Lesson 1: Ask Good Questions and Find the Real Disagreement

Good apologetics usually begins with questions, not speeches. Before answering someone, make sure you understand what they actually believe.

Ask things like:

• “What do you mean by that?”

• “What led you to that conclusion?”

• “What would count as evidence against your view?”

Good questions also help uncover the real disagreement. Someone may say the resurrection is impossible, but the deeper issue may be that they already assume miracles cannot happen. If you only debate the evidence for the resurrection, you may never reach the belief controlling the entire conversation.

Slow down, define the terms, and identify the central point. You do not need to answer every side issue at once.

Practice: Ask at least two clarifying questions before giving your response.