Research Papers: Introduction

The following papers were written by Mike Penninga en route to a Masters of Arts in Christian Studies, focusing on contemporary apologetics. Mike has a  passion to write about real life issues in a way that is faithful to both the Bible and the nature of God, as well as the reality of our human experiences. Feel free to read, respond, and pass on to others. May these help encourage you in your spiritual journey as you love God with your heart, soul, mind, and strength!

Incarnational Apologetics

apologetics-nature-picAsk most people what they think of when they hear the word “apologetics”, and they will probably respond along the lines, “Does that mean you’re apologizing for something?”

The truth, of course, is the opposite. Apologetics means providing a rational defense for something, and in this case, that something is the Christian faith. As a pastor and former journalist, my passion is to engage the mind when dealing with the things of God. I take great joy in inviting people to consider what it means to love God with your heart, soul, mind and strength. Far from being outdated and ineffective, apologetics, when understood for its strengths and limitations, can be a powerful tool of spiritual discovery in a culture that still wants answers to their life questions.

This paper is the culminating work of my Masters program in contemporary apologetics, laying out a picture of what modern day apologetics might look like in our churches and neighborhoods.

Download the paper here: alt Grad-Essay-Penninga-Incarnational-Apologetics.pdf