Greg responds to questions about why Christians recommend Dennis Prager when he teaches things antithetical to Christianity, whether Christians who say there’s only one way to God are closed-minded “religionists,” and a challenge to Greg’s response to the Euthyphro dilemma.
 
Topics:

Why do so many Christians recommend Dennis Prager when much of what he teaches seems to be antithetical to Christianity? (00:00)


How do I respond to someone who says I shouldn’t be a closed-minded “religionist” who thinks there’s only one way to God? (17:00)


In light of the fact that it seems God has given conflicting commands in the past, if God were to do something evil but call it good, how could we make that determination? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl


Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl


The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl


Related Links:

God Cares More about Behavior Than Most People Think by Amy Hall (responding to the idea that God cares about behavior rather than theology)

Are Christians Who Say There’s Only One Way to God Closed-Minded Religionists?

Greg answers questions about whether Jesus is dependent on the Father, whether he should be quoting someone who has a mistaken view on homosexuality, whether it’s ever okay for Christians to stand up for their rights, helping a non-believing couple move in together, and circular reasoning.
 
Topics:

Is Jesus dependent on the Father (which would mean he can’t be God), or is he independent (which would mean there are two Gods)? (08:00)


Should you be quoting Andrew Klavan given his views on homosexuality? (23:00)


As Christians, is it ever right to stand up for our rights, or should we always turn our cheek and suffer for Christ? (30:00)


What would you do if a non-believing couple asked you to help them move in together? (41:00)


Can you help me understand the fallacy of circular reasoning, and is saying “the Bible tells me so” an example of it? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Donate to Stand to Reason


Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl


Eternity Is Now: Just Ask Scrooge and George Bailey by Andrew Klavan

Is Jesus Dependent on the Father?

Greg talks about the difference between positive rights and negative rights, then he answers questions about how to respond when a spouse initiates divorce, whether it’s moral to kill abortionists, the biblical guidelines for putting yourself in danger, and the biblical way to pray and connect with God.
 
Topics:

Commentary: The problem with positive rights (00:00)


Do you have any advice for how I should respond to my wife who has initiated a divorce? (27:00)


Is it morally wrong to kill abortionists? (40:00)


What are the biblical guidelines for putting yourself in danger? (49:00)


In light of your arguments against the common understanding of hearing the voice of God, what is the biblical way to pray and connect with God? (53:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Donate to Stand to Reason


STR Violence Statement


The Lord’s Prayer: Learning from Jesus on What, Why, and How to Pray by Kevin DeYoung


Related Links:

Bomb Discovered at Abortion Clinic by Amy Hall

The Problem with Positive Rights

Greg talks to Jason Jimenez, author of Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over His Church, about what progressive Christians believe and why, why their theology is so popular right now, beliefs they reject, their view of the atonement, and more.
 
Topics:

Interview: Jason Jimenez, author of  Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over His Church (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Hijacking Jesus: How Progressive Christians Are Remaking Him and Taking Over His Church by Jason Jimenez

Interview: Jason Jimenez – Hijacking Jesus

Greg responds to the claim that intelligent design is pseudoscience, then he answers questions about preaching against abortion even though people in the congregation have had abortions, Bible translations, and the biblical definition of the image of God.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Is intelligent design pseudoscience? (00:00)


How can I make a biblical argument to help my pastor see that it’s okay to teach about the case against abortion even if there are people in the congregation who have had abortions? (19:00)


What translation do you use and/or consider to be the best out there on the market? (34:00)


How is the image of God described in the Bible? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Rock Solid Apologia


Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl


Stephen Meyer’s books


Submit a question on the Open Mic Line


Making Abortion Unthinkable: The Art of Pro-Life Persuasion by Greg Koukl and Scott Klusendorf


Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John Meade and Peter Gurry


STR Outposts


Related Links:

How Can God Forgive Me? by Amy Hall (for people who are struggling to understand God’s forgiveness)

Is Intelligent Design Pseudoscience?

Greg talks about the problem with altar calls, then he answers questions about why it matters what kind of arguments we make for Christianity if only God can change a person’s mind and how best to use the LDS Gospel Topic Essays when witnessing to Mormons.
 
