In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Mike D'Virgilio on the topic of apologetics for parents. He is author of the book The Persuasive Christian Parent: God’s Provision for Building an Enduring Faith in You and Your Children.www.persuasivechristianparent.com0:44 - Introduction to our Mike D'Virgilio and the topic of parenting with apologetics4:25 - Mike’s background and how he got into apologetics6:59 - What inspired Mike to write a book on apologetics and parenting7:50 - J.P. Moreland’s endorsement, and the importance of using apologetics when raising your kids11:43 - The plausibility of Christianity, and the threat of children falling away from the faith16:06 - The importance of emphasising the truth18:07 - Emphasising reality and the facts of life experience20:47 - Embedding right expectations in our kids23:06 - The outline of topics covered in the Persuasive Christian Parent book25:23 - Plausibility structures, certainty, and epistemology29:34 - Ways that we can approach bringing apologetics into our parenting31:48 - Should we just let our children just find their own way, or are we brainwashing them?33:30 - Loving the Lord with all our mind, AND training our kids35:18 - Are there ways you would have raised your kids differently?35:44 - Modelling and not being afraid to allow your kids to see you fail37:06 - How to teach kids about controversial topics43:05 - Where to find Mike’s book and resources:www.persuasivechristianparent.comIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Jim Beitler, Associate Professor of English at Wheaton College, and author of Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church as well as Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our Words (with co-author Richard Hughes Gibson). They discuss rhetoric and communication in relation to Christian Apologetics.0:27 - Introduction to rhetoric and Jim Beitler4:36 - Jim’s background and books5:37 - What is rhetoric?6:32 - How Jim got interested in rhetoric7:18 - How has rhetoric been taught, and how has that changed?10:20 - Can rhetoric be taught?11:48 - Why should anyone care about rhetoric in the church?14:20 - Are you an effective communicator or not?15:44 - Doesn’t the Bible argue against using rhetoric?19:11 - How the book is laid out and the ground it covers22:52 - C.S. Lewis as a rhetorician25:25 - How we need rhetoric now more than ever27:19 - Dietrich Bonhoeffer on preaching and rhetoric30:37 - Rhetoric in sermons and preaching33:37 - How to apply the tools of rhetoric with discernment38:20 - Modern thinkers and communicators we can learn from41:49 - Being culture makers42:40 - Some pitfalls to avoid 45:13 - A teaser for Charitable Writing• James Beitler at Wheaton• Seasoned Speech: Rhetoric in the Life of the Church• Charitable Writing: Cultivating Virtue Through Our WordsIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview archaeologist Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology.0:29 - Introducing Ted Wright of Epic Archaeology2:00 - What got Ted into archaeology?4:00 - What you’ll find at EpicArchaeology.org6:12 - More about Ted’s background in apologetics 9:44 - What is the actual job of an archaeologist?15:30 - Being chased by Nazis19:03 - The role that archaeology plays in defending the Bible?23:00 - “Archaeological evidence for Jesus does not exist…”29:40 - What sorts of things in the Holy Land are legit?35:43 - Unpacking archaeological evidence for the exodus 48:39 - Dating of the exodus 56:04 - How to think through the accounts of “the Canaanite genocide question”1:03:00 - Cool archaeological discoveries that support the Old and New Testaments1:13:00 - Where to find more great archaeological resources:ESV and NIV Archaeological Study BibleThe Case for Biblical Archaeology by Dr. John CurridDoing Archaeology in the Land of the Bible by Dr. John CurridEpicArchaeology.orgEpic Archaeology on YouTubePodcast: Monocle and SpadeIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview comedian Michael J. Nelson about his work in comedy, his apologetics podcast, sharing the faith and what he’s learned from watching the worst movies of all time.0:56 - Intro to a unique interview with Michael J. Nelson2:30 - Who is Mike Nelson and what is Mystery Science Theater 3000?4:05 - How did MST3K come about?5:00 - How Mike became a Christian and what inspired him to make an apologetics podcast? (Like Trees Walking)7:20 - Did apologetics play a big role in Mike’s life?9:30 - The role of apologetics with interactions with friends and family relationships12:19 - Biggest apologetic influences13:34 - What does “Like Trees Walking” mean