Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Greg answers questions about what Revelation 21:8 means when it says the cowardly will be judged, gardening someone who isn't open to the truth, officiating the wedding of people remarrying each other, other life in the universe, and the rapture.   Topics: Given that Revelation 21:8 says the cowardly will be judged, what dangers are we required to face courageously or be judged? (03:00) How do I garden somebody who doesn't seem open to the truth? (15:00) What would you say while officiating the wedding of two people who divorced, reconciled, and are remarrying? (29:00) Do you think the universe is ever-expanding, and do you think there are other life forms out there that aren't described in the biblical narrative? (35:00) When it comes to your view on the rapture, what do you do with the language of 1 Thessalonians 4:17 when it talks about being “caught up”? (46:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards Related Links: The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about losing his voice at a recent event, then he answers questions about how to graciously communicate the idea that not every religion is true even though there are similarities, and whether or not the challenge in Malachi to test God by tithing is still in effect.   Topics: Commentary: Update from Greg (00:00) In discussions about the texts of other religions in a book club, how can I graciously communicate the idea that not every religion is true even though there are some similarities? (10:00) Is the challenge in Malachi to test God by tithing still in effect? (37:00) Related Links: Should Christians Tithe? by Greg Koukl

Greg clears up some confusion about limited atonement then answers questions about young people getting into the fantasy genre, Jewish beliefs about Satan, the phrase “In Jesus' name,” and why New Testament promises apply today if Old Testament promises don't.   Topics: Commentary: Clearing up some confusion about limited atonement (00:00) Do you have any concerns about young people getting into the fantasy genre today? (14:00) What do you think about attending or even participating in a wedding that contains elements from other religions? (26:00) Is it true that Jewish people don't believe the same things about Satan that Christians believe? (33:00) Can you elaborate on your view on when—or if—we should use the term “in Jesus' name“?(38:00) If we can't take promises in the Old Testament for ourselves, why wouldn't promises in the New Testament such as 1 Peter 5:7 also only apply to the Christians at that time? (50:00) Related Links: Harry Potter Is a Danger to Modern Society (In a Good Way) by Amy Hall Should Christians Avoid Reading Harry Potter? by Amy Hall In the Name of Jesus by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about a conversation he had with his cardiologist about intelligent design, then he answers questions about using Psalm 139 in a pro-life defense, why God sends people to Hell, whether it's ever okay to lie, and what to say to a Catholic friend.   Topics: Commentary: Our complex bodies didn't happen by accident. (00:00) Is Psalm 139 really a good passage to use in a pro-life defense? (16:00) What questions should I ask a friend who says he wouldn't want to worship the God of the Bible because he's cruel for sending people to Hell for not believing in him? (33:00) Is there ever a circumstance where it's okay to lie? (44:00) What can I say to a Catholic friend who says Jesus isn't the only one who can intercede for us and who is more concerned about being faithful to Catholicism than reading the Bible to see what God says there? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee Justice for All Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Related Links: The Question That Stops Christians in Their Tracks by Greg Koukl Am I Going to Hell? by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about how to respond to someone who's struggling with how a good God could let her husband suffer, how to know if something is objectively a sin, particularly when it comes to polygamy, and how to pray when asked at a family dinner where nobody is a believer.   Topics: How should I respond to someone who is struggling with the question of how a good God could let her husband suffer? (00:00) How can we know if something is objectively a sin or not, particularly when it comes to polygamy? (25:00) What should I say in my prayer when I'm asked to pray at my family's Thanksgiving dinner where nobody is a believer? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Problem of Pain by C.S. Lewis Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith by Guillaume Bignon Related Links: What You Need to Know about Evil and Suffering by Amy Hall If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn What Would Polygamy Do to Society? by Amy Hall Does God Endorse Polygamy? by Alan Shlemon Polygamy in the Bible Is Not Prescriptive by Robby Lashua

Greg answers questions about whether the second law of thermodynamics is a good argument against evolution, pebbles to put in the shoe of a progressive Christian, whether he's getting the Bible and science wrong, and how to explain the credibility of the resurrection.   Topics: Why is the second law of thermodynamics not a good argument against evolution? (05:00) How can I gently put pebbles in the shoe of a progressive-Christian friend who's open to having conversations but who mocks historic Christianity? (22:00) You're getting the Bible and science wrong when you say God created everything out of nothing. (41:00) How would you explain the credibility of the resurrection to someone? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  STR Outposts Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It's Destructive, and How to Respond by Alisa Childers and Tim Barnett The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl The Case for the Resurrection of Jesus by Gary Habermas and Michael Licona Related Links: The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl Can We Trust the Gospels? by Peter J. Williams

