Apologetics for a New Generation: Book Synopsis

In his book, Apologetics for a New Generation, Sean McDowell put together a team of writers who have a heart to minister to young people. They outline the need for a new approach to apologetics, some ideas for new methods in which to apply these apologetics, and some of the different challenges now facing our culture.

In the first section of the book, the new approach is characterized as relational.  In the context of relationship, people build trust without which the application of apologetics falls flat.[1] It is through relationships that the Holy Spirit instills belief and people are drawn to the gospel message.[2] Students should be empowers to be ambassadors of Christ and “agents of transformation to their generation” once these personal relationships have been established.[3]

In the methods sections, the authors focus on sharing the gospel with humility in a manner which can be more readily accepted.[4]  First, Christians should realize that our lives need to reflect the presence of the Holy Spirit in us.[5] We must exemplify Christ in our lives and have a teachable spirit. When we have conversations of faith, our ultimate goal should be the salvation of that person. We are not there to win a debate or score points; we want to be able to continue the conversation. [6] Finally, while the Bible contains propositional truth, that truth may be better communicated in creative ways, through storytelling and parables.[7]

In the last section, the authors cover such topics as race, homosexuality, gender and abortion. Each of these topics needs to be addressed An important practice in these discussions is to find common ground which encourages the conversation to proceed with truth, empathy and compassion.[8]

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[1] Dan Kimball, “A Different Kind of Apologist,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 33, 36.

[2] Josh McDowell, “A Fresh Apologetic: Relationships that Transform,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 59, 64.

[3] Brett Kunkle, “Truth Never Gets Old,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 50.

[4] David Geisler, “Conversational Apologetics: Evangelism for the New Millennium,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 111.

[5] “How we say things matters as much as what we say.” (Mark Matlock, “Apologetics and Emotional Development: Understanding our ways of Knowing and Finding Meaning,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell [Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009], 143).

[6] David Geisler, “Conversational Apologetics: Evangelism for the New Millennium,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 112.

[7] Craig Hazen, “Capturing the Imagination before Engaging the Mind,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 99, 107. See also Brian Godawa, “Storytelling and Persuasion,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 123.

[8] Stephen Wagner, “Abortion and Common Ground,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 216.  See also: Alan Shlemon, “Homosexuality: Know the Truth and speak it with Compassion,” in Apologetics for a New Generation, ed. Sean McDowell (Eugene, OR: Harvest House Publishers, 2009), 201.