as a podcast title?16:13 - How to be a Christian in the entertainment industry18:12 - Rifftrax - and does making that kind of content get old?20:34 - Navigating the ins and outs of humor and Hollywood content23:38 - Profound wisdom learned from watching culture’s garbage24:52 - Mike’s take on “Christian movies” and entertainment27:15 - The worst movie of all time28:10 - The most over-rated movie franchise of all time30:20 - Favorite argument for the existence of God31:45 - Mike’s worst stand-up comedy bomb ever35:05 - Trapped in an elevator with Richard Dawkins36:44 - “Do you like movies about gladiators?”38:05 - What persuades you most the Christianity is true?42:16 - What is the most quotable movie?45:10 - Mike’s sound rig setup, and a story of 8 billion pennies46:50 - Where to find all Mike’s stuffLike Trees Walking (Apologetics podcast)liketreeswalkingpod.comRifftrax.comCommentaries for B-movie oddities and Hollywood blockbusters.372 Pages We’ll Never Get Backhttp://372pages.com/If you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten, Chad Gross and The Belfast Bigot interview Katy Faust about the global children’s rights movement (and book): Them Before Us.0:38 - Pre-show chat; The Belfast Bigot and the original Bigot.2:38 - Introduction to Katy Faust and how she got into running a global children’s rights movement6:43 - How Katy went from being anonymous to going public 7:49 - How Katy influenced the Belfast Bigot9:40 - The goal of the Them Before Us movement / organization13:36 - How does Katy hear from kids whose parents prioritize their own desire above children's rights 15:31 - What do we mean when we talk about “rights”?20:09 - Why children’s rights is something that all political parties should prioritize24:33 - Three staples of a child’s social/emotional diet25:27 - How dads are not always the idiots; men and women are different32:58 - “How are you not pushing a religious view?” and “you’re just shrouding religious views in secular arguments.”36:11 - Let the data do the talking; disagreeing with reality and biology38:21 - Can’t same-sex parents do just as good of a job at raising kids?41:44 - “You’re just hand-picking these stories!”44:20 - The data we do and don’t have; society is experimenting 47:34 - The psychological damage to children from losing a parent50:13 - The practical application of “Them Before Us”53:38 - How does one engage with these topics when people are so quick to label you a bigot or a -phobe?57:52 - Having reasonable conversations1:00:17 - Discussion of exceptions to the rules; dishonest argumentation; appeals to acceptance, etc.1:05:28 - Reproductive technologies and the buying and selling of humans1:07:51 - Where to find more resourceswww.thembeforeus.comIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian philosopher Ken Samples on topics from his newest book Christianity Cross-Examined. This is part 2 of a 2-part interview.2:03 - The types of questions people are asking today about Christianity. Killing in the name of God, the Crusades, violence, etc.4:19 - Approaching the subject of slavery. What does the Bible actually say?10:43 - What about killing in the name of God?18:01 - What about so-called genocides in the Bible?25:03 - Presuppositional approaches to moral objections against God.28:44 - What about hypocrisy in the church?37:06 - Walking through healing from wounds from fallen leaders.42:08 - Brian’s encouragement and prayer.47:08 - Ken’s encouragement for those who do not believe.www.reasons.orgIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Christian philosopher Ken Samples on topics from his newest book Christianity Cross-Examined. This is part 1 of a 2-part interview.1:33 - Chad’s twitter encounters for the week.6:43 - Weekly Mailbag8:14 - Intro to Ken Samples9:34 - Welcome to Ken Samples9:52 - Ken’s current work and what he’s seeing in apologetics today.11:28 - The need and impact of logic and critical thinking.12:22 - The goal of the Ken’s book14:16 - Two types of atheists Ken has encountered.16:46 - What has contributed to the shift in what sorts of questions people are asking about Christianity?20:19 - The impact of rhetoric in influencing people for or against the Gospel.22:41 - The power of a cumulative case; the way inductive, deductive and abductive arguments work.23:51 - Abduction as a form of reasoning.31:06 - If God really existed, we wouldn’t need arguments…39:54 - How Christianity welcomes science and reason.41:31 - The three things you need in order to do science.48:26 - A discussion on analogies for the trinity.54:30 - Where to start when talking to others about Jesus. A discussion