Developing Spiritual Street Smarts (with Greg Koukl)
Dec 28, 2023
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Greg Koukl, an expert in defending the Christian faith, discusses strategies for navigating tough spiritual conversations in his new book 'Street Smarts'. Topics covered include answering objections to Christianity such as evil, slavery, and contradictions in the Bible. He also talks about engaging with different beliefs, the problem of evil from an atheistic perspective, and tactics for sharing faith and discussing apologetics.
Gardening in evangelism focuses on nurturing and planting seeds over achieving immediate results.
Using questions to address objections and challenges can reveal flaws in opposing viewpoints and shift the burden of proof onto the other person.
Deep dives
The Importance of Gardening in Evangelism
The podcast episode explores the concept of gardening in evangelism, which involves offering different ideas over time to persuade people to believe in Christianity. The host emphasizes that the harvest is not the primary focus, but rather the process of nurturing and planting seeds. The speaker shares personal experiences of mistakes made when engaging skeptics and non-believers, leading to the realization that current evangelism methods may not align with how evangelism was practiced in the New Testament. The importance of giving Christians gardening tools and focusing on the process rather than closing the deal is highlighted.
Understanding and Overcoming Evangelism Challenges
The speaker acknowledges the difficulty of engaging in evangelistic conversations and shares personal struggles in evangelism. He argues that evangelism is challenging for most individuals and highlights the unique pressures faced in today's anti-Christian culture. The concept of street smarts is introduced, emphasizing the need to navigate and engage in conversations in vulnerable situations. The speaker encourages individuals to develop spiritual street smarts by starting small, learning from others, and gradually venturing out of their comfort zones.
The Power of Questions in Challenging Beliefs
The podcast episode emphasizes the significance of using questions to address objections and challenges to Christianity. The speaker advocates for listening and understanding the other person's beliefs before posing questions that reveal flaws and contradictions in their worldview. By allowing the other person to articulate their beliefs and rationale, the burdens of proving and defending their views are shifted onto them. The speaker provides examples of using questions to address topics like evil, the Bible's endorsement of slavery, and the Trinity, revealing the weaknesses in opposing viewpoints.
Starting Small and Building Confidence in Apologetics
The podcast encourages individuals to start their apologetics journey by asking simple questions and actively listening to others' perspectives. By focusing on gathering information and seeking clarity, individuals can gradually gain confidence in engaging in apologetic conversations. The speaker acknowledges that even seasoned apologists still have fears and concerns but emphasizes the importance of equipping oneself with tactical tools and strategies. The goal is to foster critical thinking and encourage individuals to navigate tough conversations in a genial and comfortable way.
Evil. Slavery. Contradictions in the Bible. How can we best answer the top objections to the Christianity? Greg Koukl has taught numerous people how to defend the Christian faith against the toughest questions. His earlier book, Tactics is a must-read book. In fact, we have Greg teach a full class for our Biola MA apologetics program on that book. He has a new book out called Street Smarts, in which he offers even further strategies for navigating spiritual conversations. Join Scott and Sean for this great conversation with Greg.
Greg Koukl serves as President of Stand to Reason. which he founded in 1993. He has spoken on more than 70 college and university campuses both in the U.S. and abroad and has hosted his own call-in radio show for 27 years, advocating for “Christianity worth thinking about.” An award-winning writer and best-selling author, Greg has written seven books, and has been featured on Focus on the Family radio and has been interviewed for CBN and the BBC. He's been quoted in Christianity Today, the U.S. News & World Report, and the L.A. Times.
Think Biblically: Conversations on Faith and Culture is a podcast from Talbot School of Theology at Biola University, which offers degrees both online and on campus in Southern California.
To submit comments, ask questions, or make suggestions on issues you'd like us to cover or guests you'd like us to have on the podcast, email us at thinkbiblically@biola.edu.
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