Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Apologetics is not first about winning an argument, or even about proving that God exists. Peter asks for a reason for the hope that is in us—and that hope is the resurrection.
Get the book: reformedforum.org/product/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics
Free companion course: reformedforum.org/defendingourhopecourse
In this episode we introduce Camden Bucey’s new book, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics, and trace its development from an adult Sunday school class at Hope Presbyterian Church to a twelve-lesson Reformed Academy course and now a durable hardcover volume. Camden and Ryan Noha explain why the book is intended as an accessible on-ramp to a distinctly Reformed approach—one grounded in the doctrines of God, revelation, and humanity rather than an imagined realm of neutral reasoning.
The conversation returns again and again to the living hope of 1 Peter 1:3 and the call of 1 Peter 3:15. Christian apologetics is not chiefly about winning arguments or mastering a script; it is about bearing faithful witness to Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for our salvation. Because the power belongs to God and works through his Word, ordinary believers can speak the truth in love with gentleness, respect, and genuine confidence.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:04 Introducing Defending Our Hope
2:12 Upcoming Reformed Forum events
4:03 The story behind the book
4:28 The book and course as an accessible on-ramp
7:58 Formed through the local church
13:28 Apologetics in the community
21:57 Friendship, community, and everyday witness
24:31 Ordinary Christians and the hope within us
27:09 The apologetic context of 1 Peter 3:15
30:04 Always prepared—with gentleness and respect
31:37 The living hope of resurrection
33:39 Apologetics and evangelism
34:39 Why doctrine determines apologetic method
41:28 Scripture as the self-attesting Word of God
50:09 Starting anywhere in God’s world
52:36 Faithful witnesses who tell the truth
1:00:56 Using the book with the free Reformed Academy course
1:02:30 Further study and ordering information
1:05:42 Closing remarks
RESOURCES
Buy the book: reformedforum.org/product/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics
Episode resources and Defending Our Hope:
reformedforum.org/ctc970
Free Reformed Academy course:
reformedacademy.org/course/defending-our-hope
Reformed Forum bookstore:
reformedforum.org/store
Reformed Forum events:
reformedforum.org/events
PARTICIPANTS
Camden Bucey—Executive Director of Reformed Forum and author of Defending Our Hope
Ryan Noha—Director of Education and Advancement at Reformed Forum
Christ the Center is the weekly podcast of Reformed Forum. We support the church in presenting every person mature in Christ through confessional Reformed theological education.
Produced by Reformed Forum.
Learn more:
reformedforum.org
Contact:
mail@reformedforum.org
#ChristianApologetics #ReformedTheology #ReformedForum
Apologetics is not first about winning an argument, or even about proving that God exists. Peter asks for a reason for the hope that is in us—and that hope is the resurrection.
Get the book: reformedforum.org/product/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics
Free companion course: reformedforum.org/defendingourhopecourse
In this episode we introduce Camden Bucey’s new book, Defending Our Hope: An Introduction to Christian Apologetics, and trace its development from an adult Sunday school class at Hope Presbyterian Church to a twelve-lesson Reformed Academy course and now a durable hardcover volume. Camden and Ryan Noha explain why the book is intended as an accessible on-ramp to a distinctly Reformed approach—one grounded in the doctrines of God, revelation, and humanity rather than an imagined realm of neutral reasoning.
The conversation returns again and again to the living hope of 1 Peter 1:3 and the call of 1 Peter 3:15. Christian apologetics is not chiefly about winning arguments or mastering a script; it is about bearing faithful witness to Jesus Christ, who lived, died, and rose for our salvation. Because the power belongs to God and works through his Word, ordinary believers can speak the truth in love with gentleness, respect, and genuine confidence.
CHAPTERS
0:00 Introduction
1:04 Introducing Defending Our Hope
2:12 Upcoming Reformed Forum events
4:03 The story behind the book
4:28 The book and course as an accessible on-ramp
7:58 Formed through the local church
13:28 Apologetics in the community
21:57 Friendship, community, and everyday witness
24:31 Ordinary Christians and the hope within us
27:09 The apologetic context of 1 Peter 3:15
30:04 Always prepared—with gentleness and respect
31:37 The living hope of resurrection
33:39 Apologetics and evangelism
34:39 Why doctrine determines apologetic method
41:28 Scripture as the self-attesting Word of God
50:09 Starting anywhere in God’s world
52:36 Faithful witnesses who tell the truth
1:00:56 Using the book with the free Reformed Academy course
1:02:30 Further study and ordering information
1:05:42 Closing remarks
RESOURCES
Buy the book: reformedforum.org/product/defending-our-hope-an-introduction-to-christian-apologetics
Episode resources and Defending Our Hope:
reformedforum.org/ctc970
Free Reformed Academy course:
reformedacademy.org/course/defending-our-hope
Reformed Forum bookstore:
reformedforum.org/store
Reformed Forum events:
reformedforum.org/events
PARTICIPANTS
Camden Bucey—Executive Director of Reformed Forum and author of Defending Our Hope
Ryan Noha—Director of Education and Advancement at Reformed Forum
Christ the Center is the weekly podcast of Reformed Forum. We support the church in presenting every person mature in Christ through confessional Reformed theological education.
Produced by Reformed Forum.
Learn more:
reformedforum.org
Contact:
mail@reformedforum.org
#ChristianApologetics #ReformedTheology #ReformedForum