Greg chats with J. Warner Wallace and his son Jimmy about their new graphic novel, Case Files: Murder and Meaning.   Topics: Interview: Jimmy and J. Warner Wallace, co-authors of Case Files: Murder and Meaning. (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Case Files Vol. I: Murder and Meaning by Jimmy Wallace and J. Warner Wallace Cold-Case Christianity website

Greg talks about the danger of basing your identity on anything that can change, then he answers questions about speaking against a transgender bill in Colorado, the idea that we shouldn't judge, disagreeing well with people, and having better recall in conversations.   Topics: Commentary: The danger of basing your identity on anything that can change (07:00) How do I craft a compelling testimony that speaks the truth in love in opposition to the transgender protections bill in Colorado? (21:00) How should I respond to someone in my church who says we “shouldn't judge” someone who was in a longtime same-sex relationship? (38:00) How can we have better conversations with people we disagree with in the church? (45:00) How can I have better recall and keep my mind from going blank from anxiety in conversations? (52:00) Mentioned on the Show:  CrossExamined Instructor Academy – Deadline is May 1 Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier Greg's Message to His School Board Regarding Proposed Sex Ed Curriculum  

Greg talks to callers about the rebellion of angels in Genesis 6, how to respond to a naturalism-of-the-gaps argument, how to use Shedd's Dogmatics, whether an abandoned spouse can remarry, and whether human beings are responsible for the salvation of others.   Topics: What is your view on the rebellion of the angels referred to in Genesis 6, Jude, and 2 Peter? (01:00) What would you say to someone who responded to an argument for intelligent design by saying, “We just need to wait for science to give us the answer”? (11:00) I purchased Shedd's Dogmatics. Can you tell me how to use it? (29:00) My husband left me. Does that mean I can never get remarried? (38:00) Am I right in challenging the idea that God would give human beings the responsibility for other people's salvation? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Were the sons of God in Genesis 6 fallen angels? Who were the Nephilim? – Peter Gentry The Privileged Planet (20th Anniversary Edition): How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery by Guillermo Gonzalez and Jay W. Richards STR U Online Training The Design of Life DVD Collection: Volumes 1–3 Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd What the Bible Says about Divorce and Remarriage by Wayne Grudem Related Links: God of the Gaps? by Greg Koukl

Greg reminds Christians to be mindful of their character when making their case, then he answers questions about Jesus' prayer to “forgive them, for they know not what they do” and how we know the Protestant canon is the correct canon.   Topics: Commentary: Be mindful of your character when making your case. (00:00) Should I apply Jesus' prayer to “forgive them, for they know not what they do” to everyone? (16:00) How can we know the Protestant canon is the correct canon? (30:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 25–26 in Dayton, OH STR U Online Training The New Testament Canon: Which Books and Why? by Greg Koukl  

Greg talks about the House of David series, then he answers questions about why someone should read the Bible rather than the Quran or the Book of Mormon, how God stirs our hearts to do things, and whether or not one category of the Old Testament Law still applies to us.   Topics: Commentary: Thoughts on the House of David series (00:00) Why should I read the Bible rather than the Quran or the Book of Mormon? (20:00) How does God stir our hearts to do things? (36:00) What do you think of the idea that we can divide the Old Testament Law into three categories—judicial levitical, and moral—and the moral regulations still apply? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 25–26 in Dayton, OH House of David – Series on Prime The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl Related Links: Where Did These Minimal Facts about the Resurrection Come From? by Amy Hall (quoting Gary Habermas) How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians Today? by Greg Koukl Why We're Not Under the Mosaic Law by Amy Hall Should Followers of Christ Observe the Torah? by Amy Hall The Law Is Good by Amy Hall

Greg talks to author Rod Dreher about the soft totalitarianism he describes in Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, the Christians who resisted that totalitarianism, and the new documentary series based on the book.   Topics: Interview: Rod Dreher – Live Not by Lies documentary series (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Live Not by Lies – Documentary series Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher Freedom Fading by Greg Koukl Brave New World by Aldous Huxley The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich: A History of Nazi Germany by William Shirer The Origins of Totalitarianism by Hannah Arendt The Triumph of the Therapeutic: Uses of Faith after Freud by Philip Rieff Related Links: We Need Confidence to Endure by Amy Hall

