Not long ago, a recently confirmed member stopped me in the narthex after a service. “Pastor, I’m going to invite my friend to the New Life in Christ class,” she said. “When I took it, I heard a lot of things that would help him with his issues with the church.”

Her comment reminded me that our people do not listen only for themselves. In our secular age, Christianity is treated as one option among many. Younger generations in particular recognize that what they hear on Sunday—or in catechism class or a Christ-centered school—doesn’t always translate smoothly into conversations outside the church. They wonder, “How would this sound to someone who doesn’t trust the Bible?” or “Could I say this without confusing or offending my friend?” This is why teaching with apologetic awareness matters.

What Is Apologetic Awareness?

Apologetic awareness is the pastoral and pedagogical habit of teaching God’s Word with attentiveness to the intellectual, emotional, and cultural obstacles that keep people from hearing it. It does not turn a lesson into an apologetics class or shift the focus away from Christ. Instead, it anticipates common objections, removes needless stumbling blocks, and clears a path so that the gospel can be heard with fewer barriers.

A variety of barriers inhibit our appreciation of the Word. Some are intellectual: “Can we trust the Bible?” Some are emotional: “Why would a loving God allow suffering?” or “I was hurt by a church.” Often, they rest on false assumptions: “All religions teach the same thing,” or “Christians are hypocrites.” Teaching with apologetic awareness trains people to recognize inconsistencies and logical fallacies in the cultural messages they hear every day and addresses their own unspoken questions.

Three Blessings of Apologetic Awareness

1. Clarity—When we anticipate misunderstandings, we grow more aware of our own assumptions—assumptions our students may not share. This awareness prompts us to define words like grace, sin, and truth, which carry very different meanings outside of a Christian context. Doing so demonstrates that Scripture speaks to real questions people are asking and makes our teaching clearer and more accessible.
2. Compassion—Addressing objections before they arise communicates care: “I know the world you live in and the doubts you struggle with.” We teach mature believers how to respond with patience and provide needed answers to those who are struggling.
3. Confidence—When we consider how a doubter might hear a lesson, we learn to articulate God’s truth more confidently. Our members also gain language, categories, and examples that equip them to witness with clarity and courage in their own relationships.

Practical Ideas

• Use questions to build awareness. Regularly ask, “How would you explain this to someone who doesn’t know God?” or “What might confuse a non-Christian about this?” Let students practice answering with real people in mind.
• Engage in mock debates. After teaching the Sixth Commandment, take a common cultural slogan (“Love is love,” “My body, my choice”) and have students formulate biblical responses.
• Assess social media together. Analyze a current post or video, identify assumptions, fallacies, and misunderstandings of Christianity.
• Provide deeper resources. Offer optional articles, videos, or podcasts for those who want to explore a topic thoroughly.
• Take your time on hard questions. Students notice whether a teacher glosses over difficulties or slows down to offer thoughtful, nuanced answers.

In all of this, apologetic awareness keeps the focus firmly on Christ. We preemptively address obstacles so that the path to the cross is clearer.

This article in Devote Yourself was contributed by the team that previously created and distributed the e-newsletter, Teach the Word. For nearly ten years’ worth of archived teaching-related articles, tips, and advice, visit nph.net/teach-the-word.