AP 101
Introduction to Apologetics
Lectures By: Dr. Nate Shannon
Effective for the Academic Year: 2025-2026
3 Credits
Course Description
All men know God but suppress the truth. So, in this course, we introduce apologetics not as a way to outsmart unbelievers, but as a way to cooperate faithfully with God’s own work convicting the world of sin and proclaiming the gospel of Christ. We’ll look at Holy Scripture to witness patterns of God’s self-expression and self-vindication, especially as it culminates in Jesus’s ministry, death, and resurrection. Along the way, we’ll see how these patterns can shape our own encounters with unbelief as well as our disposition and approach to expressing the gospel, or in other words, defending Christ and life unto the glory of God. We’ll see this apologetic method modeled in various cultural and social situations, in the problem of evil, an encounter with Islam, and more. Finally, we’ll practice the method together, attending to various personal, social, and cultural contexts, asking good questions, identifying implicit problems, and accessing the rich inventory of Scriptural truths to the end of a fitting and specific application of the gospel to a person’s life.
Books to Purchase
The books listed below are required readings which students should acquire by the start of the term. Additional required readings will be listed in the course syllabus and available electronically in Canvas.
Estimated Workload
The estimated workload is still being calculated for this course. This will be made available shortly.
| Lectures | Readings | Assignments |
| ~ | ~ | ~ |
| Hours Per Week | Pages Per Week | Hours Per Week |
Course Assignments
The assignments listed below are provided for general guidance for students to reference as they plan and register. Please reach out to support@wts.edu if you have any questions.
- Small Group Discussions [4 - 1 hr meetings]
- AP 101 Final Project [~10-12 pages]
- Knowledge Checks [6 - Quizzes with 10-20 questions]
Synchronous Meeting Times
This course offers optional synchronous class meeting(s) through Zoom which will be scheduled during the term based on everyone's availability (a poll will be taken by the instructor for these meetings and they will be recorded for students who are unable to attend live). These meetings will be helpful for the formation your understanding of apologetics as well as provide an opportunity to practice the method live with your instructor.