Tag: Apologetics

New Book: The Study Guide for “The God I Won’t Believe In” is Available Now

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When I published The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity a few years ago, I hoped it would help people who were wrestling with difficult questions about the Christian faith. I also hoped it would equip Christians to have thoughtful, gracious conversations with friends and family who were asking those same questions.

Since its release, I’ve been encouraged to hear from readers around the world. But one of the most common questions I’ve received from pastors, youth leaders, and small group leaders has been: “Do you have a study guide?”

The answer is now, “Yes!” It is available here online, and in the Book Shop at White Fields Church.

A Resource Years in the Making

Shortly after the book was published, our Youth Ministry at White Fields Community Church spent nine weeks working through it together. I worked with our youth leaders to create a curriculum that would be engaging and helpful to small groups, both for youth and adults.

Over those nine weeks, we found that that students resonated with the questions discussed in the books, and we had honest and thoughtful discussions. As we worked through the material together, I was able to test out and adapt the discussion questions and activities into a study guide.

But then… life happened, and the documents we had created sat in a folder on my computer for years while other ministry responsibilities took priority.

Earlier this year, a few church leaders reached out looking for curriculum material, and I mentioned that I had created a study guide for my book, but it wasn’t finalized or published yet. Those requests, along with a little bit of time away from the pulpit, gave me the motivation to finally get this study guide over the finish line and out to the public.

Why I Wrote This Book—and This Study Guide

One of the convictions that shaped both the book and this study guide is simple: Questions are not the enemy of faith.

Throughout Scripture, we find people asking difficult questions. Abraham questioned God about justice. Moses questioned God’s plan. Job questioned God’s purposes. David poured out his doubts in the Psalms. Even John the Baptist wrestled with questions about Jesus.

The Bible doesn’t hide those struggles.

I’ve become increasingly convinced that one of the best things the church can do is create spaces where people can ask honest questions and explore them together in light of Scripture.

Christianity isn’t threatened by honest investigation.

If Jesus is who He claimed to be, and the Bible is true, then every sincere question is worth exploring because the answers will lead us to deeper faith.

What’s Included in the Study Guide

The study guide is designed to be used over nine weeks and accompanies each chapter of the book.

Every session includes:

  • A Big Question
  • An Opening Activity
  • A Chapter Summary
  • Discussion Questions
  • Scripture Reflection
  • Personal Application
  • A Weekly Challenge
  • A Memory Verse
  • Leader Tips

It’s designed for:

  • Small groups
  • Youth groups
  • Discipleship relationships
  • Sunday school classes
  • Personal study

Whether you’re a believer looking for a study guide to strengthen your faith, or a church leader looking for a discussion guide, or a person wanting to investigate Christianity – my hope is that this resource will help you engage these topics thoughtfully and, ultimately, help you know and trust Jesus more deeply.

Available Now

The study guide is available now online in both paperback and Kindle versions, and is designed to be used alongside The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity.

I am able to provide bulk discounts for those wanting to use it in church or small groups. You can contact me using the contact form on this website, or by reaching out to White Fields Community Church.

If you use it in your church or small group, I’d love to hear how it goes. Stories of how God uses these resources are one of the greatest encouragements to keep writing.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to finish this project. I hope it serves you well!

The Evangelistic Legacy of Tim Keller – with Matt Smethurst

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What is the lasting legacy of the late Tim Keller? What enduring contributions did he make to the church and to theological discuss?

In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I am joined by Pastor Matt Smethurst to talk about his new book, Tim Keller on the Christian Life.

Matt shares about his ministry journey, why Tim Keller’s legacy is still so valuable for the church today, and what he discovered while sifting through Keller’s sermons, books, and endnotes. They discuss Keller’s approach to contextualization, evangelism, friendship, and what it means to taste and see that the Lord is good.

Whether you’re a long-time fan of Keller’s work or just curious about his influence, this conversation will deepen your appreciation for how the gospel changes everything.

