Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

What Should I Say to Someone Who’s Apathetic?

Greg responds to questions he received about speaking to someone who’s apathetic and the Spirit’s role in evangelism, then he talks to callers about whether churches need a lead pastor, Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46, and answering a Mormon’s objections to the Trinity.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What should I say to someone who’s apathetic? (00:00)
2. Even if we have several rotating preaching pastors, should we still have a lead pastor guiding the church? (20:00)
3. Why didn’t you include Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” in your Solid Ground on the atonement? (28:00)
4. How should I respond to a Mormon who challenges the Trinity by claiming it’s an extra-biblical concept created by the Council of Nicea and by asking who Jesus was praying to if he’s God? (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem Part 1 and Part 2

Thoughts on “The Chosen”

Greg gives his thoughts on the good and bad of The Chosen, then he talks to callers about whether Hell is simply the absence of God and whether it’s inappropriate to speak with a pastor about his unbiblical teaching and the direction of his church if he isn’t your pastor.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Thoughts on The Chosen (09:00)
2. What do you think of my idea that Hell is not so much the presence of something as it is the absence of Someone? (38:00)
3. Is it inappropriate to speak with a pastor about his unbiblical teaching and the direction of his church if he isn’t your pastor? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Christ Child: A Nativity Story – Short film

How Does the Holy Spirit Communicate with Believers?

Greg answers questions about how the Holy Spirit communicates with believers, giving prophetic words to people, resources on Christian nationalism, whether Satan is at work in the world, increasing our aggressiveness in this culture, and Ray Comfort’s approach.

 

Topics:

1. How does the Holy Spirit communicate with believers? (00:00)
2. What can I do to soften someone’s heart who has rejected the prophetic word I received for them? (15:00)
3. Can you recommend any resources on the topic of Christian nationalism? (25:00)
4. How should I respond to someone who says Satan is no longer at work in the world? (35:00)
5. Has the time come for us to be more aggressive with our apologetics in order to be heard by the culture? (44:00)
6. What are your thoughts on Ray Comfort’s approach to evangelism, and how does it differ from the approach you would take? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God – Audio by Greg Koukl
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl

Why the Apocrypha Is Not Part of the Canon

Greg explains why the Apocrypha isn’t part of the canon, then he talks to callers about what to say to a good pastor who has been taking verses out of context and thoughts on cessationism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why the apocrypha is not part of the canon (00:00)
2. How should I approach a pastor I love about taking verses out of context? (26:00)
3. What do you think about cessationism? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry
• Why Jesus Rebuked Doubting Thomas by Greg Koukl

When Should You Interpret a Passage of Scripture Symbolically?

Greg answers questions about interpreting Scripture symbolically, distinguishing between the Lord’s discipline and suffering, how to get over a fear of talking about your faith, and whether Jesus was separated from the other persons of the Trinity on the cross.

 

Topics:

1. When should I interpret a passage of Scripture symbolically? (01:00)
2. What are your thoughts on the discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:4–11) vs. suffering we should push back on? (18:00)
3. How can people get over their irrational fear of talking to others about their faith? (31:00)
4. Is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus was separated from the other two persons of the Trinity as a result of the sin of humanity being placed on him? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• A Simple Survey to Help Initiate Spiritual Conversations by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• #STRask: In light of Hebrews 12:5–11, how can a Christian know when they’re being disciplined vs. experiencing a consequence of a sinful act?
• #STRask: Can you give any examples of what Christians are to expect in terms of God’s discipline?

Do We Have a Right to End Our Own Lives?

Greg talks about a case in the Netherlands where a 28-year-old woman who doesn’t want to live is planning to be euthanized, then he answers a question about how you can “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Do we have a right to end our own lives? (00:00)
2. How do you “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• ‘I’m 28. And I’m Scheduled to Die in May.’ by Rupa Subramanya
• The age limit for euthanasia requests in the Netherlands: a Delphi study among paediatric experts – Journal of Medical Ethics
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA

 

They Are Waking up to Reality

Greg talks about the current trend of people realizing their values can’t be sustained by an atheist worldview, then he answers questions about a common ancestor and transitional forms, prayer and God’s predestined plan, and advice for praying with OCD.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: They are waking up to reality. (00:00)
2. Do you agree with William Lane Craig that there’s evidence for a common ancestor and transitional forms? (10:00)
3. How effective are our prayers and petitions if God’s plan is predestined? Does God ever alter his plan because of our prayers, or are our prayers only answered when they’re already in line with God’s plan? (34:00)
4. Do you have any advice for me as I try to pray with OCD and feel like I have to get my words exactly right? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley

The Unique Nature of a Total Eclipse of the Sun

Greg reflects on the unique nature of a total eclipse and his experience seeing one yesterday, then he describes conversations he had with people about Christianity while he was traveling and answers a question about the slippery slope fallacy.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The unique nature of a total eclipse of the sun. (10:00)
2. Commentary: Two conversations (28:00)
3. If someone says he was born gay and we must just accept it, would it be a slippery slope fallacy to respond by saying that by that logic we would have to accept the idea that a murderer must be accepted because it’s who he is? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• STR U Online Training
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• STR Outposts
• The Privileged Planet: How Our Place in the Cosmos Is Designed for Discovery by Jay W. Richards and Guillermo Gonzales

When It Comes to the Atonement, People Do Not Take the Blood Seriously

Greg discusses what the Bible says about penal substitutionary atonement, then he answers questions about what to do if your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology and why God no longer gives direct messages to people like he did in the Old Testament.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: When it comes to the atonement, people do not take the blood seriously. (05:00)
2. If you find out your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology, should you expose him to the church or leave quietly? (23:00)
3. Do you think people in the Old Testament got direct messages from God (through the prophets, etc.), and if so, why has this changed now? Has the Bible replaced the old means of communication? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• STR U Online Training
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• The Fellowship: The Literary Lives of the Inklings: J.R.R. Tolkien, C. S. Lewis, Owen Barfield, Charles Williams by Philip and Carol Zaleski

Related Links:

• Gay or Straight, We All Must Decide if We Love Jesus above All Else by Amy Hall
• Be Willing to Submit to Our Good God on the Issue of Homosexuality by Amy Hall

Dawkins Says He’s a Cultural Christian

Greg talks about how Dawkins’s objections to Islam don’t make sense within his own worldview, then he answers a question from a caller about how a person can say something is right or wrong if they don’t believe in God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Dawkins says he’s a cultural Christian. (00:00)
2. How can a person say something is right or wrong if they don't believe in God? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Famous atheist says he identifies as a ‘cultural Christian’ and is ‘horrified’ by promotion of Islamic holiday by Hannah Grossman
• Stealing from God: Why Atheists Need God to Make Their Case by Frank Turek
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Greg’s interview with Justin Brierley
• The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley
• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA