Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Evidence of Spiritual Warfare

Greg talks about how widespread belief in lies is evidence of spiritual warfare, then he answers questions about divine command theory, God’s reasons for creating the world, and the salvation of those with severe mental illnesses.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Evidence of spiritual warfare (00:00)
2. How would you answer these challenges to divine command theory? (21:00)
3. Why did God create the world? (37:00)
4. Where do people with serious mental illnesses or brain defects stand in the eyes of the Lord? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Ethics: Discovering Right and Wrong by Louis Pojman
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• A Response to Atheistic Moral Platonism by Amy Hall (quoting William Lane Craig)
• God’s Passion for His Glory: Living the Vision of Jonathan Edwards (With the Complete Text of The End for Which God Created the World) by John Piper

Interview: Tom Gilson – Too Good to Be False

Greg interviews Tom Gilson, author of Too Good to Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Tom Gilson, author of Too Good to Be False (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Tom Gilson’s website
• Too Good to Be False: How Jesus’ Incomparable Character Reveals His Reality by Tom Gilson
• Peter Boghossian, Atheist Tactician: A Preliminary Response to A Manual for Creating Atheists by Tom Gilson

The Virtues of a Good Teacher

Greg talks about the four key virtues Christians should have as they teach, mentor, or parent in order to be more effective, then he talks about how we’re being catechized by digital media more than by the church.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The virtues of a good teacher (00:00)
2. Commentary: We’re being catechized by digital media. (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• New Testament Prayer – PDF
• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• The quote Greg cited (from How to Reach the West Again: Six Essential Elements of a Missionary Encounter by Tim Keller)

Related Links:

• A Long-Term Plan to Know Your Bible by Amy Hall

A Journey out of Progressive Christianity

Greg talks to a CrossExamined Instructor Academy student, Josh Morris, about how he became a Christian, then he talks about being a Christian in a crazy culture.

 

Topics:

1. Interview with Josh Morris: A journey out of progressive Christianity (00:00)
2. Commentary: Being a Christian in a crazy culture (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl
• Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl
• Greg’s podcasts last week on the atonement: first part, second part
• Alisa Childers – See her website for blog posts and podcasts on progressive Christianity
• Another Gospel?: A Lifelong Christian Seeks Truth in Response to Progressive Christianity by Alisa Childers
• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• Book a Stand to Reason speaker
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• Red Pen Logic – YouTube channel
• Empart – The ministry Greg supports that works with people in India

God Is the Threat and the Rescuer

Greg talks about the bad news we need to understand before we can understand the good news of the gospel.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Pay it forward. (00:00)
2. Commentary: God is the threat and the rescuer. (07:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl

Jesus Came to Rescue Us from the Father’s Wrath

Greg chats with Craig Hazen, then he responds to a letter from someone who disagreed with the way he characterized what happened on the cross.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Craig Hazen and the Be One of the 100 campaign (00:00)
2. Commentary: Jesus came to rescue us from the Father’s wrath. (21:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl

Another Challenge to Objective Morality]

Greg responds to another challenge he received to objective morality then answers questions about whether Jesus said we need to follow the Mosaic Law in Matthew 5:17–20 and whether 1 Samuel 28:15–19 contradicts other parts of the Bible.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Another challenge to objective morality (00:00)
2. Is Jesus saying we need to follow the Mosaic Law in Matthew 5:17–20? (25:00)
3. Isn’t 1 Samuel 28:15–19 contrary to what the Bible says about not contacting the dead? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• Atheist Accidentally Affirms Objective Morality While Denying It – Red Pen Logic Video
• Red Pen Logic – YouTube channel

Related Links:

• Why We’re Not Under the Mosaic Law by Amy Hall
• Should Followers of Christ Observe the Torah? by Amy Hall
• The Law Is Good by Amy Hall
• We Still Need the Old Testament by Amy Hall
• Why Is the Old Covenant Obsolete? by Amy Hall
• Answering an Objection to Grace: Why Not Sin? by Amy Hall
• How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians Today? by Greg Koukl

Do All Things without Grumbling

Greg talks about representing Christ well even when you’re annoyed by current restrictions, then he answers questions about a spouse praying at a same-sex wedding and reading primary sources rather than relying on others’ critiques.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Do all things without grumbling. (00:00)
2. How should I deal with a situation where my wife wants to pray at a same-sex wedding? (24:00)
3. As an ambassador for Christ, is it okay to rely on other people’s critiques of ideas, or should I read primary sources? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• Is God a Moral Monster? by Paul Copan

We Can’t Carry All the Hurts of the World

Greg talks about Alan’s article “How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul” then answers a question about how to respond to a naturalist who says free will is just an illusion.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: We can’t carry all the hurts of the world. (00:00)
2. How would you respond to a naturalist who says free will is just an illusion? (24:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 16–17 in Seattle, WA; November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 26–27 in Dallas, TX
• How 2020 Is Taking a Toll on Your Soul by Alan Shlemon
• Alan’s podcast commentary on “Comment of the Year” 
• The original tweet Alan cited
• Mind and Cosmos: Why the Materialist Neo-Darwinian Conception of Nature is Almost Certainly False by Thomas Nagel
• Amazing Grace film

Related Links:

• Plantinga Reviews Mind and Cosmos by Amy Hall (quoting Alvin Plantinga)
• Naturalism: Bumping into Reality by Greg Koukl

Pay It Backward, Then Pay It Forward

Greg talks about the benefits we’re offering new strategic partners, then he answers questions about Muslim claims, Calvinism and determinism, and when a child should take communion.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Pay it backward, then pay it forward. (00:00)
2. How would you respond to these three Muslim claims? (23:00)
3. Is five-point Calvinism deterministic? (38:00)
4. How do I know if my nine-year-old son is ready to take to communion? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a strategic partner: Be One of the 100
• The Ambassador’s Guide to Islam by Alan Shlemon

Related Links:

• How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall