The Apologist‘s Bookshelf

The Apologist‘s Bookshelf

Welcome to The Apologist’s Bookshelf, a podcast dedicated to exploring the best books in Christian apologetics. I’m Gary Zacharias, a professor of English, avid reader, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This podcast is for anyone curious about the intellectual foundation of the Christian faith—whether you’re a believer seeking to deepen your understanding, or a skeptic exploring the truth claims of Christianity. Each episode, I feature a key book on topics like the existence of God, the historical evidence for Jesus, the reliability of the Bible, creation and design in the universe, and how to engage unbelievers with wisdom and grace. These are the books that have earned a permanent place on my apologetics bookshelf—and I want to share them with you. If you’re interested in faith and reason, defending the Christian worldview, or simply love diving into thought-provoking Christian books, this podcast is for you. Podcast: https://theapologistsbookshelf.podbean.com Contact me: theapologistsbookshelf@gmail.com

Episodes

April 10, 2026 17 mins

Kevin DeYoung, pastor and author, has a book that is called a "liberating approach to finding God's will." In this podcast, I cover his chapter on God's will of decree and will of desire. He asks if God has a specific plan for our lives.

Book: Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

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I’m Gary Zacharias, a professor of English, avid reader, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This podcast is for anyone curious abou...

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Hugh Ross, noted astrophysicist and founder of Reasons to Believe, deals with two interesting questions in this podcast--Are we alone in the universe? Could life exist on a moon rather than a planet?

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the ...

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I jumped around and picked three topics--the date of the Exodus, the character of the Biblical prophets, and apocalyptic literature in the Bible.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: Ho...

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March 31, 2026 20 mins

Gary Habermas and J.P. Moreland discuss the idea of reincarnation in the eighth chapter of this book, now called Beyond Death.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: Immortality (now call...

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Historian Rodney Stark opens his book by describing early Muslim conquests in lands that were once Christian.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: God's Battalions by Rodney Stark

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In chapter 6 of the book, the author discusses the fall of the human race in Genesis and the ongoing battle within our hearts in which unhelpful desires wage war with our conscience. He ties this in to the issue of gender dysphoria.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, an...

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Greg Koukl challenges the idea that the story of Jesus is simply a recycled version of pagan religions.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: Faith Is Not Wishing by Greg Koukl

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In chapter 7 Lee Strobel interviews a professor of religious studies at Indiana University about the use of scientific evidence to support miracle accounts.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the b

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This book is dedicated to preparing young Christians for a challenging world. Chapter 4 focuses on helping them develop a worldview that brings significance.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the bo...

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Hank Hanegraaff provides reasoned, biblical responses to many questions dealing with resurrection. In this podcast I cover three questions he answers--Do believers receive resurrected bodies when they die or when Christ returns? If heaven is perfect, won't it be perfectly boring?  Will God raise pets and platypuses from the dead? 

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean...

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Greg Koukl, noted apologist and radio host, uses this book to answer tough challenges to Christianity. In chapter 3 he tells how asking questions is an effective way to engage others in conversations.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the...

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Michael Egnor, a neurosurgeon, has written a book arguing for the existence of the soul. In my first podcast of this book, I review his chapter dealing with those who are skeptics of near-death experiences.

Book: The Immortal Mind by Michael Egnor

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I’m Gary Zacharias, a professor of English, avid reader, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This podcast is for anyone curious about the intellectual foundation o...

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D. James Kennedy explores the Bible's positive influence on science in chapter 7 of his book.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: What If the Bible Had Never Been Written? by D. James ...

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The encyclopedia covers the religious views of Harold Kushner, who advocated for a limited God, and Sigmund Freud, an influential atheist who argued that God is a childhood neurosis we never outgrew.

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Chapter four in this booklet is crucial. It lets the Mormon scriptures speak for themselves on the issue of perfection being required to please God. It gives Christians a chance to share the good news of the true Gospel.

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Hal Seed covers a crucial question in chapter four: How accurate is the Bible? He discusses both the Old and New Testament writings in his response.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book:...

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February 13, 2026 21 mins

James Emery White challenges Christians to develop their minds, to take seriously the larger world of the intellect. 

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: A Mind for God by James Emery ...

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In chapter two Rodney Stark confronts an incredible lie that says Europe was submerged in the "Dark Ages" from the fall of Rome until about the fifteenth century.

Book: The Victory of Reason by Rodney Stark

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I’m Gary Zacharias, a professor of English, avid reader, and passionate follower of Jesus Christ. This podcast is for anyone curious about the intellectual foundation of the Christian faith.

Each episode, I fe...

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Chapter 11 in this book discusses how it was Christianity that helped abolish slavery.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: Under the Influence (now called How Christianity Changed the ...

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Chapter 13 in this book gives many examples of lives changed through Jesus Christ.

NOTE—If you wish to listen to previous podcasts that cover different parts of this book, go to podbean and look at the five choices listed right above the podcasts (Home, Subscribe, Profile, Connect, and the search icon). Click on the search icon and type in the name of the book.

Book: What If Jesus Had Never Been Born? by D. James Kennedy

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