Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Can We Argue for God from the Existence of Beauty?

Greg answers questions about arguing for the existence of God based on the beauty we see in the world, what Paul means when he says we are “fellow heirs with Christ,” whether the Father poured out his wrath on Jesus at the cross, and a response to a neighbor’s Halloween decorations.

 

Topics:

1. Can we argue for the existence of God based on the beauty we see in the world? (01:00)
2. What does it mean to be fellow heirs with Christ as Paul says in Romans 8:17? (18:00) 
3. Is there a biblical case for saying the Father poured out his wrath on Jesus on the cross? (35:00)
4. Did I go too far with my response to my neighbor’s Halloween decorations? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Beauty: A Very Short Introduction by Roger Scruton

Tactics for the Street

Greg talks about the ideas in his new book, Street Smarts, explaining how it expands his Tactics material and how it will give people more confidence responding to objections and making the case for Christianity, then he answers a question about recommendations for starting an apologetics group.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Tactics for the street (00:00)
2. Do you have any recommendations for starting an apologetics group?  (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 22–23 in Los Angeles, CA; October 13–14 in Seattle, WA; November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• STR Outposts

Could Gentiles Be Saved Prior to Christ’s Crucifixion?

Greg responds to questions about what approach to take with a child who has started dating a Jehovah’s Witness, whether there was any way for Gentiles to be saved prior to Christ’s crucifixion, and how to respond to someone wearing a “Protect trans kids” shirt.

 

Topics:

1. Would you apply the same approach to a child who started dating a Jehovah’s Witness as you would to a family member who came out as gay? (04:00)
2. Was there any way for Gentiles to be saved prior to Christ’s crucifixion? (31:00)
3. How would you engage someone wearing a “Protect trans kids” shirt? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Record an Open Mic question

 

Related Links:

• How to Help Transgender Children by Amy Hall
• When Transgender Children Are Harmed by the People Who Intended to Help Them by Amy Hall

Interview: J. Warner Wallace – Updated and Expanded Cold-Case Christianity

Greg talks to J. Warner Wallace about the updated and expanded version of Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels—what’s new in the book, chain of custody, direct and circumstantial evidence, how to evaluate eyewitnesses, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: J. Warner Wallace, author of the updated and expanded version of Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• J. Warner Wallace
• Cold-Case Christianity (Updated & Expanded Edition): A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the Gospels by J. Warner Wallace
• Person of Interest: Why Jesus Still Matters in a World that Rejects the Bible by J. Warner Wallace
• God’s Crime Scene: A Cold-Case Detective Examines the Evidence for a Divinely Created Universe by J. Warner Wallace
• J. Warner Wallace’s books (including books for kids)

Related Links:

• What Counts as Evidence? by Amy Hall (quoting J. Warner Wallace on circumstantial evidence)

Why Did God Put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden?

Greg responds to questions about why God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden, taking a job at a Quaker school, the implications of all biological men starting off like females in the womb, and whether the stories of Gilgamesh and Horus are evidence the Bible isn’t true.

 

Topics:

1. Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the garden of Eden, giving Adam and Eve a chance to betray him? (03:00)
2. What should I take into account in terms of theology and practical issues as I consider a job opportunity to work at a Quaker school? (12:00)
3. How would you respond to the claims that 1) all biological men start off as females in the womb, so therefore all men are actually trans, and 2) if sex is not determined until later, then life doesn’t really begin at conception? (21:00)
4. Are the parallels between the Bible and the stories of Gilgamesh and Horus evidence the Bible is not the true book? (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Record an Open Mic question

 

Related Links:

• Jesus, Recycled Redeemer? by Greg Koukl

Interview: Nancy Pearcey – The Toxic War on Masculinity

Greg talks to Nancy Pearcey, author of The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes, about the competing ideas of masculinity, the “good man” versus the “real man,” expectations of men in the pre-industrial age, the stats on Christian men today, “boy culture,” and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Nancy Pearcey, author of The Toxic War on Masculinity (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Nancy Pearcey
• The Toxic War on Masculinity: How Christianity Reconciles the Sexes by Nancy Pearcey
• Nancy Pearcey’s books
• Soft Patriarchs, New Men: How Christianity Shapes Fathers and Husbands by Brad Wilcox (reporting on the study he did on Christian men)

If God Can Save Everyone, Is He Loving if He Doesn’t?

Greg answers questions from callers about whether God is loving if he can save everyone (per Reformed theology) but doesn’t, what Christians should think about shopping at stores that promote harmful ideologies, how God could have foreknowledge of infinite future events if an actual infinite isn’t possible, and more.

 

Topics:

1. If, according to Reformed theology, God can save everyone, is he loving if he doesn’t? (03:00)
2. What should Christians think about shopping at stores that promote harmful ideologies? (34:00)
3. How could God have foreknowledge of infinite future events if an actual infinite isn’t possible? (42:00)
4. Challenges to Greg’s thoughts about aliens in the previous episode. (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100

Related Links:

• Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall
• #STRask: Should Christians boycott Starbucks and other corporations that have taken a side against Christianity in the culture war?

The God Question Is the First Question You Have to Answer

Greg explains why your answer to the foundational question of whether or not God exists will affect your ideas about everything else, then he answers questions from a caller about aliens and UFOs.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The God question is the first question you have to answer. (00:00)
2. What’s your take on aliens and UFOs? (31:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100

An Example of Gardening

Greg talks about an exchange he had with someone on a recent trip, then he answers questions about philosophy topics to cover in an hour-long apologetics class, signs from God, whether the disciples made up the story about Jesus, and how to discuss doctrine with Mormons who seem to be hiding their beliefs.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: An example of gardening (00:00)
2. What topics would you cover if you only had one hour to teach philosophy in an apologetics and evangelism class? (06:00)
3. What should I say to someone who told me two blue jays flying by were signs from God? (32:00)
4. How should I respond to someone who claims the apostles made up the story about Jesus? (43:00)
5. How can I have effective conversations about doctrine with Latter-day Saints (Mormons) who seem to be trying to hide their beliefs? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Thinking About God: First Steps in Philosophy by Greg Ganssle
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 22–23 in Los Angeles, CA; October 13–14 in Seattle, WA; November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA
• Decision Making and the Will of God (audio) by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Who Is the God of Mormonism by Amy Hall
• LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall – More ideas for your conversations

The Bible’s Teaching on Marriage and Sexuality Didn’t Change in 1946

Greg talks about an upcoming movie that claims a 1946 mistranslation of a word in the Bible led to homophobia and persecution of the LGBT community, then he answers a caller's question about what to say to a pastor who referred someone to a counseling service that seems problematic.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The Bible’s teaching on marriage and sexuality didn’t change in 1946. (00:00)
2. What should I say to a pastor who referred me to a counseling service that seems problematic? (32:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Pro-Gay Theology, the Film 1946, and the Multiverse by Alan Shlemon
• Be One of the 100
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 22–23 in Los Angeles, CA; October 13–14 in Seattle, WA; November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA