

Think Well
Ryan Pauly
Training Christians to THINK WELL by curating conversations with Christian thinkers and giving a framework for engaging the culture with a biblical worldview.
Ryan Pauly has been working with students for over a decade as a high school teacher, missionary, and apologist. He is the Founder and President of Think Well, an organization focused on training Christians to engage the culture with a biblical worldview, and the Director of Immersive Experiences at MAVEN. Ryan holds a B.A. in theology and youth leadership from Vanguard University, an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Biola University, and is pursuing a doctorate in cultural engagement from Talbot School of Theology. Ryan lives in Southern California with his wife and two sons. He enjoys watching hockey, roasting coffee, and playing with his boys.
Ryan Pauly has been working with students for over a decade as a high school teacher, missionary, and apologist. He is the Founder and President of Think Well, an organization focused on training Christians to engage the culture with a biblical worldview, and the Director of Immersive Experiences at MAVEN. Ryan holds a B.A. in theology and youth leadership from Vanguard University, an M.A. in Christian apologetics from Biola University, and is pursuing a doctorate in cultural engagement from Talbot School of Theology. Ryan lives in Southern California with his wife and two sons. He enjoys watching hockey, roasting coffee, and playing with his boys.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 4, 2022 • 1h 7min
Read Scripture Carefully & Ask The Right Questions To Avoid These 10 Common Mistakes
The Bible can be a difficult book to understand, and it is often argued about, but not all interpretations are correct. There are right and wrong interpretations, and it is the reader's job to figure out what Scripture actually means. Today's show will go over 10 common mistakes and how to correct them. I will also share my Bible reading strategies. I hope this show encourages you to dive into God's Word with excitement and joy!

May 21, 2022 • 1h 8min
There Must Be Sexual Boundaries, But Where's The Line?
"We can see how pedophilia, polygamy, etc have their issues. What is inherently so wrong about same-sex? What if all the other parameters of a same-sex couple are spot on with what Christians should be/do? Why would that criteria mess up everything?" I will address this question and more in today's show!

May 7, 2022 • 1h 11min
Why Christianity Isn't Just Guilt Trips and Pascal's Wager
I made a video back in 2020 titled "3 Reasons Why People Don't Believe in God." I received a comment offering 8 responses to my views. Today's show will be my thoughts on those 8 points.

Apr 28, 2022 • 1h 16min
3 Different Responses To "My Body, My Choice" (Josh Brahm)
What do you do when a pro-choice advocate grants that the unborn is a valuable human being but still believes that abortion should be allowed? This conversation will help you understand where pro-life and pro-choice people disagree and help you understand what is meant by "My body, my choice" so that you can respond more persuasively.

Apr 12, 2022 • 1h 3min
A Better Explanation for Complex Biochemical Systems (Dr. Fazale Rana)
If the universe is fit for life, and biochemical systems are fit for their role in life, is it possible that everything is "fit for a purpose"?
Biochemist Fazale “Fuz” Rana is VP of Research and Apologetics at Reasons to Believe, an organization dedicated to communicating the powerful scientific support for Christianity. His books include "Origins of life," "Who Was Adam?," "Creating Life in the Lab," "Humans 2.0," "Thinking about Evolution," and "Fit for a Purpose."

Apr 2, 2022 • 60min
How The Pro-Life Movement Supports Abortion-Vulnerable Women (Natasha Smith)
"So many pro-life individuals don't understand what makes an unplanned pregnancy difficult or the fear factors that can validate a woman's choice to abort. Likewise, few women know about the many resources that could empower them to choose life. These real stories can both inform the church about the need for pro-life expression and offer tangible ways to love our neighbors well through unplanned grace."
Natasha Smith serves as the Creative Projects Manager at Save the Storks where she supports the pro-life movement by telling stories through writing, video, and photography. Her academic background is in communications and biblical theology and is currently seeking a Masters in Old Testament from Denver Seminary. Her love for the pro-life cause is grounded in the understanding that all life has value because every life is created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27).

Mar 26, 2022 • 1h 7min
"The Heavens Declare The Glory Of God" (Dr. Danny Faulkner)
See how astronomy speaks a powerful word about God as Creator.
Dr. Danny Faulkner has a Ph.D. in Astronomy and is the author of many books on the topic. After retiring as a professor of astronomy and physics, he assumed the position of astronomer at Answers in Genesis and the Creation Museum.

Mar 5, 2022 • 1h 7min
Compelling Reasons For God's Existence - February LIVE Q&A
Topics Covered
0:00 Introduction
1:00 6th Anniversary for my podcast!
6:16 Quick speaking update
8:32 What are the most compelling reasons for God's existence?
20:00 How do I talk to atheists about Jesus?
24:50 How can God be just if he forgives every sin?
27:07 What happens at final judgment if every Christian is already forgiven?
29:45 What if a murderer becomes a Christian?
31:38 Does God's forgiveness erase everything and no punishment applies?
32:09 Will the final judgment address those who got away without punishment in this life?
34:13 Should Christians be afraid of the final judgment?
36:15 What importance do we place on the fact that the women witnessed the resurrection, especially for the present day?
39:15 How can we tell other people about Jesus when they have another religion without offending them?
43:35 What does the Bible communicate about sexuality?
53:56 Is premarital sex a sin?
1:01:04 How am I supposed to know when I'm making a decision if it's right? Or when it honors God over myself?
1:04:50 What's coming next?

Feb 26, 2022 • 1h 5min
Training Students To Be In The World But Not Of It (Brett Kunkle)
We want our students to be influencers and to make a difference, but how can they do this without being influenced themselves? How can parents, teachers, and youth pastors come alongside students to help them navigate the cultural battles with truth and love? Join my conversation with Brett Kunkle if you want to learn how to help students engage today's cultural issues without being influenced themselves.
Brett Kunkle is the founder and president of MAVEN. He has more than 25 years of experience working with junior high, high school, and college students. Want to become better equipped to lead the next generation? Join the MAVEN Conference in person or online on March 18-19, 2022. https://www.mavenconferences.com/

Feb 19, 2022 • 1h 5min
Logical Fallacies And Arguments - An Introduction To Logic
Critical thinking not only helps you be more persuasive by thinking and speaking clearly, but it also keeps you from falling prey to bad ideas. Today's show will teach you to form persuasive deductive and inductive arguments and learn to spot different logical fallacies.