Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

The Importance of Grasping the Grace of God

Greg talks about our need to grasp the grace of God, then he answers questions about how to respond to charges of homophobia and how to make an argument for biblical inerrancy.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The importance of grasping the grace of God (00:00)
2. How can I respond to the charge that Leviticus 20:13 is homophobic and creates homophobia? (28:00)
3. Is it possible to make a case for the inerrancy of the Bible? (46:00)

Primer on Clear Thinking – Part Two

Using illustrations from apologetics arguments, Greg continues explaining principles of critical thinking that will help you craft better arguments for the truth and spot bad arguments when you hear them (part two of two).

 

Topics:

1. Part Two of Primer on Clear Thinking (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The S.L.E.D. Test by Alan Shlemon
• Theistic Evolution: Drifting toward Darwin by Greg Koukl

Primer on Clear Thinking – Part One

Greg talks about how to recognize spiritual warfare then goes through some principles of critical thinking to help you craft better arguments for the truth and spot bad arguments when you hear them (part one of two).

 

Topics:

1. Part One of Primer on Clear Thinking (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Trouble with the Elephant by Greg Koukl

Some Christmas Thoughts

Greg reflects on the Christmas story, Christmas cards, and Christmas carols, then he answers questions about engaging a post-Christian culture, how free will fits into Romans 9:14–23, a struggle with spiritual numbness, and whether people are in Hell by choice and how that can be reconciled with Revelation 5:13.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Some Christmas thoughts (00:00)
2. How do we engage a culture where Christianity doesn’t have any social or cultural relevance? (18:00)
3. What are your thoughts on free will and how it fits into the words about Pharaoh in Romans 9:14–23? (32:00)
4. I struggle to be convinced that I'm loved by God and that salvation and grace are there for me. (43:00)
5. If it’s true that everyone in Hell wants to be in Hell (per C.S. Lewis) why would they give “blessing and honor and glory” to God (Rev. 5:13)? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

Related Links:

• What are your definitions of free will and choice? – Greg Koukl and Amy Hall on #STRask podcast

Some Perspective at the End of a Crazy Year

Greg offers some perspective at the end of this crazy year, then he answers a question about how to respond to a Christian family member who requests everyone use a male name and pronouns for their five-year-old daughter.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Some perspective at the end of a crazy year (00:00)
2. How should I respond to a Christian family member who asked me to use male pronouns and a new male name for their biological girl who just turned five? (32:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Donate to Stand to Reason
• Eternity Is Now: Just Ask Scrooge and George Bailey by Andrew Klavan
• Why the First Hospital to Do Sex-Reassignment Surgeries No Longer Does Them by Amy Hall

Related Links:

• Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters by Abigail Shrier
• Navigating the Transgender Discussion by Alan Shlemon
• Transgender: Truth and Compassion by Alan Shlemon
• How to Help Transgender Children by Amy Hall
• The Root of the Transgender Debate by Amy Hall

Does the Parable of the Lost Sheep Support a Seeker-Sensitive Church Model?

Greg answers questions about how to engage a conspiracy theorist and whether or not it’s appropriate to use the parable of the lost sheep to support a seeker-sensitive church model.

 

Topics:

1. Do you have any tips on how to engage a conspiracy theorist? (04:00)
2. Is it appropriate to use the parable of the lost sheep to argue for a seeker-sensitive church model? (13:00)

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Mentioned on the Show: 

• Donate to Stand to Reason

Related Links:

• Why You Should Resist Conspiracy Theories by Aaron Brake

Kingdom Work Is 100% God and 100% Man

Greg explains that when it comes to the Holy Spirit’s role vs. our role in kingdom work, the formula is 100% God and 100% man, then he answers a question about Abraham insisting on paying for the field to bury his wife.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Kingdom work is 100% God and 100% man. (00:00)
2. In Genesis 23, why did Abraham insist on paying for the field, and why is this story important? (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Donate to Stand to Reason
• Is “All of God and None of Me” Biblical Guidance for Sharing Christ? by Greg Koukl

The Seven Books You Should Have in Your Library

Greg recommends books in a well-rounded variety of categories that you ought to have in your library, then he responds to questions about how to properly use the accountability process in Matthew 18, whether Mark 16:9–20 should be in the Bible, and what we should do to reach out to famous people who are lost.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The seven books you should have in your library (00:00)
2. What’s the proper way to use the accountability process prescribed in Matthew 18? (26:00)
3. Should Mark 16:9–20 be in the Bible? (44:00)
4. What should we do (if anything) to reach out to famous people who are lost? (54:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy (archives here)
• Intro to Christianity (Option 1): Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
• Intro to Christianity (Option 2): The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl
• Theological reference: Christian Theology by Millard Erickson
• Basic apologetics book (Option 1): I Don’t Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist by Frank Turek and Norman Geisler
• Basic apologetics book (Option 2): Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig
• Devotional: The Valley of Vision: A Collection of Puritan Prayers and Devotions
• Practical engagement: Tactics by Greg Koukl
• Personal spiritual growth: The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard
• Bible study: How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart

Related Links:

• Become a prayer partner with someone working in the film industry through the Hollywood Prayer Network.
• Pray for people listed on MasterMedia’s Media Leader Prayer Calendar

You Can Always Make Deposits That Have an Eternal Significance

Greg talks about how, when you’re unable to improve your life as you hoped, it's satisfying to know you can still make deposits that have an eternal significance, then he answers questions about the morality of political assassinations and whether there are “lost” books of the Bible.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: You can always make deposits that have an eternal significance. (00:00)
2. What are the biblical principles regarding political assassinations? (31:00)
3. How do I respond to the charge that there are lost books of the Bible? (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• No “Lost” Books by Greg Koukl

The Three Things Your Worldview Needs to Explain

Greg talks about three features of the world that any worldview would need to explain: the world exists, the world is ordered, the world is broken, then he answers a question about how to respond to three challenges to the reliability and trustworthiness of the Bible.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The three things your worldview needs to explain. (00:00)
2. How should I respond to these three challenges to the reliability and trustworthiness of the Bible? (27:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Leibniz’s Contingency Argument
• The Privileged Planet by Jay Richards and Guillermo Gonzalez
• The Creeds of Christendom by Philip Schaff