Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

What Everyone Knows about Reality, Even the Atheist

Greg talks about what we all know to be true about reality and how Christianity explains those things while atheism can’t.

Topics:

1. Commentary: What everyone knows about reality, even the atheist (00:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• Sexual Encounters of the Floral Kind (Documentary)

Related Links:

• Inside Out by Greg Koukl

Interview: John Dyer – From the Garden to the City

Guest Host: Brett Kunkle

Brett talks to John Dyer, author of From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology.

Topics:

1. Interview: John Dyer (00:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• John Dyer

• From the Garden to the City: The Redeeming and Corrupting Power of Technology by John Dyer

• The MAVEN Conference – February 28–29

• The Tech-Wise Family: Everyday Steps for Putting Technology in Its Proper Place by Andy Crouch

• The Common Rule: Habits of Purpose for an Age of Distraction by Justin Earley

The Three Kinds of Doubt and How to Address Them

Guest Host: Brett Kunkle

Brett talks about addressing intellectual, emotional, and moral doubts, then he answers questions about discerning between description and prescription in the Bible, discussing the deity of Christ with JWs, and talking to parents about a child with gender dysphoria.

Topics:

1. Commentary: The three kinds of doubt and how to address them (00:00)

2. How do I discern between description and prescription in the Bible? (29:00)

3. Do you have any advice on talking to Jehovah’s Witnesses about the deity of Christ? (38:00)

4. How do you get past a parent’s protective emotions when it comes to their child’s gender dysphoria? (54:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• MAVEN – Brett Kunkle’s organization

• Irrational Atheism by Crispin Sartwell

• reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference – February 28–29 in Dallas, TX; April 24–25 in Birmingham, AL

• Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl

• Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ by Robert Bowman and Ed Komoszewski

• The MAVEN Conference – February 28–29

Concepts Greg Learned from Francis Schaeffer

Greg talks about how he was influenced by Francis Schaeffer, then he answers questions about the nature of morality, whether body-mind-soul is a good analogy for the Trinity, and Hell.

Topics:

1. Commentary: Concepts Greg learned from Francis Schaeffer (00:00)

2. If morals only exist because we do, doesn’t that mean they’re just a social construct? (21:00)

3. Is our division of mind, body, and soul a good analogy for the Trinity? (42:00)

4. What is Hell like, and would it be better to never be born than to go to Hell? (51:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• L’Abri Fellowship International – The organization started by Francis Schaeffer

• The Francis A. Schaeffer Trilogy

• Tactics by Greg Koukl

• Inside Out by Greg Koukl (discusses Schaeffer’s “mannishness of man” concept)

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

• Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Greg Koukl and Frank Beckwith

Related Links:

• Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall

Why Protestants Are Attracted to Catholicism

Greg and Jon Noyes discuss why protestants are attracted to Catholicism, then they answer questions about concerns about a small-group study, recommended resources, and how to keep someone on track when discussing the moral argument.

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why protestants are attracted to Catholicism (00:00)

2. How can I address concerns about a small group study on Jonah that’s man-centered and advocates hearing the voice of God? (22:00)

3. Can you recommend a resource for a non-hostile, open atheist and one for someone in AA who believes in a higher power? (32:00)

4. When talking about the moral argument, how can I keep someone on track who keeps getting distracted by an emotional reaction to the problem of evil? (47:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

• More Than a Carpenter by Josh and Sean McDowell

• On Guard by William Lane Craig

• The Ambassador’s Guide to the New Atheists by Greg Koukl

• Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

• The Story of Reality by Greg Koukl

• Not God’s Type by Holly Ordway

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

• reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference – February 28–29 in Dallas, TX; April 24–25 in Birmingham, AL

Objections to the Harvester vs. Gardener Approach

Tim challenges Greg with objections to the harvester vs. gardener approach to evangelism, then they take calls about the attraction to Catholicism, the Kansas City Prophets, cessationism, and reviving zeal for apologetics.

Topics:

1. Commentary: Objections to the harvester vs. gardener approach (00:00)

2. What attracts intellectual Christians to Catholicism? (22:00)

3. How can I help a friend who is caught up in the Kansas City Prophets movement? (34:00)

4. How should I respond to a friend who said I was a religious sensationalist (or did he mean cessationist)? (42:00)

5. How can I revive my zeal for apologetics? (49:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• You Might Be a Gardener by Tim Barnett

• Harvester or Gardener? by Greg Koukl

• God’s Super-Apostles by Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec

• A New Apostolic Reformation? by Douglas Geivett and Holly Pivec

The Death of Kobe Bryant

Greg and Tim reflect on the death of Kobe Bryant and then take calls on polygamy in the Old Testament and Trinitarian worship in the church.

Topics:

1. Commentary: The death of Kobe Bryant (00:00)

2. Why did God allow polygamy in the Old Testament? (25:00)

3. What are your thoughts on how worship in the church can be more Trinitarian? (42:00)

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Bad Arguments Christians Use to Justify Abortion

Greg talks about bad arguments Christians use to justify abortion, and then he responds to questions about Hebrews 6, giving to the local church vs. a parachurch organization, being a believer vs. a disciple, and responding to the idea that science disproves Christianity.

Topics:

1. Commentary: Bad arguments Christians use to justify abortion (00:00)

2. What is your understanding of the statement in Hebrews 6:4–8 that says it’s “impossible to renew them again to repentance”? (13:00)

3. Do we have a responsibility to give to our local church rather than parachurch organizations? (29:00)

4. Can one receive salvation from Christ but not be a disciple? (41:00)

5. How would you respond to a non-believer who keeps falling back on the idea that science disproves Christianity? (51:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• Women in Apologetics Conference: La Mirada, CA – January 24–25, 2020 (a livestream option is available)

• Precious Unborn Human Persons – On sale until the end of the month

• Is Abortion before Implantation Biblically Permissible? by Alan Shlemon

Related Links:

• Does Human Life Begin When We Take Our First Breath? by Amy Hall

• Does the Bible Teach That Life Begins at First Breath? by Tim Barnett

• Greg’s answer to the Hebrews 6 question on a previous episode of #STRask

Four Categories of Reasons Why People Reject the Gospel

Greg discusses four categories of reasons why people reject the gospel, then he answers questions about the Trinity and how to reach out to friends who converted to Catholicism.

Topics:

1. Commentary: Four categories of reasons why people reject the gospel (00:00)

2. Can you recommend resources for research on the Trinity? (30:00)

3. Do you have any advice for reaching out to friends who have converted to Catholicism? (50:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

• reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference – February 28–29 in Dallas, TX; April 24–25 in Birmingham, AL

• The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem – CD

• The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem Part 1 and Part 2

• The Deep Things of God: How the Trinity Changes Everything by Fred Sanders

• Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves

Do We Have the Authority to Cast Out Demons?

Greg answers questions about overpopulation, biblical ideas in popular culture, casting out demons, what God thinks of blind faith, and hypnotherapy.

Topics:

1. What do you think about the concern about overpopulation? (05:00)

2. What do you think about entertainment media using biblical themes and concepts in their stories for their own purposes? (16:00)

3. Do we all have the same authority the apostles had to cast out demons? (30:00)

4. What are the implications of having blind faith, and what does God think of that kind of faith? (43:00)

5. What do you think about hypnotherapy? (49:00)

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Mentioned on the Show:

• Stand to Reason Instagram

• Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers

• reTHINK Apologetics Student Conference – February 28–29 in Dallas, TX; April 24–25 in Birmingham, AL

• #STRask podcast with Greg and Amy

• Knowing the Facts about Hypnosis and Hypnotic Regression by John Weldon