Apologetics Begins with You

When you hear the word apologetics, what immediately comes to mind? For some, it conjures visions of academics armed with thick textbooks and advanced vocabularies arguing for the existence of God. Others might envision a buttoned-up pastor behind a pulpit articulately presenting a biblical defense against secular cultural practices. 

While both visions are accurate depictions, may I suggest some additional views? How about a mom with tussled hair still in her pajamas at 3:00 p.m., tending to the demands of her toddler? Or a dad with labor-calloused hands picking his child up from the sitter? What about a volunteer childcare worker at church on Sunday mornings?

I believe it is time for a paradigm shift. I believe that every believer can do apologetics.

For too long, we lay-Christians have convinced ourselves that we are not smart enough, educated enough, or spiritual enough to practice apologetics. We leave the Bible teaching to Sunday school teachers and youth leaders, then we wring our hands when our children ask challenging questions because we’re unsure of how to answer. We seek the advice of celebrity Christian authors in their latest bestseller because we believe they are wiser than we are.  

Is there a better way?

I believe there is.

As culture increasingly attacks Truth, it is imperative that we rightly know Scripture so we can answer the tough questions our children ask. 

Let’s begin with some good news: more adults are reading their Bibles!

Consider the following 2025 statistics reported by the American Bible Society: (1)

• More than three in four Americans (77%) reported owning a Bible, a 3% increase from 2024.
• After three consecutive years of decline, Bible use among adults rose 3%, with 10 million more adults reporting reading their Bibles.
• The sharpest increase in Bible use occurred among Millennials (1981-1996). After significantly trailing all other generations in 2024, they jumped 9%, surpassing Gen Z (1997-2012) adults.
• The percentage of men using the Bible increased over females in every generation, decreasing from a seven-point overall divide in 2024 to just a one-point difference in 2025 (41%-42%).
• Of the 110 million adults (41%) reading their Bibles, 25% report doing so at least once a week.
• Of the 64% of Americans who identify as Christians, 55% reported attending church in the past six months, with 35% saying they attend weekly.
• Millennials and Gen X (1965-1980) scored highest on church engagement.

These statistics are promising, especially considering that the numbers represent many parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles who desire to know what God says in His Word and how to apply it to their everyday lives. The hope is that, as these hungry adults apply the Scripture, it will lead to biblical conversations that positively influence the young lives they encounter daily. Imagine parents regularly talking about Jesus to their children with reinforcement from extended family members. That would be incredible! This then begs the question: how do we support both new Christians and seasoned believers in their Scripture reading efforts? 

First, the core premise is this: apologetics begins at home with you.

Let’s define what apologetics is. The word comes from the Greek term apologia, meaning “reasoned defense.” Apologetics was practiced by Peter, Paul, and the early Christians. In the face of persecution, they defended their faith in the resurrected Christ using reason and logic, supported by eyewitness testimonies and the Scriptures (Acts 17:2). But giving answers to their persecutors was not the only purpose for apologetics; it was also used to strengthen the faith of wavering Christians who were being influenced by false teachers (Col. 2:8). In recent years, apologetics has surged in popularity with many Christian historians, theologians, and academics using the Bible, as well as historical accounts and archeological artifacts, to answer modern-day questions. Like the early Christians two thousand years ago, apologetics is practiced to defend the faith, strengthen the faith of believers, and persuade an unbelieving world. I contend that the use of apologetics is not delegated only to those who stand behind pulpits or lecterns with captive audiences. We all have the ability—and responsibility—to practice apologetics. If you are a parent, perhaps even more so (see our “About” page for our position on this).

“But I can’t.”  

“I don’t know how.” 

“It’s too hard.” 

Admittedly, it takes work. It also requires you to give yourself grace. There will be times when you won’t immediately know the answer to a question; you might have to do some searching in Scripture. Telling your child that you’ll get back to them is completely acceptable. Providing thoughtful answers rooted in Truth is worth it. In a culture that is always shifting, the Bible is the source for a solid foundation.

In today’s technological world, resources are immediately available with a simple tap of our keyboards to assist us in our study of Scripture. One of our goals  at Apologia Publishing is to create trusted resources with valuable information to help you in your own study of Scripture. In May, we added an Apologetics Resource page to equip you with straightforward tools for studying, understanding, and applying God’s Word to your heart, mind, life, and in your home, because we believe apologetics begins with your own family. 

In my next article, I will share how I used apologetics with my college-age son earlier this year when a question he asked about heaven required a biblical response.

You can find our first resource here, and we will continue to add new ones. If apologetics is new to you, I hope this piece on interpreting Scripture gets you off to a great start.

In Christ,