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Pub. Date
Title
Duration
12 Jun 2024
Don’t Participate in Pagan Ceremonies
00:58:00
Greg answers questions from callers about participating in “smudging ceremonies” at a pastor’s training session and whether an apparent contradiction could reach a level where it became evidence against that Gospel being an eyewitness account.
Topics:
Should Christians be participating in “smudging ceremonies” to release our bad energies (as we were asked to do in a pastor’s training session), and how should we be reaching out to indigenous people in places like Canada? (03:00)
If apparent contradictions offer evidence of authentic eyewitness accounts, is there a level of contradiction that would hurt the case, like Matthew 8 contradicting Mark 5 in the number of demoniacs helped by Jesus? (37:00)
Greg answers questions about what Deuteronomy 13:11 means when it says that “all Israel will hear and be afraid,” whether we should “leave our offering at the altar” to reconcile with a bully, apathetic people, leading an Outpost as a woman, and accepting vs. resisting difficult situations.
Topics:
Does the phrase “All Israel will hear and be afraid” in Deuteronomy 13:11 refer to being afraid after hearing the punishment was carried out or being afraid after hearing what the prescribed punishment is for the crime? (02:00)
How does Jesus telling us to “leave our offering at the altar” to go reconcile with someone and to “take the log out of our own eye” apply to dealing with an evil bully? (11:00)
What would you say to an apathetic person or someone who compartmentalizes their religious life to help them see their need for the Lord? (24:00)
Do you have any guidance on how I could proceed to convince my pastor to let me lead an STR Outpost as a woman? (38:00)
Recognizing that we have personal responsibility and free will, and God is sovereign and all-knowing, how do we know if the difficult thing we’re going through is discipline from God and we should wait for his rescue or if it isn’t and we should try to resist it? (47:00)
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:
Commentary: What should I say to someone who’s apathetic? (00:00)
Even if we have several rotating preaching pastors, should we still have a lead pastor guiding the church? (20:00)
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)
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)
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:
Commentary: How Jesus practiced apologetics (05:00)
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)
What do you do when someone asks you a question you don’t know the answer to? (49:00)
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
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:
Commentary: There are no verses in the Bible. (00:00)
Do Protestants still disagree with Catholics on whether or not people need to know and believe in Jesus to be saved? (36:00)
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:
Commentary: A mission trip to New Agers (00:00)
How is 2 Corinthians 10:5 to be applied within a group of Christians? (19:00)
How does apologetics help us escape from sins that have a grip on us? (29:00)
What are your thoughts on public school versus Catholic school? (34:00)
Do you think Jesus had a pet? (44:00)
Does Jesus love us more than the Father does? (49:00)
Guest Host: Tim Barnett
Tim Barnett discusses the compatibility of faith and science by first defining “faith” and “science” and then exploring the three problems a naturalist has to overcome in order to explain how even a single, small protein could come about on its own by chance.
Topics:
What is faith? (05:00)
What is science? (13:00)
How do we explain the existence of functional proteins? (32:00)
Greg gives advice to young people on how to live well on their own, then he talks to a caller about the point of glory and honor and why we need to give it to God.
Topics:
Commentary: Advice for young people leaving home (00:00)
What’s the point of glory and honor, and why do we need to give it to God? (39:00)
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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
Greg talks to Melissa Dougherty, author of Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World, about how the 19th-century New Thought movement is still affecting the church today.
Topics:
Interview: Melissa Dougherty, author of Happy Lies: How a Movement You (Probably) Never Heard Of Shaped Our Self-Obsessed World (00:00)
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:
Commentary: Why the apocrypha is not part of the canon (00:00)
How should I approach a pastor I love about taking verses out of context? (26:00)
Could Hebrews 6:4–8 Be Applied to a Former Believer?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about Hebrews 6:4–8 applying to a former believer, whether there’s anything in the universe that wouldn’t count as evidence for God, responding to King James Only, and whether feeling compelled to do something is an example of the Holy Spirit speaking to you.
Topics:
Could Hebrews 6:4–8 be applied to someone who used to be a believer but isn’t anymore? (00:00)
What object, thing, idea, etc. is there in the universe that would not count as evidence for God? (27:00)
How do you respond to a King James Only person? (37:00)
How would you respond to someone who says that feeling compelled to help someone is an example of the Holy Spirit speaking to you? (50:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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
Greg reflects on the futility of man-based idealism, then he answers questions about why he isn’t Eastern Orthodox and how to show that philosophical materialism isn’t supported by materialism itself.
Topics:
Commentary: The futility of man-based idealism (00:00)
What are your arguments against Eastern Orthodox Christianity? (26:00)
How do I show that philosophical materialism isn’t supported by materialism itself? (50:00)
Greg talks about the difference between “belief in” and ”belief that,” then he talks to callers about an objection to probability arguments for design, whether it can be proved from Scripture that worship in Heaven won’t be forced, and help understanding the end times.
Topics:
Commentary: “Belief in” vs. “belief that” (00:00)
How would you respond to someone who dismisses a probability argument for design by saying that probability doesn’t prove something is true? (21:00)
Can you prove from Scripture that worship in Heaven won’t be forced? (35:00)
Can you help me clarify what I should think about the end times? (43:00)
You’re betting your life on your answer to the question “Does God exist?” Greg considers what we can learn about the nature of reality simply by reflecting on two obvious facts that are available to everyone and then asking what best explains those two facts.
Topics:
Message: You Bet Your Life: A Simple Case Against Atheism (08:00)
Is Morality Just Based on Society’s Definition of Human Flourishing?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about interpreting and using Paul’s list of qualifications for elders, the vetting process for church leaders and workers, what charismatics think about speaking in tongues, and the idea that morality is based on society’s definition of human flourishing.