Greg talks to callers about how we know people didn't take things out of the Bible, whether people who die young can earn eternal rewards, whether Jesus appeared to Mary after his resurrection, dealing with an abusive parent, and why more pastors don't believe in an old earth.   Topics: With all the translations of the Bible, how do we know people didn't take things out of it that they didn't want us to know about? (03:00) Is it the case that people who die young can't earn any eternal rewards? (08:00) Is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus appeared to his mother after his resurrection? (15:00) As a Christian, how should I deal with an abusive and controlling father in light of the command to honor our parents? (28:00) Why don't more pastors believe in an old earth? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 25–26 in Dayton, OH

Greg reflects on the futility of man-based idealism, then he answers questions about why he isn't Eastern Orthodox and how to show that philosophical materialism isn't supported by materialism itself.   Topics: Commentary: The futility of man-based idealism (00:00) What are your arguments against Eastern Orthodox Christianity? (26:00) How do I show that philosophical materialism isn't supported by materialism itself? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 25–26 in Dayton, OH A Complete Unknown – Film

Greg answers questions from callers about the likelihood that we're living in a simulation, using the laws of nature to argue against evolution, and recommendations for a young man starting out in apologetics.   Topics: What do you think about the fact that, when asked about the origins of the universe, one of the smartest AI computers in the world said it's more likely that we're living in a simulation? (01:00) How can I spread my idea of using the laws of nature to argue against evolution? (10:00) What would you recommend for a young man starting out in apologetics? (32:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Bloom Where You're Planted by Greg Koukl Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl Related Links: For the Student Who Wants to Be a Christian Apologist by Amy Hall

Greg talks about recent examples of moral insanity in California and England, then he answers questions about whether apostasy can happen unknowingly and how Greg comes up with his Street-Smarts-style questions.   Topics: Commentary: Moral insanity in California and England (00:00) Can apostasy happen unknowingly? (27:00) How do you come up your Street-Smarts-style questions? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  California ballot measure named after Luigi Mangione would make it illegal to ‘delay, deny' healthcare coverage: ‘Crazy' by Isabel Keane Toddler is kicked out of nursery ‘for being transphobic' - as families blast school's ‘insanity' by Noor Qurashi STR U Online Training Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 25–26 in Dayton, OH #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy God's Super-Apostles: Encountering the Worldwide Prophets and Apostles Movement by Doug Geivett and Holly Pivec Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about why there are so many different denominations, how to help someone who prayed a prayer as a child but doesn't seem to be following Jesus, people saying, “Oh my God,” and knowledge of Jesus through existential experience.   Topics: Why are there so many different denominations? (05:00) How can I help people who are counting on a prayer they prayed as a child—but have no evidence of sanctification in their lives—understand that they have a need for Jesus? (23:00) Can you explain why you don't have a problem with people saying, “Oh my God”? (40:00) My fundamental existential experience of Jesus seems undeniable. Is this a category in epistemology? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH The Magic Prayer by Greg Koukl Why the “Sinner's Prayer” Has Me Concerned...and a Biblical Alternative by Greg Koukl The Invisible Man by Greg Koukl Related Links: Three Reasons Why People Interpret the Bible Differently by Amy Hall

Greg talks about the meaning of the “Word of God” in Acts, then he warns against holding grudges and answers questions about requiring repentance before forgiveness, whether Jesus will have the only scars in Heaven, and making sense of the origin of evil as a Calvinist.   Topics: Commentary: The “Word of God” in Acts (00:00) Is repentance required for believers to grant forgiveness to others? (12:00) Commentary: If you hold grudges, you will destroy your soul. (38:00) Is Jesus the only one with scars in Heaven? (47:00) How do you make sense of the origin of evil? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd Related Links: The Sin of Forgiveness? by Greg Koukl How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall

Greg talks to Sean McDowell about new information included in the second edition of his book, The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus.   Topics: Interview: Sean McDowell, author of The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus (Second Edition) (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus (Second Edition) by Sean McDowell Sean McDowell's website Related Links: Problems for Hallucination Theories of the Resurrection by Gary Habermas

Greg explains that the first rule of prayer is to pray and the first rule of Bible reading is to read, then he answers questions about what it means to “pray about it,” overcoming a tendency to freeze up when asked a question, mistakenly claiming a promise, and finding fellowship.   Topics: Commentary: The first rule of prayer and Bible reading (00:00) What should “pray about it” look like in practice? (22:00) What can I do to overcome my tendency to freeze up when someone asks me a question? (34:00) If Old Testament promises don't apply to us, why is it that when people mistakenly claim a promise in the Bible for themselves, it seems to work for them? (38:00) How can I put my identity in Christ and truly follow him if even those who are called by his name push me away while they themselves don't seek him? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH Related Links: Making Sense of Unanswered Prayer by Amy Hall

