Search — Theology Explorer

Luke 16 Lazarus Luke 16 hell

What is Hades Like?: Looking at Luke 16: 19-31 (Rich Man and Lazarus), what does this parable teach us about the afterlife, and how literally should the depiction in that passage of Heaven and Hell be taken?

Q&A question: What is Hades Like?

The Great Wealth Transfer: What is your opinion on the movement of "The Great Wealth Transfer" that prosperity preachers teach, where believers obtain unbelievers’ land and wealth?

Q&A question: The Great Wealth Transfer

evangelism

Praying Biblically in Dire Situations: Is it a lack of faith in me to not pray for a miraculous healing for a fatal diagnosis in my baby I’m carrying, and instead be praying primarily for strength, comfort, and peace?

Q&A question: Praying Biblically in Dire Situations

healing

Should Morality be Legislated?: How do I respond to a Christian who thinks things (like abortion and transgenderism) are wrong but that they shouldn’t vote to have the government legislate against it to restrain/correct non-Christians (forcing it on them)?

Q&A question: Should Morality be Legislated?

abortion

The Pastor’s Salary: How MUCH?: How much should pastors be paid for their work in the ministry?

Q&A question: The Pastor’s Salary: How MUCH?

Interpretations for Private Tongues?: When the gift of speaking in tongues is in operation, do the same requirements and standards exist for private/smaller ministry gatherings as they do the corporate gatherings of a church service? For example, if someone in the background is praying in tongues while you are praying for someone at a hospital, does that still demand an interpretation?

Q&A question: Interpretations for Private Tongues?

tongues

1 Timothy 2 Acts 2 1 Timothy 2 Timothy Acts 2

Not Enough Prayer in Church?: Why do we pray so little collectively during Sunday services? Singing makes up 40%, while praying roughly 1-2%. This does not seem to line up biblically or historically (Acts 2: 42; 1 Timothy 2:1-8).

Q&A question: Not Enough Prayer in Church?

Gospel Contradictions?: Is there an irreconcilable contradiction in the Gospels as to whether Jesus instructed The Twelve to take a staff (Matt 10: 10, Mark 6:8)? How should this affect our view on inerrancy?

Q&A question: Gospel Contradictions?

Mark 6 Jesus Mark 6

Helping Children Grasp the Gospel: As a pastor to the youth for so long, what would you recommend parents do with their children to help them have a personal relationship with God?

Q&A question: Helping Children Grasp the Gospel

Moses/Genesis: When/How?: When/how did Moses acquire the contents and narrative of Genesis?

Q&A question: Moses/Genesis: When/How?

Genesis Moses Genesis

Corporal Punishment: More Harm than Good?: I’m a new parent doing research. I’ve heard that the Bible supports corporal punishment, but also that scientific studies say corporal punishment has negative outcomes. How do you reconcile these two things?

Q&A question: Corporal Punishment: More Harm than Good?

(Bonus Q!).Who's your favorite LOTR character? I bet it's Treebeard.

Q&A question

Resisting Temptation in the Workplace: What advice would you give to somebody who feels vulnerable to worldliness in the workplace? Not only do I spend most of my time there, but all of my coworkers knew me pre-salvation. It’s a struggle.

Q&A question: Resisting Temptation in the Workplace

salvation

Should Children be Taught about Hell?: What should children who would go to Heaven if they die be taught about Hell, if anything? It may make them afraid that they would go there.

Q&A question: Should Children be Taught about Hell?

hell

The Unsaved: Prayer Priorities?: Is it appropriate to pray for the physical healing of an unsaved person? Isn’t it more reasonable to pray that they would come to faith in Christ? What is the "prayer priority" in this situation?

Q&A question: The Unsaved: Prayer Priorities?

prayer healing

Specific Moment of Salvation?: Do you have to have a specific date of salvation, or can salvation be a gradual thing/realization? This has been a debate within our current Bible study.

Q&A question: Specific Moment of Salvation?

salvation

Disqualifications for Serving?: What disqualifies someone from non-pastoral ministry? Are the rules for pastors the same for sound techs, ushers, etc.?

Q&A question: Disqualifications for Serving?

Brands/Products: Letting in Spirits?: Are there specific brands or products that Christians shouldn‘t use? I’ve seen videos showing things like makeup products Christians shouldn't use because they let in spirits. Should I throw these away?

Q&A question: Brands/Products: Letting in Spirits?

Tribulation Saints: Position in Heaven?: In the pre-tribulation view of the rapture, if the raptured Church is the Bride of Christ, then what position/purpose in Heaven do the tribulation saints hold?

Q&A question: Tribulation Saints: Position in Heaven?

rapture tribulation

Mike Winger idea 2025-02-07

(Bonus) Prayer Request from Jacob: Can you and your listeners please pray for my sister Darby's pregnancy? The other day we found out she was having twins, but at the same time she was told she's most likely going to miscarry. The babies are measuring smaller than they should, with no heartbeats detected. Please join us in asking God to miraculously breathe life into her babies again.

Q&A question

Jacob prayer

Praying Over Things?: What are your thoughts on praying over a house or object? Is that superstition?

Q&A question: Praying Over Things?

Mike Winger idea 2025-02-07

Parable of the Wedding Feast: Can you please explain the parable in Matthew 22: 1-14 (The Parable of the Wedding Feast)? I don’t understand the meaning.

Q&A question: Parable of the Wedding Feast

Matthew Matthew

Mike Winger idea 2025-02-07

Is Baptismal Regeneration Heresy?: Is believing that baptism is for the remission of sins based on Acts 2: 38 heresy? Is someone who was thusly baptized then not saved?

Q&A question: Is Baptismal Regeneration Heresy?

