When I first got started in apologetics, I thought it was basically about two things: a) proving God exists, and b) providing evidence to prove the truth claims of the Bible. It seemed what every big-name apologist had done before me, and it seemed to be an entirely reasonable, rational, and sensible approach…so for years, that’s the path I followed. I never stopped to ask myself, “But is it biblical?”

In this presentation, using as many of God’s words and as few of mine as possible, I pass on what God taught me from His Word about what apologetics really is, and how He showed me, “Dan, apologetics is not what you think.”

I also have a Deep Dive version of this presentation for classroom applications that is broken into three one-hour chunks.

• Why Should Anyone Believe the Bible? (60 minutes)
  Why should anyone believe the Bible? If you expect a list of evidence or arguments proving the truth of Scripture, you’re in for a surprise—because it’s not about evidence, statements, or even about you.
• Exegeting the Book of James (Ten+ Hours)This is a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of James. There’s no snazzy PowerPoint—all I need is my Bible, a whiteboard, and a lot of dry-erase markers.
  This has nothing to do with apologetics, per se, but it is something I’m prepared to teach if you’re prepared to listen.
  To avoid any Eutychus scenarios, the lessons are presented in 1-hour chunks.

• Wherefore Art the Begats? (45-60 minutes)
  Do long lists of funny-sounding names keep you up late at night, captivated by their intrigue, or do you use them as a natural remedy for insomnia? In this lighthearted presentation, I take on the challenge of making “the begats” enjoyable. Discover the purpose behind each of the five major genealogies in the Bible, and explore whether they can actually help us estimate the age of the earth—you might be surprised by the answer!
• How to Understand the Days of Creation (60 minutes)
  By the end of this presentation, the audience will be equipped to address the following challenges confidently: Define “hermeneutics” and its significance, identify three biblical evidences that support the idea that the days of creation were literal 24-hour days, and explain why understanding Genesis 1 as six 24-hour days is crucial for grasping the foundation of the gospel.
• The Problems with Distant Starlight (60-90 minutes)
  Many Christian laypeople and apologists struggle with what is known as “the distant starlight problem,” viewing it as a major hurdle to accepting a young creation (around 6,000 years old). In this presentation, I’ll tackle this challenging topic head-on and show non-technical audiences that the distant starlight problem is a double-edged sword affecting both young- and old-earth creationist views. It’s not the definitive argument against a young-earth perspective that many believe it to be.
• Dissecting “The Math of the Great Flood” (60 – 90 minutes)
  Years ago, I came across a YouTube video claiming to use mathematics to prove that Noah’s flood couldn’t have happened, which led me to question, “What if everything I’ve believed about the flood is wrong?” In this presentation, we’ll examine this video and uncover why there’s no reason for concern. It’s a fun, practical introduction to apologetics, teaching how to think critically, identify logical fallacies, and recognize the dangers of not verifying the scriptures that others cite.
• Did God Use the Big Bang? (30-45 minutes)
  Many well-intentioned Christians have embraced a compromise view in an effort to bridge the gap between a straightforward reading of Genesis 1:1–2:3 and modern secular scientific theories. They propose that God initiated creation through the Big Bang and utilized natural processes over 13.8 billion years to reach our current state. In this talk, I show that the Big Bang, as presented by materialistic philosophers and scientists, is fundamentally incompatible with the clear teachings of Scripture.

