December 13th, 2010
In this special edition of the PleaseConvinceMe Podcast, Jim posts an audio of his recent teaching about the problem of evil. This impromptu Blackberry recording (complete with barking dogs and student interaction) documents a recent 2 hour training for the Berkeley Missions Trip involving over 30 high school students as they prepare to engage atheist scholars and students on the campus of the University of California at Berkeley. Jim utilizes object lessons and media to teach about the problems of Moral, Natural, Bodily, Theistic and Christian evil.
Podcast Number One Hundred Eighty-One
What Is the Gift of Heaven?
December 6th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim follows the "Roman Road" as we examine the nature of the Gospel of Grace. How can we use Paul's Letter to the Romans to articulate the Gospel to our atheist friends and the importance of Grace to our friends who hold "works based" theological ideas? Also, Jim addresses an email question related to free will and the sovereignty of God.
Podcast Number One Hundred Eighty
Harry Potter, God's Nature and Christian Pacifism
November 29th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email related to the nature of God (as derived from the arguments for God's existence), our Christian response to secular media and movies like Harry Potter, and the Biblical evidence for the use of deadly force.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Nine
Reasoning the Nature of God
November 22nd, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines the nature of God from the arguments typically used to argue for God's existence. Do the four most common arguments for God's existence tell us anything about His nature? If God exists (as these arguments seem to indicate) what is He like? Also, Jim answers another atheistic claim that Jesus is merely a recreation of prior Egyptian mythologies.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Eight
The Burden of Proof, Truth, Gluttony, Pacifism and Atheist Pastors
November 14th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email related to Ayn Rand's claims related to the burden of proof, the nature of objective truth and the Christian Worldview, the manner in which the Church seems to promote gluttony, and reactions to the case for the Christian use of deadly force. In addition, Jim addresses a recent ABC.com story discussing two pastors who are atheists.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Seven
Radio Interviews About The Virgin Conception and Early Gospels
November 8th, 2010
This special edition podcast features two interviews with John and Kathy from WORDFM in Pittsburgh. Can you defend the virgin conception and the early dating of the Gospels in a conversational way? These two interviews may provide you with examples of how to make the case for an important Christian truth and how to defend the vital evidential nature of the Gospels.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Six
Who is Jesus According to Others?
November 1st, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines the way that major religious worldviews describe Jesus. Although they deny that Jesus is God, how do the world's religions describe Jesus? Why do they feel compelled to account for Jesus in the first place? Given that all major religions have a place for Jesus in their respective systems, shouldn't a true seeker examine what Christianity has to say about Jesus?
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Five
Welcome to College (An Interview with Jonathan Morrow)
October 25th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim interviews Jonathan Morrow, author of "Welcome to College: A Christ Follower's Guide to the Journey". This book is perhaps the single best resource that parents and students can access to prepare themselves for the challenges of the secular university setting. Jim and Jonathan discuss some of the challenges that await all of us as the influence of the university continues to impact our culture.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Four
Why Didn't Mary Recognize Jesus?
October 17th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim takes time to review the four parallel accounts of Mary's interaction with Jesus in the garden following His Resurrection. Why didn't Mary recognize Him instantly? Is this a proof that the Resurrection is a fraud? How are we to read the parallel accounts to determine if they contain contradictions? Also, Jim answers a question about Paul's view of Baptizing the Dead, and another question about unanswered prayer.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Three
Was Jesus Really Resurrected?
October 11th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim the case for the Resurrection of Jesus utilizing the "minimal facts" advocated by Gary Habermas and employing abductive reasoning in a manner similar to the approach taken by homicide investigators. Is the Resurrection of Jesus the most reasonable explanation of the historical evidence?
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-Two
The "Self-Fettered" Free Will of Man
October 4th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines human "free will" and compares "Libertarian" Free Will with "Compatibilist" Free Will. Are humans completely free to choose and do anything possible? How does human 'freedom' relate to God's 'election'? Also, Jim examines the latest Pew Research Poll related to the inability many Christians have in describing religious concepts, and Jim examines some of the media response to the Eddie Long scandal.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy-One
What Should We Expect If Jesus Really Lived?
