Search — Theology Explorer

Is “Deliverance” for Today?: Is deliverance for today? Should we be praying for each other to be set free from demonic bondage in our lives, along with seeking medical assistance and counseling where needed?

Q&A question: Is “Deliverance” for Today?

demons

1 Timothy 3 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications

Winger walks through 1 Timothy 3 elder qualifications, acknowledging real-life churches (especially small ones) struggle to find people who meet all criteria. Lists: blameless, husband of one wife, temperate, sober-minded, hospitable, able to teach, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy, gentle, not quarrelsome, rules his own house well, not a novice.

Q&A: How literally should we follow the qualifications for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy and Titus?

Can a Christian Marry a Non-Christian?: Is it OK for a Christian to marry a non-Christian like a Buddhist, atheist, or Muslim? And what if they already have children? How would you counsel the Christian?

Q&A question: Can a Christian Marry a Non-Christian?

atheism Islam

About Married Couples in Heaven: Does Luke 20: 27-36 teach that people who are married on Earth won't be married anymore in Heaven? I feel sad that my husband and I might not be together still in Heaven.

Q&A question: About Married Couples in Heaven

marriage

About the Lord’s Supper during Covid: In my church, holy communion is postponed because of the measures surrounding Covid. Drinking from one cup is not possible. To justify this, they use Joshua 5:1-8. Is this biblical reasoning?

Q&A question: About the Lord’s Supper during Covid

communion

Will God Understand if I Hide my Faith?: I’m an ex-Muslim who became a Christian in 2020 and I have secretly been Christian but I still have to do Muslim practices. Will God understand that I have to keep it a secret?

Q&A question: Will God Understand if I Hide my Faith?

Islam

Can we Truly Feel God’s Presence?: Todd Friel (Wretched Radio) said “The Bible doesn’t teach that we can feel God’s presence” and the “warm fuzzies” are only an emotional response when our minds receive biblical truth. Is this true?

Q&A question: Can we Truly Feel God’s Presence?

Can we Compare Jesus & the Tree of Life?: What's your view on the comparison between Jesus and the Tree of Life? It came to me in a dream, and I googled it and found that it was exclusively an Orthodox belief.

Q&A question: Can we Compare Jesus & the Tree of Life?

Jesus

What did Paul Do before his Missionary Work?: 11 years went by from the time Paul was saved ‘til his first missionary journey - I always thought it was only a few months. What did Paul do during those 11 years other than fasting and praying?

Q&A question: What did Paul Do before his Missionary Work?

fasting

Are a Person’s Days Determined?: Job 14:5 says a person's days are determined, yet in Isaiah 38, God extends Hezekiah’s life. It almost seems that with enough prayer & faith, we can persuade God to change His mind. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Are a Person’s Days Determined?

Isaiah Isaiah prayer

Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?: We know that we will eventually gain glorified bodies, but what about glorified minds? Will someone who suffers from a mental disorder (like Down’s Syndrome) be “healed”?

Q&A question: Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?

Encouragement when we feel Empty: I struggle with emotional emptiness, abandonment issues, & having low self-worth. This makes my walk hard because my cup is always empty. God won’t answer my prayers. Any advice?

Q&A question: Encouragement when we feel Empty

prayer

About Giving Everything for the Lord: Can you better explain Luke 14: 33 where Jesus tells the crowd, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions”?

Q&A question: About Giving Everything for the Lord

Luke 14 Jesus Luke 14

apologetics Reformation theology

In Defense of Sola Scriptura: What is your understanding of 2 Thessalonians 2: 15, as many Orthodox Christians point to this as evidence of the legitimacy of traditions that are not explicitly written in Scripture?

Q&A question: In Defense of Sola Scriptura

Isaiah Isaiah 52 Isaiah Isaiah 52

How is Isaiah 52-53 evidence for the Bible if most of the stuff in there is theology, and not testable historically?

Q&A question

What does your personal time with God look like, Mike? How do you differentiate it from your study time?

Q&A question

prophecy pastoral ministry Apostles

About the “5-Fold Ministry”: Have you heard of the "5-Fold Ministry" way of thinking about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers exercising those gifts today? And if so, what are your thoughts about it?