of apologetic methodology.www.reasons.orgIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross make a case for doing apologetics and talk about how YOU can get apologetics into YOUR church.0:50 - Rapid fire questions with Chad.1:29 - Is “someone with an experience never at the mercy of someone with an argument”?9:45 - Why the resurrection is Chad’s favorite argument11:37 - Introduction to getting apologetic in your church12:29 - Geisler’s case for apologetics in general19:47 - Apologetics modelled in scripture26:27 - 7 Reasons why the church needs apologetics32:58 - How Truthbomb apologetics started in the local church38:38 - How Brian started a Reasonable Faith chapter40:53 - The 2-part ebook How to Get Apologetics in Your Church44:47 - The benefits of starting a local group48:22 - The community aspect of your own apologetics study group52:35 - The quickest advice for starting something in your churchResources: How to Get Apologetics in Your Church e-book Part 1http://apologetics315.com/media/Apologetics-In-Church-Podcast/HowtoGetApologeticsinYourChurch.pdfHow to Get Apologetics in Your Church Podcast Part 1https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/how-to-get-apologetics-in-your-church/id392080138How to Get Apologetics in Your Church e-book Part 2http://apologetics315.s3.amazonaws.com/church-apologetics-2/How%20to%20Get%20Apologetics%20in%20Your%20Church%202.pdfHow to Get Apologetics in Your Church Podcast Part 2https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/how-to-get-apologetics-in-your-church-2/id522500696http://apologetics315.blogspot.com/2012/05/how-to-get-apologetics-in-your-church-2_828.htmlhttp://apologetics315.blogspot.com/2010/09/how-to-get-apologetics-in-your-church.htmlhttps://www.reasonablefaith.org/chapters/If you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross address a listener question about prophecy, discuss recent books they have been reading, and explore some thoughts on the reality of spiritual warfare in the Christian life.Links mentioned in the show:• Wayne Grudem’s Systematic Theologyhttps://www.amazon.com/Systematic-Theology-Second-Introduction-Biblical-ebook/dp/B085XNN5H1• Wayne Grudem’s podcast episode on prophecyhttps://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/gifts-of-the-holy-spirit-prophecy/id322844869?i=1000082948644• Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brookshttps://www.amazon.com/Precious-Remedies-Against-Satans-Devices/dp/B01COQNXQ0• Abide in Christ by Andrew Murrayhttps://www.amazon.com/Andrew-Murray-Books-Abide-Christ-ebook/dp/B076QFY8D6If you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com

In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview Dr. Stephen C. Meyer on his latest book Return of the God Hypothesis.0:43 - Intro to Dr. Stephen Meyer, author of Return of the God Hypothesis, Signature in the Cell, and Darwin’s Doubt.3:00 - Dr. Meyer’s background, education, and how he got interested in the question of intelligent design.9:58 - Meyer’s view of science and philosophy of science, the importance for understanding philosophy when doing science.16:28 - reviewing five centuries of the history of science, the false idea that science and religion have always been at war.23:49 - The reason for telling the story of the rise of science, the rejection of the God hypothesis, and its subsequent return based on the most recent scientific discoveries.28:15 - Explaining the methodology of inference to the best explanation. How this fits within theistic apologetics.36:30 - Is our goal truth, or a pre-commitment to naturalism? What challenges has Meyer faced when arguing for intelligent design?39:45 - Are there problems with postulating a mind as an intelligent cause? Are certain explanations “out of bounds” when doing science?43:00 - Shannon information43:55 - The origin of the universe, the fine-tuning of the universe, and the information in the cell. Resistance to change from a materialistic worldview.47:40 - Huge theistic implications and the corresponding push-back to them.49:15 - Helpful illustrations to explain the fine-tuning of the universe for life.53:38 - Douglas Adams’ “puddle objection” to the fine-tuning argument; the response, and a counter-analogy. The weak-anthropic principle.58:50 - How might these arguments fit into an apologetic for Christianity? The role of natural theology and the need for special revelation. The false dichotomy between evidentialism and presuppositional apologetics. www.returnofthegodhypothesis.comIf you have a question for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at podcast@apologetics315.com