TNG with Shari Abbott

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 in Jude verse three, the Bible tells us to earnestly contend for the faith that verse is often used in apologetics in terms of standing up for what is truth present, explained within the faith, contending for the faith is standing up for God's word and you know I really can't think of anybody does such an exemplary job of contending for truth, like the person I want to be in or traveling with the ministry speaking all of the country. We need a lot of people and it's been our privilege. Several years ago to be friends or to make friends with Steve and Sherry Abbott from Ohio and we've been able to communicate and why. And Sherry is an amazing apologist and theologian, really, and I wanted the listeners to meet her and so Sherry, thanks for being on truth for new generation radio and working to talk about a number of things. But I want to welcome you to the program. I want everybody to learn about the work you do, but I want to thank you for being an ambassador for the gospel and the defender of the faith. Thank you. I'm glad to be here will tell everybody as we record this.

It's middle July beautiful summer of 2018 and where out of wonderful place.

Tell everybody where were recording we are at the Billy Graham evangelistic Association training center which is commonly called the Cove and we are here to hear Alex McFarland speak on the book of Amos, your God is so good I was at liberty in grad school when the Cove first opened 25 years ago and I remember a brochure came in the mail and I just thought it was so exciting, so beautiful never dreamed I would see it but I said a prayer and asked the Lord. Someday I would love to be able to speak at the Cove and God's allowed me to do that a number of times and their people here from all around the country. I've been here to teach on a number of books and were doing. Amos right now as you said, but I am very excited you came and you've got a new book you've written and you have the books of your written Sherry 771 Bible study book not no kidding folks and I love to try to encourage people with this is not embellishment or any exaggeration. Your books are so strong and so solid and biblical and I use them all on several of the shows we do prepping answering people's questions and I've come to the point where you know I research a lot of material and I'll often say what what Sherry Abbott said about this and you're got questions book.

I'll get off-the-shelf and I want people to hear your story of how you came to the Lord how you got into Scripture and theology in apologetics, but I do want to commend you for the writing and research done in my opinion, your your superb writer and a very meticulous thinker and how can people find you. Where are your books available in your website and all that while my books are good because my God is good. He's the one that called me and put me into ministry took me out of the secular world and the secular profession and called me into ministry work and he is the one that has equipped me. So that's the only reason I got. If anything I do is good, that's his. It's his doing through me and that's bad then I take credit for it and work may people find you online.

They can find me at reasons for hope. Jesus.com that's reasons plural for help. Jesus.com for F or reasons for hope.

Jesus.com living. Is this what was your first book. My first book was called why the butterfly.

It's a book about remembering and the premise of the book is remembering who God is what he's done for us and who we are in Christ because so often Christians are prone to wander and that's when they thaw forgetting precedes falling always wise it important to know who we are in Christ because that's our identity.

We are a new creation when he saves us and regenerates our souls and gives us a living soul. Once again we become a new creation in Christ and a lot of Christians don't fully understand the power that comes to live within them and that can direct and guide their lives.

Did you meet a lot of Christians that that they trusted Christ and yes there there a believer, we don't dispute that, but they really live a defeated life and that there they really don't, thrive in their relationship with Jesus. What would you say to a person who kinda feels a sense of defeat. Well, you know, I think that we all understand that the gospel is needed for salvation for our justification in Christ, but sometimes a lot of Christians don't realize the gospel is needed just as much in their sanctification are in their daily life. There date daily walk after they been saved so really it's getting them to focus back on the person of Christ in the works of Christ and helping them to remember just exactly what Christ is done for them and a lot of Christians may not even limit defeated life but they don't live a cracked life with their focus on Jesus. My dad used to say something. I want your response to my dad was a businessman and a farmer but pretty pretty wise person in my opinion. My dad used to say some people of been a Christian 20 years and some people been a Christian. One year, 20 times and that explains what were talking about. Yeah Bob for those just tuning in.

This is true for a new generation radio Alex McFarland your talk with Sherry Abbott, author of a number of very very good books and I'm just gonna say thank you because many a day.

