Eternal Life Podcast

Rory Vaden

What is your strategy for defeating death? And what do you believe about what happens to you after you die? Most of all, what evidence have you explored that convicts you, that what you have been told about spirituality is actually true? The Christian faith provides very clear and concrete answers about these issues. But it then begs the question, what real-world evidence is there that supports the idea of miracles, a resurrection, a messiah and the concept of heaven?  In this podcast series, New York Times bestselling author (Take the Stairs) and renown business speaker, Rory Vaden (who is not a pastor or theologian), presents an objective look at some of the logical, historical, and academic support that exists to substantiate the claims and story of Jesus of Nazareth. Whether you are a spiritual seeker who doesn’t yet know what you believe, a dedicated Christian who is looking to believe more deeply, or an avid skeptic wanting to better understand the claims of Christianity so that you can disprove them – all are welcome!  Follow Rory as he summarizes and recounts his own personal journey of discovering the evidence that led him to ultimately conclude that the story of Jesus is real and accurate. You are invited to explore this special free podcast series, “Eternal Life: 7 Questions Every Intelligent Skeptic Should Ask About Jesus of Nazareth.”  What is your strategy for defeating death?What evidence is there that Jesus was a real person?Was Jesus just a good teacher or was he something more?What evidence is there that Jesus was a deity?What evidence is there that Jesus rose from the dead?How do you get into heaven?What will heaven be like?

  1. EPISODE 1

    Question 1: What is Your Strategy for Defeating Death?

    Welcome to the Eternal Life Podcast, a series looking at Seven Questions every Intelligent Skeptic should ask about Jesus of Nazareth. This is a special free podcast series, created for anyone who genuinely seeks truth, but sometimes struggles to believe in the miraculous and supernatural elements of the Christian faith. I am Rory Vaden, and I hope this is a safe space for you to belong, without necessarily having to believe. I aim to objectively explore the logical, historical, and academic facts and circumstances surrounding Jesus's life, whom many have come to call, Christ. I aspire to convince each and every listener, my sons included, to dive in deep and spend time exploring this topic. Delve into and research the foundational elements of Christianity, which include exploring whether Jesus was a real human living on the earth, that He truly was the Son of God, and that Jesus indeed was raised from the dead (dead in human form). This series is an exploration of the facts, from my source of truth, the Bible. I strongly believe that the Bible contains confident and clear answers to questions many of us have.  As we embark on this journey of critical thinking, exploration, and the pursuit of truth, we will delve into seven pivotal questions. Each episode will contain a factual investigation into potential solutions for the following thoughts:    1. What is Your Strategy for Defeating Death? 2. What Evidence is there that Jesus was a Real Person? 3. Was Jesus Just a Good Teacher or Something More? 4. What Evidence is there that Jesus was a Deity? 5. What Evidence is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead? 6. How do you get into Heaven? 7. What do we know about Heaven? So as we dive into our first episode, we take a look at the first of the seven questions: What is Your Strategy for Defeating Death? Another rendition of the same question could be, "Is it Worth the Time to Explore Eternity?” Allow me to guide you through three compelling reasons that, in my opinion, make a strong case for at least considering the exploration of Christianity. We will look at each of these reasons in more detail, and they encompass: Reason 1: It could carry eternal implications for you.  Reason 2: The Bible provides answers and can be a source of truth for your life. Reason 3: If the story of Jesus is real, and there truly is a resurrection, then that means there is a heaven; an eternity. In short, should the account of Jesus prove to be accurate, then it’s possible you’ll never be separated from those you love.   I am not a pastor, nor a studied theologian. I am a New York Times bestselling author, an 8-figure entrepreneur, a Hall of Fame speaker with a TEDx talk that has more than 4 million views, a researcher, and simply, a husband and a father. So, from the perspective of a curious entrepreneur, a lifelong student, a pragmatist, and skeptic, and someone who believes this is a topic we need to look at, I dive into an exploration of the facts. I may have minor discrepancies in the things that I share on the podcast, and I will try to use plain, non-jargon terminology, however, I have taken a great deal of time to verify the factual stability of what I plan to present in this series. I want you to know that I will always seek truth — even when it’s inconvenient or it creates conflict. I highly encourage you to proceed with an open mind and supplement this with your own exploration of the truth.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Eternal Life Podcast Resource Andy Stanley Rory Vaden Rory Vaden on X

    1h 55m
  2. EPISODE 2

    Question 2: What Evidence is There That Jesus Was a Real Person?

