Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

What Did Jesus Think About Homosexuality?

Greg talks about what Jesus thought about homosexuality, reads a parable written by a listener describing the panel discussion on The Diary of a CEO, then answers a question about whether God had to try a few times to get Samuel’s attention before he was able to.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What did Jesus think about homosexuality? (00:00)
2. A parable a listener wrote about Greg’s The Diary of a CEO panel discussion (30:00)
3. How should I respond to someone who says in response to the idea that “God doesn’t try” that God tried a few times to get Samuel’s attention before he was finally able to? (35:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
• Heritvge – Worship band at Reality conferences
• STR U Online Training
• Greg on The Diary of a CEO
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• When God Speaks by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Jesus Did Condemn Homosexuality by Alan Shlemon
• Jesus’ “Hidden” Teaching on Homosexuality by Greg Koukl

Thoughts on a Podcast Discussion with Former Christians

Greg talks about a discussion he had on a podcast with former Christians, then he answers questions from callers about Christians using an artificial-sounding voice in church, recognizing demonic influence, praying to Jesus, and what “forsaking all others” includes.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Thoughts on a podcast discussion with former Christians (00:00)
2. Why do Christians use an artificial-sounding voice in church? (22:00)
3. What advice would you give parents who think there might be a demonic influence in their child’s life? (28:00)
4. If all authority in Heaven has been given to Jesus, should we pray to him now? (43:00)
5. Is adultery the only grounds for separation, or does the idea of “forsaking all others” apply to things like one partner putting friends, family, or church over his wife’s needs and desires? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA

Interview: Alisa Childers – Another Gospel for Students

Greg talks to Alisa Childers about helping students respond to progressive Christianity in a discussion about her new book, a student edition of Another Gospel? A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Alisa Childers, author of Another Gospel? Student Edition: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Alisa Childers
• Another Gospel? Student Edition: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers
• The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl

What Does It Mean to Be Made in God’s Image?

Greg answers questions from callers about what it means to be made in God’s image, whether Jesus was omniscient while he was on earth, how to best disciple your kids, whether Jeremiah 29:11 applies to us because all promises are yes in Christ, and recognizing a calling to ministry.

 

Topics:

1. What does it mean to be made in God’s image? (03:00)
2. Was Jesus omniscient while he was on earth? (19:00)
3. How can I best disciple my kids? (29:00)
4. Do verses like 2 Corinthians 1:20 that say that all the promises of God are yes in Christ mean that we can claim Jeremiah 29:11 for ourselves? (40:00)
5. How do you know when you’re actually called to a particular ministry and it’s not just a desire? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Keeping Your Kids on God’s Side by Natasha Crain

How Do We Know Objective Values Aren’t a Delusion?

Greg chats with callers about how we know objective values exist and aren’t a delusion, how to redirect someone who’s on the wrong theological road, and how to navigate bringing apologetics to a church in a denomination that doesn’t allow outside speakers.

 

Topics:

1. How do we know that objective moral values actually exist and we’re not deluded by culture or evolution? (05:00)
2. How can I stop someone from going down a wrong theological road and redirect them towards the right path? (32:00)
3. As I bring apologetics to my church, how can I navigate the exclusivity of my denomination, which doesn’t allow outside speakers? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl
• Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World by Melissa Dougherty

What If a Darwinist Denies There’s Something Wrong with the World?

Greg answers questions about Darwinists who deny there’s something wrong with the world, attending a baptism at an LGBTQ-affirming church, why Christians have pets instead of giving the money to orphans, the name “Lord of Hosts,” and singing worship songs about our feelings.

 

Topics:

1. You say everyone acknowledges there’s something wrong with the world, but how would you respond to a Darwinist who says that’s simply survival of the fittest, the dog-eat-dog nature of this place? (02:00)
2. What are your thoughts on attending a baptism at a church that affirms LGBTQ lifestyles? (13:00)
3. If humans are more valuable than animals, why do Christians have pets instead of giving the money to orphans? (24:00)
4. Why does God refer to himself repeatedly as “the Lord of Heaven’s armies” (also translated as “Lord of Hosts” or “Lord of Sabaoth”)? (34:00)
5. You said you don’t like to sing about your feelings, but don’t many of the psalms do this? What makes it difficult for us to sing songs with personal pronouns? (43:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Beauty Is Real

