The Sean McDowell Show

What is the evidence Jesus is coming soon? What about the Millennium, the antichrist, and the "mark of the beast"? In this episode, Dr. John Lennox joins me to discuss his newest book on Revelation: "God, AI, and the End of History." We discuss his preferred interpretation, his suggests for how to read Revelation (and how NOT to read it), and what Revelation means for today. READ: "God, AI and the...

Why is identity such a crisis in our culture right now? We’re constantly told to “live your truth,” “follow your feelings,” and “be whoever you want to be.” But what if our feelings aren’t always telling us the truth and what if real freedom is actually found somewhere else? Today, I have Dr. JP Foster, senior pastor at Faithful Central Bible Church...

Where do Jews and Christians agree, and where do they disagree about Jesus, salvation, miracles, and the Messiah? In this conversation, I talk with Orthodox Jewish thinker Shabbos Kestenbaum, a grad from Harvard Divinity school, and a political commentator for Prager U. Let us know what you think of this dialogue and if you want more like it. FOLLOW Shabbos on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/...

What does it really mean to be Protestant? Is it simply “not Catholic,” or does it stand for a positive, historic, and biblically-rooted vision of Christianity? Today, I'm speaking with my Biola University colleague Dr. Fred Sanders. We discuss the meaning, history, and theological distinctives of Protestantism. Sanders explains why the term “Protestant” is often misunderst...

Do we need to rethink penal substitutionary atonement? According to a new popular book, the answer is a resounding YES. In his book "Lamb of the Free," Dr. Andrew R. Rillera argues against there is no such thing as substitutionary atonement in the Torah and that substitutionary atonement is both misguided and harmful. As far as I am aware, there has not been an in-depth response to this book. Dr....

What should Christians think about AI? Artificial Intelligence is reshaping culture, business, education, and even the way we think about human identity. In this roundtable conversation, I sit down with 3 Biola professors–and bonafide experts on AI-to explore how believers can navigate the rapidly changing world of AI with wisdom and clarity. WATCH: The End of the World? John Lennox on AI an...

When did Christians first recognize the biblical canon and how do we know we have the right books? Today, we have New Testament scholar Dr. Michael Kruger (The Question of Canon) to unpack what “canon” means, why recognition began far earlier than the 4th century, and how both intrinsic factors (covenant, apostles) and extrinsic factors (heretics like Marcion) shaped the process. We al...

What is God’s will and how do we actually find it? Does God still speak to us today, and if so, how can we recognize His voice? Today, we have author and apologist Greg Koukl, founder of Stand to Reason, about one of the most practical and misunderstood topics in the Christian life: how to make decisions that honor God. Greg challenges the common idea that Christians must wait for a “s...

Is it possible to survive inside a whale for 3 days and 3 nights? Critics often claim the biblical story of Jonah is scientifically impossible, but what if there’s more to it? In this episode, William P. Cheshire, M.D., a neurologist and professor, offers a scientific analysis of the biblical story. He discusses what modern whale research reveals, whether science and faith are truly in confl...

What happens when you’ve achieved everything you ever wanted, but yet God tells you it’s not the point? Tim Tebow opens up about his journey from NFL stardom to a life devoted to serving the Most Vulnerable People. He shares how God changed his definition of success, the lessons learned from failure, and the stories of the overlooked and abandoned that transformed his heart. He speaks...

Can houses actually be haunted, and if so, what kind of activity suggests it might be real? How should Christians respond when they sense their might be a demonic manifestation in their home? Author Karl Payne has personally dealt with demonic manifestation in both people and homes. He is the author of Spiritual Warfare: Christians, Demonization, and Deliverance. He takes my toughest questions on...

Steve Dabbs is a retired senior military chaplain with over 35 years of full-time expertise in pastoral care. Throughout his life and ministry, he has encountered demonic activity and today he's here to answer these questions: "Can a Christian be demonized?" "Are Christians Safe from Demonic Activity?" Steve's answers might surprise you, but they are rooted both in church history and scripture. RE...

