TNG with Mark Mittelberg

Best-selling author, speaker and advocate for Christian apologetics Dr. Alex McFarland, best-selling author and apologist Dylan Burroughs together bringing you truths for a new generation. This is TMG radio one of God is clear that the church is called to proclaim the gospel to every generation verses like Mark 1615.

Say go into all the world and preach the good news of Jesus Christ and Matthew 28, 18, 19 and 20 very famously is called the great commission, where Jesus said, make disciples of all nations hi Alex McFarland, Yolanda Dylan Burroughs and I am so excited about today's program, folks you listening to TMG radio and you know Dylan that that's one thing I remember is a new believer. Shortly after I became a Christian at age 21 when I was in college I was in a new believer's class and they were talking to us about how we could share Jesus with our friends and I have a lot of friends at college that needed the Lord and as far as I remember my entire Christian experience has gravitated around evangelism and that's what were going to talk about today and Dylan I am so excited because the. The person that we have is a guest today is somebody that I have just admired for years and years. It's been a great privilege to have him speak in some of our conferences. I could go on and on but I'm sure everyone listening those the name Mark Middleburgh and doubt.

Dylan, you deliver the book becoming a contagious Christian. I think that's the first time I saw Mark Middleburgh's name you probably have that book in your library as well, but Mark is been kind of a standard and a benchmark for evangelism and outreach strategies for long time has me most certainly an entire generation of American Christians have been influenced by this evangelism resource. He put together and I was one of those.

I went through not only the book but the video curriculum that was put together based on the contagious Christian book and so I am very much a direct influence of his work, something a big fan I have met him in the passage rate for new generation conferences and excited about this new book he has one called confident faith and that markets we get started, tells just a little bit about the title. What is confident faith. What is the message here for our viewers and listeners today great to be with you guys.

All your kind words.

I do feel little influence old generation not that old, but we mean it is monitored the contagious Christian training course.

When around the world and is still being used today and result in over 20 languages so that's cool and very encouraging and gratifying. And yes I copy the faith. I did write a book years ago called confident faith and gave 20 arguments for the Christian faith that you know I think are can be helpful for any Christian. I'm even more excited about a new curricular good that I just finished and released with my ministry partner Lee Strobel, the author of the case for Christ block that is been read by about 5 million people and they made the movie out of it and told the story of Leslie Strobel coming to Christ meant Lee Strobel coming to Christ. That movie really inspired leaving me to do this new curricular. It's called making your case for Christ and it's all about how we can all do what you see the people in that movie doing when they were reaching out to a young, atheist, namely Strobel we can all give reasons for our faith and share the message in ways that can connect could really make a difference in our friends lives, Mark, Alex here. I want to give a little back story not do one of the reasons that we wanted to have you on is I just had the privilege a couple of days ago I got my hands on the making your case for Christ resource and it is exceptional folks and we we did want to make everybody listening aware of this and as you all know, anything done by Mark Middleburgh and Lee Strobel is first class top drawer in every way before we go too much into your story marks out working people find the case for Christ product that you and Lee have created and in your other books where it was the best way people can find your catalog of content that will new course which is related to the case for Christ book and movie is called making your case for Christ and it's available Zondervan publishes it, but it's available now through Christian book.com it's available through Amazon.com. I think Barnes & Noble.com probably on your Christian bookstore might have it but it's it's available all over the place so you know your story is fascinating and you you were very influential in the life of Lee Strobel as he was a new believer, but give us your own back story. I mean, how did Mark Middleburgh come to know Jesus and become the advocate for the gospel that you are will think I share some of that in the earlier book that was mentioned confident faith. I grew up in a Christian home and knew what was right and walked away from it. Anyway, not so much. Intellectually, it's not that I quit believing in God, but just like stylewise I became a low-key prodigal son for about five or six years. All through high school and is close to the age you came to faith, Alex. It was when I was 1900, God used a variety of frightening things in my life and then some good things in my life, but woke me up spiritually and I made my commitment to Christ when I was 19 and immediately start sharing my faith, and when you do that when you start talking to people at your faith, you immediately get hard questions and pushed back to below and let them make sounds good. I don't believe the Bible are unite and I ran into people from different cults and other religions and a variety of things are getting me especially when I went to college and took a philosophy class and had my faith challenge all of that force me to begin the study and saying I know what I'm supposed to believe, but I know why I believe it. What is the evidence.