Topics:
Is everything on Paul’s list of qualifications for elders required, and how do you interpret the “husband of one wife” requirement? (04:00)
What should the vetting process be for church leaders and workers? (20:00)
Do charismatics say that speaking in tongues is speaking in a language that exists, or do they say it’s speaking words that only a spiritual gift can interpret? (31:00)
How would you respond to someone who says that morality is subjective, based on the society’s definition of human flourishing, and that we only feel an obligation not to go against it because of the consequences imposed by the society? (43:00)
How Do We Connect with God in a Way That’s Biblically Sound?
00:58:00
Greg responds to a request for advice on how to move from a “listening for the voice of God” view to connecting with God in a way that’s biblically sound, discussing stages of Christian maturity and explaining how God matures Christians through suffering.
Topics:
What advice would you give to someone who’s transitioning from a “listening for the voice of God” view to connecting with God in a way that is biblically sound? (01:00)
How Does the Holy Spirit Communicate with Believers?
00:58:00
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:
How does the Holy Spirit communicate with believers? (00:00)
What can I do to soften someone’s heart who has rejected the prophetic word I received for them? (15:00)
Can you recommend any resources on the topic of Christian nationalism? (25:00)
How should I respond to someone who says Satan is no longer at work in the world? (35:00)
Has the time come for us to be more aggressive with our apologetics in order to be heard by the culture? (44:00)
What are your thoughts on Ray Comfort’s approach to evangelism, and how does it differ from the approach you would take? (50:00)
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:
Will steak be on the menu in Heaven? (02:00)
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)
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)
Tim joins Greg to talk about Wesley Huff’s debate with Billy Carson and appearance on Joe Rogan, reminding us we have good reasons for what we believe, then Greg answers a question about reconciling Ephesians 2:14–15 and Matthew 5:17 regarding Jesus abolishing the Law.
Topics:
Commentary: We have got the goods. (00:00)
How can I reconcile Ephesians 2:14–15, which talks about Jesus abolishing the Law, and Matthew 5:17, which says Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it? (39:00)
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:
Commentary: Jesus Revolution and the Jesus Movement (00:00)
What are some good questions I can ask an agnostic friend? (25:00)
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)
Greg talks about recent examples of moral insanity in California and England, then he answers questions about whether apostasy can happen unknowingly and how Greg comes up with his Street-Smarts-style questions.
Topics:
Commentary: Moral insanity in California and England (00:00)
Can apostasy happen unknowingly? (27:00)
How do you come up your Street-Smarts-style questions? (47:00)
Guest Host: Alan Shlemon
Alan answers questions about ancient copies of the Quran, an intersex person unintentionally entering into a homosexual relationship, whether Deuteronomy’s apostasy law is the same as Islam’s, and how to respond to companies during Pride Month.
Topics:
Do you know how many ancient copies of the Quran exist? (01:00)
How would you advise an intersex person who fears their parents may have chosen the wrong sex for them and is worried about unintentionally entering into a homosexual relationship? (25:00)
Is the law in Deuteronomy 13:6–10 about putting apostates to death the same as the law of apostasy in Islam? (36:00)
How should we respond to sports teams, coffee shops, etc. during Pride Month? (51:00)
Greg talks to Jonathan Keller of California Family Council about the problematic “marriage equality” Prop 3 in California, then he discusses using our vote to do the most good we can, whether God takes sides, getting educated about what will actually do good, and more.
Topics:
Interview: Jonathan Keller, president and CEO of California Family Council, about the problems with California’s Prop 3 (00:00)
Greg chats with Natasha Crain, author of When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square, about navigating conflicts with the culture, where our differences lie, Christian Nationalism, critical theory, and more.
Topics:
Interview: Natasha Crain, author of When Culture Hates You (00:00)
Greg talks about the satisfaction of having done something useful, then he answers questions about advancing the truth with an unbelieving wife and whether withholding sex from a spouse is grounds for divorce.
Topics:
Commentary: Action beats intention. (00:00)
If you were in my situation, how would you advance the truth of Christianity with your unbelieving wife? (12:00)
Does Paul indicate that withholding sex from your spouse is a sexual sin that could be grounds for divorce? (31:00)
Greg talks to Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate, about how cancel culture developed, communicating ideas well to others, dealing with your own biases, being charitable, steelmanning your opponent’s arguments, and more.
Topics:
Interview: Sean McDowell, author of End the Stalemate: Move Past Cancel Culture to Meaningful Conversations (00:00)
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:
Commentary: Thoughts on The Chosen (09:00)
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)
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)
Guest Host: Alan Shlemon
Alan Shlemon talks about how to be a good ambassador for Christ to Muslims, the largest unreached people group on the planet, explaining their foundational objection to Christianity and how to address it, three things you need to engage them, and more.
Topics:
Our identity and job as ambassadors for Christ (00:00)
Step one: Learn about Islam (12:00)
The three primary authoritative sources in Islam (14:00)
Muslim views on Jesus and jihad (22:00)
Step two: Engage Muslims—three things you need (38:00)
How to respond to the foundational objection that the Bible is corrupted (39:00)
The Bible Doesn’t Have a Second-Level Spiritual Meaning
00:58:00
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:
Commentary: The Bible doesn’t have a second-level spiritual meaning. (00:00)
What does the Bible have to say about the doctrine of “once saved, always saved”? (23:00)
Do you think there’s a lack of apologetics in the evangelical church today? (37:00)
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)
What We Can Learn from the Account of David and Goliath
00:58:00
Greg talks about what we can learn from the account of David and Goliath, then he answers questions about the divide between men and women, whether a contractor should turn down work on a Buddhist temple, and determining if a passage is descriptive or prescriptive.
Topics:
Commentary: What we can learn from the account of David and Goliath (08:00)
Why does it seem like there’s such a divide between men and women today? (19:00)
Do you think I was right to turn down a request to build a large water feature for a Buddhist temple, in which there will be a Buddhist statue in the center of a reflection pool? (47:00)
When should passages be interpreted as descriptive rather than prescriptive (e.g., when it comes to head coverings)? (53:00)
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:
Commentary: We were enemies of God. (00:00)
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)
If Christianity truly is the fulfillment of covenantal Judaism, then why don’t all Christians embrace truly Jewish traditions? (40:00)
Greg talks about how to understand what Jesus says to the Syrophoenician woman in Mark 7, answers a question about when to shake the dust off your feet when it comes to sharing the gospel with family, and responds to a request for clarity on the second coming of Christ.
