Podcast
Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast
Hosted by Greg Koukl · EN
Our purpose is to help Christians think more clearly about their faith and to help them make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity. Released every Wednesday and Friday.
109episodes
Episodes
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Why Would We Matter to God?
6d ago00:58:00Summary readyGreg answers questions from callers about who sits on the left side of God, why we would matter to God and he would require anything of us, whether it’s wrong to be grateful when other people are suffering, principles for living in a world with AI, and how a Calvinist knows he’s saved. Topics: Who sits on the left side of God? (04:00) My atheist friend admits there must have been an Architect of the universe, but he can’t believe that we would matter to him or that he would require anything from us, and he asks why anyone should go to Hell just because they don’t want to submit to his will. (12:00) Is it wrong to be vocal about the things we’re grateful for when other people are suffering? (32:00) Can you offer some principles to equip believers to be prepared to live in a world with AI—to avoid pitfalls and be successful in their Christian walk? (38:00) If people are all born totally depraved and unable to understand spiritual truths, then how does a Calvinist know he’s saved? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show: Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes Related Links: Is God Really Blessing American Christians with Answers to Little Prayers While Others Suffer? by Amy Hall Five Points: Towards a Deeper Experience of God’s Grace by John Piper Sinners in the Hands of a Good God: Reconciling Divine Judgment and Mercy by David Clotfelter
SummaryWhat a Good Young Man Looks Like
2w ago00:58:00Summary readyGreg talks about the marks of a good young man, then he answers questions about why someone would trust dispensationalism when it wasn’t around until the 19th century, and whether Muslims and Jews worship the same God as Christians. Topics: Commentary: What a good young man looks like (07:00) Why should Christians trust dispensationalism when it didn’t exist until the 19th century? (23:00) Do Muslims and Jews worship the same God as Christians? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show: CrossExamined Instructor Academy – July 30–August 1 A Response to the Rising Antisemitism – Previous episode How Should Christians View and Treat the Jews? – Previous episode
SummaryGreg Announces Stand to Reason’s New President-Elect
2w ago00:58:00Summary readyGreg chats with Alan Shlemon, Stand to Reason’s new president-elect, discussing how he became a Christian, how he ended up at Stand to Reason, the controversial topics he often speaks on, and more. Topics: Commentary: Greg announces Stand to Reason’s new president-elect. (00:00) Mentioned on the Show: The Ambassador’s Guide to Islam by Alan Shlemon
SummaryHow Could One Reconcile Death Before the Fall with Romans 5 and 8?
3w ago00:58:00Summary readyGreg answers questions from callers about how one could reconcile the presence of death before the fall with Romans 5 and 8, whether the Bible will still play a role in the new earth, how we know when a psalm is a messianic prophecy, and whether there are strings attached to our free salvation. Topics: How could one reconcile the presence of death in the world before Adam and Eve with Romans 5 and 8? (06:00) Will the Bible still play a role in the new earth? (32:00) How do Bible scholars know that when certain psalms were written, they were prophecies of the Messiah? (37:00) What would you say to someone who says it seems like there are a lot of strings attached to our "free" salvation (going to church, reading the Bible, etc.), making it sound more conditional than free? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show: Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
SummaryHow Could a Good God Send a Lying Spirit?
4w ago00:58:00Summary readyGreg talks about distinguishing between descriptive and prescriptive passages, then he answers questions about a secular case against legalizing prostitution, how a good God could send a lying spirit, fulfilling a rash vow to God, and attending a wedding between a Christian and a non-Christian. Topics: Commentary: Distinguishing descriptive passages from prescriptive ones (00:00) How would you make a secular case that we shouldn’t legalize prostitution? (06:00) How would you explain God being holy and good to a non-believer reading 1 Kings 22:21–23, where God sends a lying spirit? (29:00) When I thought God called me to be single, I made a vow to do it, but now that I’ve changed my mind about callings, am I still obligated to fulfill that vow? (38:00) Would it be wrong to attend the wedding of a Christian family member who is marrying a non-Christian, and if it’s wrong, what should I do if my wife wants to go? (44:00) Mentioned on the Show: Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
SummaryWhy Weren’t We Made Sinless in the First Place?
May 2000:58:00Summary readyGreg answers questions about why we weren’t made sinless in the first place, the morality of using donor sperm to conceive, whether we would conclude the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and Jesus without the Nicene Creed, how God knows the future, and baptism for the dead. Topics: If our evil will be removed in Heaven, why weren’t we made that way in the first place? (02:00) Would it be morally wrong for a Christian married couple to use donor sperm to conceive a child if the husband is infertile? (23:00) Would we come to the conclusion that the Holy Spirit is equal to the Father and Jesus Christ without the Nicene Creed, and if early Christians didn’t believe in the Trinity, were they not saved? (31:00) Does God only know the future simply because he plans the future? (41:00) What are your thoughts on the reference to baptism for the dead in 1 Corinthians 15:29? (47:00) Mentioned on the Show: Submit a question on the Open Mic Line
SummaryIs God a Bad Father?
Mar 4Summary readyGreg responds to the charge that God is a bad father, then he answers a question from a caller about why we have to go through sanctification when people who die shortly after salvation are immediately glorified. Topics: Commentary: Is God a bad father? (00:00) Why do some people have to go through sanctification when others will die right after salvation and be immediately glorified? (28:00) Mentioned on the Show: Reality Student Apologetics Conference – March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers Related Links: Does God Love Everyone? by Jon Noyes
SummaryOne True Reality
Jan 1600:58:00Summary readyGreg reflects on why our culture has difficulty with the idea that there can only be one true religion, then he answers questions about apologetics in the church, stories that make it sound like God does whisper to us, and the line between spiritual correction and spiritual abuse. Topics: Commentary: One true reality (00:00) How can I introduce apologetics and biblical ethics into my church? (10:00) What do we do with stories that make it sound like God really did whisper to someone? (27:00) When does correcting people in a congregation turn into spiritual abuse? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show: STR U Online Training – There’s a course on the idea that “truth is not ice cream” Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air by Francis Beckwith and Greg Koukl Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl When God Speaks by Greg Koukl Related Links: One Way or Any Way? Part 1 by Greg Koukl One Way or Any Way? Part 2 by Greg Koukl
SummaryThe Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege
Jan 1400:58:00Summary readyGreg talks about the “Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege” his daughter had to place herself on as part of a school assignment, then he answers a question about how we can be sure there’s only one true religion. Topics: Commentary: The Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege (00:00) How can we be sure there’s only one true religion? (42:00) Mentioned on the Show: The Intersectionality Wheel of Privilege Greg on The Diary of a CEO
SummaryDescriptive vs. Prescriptive
Jan 700:58:00Summary readyGreg highlights the distinction between descriptive and prescriptive passages in the Bible then answers questions about a pro-choice challenge, helping someone in memory care, baptismal regeneration, responding to “Love is my religion,” animal blessings, and Bible translations. Topics: Commentary: Descriptive vs. prescriptive (00:00) If someone says that if you’re pro-life then you should be against capital punishment, then couldn’t I flip that around and say that if a pro-choicer says a woman has the authority over her body to kill her unborn child, then he should be fine with her killing herself? (10:00) What can I give a person in memory care to help them? (22:00) Is it a dealbreaker if a church you’re going to believes in baptismal regeneration, and is this salvation by works? (28:00) How would you respond to someone who said, “Love is my religion”? (36:00) What is up with animal blessings? (44:00) Is the New World Translation not called the “Holy Bible” because they changed too much in the text? (49:00) Mentioned on the Show: Submit a question on the Open Mic Line Related Links: Further Reading on Bible Translations by Daniel Wallace
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