Does a Private Commitment Create a Legitimate Marriage?

Greg gives advice to young people on how to live well on their own, then he talks to a caller about the point of glory and honor and why we need to give it to God.   Topics: Commentary: Advice for young people leaving home (00:00) What’s the point of glory and honor, and why do we need to give it to God? (39:00)   Mentioned on the Show:  When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain Reality Student Apologetics Conference – October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA STR U Online Training Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis   Related Links: Ten Tips to Help Your Prayer Life by Greg Koukl How I Pray...Even When It’s Hard by Greg Koukl Tips for Developing a Habit of Bible Reading by Greg Koukl How (and Why) to Make Habits, Not Just Resolutions by Amy Hall (quoting Joe Carter) Why Would God Want Us to Praise Him? by Amy Hall (quoting C.S. Lewis) How to Think about God Promoting His Own Glory by Amy Hall

Greg talks to a caller about his interaction with a Mormon, then he answers questions about how he keeps his cool in debates, how to prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man, and whether Jesus ever asked to be worshiped.   Topics: A caller reports back on his interaction with a Mormon. (02:00) How do you keep your cool in debates? (16:00) How can I prove biblically that Jesus is 100% God and 100% man? (31:00) Did Jesus ever ask to be worshiped? (45:00) Download the mp3...   Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA Greg Koukl vs. John Baker: Do Moral Truths Exist? Deity of Christ: Case Closed by Greg Koukl Was Jesus Worshiped? by Greg Koukl   Related Links: Discussing “17 Points of the True Church” with Mormons by Amy Hall Who Is the God of Mormonism? by Amy Hall Verses for Your Conversations with Mormons by Amy Hall

Greg talks about his New Zealand trip then answers questions about whether the creation of new fruits by farmers is an example of evolution, the definition of holiness, the definition of knowledge, and whether Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism.   Topics: Commentary: Greg’s trip to New Zealand (00:00) When farmers create new kinds of fruit, isn’t that evolution? (14:00) What’s the definition of holiness? (25:00) What’s the distinction between knowledge and wisdom? (36:00) How would you respond to the claim that “Mormonism is to Christianity as Christianity is to Judaism”? (49:00) Download the mp3...   Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA Upcoming events with Stand to Reason speakers STR U Online Training When Culture Hates You: Persevering for the Common Good as Christians in a Hostile Public Square by Natasha Crain STR Outposts The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between by Greg Koukl Is Mormonism Just Another Christian Denomination? by Greg Koukl

You’re betting your life on your answer to the question “Does God exist?” Greg considers what we can learn about the nature of reality simply by reflecting on two obvious facts that are available to everyone and then asking what best explains those two facts.   Topics: Message: You Bet Your Life: A Simple Case Against Atheism (08:00) Things exist. (17:00) Torturing babies for fun is wrong. (43:00) What best explains these two facts? (51:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Related Links: Who Created God? by Amy Hall Can a Non-Physical Being Affect the Physical World? by Amy Hall

Greg answers questions about whether a private commitment can create a legitimate marriage, what Romans 14:12 means when it says we’ll give an account to God, baby dedications for same-sex couples, and reaching a spouse for Christ when they’re skeptical of your faith.   Topics: If people make a commitment privately, is that a legitimate marriage? (06:00) When Romans 14:12 says that “each one of us will give an account of himself to God,” does that mean something will be based on our good works? (26:00) Is it wrong for a church to do a baby dedication for a same-sex couple? (36:00) Any advice for reaching my husband for Christ when he thinks my recent return to the faith is just a temporary fix and doesn’t take it seriously? (48:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Submit a question on the Open Mic Line

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) Do charismatics say that speaking in tongues is speaking in a language that exists, or do they say it’s speaking words that only a spiritual gift can interpret? (31:00) How would you respond to someone who says that morality is subjective, based on the society’s definition of human flourishing, and that we only feel an obligation not to go against it because of the consequences imposed by the society? (43:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner

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) Mentioned on the Show:  Returning the Favor: An Ambassador’s Guide to the Jewish People by David Halevy Builders of Israel Dr. Michael Brown’s responses to Jewish objections to Jesus and the gospel

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) Mentioned on the Show:  Apologetics on Mission John Warwick Montgomery’s International Academy of Apologetics, Evangelism and Human Rights in Strasbourg Be One of the 100 Greg’s Message to His School Board Regarding Proposed Sex Ed Curriculum by Greg Koukl Paul Carden’s CFAR (Greg mistakenly referred to this as CARM)

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 religion? (16:00) How should I respond to someone who thinks the Trinity is unreasonable? (33:00) Why don’t you think belief in an eternal Hell is essential to the Christian faith? (50:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Submit a question on the Open Mic Line 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 A Simple Survey to Help Initiate Spiritual Conversations by Greg Koukl Hell Interrupted Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

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 feel like giving up. (31:00) Is there a reason why we arrange our worship services the way we do? (42:00) What do you think about the transcendental argument for the existence of God? (52:00) Mentioned on the Show:  Reality Student Apologetics Conference – September 13–14 in Los Angeles, CA; October 18–19 in Seattle, WA; November 8–9 in Minneapolis, MN; February 21–22, 2025 in Dallas, TX; March 21–22, 2025 in Philadelphia, PA The Horse and His Boy by C.S. Lewis Be One of the 100 – Become a strategic partner Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity’s Toughest Challenges by Greg Koukl