Practical Apologetics: Clear Answers for the Everyday Christian

Abortion is one of the most controversial issues in our culture. But before we ask whether abortion is right or wrong, whether it should be legal, or even what the Bible says about it, there’s a more basic question:

What exactly is being aborted?

In the first episode of a four-part series on abortion and the Christian worldview, we begin with science rather than Scripture.

When does a new human organism begin? Is an embryo reall...

The Bible clearly says Jesus drank wine. But was that wine actually alcoholic, or was it more like grape juice?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we look at what Scripture says about wine, the wedding at Cana, the difference between drunkenness and drinking, and the common claim that biblical wine was nonalcoholic.

We also trace how the nineteenth-century temperance movement helped popularize the idea of “two wines&rdqu...

What is faith? Is it believing something without evidence, or does the Bible give us a very different picture?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we look at what Scripture actually means by faith. Using Abraham as our primary example, we examine the difference between just believing something is true and actually placing our trust in God.

Abraham and Sarah had tried and failed to have children. Sarah was barren, they were grow...

What does it actually mean to repent? Is repentance just feeling guilty or sorry for our sin, or does the Bible describe something more?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we look at the biblical meaning of repentance and why Scripture distinguishes genuine repentance from remorse. We examine what it means to turn away from sin and toward Jesus Christ, why repentance does not mean earning salvation or achieving sinless perfec...

Can Christianity change with the culture? Or is Christianity meant to change the culture?

The phrase "Progressive Christianity" has become increasingly common, but what does it actually mean? Does the Bible teach that God's truth evolves with society, or does Scripture present God's revelation as unchanging?

In this episode, we examine what the Bible says about God's unchanging character, the authority of Scripture, and the differenc...

Sexuality is one of the most discussed and debated topics in our culture today. Many people assume the Bible is simply a list of outdated rules, but is that really the case?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we step back from the cultural debate and begin where Scripture begins: creation. What was God's original design for humanity, marriage, and sexuality? Why does the Bible place boundaries around sex? What does it teach a...

Does the Bible condone slavery?

It's one of the most common objections raised against Christianity. Skeptics often argue that because the Bible regulates slavery, it must therefore endorse it. But is that what Scripture actually teaches?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we examine one of the Bible's most difficult topics by looking at the historical context of the ancient Near East, the different forms of servitude found in ...

How should Christians respond to atheists?

Should we debate every objection? Avoid difficult conversations? Or does Scripture give us a better model?

In this milestone 20th episode of Practical Apologetics, Kenneth Willis explores how Christians can engage atheists with both truth and compassion. Rather than focusing on "winning" arguments, this episode examines the biblical call to listen well, answer thoughtfully, defend the faith ...

Hinduism is one of the oldest and most influential religions in the world, shaping the beliefs of more than a billion people. It teaches concepts like karma, reincarnation, dharma, and moksha, and many believe it is simply another path to the same God Christians worship.

But is that true?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, Kenneth Willis examines Hinduism's central teachings and compares them with the claims of Christianity. I...

Buddhism has become one of the most influential world religions in modern culture, and even many who don’t identify as Buddhist borrow heavily from its ideas—mindfulness, detachment, meditation, and the pursuit of inner peace. But is Buddhism actually the answer to suffering?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we examine the teachings of Buddhism and compare them to Christianity. We explore the life of Siddhartha ...

Are Islam and Christianity simply two different paths to the same God? Or do their truth claims fundamentally contradict one another?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we compare the core teachings of Christianity and Islam by examining the nature of God, the identity of Jesus, the crucifixion, salvation, and what many call the Islamic dilemma.

While both faiths share certain historical figures and moral teachings, the questi...

Are Jehovah's Witnesses Christian?

At first glance, many people assume the answer is yes. Jehovah's Witnesses believe in Jesus, use the Bible, and actively share their faith. So why have Christians historically reached a different conclusion?

In this episode, we examine what Jehovah's Witnesses believe about Jesus, the Trinity, the resurrection, and the Holy Spirit, and compare those teachings to the doctrines of historic Christianit...

Are Mormons Christian?

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints use the Bible, talk about Jesus, and often live moral, family-oriented lives. So why have Christians historically concluded that Mormonism is not a denomination within Christianity, but a separate religious system?

In this episode, we compare the teachings of Mormonism with the teachings of Scripture and historic Christianity. We examine the nature of G...

What actually makes someone a Christian?

Is it church attendance? Believing in God? Being a good person? Baptism? Family tradition?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we answer one of the most foundational questions in Christianity: What is a Christian?

Many people claim the Christian label, and many groups use Christian language, quote the Bible, and talk about Jesus. But what does Scripture actually say defines biblical Chris...

Why did Jesus have to die?

If God is loving, why was the cross necessary? Why sacrifice? Why blood? And why couldn’t God just forgive people?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we explore one of the most important questions in Christianity by tracing the story from Genesis to the cross. We discuss sin, sacrifice, the Old Testament covenant system, Passover, the spotless lamb, and how Jesus fulfilled what the sacrificial ...

What is the gospel?

It’s a word that gets used often, but rarely defined clearly. Is it a lifestyle? A set of teachings? Or something more?

In this episode, we break down the gospel in simple, biblical terms. The gospel is not advice about what you should do. It is the good news of what God has already done through Jesus Christ.

We walk through:

• The true meaning of the word “gospel”
• The core message found in 1 Cori...

What does it actually mean to be saved?

In this episode of Practical Apologetics, we define salvation clearly and biblically. Building on the previous episode “What Is Sin?”, we explain why salvation is necessary, what it accomplishes, and how it happens.

We walk through what we are saved from, what we are saved to, and how salvation is received through grace and faith in Jesus Christ. We also break down key theological t...

What is sin?

Most people think sin is just breaking religious rules, being a bad person, or an outdated idea from the past. But the Bible presents something much deeper.

In this episode, we define sin clearly and biblically, and we explain why it matters not just for theology, but for apologetics. Sin is not just rule-breaking. It is a rupture in our relationship with God and a distortion of reality itself.

We also explore how sin exp...

In this episode, we define one of the most central doctrines of the Christian faith: that God is one being who exists eternally as three distinct persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We examine what the Bible teaches, respond to common objections, and explain why the Trinity is essential to understanding the Gospel.

Sources Used:

On Guard by William Lane Craig, Reasonable Faith by William Lane Craig, I Don’t Have Enough F...