Greg answers a question about why Provisionists tend to be so venomous towards Calvinism and gives some of his thoughts on Provisionism, then he talks to a caller about reasons why he rejects evolution.   Topics: Why do you think Provisionists tend to be so venomous towards Calvinism? (00:00) Do you reject evolution, and if so, why? (33:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Desert Apologetics Conference – March 14–15 Grace Defined and Defended: What a 400-Year-Old Confession Teaches Us about Sin, Salvation, and the Sovereignty of God by Kevin DeYoung Return of the God Hypothesis: Three Scientific Discoveries That Reveal the Mind Behind the Universe by Stephen Meyer Theistic Evolution: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Critique by J.P. Moreland, Stephen Meyer, Wayne Grudem, and more   Related Links: Theistic Evolution: Drifting toward Darwin by Greg Koukl Why Intelligent Design Is an Argument from Knowledge, Not Ignorance by Amy Hall

Greg talks to Jonathan Morrow, creator of the Refresh Roadmap online course, about strategies to help parents navigate screen time and social media with their kids.   Topics: Interview: Jonathan Morrow, creator of the Refresh Roadmap course, on navigating screen time and social media with your kids (00:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Jonathan Morrow's website Refresh Roadmap: A Practical Guide for Parents to Navigate Screen Time and Social Media with Confidence – This link automatically includes the 20% discount. 20% off code for listeners at refreshcourse.net: STR Impact 360 The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood Is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt  

Greg talks about four skills to instill in your kids to increase their maturity, then he answers questions about God being in A-theory time, identifying as sinners vs. saints, responding to someone who attributes everything to “the universe,” and disagreement in the early church.   Topics: Commentary: Four simple skills to help your kids soar above the crowd (00:00) Why can't we exist under an A-theory of time while God exists under a B-theory of time, and if God exists in A-theory time, don't we have an infinite regression issue? (20:00) What are your thoughts on simultaneously being sinners and saints, and which should we identify with more? (34:00) How would you engage someone in conversation who keeps attributing things that happen to “the universe”? (46:00) Contrary to apologetics claims of Catholics, why should we look to the early church for our doctrine and praxis when it seems like there was plenty of disagreement and heresy in the early church? (52:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Greg answers questions about whether prayers are pointless if God knows what will happen, why we would be held responsible for Adam and Eve's decisions, how John 3:13 could say no one has ascended into Heaven, and interactions between non-physical things and physical things.   Topics: If God knows what will happen tomorrow, then God cannot change tomorrow, which means all prayers are null and void and cannot change anything. (00:00) Why would anyone be responsible for Adam and Eve's decisions? The idea that we're born sick and in need of a savior is simply immoral and unjust Christian dogma meant to control your mind. (19:00) How do you reconcile John 3:13 (which says that no one has ascended into Heaven) with Lazarus (whom Jesus raised from the dead) and with 2 Corinthians 5:6–9 (which says that to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord)? (36:00) A Jehovah's Witness said sin became embedded in Adam and Eve's DNA, and I asked how something non-physical can be embedded in something physical, but then I realized that I do think our soul can interact with our body, so what is the difference between these two ideas? (46:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Related Links: Can a Non-Physical Being Affect the Physical World? by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions about what Deuteronomy 13:11 means when it says that “all Israel will hear and be afraid,” whether we should “leave our offering at the altar” to reconcile with a bully, apathetic people, leading an Outpost as a woman, and accepting vs. resisting difficult situations.   Topics: Does the phrase “All Israel will hear and be afraid” in Deuteronomy 13:11 refer to being afraid after hearing the punishment was carried out or being afraid after hearing what the prescribed punishment is for the crime? (02:00) How does Jesus telling us to “leave our offering at the altar” to go reconcile with someone and to “take the log out of our own eye” apply to dealing with an evil bully? (11:00) What would you say to an apathetic person or someone who compartmentalizes their religious life to help them see their need for the Lord? (24:00) Do you have any guidance on how I could proceed to convince my pastor to let me lead an STR Outpost as a woman? (38:00) Recognizing that we have personal responsibility and free will, and God is sovereign and all-knowing, how do we know if the difficult thing we're going through is discipline from God and we should wait for his rescue or if it isn't and we should try to resist it? (47:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  STR Outposts Related Links: Should Women Teach in Church? by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about animal death before the fall, reaching adult children who are caught up in the culture's political movements, whether Greg illegitimately dismisses claims of supernatural intervention, and advice for finding a Bible-believing, traditional church.   Topics: When it comes to animal death, should we really think everything has been the same since the beginning when it seems like God fundamentally changed things after the fall? (02:00) What are your thoughts on reaching adult children and grandchildren who are caught up in the culture's political movements? (22:00) Are you asking us to dismiss the idea of any supernatural intervention unless we have absolute proof just so we don't look like “silly Christians”? (35:00) I live in an area where many of the churches are problematic, and it seems impossible to find a Bible-believing, traditional church. Do you have any advice? (47:00)

