Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

How Do We Know God Is Real?

Greg answers questions about how we know God is real, when seeking God intellectually becomes a hindrance, what the Bible means when it says Jesus is “begotten,” whether the testing of Abraham was capricious and cruel, and the need for God to ground our rights.

 

Topics:

1. In light of Greek mythology and evolution, how do we know the God of the Bible is real?(02:00)
2. When do you think seeking to know God intellectually becomes more of a hindrance than a help? (13:00)
3. What does the Bible mean when it says Jesus is the “firstborn” or “begotten”? (29:00)
4. Can you explain the testing of Abraham in Genesis 22 so that it doesn’t seem so cruel and capricious to me? (44:00)
5. How would you respond to an atheist who said we can’t have God-given rights because God doesn’t exist? (53:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

Related Links:

• Apologetics Aren’t Enough to Connect You with a Person by Amy Hall
• What Does It Mean That Jesus Is God’s Only Begotten Son? by Tim Barnett
• #STRask: A God Who Told Me to Kill My Son Would Not Be the God for Me

“Belief In” vs. “Belief That”

Greg talks about the difference between “belief in” and ”belief that,” then he talks to callers about an objection to probability arguments for design, whether it can be proved from Scripture that worship in Heaven won’t be forced, and help understanding the end times.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: “Belief in” vs. “belief that” (00:00)
2. How would you respond to someone who dismisses a probability argument for design by saying that probability doesn’t prove something is true? (21:00)
3. Can you prove from Scripture that worship in Heaven won’t be forced? (35:00)
4. Can you help me clarify what I should think about the end times? (43:00)

Related Links:

• The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl

Could Hebrews 6:4–8 Be Applied to a Former Believer?

Greg answers questions about Hebrews 6:4–8 applying to a former believer, whether there’s anything in the universe that wouldn’t count as evidence for God, responding to King James Only, and whether feeling compelled to do something is an example of the Holy Spirit speaking to you.

 

Topics:

1. Could Hebrews 6:4–8 be applied to someone who used to be a believer but isn’t anymore? (00:00)
2. What object, thing, idea, etc. is there in the universe that would not count as evidence for God? (27:00)
3. How do you respond to a King James Only person? (37:00)
4. How would you respond to someone who says that feeling compelled to help someone is an example of the Holy Spirit speaking to you? (50:00)

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA
• The King James Version Debate: A Plea for Realism by D.A. Carson
• The King James Only Controversy: Can You Trust Modern Translations? by James White

 

Related Links:

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

A List of Authoritative Books, Not an Authoritative List of Books

Greg talks about the canon being a list of authoritative books rather than an authoritative list of books, then he talks to callers about feeling guilt about one’s blessings, a cordial exchange regarding abortion, and whether election and predestination are the same thing.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A list of authoritative books, not an authoritative list of books (00:00)
2. Do you have any advice about feeling guilty about my blessings? (26:00)
3. A story about a cordial exchange regarding abortion. (41:00)
4. Are election and predestination the same thing? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA

Is the Shroud of Turin Real?

Greg answers questions from callers about the Shroud of Turin, the difference between objective truth, proof, and a fact, how to talk to a spouse about speaking in tongues without hurting their feelings, and whether we can know why God is keeping Trump alive.

 

Topics:

1. What do you think about the Shroud of Turin? (02:00)
2. What is the difference between an objective truth, a proof, and a fact, and is circular reasoning always fallacious? (24:00)
3. How do I talk to my wife about speaking in tongues without hurting her feelings and while remaining scriptural? (43:00)
4. What would you say to someone who says God is keeping Trump alive so his policies can keep America more in line with God’s morality? (52:00)

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA

Advice for Young People Leaving Home

Greg gives advice to young people on how to live well on their own, then he talks to a caller about the point of glory and honor and why we need to give it to God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Advice for young people leaving home (00:00)
2. What’s the point of glory and honor, and why do we need to give it to God? (39:00)

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA
• STR U Online Training
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

 

Related Links:

• Ten Tips to Help Your Prayer Life by Greg Koukl
• How I Pray...Even When It’s Hard by Greg Koukl
• Tips for Developing a Habit of Bible Reading by Greg Koukl
• How (and Why) to Make Habits, Not Just Resolutions by Amy Hall (quoting Joe Carter)
• Why Would God Want Us to Praise Him? by Amy Hall (quoting C.S. Lewis)
• How to Think about God Promoting His Own Glory by Amy Hall

An Interaction with a Mormon

Greg talks to a caller about his interaction with a Mormon, then he answers questions about how he keeps his cool in debates, how to prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man, and whether Jesus ever asked to be worshiped.

 

Topics:

1. A caller reports back on his interaction with a Mormon. (02:00)
2. How do you keep your cool in debates? (16:00)
3. How can I prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man? (31:00)
4. Did Jesus ever ask to be worshiped? (45:00)

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Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA
• Greg Koukl vs. John Baker: Do Moral Truths Exist?
• Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl
• Was Jesus Worshiped? by Greg Koukl

 

Related Links:

• Discussing “17 Points of the True Church” with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall

Is Mormonism to Christianity as Christianity Is to Judaism?

Greg talks about his New Zealand trip then answers questions about whether the creation of new fruits by farmers is an example of evolution, the definition of holiness, the definition of knowledge, and whether Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Greg’s trip to New Zealand (00:00)
2. When farmers create new kinds of fruit, isn’t that evolution? (14:00)
3. What’s the definition of holiness? (25:00)
4. What’s the distinction between knowledge and wisdom? (36:00)
5. How would you respond to the claim that “Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism”? (49:00)

Download the mp3...

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA
• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
• STR U Online Training
• When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain
• STR Outposts
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl

A Simple Case Against Atheism

You’re betting your life on your answer to the question “Does God exist?” Greg considers what we can learn about the nature of reality simply by reflecting on two obvious facts that are available to everyone and then asking what best explains those two facts.

 

Topics:

1. Message: You Bet Your Life: A Simple Case Against Atheism (08:00)
2. Things exist. (17:00)
3. Torturing babies for fun is wrong. (43:00)
4. What best explains these two facts? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner

Related Links:

• Who Created God? by Amy Hall
• Can a Non-Physical Being Affect the Physical World? by Amy Hall

Does a Private Commitment Create a Legitimate Marriage?

Greg answers questions about whether a private commitment can create a legitimate marriage, what Romans 14:12 means when it says we’ll give an account to God, baby dedications for same-sex couples, and reaching a spouse for Christ when they’re skeptical of your faith.

 

Topics:

1. If people make a commitment privately, is that a legitimate marriage? (06:00)
2. When Romans 14:12 says that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God,” does that mean something will be based on our good works? (26:00)
3. Is it wrong for a church to do a baby dedication for a same-sex couple? (36:00)
4. Any advice for reaching my husband for Christ when he thinks my recent return to the faith is just a temporary fix and doesn’t take it seriously? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner
• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line