Topics:

Commentary: The problem with altar calls (00:00)


If our arguments always fail unless God changes the person’s mind, why does it matter what kind of arguments we make for Christianity? (30:00)


How can we best use the LDS Gospel Topic Essays when witnessing to Mormons? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

You’ll Never Change Anyone’s Mind about God by Greg Koukl


Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA


Gospel Topic Essays Index – Mormonism Research Ministry lists links to the Gospel Topic Essays along with links to responses

The Problem with Altar Calls

Greg responds to a caller’s story about being accused of hate because of his pro-life bumper stickers, then he answers questions about whether the blood sprinkled on the mercy seat was cleaned off, a family whose pastor objects to their spending time out of town, and whether God created the possibility to sin.
 
Topics:

A story about a note the caller received responding to the pro-life stickers on his car. (02:00)


Did the blood sprinkled on the Day of Atonement (Lev. 16:14–15) stay on the mercy seat in the most holy place year after year, or did they clean it off? (23:00)


Is it legalism if my pastor is objecting to my family missing Sundays at our church when we’re staying at our vacation house out of town? (33:00)


Did God create the possibility to sin? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

#STRask podcast with Greg and Amy

Don’t Use Empty Rhetoric

Greg answers questions about the differences between rules, principles, etc., Christian nationalism, Christians making judgments about other Christians, how people who haven’t heard the gospel will be judged, how to respond to someone who says God isn’t real, and an explanation of the book of Job.
 
Topics:

What are the differences between rules, principles, guidelines, and policies? (03:00)


What’s your understanding of the definition of “Christian Nationalism”? (13:00)


Can you clarify how and when Christians ought to make judgments about other Christians? (30:00)


Does John 15:24 mean that people who haven’t heard the gospel will be judged based solely on how they responded to their conscience? (43:00)


What do you do if someone says to you that God’s not real? (50:00)


I no longer believe in the Bible because I can’t accept that a loving God could do such a horrible thing to Job and his family. (53:00)

Related Links:

#STRask: How can God be a loving Father when he allows a “blameless and upright man” like Job to suffer so much instead of protecting him?


Five Truths for Sufferers from the Book of Job by Eric Ortlund

Should Christians Make Judgments about Other Christians?

Greg talks about Melinda Penner, cofounder of Stand to Reason, who went home to be with the Lord last week, then he answers questions about men teasing each other, the biblically appropriate role of the military, and whether 1 Timothy 3 is descriptive or prescriptive.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Well done, Melinda. (00:00)


Since men who are close to each other tend to tease each other, do you think that’s part of being a man, and do you think the Bible has anything to say about this kind of behavior? (07:00)


What is the biblically appropriate role of the military? (14:00)


Is 1 Timothy 3 descriptive or prescriptive? (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Melinda Penner’s Homecoming – 1959–2023

Well Done, Melinda

Greg interviews Justin Brierley, author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again, about the rise and fall of the New Atheist movement, why he thanks God for Richard Dawkins, a shift in many atheists’ view of Christianity, and more.
 
Topics:

Interview: Justin Brierley, author of The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Justin Brierley


The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God: Why New Atheism Grew Old and Secular Thinkers Are Considering Christianity Again by Justin Brierley


The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God – The podcast


Unbelievable?: Why After Ten Years of Talking with Atheists, I'm Still a Christian by Justin Brierley


Coming to Faith Through Dawkins: 12 Essays on the Pathway from New Atheism to Christianity


The Air We Breathe: How We All Came to Believe in Freedom, Kindness, Progress, and Equality by Glen Scrivener


Related Links:

Jesus Built Western Civilization by Amy Hall (quote by Tom Holland)


We Take Christianity’s Influence on the World for Granted by Amy Hall (video of Tom Holland)


Answering the New Atheists—Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3


Greg Koukl and Michael Shermer at the End of the Decade of the New Atheists


To the Atheist Who Called Jesus “The Magic Carpenter” (And a Warning to Churches) by Amy Hall

Interview: Justin Brierley – The Surprising Rebirth of Belief in God

Greg talks about an atheist’s response to his quote summarizing some evidence for God, then he answers questions about why he will be speaking at a church that has women pastors and why Protestants don’t view the works of the early church fathers as authoritative for doctrine.
 
