Northwest Arkansas is growing fast. With new neighbors from around the world, more students, and more questions, many Christians want to be ready to “give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have” (1 Peter 3:15, NIV). Many skeptics, for their part, want a place where their questions are taken seriously.
That’s what Christian apologetics is: the reasoned defense of the Christian faith. Here’s how to get involved locally.
What is Christian apologetics?
The word comes from the Greek apologia, a reasoned defense. Apologetics asks questions like: Does God exist? Did the universe have a beginning? Can we trust what the Gospels say about Jesus? How do science and faith fit together? It isn’t about winning arguments. It’s about having good reasons, and sharing them with gentleness and respect.
Reasonable Faith NWA (Bentonville)
Reasonable Faith NWA is the local chapter of Reasonable Faith, the ministry of Dr. William Lane Craig. Led by chapter director Will Johnson, we meet monthly in Bentonville for a talk and open discussion on topics like the Kalam cosmological argument, the fine-tuning of the universe, the historical Jesus, and science and faith. Meetings are free and open to everyone.
→ See the next meeting date on our Meetings & Events page.
Local churches
Many NWA churches offer classes or sermon series on apologetics from time to time. Our partner churches, New Heights Church, Catalyst Church, and Cross Church, support apologetics in our region. Ask your own church whether it offers a class or would host one.
Students
[IF UofA OUTREACH IS CONFIRMED: describe it and link it here. OTHERWISE: “University of Arkansas students are welcome at our Bentonville meetings, and we’d love to hear from students interested in campus apologetics. Contact us.”]
Online resources
Between meetings, ReasonableFaith.org offers articles, the Defenders class, podcasts, and debates. See our Resources page.
How to choose a group
- Look for a welcoming, respectful atmosphere where questions are encouraged.
- Look for teaching grounded in sound scholarship.
- Look for regular meetings, so you can build relationships.