Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

A Real-Life Example of the Tactical Game Plan

Greg talks about how he managed a spiritual conversation he had on a plane with someone who was challenging him, then he answers questions about where our passions come from and whether Matthew 25:31–46 ties our salvation to how we treat the poor.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A real-life example of the tactical game plan (00:00)
2. Do our passions come from God? (28:00)
3. What’s your take on Matthew 25:31–46, which seems to tie our salvation to how we treat the poor and oppressed? (37:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• STR U Online Training
• Purchase the Reality Livestream
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

Did Jesus Ever Exist?

Greg talks to Frank Turek about the upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy, then he answers questions about whether Jesus existed and how we should view God’s sovereignty when it comes to tragedies that result from non-moral decisions we’ve made.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy (00:00)
2. Did Jesus ever exist? (20:00)
3. How should one view God’s sovereignty when it comes to tragedies that result from non-moral decisions we’ve made? (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Unshaken Conference
• The Story of Civilization: Caesar and Christ by Will Durant

Related Links:

• Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus by Amy Hall
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3 by Greg Koukl

Is Critical Race Theory Really an Issue?

Greg answers questions about whether he’s fighting a ghost when it comes to critical race theory, whether the famous Christians who have been deconstructing were ever truly regenerated, the “Divine Council” in Psalm 82, and how to be satisfied where we are.

 

Topics:

1. Are you sure you’re not fighting a ghost when it comes to critical race theory? (04:00)
2. Were the famous Christian musicians and YouTubers currently going through the deconstruction process ever truly regenerated? (17:00)
3. Is the idea of a “Divine Council” a biblical concept? (36:00)
4. How can I be satisfied where I am and stay focused on the tasks God has for me right now? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• STR Outposts
• The Unseen Realm: Recovering the Supernatural Worldview of the Bible by Michael Heiser
• The Hurt Locker – Film
• Mr. Holland’s Opus – Film

Related Links:

• Intro to Critical Theory by Neil Shenvi
• What is Critical Race Theory? by Neil Shenvi
• How to Be Content in Suffering by Amy Hall
• The Value of Disappointment by Amy Hall

What’s the Relationship between Apologetics and Our Experience of God?

Greg talks about the only two schools he would recommend these days, then he answers a question about the relationship between apologetics and our experience of God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The only schools Greg recommends (00:00)
2. What is the relationship between apologetics and Christian experience? (10:00)

Related Links:

• Apologetics Aren’t Enough to Connect You with a Person by Amy Hall
• Do You Convey a Sense of the Reality, Centrality, and Desirability of Jesus with Your Apologetics? by Amy Hall

Circular and Absurd Definitions of a Woman

Greg talks about Alan Shlemon’s excellent article on the definition of a woman, then he answers questions about how parents who just reconnected with a daughter should respond to her claim to be gay, what to say to someone whose child overuses video games, and whether Christianity is militant.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Circular and absurd definitions of a woman (00:00)
2. How should parents in our Tactics small group respond to their daughter’s claim to be gay? (11:00)
3. What should I say to my sister about my nephew’s overuse of video games? (26:00)
4. Why is Christianity so militant? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• What Is a Woman? by Alan Shlemon
• The Secret Thoughts of an Unlikely Convert by Rosaria Butterfield
• The Question that Stops Christians in Their Tracks by Greg Koukl
• Greg’s debate with Deepak Chopra
• Bart Ehrman on the Existence of Jesus by Amy Hall

How to Interpret and Apply God’s Promises in the Old Testament

Greg explains how to interpret promises God made in the Old Testament and when to apply them to Christians today, then he answers a question about whether verses in Romans about the Holy Spirit testifying in our hearts indicate Christians should expect to receive an experience of the Holy Spirit. 

