100 Questions 2016-17

Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD 

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the trinity.
   
2. Explain the meaning and significance of the omniscience of God.
   
3. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipotence of God.
   
4. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipresence of God.
   
5. Explain the meaning and significance of the transcendence and immanence of God.
   
6. Explain the meaning and significance of the eternality of God.
   
7. Explain the meaning and significance of the holiness of God.
   
8. Explain the meaning and significance of the righteousness of God.
   
9. Explain the meaning and significance of the sovereignty of God.
   
10. Explain the meaning and significance of the grace of God.
    

General Questions

1. In what ways has God revealed Himself to man?
   
2. If God is real, why can’t people see or touch Him?
   
3. If God is holy, why did He allow evil in the world?
   
4. How can God be both merciful and just?
   
5. Why is the unchanging nature of God critical to who He is?
   
6. How does a Christian account for natural disasters?
   
7. Why do bad things happen to good people?
   
8. What is the role of the Holy Spirit?
   

Statement Analysis

1. Analyze and respond to the statement, “The Old Testament God is a God of hate while the New Testament God is a God of love.” –Anonymous
   
2. Analyze and respond to the statement, “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.” –Voltaire1
   
3. Analyze and respond to the statement, “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” –A.W. Tozer2
   
4. Analyze and respond to the statement, “God set the universe in motion but He has no interest in it.” –Anonymous
   
5. Analyze and respond to the statement, “If God understands my humanity and sin nature better than I do, why does He still hold me accountable for what I cannot help doing?” –Anonymous
   
6. Analyze and respond to the statement, “As an atheist, I don’t believe there is a God.” –Anonymous
   

Category 2: SCRIPTURES 
Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of inerrancy.
   
2. Explain the meaning and significance of verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture.
   
3. Explain the meaning and significance of divine inspiration.
   
4. Explain the meaning and significance of Biblical canon.
   
5. Explain the meaning and significance of higher (historical) criticism and lower
   (textual) criticism.
   

General Questions

1. Jesus clearly demonstrated His belief in the authority of Scriptures. Defend this statement with evidence.
   
2. If the Bible was written by men, how could it also be written by God?
   
3. How can the Bible be trustworthy when it has been translated so many times?
   
4. Is the Old Testament a reliable historical document?
   
5. Is the New Testament a reliable historical document?
   
6. Did the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls affirm or deny the accuracy of the Old
   Testament?
   
7. How does the reliability of Biblical manuscripts compare to other ancient texts?
   
8. How did the church decide what should be included in the canon of Scripture?
   
9. Why are there parallel myths to the Biblical narrative in other religions?
   
10. Are Scripture and science in conflict?
    

Statement Analysis

1. Analyze and respond to the statement, “The Bible is no different than any other holy book.” –Anonymous
   
2. Analyze and respond to the statement, “The Bible is simply the work of a great conspiracy, where people sought to create a religion of their own.” –Anonymous
   
3. Analyze and respond to the statement, “We can’t believe in a Bible that is full of contradictions.” –Anonymous
   
4. Analyze and respond to the statement, “The Bible was written to look like Jesus fulfilled prophecy.” –Anonymous
   
5. Analyze and respond to the statement, “The gospels were simply a collaborative effort of the church written after the time of Christ.” –Anonymous
   

Category 3: THE NATURE, PURPOSE AND DESTINY OF MAN 
Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the image of God.
   
2. Explain the meaning and significance of the depravity of man.
   
3. Explain the meaning and significance of original sin.
   
4. Explain the meaning and significance of the sin nature.
   
5. Explain the meaning and significance of sanctification.
   
6. Explain the meaning and significance of repentance.
   
7. Explain the meaning and significance of regeneration.
   

General Questions

1. Do all men have a longing for God?
   
2. Do all men have a conscience?
   
3. If God is invisible, (1 Timothy 1:17) how can man be made in the image of God?
   
4. If man is inherently sinful, why do many men lead relatively good lives?
   
5. What is the purpose of man?
   
6. What is the destiny of man?
   
7. Why would a loving God create hell?
   
8. What is the essential duty of man?
   
9. What is the purpose of prayer?
   

Statement Analysis

1. Analyze and respond to the statement, “All men were born with ten fingers and toes but no one was born with the knowledge of God.” –Voltaire3
   
2. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Heaven is only a state of mind.” –Anonymous
   
3. Analyze and respond to the statement, “He’s only human,” as a justification for sin
   and the need for leniency. –Anonymous
   
4. Analyze and respond to the statement, “When man dies, he simply ceases to exist.
   There is no immortality or eternal life.” –Anonymous
   
5. Analyze and respond to the statement, “All matter, energy, and life are an
   interconnected unity of which we are an inseparable part.” –World Pantheism
   Movement4
   
6. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Religion is as much a living spring of
   violence today as it was at any time in the past.” –Sam Harris5
   
7. Analyze and respond to the statement, “All human beings go through a previous life.”
   –Honore Balzac6
   
   

Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD 
Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of justification.
   
2. Explain the meaning and significance of atonement.
   
3. Explain the meaning and significance of propitiation.
   
4. Explain the meaning and significance of redemption.
   
5. Explain the meaning and significance of reconciliation.
   

General Questions

1. How can a man know God?
   
2. Can a man become right with God by keeping the Ten Commandments?
   
3. Isn't it narrow minded to believe there is only one way to heaven?
   
4. Why does man need salvation?
   
5. What is the purpose of the Church?
   
6. How do you know that there is absolute truth?
   

Statement Analysis

1. Analyze and respond to the statement, “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.” –Anonymous
   
2. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Every charitable act is a stepping stone to heaven.” –Henry Ward Beecher7
   
3. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Faith is the great cop-out, the great excuse to evade the need to think and evaluate evidence.” –Richard Dawkins8
   
4. Analyze and respond to the statement, “I believe I will go to heaven because I have lived a pretty good life.” –Anonymous
   
5. Analyze and respond to the statement, “It is arrogant to claim to know the truth.” –Anonymous
   
6. Analyze and respond to the statement, “I don’t want to be saved because I would need to give up the things I enjoy.” –Anonymous
   
7. Analyze and respond to the statement, “I am not sure I want to be a Christian, as Christians are hypocritical, intolerant and judgmental.” –Anonymous
   
8. Analyze and respond to the statement, “I don’t need to go to church. I can worship God wherever I am.” –Anonymous
   

Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST 
Definitions

1. What is the meaning and significance of the deity of Christ?
   
2. What is the meaning and significance of the Incarnation?
   
3. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Mediator?
   
4. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Messiah?
   
5. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Word of God?
   
6. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God?
   

General Questions

1. Why is the virgin birth essential to the Christian faith?
   
2. Why is the resurrection essential to the Christian faith?
   
3. If God is infinite, how could He limit Himself in the person of Christ?
   
4. How could Jesus be both God and man?
   
5. Why did Jesus have to die to provide salvation for men?
   
6. What evidence is there for the historical existence of Jesus?
   
7. What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus?
   
8. What was the purpose of the miracles that Jesus performed?
   

Statement Analysis

1. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Jesus’ life and death are merely examples to us that we should all live sacrificial lives.” –Anonymous
   
2. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Jesus was a good man and a good teacher but certainly not the Son of God.” –Anonymous
   
3. Analyze and respond to the statement, “I don’t need Jesus, I can just relate to God myself.” –Anonymous
   
4. Analyze and respond to the statement, “Justice has not been served by Jesus’ substitutionary atonement.” –Anonymous
   
5. Analyze and respond to the statement, “We have much to learn from the Jesus of the Gnostic gospels.” –Anonymous
   

NCFCA APOLOGETICS TOPICS

Tournament Directors will make selections from the topics posted on this site for use in league- sanctioned competition.

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Works Cited
1 “Quotations by Author.” QuotationsPage. N.d. Web. 15 Jul 2011. <www.quotationspage.com/quotes/Voltaire>.

