Search — Theology Explorer

How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?: In Genesis 20:4-6, Abimelech seems to think he didn’t touch Sarah out of his own will, but God says HE didn’t allow it. Any insight on the intersection between our will and God’s hand making stuff happen?

Q&A question: How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?

Genesis Sarah Genesis

How did Jesus Pay in Advance for our Sin?: I'm not sure about penal substitution. How can it be that my sins, which were not yet committed at the time of the crucifixion, could have been imputed to Christ on the cross?

Q&A question: How did Jesus Pay in Advance for our Sin?

Jesus

Discerning God’s Calling from Our Feelings?: How can I tell the difference between when God is truly calling me to something or if I am just searching for signs?

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Calling from Our Feelings?

Is Being Baptized in a Special Location More “Spiritual”?: Is it wrong to think being baptized in the Jordan River could be special?

Q&A question: Is Being Baptized in a Special Location More “Spiritual”?

baptism

What does it Look Like to “Renounce All” for God?: How should we live out Luke 14: 33?

Q&A question: What does it Look Like to “Renounce All” for God?

Luke 14 Luke 14

Acts 13 Mormonism Acts 13

Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?: I've been told that when witnessing to groups such as the LDS (Mormons), a rebuke is better than a conversation because of Acts 13:8-10. Should false teachers be shown less grace than non-believers?

Q&A question: Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?

Matthew 5 Matthew Matthew 5 Matthew hell

Will Sin Send Some Believers to Hell?: Is Matthew 5: 30 referring to believers? How do we reconcile this with "There is no condemnation in Christ"?

Q&A question: Will Sin Send Some Believers to Hell?

Are the Ceremonial Laws Gone?: Where do we see in Scripture that the old ceremonial laws are gone?

Q&A question: Are the Ceremonial Laws Gone?

How Important are Legal Marriage Papers?: Help, Mike. I need a Bible verse to help a Christian couple who are cohabitating and have 4 kids, but don’t want to marry. They say faithfulness is more important than marriage papers.

Q&A question: How Important are Legal Marriage Papers?

marriage

Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?: I just lost a friend to an overdose. I don't think she was a believer. Should I pray for her mercy or is there no point after death?

Q&A question: Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?

death and afterlife

Does God Tempt?: God tests/tempts Israel and Abraham. But James says God doesn't test/tempt. How can we make sense of this?

Q&A question: Does God Tempt?

James James Abraham

Health/Prayer Update: Pastor Mike, can you give us an update on your personal health and sleep troubles?

Q&A question: Health/Prayer Update

prayer pastoral ministry

The Purpose of our Lives: As Christians, what is the purpose of our lives?

Q&A question: The Purpose of our Lives

eschatology Bethel Church heresy

About Kenosis Theology: Is Bethel style Kenosis theology from Philippians 2:5-11 heretical (where Christ is said to have lost His divinity to live instead as a human)? Or is that a secondary issue like sacraments and eschatology?

Q&A question: About Kenosis Theology

When People Justify Bad Behavior w/Scripture: When strong Christians suddenly start to justify sinful treatment of others (rage, control, insults, blaming) through Scripture twisting, could this be due to a shipwrecked faith or mental illness?

Q&A question: When People Justify Bad Behavior w/Scripture

Should we Pray in Public Before Meals?: I grew up praying before every meal, even in restaurants. I want to know how often I should do this, since I don’t want to be like the Pharisees praying publicly to be seen by others.

Q&A question: Should we Pray in Public Before Meals?

Pharisees

Can Satan Heal People?: In view of the magicians in Exodus potentially getting their power from Satan, can Satan and demons heal, and are these potentially healings that don't last?

Q&A question: Can Satan Heal People?

Satan healing demons

Roman Catholicism marriage

How to Reach Catholic Family Members: I’m a new believer, and my wife is a Catholic. Married 5 years. We have 2 very young baby daughters. How do I win my wife to Christ if she grew up rigidly Catholic? I can't break past her typological beliefs.

