WEBVTT NOTE This file was generated by Descript 00:00:06.960 --> 00:00:10.260 Following Jesus isn't always easy, but it's not complicated. 00:00:10.410 --> 00:00:13.800 Join us each week as we work to make faith simple. 00:00:14.010 --> 00:00:15.630 This is simple faith. 00:00:19.200 --> 00:00:20.970 Welcome back to simple Faith everybody. 00:00:20.970 --> 00:00:25.590 I'm your host, rusty George, and this is the grand finale of our five part 00:00:25.590 --> 00:00:27.690 journey into Relational Apologetics. 00:00:28.215 --> 00:00:30.854 Over the past few weeks, we've explored the power of connection, the art of 00:00:30.854 --> 00:00:35.114 hearing, the heart finding common ground by building bridges to Jesus and the 00:00:35.114 --> 00:00:37.095 incredible witness of a loving community. 00:00:37.605 --> 00:00:39.974 If you've missed any of the previous episodes, I encourage 00:00:39.974 --> 00:00:41.415 you to go check those out. 00:00:41.565 --> 00:00:46.305 And today in episode five, we are diving into what it truly means to sustain a 00:00:46.305 --> 00:00:52.215 relational approach to faith, making it not just a strategy, but a way of life. 00:00:54.540 --> 00:00:57.780 In our exploration, we've learned that faith isn't always built on winning 00:00:57.780 --> 00:01:02.220 arguments, but often blossoms within the context of genuine human connection. 00:01:02.670 --> 00:01:06.330 We've seen how listening with empathy and helping people to empty their bucket 00:01:06.690 --> 00:01:11.550 can unlock the deeper questions people carry, and how finding common ground can 00:01:11.550 --> 00:01:13.770 build bridges across diverse worldviews. 00:01:14.400 --> 00:01:17.789 The Christian community itself stands as a powerful testament to the love of 00:01:17.789 --> 00:01:20.520 Christ when it embodies welcome and care. 00:01:21.030 --> 00:01:26.699 This is the Celtic way of evangelism, but to be honest, that can sound exhausting. 00:01:27.240 --> 00:01:28.440 How do we keep this going? 00:01:28.740 --> 00:01:33.240 How do we make relational apologetics a lasting part of our lives? 00:01:33.899 --> 00:01:38.160 We began this series by asking the question, what if doing traditional 00:01:38.160 --> 00:01:40.620 apologetics means doing it the hard way? 00:01:41.399 --> 00:01:44.729 And I think we've made a pretty successful case that. 00:01:45.990 --> 00:01:50.430 Relational apologetics for many of us, is a much easier form or more 00:01:50.430 --> 00:01:52.950 natural, at least form of evangelism. 00:01:53.910 --> 00:01:56.310 But there is one problem with that. 00:01:57.090 --> 00:01:59.160 Relationships are hard. 00:01:59.730 --> 00:02:01.140 Relationships are difficult. 00:02:02.820 --> 00:02:03.720 Everybody knows that. 00:02:04.410 --> 00:02:11.760 Most people think it's because of money, sex, kids work, or who picks up the socks. 00:02:13.005 --> 00:02:15.705 Some people think it's because we're just not right for each other 00:02:16.065 --> 00:02:18.135 or we don't have enough in common. 00:02:19.275 --> 00:02:23.025 Look, it's not just you or him or her. 00:02:24.105 --> 00:02:28.695 There's actually nothing more difficult on the planet than another person. 00:02:29.865 --> 00:02:30.885 Think about that. 00:02:32.445 --> 00:02:33.585 We are all difficult. 00:02:34.785 --> 00:02:35.775 That's Stan Tatkin. 00:02:36.555 --> 00:02:39.765 Stan is a clinician, researcher, teacher, and developer. 00:02:40.200 --> 00:02:43.350 Of a psychological approach to couple therapy. 00:02:43.680 --> 00:02:47.640 I can tell you that fighting in and of itself is inevitable. 00:02:48.180 --> 00:02:50.820 There is no relationship without conflict. 00:02:50.820 --> 00:02:54.840 In fact, if you are a conflict avoider, you will appear 00:02:54.840 --> 00:02:56.280 threatening to your partner. 00:02:57.420 --> 00:03:00.060 The real problem isn't that you fight. 00:03:01.050 --> 00:03:05.490 It's when you do one or both of you threatens to leave the relationship. 00:03:06.375 --> 00:03:08.745 A relationship can survive fights. 00:03:08.775 --> 00:03:13.455 What it cannot survive is loss of safety and security. 00:03:15.931 --> 00:03:20.551 Atkins says the real problem is not that we're fighting, it's that someone to 00:03:20.551 --> 00:03:26.131 one degree or another is threatening to leave the relationship, to dissolve the 00:03:26.131 --> 00:03:28.951 relationship, or in this case community. 00:03:30.331 --> 00:03:35.281 So how can a close community or any relationship for that matter. 00:03:35.776 --> 00:03:39.316 Survive the constant threat of disintegration. 00:03:39.886 --> 00:03:41.746 Well, that's the million dollar question, isn't it? 00:03:42.346 --> 00:03:45.916 It's easy to get fired up after a conference or a podcast series, but 00:03:45.916 --> 00:03:50.206 the real work happens in the day to day, and those ordinary interactions 00:03:50.206 --> 00:03:54.736 with our neighbors, our colleagues, our families, sustaining a relational approach 00:03:54.736 --> 00:03:56.956 requires patience and perseverance. 00:03:57.496 --> 00:04:00.196 Think about any meaningful relationship in your life. 00:04:00.496 --> 00:04:01.516 It wasn't built overnight. 00:04:01.876 --> 00:04:04.846 It took time, consistent effort and a willingness to stick with 00:04:04.846 --> 00:04:07.246 it even through the tough times. 00:04:07.666 --> 00:04:11.176 The same holds true when we're sharing our faith in this relational way. 00:04:11.596 --> 00:04:16.066 We're often planting seeds and we may not see the harvest for a long time. 00:04:18.512 --> 00:04:21.692 My wife and I met while we both worked at a Panera. 00:04:22.592 --> 00:04:26.552 We both opened at 5:00 AM so it was definitely not a romantic time of 00:04:26.552 --> 00:04:32.912 day and it absolutely was not love at first sight, but we did become friends. 00:04:33.917 --> 00:04:37.907 Over time, I learned that she had grown up in a Christian home, but now in her early 00:04:37.907 --> 00:04:40.097 twenties, she wasn't living for Jesus. 00:04:41.477 --> 00:04:44.207 She had walked away from the church and God and was living 00:04:44.207 --> 00:04:46.127 a very un-Christian lifestyle. 00:04:47.777 --> 00:04:52.457 When we spent time together, I would share my story in particular, the 00:04:52.457 --> 00:04:57.617 joy of my faith, the fulfilling purpose She had grown up in a church. 00:04:57.797 --> 00:05:01.967 She knew all the arguments and reasons for Christianity. 00:05:02.492 --> 00:05:04.562 But they didn't feel relevant to her. 00:05:06.212 --> 00:05:12.332 She eventually fell deeper into addiction and left town, but the spirit had 00:05:12.332 --> 00:05:17.932 placed a burden for her on my heart and even when I eventually moved 00:05:17.932 --> 00:05:19.493 away, I continued to pray for her. 00:05:21.712 --> 00:05:24.172 About four years later, I got a call out of the blue. 00:05:25.012 --> 00:05:28.552 After going through some challenging times, she had turned back to Christ. 00:05:29.302 --> 00:05:32.782 She had attended a recovery program for about a year and had been 00:05:32.782 --> 00:05:36.352 completely transformed by the power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit. 00:05:38.182 --> 00:05:41.932 The next time I was in the area of visiting family, we met up and she 00:05:41.932 --> 00:05:43.852 even looked like a brand new person. 00:05:45.712 --> 00:05:49.792 She told me that after she had gotten saved and moved in with her mom, she 00:05:49.792 --> 00:05:53.152 wanted to find me again since I was the only Christian friend she could 00:05:53.152 --> 00:05:54.982 remember from that time in her life. 00:05:56.152 --> 00:05:58.822 When talking about it with her mom and trying to think of a way to 00:05:58.822 --> 00:06:01.792 contact me, her mom remembered that. 00:06:01.912 --> 00:06:05.752 Surprisingly, my phone number was still written on their whiteboard in 00:06:05.752 --> 00:06:07.762 the basement from four years earlier. 00:06:09.262 --> 00:06:13.522 For four years, I had been praying for her, but not just me. 00:06:14.152 --> 00:06:17.542 Her parents and her parents' friends and their church have been praying 00:06:17.542 --> 00:06:19.222 for her for much longer than that. 00:06:21.262 --> 00:06:23.332 A year or two later, we began to date. 00:06:23.902 --> 00:06:26.122 And then a year and a half after that we were married. 00:06:27.052 --> 00:06:30.742 Now we've been married for 15 years with two beautiful daughters. 00:06:31.942 --> 00:06:35.452 The seeds that were planted in our 5:00 AM conversations took 00:06:35.452 --> 00:06:39.502 four years to bear fruit, and the seeds and prayers planted by her 00:06:39.502 --> 00:06:41.632 parents' community took even longer. 00:06:42.742 --> 00:06:47.212 But when they did bear fruit, the difference was nothing short of a miracle. 00:06:47.962 --> 00:06:48.742 Exactly. 00:06:48.832 --> 00:06:52.612 Our testimony and the stories of those in community are powerful tools. 00:06:52.852 --> 00:06:56.722 Our own journey of faith has likely had its twists and turns, and sharing 00:06:56.722 --> 00:07:00.082 those moments of uncertainty can actually build trust and show others 00:07:00.442 --> 00:07:04.132 that faith isn't about having all the answers, but about a relationship 00:07:04.132 --> 00:07:06.352 with a God who welcomes our questions. 00:07:07.132 --> 00:07:07.912 And here's the key. 00:07:08.242 --> 00:07:10.072 Faith isn't just a one-time act. 00:07:10.072 --> 00:07:11.272 It is ongoing. 00:07:11.572 --> 00:07:13.912 It takes us from faith to faithfulness. 00:07:14.092 --> 00:07:17.992 It is a difference between a wedding and a marriage, a moment and momentum. 00:07:19.012 --> 00:07:22.612 Relational apologetics also requires faithfulness to the 00:07:22.612 --> 00:07:24.472 harmony of truth and love. 00:07:25.372 --> 00:07:28.912 It's not enough to be just loving without speaking truth, and it's 00:07:28.912 --> 00:07:32.932 certainly not effective to be truthful without love and respect that's 00:07:32.932 --> 00:07:34.312 falling into the trap of unity. 00:07:34.312 --> 00:07:35.572 For the sake of unity alone, I. 00:07:36.922 --> 00:07:40.762 The Apostle Peter urged us to always be prepared to give an answer to 00:07:40.762 --> 00:07:45.262 everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have, but 00:07:45.262 --> 00:07:47.212 do this with gentleness and respect. 00:07:48.022 --> 00:07:50.602 We are all called to be ambassadors for Christ. 00:07:51.022 --> 00:07:54.112 This isn't just for the pastors or the professional apologists. 00:07:54.112 --> 00:07:56.812 It's for every single follower of Jesus. 00:07:56.962 --> 00:08:01.162 Sustaining a relational approach means equipping ourselves to share our faith 00:08:01.432 --> 00:08:03.952 in our everyday lives in the coffee shop. 00:08:04.417 --> 00:08:09.427 At the school line, pickup in the workplace, and certainly wherever we go. 00:08:10.357 --> 00:08:13.327 Think about Sean McDowell and how he connects with people by 00:08:13.327 --> 00:08:14.767 understanding their interests. 00:08:14.797 --> 00:08:18.517 Even something like Marvel movies, it's about finding those common 00:08:18.517 --> 00:08:22.537 cultural touchstones as starting points for a deeper conversation. 00:08:22.957 --> 00:08:24.697 And to be honest, that takes time. 00:08:25.207 --> 00:08:27.397 Learning about your kids' hobbies or interests doesn't 00:08:27.397 --> 00:08:28.597 mean a quick Google search. 