2 Tozer, A.W. The Knowledge of the Holy. New York: HarperCollins, 1961. Print. 3 “Voltaire Quotes.” Equotes. 27 Nov 2007. Web. 15 July 2011.
<http://equotes.wetpaint.com/page/V oltaire+Quotes>.

4 Z, Ethan. “The Belief Statement (Credo) of the World Pantheism Movement.” Pantheism Today. 9 Dec. 2009. Web. 15 July 2011 <www.pantheismtoday.com/beliefs/the-belief- statement-credo-of-the-world-pantheist-movement>.

5 Harris, Sam. The End of Faith: Religion, Terror and the Future of Reason. New York: W.W. Norton, 2004. Print.

6 “Thirty Quotes on Reincarnation.” Hinduism.About.Com. Subhamoy Das. N.d. Web. 4 Aug 2011. <http://hinduism.about.com/od/reincarnation/a/quotes_2.htm>.

7 "Henry Ward Beecher Quotes." BrainyQuote. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jul 2011. <http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/h/henrywardb100772.html >.

8 Dawkins, Richard. "Richard Dawkins Quotes."ThinkExist. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Jul 2011. <http://thinkexist.com/search/searchquotation.asp?search=faith+is+the+greatest+cop-out>

© NCFCA Apologetics Topics Revised September 2011

NCFCA APOLOGETICS TOPICS

Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD    
Definitions 
General Questions
Statement Analysis
Category 2: SCRIPTURES
Definitions 
General Questions
Statement Analysis
Category 3: THE NATURE PURPOSE AND DESTINY OF MAN
Definitions 
General Questions
Statement Analysis
Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD
Definitions 
General Questions
Statement Analysis
Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST
Definitions 
General Questions
Statement Analysis
 

Category 1: EXISTENCE AND NATURE OF GOD

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the trinity.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the omniscience of God.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipotence of God.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of the omnipresence of God

5. Explain the meaning and significance of the transcendence of God

6. Explain the meaning and significance of the immanence of God.

7. Explain the meaning and significance of the eternality of God.

8. Explain the meaning and significance of the immutability of God.

9. Explain the meaning and significance of the infinite nature of God.

10. Explain the meaning and significance of the holiness of God.

11. Explain the meaning and significance of the righteousness of God.

12. Explain the meaning and significance of the justice of God.

13. Explain the meaning and significance of the sovereignty of God.

14. Explain the meaning and significance of the mercy of God.

15. Explain the meaning and significance of the grace of God.

General Questions

1. In what ways has God revealed Himself to man?

2. If God is real, why can’t people see or touch Him?

3. If God is holy, why did He allow sin in the world?

4. How can God be both merciful and just?

5. How can God be one and yet three (unity versus trinity)?

6. Open theology states that God is constantly changing and growing with His creation. Respond to
this Biblically.

7. Open theology states that God is constantly growing and changing with His creation. Respond to
this logically and pragmatically.

8. Why is the unchanging nature of God critical to who He is?

Statement Analysis
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1. “The existence of God and of a future life is everywhere recognized in Africa.”  ~~David Livingstone

2.  “The Old Testament God is a God of hate while the New Testament God is a God of love.”

3.  “Gods are fragile things. They may be killed by a whiff of science or a dose of common sense.” ~~Chapman Cohen

4. “If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent Him.”  ~~Voltaire

5.  “What we believe about God is the most important thing about us.”  ~~A.W. Tozer

6. “God is merely an impersonal force in the universe. He is untouchable and unapproachable.”

7.  “God set the universe in motion but He has no interest in it.”

8. “If God understands my humanity and sin nature better than I do, why does He still hold me accountable for what I cannot help doing?”


Category 2: SCRIPTURES

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of inerrancy.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of verbal, plenary inspiration of Scripture.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of divine inspiration.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of Biblical canon.

