Search — Theology Explorer

resurrection of Jesus Tim McGrew apologetics accessibility

The level of philosophical sophistication available for defending the resurrection surprises many skeptics and Christians alike

Mike and Cameron reflect on accessibility and depth of resurrection arguments

apologetics methodology philosophical method questions vs. arguments

Questions are not arguments: unanswered questions do not constitute evidence against Christianity; they only reveal gaps in human knowledge

Cameron makes a methodological point after the theodicy discussion

resurrection of Jesus Non Sequitur Show Paulogia

Apologist/counter-apologist "Paulogia": Cameron had a debate with him on the resurrection on the Non Sequitur Show

Q&A from Nick J about Paulogia's series on the resurrection

John McCrae John McCrae What Do You Mean emotional vs. logical reasoning

John McCrae's ministry goal: counter emotionally compelling but logically weak objections; reach younger audiences with the full human (intellectual + emotional) case for Christianity

Each host shares their goals for their YouTube channel

Capturing Christianity Christian apologetics Cameron Bertuzzi

Cameron Bertuzzi's ministry goal: expose the intellectual depth of Christian belief; counter the cultural assumption that atheism has all the intellectual high ground

Cameron shares his goals for Capturing Christianity

atonement gospel apologetics

Closing message from Mike to skeptics: the evidence for Christianity is robust and surprising; Jesus really died for sins; God is personal and loves people; life is not purposeless

Mike's closing address to skeptic viewers

Apologetics A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

Introduction: Mike presents the book "A Manual for Creating Atheists" by Peter Boghossian as the foundational text for the Street Epistemology movement

Opening of Tuesday livestream, Mike sets the tone as reasoning together, not adversarial

Apologetics A Manual for Creating Atheists Peter Boghossian

The book assumes religious people have not thought through their beliefs — which Mike says is demonstrably false

Mike identifies a core assumption embedded in the book

Apologetics A Manual for Creating Atheists Street Epistemology

Chapters 4+ of the book present the tactics: primary tactic is to avoid facts and simply ask questions to instill doubt

Mike transitions to Boghossian's tactical section

Apologetics Capturing Christianity Cameron Bertuzzi

Cameron Bertuzzi (Capturing Christianity): inability to answer a question doesn't mean Christianity is false; testimony is a legitimate epistemic basis

Video clip from Cameron Bertuzzi with pastoral/apologetic advice for Christians facing SE

Josh McDowell Evidence That Demands a Verdict Sean McDowell

Mike takes one audience question: book recommendations for atheists — Josh McDowell's Evidence That Demands a Verdict and More Than a Carpenter

Q&A section, only one question received from non-believers

Faith Faith and knowledge Faith as trust

Q&A: Does faith by nature seek understanding? Mike says faith is simply trust and the seeking of understanding is optional

Question from JMD Apologetics about faith and knowledge

Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Absence of any recantation tradition for Peter, James, or Paul — an argument from silence that is evidentially significant given second-century apologetic engagement

The negative evidence: no source anywhere suggests any of these eyewitnesses recanted

James the brother of Jesus argument from silence Paul the Apostle Justin Martyr

apologetics philosophical arguments for God anti-supernaturalism

Atheist responses to evidence for God ultimately reduce to anti-supernaturalism

Meta-observation about atheist argumentation

Matt Dillahunty resurrection of Jesus inference to the best explanation

Upcoming debate with Matt Dillahunty on whether belief in the resurrection is reasonable; science is not the only method of knowing

Announcing the Dillahunty debate and defending historical methodology

evangelism faith evidence for Christianity

The definitional divide on faith is a communication barrier to evangelism — Christians must clarify they have evidence

Practical application of the poll findings

Gospel of Mark verse-by-verse Bible study

Mike announces a verse-by-verse study through the Gospel of Mark beginning in May

Ministry announcement

Matt Dillahunty evidential apologetics resurrection of Jesus

Debate with Matt Dillahunty on the reasonableness of believing in the resurrection — hosted on Capturing Christianity

Final announcement about the upcoming debate

apologetics Sean McDowell Biola University

Dr. Sean McDowell background: professor at Biola/Talbot, high school teacher, speaker on theology, worldview, and culture

McDowell introduces himself

youth ministry apologetics J. Warner Wallace

Book: "The Next Generation Will Know" co-authored with J. Warner Wallace

McDowell introduces his new book releasing May 1

youth ministry Greg Koukl apologetics

The book is motivated by McDowell's own children and 20 years of ministry focus on the next generation

McDowell explains the need driving the book project

apologetics truth discipleship

Holistic discipleship: the false dichotomy between relationships and truth must be rejected

McDowell and Mike discuss the thesis of the book

apologetics fact-checking trust

Gen Z fact-checks in real time — credibility and truth-telling are now more important than ever for teachers and pastors

McDowell describes speaking at Berkeley and observing real-time fact-checking

youth ministry apologetics Josh McDowell

Apologetic questions are being asked at younger and younger ages due to technology — Josh McDowell's observation about shifting ages of questioning

McDowell references his father Josh McDowell's observation from 55 years of ministry

evangelism apologetics Generation Z

Mike's rationale for being on YouTube: putting apologetics answers where people are already looking

Mike explains his YouTube ministry philosophy

youth ministry apologetics J. Warner Wallace

J. Warner Wallace's youth ministry lesson: teaching content vs. training for engagement — and the failure of candles-and-experience ministry

McDowell recounts how J. Warner Wallace transformed his youth ministry approach

evangelism Jesus apologetics methodology

The habit of assuming you know the question and answering it before truly listening — a common apologetics failure

McDowell reflects honestly on his own failures in apologetic conversations

sexuality nature vs. nurture LGBTQ

Q&A: Has McDowell's strategy on LGBTQ issues changed since "A New Kind of Apologist" (2016)?