Show Notes:

  • Matt’s background in missions and church planting
  • Responding to recent critiques of Keller’s ministry
  • How Keller’s focus on gospel clarity shaped his preaching
  • What surprised Matt most in Keller’s work
  • Lessons for pastors, leaders, and everyday believers

📚 Check out Matt’s books:

Follow Theology for the People on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@theologyforthepeople

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

The Evangelistic Legacy of Tim Keller – with Matt Smethurst – Theology for the People

In this episode host Nick Cady talks with Matt Smethurst about his new book Tim Keller on the Christian Life. Matt shares about his ministry journey, why Tim Keller’s legacy is still so valuable for the church today, and what he discovered while sifting through Keller’s sermons, books, and endnotes. They discuss Keller’s approach to contextualization, evangelism, friendship, and what it means to taste and see that the Lord is good. Whether you’re a long-time fan of Keller’s work or just curious about his influence, this conversation will deepen your appreciation for how the gospel changes everything.Show Notes:Matt’s background in missions and church plantingResponding to recent critiques of Keller’s ministryHow Keller’s focus on gospel clarity shaped his preachingWhat surprised Matt most in Keller’s workLessons for pastors, leaders, and everyday believers📚 Check out Matt’s books:Tim Keller on the Christian LifeBefore You Open Your BibleBefore You Share Your FaithDeacons: How They Serve and Strengthen the ChurchVisit theologyforthepeople.com for articles and more content.

I have recently started posting more on the Theology for the People YouTube channel. You can watch this interview on video here:

Bible Translations, Manuscripts, and Understanding “Textual Variants”

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In response to my last post: “Have Verses Been Removed from My Bible?,” a member of White Fields Church contacted me with some further insights and a chart.

I thought this might be of interest to my readers, so check it out and feel free to share thoughts in the comments.

Many people may not realize that differences in verse inclusions across Bible translations often arise from the Greek New Testament edition chosen by the translators.

For instance, NIV translators didn’t “remove” verses present in the KJV; they were simply translating from different underlying manuscripts. These manuscripts have been compiled into two slightly different Greek New Testament editions.

Translation and textual criticism (determining which text is closest to the original) are related but distinct fields. Translation committees generally rely on the textual decisions made by textual critics who compile the Greek New Testaments used for translation.

Most Bible translations today are based on either the Textus Receptus (TR, or “Received Text”) or the Critical Text (CT, like the Nestle-Aland 28th Edition or United Bible Society 5th Edition). The KJV, NKJV, and MEV use the Textus Receptus, while the majority of other translations (such as the ESV, NIV, NASB, NLT, NET, and CSB) use the Critical Text.

Some translations, like the WEB and MSB, use a third option, the Majority Text (MT), which is less commonly known. Bible translations also vary in the number of textual footnotes they provide. For example, the NASB often includes fewer footnotes, while the NKJV has more than average, and the CSB, BSB, and WEB offer extensive notes (they’re the only translations I’ve seen with a note on the variant in Matthew 6:1).

A great resource for studying textual differences is the Text-Critical English New Testament: Byzantine Text Version, which shows the percentage of manuscripts supporting each reading. Sunday’s example was fascinating: most modern translations omit Matthew 17:21 (“But this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting”) based on the Critical Text. However, a significant majority (87.7%) of Greek manuscripts do include this verse, whereas only a small fraction (0.6%) omit it.

While simply counting manuscripts isn’t necessarily the best way to determine authenticity, referring to 87.7% as merely “some” rather than “many” or “most” seems misleading.

It’s also unfortunate that the Majority Text and its close counterpart, the Byzantine Text, are so rarely discussed. God has blessed us with a rich manuscript tradition, and I think it’s important to consider the majority of these texts as part of faithfully stewarding this blessing.

Finally, I want to emphasize that I view all major modern evangelical translations as wonderful, reliable gifts from God. I use and recommend them all.

From Doubt to Belief: The Factors Involved in Journeys to Faith in Jesus – with Randy Newman

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In this episode of the Theology for the People Podcast, I speak with Randy Newman.

Randy grew up in a secular Jewish home, but through relationships with Christians, as well as through a series of personal events and realizations, he became a Christian. Randy is now a senior fellow for apologetics at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and over the past several decades he has talked with many individuals, and studied their journeys of coming to faith in Jesus. 