5. Explain the meaning and significance of higher criticism and lower criticism.

General Questions

1. Jesus clearly demonstrated His belief in the authority of Scriptures. Defend this statement with
evidence.

2. If the Bible was written by men, how could it also be written by God?

3. How did the church decide what should be included in the canon of Scripture?

4. How can the Bible be trustworthy when it has been translated so many times?

5. What is the foundation for accurate Bible translation?

6. Provide evidence for the historical accuracy of the Bible.

Statement Analysis
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1. "No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says; he is always convinced that it says what he means.”   ~~~George Barnard Shaw

2.  “The Bible is no different than any other holy book.”

3. “The Bible is simply the work of a great conspiracy, where people sought to create a religion of their own.”

4.  “The Old Testament is merely a set of myths made up by the Jewish people to establish a national identity and give themselves a feeling of superiority.”


Category 3: THE NATURE PURPOSE & DESTINY OF MAN

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of the image of God.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of the depravity of man.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of original sin.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of the sin nature.

5. Explain the meaning and significance of sanctification.

6. Explain the meaning and significance of repentance.

7. Explain the meaning and significance of regeneration.

General Questions

1. Do all men have a longing for God?

2. Do all men have a conscience?

3. If God is invisible, (1 Timothy 1:17) how can man be made in the image of God?

4. If man is inherently sinful, why do most men lead relatively good lives?

5. What is the purpose of man?

6. What is the destiny of man?

7. Why would a loving God create hell?
http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?t=716437

8. What is the essential duty of man?

9. What is meant by the "fall of man"?

Statement Analysis
Evaluate and respond to the following statement:

1.  “All men were born with ten fingers and toes but no one was born with the knowledge of God.” ~~Voltaire

2.  “…whatever a man sows, that shall he also reap.”  ~~Galatians 6:7

3.  “Heaven is only a state of mind.”

4.  “He’s only human.” (as a justification for sin and the need for leniency).

5.  “When man dies, he simply ceases to exist. There is no immortality or eternal life.”


Category 4: SALVATION or HOW TO KNOW GOD

Definitions

1. Explain the meaning and significance of justification.

2. Explain the meaning and significance of atonement.

3. Explain the meaning and significance of propitiation.

4. Explain the meaning and significance of redemption.

General Questions

1. How can a man know God?

2. Can a man become right with God by keeping the Ten Commandments?

3. Isn't it narrow minded to believe there is only one way to heaven?

4. Why does man need salvation?

Statement Analysis   
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1.  “It doesn’t matter what you believe as long as you are sincere.”

2.  “There are many roads to God.”

3.  “Every charitable act is a stepping stone to heaven.”   ~~Henry Ward Beecher

4.  “I commune best with God when I am out in nature. I don’t need organized religion or a list of do’s and don’ts.”

5.  “I know that all of the good vibes he sent out will return to carry him off to a better place.”   ~~Comment made after to death of Bob Hope

6. “Christianity is the opiate of the masses.”  ~~Karl Marx

7. “Jesus said, ‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No man comes to the Father except though me.’”


Category 5: THE PERSON OF CHRIST

Definitions

1. What is the meaning and significance of the deity of Christ?

2. What is the meaning and significance of the virgin birth?

3. What is the meaning and significance of the Incarnation?

4. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ claim that He is “the Son of Man?”

5. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus’ claim that He is “the Son of God?”

6. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Mediator?

7. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Messiah?

8. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Word if God?

9. What is the meaning and significance of Jesus as the Lamb of God?

General Questions

1. Why is the resurrection essential to the Christian faith?

2. If God is infinite, how could He limit Himself in the person of Christ?

3. How could Jesus be both God and man?

4. Why did Jesus have to die to provide salvation for men?

5. What evidence is there for the historical existence of Jesus?

6. What evidence is there for the resurrection of Jesus?

7. Did Jesus attain deity by His sacrificial death or was He God from the beginning?

Statement Analysis 
Analyze and respond to the following statement:

1.  “Jesus’ life and death are merely examples to us that we should all live sacrificial lives.”
  -->

2.  “Jesus was a good man and a good teacher but certainly not the Son of God.”

Tournament Directors will make selections from the topics posted on this site for use in league sanctioned competition.

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