September 26th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines the historical and cultural patterns that are created by true, historical "impact players". Does the life of Jesus reflect the historical pattern we should expect, and if so, does this help us to determine if Jesus really lived? Also, Jim answers listener email about war and Christian pacifism.
Podcast Number One Hundred Seventy
Is God Just a Human Invention? (Sean McDowell Interview)
September 20th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim interviews Sean McDowell and discusses his new book (co-written with Jonathan Morrow), "Is God Just a Human Invention? And Seventeen Other Questions Raised by the New Atheists". Jim also discusses objections to the miraculous that were classically offered by David Hume and repeated by the "New Atheists" in recent books and articles.
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Nine
The "Sure" Will of God
September 13th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email related to the sovereignty of God and the freedom of man. What does the Bible mean when it talks about the "will of God"? Jim also addresses a challenge from an atheist related to the reliability of the New Testament documents.
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Eight
What Do the Non-Canonical Gospels Say About Jesus? (Part 3)
September 6th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim finishes his examination of the ancient non-canonical writings by examining some of the better known (and more controversial) non-canonical texts.
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Seven
What Do the Non-Canonical Gospels Say About Jesus? (Part 2)
August 30th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim continues his examination of the ancient non-canonical writings to see what they say about Jesus.
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Six
What Do the Non-Canonical Gospels Say About Jesus? (Part 1)
August 23rd, 2010
In this podcast, Jim begins to examine the ancient non-canonical writings to see what they say about Jesus. Are these documents alternate eyewitness accounts? Do they express the truth about Jesus, lost over the centuries? Are there any good reasons for us to trust what they have to say, and do they agree with the New Testament documents in any way?
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Five
Questions About the Nature of Jesus
August 16th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email related to the nature of Jesus. How are we to understand the relationship between Jesus' humanity and His divinity? If there were times when He failed to use His divine power, does this mean that He lacked the power of God? Also, how do we know that the Gospels we have today are the same as the Gospels written in the 1st century?
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Four
A Podcast for Chris Hitchens
August 9th, 2010
Jim takes a break from his series on the nature and historicity of Jesus to talk directly to Christopher Hitchens following Chris' article in Vanity Fair, "Topic of Cancer". This special edition of the PleaseConvinceMe Podcast responds directly to Hitchens' comments about his own experience battling cancer, and offers the hope and reasonable perspective of the Christian Worldview.
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Three
Was Jesus Worshiped As God (and Did He Accept This Worship)?
August 2nd, 2010
The first century Jews knew better than to place their worship or adoration in anything other than the God who created the Universe; to do so would be to break the first commandment of God. Yet it seems that those closest to Jesus were eager to worship Him as God. What impact does this have on our understanding of the nature of Jesus?
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-Two
Does Jesus Possess the Nature of God?
July 27th, 2010
If there is a God, it is reasonable to believe that this God would have a number of classic attributes, including omniscience, omnipotence, omnipresence and omnibenevolence. What do the reliable eyewitness accounts tell us about the nature of Jesus? Does He possess the nature of God?
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty-One
Who Did Jesus Claim to Be?
July 20th, 2010
Even non-believers will often admit that Jesus was among the finest moral teachers the world has ever known. But part of Jesus' teaching involved proclamations related to his identity as God Himself. What did Jesus teach about his own identity?
Podcast Number One Hundred Sixty
Why We Can Trust What the Gospels Tell Us About Jesus
July 14th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines the New Testament Gospels as eyewitness accounts. Can they be trusted? Is there any criteria that can be used to determine their reliability? What can we learn from the way in which juries evaluate eyewitnesses in courts across America every day?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Nine
The Ebla Tablets, Moral Grounding, Ergun Caner and the Virgin Birth
July 5th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim responds to a number of listener emails. Do the Ebla Tablets truly verify the Old Testament? Can cultural evolution explain the existence of moral truth? Does Isaiah use a Hebrew word that means "virgin" or simply "young woman", and does it really matter? How should we respond to the recent demotion of Ergun Caner at Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Eight
Reflections on Missions, Evangelism, Epistemology and Evidence
June 29th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim reflects on his recent trip to Manti, Utah to share the Gospel of Grace with members of the LDS Church. What role does evidence and epistemology play in sharing the truth about God? Why does evidence matter, and how does God intend us to use evidence to understand the truth about Him?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Seven
Is the "Virgin Conception" True (and Can It Be Defended)?
