It’s Okay to Quote a Single Verse...If You Understand the Context
Greg answers questions about whether it’s okay to quote a single verse, why Jesus didn’t heal everyone, recommended study Bibles and commentaries, persevering with someone who isn’t responding well, and whether couples should agree on secondary and tertiary issues.
Topics:
Commentary: It’s okay to quote a single verse...if you understand the context. (00:00)
How many lepers and blind people did Jesus not heal, and why? (16:00)
Which study Bible and commentary would you most recommend? (25:00)
Should I keep trying to talk to someone who isn’t responding well? (38:00)
Should a couple agree on every secondary and tertiary theological issue? (50:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Never Read a Bible Verse by Greg Koukl
#STRask podcast with Greg and Amy
Christian Theology by Millard J. Erickson
Dogmatic Theology by William G.T. Shedd, edited by Alan Gomes
Institutes of Elenctic Theology by Francis Turretin
Systematic Theology, Second Edition: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine by Wayne Grudem
Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl
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Man’s Free Will Doesn’t Determine the Course of the Universe
Greg adds another thought to the objection he addressed in the last episode, then he answers questions about possible proof Proverbs 21:30 is objectively true, drawing lots to get a message from God, grace for sanctification, and blaming God for bad things that happen.
Topics:
Commentary: Man’s free will doesn’t determine the course of the universe. (00:00)
Does the fact that reason, logic, and deduction seem to be irreducibly complex prove that Proverbs 21:30 is objectively true and not just religious jargon? (06:00)
How should we take the Acts 1:23–26 passage, where they drew lots to get a message from God about who should replace Judas, and when is it our place to challenge leaders who are teaching something that isn’t biblical? (14:00)
Does the Bible teach that grace is required for sanctification? (29:00)
Why does God get the credit for all good things but doesn’t get the blame for bad things (like natural disasters or disease)? (47:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
Greg’s response to the challenge that it’s arbitrary for God to limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime
Greg’s illustration in last week’s episode about a man stealing the planks from his neighbor’s porch one by one
The Enemy Within: Straight Talk about the Power and Defeat of Sin by Kris Lundgaard
Related Links:
How Can We Condemn Evil if God Is Sovereign? by Amy Hall
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Why Does God Limit Our Opportunity to Repent and Believe to This Lifetime?
Greg responds to the challenge that it’s arbitrary for God to limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime, then he talks to callers about a contradiction in Genesis, the lack of spiritual growth in babies who are never born, and whether God or parents create souls.
Topics:
Commentary: Why does God limit our opportunity to repent and believe to this lifetime? (00:00)
How would you respond to an atheist who claims Genesis 1:11–12 and 1:26–27 conflict with Genesis 2:4–9? (28:00)
If our spiritual growth happens here, what does that mean for babies who die in the womb? (47:00)
Does God create souls and set them in bodies, or do parents create the souls of their children? (51:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Donate to Stand to Reason
Related Links:
Why Did God Create People if He Knew So Many Would Go to Hell? by Amy Hall
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Challenges to Greg’s View That God’s Voice Can’t Be Missed
Greg responds to objections to his view that God’s voice can’t be missed, then he answers questions about thanking God for his goodness when something bad doesn’t happen, defending penal substitutionary atonement, Iran and the Ezekiel 38 prophecy, and the nature of identity.
Topics:
Commentary: Challenges to Greg’s view that God’s voice can’t be missed (00:00)
Am I wrong to object when people say God is good when something bad almost happens but doesn’t? (19:00)
How should I respond to my deconstructing friend’s objections to penal substitutionary atonement? (32:00)
What are your thoughts on the theory that the Iran bombing in June was the start of the prophecy in Ezekiel 38? (45:00)
If a man switches the boards in his porch with the boards in his neighbor’s porch one at a time until he has all of his neighbor’s boards, has he stolen his neighbor’s porch? (48:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner
When God Speaks by Greg Koukl
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
The Legend of the Social Justice Jesus by Greg Koukl
Why the Blood? by Greg Koukl
Precious Unborn Human Persons by Greg Koukl
Related Links:
Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl
Isn’t God Faithful Even if He Doesn’t Give Me What I Prayed For? – Greg and Amy respond
The Danger of Building Your Theology on Anything Other Than the Bible by Amy Hall (on why deconstructionists who reject penal substitutionary atonement end up in legalism)
The Deconstruction of Christianity: What It Is, Why It’s Destructive, and How to Respond by Tim Barnett and Alisa Childers
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We Have a Relationship with God on His Terms, Not on Ours
Greg explains that a relationship with God doesn’t look the same as one with a human being, then he talks to callers about an apologetics approach, why Jesus seems to downplay being called the Son of God, and why God doesn’t always answer prayers for someone’s salvation.
Topics:
Commentary: We have a relationship with God on his terms, not on ours. (00:00)
Am I committing any logical fallacies in the approach I’m using with skeptics? (25:00)
Why does Jesus seem to downplay being called the Son of God in John 10:33–36? (38:00)
In light of Ezekiel 18:32, 2 Peter 3:9, and Luke 18:1, why doesn’t God answer our consistent prayers for someone’s salvation? (45:00)
Mentioned on the Show:
Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner
When God Speaks by Greg Koukl
Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 12–13 in Atlanta, GA; October 17–18 in Seattle, WA; November 7–8 in Minneapolis, MN; February 20–21, 2026 in Dallas, TX; March 13–14, 2026 in Philadelphia, PA; April 24–25, 2026 in Los Angeles, CA
Related Links:
#STRask: What Does a Personal Relationship with God Look Like on a Practical Level? – Greg and Amy respond
Does God Whisper? Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 by Greg Koukl
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.
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