Q&A question: About the “5-Fold Ministry”

When does Competition become Unbiblical?: The Bible stresses the importance of unity within the body of Christ. When does competition among believers (even seemingly friendly competition - games, sports, etc.) become unhealthy?

Q&A question: When does Competition become Unbiblical?

What is “Fundamental Christianity”?: Can you define "Fundamental Christianity" for me? Recently I've been seeing it referred to as a negative thing. Is it?

Q&A question: What is “Fundamental Christianity”?

death and afterlife creation and science

Why do Animals Die or Become Extinct?: If “the wages of sin is death,” why do animals die? (My question also involves the extinction of the dinosaurs - why would God create them to be exterminated?)

Q&A question: Why do Animals Die or Become Extinct?

Using the Morality Argument: If using the morality argument, how would you respond to an unbeliever that uses the objection that morality is subjective and there is no real objective right or wrong?

Q&A question: Using the Morality Argument

evangelism

About Feeling Angry toward God: When someone is angry at God, are they able to bring that to God, or do they wait until they are not angry and then go to God? Do we have to be 100% before talking with God, as to not disrespect Him?

Q&A question: About Feeling Angry toward God

About John 15 – Bearing Fruit: What do you think of the view that states that in John 15, Jesus actually said in Greek that those who don't bear fruit are lifted up instead of cut off? Is this us practicing bad Greek?

Q&A question: About John 15 – Bearing Fruit

John 15 Jesus John 15

About Gratitude in the Midst of Hardship: When I was an atheist, I got depressed and actually planned to end my life to escape all its struggles. I now know God exists, but I can’t be grateful for being created. How do I repent from that?

Q&A question: About Gratitude in the Midst of Hardship

atheism

Should Prayer be a Dialogue or Monologue?: About prayer, I’ve heard many people say that praying to God should be more of a dialogue than a monologue. Isn’t the Lord’s Prayer spoken by Jesus a monologue? How should we pray then?

Q&A question: Should Prayer be a Dialogue or Monologue?

Jesus prayer

About Leaving a Church: Is it necessary to ask your church to remove your name from its records if you are leaving due to false teaching/beliefs? I wonder if that’s what God means when He says “come out of her.”

Q&A question: About Leaving a Church

About 1 Kings 13: In 1 Kings 13, what are we supposed to learn from this passage? It seems as though the prophet lied to the man of God, tricking him so that he wouldn’t stay the course. Why lead him into this trap?

Q&A question: About 1 Kings 13

prophecy

revelation Revelation 20 resurrection revelation Revelation 20

About the 1st Resurrection – Revelation: Will all believers partake of the first resurrection, or only those who have been beheaded in the name of Christ? Revelation 20:4

Q&A question: About the 1st Resurrection – Revelation

Matthew Matthew 27 Matthew Matthew 27

About Matthew 27 – Holy People Raised: Can you please explain Matthew 27: 51-53? Hoping to get some clarity about the holy people raised to life. Where did they go? Did they die again?

Q&A question: About Matthew 27 – Holy People Raised

About “Divine Simplicity”: Do you believe in divine simplicity? If so, how do you reconcile it with the Trinity?

Q&A question: About “Divine Simplicity”

Trinity

Did the Covid Mandates Involve a Spiritual Battle?: A lot of believers seemed to believe the Church was being persecuted by being required to wear masks, meet in smaller groups, etc. Was a spiritual battle being waged in the Covid mandates?

Q&A question: Did the Covid Mandates Involve a Spiritual Battle?

About being Used by God in our Lives: I see others being used by God, and I want to be used too. Because of this, I often struggle with envy, jealousy, & comparison. How would you encourage & help me grow past this sin?

Q&A question: About being Used by God in our Lives

About the Death of our Pets: My cat died this week. Where did he go?

Q&A question: About the Death of our Pets

death and afterlife

How Should we Study Other Religions?: Do you have any recommendations for studying other religions and how to approach others with the intention to evangelize? I am particularly interested in Islam.

Q&A question: How Should we Study Other Religions?

Islam angels

Isaiah revelation Isaiah revelation

Comparing Bible Verses – The Ark: How can you explain Isaiah 66: 22-23 to be understood, alongside Revelation 11: 19 (the 10 words are in the ark currently), if Colossians 2: 16 speaks of the weekly Sabbath being abolished?

Q&A question: Comparing Bible Verses – The Ark

Wrestling with Doubts: I've studied the evidence for Christianity & it's amazing. But I struggle with doubts of “what if I'm wrong?” Does this affect my salvation? Will God help me?

Q&A question: Wrestling with Doubts

salvation

Romans 10 repentance Romans 10 angels

Why does John and Other Passages Not Mention Repentance?: If repentance is required to be saved, why is it not mentioned in the Gospel of John and other evangelical texts like Acts 16: 31 and Romans 10? Can repentance be somewhat synonymous with belief?

Q&A question: Why does John and Other Passages Not Mention Repentance?

About Orthodox Beliefs: What do Orthodox Christians believe vs. Protestants? Is their doctrine as problematic as Catholic doctrine? (I heard Hank Hanegraaf converted to it.)

Q&A question: About Orthodox Beliefs

Roman Catholicism

About the Greek in Bible Translations: Pastors often say, "what the Greek REALLY says is…" Why don't translators use the Greek that pastors cite in sermons then? (Like how Peter is akin to pebble but is translated as rock.)

Q&A question: About the Greek in Bible Translations

Peter pastoral ministry

Explanation of Ezekiel 14 – Prophets: In Ezekiel 14:9 it says if a prophet is deceived, it’s the Lord who deceived him. Could you offer some explanation to this verse, as it seems out of character for God?

Q&A question: Explanation of Ezekiel 14 – Prophets

Ezekiel prophecy Ezekiel

Romans 4 Abraham Romans 4

About Saving Faith in the OT: Romans 4 tells us that Abraham was saved because of his faith. He believed in God. How can we say that just because he was saved that way, everyone else in the OT was saved that way? Also, if they were saved that way, why did they have to sacrifice lambs? And if people were always saved by just believing in God, why was it necessary for Christ to come?

Q&A question: About Saving Faith in the OT

Fruit of the Spirit – Longsuffering: Could you please explain what longsuffering means, in regard to the fruit of the Spirit?

Q&A question: Fruit of the Spirit – Longsuffering

suffering

1 Corinthians 7 1 Corinthians 7

Is All of Scripture Inspired?: When Paul says, "I say, not the Lord but I..." in 1 Corinthians 7: 12, does that mean that portion of Scripture was not inspired?

Q&A question: Is All of Scripture Inspired?

Assurance of God’s Love & Salvation: Does God really love me, and am I really saved? I believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but I am still sinful and I struggle with sin. However, it seems that God answers my prayers. Am I really saved?

Q&A question: Assurance of God’s Love & Salvation

Jesus salvation prayer

Has Mankind always only had One Spirit?: What are your views that God only created one spirit and gave it to Adam which was then passed through generations? This explains how God doesn’t create an impure spirit at birth, or generational curse.

Q&A question: Has Mankind always only had One Spirit?

About Witnessing and Exemplifying Christ: My husband isn’t open to hearing me speak truth, so I have stopped correcting him. Is this a sin?? If he dies, he will go to hell.

Q&A question: About Witnessing and Exemplifying Christ

marriage hell

church leadership prophecy

Promises vs. Prophecies: Is there a difference between a promise and a prophecy? Are all God's promises prophecies? Am I responsible if a prophecy told about me doesn't come to pass? A church leader told me these things.

Q&A question: Promises vs. Prophecies

1 Corinthians 13 1 Corinthians 13

How to Be Kind when it’s Difficult: What specific actions can one who has no empathy do to be kind? (Thinking 1 Corinthians 13 "kind.")

Q&A question: How to Be Kind when it’s Difficult

marriage submission in marriage

Help with Marital Conflict: I feel led by God to homeschool my teens. My husband disagrees. He doesn't want them to be sheltered. I want to submit, but I’m conflicted. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Help with Marital Conflict