Topics:

Commentary: No evidence for God? (00:00)


Why do you think it’s okay to speak at a church that has women pastors? (28:00)


Why don’t Protestants view the works of the early church fathers as authoritative for doctrine? (42:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Stand to Reason’s tweet summarizing some evidence for God, and the atheist’s response


Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl


Related Links:

Should Women Teach in Church? by Greg Koukl

No Evidence for God?

Greg gives some thoughts about C.S. Lewis after attending 1517’s conference on Lewis last weekend, then he answers a caller’s questions about whether or not a woman should be a lead pastor and whether he should be concerned about his pastor planting a church with a woman lead pastor.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Getting around the watchful dragons (00:00)


What do you think about a woman being a lead pastor? (28:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

1517.org


Related Links:

Should Women Teach in Church? by Greg Koukl

Getting around the Watchful Dragons

Greg adds another quick thought about the last call on the previous episode, then he answers questions about atheists claiming they used to be “real Christians,” whether the word “relationship” accurately describes our connection with God, and non-Christians receiving benefits from their prayers.
 
Topics:

Commentary: One more thought on the last call from the previous episode about old-earth creationism (00:00)


What do you think about my view that it’s inconsistent with an atheist worldview for an atheist to claim he was once a real Christian? (05:00)


Is the word “relationship” an accurate word for our connection with God, or is there a more biblical way of describing it? (26:00)


What do you think of people from other religions appearing to receive benefits from their prayers? (41:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA


#STRask podcast with Greg and Amy


Decision Making and the Will of God episodes: Part 1 and Part 2


Hot Tub Religion by J.I. Packer


A Quest for Godliness: The Puritan Vision of the Christian Life by J.I. Packer


Knowing God by J.I. Packer


Preaching God’s Love in Acts? by Greg Koukl

Does It Make Sense for an Atheist to Claim He Used to Be a Real Christian?

Greg shares information about the film Nefarious that an Open Mic caller mentioned last week, talks about faithfully hitting singles and doubles, then answers a question about how much of creation can be explained by natural causes on an old-earth creationist view.
 
Topics:

Commentary: A recipe for faithfulness (00:00)


On the old-earth creationist view, how much of creation can be explained by natural causes alone? (35:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 10–11 in Minneapolis, MN; February 23–24, 2024 in Dallas, TX; March 22–23, 2024 in Philadelphia, PA; April 19–20, 2024 in Augusta, GA


Related Links:

Theistic Evolution: Drifting toward Darwin by Greg Koukl

A Recipe for Faithfulness

Greg talks about how the tactics are tools for “gardening,” then he talks to callers about whether Luke 16:18 means that divorced people who remarry are living in continuous adultery, whether Bible versions violate the command not to add to God’s words, the brains of transgender people, and the origin of evil.
 
Topics:

Commentary: The tactics are tools for gardening. (00:00)


If I’m divorced, does that mean I’m living in continuous adultery according to Luke 16:18? (09:00)


Do the different versions of the Bible violate the commands in Deuteronomy 4:2 and Revelation 22:18–19 not to add to or subtract from the words of God? (24:00)


Do brain scans really show that the brains of transgender people are different from other people’s brains? (41:00) 


Did Eve sin because she had evil in her heart, or was she simply tricked by Satan? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

The Primal Heresy by Greg Koukl


Related Links:

3 Reasons Those Who Are Unbiblically Remarried After a Divorce Should Not Leave Their New Spouse by Justin Taylor (citing John Piper)

Are People Who Divorce and Remarry Living in Continuous Adultery?

Greg talks about Andy Stanley’s response to Al Mohler in which he said Jesus drew circles instead of lines, then he answers questions about responding to Ralph Waldo Emerson’s transcendentalism and advice for making an argument to a school board about pornographic material in the library.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Jesus’ circles and lines (00:00)


How can I respond well to the philosophy of transcendentalism in my literature class? (32:00)


I have three minutes to make an argument to the school board against pornographic materials in the school library. Do you have any advice for me? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Jesus Drew Circles and Lines: A Response to Andy Stanley by Hunter Beaumont


An Assessment of Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference by Alan Shlemon


The Future of Faith: A Debate – Greg Koukl and Deepak Chopra


Greg’s Message to His School Board Regarding Proposed Sex Ed Curriculum by Greg Koukl


Related Links:

Why Is the Old Covenant Obsolete? by Amy Hall (on Andy Stanley’s call for pastors to “unhitch [their] teaching of what it means to follow Jesus from all things old covenant.”

