Search — Theology Explorer

Overcoming Covetousness: Why is it so hard to be content? I've been blessed with more than most people, but I'm always wanting MORE. I drain so much money buying more "stuff" and once I see something I like, I'm bummed/stressed until I get to buy it. I don't want to be this way. Please help!

Q&A question: Overcoming Covetousness

Psalm 110 Psalm 110:1 rapture eschatology tribulation

Eschatological Timings: What effect does Psalm 110:1 and Luke 20: 42-43 have on the timing or placement of the rapture of the Church in reference to the tribulation?

Q&A question: Eschatological Timings

salvation prayer Calvinism

How to Pray for Unbelievers: I don’t believe Calvinism is biblical, but I find that my prayers for unbelievers often sound Calvinistic: “Change their hearts, bring them to You,” etc. How should we pray for unbelievers' salvation?

Q&A question: How to Pray for Unbelievers

Can We Be as Close as the Disciples?: Do you think that we can have as personal and intimate of a relationship with Jesus as His twelve disciples did? I've heard 1 John 1:1-3 used to support this.

Q&A question: Can We Be as Close as the Disciples?

1 John 1 Jesus 1 John 1

Exodus 3 Moses Exodus 3 Pharaoh

Did God Direct Moses to Deceive Pharaoh?: Why did God tell Moses to ask Pharaoh to go "three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God" (Exodus 3: 18) if it wasn't God's intention for them to return to Egypt?

Q&A question: Did God Direct Moses to Deceive Pharaoh?

Ezekiel Kris Vallotton prophecy Ezekiel

Do our Prophecies Create Reality?: Kris Vallotton cites Ezekiel 37:1-6 to claim that our prophecies create reality, rather than just foretelling the future. Is there merit to this?

Q&A question: Do our Prophecies Create Reality?

Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?: When Jesus interacts with people, He is often compassionate. However, with the 12, he most often sounds harsh. Does His relationship toward us change once we are “on the team"?

Q&A question: Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?

Jesus

Moving Forward after Church Hurt: What are your thoughts on how to best get back involved with the Church after you have had past hurts both done to you, and you toward others? Also, should a person go back to the same church, or seek a new one?

Q&A question: Moving Forward after Church Hurt

Matthew 10 Matthew Philippians 1 Trinity Matthew 10 Philip

Trinitarian Clarity: How is the Holy Spirit not the Son or Father (Matthew 10: 20, Philippians 1: 19)? These verses confuse me when I’m trying to answer this question.

Q&A question: Trinitarian Clarity

Warnings about False Teachings: Do warnings to Churches and believers in verses such as Jude 1:3-4 or other Epistles regarding false/heretical doctrines apply to Mormons who want a relationship with God/Jesus but are just deceived?

Q&A question: Warnings about False Teachings

Jesus Mormonism heresy

marriage pastoral ministry

Knowing When to Yield: My pastor wants me to obey my husband even when it hurts my mental health, triggers my eating disorder, or my sleep disorder. Is he right or wrong? He says I should “Die like Christ.”

Q&A question: Knowing When to Yield

Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations: What counsel would you give a discouraged believer with a debilitating chronic illness who carries a lot of guilt for not being able to serve in the ways they want to be able to?

Q&A question: Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations

suffering

Jesus AND the Bible = “The Word”?: What is the distinction that is to be made between Jesus and the Bible, as far as the title "Word of God" goes, which is applied to both of them?

Q&A question: Jesus AND the Bible = “The Word”?

Jesus

When Translations Vary: What do we do when we find significant difference between translations (such as 1 John 5:7 in the KJV vs. modern translations)?

Q&A question: When Translations Vary

Bible translations

Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?: Do we know why God chose the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood?

Q&A question: Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?

Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon: I give my first sermon this Sunday. Any tips/pointers for those going through seminary/preparing for their first sermon(s)?

Q&A question: Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon

Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith: I want to raise my two kids aged 7 and 9 in the faith. I don’t want to push too hard. Any advice? My ex-wife has left the faith, so I feel like it’s up to me (and God).

Q&A question: Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith

marriage

Was Paul Married?: I heard a theory that the Apostle Paul was married and a widower. Do you think that’s relevant, and does it have any biblical standing?

Q&A question: Was Paul Married?

Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?: When I got pregnant from an ungodly relationship, I turned to God and know He forgave all my sins. But my daughter was born with cancer. Is this a punishment from God?

Q&A question: Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?

suffering

Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?: Should we call out sin in the lives of other Christian friends? I had a conversation with my pastor about this in regard to cussing, and he told me if we don't have a mutual edification then it might not be my place.

Q&A question: Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?

pastoral ministry

Feminism’s Impact on the Church: What’s your opinion on how feminism is impacting the modern Church?

Q&A question: Feminism’s Impact on the Church

Is Ordination Necessary?: What are your thoughts on the necessity to be ordained into ministry? Can I turn my home Bible study into a church?

Q&A question: Is Ordination Necessary?

Bible study

Heaven or Earth During 2nd Coming?: Will we be taken to Heaven during the second coming, or will God’s Kingdom come to Earth to reign? Seems odd to create Earth for Him to just destroy it and bring us to His domain.