Topics:
Commentary: Jesus feeds the dogs. (00:00)
Is it ever appropriate to shake the dust off your feet when it comes to sharing the gospel with family? (25:00)
Can you help me clarify my understanding of the second coming of Christ? (35:00)
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:
Commentary: Don’t presume you know God’s intentions. (00:00)
What is the difference between a moral issue and a political issue? (20:00)
What should I say to Mormon missionaries who still want to talk to me after hearing my objections to Mormonism? (30:00)
When we’re in Heaven and know fully, will we have peace about our friends and family members who rejected the gospel? (46:00)
How can I love my Mormon neighbors when I’m angry about their false religion hurting my family? (51:00)
Greg answers a question about why Provisionists tend to be so venomous towards Calvinism and gives some of his thoughts on Provisionism, then he talks to a caller about reasons why he rejects evolution.
Topics:
Why do you think Provisionists tend to be so venomous towards Calvinism? (00:00)
Four Simple Skills to Help Your Kids Soar Above the Crowd
00:58:00
Greg talks about four skills to instill in your kids to increase their maturity, then he answers questions about God being in A-theory time, identifying as sinners vs. saints, responding to someone who attributes everything to “the universe,” and disagreement in the early church.
Topics:
Commentary: Four simple skills to help your kids soar above the crowd (00:00)
Why can’t we exist under an A-theory of time while God exists under a B-theory of time, and if God exists in A-theory time, don’t we have an infinite regression issue? (20:00)
What are your thoughts on simultaneously being sinners and saints, and which should we identify with more? (34:00)
How would you engage someone in conversation who keeps attributing things that happen to “the universe”? (46:00)
Contrary to apologetics claims of Catholics, why should we look to the early church for our doctrine and praxis when it seems like there was plenty of disagreement and heresy in the early church? (52:00)
Interview: Titus Kennedy – The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands
00:58:00
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:
Interview: Titus Kennedy, author of The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands (00:00)
Are Prayers Pointless If God Knows What Will Happen?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about whether prayers are pointless if God knows what will happen, why we would be held responsible for Adam and Eve’s decisions, how John 3:13 could say no one has ascended into Heaven, and interactions between non-physical things and physical things.
Topics:
If God knows what will happen tomorrow, then God cannot change tomorrow, which means all prayers are null and void and cannot change anything. (00:00)
Why would anyone be responsible for Adam and Eve’s decisions? The idea that we’re born sick and in need of a savior is simply immoral and unjust Christian dogma meant to control your mind. (19:00)
How do you reconcile John 3:13 (which says that no one has ascended into Heaven) with Lazarus (whom Jesus raised from the dead) and with 2 Corinthians 5:6–9 (which says that to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord)? (36:00)
A Jehovah’s Witness said sin became embedded in Adam and Eve’s DNA, and I asked how something non-physical can be embedded in something physical, but then I realized that I do think our soul can interact with our body, so what is the difference between these two ideas? (46:00)
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:
Commentary: What is humility? (00:00)
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
Interview: Sean McDowell – New Information on the Fate of the Apostles
00:58:00
Greg talks to Sean McDowell about new information included in the second edition of his book, The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus.
Topics:
Interview: Sean McDowell, author of The Fate of the Apostles: Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus (Second Edition) (00:00)
Spot the Shell Game in This Article on Abortion Bans
00:58:00
Greg discusses the claim that abortion bans increase infant death rates, then he talks to callers about using probability numbers in teleological arguments and whether it’s worth trying to convince a church member who’s a former Jehovah’s Witness that Jesus is uncreated.
Topics:
Commentary: Spot the shell game in this article on abortion bans. (00:00)
When it comes to the teleological argument, are apologists conceding it’s possible it could have happened on its own when they give a small probability number? (26:00)
Is it worth trying to convince a former Jehovah’s Witness in my church that Jesus is uncreated when he says he’s simply reading the Bible “as it is” and that arguments about language and context just complicate things? (46:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH
A List of Authoritative Books, Not an Authoritative List of Books
00:58:00
Greg talks about the canon being a list of authoritative books rather than an authoritative list of books, then he talks to callers about feeling guilt about one’s blessings, a cordial exchange regarding abortion, and whether election and predestination are the same thing.
Topics:
Commentary: A list of authoritative books, not an authoritative list of books (00:00)
Do you have any advice about feeling guilty about my blessings? (26:00)
A story about a cordial exchange regarding abortion. (41:00)
Are election and predestination the same thing? (47:00)
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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
31 Jul 2024
Interview: J. Warner Wallace – The Truth in True Crime
00:58:00
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:
Interview: J. Warner Wallace, author of The Truth in True Crime (00:00)
What Should I Say to Someone Who Doesn’t Like Organized Religion?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about Jesus’ commands, what it means to follow Jesus, responding to someone who doesn’t like organized religion, the reasonableness of the Trinity, and whether belief in an eternal Hell is essential to the Christian faith.
Topics:
How many commands does Jesus have? (02:00)
How would you respond to someone who said, “What does it mean to follow Jesus—not STR or any other organization, but Jesus”? (09:00)
What would you say to someone who says he doesn’t like organized religion? (16:00)
How should I respond to someone who thinks the Trinity is unreasonable? (33:00)
Why don’t you think belief in an eternal Hell is essential to the Christian faith? (50:00)
How Can You Say God Is Pro-Life if He Kills Babies?
00:58:00
Greg talks to Robby Lashua about an announcement and discusses the value of saying “thank you” to everyone who does something for you, then he responds to a caller’s question about how God can be pro-life if he kills babies.
Topics:
Interview: An announcement from Robby Lashua (00:00)
Commentary: Say “thank you” to everyone who does something for you. (27:00)
Are Christians pro-life, and do they believe God is pro-life even though he kills babies? (46:00)
Is a Second Marriage as Illegitimate as a Same-Sex Marriage?