Greg answers questions about what “things in Heaven” were reconciled to God through Jesus' blood, numbers in the Bible, pro-choicers who won't acknowledge the unborn is human, what approach to take with people who don't think they need God, and a fallacy.   Topics: Commentary: More on inerrancy vs. infallibility (00:00) What “things in Heaven” were reconciled to God through Jesus' blood on the cross, per Colossians 1:20? (07:00) Is it biblical to study the meaning of numbers in the Bible? (19:00) Since it's an irrefutable fact that the unborn is a human being, if an individual is unwilling to acknowledge this fact, can we assume it's not possible to have a meaningful discussion with them? (25:00) What approach should I take with people who think they don't need God? (37:00) How would you respond to someone who says we can't know what's true because it's just everyone's interpretation, and does this commit the fallacy of reification (applying concrete characteristics to something that's abstract)? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Fallacy Detective by Nathaniel Bluedorn and Hans Bluedorn

Greg chats with Natasha Crain, author of When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square, about navigating conflicts with the culture, where our differences lie, Christian Nationalism, critical theory, and more.   Topics: Interview: Natasha Crain, author of When Culture Hates You (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain Natasha Crain's website Natasha Crain's books Wesley Huff on Joe Rogan

Greg talks about infallibility vs. inerrancy, then he answers callers' questions about using more Bible in pro-life argumentation, what happened to Old Testament saints when they died, and how to know when to witness and when to use tactics.   Topics: Commentary: Infallibility vs. inerrancy (00:00) How would you respond to the objection that we need more Bible in pro-life argumentation since God's Word will not return void? (22:00) What happened to the Old Testament saints when they died? (31:00) When do we witness, and when do we use tactics? (40:00) Mentioned on the Show:  STR U Online Training Is the Bible Authoritative? by Greg Koukl, discussing John Warwick Montgomery's retroduction A Ten-Minute Witness by Greg Koukl

Greg responds to a TikTok star's confusion about Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, then he answers questions about praying for God's will, counseling a Christian who has same-sex attractions, and whether one can use “Jesus” and “God” interchangeably.   Topics: Commentary: A little knowledge can get you in trouble. (00:00) Is it ever necessary to pray for God's will in someone else's life? (23:00) How would you counsel someone who believes in the biblical sexual ethic but has same-sex attractions? (37:00) Is it okay to use “Jesus” and “God” interchangeably when making a point from a passage of Scripture? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH Holy Sexuality and the Gospel: Sex, Desire, and Relationships Shaped by God's Grand Story by Christopher Yuan Out of a Far Country: A Gay Son's Journey to God. A Broken Mother's Search for Hope. by Christopher Yuan and Angela Yuan Related Links: What Motivates Sin (and How to Fight It) by Amy Hall Interview: Sam Allberry, How the Church Can Support Christians with Unwanted Same-Sex Attraction Sexuality, Identity, Sin, and Denying Ourselves to Follow Christ by Amy Hall

Greg talks to Melissa Dougherty, author of Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World, about how the 19th-century New Thought movement is still affecting the church today.   Topics: Interview: Melissa Dougherty, author of Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World (00:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World by Melissa Dougherty Melissa Dougherty's YouTube channel Melissa Dougherty's website Greg's previous interview with Melissa Dougherty Strange New World by Carl Trueman Related Links: “The Secret”: A Fatal Attraction by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about how to understand what Jesus says to the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7, answers a question about when to shake the dust off your feet when it comes to sharing the gospel with family, and responds to a request for clarity on the second coming of Christ.   Topics: Commentary: Jesus feeds the dogs. (00:00) Is it ever appropriate to shake the dust off your feet when it comes to sharing the gospel with family? (25:00) Can you help me clarify my understanding of the second coming of Christ? (35:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture by George Eldon Ladd The Church and the Tribulation: A Biblical Examination of Posttribulationism by Robert Gundry

