BOA: Not all, or many of us, will become public apologists, that said these 12 areas serve as a good litmus test for those who teach apologetics to aspire to.
This content is from the Truth Tribe podcast with Douglas Groothuis.
In addition to your favorite podcast app the podcast can be accessed here:
From the website above:
Douglas Groothuis | 7/21/2025
“In this episode, Dr. Douglas Groothuis offers a passionate critique of the current state of online apologetics, prompted by the growing flood of YouTube, Instagram, and podcast-based apologetics influencers. While affirming the good work being done by some leaders, he cautions against the rise of shallow, flashy, and poorly studied content that too often passes for serious Christian defense.
Drawing from nearly 50 years of ministry, teaching, and academic publishing, Dr. Groothuis outlines 12 core competencies every public apologist must master — from a well-formed biblical worldview to knowledge of logic, philosophy, Scripture, world religions, and more. This episode is both a sobering warning and a visionary charge to anyone who desires to contend for the faith in today’s media-saturated culture.”
Here’s the list from the podcast that BOA suggests that many apologists may consider aspiring to:
- Do you have a developed biblical worldview?
- James Sire “The Universe Nextdoor”
- Can you articulate the gospel against false gospels?
- Do you know your Bible, can you find key sections to make your point, how much do you have memorized?
- Do you know the basic outline of the history of philosophy? The categories are needed to do apologetics well.
- Ronald Nash “Life’s Ultimate Questions”
- Gordon H. Clark “From Thales to Dewey”
- Do you know the basic teachings of the world religions?
- Winfried Corduan “Neighboring Faiths”
- Douglas Groothuis “World Religions in Seven Sentences”
- Do you know what kind of arguments to use for particular issues in apologetics, both for Christianity and against non-christian views? Vast topic – Examples – arguments for the existence of God, design arguments, moral arguments.
- Douglas Groothuis “Christian Apologetics”
- Groothuis and Shepardson “The Knowledge of God in the World and the Word”
- Do you know the basic forms of arguments? abduction, induction, deduction, sylogism…
- Do you know basic logical philosophies – begging the question, false dilemma…
- Can you deploy the basic principles of rhetoric – logos, ethos, pathos
BOA summary example from ChatGPT: “As a climate scientist (ethos), I can show data proving global temperatures are rising (logos), and if we don’t act, future generations will suffer (pathos).” - Have you studied apologetic method? ex. cummulative case
- Groothuis and Shepardson “The Knowledge of God in the World and the Word”
- Do you know the basic theological errors of cults and new age religions and how to address them? Col: 2:8
- Walter Martin “Kingdom of the Cults”
- Douglas Groothuis “Unmasking the New Age”
- Do you have the relational chops, or skills, to actually converse wisely with non-Christians? Can you bring the argument to the streets and to people?
- Greg Koukl “Tactics”
- Os Guinness “Fools Talk”
- Lindsey Medenwaldt “Bridge Building Apologetics”
- Paul Little “How to give away your faith”
BOA Question: Well I found this list sobering, but also a worthy goal in upping my game in defending the faith. How about you? Which area do you see as the most advantageous to pursue and grow in, and why?
Many thanks to Douglas Groothuis for this content.