 

Topics:

1. Why do you disagree with John Piper’s understanding that some promises to the Jewish people apply to Christians today, and how do you tell which promises apply to us and which don’t? (00:00)
2. When Romans 5:5 and 8:16 talk about the Holy Spirit testifying in our hearts, does that mean Christians should expect to receive an experience of the Holy Spirit? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• God Rejoices to Do You Good by John Piper
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Confessions of a French Atheist: How God Hijacked My Quest to Disprove the Christian Faith by Guillaume Bignon

Related Links:

• Promises We Can’t Claim. Promises We Can. by Greg Koukl
• How Can I Know Which Bible Promises Apply to Me? by Amy Hall

Is Sola Scriptura Self-Refuting?

Greg answers questions about whether there are internal inconsistencies in Protestantism when it comes to sola Scriptura, whether Jesus has severed his personal relationship with John now that he’s Lord over all, and reading the Bible with the assumption that it’s a divinely-inspired book. 

 

Topics:

1. Do you have answers for the internal inconsistencies of Protestantism? (01:00)
2. Has Jesus severed his personal relationship with John now that he is Lord over all? (36:00)
3. One of Michael Heiser’s seven rules for reading the Bible is that we should read it as a divine book, but should that really be a starting point when we’re approaching a text? (47:00)

“If the World Is against the Truth, Then I Am against the World”

Greg talks about the speech Calvin Robinson gave on same-sex marriage at the Oxford Union, then he answers questions about responding to false teachings and William Lane Craig’s view of God’s relationship to time.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: “If the world is against the truth, then I am against the world.” (00:00)
2. How should we respond to false teachers and false teachings today? (28:00)
3. Do you agree with William Lane Craig’s view of God’s relationship to time? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Calvin Robinson’s Oxford Union Debate Speech – Video and transcript
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• A Reformation the Church Doesn’t Need – Part 1 by Greg Koukl and Alan Shlemon
• A Reformation the Church Doesn’t Need – Part 2 by Greg Koukl and Alan Shlemon
• The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl

Morality Doesn’t Depend on Belief in God, but It Does Depend on God

Greg explains why objective morality doesn’t depend on belief in God but does depend on God, then he answers questions about responding to Mormon missionaries about how they know the Book of Mormon is true and whether it’s ever appropriate for a Christian to give a forceful or rude response.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Morality doesn’t depend on belief in God, but it does depend on God. (00:00)
2. Do you have any verses I can use when responding to Mormon missionaries about how they know the Book of Mormon is true? (24:00)
3. Is it ever appropriate for a Christian to be forceful or rude when responding to someone? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Mormonism Research Ministry
• 10 Awesome Book of Mormon Passages to Use with Latter-day Saints! by Eric Johnson
• Top 10 Teachings of Mormonism Not Supported by the Book of Mormon by Eric Johnson
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• STR U Online Training
• Advice for Apologists – Previous podcast with STR speakers

Related Links:

• Hitchens’s Challenge Solved by Amy Hall
• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Why You Shouldn’t Ask God if the Book of Mormon Is True by Aaron Brake
• Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall
• Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
• LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
• How Should We Handle Outrage? by Amy Hall

The Trans Resistance Network’s Statement on Monday’s Shooting

Greg talks about the Trans Resistance Network’s statement on Monday’s school shooting, then he answers questions about how to enjoy corporate prayer when you’re aware of how people are misusing Scripture and the moral culpability of an Uber driver transporting people to do sinful things.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The Trans Resistance Network’s statement on Monday’s shooting (00:00)
2. Is there a way to still enjoy corporate prayer even though I now notice when people are misusing Scripture and misunderstanding how God works? (34:00)
3. What’s the moral culpability of an Uber driver transporting people to do sinful things? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Trans Resistance Network’s statement
• STR U Online Training
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – April 21–22, 2023 in Augusta, GA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

Related Links:

• What Is Promised to the Two or Three Who Are Gathered in Jesus’ Name? by Amy Hall
• Use Your Knowledge to Serve Others, Not Judge Them by Amy Hall