00:08:28.897 --> 00:08:32.647 You have to spend time in the world of Minecraft or Pokemon or whatever it is. 00:08:33.217 --> 00:08:37.477 And then you have to be able to translate the gospel into Pokemon in a way that 00:08:37.477 --> 00:08:42.667 your child can understand without losing any of the truth of the gospel. 00:08:43.297 --> 00:08:46.957 In a way, that's exactly what Jesus did in his incarnation. 00:08:47.617 --> 00:08:53.167 He was fully God, but translated perfectly into being a human in a way that we 00:08:53.167 --> 00:08:57.517 could completely understand and grasp going through everything that we go 00:08:57.517 --> 00:09:00.337 through with nothing lost in translation. 00:09:01.132 --> 00:09:03.412 And he did it for his entire life. 00:09:04.072 --> 00:09:07.552 But the difference is that Christ did it for us so we could have grace 00:09:07.552 --> 00:09:12.982 extended towards us and that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 00:09:14.062 --> 00:09:16.762 That sounds a lot like relational apologetics. 00:09:17.182 --> 00:09:17.812 Exactly. 00:09:18.472 --> 00:09:21.412 So now we don't have to be perfect because Christ was perfect. 00:09:21.787 --> 00:09:25.147 Our community that we are inviting people into doesn't have to be perfect because 00:09:25.147 --> 00:09:26.857 they aren't perfect and never will be. 00:09:27.487 --> 00:09:31.807 It just has to be rooted in the perfect love of God, and that is where our 00:09:31.807 --> 00:09:36.277 faithfulness springs from, and that is an incredible thing to offer someone. 00:09:36.787 --> 00:09:38.377 It is our Christian community. 00:09:38.467 --> 00:09:40.267 That itself strengthens us. 00:09:40.867 --> 00:09:45.097 It is the vehicle by which God helps us not just be willing to die 00:09:45.097 --> 00:09:49.087 for Christ, like Peter said, but also to be able to live for him. 00:09:49.582 --> 00:09:51.052 Day in and day out. 00:09:52.012 --> 00:09:53.962 Christian community is also a spectrum. 00:09:54.322 --> 00:09:56.932 You have your acquaintances and you have your lifelong friends, 00:09:57.022 --> 00:10:00.502 but the deeper your community, the more self-sustaining it becomes. 00:10:00.922 --> 00:10:03.742 It will always take time, but that investment of time eventually 00:10:03.742 --> 00:10:07.522 starts to pay off with more time to put it practically. 00:10:07.522 --> 00:10:08.782 When your friends come over. 00:10:08.782 --> 00:10:10.222 Do you want a messy house? 00:10:10.252 --> 00:10:11.152 No, of course not. 00:10:11.662 --> 00:10:14.812 For your good friends, you'll clean your house, but for your great friends, 00:10:15.022 --> 00:10:16.432 they'll help you clean your house. 00:10:17.077 --> 00:10:20.527 The time you invested in that relationship to get to that point where 00:10:20.527 --> 00:10:23.497 they help you with the dishes, make meals when you're sick, and help you 00:10:23.497 --> 00:10:25.987 raise your kids and rake your leaves. 00:10:26.257 --> 00:10:30.397 All that investment of time pays off with more time to spend on each other, 00:10:30.817 --> 00:10:32.407 and then a world of individualism. 00:10:32.407 --> 00:10:36.637 Time is the most precious commodity and incredibly valuable reason to be 00:10:36.637 --> 00:10:41.167 part of a community as an attractive as any other Christ-like demonstration. 00:10:41.902 --> 00:10:45.652 Ultimately sustaining a relational approach to faith requires us to 00:10:45.652 --> 00:10:47.722 take the long view of influence. 00:10:48.442 --> 00:10:53.932 Our goal isn't necessarily instant conversion, but rather fostering 00:10:53.932 --> 00:10:59.272 understanding, building meaningful relationships and planting seeds that 00:10:59.272 --> 00:11:01.552 the Holy Spirit can water and grow. 00:11:02.632 --> 00:11:05.842 There might be times when we pour our hearts into a relationship and 00:11:05.842 --> 00:11:07.342 we don't see immediate results. 