00:58:00
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:
Is a second marriage for a Christian as illegitimate as a same-sex marriage? (04:00)
Should we not attend funeral masses where we disagree with what’s happening in the service? (21:00)
How would you respond to an atheist who says our feelings of morality are just evolved tribal protectiveness? (34:00)
People No Longer Know What the ”Final Solution” Was
00:58:00
Greg talks about people no longer knowing about the Nazi phrase “Final Solution,” then he talks to callers about questions to ask an atheist family member who’s extremely moral and how to respond to someone who says they have a message from God for you.
Topics:
Commentary: People no longer know what the “Final Solution” was. (00:00)
Do you have any advice for questions I can ask my atheist brother who’s extremely moral? (17:00)
How should I respond to someone who says they have a message for me from God? (41:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Conspiracy – Film about the meeting where the Nazis planned their “Final Solution”
How Can I Help Trauma Survivors See Things from God’s Perspective?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about helping trauma survivors think through their trauma biblically, giving to the point where your family has to go without things they need, passages about God loving individuals, and assumptions about communication to bring to the study of language.
Topics:
In light of the existence of the soul, do you have any advice on how to help trauma survivors think through what they’ve experienced biblically and see things from God’s perspective? (03:00)
What are your thoughts on people giving above and beyond a tithe to the church to the point where the family has to go without things they need? (25:00)
Are there any passages that talk about God loving individuals personally as opposed to loving everyone in a general way? (36:00)
What assumptions about communication do we need to bring to the study of language, particularly to American Sign Language and other sign languages? (46:00)
Nothing Is Wrong with the World if There Is No God
00:58:00
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:
Commentary: Nothing is wrong with the world if there is no God. (00:00)
If children die before the age of accountability, do they go to Heaven? (05:00)
Can you recommend a Bible for someone who has been affected by New Age beliefs? (13:00)
How do I respond to those who say the Bible seems less true because there are so many repeating numbers in it? (33:00)
How does the Bible address the use of medication and pharmacies? (39:00)
Is the church really the “bride of Christ”? (49:00)
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
05 Jun 2024
What to Say to a Consistent Moral Relativist
00:58:00
Greg chats with Frank Turek about CIA, then he answers questions about what to say to a consistent moral relativist, whether a lack of persecution indicates anything about a person’s Christianity, and where the Bible says you can’t lose your salvation.
Topics:
Commentary: Greg talks to Frank Turek about the upcoming CrossExamined Instructor Academy. (00:00)
How should I talk to someone who is consistent about denying objective morality? (18:00)
Does the fact that I haven’t suffered any persecution say anything about my Christianity? (27:00)
Where in the Bible does it say you can’t lose your salvation? (47:00)
Guest Host: Jonathan Noyes
Jon talks about the negative effects of social media on mental health and gives tips for raising kids in this culture, then he answers questions about why God redeemed humans and whether or not we still have a responsibility to preach the gospel to all nations.
Topics:
Commentary: Don’t give your kid a smartphone. (00:00)
Why do you think God chose to redeem human beings when he didn’t need to? (27:00)
Do we still have a responsibility to preach the gospel to all nations, and was it wrong for the missionary who was recently killed along with his wife in Haiti to have brought her with him to a dangerous place? (26:00)
Commentary: More on how smartphones affect mental health and other societal problems (48:00)
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
How Do We Know People Didn’t Take Things Out of the Bible?
00:58:00
Greg talks to callers about how we know people didn’t take things out of the Bible, whether people who die young can earn eternal rewards, whether Jesus appeared to Mary after his resurrection, dealing with an abusive parent, and why more pastors don’t believe in an old earth.
Topics:
With all the translations of the Bible, how do we know people didn’t take things out of it that they didn’t want us to know about? (03:00)
Is it the case that people who die young can’t earn any eternal rewards? (08:00)
Is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus appeared to his mother after his resurrection? (15:00)
As a Christian, how should I deal with an abusive and controlling father in light of the command to honor our parents? (28:00)
Why don’t more pastors believe in an old earth? (49:00)
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:
Can you explain the differences between Protestants and Catholics? (00:00)
Did Jesus ever tell people to worship him? (15:00)
Is this sensation I’m experiencing something spiritual, something emotional, or something demonic? (28:00)
Are you a cessationist, and what is the reasoning behind your position? (38:00)
Greg talks about how Dawkins’s objections to Islam don’t make sense within his own worldview, then he answers a question from a caller about how a person can say something is right or wrong if they don’t believe in God.
Topics:
Commentary: Dawkins says he’s a cultural Christian. (00:00)
How can a person say something is right or wrong if they don't believe in God? (40:00)
Does a Private Commitment Create a Legitimate Marriage?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about whether a private commitment can create a legitimate marriage, what Romans 14:12 means when it says we’ll give an account to God, baby dedications for same-sex couples, and reaching a spouse for Christ when they’re skeptical of your faith.
Topics:
If people make a commitment privately, is that a legitimate marriage? (06:00)
When Romans 14:12 says that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God,” does that mean something will be based on our good works? (26:00)
Is it wrong for a church to do a baby dedication for a same-sex couple? (36:00)
Any advice for reaching my husband for Christ when he thinks my recent return to the faith is just a temporary fix and doesn’t take it seriously? (48:00)
Greg talks about the current trend of people realizing their values can’t be sustained by an atheist worldview, then he answers questions about a common ancestor and transitional forms, prayer and God’s predestined plan, and advice for praying with OCD.
Topics:
Commentary: They are waking up to reality. (00:00)
Do you agree with William Lane Craig that there’s evidence for a common ancestor and transitional forms? (10:00)
How effective are our prayers and petitions if God’s plan is predestined? Does God ever alter his plan because of our prayers, or are our prayers only answered when they’re already in line with God’s plan? (34:00)
Do you have any advice for me as I try to pray with OCD and feel like I have to get my words exactly right? (49:00)
Greg answers questions from callers about the likelihood that we’re living in a simulation, using the laws of nature to argue against evolution, and recommendations for a young man starting out in apologetics.