Q&A question: How to Reach Catholic Family Members

Empathizing with Victims of Tragic Events: How should I view the pain I feel for victims of the Holocaust, Nanking Massacre, etc. when these groups were mostly un-elect vessels of wrath who will receive no comfort?

Q&A question: Empathizing with Victims of Tragic Events

Is Psychology Satanic?: I’ve heard some people say that psychology belongs to Satan and that Christians should stray from studying it. What is your opinion on that, and is there any biblical basis for avoiding it?

Q&A question: Is Psychology Satanic?

Satan

How Might Fathers Exasperate their Children?: What does “Fathers, do not exasperate your children” in Colossians 3: 21 mean? Is this meant to be a general guidance to raising children, or discipling them?

Q&A question: How Might Fathers Exasperate their Children?

parenting

How to Distinguish Core Doctrines: How do I know what things are a “salvation issue” that I have to be right about, and what things are more open to interpretation that if I am wrong about my salvation will not be affected?

Q&A question: How to Distinguish Core Doctrines

salvation

Why is the Resurrection so Important?: Why are Jesus' claims and resurrection the one true root of our faith? Asking to help explain it to unbelievers who believe all religions lead to God.

Q&A question: Why is the Resurrection so Important?

Jesus resurrection

Must We Look Forward to our Glorified Bodies?: As a disabled person, some claim I’m missing out because I’m not looking forward to a new body. I’m content. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Must We Look Forward to our Glorified Bodies?

Why was Tamar a “Disgraced Woman”?: Why was Tamar in 2 Samuel considered “a disgraced woman” after being raped by her half-brother, Amnon?

Q&A question: Why was Tamar a “Disgraced Woman”?

Samuel Amnon Tamar

Should we Insert Names into Scripture?: A friend likes to substitute names in place of "you" in Scripture. Is that biblical? Romans 15: 13 for example.

Q&A question: Should we Insert Names into Scripture?

Why does Jesus need to Pray in Heaven?: Why does Jesus pray for us in Heaven when He could just directly ask God, since He is seated at the right hand of God?

Q&A question: Why does Jesus need to Pray in Heaven?

Jesus

How to get Others Excited about Apologetics: What is the best way to get a fellow believer to realize the importance of apologetics? I meet way too many Christians who are just like, "I just read the Bible and that's all that's important."

Q&A question: How to get Others Excited about Apologetics

apologetics

Matthew Matthew 19 Jesus Matthew Matthew 19

Why 6 Commandments Rather Than 10?: In Matthew 19: 18-19, why doesn’t Jesus tell the man to follow all 10 commandments instead of the 6 he listed when the man questioned him about having eternal life?

Q&A question: Why 6 Commandments Rather Than 10?

Was Early Church Worship the Same?: Do we know if the early Church worshiped in a similar way to how we have corporate worship today?

Q&A question: Was Early Church Worship the Same?

worship

How to Draw Near to God when we Feel Far: I’m far from the Lord in this moment and not very genuine. What could I do to improve my relationship with God and to be as honest as I can, be obedient to Him, and listen to His word?

Q&A question: How to Draw Near to God when we Feel Far

Are we “Worthy” and “Enough”?: What do you think of popular statements such as “You are Worthy” and “You are enough”? To me, neither sound biblical. We are unworthy and not enough, and neither do we have to be, because Jesus is.

Q&A question: Are we “Worthy” and “Enough”?

Jesus

Matthew 6:1-4 Matthew 5 Matthew Jesus Matthew 6:1-4 Matthew 5

Did Jesus Contradict Himself?: Why would Jesus instruct us to let our good works be seen by others (Matthew 5: 16) if He also instructed us to do our good works in secret (Matthew 6:1-4)? Am I misunderstanding something?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Contradict Himself?