Jesus’ Circles and Lines

Greg explains why embracing pro-gay theology is a serious warning sign, offers a tactical approach for answering a question about whether one can be a gay Christian, then answers questions about the most important apologetics topics, non-believers taking communion, what we’ve earned vs. God’s blessings, and more.
 
Topics:

Commentary: The number one indicator of apostasy in the church (00:00)


A tactical approach for answering a question about whether one can be a gay Christian. (16:00)


What apologetics topics do you think are the most important to introduce to a group of men whom I’ll have the opportunity to teach for two hours? (29:00)


Comments from a caller on sola Scriptura (35:00)


What should we do in a situation where a non-believer is taking communion? (43:00)


What’s the relationship between what we’ve earned and God’s blessings, and does our work affect God’s blessings? (52:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Five Things to Look for in a Christian College by Greg Koukl


Andy Stanley’s Unconditional Conference: Deep Dive Response – Sean McDowell’s interview of Alan Shlemon


Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl


STR U Online Training


Scribes and Scripture: The Amazing Story of How We Got the Bible by John D. Meade and Peter J. Gurry

The Number One Indicator of Apostasy in the Church

Greg talks to Alan Shlemon, who attended the Unconditional Conference at Andy Stanley’s church, about the good and bad of what was taught there, how those who promote pro-gay theology viewed the conference, Alan’s concerns, Andy Stanley’s sermon explaining his position, etc.
 
Topics:

Interview: Alan Shlemon – Concerns about the Unconditional Conference (00:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Andy Stanley's Unconditional Conference: Deep Dive Response – Sean McDowell’s interview of Alan Shlemon


A Reformation the Church Doesn’t Need – Part 1 and Part 2 by Alan Shlemon and Greg Koukl


Related Links:

Alan Shlemon: Matthew Vines’s Reformation Project Conference – Podcast


Answering Matthew Vines’s 40 Questions – Podcast


A Response to Matthew Vines: The Bible Doesn’t Support Same-Sex Relationships by Amy Hall


Sean McDowell and Matthew Vines on the Bible and Homosexuality – Video


Should We Downplay the “Clobber Passages” on Homosexuality? by Alan Shlemon

Interview: Alan Shlemon – Concerns about the Unconditional Conference

Greg explains what the Bible has to say about decision making and the will of God, making the case that when you choose within the bounds of wisdom and God’s moral guidelines, you have the freedom to do whatever you want with God’s blessing.
 
Topics:

Commentary: The biblical model for decision making and the will of God (00:00)


Choose within the circle of God’s moral will. (06:00)


Choose within the circle of wisdom. (11:00)


Choose within the circle of personal desires (taken into consideration, but not decisive). (21:00)


Your choice is within the circle of the sovereignty of God. (32:00)


Examples from Scripture where we see this process play out (39:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Sacred Marriage: What If God Designed Marriage to Make Us Holy More Than to Make Us Happy? by Gary Thomas


Related Links:

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


The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl


Decision Making and the Will of God (book) by Garry Friesen

Decision Making and the Will of God: The Biblical Model

How is God involved in the process of our decision making? Is there a plan we need to discover? Do we need to employ certain techniques in order to hear God’s voice and find his will? Greg challenges the conventional view of decision making and the will of God by examining the biblical texts on this topic.
 
Topics:

Commentary: What the Bible doesn’t say about decision making and the will of God. (00:00)


The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from a feeling. (14:00)


The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from inner peace. (24:00)


The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from open and closed doors. (28:00)


The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from “fleeces” or providential signs. (32:00)


The Bible doesn’t teach that we determine God’s will from confirmations. (36:00)


What it looks like when God gives personalized guidance in the Bible. (39:00)


What is God’s will? (45:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl


Related Links:

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


The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (booklet) by Greg Koukl


Decision Making and the Will of God (book) by Garry Friesen

Get Started

Download the App