Stand to Reason Weekly Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Is Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder? Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Greg answers questions about beauty being “in the eye of the beholder,” what it looks like to follow the greatest commandment and how to teach it to students, and how to explain to a skeptic what we mean by “faith.” Topics:

How could biblical writers talk about certain women being beautiful if beauty is in the eye of the beholder? (03:00)
What does following the greatest commandment—loving the Lord your God with all your heart—look like, what does it mean, and how should I teach it to students? (19:00)
Can you help me explain to a skeptic what we mean by “faith”? (41:00)

Related Links:

You Don’t Have to Choose between the Head and the Heart – Greg Koukl discusses living “coram Deo.”
Faith Is Not Wishing by Greg Koukl
Faith Isn’t a Way of Knowing; It’s a Way of Trusting by Tim Barnett

We Can’t Both Be Christian Dec 26, 2025

Show notes

Greg talks about fundamental differences between Latter-day Saint and Christian theology, explaining that we can’t both be Christian, then he talks to callers about whether being a winsome ambassador is irrelevant if God draws people, and attending a megachurch. Topics:

Commentary: We can’t both be Christian. (00:00)
If the Father draws people, then is being a winsome ambassador irrelevant? (32:00)
What are your thoughts on attending a megachurch? (49:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Donate to Stand to Reason
Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl
LDS Beliefs: A Doctrinal Reference by Robert Millet
Jesus, the Only Way: 100 Verses

Related Links:

Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall
“Mormons Aren’t Christians” Is Not an Epithet by Amy Hall

If Jesus Is the Firstborn, Does That Mean He’s Part of Creation? Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Greg talks to a caller about whether Colossians 1:15 implies that Jesus is part of creation since it says he is the “firstborn,” then he reflects on the first Christmas and the birth of Jesus. Topics:

Does the statement in Colossians 1:15 that Jesus is the firstborn of creation imply he’s part of creation? (13:00)
Commentary: The first Christmas and the birth of Jesus (36:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
Donate to Stand to Reason
Delighting in the Trinity by Michael Reeves
The Nativity Story – Film

Related Links:

Was Jesus the First Created Being? by Tim Barnett
Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl
Six Reasons to Believe Jesus Is God – Red Pen Logic (Tim Barnett)

Are All Values and Duties Subjective Since They Only Exist in Minds? Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Greg talks to callers about whether all values and duties are inherently subjective, whether Paul is making the same point in Ephesians 2:7 and Romans 9:23, biblical justification for Christian Zionism, and how God can be good if he doesn’t save everyone he created. Topics:

How would you respond to the claim that values and duties are inherently subjective since concepts exist only in minds? (04:00)
Is Paul making the same point in Ephesians 2:7 and Romans 9:23? (16:00)
What is the biblical justification for Christian Zionism? (25:00)
How can I make a compelling case for the character of God in answer to the question of why he doesn’t save everyone he’s created even though he’s capable of doing so? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Reality Student Apologetics Conference – February 20–21 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25 in Los Angeles, CA
Donate to Stand to Reason
“Morality based on God is just another form of relativism.” – Part of November’s Solid Ground
Conversations with an Atheist
The Bible: Fast Forward – DVD (Also available as a digital download or audio)

Related Links:

Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall

Thoughts on Annihilationism Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

Greg comments on the current conversation on annihilationism and calls for charity when disagreeing with others on this issue, then he answers a question about how to deal with doubts when Christianity seems unlikely to you. Topics:

Commentary: Thoughts on annihilationism (00:00)
How do you deal with doubts when Christianity seems unlikely? (36:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Are We Able to Get an Objective Meaning from the Text? Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Greg answers a question about the “hermeneutical spiral” and getting an objective meaning from the text, then he chats with a caller who doesn’t believe in God about his objection to Greg’s definition of atheism and why he is currently deconstructing. Topics:

Are you familiar with the “hermeneutical spiral,” and do you think we’re able to get an objective meaning from the text? (05:00)
Can we have a conversation about what atheism is? (22:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Donate to Stand to Reason

Related Links:

Atheism: More Than Just a Non-Belief by Amy Hall
Atheism Isn’t Simply a Lack of Belief by Tim Barnett
The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers

Greg Clarifies His View on Altar Calls and the Gospel Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Greg clarifies some comments he made about altar calls and the gospel last week, then he answers questions about whether we’re skipping Christ’s intercession if we pray to the Father, and what he thinks about certain tactics being used by a pro-life organization. Topics:

Commentary: Greg clarifies his view on altar calls and the gospel. (00:00)
If we pray directly to the Father, are we skipping Christ’s intercession? (29:00)
Do you have any thoughts on these tactics being used by a pro-life organization? (50:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Greg’s suggestions for a first-time pastor in the previous episode
Tactics: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions by Greg Koukl
New Testament Prayer by Greg Koukl
Donate to Stand to Reason

What Suggestions Do You Have for a First-Time Pastor? Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Greg answers questions about suggestions for a first-time pastor, responding to someone who says people always report the same thing about their near-death experiences, and how much interaction to have with LDS neighbors in light of 2 John 10. Topics:

What are some suggestions you have for a first-time pastor when it comes to tithing, altar calls, Sunday school, and music, and what things should I be focused on in addition to preaching the gospel? (05:00)
How would you respond to someone who says that people always report the same thing about their near-death experiences? (36:00)
In light of 2 John 10, how much interaction should I have with my LDS neighbors? I don’t want to give the impression that we’re all Christians and agree with their teachings. (46:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Related Links:

Three Telltale Signs of “Christianity” Gone South by Greg Koukl
Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall
Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall
LDS View of Atonement Clarified by Amy Hall
Is It Possible Some Mormons Are Saved? by Amy Hall

Didn’t Jesus Teach That We Were Supposed to Love and Accept One Another? Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

Greg responds to the claim that “Jesus taught that we were supposed to love and accept one another,” then he answers questions about numbers being evidence for the existence of God, using a person’s suffering as an apologetic, and the salvation of Word of Faith people. Topics:

Commentary: Didn’t Jesus teach that we were supposed to love and accept one another? (00:00)
Could numbers be used as evidence for the existence of God? (30:00)
What do you think about using a person’s suffering as an apologetic? (40:00)
Do you think people in the Word of Faith movement are saved? (51:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

Related Links:

Interview: Natasha Crain on the “He Gets Us” Campaign
The Rightful Place of Suffering in the Life of the Christian by Amy Hall
Christians, You Will Suffer by Amy Hall
Why Does God Let Us Suffer? by Amy Hall
How Our Suffering Glorifies God by Amy Hall
If God Is Good: Faith in the Midst of Suffering and Evil by Randy Alcorn

Are We Obliged to Pray Only to the Father? Nov 28, 2025

Show notes

Greg talks about whether or not we’re obliged to pray only to the Father, then he answers a question about how he determined he was being stirred by God to start Stand to Reason. Topics:

Commentary: Are we obliged to pray only to the Father? (00:00)
How did you determine that you were being stirred by God to start Stand to Reason? (18:00)

Mentioned on the Show:

The Incarnate Christ and His Critics: A Biblical Defense by Robert M. Bowman and J. Ed Komoszewski

Related Links:

You Don’t Have to Choose between the Head and the Heart by Greg Koukl
Why Tim Keller Started to Pray by Amy Hall
Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl
When God Speaks by Greg Koukl

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