Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

The Size of the Universe Doesn’t Mean We’re Insignificant

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:

1. Commentary: The size of the universe doesn’t mean we’re insignificant. (00:00)
2. Does Hebrews 6:4–6 mean you can lose your salvation? (13:00)
3. 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

Wesley Huff’s Interactions Are a Tutorial on Being a Good Ambassador

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:

1. Commentary: Wesley Huff’s interactions are a tutorial on being a good ambassador. (00:00)
2. How did God have the attribute of mercy before he created mankind? (37:00)
3. 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

Create a Habit of Bible Reading This Year

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:

1. Commentary: Create a habit of Bible reading this year. (00:00)
2. 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)
3. Can you recommend any practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture? (30:00)
4. 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

We Have Got the Goods

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:

1. Commentary: We have got the goods. (00:00)
2. 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

How Is God Not Partly Responsible for Our Sin?

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:

1. Why does John always refer to himself as the beloved? (02:00)
2. 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)
3. 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

You Can Learn from Christians with Whom You Don’t Agree on Everything

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:

1. Would entering a physique show be considered worshiping the body and something a church leader shouldn’t be participating in? (11:00)
2. 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)
3. What is your stance on whether a Christian can attend a baptism for a different religion? (43:00)
4. 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

Christmas Spoilers

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:

1. Commentary: Christmas spoilers (00:00)
2. Commentary: Films that capture the nativity well (15:00)
3. Is day trading a form of gambling? (24:00)
4. Is it okay to not evangelize like Ray Comfort? (39:00)
5. 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

Should I Feel Guilty for Not Having the Joy of the Lord During a Dark Time?

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:

1. What’s your opinion on old earth vs. young earth? (06:00)
2. 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

Will There Be a Rapture?

Greg answers questions about his views on the rapture and whether there’s any middle ground between Reformed and Arminian theology.

 

Topics:

1. Can you elaborate on your views on the rapture? (02:00)
2. 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

Science Can’t Disprove the Virgin Birth

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:

1. Commentary: Science can’t disprove the virgin birth. (00:00)
2. When did the New Covenant start? (14:00)
3. If the wages of sin is separation from God, how could Jesus pay that? (26:00)
4. What are your thoughts on Bonhoeffer’s views on the Bible? (43:00)
5. 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