Prepared to Answer Podcast

Have you ever doubted whether or not you are really saved? In this encore episode from our podcast archives, Scott and Shawn take a look at the Bible, particularly Jesus’ teachings, to see what it means to be a real follower of Jesus and what evidences there should be in a Christian’s life to show that they are truly saved. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Discipleship: What It Truly Means...

Do you feel like Christianity is just another religion with burdensome rules to follow, and do you wonder if joining another denomination or religion might fix this feeling? In this episode, Shawn sits down with Tim Hawman, the lead pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, to talk about what Jesus thought about religion. They discuss why it's only through pursuing a relationship with Jesus that you...

Shawn and Scott are thrilled to introduce our new PTA Go team member, Dr. Dani Treweek, and her ministry, Cross Related. In this episode, you’ll to hear the story about how God led Dani into ministry, and you’ll learn about Cross Related’s unique mission to help churches recover biblical and pastoral clarity for how the gospel reshapes the relational life of the disciple. 📖 Resources mentioned in...

Is it okay for Christians to choose to only “go to church” online? To answer this question, we welcome Tim Hawman, the lead pastor at Emmanuel Baptist Church, onto the podcast. Tim lays out the biblical principles that will help answer the question of whether or not it is necessary to physically attend church. 💬 Text us to submit any comments or questions you want to ask us! Support the show 🔔 F...

With all the podcasts, videos, and other resources available on the Internet, how can Christians know who they should listen to? In this podcast episode, we invited Mike McGarry back onto the podcast to answer this question. Mike shares who Christians should look to for answers to their faith questions and how to discern between good and bad sources for gaining wisdom. 📖 Resources mentioned in th...

Is the New Testament historically accurate? In this episode, we welcome back archaeologist Bryan Windle from Associates for Biblical Research . Bryan shares how archaeology affirms the reliability of the Bible’s historical accounts and presents 5 discoveries that verify the people and events recorded in the New Testament. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Associates for Biblical Research web...

We invited Christian apologist Pavel Svinukhov onto the podcast to share his insights on how you can prepare your Muslim friend’s heart to hear the Gospel. Pavel lays out the ways you can challenge your Muslim friend’s core beliefs and reveals what you should avoid when trying to reach them for Christ.  📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Christ Underground Skool (resource hub) Christ Undergro...

Should Christians hang out with people who don’t follow Jesus? And should Christians go to parties with them when they know it’s not a “Christian” party? In this episode, we invite Mike McGarry of Youth Pastor Theologian to share his insight on how young Christians can love their non-Christian friends, while still pursuing holiness in their Christian walk. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Y...

Is the Old Testament historically accurate? In this episode, we welcome archaeologist Bryan Windle from Associates for Biblical Research . Bryan answers questions about how archaeology can confirm the accuracy of the Bible’s historical accounts and shares 5 discoveries that verify the events and people recorded in the Old Testament. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Associates for Biblical R...

Many Christians struggle with the question, “how do I know I’m really saved?” But even after reading the popular advice available on the Internet, some walk away still doubting their salvation. So, in this episode, special guest Matt Bellefeuille explains what he thinks doubters need to understand about salvation in order to answer their big questions and feel assured that that they are truly part...

If you’re a Christian preparing to attend a secular college or university, you might worry about losing your faith or wonder how you can grow in your faith at school. So, in this episode, Shawn invites his daughters onto the podcast to share their experiences as Christian students attending secular universities. While every student’s journey looks different, their stories may encourage you that it...

Are you struggling with internet addiction? In this episode, Scott and Shawn consider how Jesus would think about internet addiction. They discuss its causes and consequences, uncover the spiritual issue lying behind it all, and give some practical steps you can take to overcome your internet addiction. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: The Anxious Generation , by Jonathan Haidt The Center f...

Did you know that distraction has serious implications for your mental and spiritual health? In this episode, Scott and Shawn continue their discussion about learning to think like Jesus in a digital age. They unpack and discuss both the physical and spiritual cost of the constant distractions facing us in our digital environment. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: The Anxious Generation , by...