I've been on live radio taking questions and people say you know how do you know all the things you know and I put up, but I've been during commercial breaks, gratefully thumbing through some of your books to put up for when I would come back after a commercial so I just want to say thanks your kind… You Jesus you know that once you start reading the word in.

You know, the hungry will always be fat and married spoke about batting even in her song in Luke that the hungry will always be fat. But the rich will be sent away empty and the more we hunger for God, the more he will satisfy us and feed us with his word and with his love, and with his peace and with his joy, but if we don't hunger after that I you know we talk about hungering after righteousness that's in our sanctification to if we don't hunger after that will never be satisfied. And that's only fall prone and fall prey to this world was.

Was there a book of the Bible that you were in when suddenly things begin to click and your passion for the Scripture really got ignited and I did go through a very difficult time in 2009. In the book of the Bible that really helped me through that and it was a pastor who was teaching it was since become a friend. As the book of Colossians know and focusing on the supremacy of Christ, and he is sovereign over everything.

You taught it last year at the call to hold that thought we got a took a break, you will come back, author, speaker, defender of the faith. Sherry Abbott is our guest from truth for a new generation radio station folks will be back after this was truth you need to know for centuries the Bible has inspired humanity and shape the very world we live but how do we know this book is the word of God, not merely the words 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 dual source. 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, know the God who speaks.all if you're a 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 Jesus everything 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 look back continue radio Alex McFarland to come into him close the beautiful Billy Graham training center and out. This is not necessarily a promo for the cove. But I do will give the website it's the Cove CRV.org. They have seminars throughout the year and not as Sherry Abbott mentioned in the first segment is been my joy to come here number of times but oh, when Luther comes here King Arthur John MacArthur Josh McDowell a lot of people come here you and Steve have been here many times. Hello, have you heard here besides myself, they heard limits are a couple times when they've currently come to every year. 12 g he's doing for Sammy on doing a wonderful job at hand rate. He is a wonderful speaker and we've heard all his long time ago, Sinclair Ferguson, we've heard a lot of people here is a great speaker.

We've used entries for new generation conferences and he comes here and I would love to have them back is Crawford Larissa Ellie saw him in my chair really outdated. He's one of my favorite. You do know him.

I figure you and Steve well we got to know him at the conference, but I teach at women's Bible study and I use a lot of his materials. He he is an amazing man of God and for those tuning it were talking with Sherry Abbott. She is a friend and a colleague. She is a prolific author and by prolific I mean she really does you know put a lot of words on paper how do you find time to do that late nights on the same why do you write like 11:51. Well, a lot. Several of my books are actually resources from my website to every week I write an article called got questions on Tuesdays and those are questions that Christians are always asking some of the difficult questions from the Bible are just some of the difficult doctrines and then on Fridays we do a power of hope, article, and something else to go without or so. Several of the books are compilations of the got questions category. So how did you know your student of the word you came to the Lord at a young age. As you said, how did you get into Christian apologetics Sherry well I was in PR and marketing. Most of my career banking prior to that in PR and marketing and I worked for a woman I'd known for 30 years at that time and she decide to sell the company and so I am did not. I did not have any interest in staying on and so I was attending a Bible study at that time and I told one of the people in the Bible study who had just started a ministry that I was free.

I know I was can be out of work in a few weeks and I said I can help you until I find decide on what to do end and down so I did go help start helping him and then I ended up getting hired by that ministry and I was with them for five years before starting recent spell Jesus.com and I look back on it now and I can see how God divinely orchestrated all of that, there's a lot of back story to it that I can really see God's hand in all of it. Any authors that especially influenced you were your favorites like I know a lot of people, myself included, got on the apologetics train through the writings of Josh McDowell well here. Probably not can like this, but Alex McFarland would be one of those because in 2011 at the skull convention I'd never heard of Alex McFarland but I heard him speak there and I was very impressed with the depth of his understanding the logical and clear presentation of what he was teaching and it was at that conference. I said to my husband hate us guys at the cove we got to go see them at the Cove went to the cove met you at the Cove and got to know you at the Cove.

