Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Decision Making and the Will of God: The Biblical Model

Greg explains what the Bible has to say about decision making and the will of God, making the case that when you choose within the bounds of wisdom and God’s moral guidelines, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with God’s blessing.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The biblical model for decision making and the will of God (00:00)
2. Choose within the circle of God’s moral will. (06:00)
3. Choose within the circle of wisdom. (11:00)
4. Choose within the circle of personal desires (taken into consideration, but not decisive). (21:00)
5. Your choice is within the circle of the sovereignty of God. (32:00)
6. Examples from Scripture where we see this process play out (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas

Related Links:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God (book) by Garry Friesen

Decision Making and the Will of God: What the Bible Doesn’t Say

How is God involved in the process of our decision making? Is there a plan we need to discover? Do we need to employ certain techniques in order to hear God’s voice and find his will? Greg challenges the conventional view of decision making and the will of God by examining the biblical texts on this topic.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What the Bible doesn’t say about decision making and the will of God. (00:00)
2. The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from a feeling. (14:00)
3. The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from inner peace. (24:00)
4. The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from open and closed doors. (28:00)
5. The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from “fleeces” or providential signs. (32:00)
6. The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from confirmations. (36:00)
7. What it looks like when God gives personalized guidance in the Bible. (39:00)
8. What is God’s will? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl
• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God (book) by Garry Friesen

A Conversation with Special Guests

Tim and Greg chat with Frank Beckwith, Frank Turek, Scott Klusendorf, Brett Kunkle, Natasha Crain, and Alan Shlemon about their involvement with Stand to Reason, what they’ve learned from this ministry, stories from the last 30 years, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Tim and Greg chat with friends and colleagues who have had a significant relationship with Stand to Reason over the last 30 years. (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Politically Correct Death: Answering the Arguments for Abortion Rights by Frank Beckwith
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Frank Beckwith and Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God: A Biblical Alternative to the Traditional View by Garry Friesen
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (on decision making) by Greg Koukl
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Is Truth True? – Greg’s debate with Marv Meyer
• Scaling the Secular City: A Defense of Christianity by J.P. Moreland
• How Should We Use Graphic Images? – Video of Scott Klusendorf
• Making Abortion Unthinkable: The Art of Pro-Life Persuasion by Greg Koukl and Scott Klusendorf
• Frank Beckwith – Baylor University
• Frank Turek – CrossExamined.org
• Brett Kunkle – MAVEN
• Scott Klusendorf – Life Training Institute
• Natasha Crain – Speaker, author, blogger, podcaster
• Alan Shlemon – Stand to Reason

30 Years of Stand to Reason

Tim talks to Greg about the last 30 years of Stand to Reason—the purpose and unique focus of our work, the major topics and controversies we’ve addressed, the ideas we’ve developed, advice and cautions for budding apologists, where Stand to Reason will be 30 years from now, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Were you called into this ministry? (03:00)
2. Why did you call this organization Stand to Reason? (11:00)
3. What is unique about Stand to Reason? (16:00)
4. What advice would you give to a budding apologist? (22:00)
5. What are some of the topics and controversies Stand to Reason has covered? (30:00)
6. What ideas has Stand to Reason developed over the years? (49:00)
7. Where do you see Stand to Reason 30 years from now? (53:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Bloom Where You’re Planted by Greg Koukl
• Only One Question by Greg Koukl
• Same-Sex Marriage Challenges and Responses by Greg Koukl
• “The Secret”: A Fatal Attraction by Greg Koukl
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl
• Answering the Challenge of Evolution by Greg Koukl
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (on decision making) by Greg Koukl
• Freedom Fading by Greg Koukl

A Response to Someone Struggling to Find Reasons for His Faith

Greg continues answering a question about how he annotates his Bible, then he answers questions about whether Deuteronomy 21:10–14 condones rape, advice for someone struggling to find reasons for his faith, how to respond to people who say you can’t write a book that includes elements of other cultures, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Greg continues answering a question from the last episode about how he annotates his Bible. (00:00)
2. Does Deuteronomy 21:10–14 condone rape? (21:00)
3. Do you have advice for someone who is struggling with finding reasons for their faith? (26:00)
4. How would you respond to someone who says you can’t write a book that includes elements of other cultures? (46:00)
5. How should I respond to people who say I seemed happier before I was a Christian? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• TalkAboutDoubts.com – You can make an appointment to talk with an expert on your particular question.

Related Links:

• The Thomas Factor by Gary Habermas – A book on the different kinds of doubt and how to address each kind

Evangelism Is Easier When You Have a Plan

Greg recommends a film about the Bible and talks about a conversation he had with a waitress, then he answers a question about whether the command to love one another trumps the command to love God and explains how he annotates his Bible.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Evangelism is easier when you have a plan. (00:00)
2. Does the command in John 13:34 to love one another trump the command to love God first? (26:00)
3. How do you annotate your Bible? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• 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
• The God Who Speaks – Film
• You Don’t Have to Choose between the Head and the Heart by Greg Koukl

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)