Is “wokeness” really dead? Apologist Neil Shenvi is here to talk about the growing influence of critical theory in culture, the church, and the next generation. They discuss why wokeness isn’t just a passing trend but a worldview rooted in a new kind of moral framework one that’s shaping how young people think about justice, identity, and truth. Rising LGBTQ+ identification...

In this conversation, Catholic apologist Trent Horn is here to discuss his video asking 50 Catholics their favorite argument for God. This was actually a response to my video where I asked 100 apologists their favorite arguments for God. However, today we're discussing why evangelicals and Catholics often approach apologetics differently. Whether you’re a skeptic or believer, this episode ch...

Is there room in the church for a "flexible inerrancy," in which the Gospel writers adapted and invented sayings of Jesus according to their theological interests? For example, is it within the bounds of inerrancy to conclude that Jesus never said the words, "I thirst," although that sentiment captures his goals? These questions are at the root of a big debate within the evangelical church. And to...

What would it look like for revival to break out in the most restrictive places in the world? In this episode, I talk with Dr. Hormoz Shariat, a PhD in computer engineering, author of Iran’s Great Awakening, and the “Billy Graham of Iran.” Dr. Hormoz shares how he was born into Islam, lived through the Iranian Revolution, and still wrestled with questions of truth, injustice, and...

Today I have on apologist Mike Winger to explain why he pivoted his channel toward investigating abuse and false teaching in the church especially in settings where prophecy is practiced without accountability. He traces how “cover-up culture” forms, why some leaders stay silent, and how non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), intimidation,and platform protection can compound harm. He also l...

Is there a revival in America? In the wake of the recent tragedy of Charlie Kirk, many people are turning to church and God. How must we–as individuals and as a church–respond in our cultural moment? Allie Beth Stuckey is a well known guest and friend of the show and she is here today to share her observations, unique perspective, and offer encouragement for the church. Please share st...

Artificial intelligence is reshaping our world at lightning speed bringing both incredible possibilities and sobering dangers. But how should Christians think about AI in light of Scripture, and in particular the book of Revelation? In this conversation, Dr. John Lennox joins me to discuss his concerns about AI, but also his confidence in why the end of history will not come through AI or some oth...

Ruslan KD is one of the most popular and influential Christian YouTubers. He focuses on cultural analysis, from a biblical perspective, and challenges Christians to live out their faith. He has written a new book, Godly Ambition, which challenges Christians to strategically use their gifts to help advance the kingdom of God. In this interview, Ruslan shares his journey to faith, the motivation beh...

Today, I sit down with my 21-year-old son, Scottie, to briefly unpack a startling street conversation in New York City. While running a “Change My Mind” table at Union Square, he met a self-described Satanist who reached for tarot cards when asked about the identity of Jesus. According to my guest Steve Dabbs, author of "When Demons Surface," this was a genuine demonic encounter. We sh...

For the first time in history, archaeologists are excavating the ancient city of Colossae, the very place Paul addressed his letter to the Colossians and to Philemon. Dr. Arnold explains the significance of Colossae in the New Testament world, the challenges of getting an excavation approved in modern Türkiye, and what discoveries could reveal about the spiritual and cultural background behin...

Todd McFarlane is a legend in the comic world—co-creator of Venom, record-breaking Spider-Man artist, and the mind behind Spawn. But what does he really think about God? In this candid conversation, Todd opens up about his journey, his doubts, and why he once said, “I will never believe in God.” We also dive into creativity, comics, and the deeper questions behind the stories tha...

A new book is just out offering a way for Christians to have "constructive conversations on sexuality and gender." While I am fully in support of constructive conversations (one of my goals is to model them here on YouTube) this book deeply concerns me. In this video, I do a deep-dive with Dr. Scott Rae, my Talbot School of Theology colleague and Think Biblically Podcast co-host. Let me know what...

Gary Habermas was one of the first Christian scholars to study near-death experiences in the early 1970s. Thus, he has been studying them over 5 decades! How has the evidence changed? According to Dr. Habermas, we have hundreds of NEW documented, evidential cases just in the past few years. In this episode, I talk with Dr. Habermas about the cases he has collected and analyzed. Some involve accura...