In his recent book, “Questioning Faith” – he tells some of these stories, and looks at the factors in what he calls “indirect journeys of belief through terrains of doubt.”

In this episode, Randy and I speak about his story of coming to faith in Jesus, and we talk about some of the factors that Christians face today in sharing their faith, and how we can do that more effectively. 

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

From Doubt to Belief: The Factors Involved in Journeys to Faith in Jesus – with Randy Newman – Theology for the People

Randy Newman grew up in a secular Jewish home, but through relationships with Christians, as well as through a series of personal events and realizations, he became a Christian. Randy is now a senior fellow for apologetics at the C.S. Lewis Institute, and over the past several decades he has talked with many individuals, and studied their journeys of coming to faith in Jesus.  In his recent book, “Questioning Faith” – he tells some of these stories, and looks at the factors in what he calls “indirect journeys of belief through terrains of doubt.” In this episode, Randy and I speak about his story of coming to faith in Jesus, and we talk about some of the factors that Christians face today in sharing their faith, and how we can do that more effectively.  Make sure to check out the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org

My Book in Spanish is Now Available for Purchase

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The Spanish translation of my book, The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity, was released today in both paperback and Kindle formats!

It will be available for purchase at the White Fields Church book shop, or online on Amazon and other online retailers.

Check it out here: El Dios En El Que No Puedo Creer: Enfrentando Nueve Barreras Comunes Que nos Impiden Aceptar la Fe Cristiana.

If you know of anyone who would benefit from this resource, please share it with them!

Release Date for My Book in Spanish: El Dios En El Que No Puedo Creer

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The Spanish translation of my book, The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity, has finished the editing and design process, and has an official release date!

The Spanish title is: El Dios En El Que No Puedo Creer: Enfrentando Nueve Barreras Comunes Que nos Impiden Aceptar la Fe Cristiana, and it will be available in paperback and Kindle formats, and will be released on Thursday, December 7, 2023.

The Kindle version is currently available for pre-order.

I’m excited for this to come out and reach a whole new audience. Please pray that it reaches many people and helps them move from doubt to belief!

Writing Update: Spanish Translation, Study Guide, and New Book

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Since my book, The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity came out in March of 2022, I have been encouraged and glad to hear from many people who say the book has been a helpful resource and an encouragement to them.

I’m excited to be heading out to Kansas City in November to speak at a church which used the book as the basis for their community groups this fall. A Christian school in the Bay Area of California used it as the basis of an apologetics class for their students this semester. I have heard several other stories of churches using it in similar ways, and I’m glad it continues to be a helpful resource!

Spanish Translation Coming Out in November 2023

There are several translations of The God I Won’t Believe In currently in process, but I am excited that the Spanish translation is complete! My friend Jonathan Cuesta is a great translator, and did a great job.

The title of the Spanish version is: El Dios En El Que No Puedo Creer: Enfrentando Nueve Barreras Comunes Que nos Impiden Aceptar la Fe Cristiana.

It will be released mid-November once we get cover art and a few formatting things worked out. Then it will be sold on Amazon and hopefully in several Christian book shops in both the US and abroad. If you have Spanish speaking friends or family, please consider getting a copy for them and helping us promote when the time for that comes.

Study Guide Coming Soon

To help those who want to use the book for group studies, I am currently writing a Group Study Guide resource to be a companion to the book. This was originally scheduled to come out earlier this year, but my injury set me back.

When the guide comes out, each session will include a group activity, a synopsis, and several study questions which correspond to the content of each chapter. Additionally, we are planning to create a series of videos which can be watched along with the study guide, for groups to use.

New book – So That You May Believe: a Study of the Seven Signs and Seven “I am” Statements in the Gospel of John

I have been preparing the content for a new book, which will be a follow-up or companion to my first book. This book will show people the evidence for Jesus as Messiah and God our Savior which are presented by John in his gospel. The details and nuances of these evidences can easily be lost on modern readers, and I look forward to drawing them out for people to see.

Part of the impetus for writing this book is the fact that, when preparing a sermon series on the Gospel of John a few years ago, I noticed that many scholars and commentators point out the structure of John’s Gospel as being built upon seven signs and seven “I am” statements, but there were very few, if any, good short volume books on these subjects. I hope my book can fill that niche, as I’ve heard the need for a book on this topic confirmed by many of my pastor friends.