Meet the entire team as we recap the many ways we’ve seen God at work through the ministries of Prepared to Answer, Doubters Welcome, and Youth Pastor Theologian in 2025. And, to give you a small taste of what you can expect to see coming in 2026. 📖 Resources mentioned in this episode: Doubters Welcome website  Youth Pastor Theologian Website  YPT Curriculum  Matt’s video on spiritual abuse Doubt...

Have you ever had doubts about the trustworthiness of the gospels or if the Christmas story is really historical? In this episode from the archives, Scott and Shawn discuss why we can have confidence that the Christmas story is true. They answer questions about supposed contradictions between the gospel accounts, the differences in genealogies between Matthew and Luke, the dating of the gospels, a...

Excessive cell phone use and poor sleep patterns often go hand in hand. But aside from the physiological and mental health impact, Christians must also become aware of the spiritual significance of sleep. In this episode, Scott and Shawn continue the journey of learning to think like Jesus by looking at the problem of sleep deprivation in our digital age from the standpoint of what God tells us ab...

Current research is revealing the connection between the amount of time people spend online and our present mental health crisis. But what can we really do about it when smartphones have become virtually indispensable? In this episode, Scott and Shawn consider how Jesus would think about life in a digital age and uncover some important insights from the Bible’s Grand Story concerning the danger an...

Anxiety is often associated with worry. But there is another side to anxiety that is not restricted to the level of our conscious thinking — and it isn’t solved by simply thinking it away or having “more faith”. In this episode, Scott and Shawn take a look at anxiety through the lens of science and the Bible to understand its relationship to the human body — and, they consider how Jesus and other...

Jesus had a lot of different things he could have been anxious about, but he did not seem to live in constant worry. And, he didn’t focus his energy on trying to control his circumstances. How could this be? In this podcast episode, Scott and Shawn consider what shaped Jesus’ thinking about anxiety and how thinking like Jesus can help Christians deal with worry and anxiety today. 📖 Resources ment...

Our culture tends to consider good self-esteem as the foundation for having good mental health. But is self-esteem really the right place to ground our mental wellness? Scott and Shawn uncover how Jesus’ thinking runs against the grain of much of today’s conventional “self-help” wisdom — most notably, in what Jesus saw as the ultimate foundation or starting point for good mental health. 💬 Text us...

Mental health and mental illness are among the greatest concerns to our society today. But with so many competing voices in our culture offering diagnosis or cures, how can Christians wade into a sometimes confusing, but highly personal and important subject? Scott and Shawn begin a series of discussions on learning to think like Jesus about mental health by setting the stage for how we want to ap...

How is Hell fair? Is belief in Hell toxic? Is Hell actually biblical? Should we believe in Hell as eternal torment or a place of annihilation? In this encore episode from the podcast archives, Scott and Shawn help answer these questions as they walk through God’s Word to help you understand the concept of eternal punishment in the context of the glory of God. 📖 Episode Resources:  John Piper,  De...

Scott and Shawn tackle the question of why God allowed evil by showing you how to give a quick response to this challenge, by explaining the pitfalls of a common response that is often given for the problem of evil, and by giving an in‑depth response to the problem of evil that will help you consider God’s ultimate purpose and destiny for his Creation. Tune in to learn more in this encore episode...

What are God’s goals for you in your search for a spouse? Can you date someone who isn’t a Christian? How can Christians even begin to date in a godly way when Jesus didn’t even talk about dating? In this episode, Scott and Shawn take a look at dating through the mind of Jesus in order to help Christians align themselves with God’s goals and purposes before they start dating. 📖 Episode Resources:...

Self-care is seen as a necessary part of life, but how can young Christians learn to reconcile a culture that prizes “self-care” while following a Saviour who calls them to “lose their life” for the sake of his kingdom? What constitutes “good self-care” practices vs. “bad self-care” practices? In this episode, Scott and Shawn use the “think like Jesus framework” to consider how Jesus would think a...