Encountering Truth

What does it look like to move from passive faith to active Christian living? In the last year, many prominent Christian leaders have gone on to be with the Lord. The question remains: Who will rise up and courageously take their place? As the royal priesthood of believers, we are all called to be ambassadors for Christ, participating in the ministry of reconciliation. This inspiring episode will...

The truth of Christianity is perhaps best supported by the cumulative case approach, which combines multiple lines of evidence to make a strong case that the Christian worldview offers the best explanation for the way things are. My guest in this episode, Dan Ermutlu, teaches a six-week apologetics course at his church, where he lays out much of this cumulative-case evidence. In this extended-leng...

How can you be salt and light to people who don't want to hear about God or where you're not able to share your faith? In this long overdue follow-up to Episode 21 " How Do You Talk About God When You Can't Talk About God? ," we offer MORE strategies for talking "around" God, using logic and reason. Join us as we discuss practical and relational ways to work on a pe...

Is there a simple way to challenge evolution? In this episode, we discuss the claims of Darwinism and look at how it has been perpetuated by lies and mistruths. We also present a helpful acronym providing three easy-to-remember answers to the colossal “FIB” of evolution. Whether you're a student, parent, or someone interested in apologetics, this episode will equip you with a memorable framewo...

We all hold certain beliefs that feel good and sound right—but have we ever stopped to truly examine them? Without even realizing it, we often build our worldview on assumptions, emotions, or cultural norms, but what if there’s more to the story? What if there is a standard of truth that we haven’t considered? In this episode, we invite you to explore your worldview and why you believe what you be...

What do you do when your kids have questions or doubts about Christianity? More importantly, what should you NOT do? In this episode, we share 5 DON'Ts for Christian parents to remember when their kids ask tough questions about faith. These practical tips help you navigate doubts and guide your children with wisdom and compassion. Not a parent? No problem! These insights are useful for all believe...

Was the word “homosexuals” wrongly added to the Bible? In this episode, we welcome back David Wolcott to address the controversy created by the movie “1946: The Mistranslation That Shifted Culture.” David helps us understand why it was not a mistranslation and how proponents of the movie misinterpret Scripture using fallacious methods and reasoning, all in an effort to deceive modern culture into...

In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Sam Sears, who has recently embarked on an inspiring journey to plant a new church across the country. With a love of apologetics and a heart for reaching people where they are, Sam shares his approach to church planting through intentional discipleship and relationship-building. He emphasizes the importance of connecting with individuals in the community and...

What is the value of a single human life? Jennifer DeFrates joins me in this heartfelt episode to share her inspiring journey through the adoption of her daughter, the tragic loss of her husband, and the encouragement she finds in the Lord. Her study of apologetics and her intimate awareness of the profound value of human life have emboldened Jennifer to make a powerful case for the lives and dign...

In this episode, we are joined by filmmaker Michael Ray Lewis.  Michael is a former atheist who took a long and honest look at the evidence for Christianity, only to be convinced of its truth.  Now, as a Christian, he is compelled to share his faith with others in a creative and winsome way, using his knowledge of apologetics.  Michael describes for us his journey to faith and the role it has play...

Dr. Doug Groothuis joins me again in this episode to talk about his book Fire in the Streets , where he offers a powerful critique of Critical Race Theory (CRT) and how its influence led to riots and arson in cities across America.  We explore how CRT uses flawed logic as it attempts to undermine and discredit the very foundations of our country, posing a serious threat to our nation’s core values...

In this episode, my guest Dr. Douglas Groothuis takes us on a deep dive into the world of Christian apologetics. Doug is a longtime professor of philosophy and apologetics and has written extensively about both. Together, we explore the compellingly rational case for Christianity, examining several key arguments for the existence of God, including the cosmological argument and even the philosophic...

In this episode, we explore how Progressivism has emerged as the new "religion" in public schools, complete with its own set of doctrines and standard of morality. We delve into how Social Emotional Learning (SEL) serves as a Trojan horse for these religious, neo-Marxist ideas, disguising ideological goals under the banner of "safety and belonging." We also examine how classroom teachers are incre...

