JR/JV Limited Preparation Apologetics Speech
Description: A JV Apologetics speech is a limited preparation speech, in which the speaker is given two minutes to prepare a speech that defends a tenet of the Christian faith.
Goal: To motivate students to study and articulate the core issues of their faith in a knowledgeable, sincere, winsome manner. The focus may or may not be evangelistic. The audience’s acceptance of the Bible's truth should not be assumed. Content outweighs delivery: greater weight should be given to the content of the speech, rather than the presentation style.
The 2025-26 JV Apologetics Questions:
- Who is Jesus?
- How does the Holy Spirit help us?
- How do we see God in creation?
- What is the fall?
- Why did Jesus have to die?
- Can a person do enough good things to get into heaven?
- What is grace?
- What is repentance?
- What is sin?
- What is the Bible?
- Why must Jesus be truly human and truly God?
- How many persons are there in God?
JV Apologetics Preparation Rules:
- Students prepare for Apologetics through Bible study, research, and topic organization.
- Each competitor should create a card file with Scripture, definitions, quotations, and any other material deemed to be helpful. Cards must be no larger than 4 x 6.
- Students may work together on boxes before the tournament, but students may not share boxes during rounds of competition.
JV Apologetics Presentation Rules:
- At least one judge in each room will be given instructions and the envelope of topics to distribute to the student.
- In the room, the speaker will receive three single topics from the judge, choose one, and return the other two topics before leaving the room.
- A two-minute preparation time begins as soon as the student receives the topic choices.
- The speech must be the original work of the speaker.
- During prep time, the speaker may use a Bible, access card files, and write
additional notes on note cards. - During the speech, the speaker should use only note cards. No props, audio or visual
aids may be used. - All direct quotations and primary sources must be cited verbally within the body
of the speech. Use of another person’s words or ideas without crediting them is
plagiarism and is strictly forbidden. - Though we never expect this, we still post this rule. Gratuitous vulgarity is strictly
prohibited. - All questions/topics will be posted on the tournament site and will be visible upon
registration. - Apologetics judges should be sympathetic to the ideals of Stoa.
- The timekeeper will start the timepiece when the speaker begins and will stop the
timepiece when the speaker has concluded his speech.
Speaking Time Limit– five (5) minutes No minimum limit.