Greg talks about the assumption people make that we're insignificant because we're small compared to the universe, then he answers questions about whether Hebrews 6:4–6 means we can lose our salvation and how to deal with a situation where a pastor won't submit to leadership.   Topics: Commentary: The size of the universe doesn't mean we're insignificant. (00:00) Does Hebrews 6:4–6 mean you can lose your salvation? (13:00) After leaving a church because the pastor wouldn't submit to church leadership, how should I discuss this issue with a friend who is still at the church? (33:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Why the Universe Is the Way It Is by Hugh Ross Rare Earth: Why Complex Life is Uncommon in the Universe by Peter Ward and Donald Brownlee Bully Pulpit: Confronting the Problem of Spiritual Abuse in the Church by Michael Kruger   Related Links: What Should We Learn from the Immensity of the Heavens? by Katie Hulse Why Would God Create a Massive Universe? by Amy Hall Why Is There So Much Wasted Space in the Universe? by Amy Hall

Greg briefly discusses the Southern California fires, has more to say about Wesley Huff's conversations with Billy Carson and Joe Rogan, then talks to callers about how God could have been merciful before mankind existed and whether there's a biblical way to worship God.   Topics: Commentary: Wesley Huff's interactions are a tutorial on being a good ambassador. (00:00) How did God have the attribute of mercy before he created mankind? (37:00) Is there a biblical way to worship God? (47:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Wesley Huff's website Wesley Huff's YouTube channel Wesley Huff's debate with Billy Carson Wesley Huff on Joe Rogan Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH STR Outposts Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes

Greg recommends creating a habit of Bible reading this year, then he answers questions about attending a mandatory equity training, practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture, and the Christian view of rewards versus the Mormon view of levels of Heaven.   Topics: Commentary: Create a habit of Bible reading this year. (00:00) Do you think it's a good idea to go ahead and attend an employer's mandatory equity training as an educational experience? (13:00) Can you recommend any practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture? (30:00) How does the Christian view of rewards in Heaven compare with the Mormon belief about different levels of Heaven based on one's performance in this life? (43:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Navigators Book-at-a-Time Bible Reading Plan (for an iOS app where you can click off the boxes digitally as you read each chapter, see Bible Box) STR U Online Training   Related Links: You Want to Be a Good Apologist? by Amy Hall (on reading through the Bible) A Long-Term Plan to Know Your Bible by Amy Hall The Simple Way to Know and Be Shaped by Your Bible by Amy Hall James Gray on Mastering the Bible by Fred Sanders The Rewards of Memorizing a Book of the Bible by Amy Hall Tips for Memorizing a Book of the Bible by Amy Hall Martyn Lloyd-Jones's sermon series on Romans (also available in the Martyn Lloyd-Jones app) Romans 14-Volume Set by Martyn Lloyd-Jones Two Theological Misunderstandings behind Objections to Deathbed Conversions by Amy Hall

Tim joins Greg to talk about Wesley Huff's debate with Billy Carson and appearance on Joe Rogan, reminding us we have good reasons for what we believe, then Greg answers a question about reconciling Ephesians 2:14–15 and Matthew 5:17 regarding Jesus abolishing the Law.   Topics: Commentary: We have got the goods. (00:00) How can I reconcile Ephesians 2:14–15, which talks about Jesus abolishing the Law, and Matthew 5:17, which says Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it? (39:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Wesley Huff's debate with Billy Carson Wesley Huff on Joe Rogan Stephen Meyer on Joe Rogan Wesley Huff's YouTube channel Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH

Greg answers questions about why John always refers to himself as the beloved disciple, why God isn't partly responsible for our sin if he's sovereign and we didn't choose our desires, and whether John 15:22–24 contradicts the idea that “no one is without excuse.”   Topics: Why does John always refer to himself as the beloved? (02:00) How is God not also in some measure responsible for our sin if he's sovereign and we didn't choose our desires? (16:00) How does John 15:22–24 not contradict Paul's claim that “no one is without excuse” in Romans 1? (37:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Greg answers questions about a church leader entering a physique show, learning from Christians with whom we don't agree on everything, attending a baptism for a different religion, and how to respond to an argument for the importance of “Pride.”   Topics: Would entering a physique show be considered worshiping the body and something a church leader shouldn't be participating in? (11:00) I appreciate that you don't distance yourself from apologists who differ from you on soteriology. What is a good way to approach learning from other Christians with whom we don't agree on everything? (28:00) What is your stance on whether a Christian can attend a baptism for a different religion? (43:00) How would you respond to the claim that “Pride is important because someone tonight still believes they're better off dead than being gay“? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Related Links:   Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (on decision making) by Greg Koukl