00:11:07.807 --> 00:11:12.067 We might face resistance or even rejection, but relational apologetics 00:11:12.067 --> 00:11:16.597 reminds us that every genuine connection, every seed of kindness 00:11:16.867 --> 00:11:20.077 and truth planted in love has value. 00:11:20.077 --> 00:11:20.137 I. 00:11:20.782 --> 00:11:23.572 Some might object saying it is relational. 00:11:23.572 --> 00:11:26.332 Apologetics, a weak or ineffective approach. 00:11:26.332 --> 00:11:30.442 In a world that demands certainty and proof, and that's a fair question. 00:11:30.742 --> 00:11:35.542 In a world that often values quick answers and forceful arguments, a relational 00:11:35.542 --> 00:11:40.192 approach can sometimes feel slow or indirect and relational apologetics. 00:11:40.192 --> 00:11:44.722 Celtic style evangelism doesn't shy away from answering the tough questions. 00:11:45.142 --> 00:11:47.752 It's patient enough to listen for the real questions. 00:11:48.112 --> 00:11:48.557 Think about it. 00:11:49.012 --> 00:11:54.232 How often are people truly persuaded by being argued into belief more often? 00:11:54.412 --> 00:11:57.442 It's through seeing the love of Christ lived out in the lives of others 00:11:57.712 --> 00:12:01.582 through feeling genuinely heard and understood that hearts begin to open. 00:12:02.482 --> 00:12:06.052 As we've explored relational apologetics, prioritizes building 00:12:06.052 --> 00:12:10.702 trust and understanding before presenting arguments, it recognizes 00:12:10.702 --> 00:12:16.402 that for many belonging, often proceeds believing, and in the long run, those 00:12:16.402 --> 00:12:18.592 relationships built on genuine care. 00:12:18.727 --> 00:12:23.677 It can be far more persuasive than any isolated intellectual argument. 00:12:24.667 --> 00:12:27.847 So as we conclude this series, I wanna encourage you, you don't 00:12:27.847 --> 00:12:30.697 need to be a theological expert to live out a relational faith. 00:12:31.267 --> 00:12:36.157 The Christian community does call us to go further up and deeper in as c. 00:12:36.157 --> 00:12:36.938 S Lewis put it. 00:12:37.402 --> 00:12:40.162 It starts with simply caring about people listening to their stories, 00:12:40.162 --> 00:12:41.872 being willing to walk alongside them. 00:12:42.352 --> 00:12:46.372 It's about showing the love of Jesus in tangible ways and being ready to share the 00:12:46.372 --> 00:12:48.772 reason for the hope that lies within you. 00:12:50.692 --> 00:12:54.562 Take some time this week to consider how you can intentionally incorporate 00:12:54.562 --> 00:12:58.107 the principles of relational apologetics into your daily interactions. 00:12:58.967 --> 00:13:01.822 Who in your life might need to experience the love and 00:13:01.822 --> 00:13:03.412 understanding of Christ through you? 00:13:03.862 --> 00:13:05.692 Who are you willing to invest a little time in? 00:13:09.097 --> 00:13:13.717 So as we look to the future, let's think about this As the cultural 00:13:13.717 --> 00:13:19.057 landscape continues to shift and new questions about faith arise, how will 00:13:19.057 --> 00:13:25.267 the emphasis on genuine human connection and relational understanding shape the 00:13:25.267 --> 00:13:31.207 way we explore and share our deepest beliefs, moving beyond arguments? 00:13:31.747 --> 00:13:33.037 To Authentic Encounters. 00:13:35.107 --> 00:13:39.127 Well, thanks for joining me for this series on The Simple Faith Podcast. 00:13:39.127 --> 00:13:44.467 You can find all the previous episodes and more resources@pastorrustygeorge.com. 00:13:44.767 --> 00:13:48.577 Make sure you subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcast. 00:13:48.817 --> 00:13:53.887 Check out our YouTube channel as well, and join us next week for brand new content. 00:13:54.277 --> 00:13:54.967 Until then. 00:13:55.262 --> 00:13:56.012 Keep it simple.