Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Greg answers questions about whether praying for miracles should be an integral part of evangelism, what to ask someone who thinks humans are born good, why Eve would listen to a talking snake, and whether all Reformed people must believe Jesus only died for the elect.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Should praying for miracles be an integral part of evangelism? (00:00)

What can I ask someone who thinks humans are born good to show him that he’s wrong? (25:00)

Why would Eve listen to a talking snake? (36:00)

The Bible seems to say Jesus died for all, and Romans 11 seems to indicate that “all” doesn’t just refer to the elect. Must Reformed people believe “all” refers to the elect? (44:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Our Pain Has Meaning by Amy Hall (quoting Joni Eareckson Tada on not being willing to trade her wheelchair for anything)

Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA

Related Links:

Making Sense of Unanswered Prayer by Amy Hall

We’re Not Good at Estimating Our Goodness by Amy Hall

Why You Shouldn’t Trust the Feeling That You Don’t Deserve Hell by Amy Hall

Greg encourages us to explain to others that Christianity is about an objective reality outside of us, then he talks to callers about how to remain hopeful even though we could potentially live through the tribulation, and what the Bible says about healing and our health problems.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Christianity is about an objective reality outside of us. (00:00)

How can I remain hopeful if I think I could potentially live through the tribulation? (23:00)

What does the Bible say about healing, and what should I be doing about my health problems? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Iron Curtain Diary by Greg Koukl

Live Not by Lies: A Manual for Christian Dissidents by Rod Dreher

Interview: Rod Dreher – Live Not by Lies

Our Pain Has Meaning by Amy Hall (quoting Joni Eareckson Tada on not being willing to trade her wheelchair for anything)

Related Links:

The Rap on the Rapture by Greg Koukl

Christians, You Will Suffer by Amy Hall

The Rightful Place of Suffering in the Life of the Christian by Amy Hall

Meaningful Suffering by Amy Hall (quoting John Newton)

Decide Here and Now by Amy Hall (advice from a Christian who survived Communism)

A Place of Healing: Wrestling with the Mysteries of Suffering, Pain, and God’s Sovereignty by Joni Eareckson Tada

Why It Isn’t Naïve to Trust God in Your Suffering by Amy Hall

Making Sense of Unanswered Prayer by Amy Hall

Greg talks about God’s wills and praying for his will to be done, then he answers questions about  citing the story of the rich man and Lazarus to someone who rejects Christianity because of unsaved loved ones who passed away, and whether Moses changes God’s mind in Numbers 14.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Thy will be done? (00:00)

Do you think it would be a good idea to cite the story about the rich man and Lazarus to someone who doesn’t want to become a Christian because their loved ones died without Jesus? (38:00)

Did Moses change Gods mind in Numbers 14, and if so, could we do the same? (47:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

Fearless Prayer: Why We Don’t Ask and Why We Should by Craig Hazen

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – November 13–14 in Minneapolis, MN; February 19–20, 2027 in Dallas, TX; March 12–13, 2027 in Philadelphia, PA; April 23–24, 2027 in Los Angeles, CA

Previous episode referenced by the caller: “How do I share the gospel with people who say they can’t accept Christianity because they had loved ones who died outside of Christ?” (starting at 49:00)

Greg reflects on the objective nature of beauty and morality, then he answers questions about how providence and the decrees of God play out in life and how to manage a denominational split in a way that shows respect to all but still makes clear the danger of staying in the denomination.
 
Topics:

Commentary: Beauty and morality are objective. (00:00)

How does providence and the decrees of God play out in life? (20:00)

As part of a team managing a denominational split, could I have taken a better approach that showed respect to all but still made clear the danger of staying within the denomination? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

STR Outposts

A Response to the Rising Antisemitism – Previous episode

How Should Christians View and Treat the Jews? – Previous episode

Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes

Related Links:

Providence by John Piper

How Can We Condemn Evil If God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall

God Can Work Through Anyone and Everything—Even You and Your Sin by Amy Hall

“Forced Love” Is the Wrong Way to Look at It by Amy Hall

Excusing Sinners and Blaming God: A Calvinist Assessment of Determinism, Moral Responsibility, and Divine Involvement in Evil by Guillaume Bignon

God Reforms Hearts: Rethinking Free Will and the Problem of Evil by Thaddeus Williams

Greg responds to questions about how to deal with the fear that your children will reject Christ, and whether atheists who formerly identified as Christians ought to agree with us that they were never really Christians.
 
Topics:

How can I deal with my terrible fear that my children will reject Christ and it will have been better for them if they had never been born? (00:00)

Shouldn’t atheists who formerly identified as Christians agree with us that they were never really Christians? (28:00)

Mentioned on the Show: 

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