12 episodes

Listen in as Bill and Lamar, two good friends, discuss their big questions with openness, honesty, logic, evidence, and a great deal of mutual respect. There is real help in these dialogues for intellectually honest people who want faith in God to make sense, who want to build a solid basis for purpose, meaning, ethics, and personal priorities in life.

The Search for Meaning Bill Kraftson & Lamar Smith

    • Religion & Spirituality
    • 4.7 • 31 Ratings

Listen in as Bill and Lamar, two good friends, discuss their big questions with openness, honesty, logic, evidence, and a great deal of mutual respect. There is real help in these dialogues for intellectually honest people who want faith in God to make sense, who want to build a solid basis for purpose, meaning, ethics, and personal priorities in life.

    12. How do you grow closer to God in the here and now?

    12. How do you grow closer to God in the here and now?

    1. The most important decision — Starts at 0:00
    2. The second most important decision — Starts at 11:22
    3. Reading the Bible — Starts at 17:16
    4. Prayer — Starts at 23:35
    5. Church — Starts at 3:27
    6. Learn with a friend — Starts at 7:26

    • 35 min
    11. Once you gain eternal life, can you lose it? If not, why be good?

    11. Once you gain eternal life, can you lose it? If not, why be good?

    1. Is a maintenance agreement required? — Starts at 0:00
    2. A license to steal versus a secure relationship — Starts at 4:49
    3. Are future sins covered as well? — Starts at 10:30
    4. An attitude of gratitude — Starts at 13:57
    5. Going for the gusto — Starts at 16:16
    6. Avoiding painful, natural consequences — Starts at 20:35
    7. Avoiding loving discipline — Starts at 23:57
    8. Going for the gold — Starts at 3:20

    • 30 min
    10. What does it really mean to "believe"?

    10. What does it really mean to "believe"?

    1. Isn't it too easy? — Starts at 0:00
    2. It's either impossible or free — Starts at 5:02
    3. The role of reason and doubt in faith — Starts at 10:17
    4. Transferring the trust — Starts at 15:33
    5. Faith plus performance? — Starts at 19:24

    • 25 min
    9. How good must we be to qualify for heaven?

    9. How good must we be to qualify for heaven?

    1. What would you say at the gate? — Starts at 0:00
    2. The goodness and justice of God — Starts at 3:36
    3. The problem with Bill — Starts at 10:20
    4. The good news — the love of God — Starts at 15:00
    5. Life's most important decision — Starts at 18:57

    • 25 min
    8. Does hypocrisy invalidate the claims of Christianity?

    8. Does hypocrisy invalidate the claims of Christianity?

    1. The guy in the office, and the TV preacher — Starts at 0:00
    2. Definitions: "hypocrite" and "Christian" — Starts at 3:38
    3. Comparisons don't work — Starts at 8:09
    4. The most important point — Starts at 11:38

    • 16 min
    7. Would a fair God condemn those who have never even heard?

    7. Would a fair God condemn those who have never even heard?

    1. Excluded withoug information? — Starts at 0:00
    2. Accountability that is fair — Starts at 3:16
    3. Good news, yes, but how can the primitive hear? — Starts at 8:36
    4. What about babies, or people before the time of Christ? — Starts at 15:36
    5. Part of the problem or part of the solution? — Starts at 22:59

    • 26 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
31 Ratings

31 Ratings

Billybob P ,

Thank You Bill & Lamar!

Excellent resource to help share the great news of Jesus Christ!!☦️

Hello Flyboy ,

Outstanding for understanding the basics

After hearing this, I have used the podcasts for helping friends come to know a real and genuine faith. I use it with individuals, couples, rebels, and even men’s groups and Sunday school classes for all ages. Outstanding for gaining a meaningful understanding of what Christianity really advocates (which is not the same as I believed for decades as a church going agnostic.)

TG-fraud ,

Meaningful explanations about Christianity

I’m one of those who was baptized and raised in the Catholic church believing that I if was a good person and went to church I’d be destined for Heaven. I never realized how wrong I was believing that was the standard. Not until engaging in some real Bible study with fellow believers. Something I had never been exposed to throughout my Christian education. Over the past three years I have completed a number of courses, most online and some group study, but the absolute best teaching and understanding I have had was this podcast. Two men, one with a lot of questions about Christianity and the other with commonsense explanations with meaningful answers. This podcast series will answer many of your most fundamental questions about Jesus Christ and the true meaning of what it means to be a Christian and why there is only one truth… miss it and you lose out on the path to salvation. Catch it, and make it your purpose for living, and you will find a peace you never thought possible.

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