
**Faith with Flight** is a Bible study group for young Christians at _Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University_, where faith in God takes off and friendships grow.

Each week we begin with a time of worship, followed by Bible study, prayer, and real conversations about life and faith. Whether you're new to Christianity or looking to deepen your walk with God, you're welcome here. Be sure to bring your friends and come as you are!

### **🛫 Where & When?**

- The Chapel Room, [Center for Faith and Spirituality (Building 267)](https://maps.app.goo.gl/zM66ZyNKb7cAK9wQ9)
- Every Thursday at 7:00 PM

<Callout type="info" title="Information">
	Times may vary, so dont forget to check our [event calendar](/blog/calendar) and
	[materials](/blog/outline) for updates!
</Callout>

---

> "But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles..." — Isaiah 40:31


Sang Xing

Weekly Christian Bible study at Embry-Riddle open to all students seeking truth and community.

About


### 📅 Meeting Schedule (subject to change)

| Week | Date Range        | No School Days                   | Meeting Date   | Topic               |
| ---- | ----------------- | -------------------------------- | -------------- | ------------------- |
| 1    | Aug 25 - Aug 29   |                                  |                |                     |
| 2    | Sept 1 - Sept 5   | Sept 1 - Holiday: Labor Day      |                |                     |
| 3    | Sept 8 - Sept 12  |                                  | 7pm, Sept 11   | Apologetics Unit 1  |
| 4    | Sept 15 - Sept 19 |                                  | 7pm, Sept 18   | Apologetics Unit 2  |
| 5    | Sept 22 - Sept 26 |                                  | 7pm, Sept 25   | Apologetics Unit 3  |
| 6    | Sept 29 - Oct 3   |                                  | 7pm, Oct 2     | Apologetics Unit 4  |
| 7    | Oct 6 - Oct 10    | Oct 7 - Career Expo (no classes) | 7pm, Oct 9     | Apologetics Unit 5  |
| 8    | Oct 13 - Oct 17   | Oct 16-17 - Fall Break           | **No Meeting** |                     |
| 9    | Oct 20 - Oct 24   |                                  | 7pm, Oct 23    | Apologetics Unit 6  |
| 10   | Oct 27 - Oct 31   |                                  | 7pm, Oct 30    | Apologetics Unit 7  |
| 11   | Nov 3 - Nov 7     |                                  | 7pm, Nov 6     | Apologetics Unit 8  |
| 12   | Nov 10 - Nov 14   | Nov 11 - Veterans Day            | 7pm, Nov 13    | Apologetics Unit 9  |
| 13   | Nov 17 - Nov 21   |                                  | 7pm, Nov 20    | Apologetics Unit 10 |
| 14   | Nov 24 - Nov 28   | Nov 26-28 - Thanksgiving         | **No Meeting** |                     |
| 15   | Dec 1 - Dec 5     | Dec 4 - Last Day of Classes      | **No Meeting** |                     |
| 16   | Dec 8 - Dec 12    | Dec 6-10 - Finals                | **No Meeting** |                     |


Find our weekly Bible study schedule for Fall 2025 and stay updated on any holiday changes.

Calendar


This fall, **Faith with Flight** will walk through a 10-week crash course in **Christian apologetics**, designed to strengthen your faith, equip you to answer tough questions, and explore why Christianity makes the most sense of reality.

---

## 🧭 Course Structure

We'll explore three core phases:

### **1. Theism: Is there a God?**

- **Week 1 - What is Apologetics?**  
  (Purpose, methods, biblical basis — 1 Peter 3:15)
- **Week 2 - Moral Argument**  
  (Objective morality, conscience, justice)
- **Week 3 - Design Argument**  
  (Fine-tuning, DNA, anthropic principle)
- **Week 4 - Cosmological Argument**  
  (Kalam argument, Big Bang, causality)

### **2. Christianity: Who is Jesus and is it true?**

- **Week 5 - Reliability of the Bible**  
  (Canon, manuscript evidence, archaeology)
- **Week 6 - The Identity and Resurrection of Jesus**  
  (Historical case, miracles, resurrection defenses)

### **3. Engaging the World: Why does it matter?**

- **Week 7 - Problem of Evil & Suffering**  
  (Free will, soul-making, redemption)
- **Week 8 - Christianity vs Other Worldviews**
  (Comparing Islam, Hinduism, atheism)
- **Week 9 - Apologetics in a Postmodern World**  
  (Narrative, identity, skepticism)
- **Week 10 - Practical Q&A + Sharing Your Faith**  
  (Mock dialogues, real-life scenarios, Q&A)

---

> Bring your questions, your doubts, and your Bible — and let's explore the _reason for the hope that is in us_ together.

