Answering the Tough ONes

How to Respond to Skeptics

ANSWERING THE TOUGH ONES:

HOW TO RESPOND TO SKEPTICS (CC 106)

I. COURSE DESCRIPTION

During this six-week online course you will be equipped to give an accurate, measured, biblical
response to issues like the exclusivity of Christianity, the problem of evil, the reliability of Scripture, and
other commonly raised objections.

II. COURSE OBJECTIVES

As a result of this class, you should:

1. Deepen your love for Christ as you appreciate in greater ways the reality that Christianity is a
reasonable faith.
2. Grow in your understanding of the issues and nuances regarding hot-button topics frequently
raised as objections to Christianity.
3. Gain the ability to answer tough questions in a way that both addresses the major issues and invites
further respectful dialogue with skeptics and seekers.
4. Integrate your knowledge of each biblical response with loving interaction as you engage skeptics
and seekers God has placed in your sphere of influence, understanding that the greatest apologetic
is love.

III. TEXTBOOK

(Suggested, but not required)

Koukl, Greg. Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions. Grand Rapids:
Zondervan, 2009.

IV. COURSE REQUIREMENTS

It is fair to expect 2–3 hours of work for each week of the class. This time will vary if you choose to read the
suggested book Tactics and complete other optional resources in addition to the required coursework. This
time will include the following activities:

A. Reading Assignments
Each week you should read the required reading. You are NOT required to read the optional
reading, but it is highly encouraged and will maximize your learning during each class session.
If you choose to read Tactics, it is suggested that you read the selected chapters prior to listening
to the audio for each week. An additional recommended reading list is found at the end of this
syllabus.

B. Audio and PowerPoints

Each week you should listen to two parts of the audio recorded from the previous live
Answering the Tough Ones classes. It is suggested that you print out the PowerPoint slides in
order to take notes as you listen along.

C. Discussion Questions
You should answer each discussion question and respond to at least one other student’s
answer by the following week of class.
 D. Quizzes and Final Exam
The quizzes are for your benefit only, and the questions are taken from the PowerPoint slides
in addition to the required class readings. The final exam is comprehensive and is an
opportunity to see how much you learned during this class.

V. COURSE POLICIES

You are expected to complete the work for each week by the beginning of the next week’s class. Each week’s
class will open at 12:00 am on Thursday, and run until 11:59 pm the following Wednesday.

VI. COURSE SCHEDULE

DATE TOPIC ASSIGNMENTS

1. 5/3/18 Introduction Read: Syllabus
Optional Podcast: “Principles of Apologetics”

Week 1: Is Jesus the Only Listen: Jesus’ Claims, Between the Resurrection and the Gospels, The
Way to God? Historical Reliability of the Gospels, Q&A
Due: Quiz #1

2. 5/10/18 Week 2: Is Scripture Optional Reading: Tactics, Chs. 1, 2

Trustworthy? Listen: Old Testament Textual Transmission, New Testament Textual
Transmission, Q&A
Read: “5 Ps Handout”
Optional Podcast: “Reliability of Scripture” with Dr. Dan Wallace
Due: Discussion Question #1

3. 5/17/18 Week 3: What About Optional Reading: Tactics, Chs. 3, 4, 5

Other Religions? Listen: Parts 1 and 2
Read: Religion Comparison Chart
Due: Quiz #2

4. 5/24/18 Week 4: Does Science Optional Reading: Tactics, Chs. 6, 7, 8

Contradict the Creation Listen: What Does Genesis Say?, Young Earth Creationism, Old Earth
Account? Creationism, Q&A
Read: Science Handout
Due: Discussion Question #2

5. 5/31/18 Week 5: If God Is Good, Optional Reading: Tactics, Ch. 9, 10, 11

Why Is There Evil? What Listen: The Problem with the Problem of Evil, A Christian Response to
About Hell? the Problem of Evil, What About Hell?, Q&A
Watch: “Is God Good?”
Due: Quiz #3

6. 6/7/18 Week 6: Is “Gay- Optional Reading: Tactics, Chs. 12, 13, 14

Affirming” a Christian Listen: A Biblical Theology of Sexuality, Understanding and
Position? Responding to the Gay-Affirming View, Q&A
Read: Response to the “Gay-Affirming” View
Optional Podcast: “Responding to Same-Sex Issues” with Hope Harris
Due: Discussion Question #3

6/21/18 Conclusion Due: Final Exam; Final Discussion Question

ALL Optional Podcast: “Tactics and the Story of Reality” with Greg Koukl
WORK
DUE
 RECOMMENDED READING

BEGINNER

Greg Koukl, Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions

Josh McDowell, More Than a Carpenter

Lee Strobel, The Case for Christ: A Journalists Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus

INTERMEDIATE

Norman Geisler and Frank Turek, I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist

Tim Keller, Making Sense of God: An Invitation to the Skeptical

Tim Keller, The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism

C. S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Josh and Sean McDowell, Evidence That Demands a Verdict: Life-Changing Truth for a
Skeptical World

ADVANCED

Paul Copan, Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God

William Lane Craig, On Guard: Defending Your Faith with Reason and Precision

Alvin Plantinga, God, Freedom, and Evil