Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Let the Best Argument Win

Greg talks about the current trend of people responding to challenges with verbal abuse rather than by addressing the arguments, then he answers questions about doubts, signs of progressive Christianity in a church, and praying in the Spirit.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Let the best argument win. (00:00)
2. If I have intense emotional doubts about some aspects of Christianity (like the resurrection), does that put my salvation in jeopardy? (23:00)
3. What are the signs of progressive Christianity to look out for in my church? (37:00)
4. How do I pray in the Spirit? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Red Pen’s response to a progressive Christian’s tweet
• The Thomas Factor: Using Your Doubts to Draw Closer to God by Gary Habermas (free, online version)
• The Three Kinds of Doubt and How to Address Them – Podcast by Brett Kunkle

Related Links:

• Interview: Alisa Childers on “5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading Toward Progressive Christianity” – STR podcast
• 5 Signs Your Church Might Be Heading Toward Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers

Everything Concealed Will Be Revealed

Greg talks about how, though the world is against us now, a time will come when everyone will see the truth as it really is, then he answers questions about self-defense and caring for an elderly parent.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Everything concealed will be revealed. (12:00)
2. What should we do as Christians if rioters come to our place of worship and threaten our lives? (30:00)
3. A call about Greg’s fishing story (47:00)
4. Are we obligated to take care of an elderly parent in our home even if doing so causes stress on the family? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3
• The Eldercare Handbook: Difficult Choices, Compassionate Solutions by Stella Mora Henry

Related Links:

• How Will Those Saved by God’s Grace View Hell? by Amy Hall

Interview: Cameron Bertuzzi – Capturing Christianity

Guest Host: Tim Barnett

 

Tim talks to Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity about his work on YouTube helping Christians take their knowledge of apologetics to the next level through debates and interviews.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Cameron Bertuzzi – Capturing Christianity (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Capturing Christianity – Website
• Capturing Christianity – YouTube
• God, Stephen Hawking and the Multiverse by David Hutchings and David Wilkinson
• Convincing Historical Evidence for Jesus’ Resurrection (Dr. Calum Miller and Dr. Max Baker-Hytch)
• Does Math Point to God? (William Lane Craig and Graham Oppy)
• How to Lack Belief in Abraham Lincoln
• 2 Top Historical Scholars Prove that Jesus Rose (Gary Habermas and Mike Licona)
• Kalam Debate: Cam’s Opening Statement (includes explanation of the Grim Reaper paradox)

Comment of the Year

Guest Host: Alan Shlemon

 

Alan talks about a tweet that sums up what we’ve been experiencing over the last six months: Social media creates a faux omnipresence and faux omniscience when it comes to tragedies all over the world, and that isn’t good for us.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Comment of the year (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Original tweet

Why I Left Atheism

Guest Host: Jonathan Noyes

 

Jon tells the story of how he came to realize atheism can’t explain reality but Christianity can.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why I left atheism (:00)

 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Jon Noyes
• Can Man Live without God? by Ravi Zacharias

Related Links:

• A Simple Explanation of the Cosmological Argument (Video)

What Is Truth?

Greg talks about the difference between mind-dependent and object-dependent truth (and why it matters).

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What is truth? (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl and Francis Beckwith
• Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl

Is It Impossible for There Not to Be a God?

Greg responds to questions about whether it’s impossible for there not to be a God, why he would declare secular moral theories are false, Adam’s belly button, libertarian free will, salvation in all denominations, and the fine-tuning argument.

 

Topics:

1. Would you say it’s not possible for there not to be a God? (00:00)
2. Must the God that exists be your God? (25:00)
3. Why would you declare secular moral theories are false? (30:00)
4. Did Adam and Eve have a belly button? (37:00)
5. What is your view of determinism as opposed to libertarian free will? (39:00)
6. Do people of all denominations go to Heaven? (45:00)
7. The fine-tuning argument is like shuffling cards and getting a random combination. (48:00) 

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Tactics by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• “Forced Love” Is the Wrong Way to Look at It by Amy Hall

Why Are Christians Foundering on Fundamentals?

Christians should be clear on the clear teachings of Scripture, even when the culture is telling us something different. As Paul says in Colossians 2:8, “See to it that no one takes you captive through [human] philosophy and empty deception.” 

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why are Christians foundering on fundamentals? (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Faithfulness Is Not Theologically Complicated by Greg Koukl
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• Jesus, the Only Way: 100 Verses by Greg Koukl

Why Students Fall Away

Greg answers a question about Neanderthals interbreeding with humans, then he talks about reasons why students fall away and what we should do about it.

 

Topics:

1. What is your opinion on the idea of Neanderthals interbreeding with humans? (05:00)
2. Commentary: Why students fall away (22:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 25–26 in Orange County, CA; October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• The Discovery Institute
• Flight: The Genius of Birds DVD

Our Responsibility as Christ’s Ambassadors Is Clear

Greg talks about our need to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly, then he answers questions about God using tragedies, the church’s use of Song of Songs, and praying through a house.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Our responsibility as Christ’s ambassadors is clear. (00:00)
2. God can use tragic things to bring people to Himself. (11:00)
3. What do you think about churches using Song of Songs to describe our individual walks with God? (24:00)
4. What are your thoughts on bringing a stranger in to pray through a house? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Do Justice, Love Mercy, and Walk Humbly with Our God by Greg Koukl
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B