📚 Need more reading material? Check out some of these books below:

- _The Reason for God_ - Timothy Keller
- _Reasons to Believe_ - R.C. Sproul
- _On Guard_ - William Lane Craig
- _Reasonable Faith_ - William Lane Craig
- _Mere Christianity_ - C.S. Lewis
- _The Case for the Resurrection_ - Habermas & Licona
- _Warranted Christian Belief_ - Alvin Plantinga


Explore our 10-week apologetics journey from God's existence to the truth of Christianity.

Outline


## Early Apologists: From the Church Fathers

One of the first well-known apologists was **[Justin Martyr](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Justin_Martyr)** (2nd century AD), a philosopher who converted to Christianity. He boldly defended the faith before Roman emperors, addressing misconceptions about Christians and explaining how Jesus fulfilled prophecy and reason.

His writings, such as the _First Apology_ and _Dialogue with Trypho_, laid a foundation for **rational defense of Christianity** in the face of persecution and philosophical criticism.

Other early defenders included **[Tertullian](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tertullian)**, who coined the phrase “the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church,” and **[Origen](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Origen)**, who tackled deep philosophical challenges from pagan critics like Celsus. These early apologists were not trying to win popularity, but to **clarify, defend, and proclaim** the truth of the Gospel in the face of misunderstanding and opposition.

---

## Medieval Apologetics: Faith Seeking Understanding

In the Middle Ages, Christian apologetics matured into a deeply philosophical discipline, shaped by the conviction that faith and reason are not enemies but allies. **[Augustine of Hippo](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustine_of_Hippo)** laid the groundwork by insisting that belief is the gateway to true understanding. Echoing Isaiah 7:9, he wrote in _De Libero Arbitrio_ and various sermons: _“Unless you believe, you will not understand.”_ For Augustine, faith was not a retreat from reason but the necessary foundation that enables it to flourish. This theme was taken up and refined by **[Anselm of Canterbury](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anselm_of_Canterbury)**, who famously declared in his _Proslogion_, _“I do not seek to understand in order that I may believe, but I believe so that I may understand”_—a phrase later condensed into the Latin maxim _“Credo ut intelligam”_ (“I believe so that I may understand”). Anselm described his entire approach to theology as _“fides quaerens intellectum”_ (“faith seeking understanding”), affirming that faith initiates inquiry and reason guides it to deeper insight. Later, **[Thomas Aquinas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Aquinas)** advanced this synthesis in his monumental _Summa Theologica_, where he presented five rational proofs for the existence of God. Drawing heavily on Aristotelian logic, Aquinas demonstrated that natural reason—when rightly used—can support and illuminate divine revelation. Together, these thinkers exemplify a medieval vision of apologetics rooted in both confident faith and rigorous intellect

---

## Reformation and Post-Reformation Apologetics

During the Reformation, figures like **[Martin Luther](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_Luther)** and **[John Calvin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Calvin)** argued fiercely for the authority of Scripture and salvation by grace through faith. While not primarily known as apologists, their writings addressed theological objections from within and outside the Church.

**Calvin’s idea of the _sensus divinitatis_ (sense of the divine)** influenced later thinkers like Alvin Plantinga, laying the groundwork for **presuppositional approaches** to apologetics. At the same time, **Catholic theologians** such as **[Francisco Suárez](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Francisco_Su%C3%A1rez)** engaged with emerging scientific and philosophical ideas, showing that reason and revelation can work together.

---

## Enlightenment to Modern Era: Rational Challenges and Responses

With the rise of skepticism, empiricism, and scientific materialism, Christianity faced new kinds of challenges. **[William Paley's watchmaker analogy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Paley)** (1802) tried to respond with natural theology, arguing that just as a watch implies a watchmaker, so the universe implies a Creator.

