Greg Koukl’s

TACTICS — COLUMBO METHOD

Applied to the Evidence for the Resurrection of Jesus.

A complete question-by-question reference for apologetics conversations.

What is the Columbo Method?

Greg Koukl’s Columbo Tactic uses carefully crafted questions to expose weak thinking, create intellectual tension, and guide a skeptic toward truth — without being combative. The method is named after TV detective Columbo, who disarmed suspects with seemingly innocent questions while systematically dismantling their position.

The method rests on Koukl’s foundational insight: ‘Put a stone in their shoe.’ You are not trying to win an argument — you are trying to give them something to think about that they can’t easily dismiss.

Part 1: The Columbo Method — Foundation

The Two Master Questions

“What do you mean by that?”

Purpose: Forces the person to define their terms and be precise. Vague objections collapse under scrutiny. This question is never hostile — it is genuinely curious. It also buys you time to think.

“How did you come to that conclusion?”

Purpose: Shifts the burden of proof. You are not defending your position — you are asking them to defend theirs. Most skeptics have never examined the reasoning behind their own objections. This question exposes that gap without confrontation.

The Ambassador Model — Before You Ask Anything

Koukl teaches that HOW you engage matters as much as WHAT you say.

The Ambassador model requires three things:

KNOWLEDGE	Know what you believe and why. You can’t lead someone somewhere you haven’t been yourself.
WISDOM	Know when and how to ask. Timing and tone determine whether the question opens or closes a conversation.
CHARACTER	Be genuinely curious, not combative. The goal is not to win — it is to serve the person by giving them something true to consider.