Then we went to TNG so you definitely had an impact on me will go to God be the glory and and I know why our ministries kind of complement each other and I think I know what we resonate on the road as an apologist am always asked to speak about things are pretty heady and cerebral kind of CS Lewis since philosophical and and hey, I mean I'm there and I know it and I teach on it, but I also love the word of God and I when you come to the Cove friends you're asked to teach the Bible and apologetics might play a role in it, but the Cove is a place you come to learn the Scripture and one thing that I've always wanted to do as an apologist and in you exemplify this as well. It's fine to read good books but don't ever forget God's book and the wisdom of man is okay in doses but the reality and the truth of God is where we feed, and you know in terms of apologetics.

It's been my privilege to amine, been there done that.

I know every name in the apologetics pantheon, but a lot of the apologists they forget that they know all about CS Lewis Augustine and Aquinas but they forget Peter, Paul, James and John yet and so I always always encourage my students as you drink from the well of worldview and apologetics. Don't forget, it's all about Jesus. It's all about his word. Many failed to bring it home at the end of the message or even throughout the whole message and that's one of the things I've always seen in you.

Your focus is on Christ. It's on serving Christ not on just doing your job and our job is apologetics job is to explain the Bible, but if our focus is always on Christ he'll be the one the holy through the power the Holy Spirit leads and directs our words. Amen.

So for everyone listening.

If you just tuning in, this is Alex McFarland will talk with Sherry Abbott. She's an author, a theologian and a defender of the faith, very prolific writer someone I highly recommend her books. Your website is phenomenal. By the way, and frankly I'm a little bit jealous. Thanks a lot for helping me break the 10th commandment and covet, but your website is really good. Sherry and his reasons for hope. Jesus, yes.com.com.COM. Let me ask you this, for those who may just be tuning it. Who is Jesus. Jesus is my Lord and Savior. He is my all in all he's the one who saved my Saul and he's the one that gives me hope in this world I could just go on and on for the person is is yeah but you don't know what I've done on I got some stuff. I'm not proud off. I got some stuff I just as soon forget. Does Jesus have anything for that person who feels the crushing weight of guilt. He has the answer. He has the remedy he loves them and if they will repent of their sins and trust in him. If they understand the need for a Savior, and will repent of their sins and turn to Christ in faith will save their souls in hell give them a new life and give them hope.

When we come back.

I want to talk about our view of God and making sure that the God we believe in really is in fact true God, Satan, this is TNG radio will back after this 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 McFarland for the life he 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. We train speaking in 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. 864977 2008 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 a mess 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 stand strong American is that you face but help you become a champion champion for Christ in stand strong American Jason Jimenez and I lay out the facts about our nation. The current condition and how you yes you will family community be involved in keeping this great Republic stand strong America is a guide for encouraging Christian radio stations. Sherry Abbott, but I will mention truthfully generation go to the website truth. A new generation.com.

We got several exciting things coming up Tennessee middle Tennessee. The big fall 2018 TNG event were going to be there September 14 and 15 brought middle Tennessee State University Thursday night September 13 we have a debate and it will be open to the public so September 13, 14, 15. The conference, Josh McDowell, Dr. Michael Brown from American family Association Mickey Addison Tina Marie Griffin about being a Christian in Hollywood J. Warner Wallace, you've seen them on the history Channel. He wrote the famous book cold case, Christianity, and so much more and then Baton Rouge, Louisiana October 20 627 Frank Turek Michael Brown Josh McDowell's going to be amazing and our app for mobile devices. It works on all platforms. Regardless of the type of device you've got you to go to the app store and get the TNG out were archiving more and more of an agency of my own writings, Sherry Abbott, who knows, maybe someday will be able to incorporate some of your articles but I do want to encourage people to check out your books.

The got questions, I like your book of quotations, who said that will vex the child who said that I really like that.