Greg chats about some Christmas myths, recommends two films that capture the nativity well, then answers questions about whether day trading is a form of gambling, being a gardener vs. a harvester, and reconciling Greg's view on decision making with Romans 12:2.   Topics: Commentary: Christmas spoilers (00:00) Commentary: Films that capture the nativity well (15:00) Is day trading a form of gambling? (24:00) Is it okay to not evangelize like Ray Comfort? (39:00) How can I reconcile your view on decision making with Romans 12:2, which talks about God's perfect will? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Nativity Story – Film The Christ Child: A Nativity Story – Film (Warning: The statement at the end of this short film reflects the Mormon gospel.) Related Links: Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (on decision making) by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions from callers about old earth vs. young earth and feeling guilty about not having the joy of the Lord during a long, difficult, dark time.   Topics: What's your opinion on old earth vs. young earth? (06:00) Should I feel guilty for not having the joy of the Lord during a long, difficult, dark time? (37:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason by the 28th of this month and receive The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley Seven Days that Divide the World: The Beginning According to Genesis and Science by John Lennox Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH Spurgeon quote: “My witness is, that those who are honoured of their Lord in public, have usually to endure a secret chastening, or to carry a peculiar cross, lest by any means they exalt themselves, and fall into the snare of the devil.” Related Links: Have Grace for Fellow Christians on the Age of the Earth by Amy Hall The Rightful Place of Suffering in the Life of the Christian by Amy Hall Christians, You Will Suffer by Amy Hall Why It Isn't Naive to Trust God in Your Suffering by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions about his views on the rapture and whether there's any middle ground between Reformed and Arminian theology.   Topics: Can you elaborate on your views on the rapture? (02:00) When it comes to salvation, is there any middle ground between Reformed and Arminian theology? (31:00) Mentioned on the Show:  The Blessed Hope: A Biblical Study of the Second Advent and the Rapture by George Eldon Ladd The Church and the Tribulation: A Biblical Examination of Posttribulationism by Robert Gundry The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about the claim that the virgin birth is disproved by science, then he talks to callers about when the New Covenant started, how Jesus could have paid the penalty of being separated from God, Bonhoeffer's views on the Bible, and pragmatism.   Topics: Commentary: Science can't disprove the virgin birth. (00:00) When did the New Covenant start? (14:00) If the wages of sin is separation from God, how could Jesus pay that? (26:00) What are your thoughts on Bonhoeffer's views on the Bible? (43:00) Is it ever okay to be pragmatic, or is it always wrong to say the ends justify the means? (49:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason by the 28th of this month and receive The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl Should Christians Tithe? by Greg Koukl Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy by Eric Metaxas   Related Links: The Troubling Truth About Bonhoeffer's Theology by Richard Weikart

Greg answers questions about why God allows evil, whether denominations really matter, whether Matthew 16 says Peter was the first pope, and how Greg's view on decision making and the will of God fits with passages in James, Ruth, and Esther.   Topics: Why does God allow evil? (00:00) Does the denomination of a church really matter, and should Matthew 16 be interpreted as saying that whoever says Jesus is the Christ is part of the church, or is it saying Peter was the first pope? (24:00) Can you explain how your view on decision making and the will of God fits with passages in James, Ruth, and Esther? (42:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason by the 28th of this month and receive The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley Submit a question on the Open Mic Line   Related Links: If God Is Good, Why Is There Evil and Suffering? by Amy Hall What You Need to Know about Evil and Suffering by Amy Hall One Way or Any Way? Part 1 and Part 2 by Greg Koukl Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Greg Koukl

Greg talks about what we can learn from the account of David and Goliath, then he answers questions about the divide between men and women, whether a contractor should turn down work on a Buddhist temple, and determining if a passage is descriptive or prescriptive.   Topics: Commentary: What we can learn from the account of David and Goliath (08:00) Why does it seem like there's such a divide between men and women today? (19:00) Do you think I was right to turn down a request to build a large water feature for a Buddhist temple, in which there will be a Buddhist statue in the center of a reflection pool? (47:00) When should passages be interpreted as descriptive rather than prescriptive (e.g., when it comes to head coverings)? (53:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Donate to Stand to Reason by the 28th of this month and receive The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH   Related Links: The Beauty of Submission by Amy Hall The Beauty of Leadership by Amy Hall The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes by Nancy Pearcey