As Christians, we are called to share the Gospel and to make disciples of all nations. But how do you fulfill this Great Commission when your job or situation does not allow you talk openly about your faith? In this episode, we talk about the concept of "circumlocution" as it relates to evangelism, in other words, talking around God when you can't talk about Him. We even offer an example of what i...

Many unsuspecting Christians are being carried away by the cultural undercurrent, which is largely driven by Contemporary Critical Theory.  In this episode, we dive into a crash course on the basics of this destructive ideology, its roots in Marxism, and how it has permeated almost every area of society today.  We discuss what you need to know about it, the deceptive language to watch out for, and...

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness - are they really unalienable rights? If so, why? Can we just "declare" our rights, or do they actually have to be grounded in something? In this episode, we look at the idea of human rights, where they come from, and why it matters. =============== Resources: =============== Books: ⁠ The Rise and Triumph of the Modern Self: Cultural Amnesia, Expressive...

The Gospel is the good news of Christianity, but a quick glance at history reveals that not everything done in the name of Christianity has itself been good. In fact, some things that so-called Christians have done or been accused of doing are downright evil. How do we respond to these dark times in the history of the Church? How does the good that Christians have done in the world stand up agains...

If God exists and is both good and powerful, then why is there evil in the world? In this episode, we discuss the age-old problem of evil. We look at how evil is not just a problem for Christians; it's a human problem that everyone must grapple with. Christianity, though, is the only worldview with a legitimate response to the issue. Is it possible that Christians can actually find comfort in the...

Trauma. Abuse. Shame. How do you forgive the unforgivable? In this episode, I am joined by Pastor Mark Sowersby, author of Forgiving the Nightmare, as he shares his powerful testimony about overcoming the trauma of childhood abuse, encountering Jesus, and learning to walk in forgiveness. We discuss the transforming power of God to bring healing, joy, and restoration. Even in the darkest of circums...

Dr. Bobby Conway joins the podcast to discuss his journey through an agonizing season of doubt, a "long dark night of the soul," which led him to write his newest book, Does Christianity Still Make Sense? A Former Skeptic Responds to Today's Toughest Objections to Christianity. In this episode, we tackle some challenging topics like scandals and hypocrisy in the church, claims that Christians are...

What is Progressive Christianity? And how is it different from true biblical and historical Christianity? In this episode, David Wolcott joins the podcast to offer clarity on this confusing and deceptive movement. He identifies some red flags to watch out for and names some problematic figures to avoid. =============== Resources: =============== Find David Wolcott Here: Website: TheDavidWolcott.co...

C.S. Lewis famously wrote that we cannot accept Jesus as merely a great moral teacher without accepting His claim to be God - that Jesus is either a liar, a lunatic, or the one true Lord. In this episode, we take a look at this popular trilemma that Lewis puts forth in his book Mere Christianity. Then we examine the legitimacy of a possible fourth option, that the Jesus we know today is merely the...

The Good News of Christianity relies on the truth communicated in the Gospels.  But how do we know that they are reliable? In this episode, we examine the evidence for the reliability of the Gospels as early eyewitness accounts that are corroborated by inside and outside sources. =============== Resources: =============== Cold-Case Christianity: A Homicide Detective Investigates the Claims of the...

What is the purpose of life? What is our ultimate goal? In this episode, we close out the short series about the goals of Encountering Truth, by exploring the most important goal of all - to encounter Jesus as the way, the truth, and the life. We explain the role that apologetics plays in removing obstacles for the Gospel, and we discuss the twofold nature of the ministry - evidence and encounter....

It was said of Paul and those with him that they had "turned the world upside down" because they were not afraid to speak publicly about their faith and proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. In this second installment of our series about the goals of Encountering Truth, we discuss the obligation that Christians have to engage culture with kindness and conviction. With Paul as our model, we talk about the...