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...
Aug 23, 2024•58 min
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) M...
Aug 21, 2024•58 min
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) Menti...
Aug 16, 2024•58 min
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 relig...
Aug 14, 2024•58 min
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...
Aug 09, 2024•58 min
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...
Aug 07, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned on the Show: Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner One Way or...
Aug 02, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned on the Show: J. Warner Wallace The Truth in True Crime: What Investigating Death Teaches Us About the Meaning of Life by J. Warner Wallace Op...
Jul 31, 2024•58 min
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 dem...
Jul 26, 2024•58 min
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 th...
Jul 24, 2024•58 min
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...
Jul 19, 2024•58 min
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 t...
Jul 17, 2024•58 min
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...
Jul 12, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned on the Show: Is the Bible Sufficient? by Greg Koukl Driven to Distraction by Edward M. Hallowell and J...
Jul 10, 2024•58 min
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...
Jul 05, 2024•58 min
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)...
Jul 03, 2024•58 min
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—t...
Jun 28, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned on the Show: The Ambassador’s Guide to the Voice of God (...
Jun 26, 2024•58 min
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 natio...
Jun 21, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned...
Jun 19, 2024•58 min
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) The chirality problem for naturalists (37:00) The bonding problem for naturalists (40:00) The se...
Jun 13, 2024•58 min
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 contr...
Jun 12, 2024•58 min
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 ...
Jun 07, 2024•58 min
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 persecuti...
Jun 05, 2024•58 min
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 ho...
May 31, 2024•58 min
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 ...
May 29, 2024•58 min
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...
May 24, 2024•58 min
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 ...
May 22, 2024•58 min
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) ...
May 17, 2024•58 min
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) Mentioned on the Show: Titus Kennedy The Essential Archaeological Guide to Bible Lands: Uncovering Biblical Sites ...
May 15, 2024•58 min
