Podcast Summary: I Don't Have Enough FAITH to Be an ATHEIST

Episode: Do Miracles Still Happen Today? with Lee Strobel
Host: Dr. Frank Turek
Guest: Lee Strobel
Date: December 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode explores the continued possibility and reality of miracles in the modern world, centered around Lee Strobel's book The Case for Miracles and its new film adaptation. Diving deep into compelling, medically documented instances of miraculous healings, Dr. Frank Turek and Lee Strobel discuss not just the evidence but the implications of miracles for Christian faith and outreach, especially during the Christmas season.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Miracle of Christmas & Incarnation

• Dr. Turek opens by highlighting the Incarnation as “a great miracle at Christmas,” connecting the theme of miracles past and present.
• "That couldn't have happened if miracles are not possible. Are miracles possible? Did they happen in the past and do they still happen today?" — Dr. Frank Turek [00:03]

2. Books by Lee Strobel and Outreach Initiatives

• Strobel introduces two books: Seeing the Supernatural (on evidence of a realm beyond the natural) and The Case for Christmas, a brief, accessible resource distributed widely by Hobby Lobby (500,000+ copies for free) to spark interest in the gospel.
• The Case for Christmas is "a good book for Christians to deepen their faith, but also for nonbelievers to hear the gospel, to see the evidence for the birth of Jesus" — Lee Strobel [02:01]

3. From Book to Movie: The Case for Miracles

• Story behind the film adaptation, initiated by filmmaker Manny Sandoval during a spiritually significant time—Christmas, when spiritual openness peaks and nonbelievers are more likely to attend church.
• Purpose: to show modern, rigorously documented miracles and, by implication, strengthen the credibility of biblical miracles.

4. Documented Modern Miracles

• Miracle #1: Spontaneous Healing of Blindness

  • Woman blind for 12 years from juvenile macular degeneration—a lifelong, incurable condition—regains sight during her husband’s prayer.
  • Medical verification: "Documented by multiple medical researchers with all the documentation published in a peer-reviewed medical journal." — Lee Strobel [05:14]
  • Criteria Strobel uses for evidence:
    • Solid medical documentation
    • Multiple, credible eyewitnesses
    • No natural explanation
    • Occurred during prayer

• Addressing Skepticism About Unanswered Prayers:

  • Turek and Strobel discuss why not all prayers result in healing, noting that even biblical figures (Jesus, Paul, disciples) experienced similar limitations.
  • Suffering can yield good, drawing from Romans 8:28: "He can even take the difficulties of our life and cause good to emerge." — Lee Strobel [07:33]

• Miracle #2: Healing from Multiple Sclerosis

  • The case of Barbara, healed instantly from an advanced, terminal state of MS after hearing the voice of God:
    • "First thing I noticed, my feet were flat on the floor. I hadn’t walked in seven years. … The third thing I noticed, I could see." — Lee Strobel [14:19]
    • Features reenactment and actual interview.

• Miracle #3: Spontaneous Healing of Gastroparesis (cut from movie, but in book)

  • Chris Gunnison, born with an incurable paralyzed stomach, receives instant healing after prayer and goes on to become a nurse.
  • "He goes to the doctor…and they removed the tubes that had been in there for 16 years." — Lee Strobel [24:59]

• Miracle #4: Mozambique and Brazil Scientific Prayer Studies

  • Professor with Harvard PhD conducted studies showing that prayer for the deaf and blind led to measurable, significant improvement, documented in Southern Medical Journal.
    • “Virtually everybody improved to one degree or another… average improvement in visual acuity was tenfold.” — Lee Strobel [29:13]
    • These events clustered where the gospel is newly breaking in.

• Miracle #5: Baby Raised from the Dead in Latin America

  • A baby pronounced dead, wrapped, and placed in a morgue "comes back to life" days later—now a leading worship leader in Latin America.
  • The actor in the film is the actual person who survived as the infant. [45:46-47:19]

5. Miracles, Skepticism, and Scientific Scrutiny

• The importance of documentation—cases highlighted are all in peer-reviewed scientific journals, not just anecdotal.
• The "greatest miracle" is the creation of the universe itself, setting a precedent for the plausibility of other miracles.

6. The Gift vs. Fact of Miracles (Cessationism vs. Continuationism)

• Discussion on whether the apostolic gift of miracles continues today or not, differentiating between “the fact of miracles” and “the gift of miracles.”
  • "I do believe there’s good documentary evidence of miracles today. I’m open, I’m kind of agnostic on the question of are there still people who have a spiritual gift of healing today?" — Lee Strobel [22:06]

7. Why Miracles Can Be Selective

• Emphasis on God’s sovereignty; not all prayers are answered for reasons beyond our immediate understanding.
• Suffering can have a transformative effect and is not necessarily a sign of lack of faith or God’s love.

8. Efficacy and Purpose of Prayer

• God works through prayer not just to answer requests, but to involve believers in His work, offering “the dignity of causality” (Aquinas).
  • "God could have prevented that car from being in an accident…But then Leslie and I wouldn’t know the joy of what it’s like to be an answer to someone’s prayer." — Lee Strobel [34:21]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "If we’ve got good evidence that miracles are continuing to exist, then that gives extra credibility to the miracles in the Bible." — Lee Strobel [04:30]
• “If God can take the worst thing that’s ever happened in the universe...and create the best thing...then he can certainly deal with the difficulties in your life and draw good from them.” — Lee Strobel [08:55]
• "The greatest miracle in the Bible is the first verse: 'In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.' If that verse is true, resurrections are easy." — Dr. Frank Turek [20:10]
• "For atheism to be true, every single miracle claim or spiritual experience in the history of the world has to be false." — Dr. Frank Turek [33:03]
• "Prayer gives us the dignity of causality." — Dr. Frank Turek, referencing Aquinas [36:08]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Christmas Miracle Theme & Miracles Today: 00:03–01:56
• Books & Movie Origins: 01:31–05:05
• Modern Documented Miracle Stories: 05:12–21:12
• Difference Between Gift and Fact of Miracles (Theology): 21:30–22:47
• Peer-reviewed Studies & Global Miracles: 28:47–33:57
• Efficacy and Role of Prayer: 33:57–36:17
• Christmas Misconceptions, Dating, Historic Evidence: 38:50–45:17
• Another Movie Miracle (Baby Raised from the Dead): 45:46–47:19
• How to See the Movie/Get Books/Closing: 47:19–49:03

Additional Insights & Resources

• Film Details: The Case for Miracles movie is showing in over a thousand theaters across the U.S. from Dec 15–18, and is designed for both Christian and skeptical audiences.
• Book Giveaways: The Case for Christmas available for free at Hobby Lobby.
• Historical & Theological Clarifications:
  • On the nativity setting: The “inn” mistranslation likely refers to a guest room in a relative’s home.
  • The December 25th debate: Historical roots of the date, not necessarily pagan.

Conclusion

This episode serves as both an apologetic and pastoral exploration of the reality of miracles—historically, biblically, and today. Drawing on rigorous evidence, moving personal testimonies, and thoughtful theological reflection, Strobel and Turek invite listeners to grapple with (and be inspired by) the ongoing supernatural work of God, especially at the heart of the Christmas story.

For more:

• Visit CaseForMiracles.movie to find showtimes and view the trailer.
• Follow Lee Strobel or connect via X/Twitter for updates on books and new resources.
• For resources and courses, visit CrossExamined.org.