Apologetics 315 Podcast

130 - Street Smarts with Greg Koukl

Apologetics 315 Podcast

Show Notes

In this episode of the Apologetics 315 podcast, hosts Brian Auten and Chad Gross interview renowned apologist Greg Koukl. Koukl is the founder of Stand to Reason, an organization that equips Christians to defend their faith and engage in meaningful conversations.

The discussion centers around using questions to have better conversations about Christianity, drawing from Koukl's books Tactics and his latest work Street Smarts. Koukl explains how questions can guide conversations in a more constructive direction and help "put a stone in someone's shoe" to get them thinking about faith topics.

Koukl outlines his "gardener approach" to evangelism, focusing more on asking thoughtful questions to plant seeds rather than trying to lead someone to a moment of conversion. He demonstrates this questioning approach through a roleplay conversation about the problem of divine hiddenness. Koukl responds to the objection by asking clarifying questions, correcting underlying assumptions, and presenting evidence for God's existence. This models how to have a relaxed yet thoughtful dialogue. Koukl emphasizes that the key is to gather information through questions, avoid preaching, and lead the person to put pieces on the table themselves. The goal is to get people thinking carefully about their beliefs and objections. Koukl's Tactics provide tools to engage skeptics without being confrontational.

Further resources… • Street Smarts: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/StreetSmarts • The Story of Reality: How the World Began, How It Ends, and Everything Important that Happens in Between - https://a315.co/3FpqFAl • Relativism: Feet Firmly Planted in Mid-Air - https://a315.co/3M4AMyr • Tactics, 10th Anniversary Edition: A Game Plan for Discussing Your Christian Convictions - https://a315.co/46YCclW • Street Smarts Study Guide: Using Questions to Answer Christianity's Toughest Challenges - https://a315.co/3tMmETZ

================================ We appreciate your feedback. If you’re on TWITTER, you can follow Chad @TBapologetics. You can follow Brian @TheBrianAuten And of course, you can follow @Apologetics315 If you have a question or comment for the podcast, record it and send it our way using www.speakpipe.com/Apologetics315 or you can email us at [email protected]

More from Apologetics 315 Podcast

Dec 12, 2025

🎙️ Show Notes: The Deity of Christ with Robert BowmanThis is a summary of the Apologetics 315 podcast episode featuring an interview with Rob Bowman. Bowman is the president of the Institute for Religious Research (IRR) in Cedar Springs, Michigan, and the author or co-author of 15 books on topics including apologetics, Christology, and the Trinity.This conversation, hosted by Brian Auten and Chad Gross , explores the evidence for the deity of Christ and how believers can be equipped to explain this core doctrine.🔑 Key Takeaways & Topics Guest Information: Rob Bowman is the president of the Institute for Religious Research (IRR) and has written or co-authored 15 books, including works on Christology and the Trinity. Book Focus: The discussion is based on two of Bowman's books:Putting Jesus in His Place: The Case for the Deity of Christ The Incarnate Christ and His Critics, a Biblical Defense

Nov 1, 2025

Summary: In this episode, Brian and Chad talk with Christian apologist and evangelist **Eric Hernandez** about his book *The Lazy Approach to Evangelism: A Simple Guide for Conversing with Non-Believers*. Eric discusses how evangelism and apologetics intersect, why every believer is called to defend the faith, and how to engage with skeptics effectively and biblically.

Oct 19, 2025

Guest: Braxton Hunter — President of Trinity College & Seminary, evangelist, apologist, host of Trinity Radio, debate partner with leading atheists including Matt Dillahunty and Dan Barker. Topics Covered

Jul 24, 2025

Summary In this episode, Brian Auten and Chad Gross welcome back philosopher and author **Peter S. Williams** to discuss his book, *Behold the Man: Essays on the Historical Jesus*. This engaging conversation explores the intersection of worldview, epistemology, and historical scholarship in the search for the real Jesus.

Jun 2, 2025

Summary Chad Gross interviews Dr. Christopher Cloos about the challenging Old Testament violence texts and his recent debate with theologian Randal Rauser. They explore the complexities of interpreting these texts, the role of moral intuition, and the contrasting views of covenant virtue ethics and providential errancy theory. The conversation delves into how moral intuitions can inform biblical interpretation while also addressing the potential pitfalls of subjectivity in understanding scripture. They explore how moral intuition can be used to interpret scripture, the implications of difficult passages, and the importance of engaging with differing views charitably. The conversation also highlights resources for further learning in this area.

See all episodes →