Topics:
What do you think about the fact that, when asked about the origins of the universe, one of the smartest AI computers in the world said it’s more likely that we’re living in a simulation? (01:00)
How can I spread my idea of using the laws of nature to argue against evolution? (10:00)
What would you recommend for a young man starting out in apologetics? (32:00)
You Can Learn from Christians with Whom You Don’t Agree on Everything
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about a church leader entering a physique show, learning from Christians with whom we don’t agree on everything, attending a baptism for a different religion, and how to respond to an argument for the importance of “Pride.”
Topics:
Would entering a physique show be considered worshiping the body and something a church leader shouldn’t be participating in? (11:00)
I appreciate that you don’t distance yourself from apologists who differ from you on soteriology. What is a good way to approach learning from other Christians with whom we don’t agree on everything? (28:00)
What is your stance on whether a Christian can attend a baptism for a different religion? (43:00)
How would you respond to the claim that “Pride is important because someone tonight still believes they’re better off dead than being gay“? (47:00)
Greg talks about whether or not God hears the prayer of the unbeliever, then he answers questions about what Matthew 21:21 means when it says you can make things happen if you have faith and do not doubt and how to know if you should leave a church or you’re being too critical.
Topics:
Commentary: Does God hear the prayer of the unbeliever? (00:00)
What does Matthew 21:21 mean when it says that if you have faith and do not doubt, you can make things happen and receive things? (33:00)
Should I leave this church, or am I being too critical? (46:00)
29 May 2024
How Can Anyone Have Assurance of Salvation?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about how we can have assurance of salvation in light of Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 7:21–23, whether someone with a phobia of water needs to get baptized by full immersion, and whether the devil could go back to Heaven if he repented.
Topics:
In light of Jeremiah 17:9 and Matthew 7:21–23, how can anyone have assurance of salvation? (04:00)
Would God require someone with a phobia of water to get baptized by full immersion, or is sprinkling on the head enough? (44:00)
If the devil told God he was sorry and did kind things, would he go back to Heaven or stay in Hell? (50:00)
Greg reflects on the unique nature of a total eclipse and his experience seeing one yesterday, then he describes conversations he had with people about Christianity while he was traveling and answers a question about the slippery slope fallacy.
Topics:
Commentary: The unique nature of a total eclipse of the sun. (10:00)
Commentary: Two conversations (28:00)
If someone says he was born gay and we must just accept it, would it be a slippery slope fallacy to respond by saying that by that logic we would have to accept the idea that a murderer must be accepted because it’s who he is? (48:00)
The Size of the Universe Doesn’t Mean We’re Insignificant
00:58:00
Greg talks about the assumption people make that we’re insignificant because we’re small compared to the universe, then he answers questions about whether Hebrews 6:4–6 means we can lose our salvation and how to deal with a situation where a pastor won’t submit to leadership.
Topics:
Commentary: The size of the universe doesn’t mean we’re insignificant. (00:00)
Does Hebrews 6:4–6 mean you can lose your salvation? (13:00)
After leaving a church because the pastor wouldn’t submit to church leadership, how should I discuss this issue with a friend who is still at the church? (33:00)
Greg recommends creating a habit of Bible reading this year, then he answers questions about attending a mandatory equity training, practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture, and the Christian view of rewards versus the Mormon view of levels of Heaven.
Topics:
Commentary: Create a habit of Bible reading this year. (00:00)
Do you think it’s a good idea to go ahead and attend an employer’s mandatory equity training as an educational experience? (13:00)
Can you recommend any practices for doing a deep dive into a smaller portion of Scripture? (30:00)
How does the Christian view of rewards in Heaven compare with the Mormon belief about different levels of Heaven based on one’s performance in this life? (43:00)
Greg talks to callers about online interactions, entropy as evidence for a beginning of the universe, whether someone could make up a story that sounds like eyewitness testimony, creating interactions that aren’t awkward, and the claim that the unborn is only a ”potential life.”
Topics:
Considering Jesus said, “Do not give what is holy to dogs,” should I not engage people online over and over again? (00:00)
A follow-up on a previous conversation about dealing with a problematic pastor. (12:00)
How could entropy be evidence for the beginning of the universe if the first law of thermodynamics says energy can’t be destroyed? (20:00)
How would you respond to someone who says anybody could make up a detailed story that sounds like eyewitness testimony? (26:00)
Would you ever do campus evangelism, and how do you create interactions that don’t make people feel awkward? (42:00)
What’s a powerful question to ask someone who insists an unborn baby is only a “potential life”? (49:00)
Greg talks about the meaning of the “Word of God” in Acts, then he warns against holding grudges and answers questions about requiring repentance before forgiveness, whether Jesus will have the only scars in Heaven, and making sense of the origin of evil as a Calvinist.
Topics:
Commentary: The “Word of God” in Acts (00:00)
Is repentance required for believers to grant forgiveness to others? (12:00)
Commentary: If you hold grudges, you will destroy your soul. (38:00)
Is Jesus the only one with scars in Heaven? (47:00)
How do you make sense of the origin of evil? (51:00)
Wesley Huff’s Interactions Are a Tutorial on Being a Good Ambassador
00:58:00
Greg briefly discusses the Southern California fires, has more to say about Wesley Huff’s conversations with Billy Carson and Joe Rogan, then talks to callers about how God could have been merciful before mankind existed and whether there’s a biblical way to worship God.
Topics:
Commentary: Wesley Huff’s interactions are a tutorial on being a good ambassador. (00:00)
How did God have the attribute of mercy before he created mankind? (37:00)
Greg talks about the notion of entailment, then he talks to callers about how to respond to someone who says Christianity took ideas from older religions, whether or not there are still descendants of Abraham, and how to respond to someone who says God is transgender.
