How to Use Presuppositional Apologetics In Preaching
I was asked about presuppositional preaching. When I was a pastor, I preached a few hundred sermons, and I have written and spoken a lot about presuppositional apologetics. However, I have never actually created a resource explaining how to use presuppositional apologetics in a sermon. So in the interest of helping pastors, preachers and speakers who want to use this technique in their next message, I decided to create this brief introduction.
How Do You Preach Effectively?
An effective preacher communicates the meaning of a biblical text faithfully, clearly, and relevantly to his audience. Effective preaching accurately conveys the message of Scripture and applies it to life today.
“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching” (2 Tm 4:2).
Presuppositional Apologetics Meaning
Presuppositionalism begins with the belief that the Bible is true. A presuppositionalist uses questions to draw out the basic assumptions (or presuppositions) and worldview of the person making the objection. He then shows why, given those assumptions and worldview, the objection makes no sense. The person making the objection cannot account for the criteria needed. This is called a reductio ad absurdum.
Then the presuppositionalist demonstrates how the Christian worldview, on the other hand, actually does make sense of the objection. Further, the Christian worldview solves the problem.
What Is a Presuppositional Argument?
The way we teach presuppositional apologetics at The Think Institute, there are three steps:
Step one: Show the problem with the non-Christian position. For example, a person might question the truth of the Bible. This challenge assumes the existence of absolute truth. Absolute truth would have no basis in a universe without the Triune God of Scripture.
Step two: Show how the Bible solves that problem. Continuing our example, the biblical worldview accounts for truth—Jesus Christ is the truth and holds all things together (Cl 1:17; He 1:3). Truth needs Jesus, and the Bible is about Jesus, so the Bible cannot be false. Then you could also show evidence that corroborates the truth of the Bible.
Step three: Show how Jesus solves the ultimate problem. The same Bible that says truth needs Jesus, also teaches that we all need Jesus. We have sinned and deserve death, but are offered life through Jesus Christ, who died for sinners, was buried, and was raised to life (1 Co 15:3–4).
How to Do Presuppositional Apologetics While Preaching
In your next sermon, faithfully exposit the text like always. Show how it teaches, reproves, corrects, and trains in righteousness (2 Tm 3:16–17). Then, bring up a question or objection that someone would naturally ask in response to the passage (An idea I got from Voddie Baucham). Then address that question or objection in a presuppositional way.
So, if you were preaching on Genesis 1, you might address an objection that many scientists disagree with the biblical creation account. Or if you were preaching Matthew 19:4–5, you could address a hypothetical challenge from someone who believes gender is a spectrum (rather than the binary Jesus teaches.
This is exactly what we see the Apostle Paul doing in Romans 3. Voddie Baucham has pointed out that Paul brings up four objections (in verses 4, 5–6, 8 and 9–20) and answers each one.
Articulate the challenge. Then follow your three-step process. Show why it makes no sense given non-Christian presuppositions; demonstrate why the biblical worldview does make sense of the objection—and the evidence corroborating its truth; and take them straight to the Gospel.
By preaching presuppositionally, you will help your congregation prepare to handle objections they encounter in their own lives. You will also help them deal with their own doubts. And you will challenge unbelievers in your congregation (as preachers we must always assume there are some!) with the truth of God’s word and the Gospel.
“Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Tm 4:16).
“And He Himself gave some as… pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ” (Ep 4:11–12).
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