In the 20th century, **[C.S. Lewis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._S._Lewis)** became a household name in apologetics. A former atheist turned Christian, Lewis wrote works like _Mere Christianity_, _The Problem of Pain_, and _The Abolition of Man_, defending the faith with clarity, creativity, and intellectual depth.

---

## Contemporary Apologetics: Global and Digital

Today, apologetics is both more **diverse** and **accessible** than ever. Scholars like **[William Lane Craig](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Lane_Craig)** use modern cosmology to defend the **Kalam Cosmological Argument**. **[Gary Habermas](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gary_Habermas)** and **[Michael Licona](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Licona)** focus on historical evidence for Jesus’ resurrection.  
**[John Lennox](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Lennox)** and **[Stephen Meyer](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_C._Meyer)** respond to challenges from atheistic science, while **[Rebecca McLaughlin](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rebecca_McLaughlin)**, **[Sean McDowell](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sean_McDowell)**, and **[Tim Keller](<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Keller_(pastor)>)** engage topics like identity, sexuality, and justice in a skeptical age.

YouTube, TikTok, and podcasts have become new mission fields where apologists speak to millions around the world. The tools may change, but the task remains: to make the case for Christ clearly, courageously, and compassionately.

---

## One Faith, Many Voices

From the ancient courts of Rome to digital platforms today, Christians have always been called to explain the hope they have in Jesus. Whether you're quoting Scripture, defending the resurrection, or engaging worldviews with reason and grace — you're continuing a tradition that spans millennia.

As we move forward in this study series, remember: **apologetics is not about winning arguments — it’s about faithfully witnessing to the truth**.

> _“Contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.”_ — Jude 1:3


Discover the biblical and historical roots of apologetics, and why it matters today.

A Brief History of Christian Apologetics


> _“But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense (apologia) to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,...”_ — **1 Peter 3:15 (ESV)**

---

## What is Apologetics?

The word **apologetics** comes from the **Greek word _apologia_ (ἀπολογία)** — meaning a **reasoned defense** or formal justification. In the New Testament, this term appears in legal or courtroom contexts where someone gives a defense of their beliefs or actions (Acts 22:1, Philippians 1:7, 1 Peter 3:15).

**Christian apologetics** is the discipline of defending the truth of the Christian faith — not with anger or pride, but with humility, love, and reason. It's about knowing _why_ you believe and _how_ to communicate that with clarity and conviction.

---

## Why Apologetics Matters Today

- Strengthens the **faith** of believers
- Equips Christians to **respond to doubts**
- Helps engage **skeptics and seekers** thoughtfully
- Reveals that Christianity is **intellectually viable**, not blind belief

Today, people are asking tough questions:

- How can God exist in a world full of suffering?
- Isn't science enough to explain everything?
- Can God create a rock so heavy than He could ever lift it?
- Are all religions basically the same?

Apologetics helps address these sincerely and biblically. It is an essential part of Christian witness — and has been since the earliest days of the Church, with believers defending the faith almost immediately after the time of Christ.

---

## Different Schools of Apologetics

There are several methods used by Christian thinkers over the centuries:

### **Classical Apologetics**

A two-step method: first argue for the existence of God using reason, then present evidence for Christianity.\
**Key figures**:

- Thomas Aquinas (medieval scholastic)
- William Lane Craig (modern philosopher)
- Norman Geisler

### **Evidential Apologetics**

Focuses on historical and empirical evidence (e.g., resurrection, miracles, Bible manuscripts).\
**Key figures**:

- Gary Habermas
- Josh McDowell
- Lee Strobel

### **Presuppositional Apologetics**

Asserts that only Christianity makes sense of reality; all worldviews must start with certain assumptions.\
**Key figures**:

- Cornelius Van Til (founder)
- Greg Bahnsen
- James White

### **Reformed Epistemology**

Argues belief in God can be “properly basic” and rational without evidence.\
**Key figure**:

- Alvin Plantinga

---

## Important Note

**You don't have to be a professional philosopher to be an apologist!!!**\
If you know why you believe and are willing to share that gently and honestly, you're already obeying the call of 1 Peter 3:15.

In this series, we'll walk through key arguments and responses together — one unit at a time.


Faith With Flight. A Bible study group where faith takes off and friendships grow.

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