Topics:
Commentary: You need to understand the notion of entailment. (00:00)
How would you answer people who say Christianity isn’t original, that it took ideas from other religions, and that other religions are older? (18:00)
Are there still descendants of Abraham? (37:00)
How would you respond to the claim that God is transgender? (50:00)
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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
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:
Commentary: A conversation about Hell and the gospel (00:00)
What should our church look out for when hiring a new pastor? (29:00)
How would you respond to someone who says it’s wrong to use instruments in worship? (41:00)
Why did you end up getting married later in life? (47:00)
Greg talks about how some questions about how to reach people are just hard to figure out, then he answers questions about who created God, using apologetics with someone who is mentally ill and hostile towards Christianity, and the best way to do corporate prayer.
Topics:
Commentary: There’s no silver bullet. (00:00)
If the universe had to have a cause, then who created God? (17:00)
How do you recommend using apologetics with someone who is mentally ill and hostile towards Christianity? (37:00)
Do you have any thoughts on the best way to do corporate prayer so that it’s more effective and joyful? (48:00)
Will God Be in Pain for Eternity as He Watches People Suffer in Hell?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about the “He Gets Us” campaign from earlier this year, whether a property in the tree of the knowledge of good and evil gave Adam and Eve knowledge, the historicity of Job, and whether God will spend eternity in pain as he watches people suffer in Hell.
Topics:
What did you think of the “He Gets Us” foot washing ads earlier this year? (00:00)
Could the tree of the knowledge of good and evil have had some property that gave them this knowledge since the related tree of life seems to have had a property that would cause them to live forever? (17:00)
Why do you think Job isn’t a historical account? (29:00)
Since God loves everyone and Jesus died for everyone, if God is aware of what’s going on in Hell, does that mean he’ll spend eternity in pain as he watches his creation suffer? (41:00)
Greg talks to a caller about his interaction with a Mormon, then he answers questions about how he keeps his cool in debates, how to prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man, and whether Jesus ever asked to be worshiped.
Topics:
A caller reports back on his interaction with a Mormon. (02:00)
How do you keep your cool in debates? (16:00)
How can I prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man? (31:00)
Did Jesus ever ask to be worshiped? (45:00)
Download the mp3...
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
Greg explains that the first rule of prayer is to pray and the first rule of Bible reading is to read, then he answers questions about what it means to “pray about it,” overcoming a tendency to freeze up when asked a question, mistakenly claiming a promise, and finding fellowship.
Topics:
Commentary: The first rule of prayer and Bible reading (00:00)
What should “pray about it” look like in practice? (22:00)
What can I do to overcome my tendency to freeze up when someone asks me a question? (34:00)
If Old Testament promises don’t apply to us, why is it that when people mistakenly claim a promise in the Bible for themselves, it seems to work for them? (38:00)
How can I put my identity in Christ and truly follow him if even those who are called by his name push me away while they themselves don’t seek him? (48:00)
Interview: Bobby Conway – Does Christianity Still Make Sense?
00:58:00
Greg talks to Bobby Conway, author of Does Christianity Still Make Sense? about his past before he was a Christian, apologetics as a way of loving people, how to respond to various popular objections to Christianity, and more.
Topics:
Interview: Bobby Conway, author of Does Christianity Still Make Sense?: A Former Skeptic Responds to Today’s Toughest Objections to Christianity (00:00)
Greg answers questions about animal death before the fall, reaching adult children who are caught up in the culture’s political movements, whether Greg illegitimately dismisses claims of supernatural intervention, and advice for finding a Bible-believing, traditional church.
Topics:
When it comes to animal death, should we really think everything has been the same since the beginning when it seems like God fundamentally changed things after the fall? (02:00)
What are your thoughts on reaching adult children and grandchildren who are caught up in the culture’s political movements? (22:00)
Are you asking us to dismiss the idea of any supernatural intervention unless we have absolute proof just so we don’t look like “silly Christians”? (35:00)
I live in an area where many of the churches are problematic, and it seems impossible to find a Bible-believing, traditional church. Do you have any advice? (47:00)
03 Jan 2025
How Is God Not Partly Responsible for Our Sin?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about why John always refers to himself as the beloved disciple, why God isn’t partly responsible for our sin if he’s sovereign and we didn’t choose our desires, and whether John 15:22–24 contradicts the idea that “no one is without excuse.”
Topics:
Why does John always refer to himself as the beloved? (02:00)
How is God not also in some measure responsible for our sin if he’s sovereign and we didn’t choose our desires? (16:00)
How does John 15:22–24 not contradict Paul’s claim that “no one is without excuse” in Romans 1? (37:00)
Greg chats about some Christmas myths, recommends two films that capture the nativity well, then answers questions about whether day trading is a form of gambling, being a gardener vs. a harvester, and reconciling Greg’s view on decision making with Romans 12:2.
Topics:
Commentary: Christmas spoilers (00:00)
Commentary: Films that capture the nativity well (15:00)
Is day trading a form of gambling? (24:00)
Is it okay to not evangelize like Ray Comfort? (39:00)
How can I reconcile your view on decision making with Romans 12:2, which talks about God’s perfect will? (44:00)
Greg talks to Craig Hazen, STR’s new chief strategy officer, then he answers a question about the implications that follow from the idea that we don’t have to figure out special instructions from God.
Topics:
Interview: Craig Hazen joins Stand to Reason. (00:00)
Does the fact that we don’t have to figure out what God is telling us to do mean that God doesn’t really care what we do and doesn’t ordain what he wants us to do? (34:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH
Are the Things We Claim Are Complex Really Complex?
00:58:00
Greg talks to callers about how, when it comes to the teleological argument, we know the things we claim are complex are really complex, how to witness to someone who has consulted a spiritualist, and whether God values results or growth more.
Topics:
When it comes to the teleological argument, how do we know the things we say are complex are really complex? (01:00)
How can I witness to someone at work who consulted a spiritualist? (27:00)
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:
Commentary: The surprise of death (00:00)
Do mental illnesses exist? (26:00)
Do dispensational and Reformed views teach the same gospel? (44:00)
When It Comes to the Atonement, People Do Not Take the Blood Seriously
00:58:00
Greg discusses what the Bible says about penal substitutionary atonement, then he answers questions about what to do if your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology and why God no longer gives direct messages to people like he did in the Old Testament.