• Who Is God? (40-50 minutes)
  It’s often said that almost every theological heresy begins with a misunderstanding of who God is. In the Bible, God appears suddenly in the fourth word, without introduction, and immediately begins creating everything. But who is this “God,” and who gave Him authority? In this talk, we will explore six of God’s non-communicable attributes—qualities He alone possesses—and discover why each attribute is essential to His nature.
• (Mis)Understanding the Trinity (45-60 minutes)
  Q: What do eggs, avocados, apples, water, and people all have in common?
  A: They’re all terrible at explaining the Trinity.
  The Trinity is perhaps the most challenging biblical doctrine to grasp, leading to frequent misunderstandings both inside and outside the church. Jehovah’s Witnesses argue that it has pagan origins, while well-meaning Sunday school teachers often unintentionally veer into idolatry with their analogies trying to simplify God’s nature.
  In this presentation, I trace the origins of the Trinity doctrine directly from Scripture, critique some of the commonly used analogies, and offer practical suggestions for effectively teaching this complex concept.
• What’s All the Fuss About Jesus? (20 minutes)
  More people engage in heated debates over the nature of Jesus Christ than perhaps any other theological issue. Is He God in the flesh, merely a good moral teacher, or was He a deluded lunatic? Why don’t we see the same level of controversy surrounding the Father or the Holy Spirit? The answer is surprisingly straightforward and might just leave you wondering, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
• Was Christ Really Resurrected? (60 minutes)
  Muslims claim that Jesus wasn’t crucified—that someone who looked like Him took His place. Others suggest that His body was stolen or that He merely “swooned” on the cross and revived in the cool air of the tomb, emerging as refreshed as if from a bar of Irish Spring soap. In this presentation, I will guide you through the evidence for Christ’s resurrection and show why the skeptics’ arguments fail to pass even “the giggle test.”

• A Game Plan for Dialoguing with Mormon Missionaries (60 minutes)
  When a pair of bright-eyed young men in black slacks, white shirts, ties, and black name tags ring your doorbell, what should you do? Should you ignore them until they leave? Is it acceptable to invite them in, or does the Bible discourage that? And if you do engage with them, what should you say? In this presentation, I’ll address these questions and more, providing a straightforward game plan to ensure that your conversations with Mormon missionaries are both productive and God-honoring.

• Examining Roman Catholic Doctrine (2+ Hours)
  “Are Roman Catholics Christians?” is a question I hear from time to time. The best way to answer is to let the RCC speak for itself. We’ll investigate the following topics:
  • Scripture
  • The role of tradition
  • What is the “one true church”?
  • The doctrine of salvation
  • How are we saved?
  • Mary
  • The Pope

  …and compare them directly with what the Bible says.

• Winning at Fatherhood (30 – 60 minutes)
  What are you afraid of? Growing up and even during my years as an NCAA Division I basketball player and later as a professional, many saw me as fearless. But there was one fear that gripped me deeply—becoming like my dad. In this emotional journey, I share how God used two different fathers to shatter my misconceptions of fatherhood and how He ultimately led me to reconciliation with my own dad.
• When Sunday School Fails (60 minutes)
  What would you do if God called you to teach Sunday school, only to convict you after seven years of faithful service that you were contributing to the problem of two-thirds of teens abandoning the faith?
  In this talk, I share my journey of how God led me to abandon a co-authored curriculum, unlearn everything I thought I knew about teaching the Bible, and start from scratch. If you’re a Sunday school teacher, you won’t want to miss this.
• Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage (60 – 90 minutes)
  What is the purpose of marriage? Does a spouse’s unfaithfulness provide biblical grounds for divorce? And is remarriage permissible?
  These are challenging questions, often charged with deep emotions, but the Word of God is sufficient to guide us in understanding His perspective. In this presentation, we’ll systematically explore Scripture to find answers to these questions and delve into the often-overlooked context of Matthew 5:32 that many believers miss. You can find the outline for this presentation on my blog: “Do I Have Biblical Grounds for Divorce?“
• Tactical Social Media (60 minutes)
  Is it possible to disagree with someone on social media without the discussion becoming a digital brawl filled with name-calling and mocking memes? In this presentation, I use a real conversation I had on social media to show how to apply Greg Koukl’s *Tactics* to steer discussions effectively. By asking thoughtful questions, you can encourage others—and those following along—to reflect deeply on why they believe what they believe.
• Christian Denominations (60 minutes)
  Denominations are bad, right? Wouldn’t we be better off if there was just one church?
  Well…yes, and no.
  In this presentation, we’ll do a little study of church history to see what it was like before denominations were “a thing,” and then we’ll take a rather whimsical, tongue-in-cheek look at the major denominations to see where they’re coming from and for what they’re known.