Hope's Reason: A Podcast of Apologetics

Cross of Suffering

hopesreason — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 16:33:22 +0000

Why did Jesus suffer on the cross? Christians know that Jesus died to pay the penalty of our sins. But does that exhaust the significance of the cross? This Good Friday message addresses the importance of the cross in understanding God’s response to our suffering.

Death of the Messiah Vol. 1

Death of the Messiah Vol. 2

Autism: Our Story

hopesreason — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 02:05:43 +0000

Autism is not just a word or a diagnosis. It is people. It is children and parents. It is trying to make the most of a difficult situation and relying on God’s little miracles. This is our story.

Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin

R - E - S - P - E - C - T

hopesreason — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 19:42:30 +0000

How should we do apologetics? Many people fall back on 1 Peter 3:15, which is good. But what does this verse really say? And do we really want to hear it?

Ethics of Evangelism

Jesus and Michael

hopesreason — Sun, 04 Mar 2012 02:03:10 +0000

Jehovah’s Witnesses believe that Jesus is not God. So what do they believe? They believe that Jesus is the archangel Michael. What?! This episode gives a brief response to this claim.

The Gospel Conspiracy

hopesreason — Tue, 21 Feb 2012 23:11:26 +0000

Why do we have the Gospels we have? What was wrong with the others? Who is responsible for these choices?

Who Are the Community of Christ?

hopesreason — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 22:29:35 +0000

Few Christians are aware of the Community of Christ, formerly known as the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. What do they believe? How are they different from the Utah Mormons? Can we accept them as orthodox Christians? This episode looks at these issues.

To Label or Not To Label

hopesreason — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:30:46 +0000

People are quick to label. Others are quick to reject labels. What should our attitude be toward labels? What are the advantages or disadvantages?

Is the God of the Qur’an the God of the Bible?

hopesreason — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:03:32 +0000

Do Christians and Muslims believe in the same God? Are Yahweh and Allah the same God? This message looks at this controversial subject.

Autism and the Local Church

hopesreason — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 23:43:33 +0000

This episode is very important to me. How can a local church support a family with autism? And what does that have to do with apologetics? Every church leader needs to know about this.

What Child is This?

hopesreason — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:56:14 +0000

Were the birth narratives as found in Matthew and Luke just legends that had to be inserted into an otherwise historical narrative? Did Matthew and Luke feel pressure to give Jesus a virgin birth? This Christmas episode looks at these very issues.

Experiencing God Without Losing Your Mind

hopesreason — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 20:43:41 +0000

Is Christianity all about experience? Or is Christianity all about intellectual discussion? Is it possible to experience God without checking our brains at the door? This episode is a sneak peek at the small group curriculum being developed called “Experiencing God Without Losing Your Mind.” The full material will be published when it is completed.

Is Teaching Children about God Really Child Abuse?

hopesreason — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 00:12:55 +0000

Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens consider childhood religious education to be child abuse. How do we respond and and is there anything we can learn from their criticism?

Resurrection on Trial

hopesreason — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 15:51:16 +0000

The resurrection of Jesus is central to Christian faith. The apostle Paul tells us that if Jesus was not really raised from the dead, we as Christians should be pitied. Did Jesus rise from the dead? In this episode we put the resurrection of Jesus on trial. On the topic of resurrection, I would like to recommend a couple of books:

N.T. Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God

Michael Licona, The Resurrection of Jesus

Are All Religions True?

hopesreason — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 19:42:47 +0000

It is common for people to claim that all religions are true. But what do they mean by that? What is the purpose of religion? This episode wrestles with this claim and argues that this well-meaning statement is in fact unreasonable.

A Little Truth Please?

hopesreason — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 19:13:46 +0000

What is truth? Is truth objective or subjective? This episode truly attempts to wrestle with these issues.

What I Learned From Christopher Hitchens

hopesreason — Tue, 27 Sep 2011 19:27:06 +0000

Christopher Hitchens wrote a bestseller a number of years ago called God is Not Great. While I disagree with almost everything he says, there is something in his book that is an important lesson for me.

O God, Where Art Thou?

hopesreason — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 20:15:57 +0000

The hiddenness of God has been said to be one of the most difficult obstacles to overcome in terms of believing in God. If God is real, why does he not just show himself? This episode looks at the hiddenness of God, from the perspective of the believer and the unbeliever.

Historical Jesus and the Early Church

hopesreason — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 19:09:13 +0000

Did the early church see Jesus as a historical figure or as an allegory? This episode looks at the attitudes of Irenaeus and Origen on the historical Jesus and the allegorical method. For more information, check out Unmasking the Pagan Christ by Stanley Porter and Stephen Bedard.

The Good News About the Gospels

hopesreason — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:26:33 +0000

Is there any good historical evidence for Jesus? What about the Gospels? Why do some critics discount them? This episode looks at four concerns that some critics have about using the Gospels as historical sources.

Did Paul Believe in the Historical Jesus?

hopesreason — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 01:20:00 +0000

Some who hold to the Jesus myth theory claim that Paul did not know of or did not believe in the historical Jesus. Is that the truth? This episode looks at 1 Corinthians and the evidence for Paul’s knowledge of an earthly Jesus. The journal article referred to in this episode can be found here: http://www.mcmaster.ca/mjtm/pdfs/vol7/MJTM_7-1_Bedard.pdf