    Welcome back to Eternal Life, the podcast exploring the life of Christ through seven questions that hard-core Christians and anyone who may find it difficult to believe in the miracles of God should ask. Today we delve into question number two: Was Jesus a real person? This is a simple question but a very important one for Christians to explore because ultimately, if there was no Jesus, then there could be no Christianity.  Before we question if Jesus was the son of God, if He did truly have powers of healing, or if Heaven exists, we need to figure out if He was actually a real person. There are three different types of corroboration that prove Jesus’ existence: historical documentation, archeology, and prophetic predictions. Whether Jesus was the son of God comes down to a decision of faith but after this exploration of evidence, it is clear, that the question of his existence has been corroborated a million times over!  What historical documents corroborate the existence of Christ and why we can believe that they are true. Archeological facts suggesting that the Bible is historically accurate and therefore a trustworthy source of fact. Who wrote the gospels and how they help us accept the Bible as a source of truth. How the minor discrepancies in the Bible make it easier to trust, believe it or not! Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Free Resources The Case for Christ The Annals of Imperial Rome Josephus: The Essential Writings The Iliad The Antiquities of the Jews The Verdict of History Rory Vaden  Rory Vaden on X

    1h 59m
  3. EPISODE 4

    Question 4: What Evidence is there that Jesus was a Deity?

    In the Eternal Life series thus far, we have wrestled with three of the seven questions that every intelligent skeptic should ask themselves about Jesus of Nazareth to try to understand the facts and historical accounts that support the narrative we’ve been told. Admittedly, there are some things that are very difficult to believe and understand on the surface about Christianity and Jesus is the lynchpin and cornerstone of it all. That’s why, in today’s episode, we tackle question four: What evidence is there that Jesus was a deity? There are two major reasons that someone might believe that Jesus is indeed the son of God and not simply delusional. The first is that He performed miracles, at least 35 of which are recorded in the New Testament, and the second is that He not only fulfilled numerous prophecies but even accurately predicted His own death. At some point, it requires more unfounded realism to believe that Jesus was not the Messiah than it does to believe that He was but take a listen and decide for yourself! Why you can’t discredit the existence of miracles just because you’ve never seen one.Reasons that you don’t have to be a Christian to believe in the supernatural.Accounts of healing and other phenomena that can’t be explained by naturalistic causes.Recorded predictions about Jesus’ life, death, and birth that were ultimately fulfilled.Perspective on the truly awe-inspiring odds of these prophecies coming true. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Eternal Life Podcast Resources The Verdict of History: Ancient Evidence for the Life of Jesus Dr. Gary Habermas Science Speaks: Scientific Proof of the Accuracy of Prophecy and the Bible Rory Vaden  Rory Vaden on X

    2h 34m
  4. EPISODE 5

    Question 5: Part 1: What Evidence is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead? Reasons 1 Through 3

    Welcome back to Eternal Life, a special series that explores the life of Christ through seven questions and is created for anyone earnestly seeking truth, even if they grapple with accepting some of the more miraculous and supernatural aspects of Christianity. Today we delve into the first part of question number five: What Evidence is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead?  Did Jesus truly rise from the dead? How can anyone believe it? How can I believe it? These are crucial, fair, and honest questions, and perhaps the most important when examining the evidence for Jesus as a savior, messiah, or divine figure distinct from all others in history. The resurrection is central to Christianity and since the entire Christian faith hinges on this event I believe it is worth exploring. There are eight reasons underpinning my belief that Jesus rose from the dead. Today I examine the first three so that you can learn more about this event and decide what you believe for yourself!  The fact that Jesus’s tomb is still empty, the four theories as to why that is, and the evidence this provides for His resurrection.Jesus’s predictions about His own death and resurrection and why this matters.The power Jesus demonstrated over death while He was alive.What the Bible tells us about the many documented eyewitness sightings of the resurrection. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Eternal Life Podcast Resource The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus Rory Vaden Rory Vaden Blog Rory Vaden on X

