Gospel Conversations: This book makes apologetics accessible for every believer

Apologetics sometimes gets a bad reputation among believers. Perhaps the word itself feels inaccessible, suggesting it’s the preserve of theologians. But in Gospel Conversations (Salvation Books), Philip Layton sets out to show that apologetics is not only for all believers, it’s essential for them.

Salvation Army officer and former RAF chaplain Phil Layton defines apologetics as: “exploring the logical reason for our beliefs.” It’s a simple and approachable definition, aimed at helping everyday Christians grasp its importance. He roots the idea in scripture, pointing to the word apologia in 1 Peter 3:15, which means to give an “answer” or “defence.” From this foundation, he shows that apologetics serves the purposes of obedience, edification, and mission, especially the mission to love God and love our neighbour.

That missional emphasis is central to the book. For Layton, apologetics is about loving God and neighbour, especially in sharing the gospel. But often, evangelism is stifled by fear; fear of difficult questions or accusations of blind faith. Apologetics equips Christians to respond thoughtfully, helping them show that faith in Christ is not illogical, and creating opportunities to speak of Jesus.

This is one of the book’s great strengths. It consistently links apologetics with a loving and Christ-focused witness. Layton repeatedly connects the objections he addresses to a positive call to faith in Jesus. It’s a helpful reminder that apologetics isn’t about winning arguments, it’s about winning people.

The bulk of the book deals with eight key objections Christians often face including: Does God exist? Why is there suffering? Can we trust the Bible? Is Jesus God? And what about the Trinity? These are important and culturally relevant questions, and while the space for each is limited, Layton handles them with clarity and care.

Each chapter begins with a fictionalised gospel conversation, often based on real encounters, setting the scene for the objection that follows. Layton then walks the reader through a range of arguments and responses, always aiming to build confidence. The tone is warm, pastoral, and accessible without being simplistic. It’s clear he wants the average Christian to feel equipped, not overwhelmed.

To help with retention, each chapter ends with a mnemonic to summarise key arguments. While this is a thoughtful feature, the acronyms occasionally feel forced and may not aid recall as intended, especially where the arguments are more complex.

One area that may raise concern for some readers is Layton’s approach to how we defend the resurrection. In this chapter, he suggests that the “evidence” for the resurrection is a more powerful reason to believe than the fact that we trust the Bible. Although he later clarifies that evidence doesn’t replace our faith, his wording could be taken to mean that the Bible isn’t itself a reliable source of evidence.

Such a framing feels like a misstep. Ironically, much of the “evidence” Layton then cites in support of the resurrection comes straight from the biblical narratives. So, rather than setting the Bible aside to make the case for the resurrection, we would do better to recognise that scripture is central to that case. The Bible doesn’t need to be backed up by outside evidence to be taken seriously, it is the primary witness to the risen Christ.

In his chapter on the Trinity, Layton clearly upholds orthodox doctrine but some of his phrasing risks confusion. For instance, describing the Trinity as: “one God expressed through three persons” may unintentionally suggest modalism, while the phrase: “three named persons or beings” veers uncomfortably close to Tritheism. These aren’t errors of intention, but the language could benefit from greater precision given the subject’s sensitivity.

Still, Gospel Conversations succeeds in what it sets out to do: it encourages believers to see apologetics not as a cold exercise in logic, but as a vital act of love. It places the practice firmly in the realm of evangelism, urging readers to step into gospel conversations with clarity and compassion.

In doing so, Layton helpfully dispels the notion that apologetics is reserved for the intellectually elite or the emotionally detached. He shows that it is not big heads but big hearts that make the best apologists. By grounding apologetics in love for God and love for people, he makes a compelling case that it belongs at the heart of faithful Christian witness.

Gospel Conversations: Building Confidence Through Christian Apologetics by Phil Layton is out now.