Last week, I spent the week teaching the content which will make up the book at Ravencrest Chalet Bible College (Torchbearers International) in Estes Park, Colorado. I got great feedback on the study from the students, which encouraged me in continuing the project.

I hope to be able to release that book by Spring of 2024.

Thanks for reading and stay tuned!

What is Biblical Unitarianism? – Considering the Best Arguments For and Against It

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In this episode of the Theology for the People podcast, Nick Cady and Jason Cralley respond to the best arguments for Biblical Unitarianism, which is the a non-Trinitarian interpretation of biblical texts about who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are.

In doing this, we look at the history of Arianism and Trinitarian formulations of who God is, including a discussion about Constantine and the First Council of Nicaea, and the Nicene Creed.

Further, we look into the arguments put forth regarding certain Biblical passages that Unitarians point to as evidence of God’s non-trinitarian, or unitarian nature, and give a defense for trinitarian beliefs.

Below, you can find a link to the video mentioned in the episode about Bad Trinitarian Analogies.

Click here to listen to the episode or listen in the embedded player below.

What is Biblical Unitarianism? – Considering the Best Arguments For and Against It – Theology for the People

In this episode, Nick Cady and Jason Cralley respond to the best arguments for Biblical Unitarianism, the a non-Trinitarian interpretation of biblical texts about who God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit are. In doing this, they look at the history of Arianism and Trinitarian formulations of who God is, including a discussion about Constantine and the First Council of Nicaea, and the Nicene Creed. Further, they look into the arguments put forth regarding certain Biblical passages that Unitarians point to as evidence of God's non-trinitarian, or unitarian nature, and give a defense for trinitarian beliefs. Make sure to visit the Theology for the People website at nickcady.org

What Proof is there that Jesus Actually Resurrected?

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On this episode of the Theology for the People podcast, Michael Payne and I discuss what is at stake in regard to Jesus’ resurrection, as well as some alternative explanations for Jesus’ missing body that have been proposed. Finally, we share some of the strongest evidences for why Christians believe that Jesus did in fact rise from the grave.

Click here to listen to the episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

What Proof is there that Jesus Actually Resurrected? – Theology for the People

In this episode, Nick Cady and Michael Payne discuss what is at stake in regard to Jesus' resurrection, as well as some alternative explanations for Jesus' missing body that have been proposed. Finally, they share some of the strongest evidences for why Christians believe that Jesus did in fact rise from the grave. For more from Nick and Mike, check out the White Fields Church Podcast, whitefieldschurch.com, or the White Fields YouTube channel. Make sure to visit the Theology for the People blog at nickcady.org for more articles and content.

Big Announcement: I Wrote a Book! Here’s the Story Behind It and What It’s About

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In this week’s episode of the Theology for the People podcast, I sit down with Michael Payne and Curt Fuller to discuss my forthcoming book, The God I Won’t Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity. The book is scheduled to be released on March 6, 2022, and will be available for purchase online, as well as in our church’s bookstore. We are currently working on distribution, and getting it into other bookstores and book distributers as well.

In this episode, Michael interviews me and Curt, who edited the book, as we discuss the backstory behind how it came about, as well as the content of the chapters, and who this book is for.

I hope this book will be a great resource to help both those who are wrestling through facing these barriers to embracing Christianity, as well as those who seek to be equipped to help their family and friends move from doubt to belief.

I’d love it if you’d consider buying a copy of the book, and if you’d help spread the word about it online!

Click here to listen to this episode, or listen in the embedded player below.

Book Release Announcement & Preview – The God I Won't Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity – Theology for the People

Nick wrote a book! It's coming out March 6, 2022 and is available for pre-order on Amazon here. The book is titled, The God I Won't Believe In: Facing Nine Common Barriers to Embracing Christianity.  In this episode, Nick sits down with Michael Payne and Curt Fuller, who edited the book, the discuss how the book came about, who it's for, and what it's about. Make sure to visit the Theology for the People blog at nickcady.org for more articles and content.