June 19th, 2010
In the latest PleaseConvinceMe Podcast, Jim takes a thorough look at objections to the essential Christian claim that Jesus was conceived by the Holy Spirit and born to the Virgin Mary. Is the "virgin conception" a ridiculous claim that defies reason and is unsupported by the historical record?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Six
The PleaseConvinceMe Third Anniversary Podcast
June 14th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim celebrates three years of weekly podcasts with a conversation involving his college-aged sons. What are the challenges that are waiting for Christians in the University setting? Jim discusses the university life with Jimmy and David as they try to provide a snapshot of what's waiting for our kids.
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Five
Five Principles to Respond to Claims That Jesus is a Copy-Cat
June 7th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim again examines the claim that Jesus is simply a fictional reiteration of prior copy-cat mythologies and offers five basic principles necessary to examine the claims fairly. Jim then applies these five principles to a common atheist assertion that Psalm 23 is simply a copy of a Hymn to Osiris.
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Four
Evaluating the Gospels Like Jurors Evaluate Eyewitnesses
May 31st, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines the instructions currently offered to jurors as they examine eyewitnesses in criminal trials. Can these same instructions be applied to the Gospels as we examine them as eyewitness accounts of the life of Jesus? If so, what four principles should we apply to our examination of the Gospels?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Three
A Forensic Approach to the Issue of Abortion
May 24th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email related to a variety of topics, including the issue of abortion. What exactly is it that we are dealing with in the womb? Is there something we can learn from criminal investigations and jury trials that might help us to think properly about the nature of the embryo? Jim also addresses the concerns of an atheist related to the early dating of the Gospels.
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-Two
A Snapshot of the Next Generation of Christian Believers
May 17th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim interviews Brett Kunkle, the Student Impact Director from "Stand to Reason", in an effort to get a "snapshot" of youth ministries across the country and of the challenges that face young Christians.
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty-One
Are There Early Eyewitness Accounts of the Life of Jesus?
May 10th, 2010
Critics often claim that Jesus never really lived and that the Gospels were written centuries after his "supposed" life. These same critics claim that the Gospels are mythologies that appear late in history rather than eyewitness testimonies that first appeared within the lifetimes of eyewitnesses. Did the Gospels appear early enough to have been written by eyewitnesses?
Podcast Number One Hundred Fifty
Answering Objections to the Problem of Unanswered Prayer
May 3rd, 2010
In this podcast, Jim responds to the challenge of unanswered prayer. If the Christian God exists, why doesn't he consistently answer the prayers of his followers? The prayers of devout, deserving Christians go unanswered every day. Are these unanswered prayers evidence that the Christian God simply does not exist?
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Nine
Is Jesus Simply a "Copy Cat" of Horus or Osiris?
April 26th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim continues his series on the historicity and nature of Jesus Christ. Critics claim that Jesus is simply a re-telling of prior "dying savior" mythologies, copying many mythological characteristics related to birth stories, miraculous activities and other details. Jim also answers listener email related to the value of debates and the temptation toward "apologetics arrogance".
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Eight
Is Jesus Simply a "Copy Cat" of Mithras?
April 19th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim begins a series on the historicity and nature of Jesus Christ. Before we can even look at who Jesus claimed to "be", we need to make sure He existed in the first place! Critics claim that Jesus is simply a re-telling of the Mithras mythology, copying Mithras' virgin birth, death and resurrection and many other similar details. But is Jesus truly this similar to Mithras?
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Seven
Apologetics in the House Church Setting
April 12th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim records a portion of a weekly apologetics house church meeting in an effort to help people understand how apologetics can be taught and embraced by the local church community!
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Six
The Nature of Church, The Nature of God's Voice, The Nature of Truth
April 5th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email addressing important issues and challenges to Christianity. Is there a broader explanation for the exodus of young people from the Church? Can the challenges facing the Church be addressed in the current form of the American "Churchianity"?
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Five
A Triune Approach to Curing What Ails the Church
March 29th, 2010
While many of us describe ourselves as Christians, few of us are able to articulate Christian Orthodoxy. Fewer and fewer Christians are Biblically literate and many Christians hold non-Biblical ideas about the nature of God, Jesus and Salvation. In this podcast, Jim describes a three-pronged approach to "Church life" that may help solve some of these problems.
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Four
A Christian Perspective Regarding the Recently Passed Health Care Bill
March 22nd, 2010
As Christians, should we support legislation such as the recently passed Health Care Reform Bill? Are there any over-arching Christian principles that should be considered when we examine legislation of this nature? Jim also answers an email about the Milgram Experiment, and an email about the difficulty we sometimes have trying to obey God's command to honor our father and mother.
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Three
Theism is the Best Explanation (Part 2)
March 15th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim completes a two part series in abductive reasoning as he examines five additional pieces of evidence in the universe. Which system best accounts for what we see in the universe and in our own lives? Jim also answers listener email about the nature of evidence and the reliability of the scripture.
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-Two
Theism is the Best Explanation (Part 1)
March 8th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim begins a two part series in abductive reasoning as he examines the first five (of ten) pieces of evidence in the universe and evaluates the explanatory power of philosophical naturalism versus that of theism. Jim also answers listener email and discusses the role that empiricism and authority play in determining truth.
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty-One
An Interview with Sean McDowell
March 1st, 2010
In this podcast, Jim interviews apologist, author and national conference speaker Sean McDowell about his recent debate with Jim Corbett, "Is God the Best Explanation for Moral Values?"
Podcast Number One Hundred Forty
Answering Two Atheist Objections
February 22nd, 2010
In this podcast, Jim answers listener email and responds to two atheist objections. Most skeptics cite either the problem of evil or the unlikely occurrence of the resurrection in an effort to invalidate theism and the Christian Worldview.
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Nine
The Divinely Unifying Message of the Bible
February 15th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim finishes his series on the reliability of the Bible by examining the unifying theme of the Bible. How does the Bible answer the three most important questions related to "worldview"? Is there a single message that spans the Old and New Testament?
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Eight
Drew Brees, Tim Tebow and High Profile Christianity
February 8th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim detours yet again into the popular culture to look at two Christian athletes and their role as Christian Ambassadors. Drew Brees and Tim Tebow have garnered a broad stage from which to proclaim the truth of the Christian Worldview. How are they doing?
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Seven
What is the "Middle Knowledge" of God?
February 1st, 2010
In this podcast, Jim takes a one week break from his series on the reliability of the Bible to answer some listener email and talk about recent events. Jim then discusses the newest PCM TV video on YouTube and concerns related to the concept of God's "middle" knowledge.
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Six
Does the Bible Foreshadow Scientific Discoveries?
January 25th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim continues his series on the reliability of the Bible by examining surprising Biblical passages that describe scientific truths that were not discovered for hundreds (or thousands) of years. Is the Bible scientifically accurate? Is scientific accuracy important in the first place?
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Five
Has the New Testament Been Verified Archaeologically?
January 17th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim continues his series on the reliability of the Bible. Is there any external corroboration of the New Testament Biblical account? Has archeology helped to quiet the objections of skeptics? How does the New Testament measure up against the evidence from archaeology?
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Four
Has the Old Testament Been Verified Archaeologically?
January 10th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines recent archaeological discoveries that have confirmed the reliability of the Old Testament. What role does archaeological confirmation play in establishing the reliability of the Bible?
Podcast Number One Hundred Thirty Three
Does the Old Testament Contain Fulfilled Prophecy?
January 4th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim examines several bold non-Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament in addition to one very important prophecy about the coming Messiah. Does the large number of fulfilled prophecies in the Old Testament tell us something about the nature of the Biblical Scripture?
Podcast Number One Hundred Eighty-One
What Is the Gift of Heaven?
December 6th, 2010
In this podcast, Jim follows the "Roman Road" as we examine the nature of the Gospel of Grace. How can we use Paul's Letter to the Romans to articulate the Gospel to our atheist friends and the importance of Grace to our friends who hold "works based" theological ideas? Also, Jim addresses an email question related to free will and the sovereignty of God.
