Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

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)

Download the mp3...

 

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

Why Give Thanks This Year?

Greg explains why we should give thanks in all circumstances, then he answers a question about how churches should think about the government restrictions being placed on them.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why give thanks this year? (00:00)
2. What are your thoughts on the government weighing in on what churches can or can't do right now? (28:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Should We Cancel Thanksgiving This Year? by Alan Shlemon
• STR U Courses
• The Doctrine of the Lesser Magistrates by Matthew J. Trewhella

Related Links:

• Should Your Church Comply With New COVID-19 Orders? Perhaps This Memo Will Help.

Divine Foreknowledge Is Not the Same Thing as Omniscience

Greg talks about divine foreknowledge then answers questions about tactics used with LDS (Mormon) missionaries and whether there’s anything God promises to give Christians in this life.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Divine foreknowledge is not the same thing as omniscience. (00:00)
2. What do you think about this tactic I used with LDS (Mormon) missionaries? (25:00)
3. Is there anything God promises to give Christians in this life? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Moroni 10:4–5 – LDS test for the truth of the Book of Mormon
• Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
• Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
• LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
• Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall

The Explanatory Power of Christianity vs. Naturalism

Greg talks about the explanatory power of Christianity vs. that of naturalism, then he responds to questions about balancing spiritual development with professional development and God placing people in situations where he knows they will choose him.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The explanatory power of Christianity vs. naturalism (00:00)
2. How do I balance working on my relationship with God with working on my professional skills? (28:00)
3. Does God put everyone in the place where they are most likely to choose him? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Money, Greed, and God: The Christian Case for Free Enterprise by Jay Richards
• My Son, My Dear Son, Has Gone To Be With the Lord by Tim Challies

Has God’s Morality Changed?

Greg answers questions about whether or not the Reformation has been good for Christendom, how to respond to the charge that God’s morality has changed, and hearing the voice of God.

 

Topics:

1. Has the Reformation truly been good for Christendom? (04:00)
2. How can I respond to someone who says he can’t believe in a God whose morality changes from the Old Testament to the New Testament? (26:00)
3. If we hear God’s voice calling us to salvation, is that the only time we hear it? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Red Pen Logic YouTube channel
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

The Role of Science for Christians

Greg and Tim respond to an article that says Christians either rest their faith on science and risk having science disprove Christianity, or they “just believe” and don’t ground their worldview in evidence.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The role of science for Christians (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN
• Christianity’s Immovable Rock vs. Its Irresistible Force by Bob Seidensticker (article critiqued by Greg and Tim)