Audience question about McDowell's evolution on LGBTQ apologetics

apologetics Sam Harris parenting

Q&A: Advice for a homeschool mom — expose kids to real-world ideas rather than sheltering them; the principle of strategic exposure

Audience question from a homeschooling mother

Romans 7 biblical interpretation apologetics methodology fact-checking

Q&A: Handling unreliable sources and fact-checking in a Wikipedia age — do your diligence, own mistakes, and nuance statements to match the strength of evidence

Final audience question about fact-checking and epistemic responsibility

apologetics Matt Dillahunty resurrection of Christ

Closing summary: discipleship principles are timeless, but avoid jaded views toward youth and remain aware of how their lives differ from previous generations

Mike's closing remarks

Apologetics Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Introduction: The slogan "extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence" as a reason people reject the resurrection

Mike opens by framing the entire talk around evaluating this popular skeptical slogan, which he says is the primary reason many people reject the resurrection of Christ.

William Lane Craig Resurrection of Jesus Christopher Hitchens

Christopher Hitchens applied the slogan to God and the resurrection in debates with William Lane Craig

After explaining Sagan's origin, Mike describes how the slogan was weaponized in atheist apologetics.

Apologetics Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

How the slogan functions in practice: a rhetorical device to dismiss evidence without engaging it

Mike describes the actual real-world usage pattern he has encountered when presenting evidence for Christianity.

Apologetics Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Overview: Five problems with the slogan

Mike previews his structured five-point critique of the slogan.

Apologetics Resurrection of Jesus Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Mike asks Twitter: what specific historical evidence for the resurrection would count as "extraordinary"?

Mike probes the practical application of the slogan to the resurrection specifically.

Romans 1 Romans 1 Hardened heart Apologetics and spiritual condition

Intellectual clarity requires spiritual health — Romans 1 on the connection between spiritual state and clear thinking

Mike adds a theological qualifier to the apologetics discussion.

Apologetics Evangelism Limits of apologetics

Apologetics is useful and important but should not be overstated — it works differently for different people

Mike's pastoral qualification on the limits of apologetics.

Apologetics Atheism Motivation for anti-religion

Q&A: Have you asked atheists why they even care what people believe about God?

Question from Sadie Mayo.

Luke 10:23-24 Hardened heart Apologetics and spiritual condition Luke 10:23-24

Q&A: Is a particular heart condition needed to see the reliability of evidence? — Luke 10:23-24 discussed

Viewer asks about the relationship between spiritual state and ability to assess evidence.

Evangelism Apologetics and spiritual condition Conversion

Former atheists: some came to faith through argumentation, others through experiential transformation first

Part of the answer about heart condition and evidence.

Apologetics Evangelism Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence

Closing: five diagnostic questions viewers can use in conversation to expose the slogan as confirmation bias

Mike wraps the livestream with practical application.

hermeneutics Scripture authority biblical worldview

Biblical worldview should transcend culture wars rather than being shaped by either conservative or liberal culture

Opening monologue before Q&A begins

discipleship evangelism church mission

The church must maintain evangelism as its primary posture toward unbelievers; community service without gospel proclamation is insufficient

Response to question about churches focusing solely on community service vs. discipleship and evangelism

Scripture authority spiritual discernment near-death experiences

Near-death experience books should be tested against Scripture and not used to supplement or replace it; the danger is NDE narrators becoming gurus with insider knowledge

Response to a question about the theological accuracy of books like 23 Minutes in Hell and 90 Minutes in Heaven

Ezekiel apologetics Ezekiel Tyre

Ezekiel's prophecy about the destruction of Tyre is a favorite apologetic prophecy, confirmed by non-Jewish and non-Christian historical sources

Response to question about compelling prophecies that might impress atheists

Isaiah 53 apologetics Isaiah 53 messianic prophecy

Isaiah 53 is a powerful messianic prophecy whose parallels to Jesus are so strong that people often do not realize it predates the New Testament

Continuation of response about compelling prophecies for skeptics

Psalm 22 apologetics resurrection crucifixion

Psalm 22 predicts specific details of the crucifixion centuries before crucifixion existed, and implies resurrection and worldwide Gentile conversion; ancient Jewish sources also viewed it as messianic

Third example of compelling prophecy for skeptics

evangelism apologetics human responsibility

It is not the Christian's job to change minds; our responsibility is to present truth and build a case, while God holds unbelievers accountable for their own response

Sidebar comment after discussing apologetic prophecies