Guest Host: Megan Almon

 

Megan Almon talks about the reality and nature of beauty, answers questions about introducing heavy cultural topics to young people who aren’t already asking about them and whether or not God would have destroyed the Israelites if Moses hadn’t intervened, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Beauty is real. (00:00)
2. Is it dangerous to bring up the heavier questions of culture to young people in our church if they’re not asking the questions already? (34:00)
3. If Moses hadn’t stepped in, would God have followed through and destroyed the Israelites? (41:00)
4. Commentary: We can all create beauty with acts of everyday faithfulness. (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
• The Abolition of Man by C.S. Lewis
• Cultural Apologetics: Renewing the Christian Voice, Conscience, and Imagination in a Disenchanted World by Paul Gould
• Echoes of Eden: Reflections on Christianity, Literature, and the Arts by Jerram Barrs
• Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal’s Pensees Edited, Outlined and Explained by Peter Kreeft

Christianity Can Anchor Your Life Because It’s True

Greg and Tim finish their conversation about The Diary of a CEO, discussing anchoring one’s life in Christianity, the existence of evidence for Christianity, why the world is broken, pre-human animal suffering, evolving morality, advice for someone searching for meaning, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Christianity can anchor your life because it’s true. (00:00)
2. There is evidence that Christianity is true. (09:00)
3. Spiritual thinker Dr. K’s response to why children get cancer. (13:00)
4. Atheist Alex O’Connor challenges Greg’s explanation for why the world is broken. (20:00)
5. What about pre-human animal suffering? (32:00)
6. Does morality evolve over time? (41:00)
7. Do people in every religion all over the world arrive at similar conclusions? (47:00)
8. What Greg would say to someone searching for meaning. (53:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Greg on The Diary of a CEO
• Get a free copy of a chapter from The Story of Reality
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Why God? Part 1 and Part 2
• The Mathematical Argument for the Existence of God – Short video from Reasonable Faith, includes links to videos about the kalam cosmological argument, the moral argument, the fine-tuning argument, the contingency argument, and an argument for the resurrection of Jesus.

Can Evolution Explain Our Sense of Meaning?

Greg and Tim continue evaluating clips from The Diary of a CEO, discussing the need for meaning to inform purpose, whether evolution can explain our sense of meaning, whether subjective experience can be evidential, atheist Alex O’Connor’s advice for finding meaning, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Meaning comes first, then purpose flows from meaning. (00:00)
2. It’s not just a matter of finding “something” to give you purpose. (07:00)
3. Is purpose found in working on a task you believe will fulfill you when you finish? (15:00)
4. Can our sense of meaning be explained by evolution? (22:00)
5. Is technology destroying our sense of meaning by exposing us to competing understandings of the world that show us our beliefs are merely subjective? (31:00)
6. Can the subjective sense of meaning a person feels be evidence for the truth of his view? (37:00)
7. Atheist Alex O’Connor’s advice for someone who wants to stir up feelings of meaning in his life. (46:00)
8. What’s the purpose of religion? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Greg on The Diary of a CEO
• Get a free copy of a chapter from The Story of Reality
• Christianity for Modern Pagans: Pascal’s Pensees Edited, Outlined and Explained by Peter Kreeft
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Values Fight Poverty by Amy Hall
• The True Story of Christian Missionaries by Amy Hall
• How Christianity Changed the World – Impact 360 video
• Wilberforce and Social Change by Melinda Penner

Which Worldview Best Explains Meaning and Purpose?

Greg and Tim review clips from a conversation between Greg, atheist Alex O’Connor, and Hindu Alok Kanojia, discussing why human beings flourish in a particular way, the foundation of meaning and purpose, the meaning crisis, Alex’s paperclip analogy, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Greg was on The Diary of a CEO with host Steven Bartlett, atheist Alex O’Connor, and Hindu Alok Kanojia. (00:00)
2. The biblical take on reality is the best explanation for the way things are. (06:00)
3. Is “death denial” behind our attempts to make meaning in our lives? (17:00)
4. Why is there a meaning crisis? (26:00)
5. Does the paperclip analogy disprove Greg’s claim that we find purpose in doing what we were created to do? (32:00)
6. Would you do anything meaningful if you thought everything would cease to exist tomorrow? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Greg on The Diary of a CEO
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• Get a free copy of a chapter from The Story of Reality
• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy