Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

A Conversation About Hell and the Gospel

Greg describes a conversation he had with someone about Hell and the gospel, then he answers questions about what to look out for when hiring a new pastor, whether or not it’s wrong to use instruments in worship, and why Greg ended up getting married later in life.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A conversation about Hell and the gospel (00:00)
2. What should our church look out for when hiring a new pastor? (29:00)
3. How would you respond to someone who says it’s wrong to use instruments in worship? (41:00)
4. Why did you end up getting married later in life? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner
• STR Outposts

Related Links:

• #STRask: What Questions Should I Ask Pastors When Looking for a New Church?

There Are No Bible Verses

Greg talks about not interpreting Bible verses out of context as if they were originally written as discrete verses, then he answers a question about whether inclusivism is true or people need to know and trust in Jesus to be saved.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: There are no verses in the Bible. (00:00)
2. Do Protestants still disagree with Catholics on whether or not people need to know and believe in Jesus to be saved? (36:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner
• One Way or Any Way – Part 1 and Part 2

Interview: J. Warner Wallace – The Truth in True Crime

Greg talks to J. Warner Wallace, author of The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life, about the Christian worldview and human flourishing—the nature of wisdom, stable identity formation, selflessness and humility, and more.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: J. Warner Wallace, author of The Truth in True Crime (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• J. Warner Wallace
• The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life by J. Warner Wallace
• Operation Heal Our Patriots

Differences Between Protestants and Catholics

Greg talks to callers about differences between Protestants and Catholics, whether Jesus ever told people to worship him, how to tell if an experience was spiritual, emotional, or demonic, whether or not Greg is a cessationist and why, and how to reach nominal Christians.

 

Topics:

1. Can you explain the differences between Protestants and Catholics? (00:00)
2. Did Jesus ever tell people to worship him? (15:00)
3. Is this sensation I’m experiencing something spiritual, something emotional, or something demonic? (28:00)
4. Are you a cessationist, and what is the reasoning behind your position? (38:00)
5. How do I reach nominal Christians? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Was Jesus Worshiped? by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God: What the Bible Doesn’t Say
• Decision Making and the Will of God: The Biblical Model
• STR Outposts

Related Links:

• The “Gospel for Believers” in 3 Quick Verses by Greg Koukl
• Did Jesus Receive Worship? by Tim Barnett
• Another Claim to Deity? by Amy Hall
• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl

What Is Humility?

Greg talks about the nature and importance of humility, then he answers questions about whether we can determine which writings are Scripture just by looking at those writings and whether the fact that the Catholic church chose the canon is evidence of their authority.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What is humility? (00:00)
2. Can we determine which writings are Scripture just by looking at those writings, and since the Catholic Church was the first to recognize the books of the Bible, shouldn’t that mean they are the ones with authority? (34:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA

Related Links:

• Is Sola Scriptura Self-Refuting?

The Bible Doesn’t Have a Second-Level Spiritual Meaning

Greg responds to the idea that the Bible has a second-level spiritual meaning you have to find, then he answers questions about “once saved, always saved,” apologetics in the evangelical church, and what it means to number our days if we’re already either elect or non-elect.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The Bible doesn’t have a second-level spiritual meaning. (00:00)
2. What does the Bible have to say about the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”? (23:00)
3. Do you think there’s a lack of apologetics in the evangelical church today? (37:00)
4. Why should we number our days if we’re already either elect or non-elect? How can we have a healthy fear of the Lord if we believe Calvinism is true? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
• Grace Defined and Defended: What a 400-Year-Old Confession Teaches Us about Sin, Salvation, and the Sovereignty of God by Kevin DeYoung

Related Links:

• Silly Putty Bible Study by Greg Koukl

Don’t Presume You Know God’s Intentions

Greg responds to the claims Christians are making about the failed assassination of Trump, then he talks to callers about moral vs. political issues, talking to LDS missionaries, having peace about lost loved ones, and loving LDS neighbors when you’re angry about harm caused by their religion.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Don’t presume you know God’s intentions. (00:00)
2. What is the difference between a moral issue and a political issue? (20:00)
3. What should I say to Mormon missionaries who still want to talk to me after hearing my objections to Mormonism? (30:00)
4. When we’re in Heaven and know fully, will we have peace about our friends and family members who rejected the gospel? (46:00)
5. How can I love my Mormon neighbors when I’m angry about their false religion hurting my family? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

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

Nothing Is Wrong with the World if There Is No God

Greg talks about why atheists can’t say something is wrong with the world, then he answers questions about children going to Heaven, a good Bible for New Agers, repeating numbers in the Bible, medication in the Bible, and whether the church is really the “bride of Christ.”

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Nothing is wrong with the world if there is no God. (00:00)
2. If children die before the age of accountability, do they go to Heaven? (05:00)
3. Can you recommend a Bible for someone who has been affected by New Age beliefs? (13:00)
4. How do I respond to those who say the Bible seems less true because there are so many repeating numbers in it? (33:00)
5. How does the Bible address the use of medication and pharmacies? (39:00)
6. Is the church really the “bride of Christ”? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• When a Baby Dies by Ronald Nash
• STR U Online Training
• Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA

The Surprise of Death

Greg reflects on the surprise of death and the surprise of what many will experience on the other side, then he talks to callers about whether mental illnesses exist and whether dispensational and Reformed views teach the same gospel.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: The surprise of death (00:00)
2. Do mental illnesses exist? (26:00)
3. Do dispensational and Reformed views teach the same gospel? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Is the Bible Sufficient? by Greg Koukl
• Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and John J. Ratey
• The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download)

Will Steak Be on the Menu in Heaven?

Greg answers questions about whether steak will be on the menu in Heaven, a Christian high school requiring students to use the Enneagram in a class, and questions to ask a New Ager who is big on “spirituality” but doesn’t like the cross or the forgiveness of sins.

 

Topics:

1. Will steak be on the menu in Heaven? (02:00)
2. How would you approach staff at a Christian high school where students are required to take a “life calling” class that uses the Enneagram? (29:00)
3. What questions should I ask a New Ager who is big on “spirituality” but doesn’t like the cross and the concept of the forgiveness of sins? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Become a Strategic Partner
• Melissa Dougherty
• Not God’s Type by Holly Ordway