Q&A question: Heaven or Earth During 2nd Coming?

second coming

Relationship Dynamics Before Divorce: I was wondering, if a couple is married and one of them is seeking an unbiblical divorce, does that give them the right to start dating other people before the divorce is finalized?

Q&A question: Relationship Dynamics Before Divorce

divorce

Witnessing to Muslims: I'm 15, and my best friend at school is a Muslim. Do you have any advice for trying to evangelize Muslims who are intelligent and rational but very set in their ways?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Muslims

Islam angels

Should Men Move Out Before Dating?: Looking at Ephesians 5: 31, Should a Christian man move out of his parents’ house before trying to date, to prove they can provide an income and a house?

Q&A question: Should Men Move Out Before Dating?

Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5

If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?: My sister walked away from God because she begged for direction in her life and she says she heard nothing from God. This led her to believe God doesn’t care about her. How do I respond to this?

Q&A question: If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?

Romans 8 Romans 7 Romans 8 Romans 7

Slave to Sin?: In Romans 7: 14, is Paul describing his experience before or after he became a Christian? He’s just shifted to the present tense, but says he is sold as a slave to sin. Does this differ from Romans 8?

Q&A question: Slave to Sin?

How Should We View Extrabiblical Books?: With extrabiblical books such as Enoch or 1 & 2 Maccabees, how do you discern within these books if they're true accounts, if they don't contradict our canon?

Q&A question: How Should We View Extrabiblical Books?

Enoch

1 Corinthians 2:8 Ephesians 6 Pharisees 1 Corinthians 2:8 Ephesians 6

Earthly Rulers vs. Spiritual Rulers?: In 1 Corinthians 2:8, is Paul referring to earthly rulers (i.e. Pharisees or Romans) or spiritual rulers as he does in Ephesians 6: 12?

Q&A question: Earthly Rulers vs. Spiritual Rulers?

1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13:1 forgiveness

Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse: In 1 Corinthians 13:1, we are told that love "keeps no record of wrongs.” But how do we reconcile this with setting boundaries to protect us from abusive behaviors?

Q&A question: Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse

Should we Pray for Specific Gifts?: What do you think about praying expectantly for a very specific gift of the Holy Spirit? I see people blessed with certain gifts teaching classes. For example, I've seen classes on how to prophesy.

Q&A question: Should we Pray for Specific Gifts?

Holy Spirit

Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?: If Jesus died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday, then He was not in the grave for three days and three nights. Why is it that this seems never to be addressed?

Q&A question: Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?

Jesus

About Theistic Evolution: Can you explain your understanding of Theistic Evolution? I saw a video by InspiringPhilosophy and have a hard time accepting this viewpoint.

Q&A question: About Theistic Evolution

Philo evolution

Was Abel a Prophet?: Does Luke 11: 50-51 mean that Abel was a prophet?

Q&A question: Was Abel a Prophet?

prophecy

baptism pastoral ministry

Who Can Baptize People?: Can anyone baptize? Or must one be a pastor?

Q&A question: Who Can Baptize People?

Communicating with God: How can we have a relationship with God when He doesn’t talk back?

Q&A question: Communicating with God

Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?: Could we say that Saul killing himself in 1 Samuel 31:3-5 was justifiable for the same reason 9/11 jumpers were justified?

Q&A question: Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?

Samuel

Holy Week Reflections: With Easter coming up, what is something that we might overlook but shouldn’t, considering that celebrating Easter might just become a yearly habit or tradition to people?

Q&A question: Holy Week Reflections

Self-Loathing vs. Self-Love?: As Christians, how do we deal with self-loathing without indulging in and practicing too much self-love?

Q&A question: Self-Loathing vs. Self-Love?

Evolved from Monkeys?: From a biblical standpoint, is there any reason that Christians believe we evolved from monkeys? I'm confused why some Christians believe that, and I’m curious if it’s purely a worldview standpoint?

Q&A question: Evolved from Monkeys?

Romans 9 Galatians 3 Jesus Romans 9 Galatians 3

Who Are God’s Chosen People?: I had a debate with a friend about Israel still being God's chosen people. Doesn't Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3: 28-29 communicate that God's chosen people are anyone who places their faith in Jesus?

Q&A question: Who Are God’s Chosen People?

Do Animals Sin?: Are animals able to sin? They kill for food and sometimes it appears this may be likened to murder, but what does the Bible say about this?

Q&A question: Do Animals Sin?

Romans 8 Peter Romans 8 angels

Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?: John Wesley says, “You have one business on this earth: to save souls.” Is Christlikeness or spiritual maturity chiefly a means to an end – of bringing people to Christ (Romans 8: 29, 2 Corinthians 3: 18, 2 Peter 3: 18)?

Q&A question: Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?

Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents: I had a domestic violence upbringing, and I now have a son of my own. I have fears of family telling me how to parent my son. How do I set healthy biblical boundaries that protect my son and honor Christ?

Q&A question: Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents

Bored in the OT!: How do I read the Old Testament without getting bored and distracted 2 minutes in?

Q&A question: Bored in the OT!