    1h 55m
  5. EPISODE 7

    Question 5: Part 3: What Evidence is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead? Reasons 5 Through 7

    Welcome back to the Eternal Life Podcast, a safe space for you to ask reasonable questions about the existence of Jesus, without judgment. Today we are continuing with part three of question five: What evidence is there that Jesus rose from the dead? Previously, we discussed the first four pieces of evidence of the resurrection and in this episode, we delve into reasons five through seven proving that Jesus rose from the dead.  Not only were Jesus’ disciples tortured and murdered for their beliefs, but many Jewish people broke away from traditions in favor of Jesus after this event. The Christian church also became massively popular after the resurrection. These are just a few of the pieces of evidence of the resurrection. So let’s dive into these three reasons to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.  The people who were closest to Jesus, His disciples, were willing to die gruesome deaths for their belief that He rose from the dead. How we know that the disciples didn’t make the resurrection up after the fact. Some Jewish people made radical changes to their traditions in favor of Jesus, putting them at risk of eternal damnation and being ousted by society. Following the resurrection, there was massive growth and spread of the Christian church suggesting that people wholeheartedly believed that He rose.  Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Eternal Life Podcast Resource  Rory Vaden  Rory Vaden on X

    1h 37m
  6. EPISODE 8

    Question 5: Part 4: What Evidence is there that Jesus Rose from the Dead? Reason 8

    In the Eternal Life Podcast, we fearlessly explore the most profound questions surrounding the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. In today’s episode, we continue our journey into Question 5, Part 4, as we delve into Reason 8: an exploration of the Bible as a historical and non-fictional record of Jesus' resurrection.  The Bible is a rich tapestry of stories, teachings, and parables. We dive into the complexities and enduring debates surrounding its interpretation, offering insights into the diverse lenses through which it has been viewed throughout history. What does it truly mean to be Christian, and how does the Bible serve as the foundation of faith? Tune in to reflect on the profound connection between Christianity, God’s word, and how it guides believers on their spiritual journeys and shapes the world around us. Basics of what the Bible is and the differences between the Old and New Testaments.Insights into the complexities and debates surrounding the interpretation of the Bible.What it means to be Christian and how to use the Bible as your source of truth.How the Christian faith has shaped and molded the modern world.The story of the Bible, the rise of the Christian faith, and what it all means. Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode: Andy Stanley Your Move With Andy Stanley Your Move With Andy Stanley App The Bible for Grown-Ups Procrastinate on Purpose Take the Stairs Rory Vaden  Rory Vaden on X

    1h 15m
4.9
out of 5
53 Ratings

About

What is your strategy for defeating death? And what do you believe about what happens to you after you die? Most of all, what evidence have you explored that convicts you, that what you have been told about spirituality is actually true? The Christian faith provides very clear and concrete answers about these issues. But it then begs the question, what real-world evidence is there that supports the idea of miracles, a resurrection, a messiah and the concept of heaven?  In this podcast series, New York Times bestselling author (Take the Stairs) and renown business speaker, Rory Vaden (who is not a pastor or theologian), presents an objective look at some of the logical, historical, and academic support that exists to substantiate the claims and story of Jesus of Nazareth. Whether you are a spiritual seeker who doesn’t yet know what you believe, a dedicated Christian who is looking to believe more deeply, or an avid skeptic wanting to better understand the claims of Christianity so that you can disprove them – all are welcome!  Follow Rory as he summarizes and recounts his own personal journey of discovering the evidence that led him to ultimately conclude that the story of Jesus is real and accurate. You are invited to explore this special free podcast series, “Eternal Life: 7 Questions Every Intelligent Skeptic Should Ask About Jesus of Nazareth.”  What is your strategy for defeating death?What evidence is there that Jesus was a real person?Was Jesus just a good teacher or was he something more?What evidence is there that Jesus was a deity?What evidence is there that Jesus rose from the dead?How do you get into heaven?What will heaven be like?