Romans 5 Acts 4 Romans 5 Acts 4

Do Some People Get More Grace?: Romans 5:2 says we stand on grace. In Acts 4: 33, it says great grace was upon them all. Does that mean some people have more grace? I’ve heard you say we don't get grace little by little.

Q&A question: Do Some People Get More Grace?

If You’ve Forgotten a Promise to God: What do you do when you’ve made a promise to God and either forget the specifics of it or forget you’ve made it altogether?

Q&A question: If You’ve Forgotten a Promise to God

Should We Fear Future Events?: What is a healthy way to look at the future with all the disasters in Revelation? I have trouble building up my life without fearing everything will change soon, for the worse.

Q&A question: Should We Fear Future Events?

revelation revelation

Responding to Pro-Choice Thinking: How can we respond to someone who uses, “A creator has the right to do whatever they want with their own creation” as a pro-choice argument?

Q&A question: Responding to Pro-Choice Thinking

creation abortion

About “Holy Water” or “Blessed” Objects: A local street preacher uses holy water on the ground, which he says keeps demonic activity from disrupting his preaching. I haven't seen Scripture support this. Is it biblical?

Q&A question: About “Holy Water” or “Blessed” Objects

demons

About the Millennial Kingdom: If God is eternal and He knows everything from the beginning to the end, then why does He set up a 1000 year Millennium Kingdom? What are the reasons for this, biblically?

Q&A question: About the Millennial Kingdom

millennium

Perichoresis vs. Modalism: Can you explain the difference between the concepts of perichoresis and modalism? They seem to be very similar ideas on the surface.

Q&A question: Perichoresis vs. Modalism

About Bart Ehrman’s Teachings & Tactics: You have talked about Dr. Bart Ehrman (ex: your “Atheist Scholar Misleads Millions Of People” video). Does he also use these "techniques" on his professional peers?

Q&A question: About Bart Ehrman’s Teachings & Tactics

Bart Ehrman atheism

Trusting God when He Seems Silent: What practical steps do you do to trust in the Lord? I frequently have difficulty trusting Him during difficult times, especially when He doesn’t seem to be answering prayer.

Q&A question: Trusting God when He Seems Silent

prayer

Were the Nazis Appointed by God?: Were the Nazis as a government authority "appointed by God" according to Romans 13?

Q&A question: Were the Nazis Appointed by God?

Romans 13 Romans 13

Genesis Genesis 12 Abraham Jacob Genesis

Why did God Send Jacob to Egypt?: In Genesis 12: 10, Abraham goes to Egypt. That decision is considered by many as disobedience to God. If going to Egypt is related to a bad decision, why is it that later, God sent Jacob to Egypt?

Q&A question: Why did God Send Jacob to Egypt?

Romans 6 Romans 7 Jesus Romans 6 Romans 7

Are We Dead to Sin, or Sold Under It?: Why does Paul say "...reckon ye yourselves to be dead unto sin, but alive unto God through Christ Jesus our Lord" in Romans 6: 11, yet in Romans 7: 14, he says, "...but I am carnal, sold under sin"?

Q&A question: Are We Dead to Sin, or Sold Under It?

Traditional Preferences over Biblical Theology?: I’m an ex-Catholic, but I’m getting pulled back in. I don’t know why, but I just like praying in Latin, the Rosary, praying to saints, and using scripted prayers because I don’t know how to pray on my own.

Q&A question: Traditional Preferences over Biblical Theology?

Roman Catholicism prayer

How to Understand the Bible: What is your general advice on understanding Bible verses that we don't understand?

Q&A question: How to Understand the Bible

Communion: How Frequent?: My dad thinks that the Lord's Supper should only be observed on Passover because when Jesus said "do this in remembrance of Me,” He meant Passover. Any evidence in Scripture for weekly communion?

Q&A question: Communion: How Frequent?

Jesus communion

How to Help Victims of Abuse: I'm a new youth leader and we have teenagers who are severely abused at home. What messages do we focus on to help them? And what else can we do to help?

Q&A question: How to Help Victims of Abuse