Greg talks to callers about how, when it comes to the teleological argument, we know the things we claim are complex are really complex, how to witness to someone who has consulted a spiritualist, and whether God values results or growth more.   Topics: When it comes to the teleological argument, how do we know the things we say are complex are really complex? (01:00) How can I witness to someone at work who consulted a spiritualist? (27:00) Does God value results or growth more? (36:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl   Related Links: Decision Making and the Will of God by Greg Koukl

Greg talks to Robby Lashua about an announcement and discusses the value of saying “thank you” to everyone who does something for you, then he responds to a caller's question about how God can be pro-life if he kills babies.   Topics: Interview: An announcement from Robby Lashua (00:00) Commentary: Say “thank you” to everyone who does something for you. (27:00) Are Christians pro-life, and do they believe God is pro-life even though he kills babies? (46:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  STR Outposts Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 21–22 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH New Testament Prayer   Related Links: Was God Pro-Life When He Sent the Flood? by Tim Barnett How Could God Kill All the Firstborn Babies in the Tenth Plague? – #STRask podcast Can God Kill the Innocent? by Greg Koukl If God Is Love, Why Did He Kill so Many People in the Old Testament? – #STRask podcast Be Careful with How You Define “Pro-Life” by Tim Barnett A God Who Told Me to Kill My Son Would Not Be the God for Me – #STRask podcast

Greg answers questions about the “He Gets Us” campaign from earlier this year, whether a property in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil gave Adam and Eve knowledge, the historicity of Job, and whether God will spend eternity in pain as he watches people suffer in Hell.   Topics: What did you think of the “He Gets Us” foot washing ads earlier this year? (00:00) Could the tree of the knowledge of good and evil have had some property that gave them this knowledge since the related tree of life seems to have had a property that would cause them to live forever? (17:00) Why do you think Job isn't a historical account? (29:00) Since God loves everyone and Jesus died for everyone, if God is aware of what's going on in Hell, does that mean he'll spend eternity in pain as he watches his creation suffer? (41:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Here Comes the He Gets Us Campaign Again: Why Its Portrayal of Jesus is Still a Problem by Natasha Crain 7 Problems with the He Gets Us Campaign by Natasha Crain The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl

Greg talks to callers about online interactions, entropy as evidence for a beginning of the universe, whether someone could make up a story that sounds like eyewitness testimony, creating interactions that aren't awkward, and the claim that the unborn is only a ”potential life.”   Topics: Considering Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to dogs,” should I not engage people online over and over again? (00:00) A follow-up on a previous conversation about dealing with a problematic pastor. (12:00) How could entropy be evidence for the beginning of the universe if the first law of thermodynamics says energy can't be destroyed? (20:00) How would you respond to someone who says anybody could make up a detailed story that sounds like eyewitness testimony? (26:00) Would you ever do campus evangelism, and how do you create interactions that don't make people feel awkward? (42:00) What's a powerful question to ask someone who insists an unborn baby is only a “potential life”? (49:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus A Simple Survey to Help Initiate Spiritual Conversations by Greg Koukl Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Greg answers questions about how Jesus can be God if God is in Heaven and Jesus was on earth, whether disordered desires are sinful and Satan puts thoughts in Christians' minds, baptism of the Holy Spirit by laying on hands, and a challenge to Greg's view on John 16:13.   Topics: How can Jesus be God if God is in Heaven and Jesus was on earth? (04:00) Are disordered desires sinful, and does Satan put sinful thoughts in Christians' minds? (15:00) Do Acts 8 and 19 teach that we only receive the Holy Spirit if someone lays hands on us? (30:00) Does the fact that the apostles disagreed with each other at times refute the reason why you think John 16:13 doesn't apply to us today? (44:00)

Greg talks to Craig Hazen, STR's new chief strategy officer, then he answers a question about the implications that follow from the idea that we don't have to figure out special instructions from God.   Topics: Interview: Craig Hazen joins Stand to Reason. (00:00) Does the fact that we don't have to figure out what God is telling us to do mean that God doesn't really care what we do and doesn't ordain what he wants us to do? (34:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH   Related Links: Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (on decision making) by Greg Koukl

Greg talks to Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate, about how cancel culture developed, communicating ideas well to others, dealing with your own biases, being charitable, steelmanning your opponent's arguments, and more.   Topics: Interview: Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations (00:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations by Sean McDowell Greg Koukl and Michael Shermer at the End of the Decade of the New Atheists – Debate transcript Sean McDowell and Matthew Vines on the Bible and Homosexuality – Video of the debate Philosophical Foundations for a Christian Worldview by J.P. Moreland and William Lane Craig Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl   Related Links: Proverbs for Apologists by Amy Hall