Coffeehouse Questions With Ryan Pauly

Should we call people in power bad names? Jesus did! | Q&A by Ryan Pauly

Have you struggled to have a consistent and productive devotional time? Have you found it difficult to study the Bible and live like Jesus? My guest, Sean Arviso, joins the show to look at his book, "Challenge Through the Book of Genesis," and give practical steps to improve your quiet time with God.

Alisa Childers and I evaluate a core component of progressive Christianity called "deconstruction," the process of re-thinking everything you've been taught or believed about God and Jesus. Our goal is to highlight the true gospel of Jesus Christ so that Christians end up building a stronger faith. Here is the problem. Progressive Christianity is not simply another gospel. It is a false gospel.

"It can often seem that, in the 21st century, we have no need for religion when science has given us so many insights into the mysteries of this universe. Science and religion just do not mix."

Climate change is often viewed as a heated political topic. However, some may be surprised to learn that scientists have been talking about the topic for well over a century! This discussion with Dr. Hugh Ross will not only look at Earth's current climate but also at the planet's captivating climate history. He will explain why it is that we have extreme climate stability and how that is evidence for a designer.

Some of the more popular objections against the soul, consciousness, the mind, and free will come from neuroscience. Studies done on the brain seem to suggest that our thoughts and choices are determined by brain chemistry. This, if true, would create serious problems for free will and the Christian view of the soul. However, does the evidence from neuroscience really lead to this conclusion? Dr. Mihretu Guta (Ph.D. in Philosophy at Durham University, UK) is a professor of Philosophy at Biola University and Azusa Pacific University. His specialties include the philosophy of cognitive neuroscience and the philosophy of quantum physics. He joined the show to help us understand what neuroscience really says about the existence (or non-existence) of the soul.

Cold-case homicide detective, J. Warner Wallace, will be joining the show to discuss the nature of evidence, evidence for God, and the difference between belief that God exists and belief in God. Come join our conversation and bring your challenging questions about the evidence for Christianity!

Jimmy Davis (Associate Pastor at Jericho Road Church), Neal Hardin (nealhardin.com) and I did an impromptu Q&A after filming a 6-week small group study.

"The definition of grace in Mormonism is different from what the Bible teaches. Mormons are taught that grace is nothing more than God's 'enabling power' to help them keep commandments in order to qualify for exaltation. However, by using the example of Abraham and the teaching of Paul, Christians can explain a clear scriptural understanding of God's grace." - Loren Pankratz, "Sharing the Good News with Mormons" edited by Eric Johnson and Sean McDowell, p. 263. Loren Pankratz is the pastor of The Bridge Community in Centerville, Utah. Loren graduated from Chapman University with a double major in religion and philosophy. He went on to earn a master's of divinity from Princeton Theological Seminary and a doctorate of ministry from Talbot School of Theology.

Atheist conversation on morality. What do I mean by wrong? If God's nature is the standard of morality, what if God's nature is rape? What is the Bible's view of slavery? Have you struggled with your faith? How do we talk to a Satanist about God? Why pray to God and thank him for healing you when he caused/allowed that bad thing in the first place? Why wouldn't you be mad at God?

Part 2 of our conversation focuses on responding to arguments presented by pro-choice advocates. The abortion debate is one of the more controversial issues of our day, but this shouldn't keep us from discussing this important issue. It may seem overwhelming, but it comes down to one simple question, "What is the unborn?" As Greg Koukl says, "If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human person, no justification for abortion is adequate.” Megan Almon joins the show to help us understand and discuss this important issue. She has been a speaker with the Life Training Institute since 2009. During her time there, she has trained tens of thousands of individuals to articulate and defend the pro-life view.

The abortion debate is one of the more controversial issues of our day, but this shouldn't keep us from discussing this important issue. It may seem overwhelming, but it comes down to one simple question, "What is the unborn?" As Greg Koukl says, "If the unborn is not a human person, no justification for abortion is necessary. However, if the unborn is a human person, no justification for abortion is adequate.” Megan Almon joins the show to help us understand and discuss this important issue. She has been a speaker with the Life Training Institute since 2009. During her time there, she has trained tens of thousands of individuals to articulate and defend the pro-life view.

Why don't Christians accept Mormons as Christians? How am I supposed to talk to my Mormon neighbor? Is there any archaeology supporting the Book of Mormon? How do Mormonism and Christianity differ on their view of God and Jesus? Maybe you haven't had these questions, but you have wondered something else. Join the show LIVE to have your pressing questions about Mormonism and Christianity answered. Bill McKeever, founder of Mormonism Research Ministry, will be answering your questions so that you can more confidently talk to the Mormons in your life. He has written various books on Mormonism (listed below). He also serves as the editor of "Mormonism Researched" and is the host of the daily radio program, "Viewpoint on Mormonism."

Does objective morality exist, or is it relative? How is objective morality used to argue for the existence of God? Aren't there better naturalistic explanations? Dr. Greg Ganssle joins the show to answer these questions and more! Dr. Ganssle is a professor of philosophy at Talbot School of Theology. He was part-time lecturer in the philosophy department at Yale and a senior fellow at the Rivendell Institute at Yale. His work explores the intersection of Christian faith and contemporary scholarship. Dr. Ganssle earned his PhD in Philosophy from Syracuse University where his dissertation on God’s relation to time won a Syracuse University Dissertation Award.

I have doubts. We all have doubts. But it shouldn't stop there at admitting them, because doubts are not neutral. They are taking us down a path. They can either lead us to confusion and hopelessness, or they can deepen our dependence on God and motivate us to find the answers to life's big questions. Don't let your doubts lead you to unbelief. Learn to move in the right direction and doubt toward faith. Bobby Conway, the One Minute Apologist, is a husband, father, apologist, author, speaker, and friend. He earned a Masters of Theology from Dallas Theological Seminary, a Doctorate of Ministry in Apologetics from Southern Evangelical Seminary, and he is currently wrapping up a Ph.D. in the Philosophy of Religion at the University of Birmingham (England).

This is part 2 of my conversation with Greg Koukl. Our conversation, based on Greg's book, "Tactics," will help you initiate conversations effortlessly, present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively, graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking, skillfully manage the details of dialogue, and maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack.

This is part 1 of my conversation with Greg Koukl. Our conversation, based on Greg's book, "Tactics," will help you initiate conversations effortlessly, present the truth clearly, cleverly, and persuasively, graciously and effectively expose faulty thinking, skillfully manage the details of dialogue, and maintain an engaging, disarming style even under attack.

"How do we apply the essence of the gospel to a gay loved one? In what ways can we better walk with truth and grace alongside a fellow Christian with same-sex attractions? Holy Sexuality and the Gospel offers theological and practical insights that lead us to find our identity in Christ, not our sexuality. Whether you want to share Christ with a loved one who identifies as gay or you are wrestling with questions of identity yourself, this book [and conversation] will help you better understand sexuality in light of God's grand story and realize that holy sexuality is actually good news for all."

Ryan gives the expanded version of a short YouTube video, "6 Scientific Observations Consistent with the Bible."

Dr. William Lane Craig joined the live stream to answer your objections and questions on the arguments for God's existence. We also took your questions on anything related to Christianity, philosophy, and apologetics.