Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

How Jesus Practiced Apologetics

Guest Hosts: Tim Barnett and Robby Lashua

 

Tim and Robby talk about how Jesus practiced apologetics, then they answer questions about which day Jesus was crucified on, what you should do when someone asks a question you don’t know the answer to, and whether psychiatry is against God.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: How Jesus practiced apologetics (05:00)
2. What does Sam Harris mean when he says the Gospels contradict each other on which day Jesus was crucified, and how would you respond? (28:00)
3. What do you do when someone asks you a question you don’t know the answer to? (49:00)
4. Is psychiatry against God? (51:00)

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
• STR U Online Training
• STR Outposts
• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Did John Contradict Mark on the Day Jesus Died?

Is a Second Marriage as Illegitimate as a Same-Sex Marriage?

Greg answers Open Mic questions about whether a second marriage is as illegitimate as a same-sex marriage, attending services that have elements you disagree with, and whether feelings of morality are simply the result of evolution.

 

Topics:

1. Is a second marriage for a Christian as illegitimate as a same-sex marriage? (04:00)
2. Should we not attend funeral masses where we disagree with what’s happening in the service? (21:00)
3. How would you respond to an atheist who says our feelings of morality are just evolved tribal protectiveness? (34:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• What the Bible Says about Divorce and Remarriage by Wayne Grudem

A Mission Trip to New Agers

Guest Host: Robby Lashua

 

Robby talks about taking high schoolers on a mission trip to New Agers, then he answers questions about applying 2 Corinthians 10:5, escaping from sins, public versus Catholic school, whether Jesus had a pet, and whether Jesus loves us more than the Father does.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: A mission trip to New Agers (00:00)
2. How is 2 Corinthians 10:5 to be applied within a group of Christians? (19:00)
3. How does apologetics help us escape from sins that have a grip on us? (29:00)
4. What are your thoughts on public school versus Catholic school? (34:00)
5. Do you think Jesus had a pet? (44:00)
6. Does Jesus love us more than the Father does? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• STR Outposts
• Four Questions about the Love of God to Ask Jehovah’s Witnesses by Robby Lashua
• STR U Online Training

Related Links:

• What Motivates Sin (and How to Fight It) by Amy Hall
• A Warning to Apologists about Sin by Amy Hall

Interview: Titus Kennedy – The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands

Guest Host: Robby Lashua

 

Robby talks to archaeologist Titus Kennedy, author of The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands: Uncovering Biblical Sites of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean World, about archaeological finds that shed light on various Old Testament accounts.

 

Topics:

1. Interview: Titus Kennedy, author of The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Titus Kennedy
• The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands: Uncovering Biblical Sites of the Ancient Near East and Mediterranean World by Titus Kennedy
• Titus Kennedy’s Instagram

Related Links:

• Interview: Titus Kennedy – Excavating the Evidence for Jesus
• Archaeological Evidence for the Exodus – Greg interviews Titus Kennedy and Stephen Meyer

We Were Enemies of God

Greg talks about how we were enemies of God before we were reconciled to him through the atonement, then he answers questions about how to determine a guest pastor’s theology and whether all Christians ought to embrace Jewish traditions.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: We were enemies of God. (00:00)
2. Can you suggest a few questions to help determine the theology of a guest pastor who will be speaking at our youth retreat and is possibly progressive? (23:00)
3. If Christianity truly is the fulfillment of covenantal Judaism, then why don’t all Christians embrace truly Jewish traditions? (40:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl
• Subscribe to Solid Ground
• The Bible: Fast Forward by Greg Koukl
• Faithfulness Is Not Theologically Complicated by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• #STRask: What Questions Should I Ask Pastors When Looking for a New Church?
• Why We’re Not Under the Mosaic Law by Amy Hall
• Should Followers of Christ Observe the Torah? by Amy Hall
• How Does the Old Testament Law Apply to Christians Today? by Greg Koukl
• The Law Is Good by Amy Hall

Jesus Revolution and the Jesus Movement

Greg chats about Jesus Revolution after finally seeing it, then he talks to a caller about good questions to ask an agnostic friend and answers a question about why he says Jesus  saved us from the Father rather than from our sins.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Jesus Revolution and the Jesus Movement (00:00)
2. What are some good questions I can ask an agnostic friend? (25:00)
3. Why would you say Jesus was saving us from the Father rather than from our sin, as if the Father were our enemy? (36:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• CrossExamined Instructor Academy
• Jesus Revolution – Film
• Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl

 

What Should I Say to Someone Who’s Apathetic?

Greg responds to questions he received about speaking to someone who’s apathetic and the Spirit’s role in evangelism, then he talks to callers about whether churches need a lead pastor, Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46, and answering a Mormon’s objections to the Trinity.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: What should I say to someone who’s apathetic? (00:00)
2. Even if we have several rotating preaching pastors, should we still have a lead pastor guiding the church? (20:00)
3. Why didn’t you include Jesus’ words in Matthew 27:46, “My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?” in your Solid Ground on the atonement? (28:00)
4. How should I respond to a Mormon who challenges the Trinity by claiming it’s an extra-biblical concept created by the Council of Nicea and by asking who Jesus was praying to if he’s God? (38:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl
• Red Pen Logic with Mr. B
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl
• The Trinity: A Solution, Not a Problem Part 1 and Part 2

Thoughts on “The Chosen”

Greg gives his thoughts on the good and bad of The Chosen, then he talks to callers about whether Hell is simply the absence of God and whether it’s inappropriate to speak with a pastor about his unbiblical teaching and the direction of his church if he isn’t your pastor.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Thoughts on The Chosen (09:00)
2. What do you think of my idea that Hell is not so much the presence of something as it is the absence of Someone? (38:00)
3. Is it inappropriate to speak with a pastor about his unbiblical teaching and the direction of his church if he isn’t your pastor? (48:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

• The Christ Child: A Nativity Story – Short film

How Does the Holy Spirit Communicate with Believers?

Greg answers questions about how the Holy Spirit communicates with believers, giving prophetic words to people, resources on Christian nationalism, whether Satan is at work in the world, increasing our aggressiveness in this culture, and Ray Comfort’s approach.

 

Topics:

1. How does the Holy Spirit communicate with believers? (00:00)
2. What can I do to soften someone’s heart who has rejected the prophetic word I received for them? (15:00)
3. Can you recommend any resources on the topic of Christian nationalism? (25:00)
4. How should I respond to someone who says Satan is no longer at work in the world? (35:00)
5. Has the time come for us to be more aggressive with our apologetics in order to be heard by the culture? (44:00)
6. What are your thoughts on Ray Comfort’s approach to evangelism, and how does it differ from the approach you would take? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl
• Decision Making and the Will of God – Audio by Greg Koukl
• Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl

Related Links:

• Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 (online articles) by Greg Koukl

Why the Apocrypha Is Not Part of the Canon

Greg explains why the Apocrypha isn’t part of the canon, then he talks to callers about what to say to a good pastor who has been taking verses out of context and thoughts on cessationism.

 

Topics:

1. Commentary: Why the apocrypha is not part of the canon (00:00)
2. How should I approach a pastor I love about taking verses out of context? (26:00)
3. What do you think about cessationism? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

• Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry
• Why Jesus Rebuked Doubting Thomas by Greg Koukl