Acts 2 Acts 2 baptism heresy

Should We Expose Pastors?: Can you provide an overview of why it is biblical and right to expose abusive and harmful pastors and those who are in positions of Christian leadership?

Q&A question: Should We Expose Pastors?

Holy Spirit covenant theology

Indwelling of the Spirit: How it Differs: What about the indwelling of the Holy Spirit makes us unique compared to Old Covenant believers? I’ve never quite grasped what difference it makes.

Q&A question: Indwelling of the Spirit: How it Differs

Reuel vs. Jethro: Contradiction?: Is there an explanation for why Moses’ father-in-law appears to have two different names (Exodus 2: 18 (Reuel) & Exodus 18:2 (Jethro))?

Q&A question: Reuel vs. Jethro: Contradiction?

Moses

Daniel Daniel 3 Daniel Daniel 3 NAR

Shad., Mesh., & Abed… Did they Know?: In Daniel 3: 16-18, how did Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego know that God would deliver them from the fiery furnace?

Q&A question: Shad., Mesh., & Abed… Did they Know?

Mike Winger idea 2025-02-21

The Calling of a Pastor: I’m 17 and have a huge desire to go into pastoral ministry. I feel called and equipped for this, but hear a lot of people say God has to speak to you directly to do this. Is my burden for this enough?

Q&A question: The Calling of a Pastor

Matthew Matthew 27 Jesus resurrection Matthew

So Many Saw – So Little Believed?: Since many saw the saints who were raised to life (Matthew 27: 52-53) then more than 500 saw Jesus after His resurrection, how is it that so many didn’t believe He rose (e.g. Saul pre-Damascus)?

Q&A question: So Many Saw – So Little Believed?

Genesis Galatians 3 Abraham Genesis Galatians 3

Circumcision: How would Paul Respond?: In Galatians 3, Paul says faith, not law, saves us, citing Abraham’s heirs (Galatians 3:7, 28-29). How would he respond to Judaizers citing Genesis 17:9-14 on circumcision as necessary? Why doesn’t this apply now?

Q&A question: Circumcision: How would Paul Respond?

women in ministry elder qualifications elder qualifications

Winger says there is no biblical requirement for an ordained person to officiate a wedding — marriage is a public covenant between a man and woman, and the authority to marry doesn't reside in a pastor, government, or anyone else. He wrestles with whether to recommend a woman officiate for non-believing family.

Q from a female believer: brother (non-believer) asked her to officiate his wedding; only option is online ordination, which feels like mocking God.

How Could a Million Hear at Once?: How can the entire community of Israel, more than 1 million people, fit together & gather to hear (Leviticus 8:3, Deuteronomy 29: 10-12, 31: 10-13)?

Q&A question: How Could a Million Hear at Once?

Israel

PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?: If Penal Substitutionary Atonement is an accurate doctrine, then isn't it contradicting Proverbs 17: 15?

Q&A question: PSA – Contradicting Proverbs?

atonement

Encouragement through Arduous Times: What gives people the will to live in the midst of terror, hardship, poverty, pain, childhood abuse, loss, and all other types of calamity (specifically non-Christians, but also Christians)?

Q&A question: Encouragement through Arduous Times

Garden of Gethsemane: What is The Cup?: In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays for the Father to let the cup pass from Him. I've understood the cup to be God's wrath, but Jesus says a few chapters later that James & John will drink it, too.

Q&A question: Garden of Gethsemane: What is The Cup?

James James Jesus

My Sin Blocks My Prayers?: Psalm 66:18 says, "If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened." Does this mean God will ignore a person's prayers if they have active, ongoing sin in their life? How should we understand this verse in context and alongside other Scriptures about God hearing prayers?

Q&A question: My Sin Blocks My Prayers?

prayer

Biblically Defining a “Church”: Biblically (not legally), what constitutes a church? If someone were to host a weekly Bible study and do some volunteer work with just a few people, would that be considered a small church service?

Q&A question: Biblically Defining a “Church”

Bible study

Support for Limited Atonement?: How does John 17:9 work alongside John 3: 16? Could John 17:9 be a valid point toward Limited Atonement? I do not want to believe in Limited Atonement, but I see verses like this and wonder.

Q&A question: Support for Limited Atonement?

John 3 atonement John 3

Discerning God’s Voice & Direction: My girlfriend recently told me that God told her to break up with me. She got us "promise bracelets" that promise that we will get married. Is what she heard really from God?

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Voice & Direction

John 5 John 12 John 3 John 5 John 12 John 3

Agape vs. Phileo Love: Are agape and phileo love synonymous in Greek? John 3: 19 & John 12: 43 use agape for loving darkness and men's praise, respectively, while John 5: 20 uses phileo to describe the Father's love for the Son.

Q&A question: Agape vs. Phileo Love

Non-Sapien Hominids: Thinking Biblically: How do non-sapien hominids (Neanderthal, Denisovan, Floresiensis, etc.) fit into creation? Do they have the Imago Dei? Are they animals?

Q&A question: Non-Sapien Hominids: Thinking Biblically

creation

The Apostle John Still Alive?: Have you ever heard the theory that the Apostle John might still be alive and be the second witness in the Tribulation? I found the arguments interesting, as conjecture.

Q&A question: The Apostle John Still Alive?

tribulation Apostle John

Is Anointing Oil for Today?: Should we still use oil anointing today (used by elders praying for the sick)? What would that look like?

Q&A question: Is Anointing Oil for Today?

elder qualifications

Deuteronomy 22 Deuteronomy 22

An Error in Translation?: In the NIV translation, Deuteronomy 22: 28-30 uses the word “rape,” but other translations imply consent. Is this a legitimate translation error?

Q&A question: An Error in Translation?