What is the information that really backs this up and give me assurance that I'm not just believing something because my parents believed it. That study, which is you know, called apologetics, studying the defense of the faith is what got me to the point of being really a confident Christian myself and saying this makes sense and it is true and I have reasons for it, and so forth.

And then, just a quick quickly finished question a few years later I moved to Chicago to go to graduate school and I get my Masters degree in this area and while doing so I went to a church and got hired as their first record evangelism and I was hired alongside a guy named Lee Strobel who was actually my assistant in the vandalism area.

He was a newer, Christian, and we immediately became best friends and have been ministry partners for many years many people to say least role as their ministry assistant so you faster than Lee Strobel that is unique and so your experience. They were excited to hear about your journey. Also want to hear more about your new resource encourages friends to follow Christ and techniques to do that will be right back just a moment of truth for new generation stick with us if your Christian parent.

You of course want to instill a biblical view of life in the hearts of your children, your pastor, you want to offer ministry that draws young families to your church. This is Alex McFarland encouraging you to check out my new book and video curriculum. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask about Christianity. I interviewed hundreds of children ages 5 to 12 and we address actual questions from actual children.

The spiritual issues that are on the minds of your kids the book and video lessons are great for groups of any size and was produced with the goal of equipping kids to stand strong for Christ in any situation. The 21 toughest questions your kids will ask the book study guide and video series. You'll find it@afastore.net that AFA store.net. For centuries the Bible has inspired humanity and shape the very world we live in.

But how do we know this book is the word of God, not merely the words of man, what we believe about the Bible is based on what we believe about source. The God who speaks explores the evidence of the Bible's inspiration and authority to some of the world's most respected biblical scholars have essentially a geolocation, so it's true to say that Paul wrote Romans is equally true to say that God's decision. We saw this and that sets the Bible apart from everything else in the ancient world and its religious pantheon of gods and goddesses. The God who speaks is a feature-length documentary from the American family Association available now with the God who speaks.all for is no TMG radio Portland doing the hour, very special guest this week Mark Middleburgh conversation. I do want to remind everybody the truth for new generation is coming up really soon going to be in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. Central Tennessee just about 30 minutes from the Nashville airport will be there with Josh McDowell, Jay Warner Wallace and a host of great speakers. Please folks pray, promote, and plan to attend were going to be in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. At the end of October. We already were working on a big big calendar for 2019. We've been on the phone all this week with people and places in South folks go to the website truth for a new generation.com that's spelled F a war truth FO war truth for a new generation.com and you know Dylan all of these events that were working on and the ones we've done. It's not just because we like to get great crowds people together.

We I we honestly believe that God has a plan for this nation and to reach the lost and equip the saved. That's a big part of of an awakening that we need a Christian awakening and debt so folks, please be a part of the truth for new generation event. Whether you travel around the country or when we come to your part of the nation. Please be a part of TMG and be equipped and you know Dylan, I gotta tell you all these events we've done. Rarely have we ever had. Feedback is as positive and glowing feedback like we get from Mark Middleburgh. He's spoken force a number of times and Mark is with us now and again I want to say what a blessing it is to have you on and I want to commend you Mark for your stand for Christ. Your commitment to equip the body of believers and that there are a lot of books we could talk about but I want to bring the title up that you wrote out a note, five, six years ago that I personally think is is one of the greatest things in apologetics in the last 20 years. You wrote a book on answering the tough questions that most Christians hope nobody is going to asked to remember that book. You and still teach a lot out of that? But were afraid to deal with the fact that as Christians we get it with hard questions that are tough to answer and that's why first Peter 315 tells us to get prepared and do a little study and get ready because these are important questions.

They make a huge difference in the lives of the people who ask, I'm curious you study philosophy.

You earned your degrees you served at some of the nations you know largest churches you see ministry in in the 21st century. What are some of the differences between you know when you first went into the ministry and is it the same domain is human nature. The same and we just share the gospel or there's some unique dynamics of of ministering to the culture of today. Good question. Certainly human nature saying we are still sinners desperately in need of a Savior and the gospel message of the cross of Christ and his sacrifice on our behalf… Still is Romans 116 points.