How did you come to write that book. This is an interesting story I had put together a PowerPoint presentation for my Bible study that I teach, and it was always different pithy sayings that come from the Bible and it just so happened that the CEO for the ministry I was with before who is a friend of both my husband's and mine and always stays at our house when he's in town was in town that week and so on a Wednesday morning before my Bible study I said hey why don't you just stay in sit through the Bible study what the lady said all love to meet you. So he dead weight. You've met Wade yes are so he dead and he said to me afterwards that was great.

He said I want you to put that in a block and that's how it came about. Let's go to the important part of our conversation and that's biblical literacy, biblical authority Sherry define what is biblical literacy. I would say it's a historical grammatical understanding of the Bible reading the Bible. Understanding what's being sad and keeping it in the proper context. Knowing the word of God accurately what would you say is biblical authority, believing that every word is God breathed its inherent without any errors without any contradictions. I you know people will say there's contradictions in the Bible. But there aren't you know we can we can either research to find the answer. Or we can trust in our God to know that is it is not an error. An apparent contradiction. There's always answers talk to me about the what is the result of the church, not letting Scripture be Scripture in our lives. We were not recognizing biblical authority, what, what's the consequence of that.

Well I like to say that there is a group out there that's growing in numbers, let's help guide society. II know what God sad, but let me tell you what he meant well and were taking human thinking rather than sticking very closely and letting the Bible to find the Bible because of one passage is clear. You can always go to another passage that will further explain, and the consequence is that where making making the Bible say what we wanted to say and that's usually compromising it with the world to know what CS Lewis venerated apologist iconic name in Christendom. I've asked several publishers this mere Christianity which is of course is very famous book of said crude mere Christianity get a book deal today and publisher's and not in its present form. Now it's in circulation people by it. I hope they read it but friend and you have to kind of wrap up with this Sherry. I think our culture has become so accustomed to spin and we twist and contort things to suit us rather than to convict us and change us. Charles Spurgeon, a law of morning and evening devotions by Charles Spurgeon but Spurgeon preaches heaven is real hell is hot sand is grievous repent.

I mean it's it's a turn or burn message but yet it is true.

If we don't have Jesus Christ, we are lost. What in and will have to close with this for this meeting today.

What is the answer to an itching your culture that really has almost decided it will not hear truth is there a response March earth we stand on the truth of God, and I certainly understand the spin I was in public relations for many years and you are telling people trying to influence them with your words and your understanding of a product or a company, but we have the truth. We don't have to spend. We just have to speak it a move and that's what were charged to do to be as ambassadors to represent Jesus on this earth to be as Hansen's feet.

If you could say one thing to the 345,000 Protestant churches in America. The three quarters of a million ordained clergy that are out there. They say if it you know you're not earlier today I talked about one's last will and testament. If you could give a message to the church of the 21st century. It would be what return to the word return to the Lord, repent, come back to him. Don't forget your first love.

That's talked about in the book of Revelation. Don't be lukewarm like the Laodicean church they talk about in Revelation love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind, and then read his word and then love your neighbor you, you can't help but love your neighbor when you realize how much you love by Jesus.

Amen. Return to the word were almost out of time. But let me say this. If you need spiritual help turn to Christ Jesus close buys a prayer we got a little book that we have given out to literally tens of thousands of people and the cover. The books is what does God say about my relationship with him, and there is an explanation of the gospel than there is an explanation of what is a Christian worldview will send you one of these for free if you just write to us the address is coming on at the end of the program or you can go to truth for new generation.com and if you need this book will be glad to send you one.

No strings attached.

May God bless you. Thanks for listening to our guest Sherry Abbott.

Please keep us in prayer come to the conferences as you have opportunity and if we can serve you in any way in your walk in your witness.

Please reach out to us and we would be happy to do that for God's glory for our good and for his kingdom.

See you next time on TG radio truth 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 10231 rural NC 27404.

That's PO Box 1021 rural NC 27404. Give online@alexmcfarland.com or truth for a new generation.com. Thanks for listening and join us again next day as we bring you more true for a new generation on TMG radio