When He would be born: Dan. 9:24-27; How He would die: Ps. 22:16).

2. The Miracle of the Resurrection.

F. Therefore, Jesus was God in human flesh.

Note: The content of this outline can be found in Baker Encyclopedia of Christian Apologetics by Dr. Norman Geisler, which can be ordered at www.impactapologetics.com