That is the power that messages the power of God under salvation so you don't stop getting back to that basic powerful message of the cross of Christ. But I would add quickly that we live in so much more of a skeptical culture today and back when I started doing this you could pretty much say here's what the Bible teaches, and there was just sort of this inherent trust in and at least respect for the Bible among most people you would talk to in the midst there will be, how do you know it says that may be more of a debate of what of the Bible really mean worse today you say the Bible says let's that's an outdated bucketful of myths and mistakes and contradictions and you know why it why should I care about that anymore than the Quran or the book of Mormon. There no Hindu scriptures or whatever that not everyone there but you hear a lot more of that kind of doubt and skepticism and so that's what I think now more than ever. This whole area of Christian apologetics, giving reasons for our faith in giving a defense of our faith, as it tells us to do in first Peter three 315 that's more important than ever.

And I agree with our mutual friend Jay Warner Wallace when he says you know you evangelism today is spell and then he spells out the word apologetics. That's why I'm so excited about the new materials that combine both outreach and apologetics certainly were excited about that as well. As we look at making your case for Christ. What really led to starting this new project with Lee Strobel and what is in the reaction so far will be a perception of it was they were making this incredible movie that came out about a year after I called case for Christ and it was the story of Leslie Strobel coming to faith in trying to share that with her skeptical atheist newspaper reporter husband mainly Strobel and that the two-year search he went through it before he finally comes the faith of the great movie and I was pretty involved in helping shape. It can revise things along the way. So I kept seeing different versions of it, as did Lee and Leslie were watching the thing over and over a minute finally came out and we thought a lot them as well and what Striking locally and myself is the fact that there were great illustrative parts of that movie that showed Christians answering questions or showing love or initiating conversations or sharing their testimony in ways that were all part of the puzzle that God was putting together in Lee's mind to lead them to faith in Christ and Lee.

I finally said, you know, we headed to new curricula that helps everyone else make their case for Christ and use clips from this award-winning movie in each of the sessions and that that's what came together at the six week study guide that you can use in a small group or a Sunday school class or even the whole church to go through it together. It has video portions on DVD where Lee Strobel and I teach and then there are clips from the case for Christ movie in each of those successions. They illustrate what were talking Moncada put it in the real life situations you have to take a break, but substitute Justinian to transfer new generation ready and was talking with Mark Middleburgh in the struggle of rated a number of great resources and that the newest is, making your case for Christ in you to continue just a moment with our conversation with evangelism strategist, industry leader Mark Middleburgh don't go away.

First Peter 315 tells us to be ready always to give an answer for the hope we have were instructed to be prepared to defend our faith. This is Alex McFarlane for the life answers teams students we train at North Greenville University, a leading Christian college in South Carolina. The life answers.

Teams are made up of students who will inspire and equip your congregation. These apologetics teams train speaking churches to youth groups and train Christians of all ages to address key issues of our times. From a biblical perspective like is there a God is the Bible true. What about gender and moral issues.

Call me at 864977 2008 and we will arrange for the life answers team to come to your church and give a presentation that will benefit your people for years to come. 864-977-2000 eight and always be ready. Our country is falling apart, political unrest, social upheaval, the breakdown of the family. The rise of atheism. The rise of Islam are religious freedoms are under attack. There's gender fluidity gender identity is making the mass of freedom of expression. So we need to put some skin in the game and love this nation. As Christians we are to stand strong. There has to be some personal investment in the living out in the preservation of their stance on American is that you face help you become a champion champion for Christ stance on American Jason Jimenez and I lay out the facts about our nation. The current condition and how you yes view your family community can be involved in seeping this great Republic stance on America as a guide for encouraging wherever Christian Dillon Burroughs back entry for new generation is Alex McFarlane we are interviewing Mark Middleburgh's co-author with Lee Strobel making your case for crisis exciting book joined Lee Strobel and Mark Middleburgh teaching you personally via video into this new curriculum, your best ways to encourage friends to follow Christ knowing the evidence for what you believe, how to present its and so much more excited to have Mark with this and I want Mark to take a little bit.