Topics:
Commentary: When it comes to the atonement, people do not take the blood seriously. (05:00)
If you find out your pastor secretly holds to pro-LGBTQ theology, should you expose him to the church or leave quietly? (23:00)
Do you think people in the Old Testament got direct messages from God (through the prophets, etc.), and if so, why has this changed now? Has the Bible replaced the old means of communication? (47:00)
Interview: Jonathan Morrow – Navigating Screen Time and Social Media
00:58:00
Greg talks to Jonathan Morrow, creator of the Refresh Roadmap online course, about strategies to help parents navigate screen time and social media with their kids.
Topics:
Interview: Jonathan Morrow, creator of the Refresh Roadmap course, on navigating screen time and social media with your kids (00:00)
Is Mormonism to Christianity as Christianity Is to Judaism?
00:58:00
Greg talks about his New Zealand trip then answers questions about whether the creation of new fruits by farmers is an example of evolution, the definition of holiness, the definition of knowledge, and whether Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism.
Topics:
Commentary: Greg’s trip to New Zealand (00:00)
When farmers create new kinds of fruit, isn’t that evolution? (14:00)
What’s the definition of holiness? (25:00)
What’s the distinction between knowledge and wisdom? (36:00)
How would you respond to the claim that “Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism”? (49:00)
Download the mp3...
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
Is the A-Theory vs. B-Theory of Time a False Dichotomy?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about whether the A-theory vs. B-theory of time is a false dichotomy, why Jesus had to suffer before dying for our sin, gender dysphoria, and how we know we haven’t simply deluded ourselves into thinking we have good evidence for our faith.
Topics:
Is the A-theory vs. B-theory of time a false dichotomy when it comes to God and his nature? (04:00)
If death was the penalty for sin, why did Jesus have to suffer before dying for our sin? What’s the biblical basis for suffering for sin? (20:00)
Toleration of gender dysphoria doesn’t make sense on three different grounds. (37:00)
How do we as believers know we haven’t simply deluded ourselves into thinking we have good evidence for our faith? Is there a way to independently verify that we’re seeing things objectively? (47:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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; April 25–26 in Dayton, OH
Greg talks to author Rod Dreher about the soft totalitarianism he describes in Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents, the Christians who resisted that totalitarianism, and the new documentary series based on the book.
Topics:
Interview: Rod Dreher – Live Not by Lies documentary series (00:00)
Greg talks about infallibility vs. inerrancy, then he answers callers’ questions about using more Bible in pro-life argumentation, what happened to Old Testament saints when they died, and how to know when to witness and when to use tactics.
Topics:
Commentary: Infallibility vs. inerrancy (00:00)
How would you respond to the objection that we need more Bible in pro-life argumentation since God’s Word will not return void? (22:00)
What happened to the Old Testament saints when they died? (31:00)
When do we witness, and when do we use tactics? (40:00)
Greg answers questions from callers about the Shroud of Turin, the difference between objective truth, proof, and a fact, how to talk to a spouse about speaking in tongues without hurting their feelings, and whether we can know why God is keeping Trump alive.
Topics:
What do you think about the Shroud of Turin? (02:00)
What is the difference between an objective truth, a proof, and a fact, and is circular reasoning always fallacious? (24:00)
How do I talk to my wife about speaking in tongues without hurting her feelings and while remaining scriptural? (43:00)
What would you say to someone who says God is keeping Trump alive so his policies can keep America more in line with God’s morality? (52:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – 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
16 Aug 2024
Apologetics on Mission
00:58:00
Greg chats with Ben Clifton of Apologetics on Mission about his work training Christian leaders around the world, then he answers a question from a concerned mom about how to respond to a “queer prom” at a children’s museum where she frequently takes her children.
Topics:
Interview: Ben Clifton, president of Apologetics on Mission (00:00)
Do you have any advice about how I should respond to a “queer prom” that will be held at a children’s museum where I frequently take my children? (39:00)
Greg responds to a TikTok star’s confusion about Jesus and the woman caught in adultery, then he answers questions about praying for God’s will, counseling a Christian who has same-sex attractions, and whether one can use “Jesus” and “God” interchangeably.
Topics:
Commentary: A little knowledge can get you in trouble. (00:00)
Is it ever necessary to pray for God’s will in someone else’s life? (23:00)
How would you counsel someone who believes in the biblical sexual ethic but has same-sex attractions? (37:00)
Is it okay to use “Jesus” and “God” interchangeably when making a point from a passage of Scripture? (48:00)
Greg answers questions about why God allows evil, whether denominations really matter, whether Matthew 16 says Peter was the first pope, and how Greg’s view on decision making and the will of God fits with passages in James, Ruth, and Esther.
Topics:
Why does God allow evil? (00:00)
Does the denomination of a church really matter, and should Matthew 16 be interpreted as saying that whoever says Jesus is the Christ is part of the church, or is it saying Peter was the first pope? (24:00)
Can you explain how your view on decision making and the will of God fits with passages in James, Ruth, and Esther? (42:00)
Should I Feel Guilty for Not Having the Joy of the Lord During a Dark Time?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions from callers about old earth vs. young earth and feeling guilty about not having the joy of the Lord during a long, difficult, dark time.
Topics:
What’s your opinion on old earth vs. young earth? (06:00)
Should I feel guilty for not having the joy of the Lord during a long, difficult, dark time? (37:00)
Spurgeon quote: “My witness is, that those who are honoured of their Lord in public, have usually to endure a secret chastening, or to carry a peculiar cross, lest by any means they exalt themselves, and fall into the snare of the devil.”
Greg answers questions about how Jesus can be God if God is in Heaven and Jesus was on earth, whether disordered desires are sinful and Satan puts thoughts in Christians’ minds, baptism of the Holy Spirit by laying on hands, and a challenge to Greg’s view on John 16:13.