It's time to share with us what it's like to maybe give us an example of how this works out in practical everyday life or somebody yeah I'd love you and I know I have the privilege of seeing God use the approaches we teach in making your case for Christ training over the years, including a Muslim guy I met on Twitter came to Christ a few weeks ago I was a small part of it, but I have to be an influence their story that stands out actually goes back years ago when Lee Strobel and I were both on staff that the large church in Chicago and I was the director of evangelism that he became a teaching pastor by what he started as my assistant, you end up becoming one of the key pastors so I didn't hold them down. Let me tell you that will probably what are you doing that at that time where both involved in the evangelism ministry. I got a call one morning, the receptionist said there was a young high school student who want to ask for me by name and so I answered the call and he said hi. We don't know each other but he introduced himself and he said I'm calling you because I used to be a Christian that got my attention that there will what they mean in the unfolded in detail story of thought out that previous spring of the year is a high school student questions and doubts about his faith, which I told him was very natural at the party growing up in your faith is saying how do I know you select what I thought of my youth leader told me I needed to quit asking these questions I just needed to have more faith like it's a muscle or something, try harder to believe this nonsense or something now that that's how it struck him ramps yeah do more reps mentally or something in a civil know you need information you need answers you will apply thought and ease that was in the fall when he was calling me in the EE as the story unfolded.

He told me not only had the really essentially lost his faith that he had previously had a Bible study where they invited all their friends from high school to study the Bible he I was at the other end of a public school that they would need in his parents home where he lived. He said now that I don't believe the stuff anymore changing isolate me with my friend so we changed our Bible study into what we now call as is his term. What we call our skeptics group. While I'm glad you called me and said I'm curious why you called me several someone told me before I totally jettisoned my faith. You were someone that you give me answers and I said well I hope I can. I sure would like to try to we meet today and we met that day for several hours. He brought a friend with them. Then he invited me to skeptics group Alex I think you take this invitation to his like you I come back to life.

The whole room full of high school students who are all losing birthday the outcome of the next one and I brought Lee Strobel with me and we went. We had a great night and the best I can describe it as we did what we teach in in all of our stuff, but especially in this newest curriculum called making your case for Christ. We went and presented our stories, which is part of what we teach in the course. Having naturally talked about your faith. We presented the evidence that convinced Lee and the information that reassured my faith of the daughter know when I first got the college and we spent about 3 1/2 for hours with the students and by the end we presented the gospel and by the end of the night. The guy who at first called me and recommitted his life to Christ. Two weeks later his friend who he had brought to my office that they made a first-time commitment to Christ and my favorite part of the story they turned their skeptics group back into a Bible study also right that is awesome that is so awesome Mark for somebody listening right now. Maybe somebody driving down the road in the car or wherever and that person is wondering how can I know that I'm ready to meet God. How can I know that I'm saved. Explain that to us. Mark love. It starts by knowing and being honest with yourself and with God that you need salvation that you are a sinner needs a Savior and admitting that and just quietly I was actually driving.

If I use that illustration Alex I was driving when I made my commitment. I highly recommend keeping your eyes open and doing what I did this thing got. I'm sick of running. I know I've disobeyed you I've sinned against you. I deserve your punishment but I believe in Jesus and his death on the cross for me that you paid the penalty for me and so I receive that God please apply what Christ did on the cross to my life. Forgive my sins change me come into my life fill me with your Holy Spirit and guide me and if you pray that with an honest heart need by way you don't have to get all the words right but just express it the best you can with real faith and God will answer that prayer. He will forgive your sins.

And you begin right now to put you on the adventure of a lifetime as a follower of Jesus Christ sucks if you prayed right now you said, Lord Jesus, forgive my sins and save me level a little booklet that we want to send you no strings attached. You just asked for in the book says, what does God say about my relationship with him and we've given out thousands of these in the conferences around the country and you can reach out to us. If like Mark shared in a Jesus loves you. God is not mad at you, God, God has his arms open and he says close buys a prayer and you know Dylan everything that Mark Middleburgh is talking about and what he's devoted his life to that's that's what we know is for everybody to know Christ and to make him known is not right yes and if you enjoy this. Want to hear it again. You can pick it up a tree for new generation.com and select the radio tabby can share this with your friends. Get more information about how to pick up making your case for Christ. This is an excellent resource. We hope you'll pick up and enjoy your friends Mark. Thanks for being with us and from Alex and Dylan hereto for new generation were glad to have you here with us.

Join us next time for a new generation in association with Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries exists to equip Christians with the biblical worldview through conferences and camps for information about upcoming events visit for a new generation.com or give us a call at 877 yes God one that's 877 yes, God, and the number one TMG radio is made possible by the friends of Alex McFarland evangelistic ministries PO Box 102310 NC 27404. That's PO Box 10231, North Carolina 27404.

Give online@alexmcfarland.com or truth for a new generation.com.

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