Topics:
How can Jesus be God if God is in Heaven and Jesus was on earth? (04:00)
Are disordered desires sinful, and does Satan put sinful thoughts in Christians’ minds? (15:00)
Do Acts 8 and 19 teach that we only receive the Holy Spirit if someone lays hands on us? (30:00)
Does the fact that the apostles disagreed with each other at times refute the reason why you think John 16:13 doesn’t apply to us today? (44:00)
21 Aug 2024
Interview: David Halevy – Bring the Gospel Back to the Jewish People
00:58:00
Greg talks to David Halevy about his outreach to Jews in Israel and his book, Returning the Favor, written to train people who want to share the gospel with Jewish people but don’t know how or are afraid of offending them.
Topics:
Interview: David Halevy, author of Returning the Favor: An Ambassador's Guide to the Jewish People (00:00)
What is the biggest barrier Jews have to taking the gospel and Jesus as the Messiah seriously? (29:00)
Responding to “I’m just not interested in Jesus.” (42:00)
Greg talks about how religious accommodations are possible when it comes to DEI trainings, then he answers questions about restoring a friendship that broke up over theology and whether John 3:13 indicates Jesus was in Heaven while he was on earth.
Topics:
Commentary: You can challenge mandatory DEI trainings. (00:00)
What can I do to restore a relationship with a friend who ended our friendship because I disagree with his Calvinism? (21:00)
Does John 3:13 indicate Jesus was in Heaven during the time he was also on earth? (41:00)
Greg answers questions about how we know God is real, when seeking God intellectually becomes a hindrance, what the Bible means when it says Jesus is “begotten,” whether the testing of Abraham was capricious and cruel, and the need for God to ground our rights.
Topics:
In light of Greek mythology and evolution, how do we know the God of the Bible is real?(02:00)
When do you think seeking to know God intellectually becomes more of a hindrance than a help? (13:00)
What does the Bible mean when it says Jesus is the “firstborn” or “begotten”? (29:00)
Can you explain the testing of Abraham in Genesis 22 so that it doesn’t seem so cruel and capricious to me? (44:00)
How would you respond to an atheist who said we can’t have God-given rights because God doesn’t exist? (53:00)
When Should You Interpret a Passage of Scripture Symbolically?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about interpreting Scripture symbolically, distinguishing between the Lord’s discipline and suffering, how to get over a fear of talking about your faith, and whether Jesus was separated from the other persons of the Trinity on the cross.
Topics:
When should I interpret a passage of Scripture symbolically? (01:00)
What are your thoughts on the discipline of the Lord (Hebrews 12:4–11) vs. suffering we should push back on? (18:00)
How can people get over their irrational fear of talking to others about their faith? (31:00)
Is there any indication in the Bible that Jesus was separated from the other two persons of the Trinity as a result of the sin of humanity being placed on him? (46:00)
Greg talks about the claim that the virgin birth is disproved by science, then he talks to callers about when the New Covenant started, how Jesus could have paid the penalty of being separated from God, Bonhoeffer’s views on the Bible, and pragmatism.
Topics:
Commentary: Science can’t disprove the virgin birth. (00:00)
When did the New Covenant start? (14:00)
If the wages of sin is separation from God, how could Jesus pay that? (26:00)
What are your thoughts on Bonhoeffer’s views on the Bible? (43:00)
Is it ever okay to be pragmatic, or is it always wrong to say the ends justify the means? (49:00)
Greg talks about a case in the Netherlands where a 28-year-old woman who doesn’t want to live is planning to be euthanized, then he answers a question about how you can “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked.
Topics:
Commentary: Do we have a right to end our own lives? (00:00)
How do you “trust in the Lord with all your heart” when our hearts are wicked? (42:00)
What Things in Heaven Were Reconciled to God on the Cross?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions about what “things in Heaven” were reconciled to God through Jesus’ blood, numbers in the Bible, pro-choicers who won’t acknowledge the unborn is human, what approach to take with people who don’t think they need God, and a fallacy.
Topics:
Commentary: More on inerrancy vs. infallibility (00:00)
What “things in Heaven” were reconciled to God through Jesus’ blood on the cross, per Colossians 1:20? (07:00)
Is it biblical to study the meaning of numbers in the Bible? (19:00)
Since it’s an irrefutable fact that the unborn is a human being, if an individual is unwilling to acknowledge this fact, can we assume it’s not possible to have a meaningful discussion with them? (25:00)
What approach should I take with people who think they don’t need God? (37:00)
How would you respond to someone who says we can’t know what’s true because it’s just everyone’s interpretation, and does this commit the fallacy of reification (applying concrete characteristics to something that’s abstract)? (47:00)
Greg answers questions about why there are so many different denominations, how to help someone who prayed a prayer as a child but doesn’t seem to be following Jesus, people saying, “Oh my God,” and knowledge of Jesus through existential experience.
Topics:
Why are there so many different denominations? (05:00)
How can I help people who are counting on a prayer they prayed as a child—but have no evidence of sanctification in their lives—understand that they have a need for Jesus? (23:00)
Can you explain why you don’t have a problem with people saying, “Oh my God”? (40:00)
My fundamental existential experience of Jesus seems undeniable. Is this a category in epistemology? (48:00)
Why Isn’t the Holy Spirit More Active in His People?
00:58:00
Greg answers questions from callers about why the Holy Spirit isn’t more active in his people, whether monotheism is essential to the Christian faith, feeling like giving up at the end of one’s life, why we arrange worship services the way we do, and the transcendental argument.
Topics:
Why isn’t the Holy Spirit more active in his people? Why doesn’t he prevent divisions in the body of Christ? (04:00)
Is monotheism essential to the Christian faith? (18:00)
I’m old, tired, and in pain, and I just feel like giving up. (31:00)
Is there a reason why we arrange our worship services the way we do? (42:00)
What do you think about the transcendental argument for the existence of God? (52:00)
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
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