Search — Theology Explorer

John 1 Nathan Jesus John 1

Angels Ascending & Descending?: What did Jesus mean in John 1: 51? Was it a specific word for Nathanael, or does it apply to everyone? Would really love some clarity.

Q&A question: Angels Ascending & Descending?

Brotherly Support vs. Enabling Legalism: How do we balance being careful not to stumble a fellow believer, while also not catering to someone's legalism?

Q&A question: Brotherly Support vs. Enabling Legalism

Must we “Wait for God” before Salvation?: Can you get saved whenever? My church teaches that God must first “knock on your heart” before you can respond and accept salvation. This leads to some people wanting to be saved, but waiting.

Q&A question: Must we “Wait for God” before Salvation?

salvation

Matthew 18 Matthew Matthew 18 pastoral ministry Matthew

Clarifying a Difficult Passage: A local UMC pastor preached on Matthew 18: 21-35. She said scholars say that Matthew added verses 34-35 and that the master does not represent God. I've never heard this take and it sounds concerning. Any insight?

Q&A question: Clarifying a Difficult Passage

complementarianism headship complementarianism

Winger explains headship means the husband has a higher position of authority (not the only authority) — when they disagree, the deciding vote goes to the husband. But Jesus commands this be exercised with grace, love, and self-sacrifice, never 'lording it over' the wife.

Q&A question: What does a husband being the head of the wife actually mean he does? Does he boss her around or just be a good man?

Song of Solomon = Christ & Church?: I am currently studying Song of Solomon, and I was wondering, do you believe that it represents Christ and the Church? I have an issue with that, as the book describes a sexual relationship.

Q&A question: Song of Solomon = Christ & Church?

Solomon

Loving the Lord with Everything: I’ve been wondering about the great commandment Jesus gives in Matthew 22: 36. Seems like a Deuteronomy 6 quote, but why does Jesus change the last quality from “might” to “mind”?

Q&A question: Loving the Lord with Everything

Matthew Jesus Matthew

Faith = Just a Family Tradition?: My husband believes that faith comes about by family tradition, and that someone's faith is just an expression of what their family has taught them rather than actual faith in God. What does the bible say about this?

Q&A question: Faith = Just a Family Tradition?

Was Paul Married? Widowed?: Acts 26:9-10: "...cast my vote" has implications that Paul was in the Sanhedrin (also residing over Stephen's trial in 8:1), which would have required him to be married (even though that requirement wasn't recorded until later; I'm guessing it was still implemented). Could Paul have been married? Perhaps widowed?

Q&A question: Was Paul Married? Widowed?

Stephen Sanhedrin

1 Samuel 16 David Samuel 1 Samuel 16

Did Saul Know who David Was?: Why at the end of 1 Samuel 16 did the author emphasize David's service to and recognition by Saul, but in 1 Samuel 17, Saul didn't seem to even know who David was (no one seemed to know him for that matter)?

Q&A question: Did Saul Know who David Was?

James James 1 Mark 9 James James 1 Mark 9

Is Doubting OK?: I love Mark 9: 24 - “I believe, help my unbelief.” But how do we understand that along with James 1:6-8 which says to ask in faith with no doubting, as the one who doubts will not receive anything from the Lord?

Q&A question: Is Doubting OK?

Are Our Souls Truly Immortal?: I was raised in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church, and they say that the belief in an immortal/immaterial soul is Pagan in origin and has no basis in the Bible. Is this true?

Q&A question: Are Our Souls Truly Immortal?

Why did Jesus Die if Humans Still Die?: If the payment for sin is death, and both believers and non-believers will die anyways, then why did Jesus have to die for us? Was it for a chance at us entering Heaven?

Q&A question: Why did Jesus Die if Humans Still Die?

Jesus

OCD-Like Prayers: Any thoughts on struggles with OCD-like prayers? Ex: feeling the need to pray for protection over family members every day in fear that something bad will happen to them if I don’t.

Q&A question: OCD-Like Prayers

prayer

God Didn’t Reveal Himself?: What do you tell an atheist who says he looked for God and God didn't reveal Himself to him? And in general, what do you make of the argument of nonresistant non-believers?

Q&A question: God Didn’t Reveal Himself?

atheism

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-01

How to Hear God’s Voice: What does it mean to hear God's voice? Many teachings say to listen to your thoughts and discern God's voice. Is this even Biblical, or is it a cliche? Reminds me of imagination (visions/prophecy).

Q&A question: How to Hear God’s Voice

prophecy

Does Video Auto-Play Lead to Sin?: Is it a sin to use a social media service that often displays ungodly messages and music? Short-form video services such as TikTok display videos directly on your feed rather than suggesting them to you. I will still often see ungodly videos even though I don't want to.

Q&A question: Does Video Auto-Play Lead to Sin?

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-01

Do Christians Still Sin?: How should I understand 1 John 3 when it talks about those who abide in Christ no longer sinning, even as someone who continues to sin?

Q&A question: Do Christians Still Sin?

1 John 3 1 John 3

Mike Winger idea 2023-09-01

Deliverance & the “Spirit of Jezebel”: How do we lovingly correct someone who believes the deliverance ministry doctrine (people saying they have a “spirit of Jezebel” that needs to be prayed away)?

Q&A question: Deliverance & the “Spirit of Jezebel”

Jezebel

Greater Works than Jesus?: In John 14: 12, Jesus said we would do even greater things than Him. That’s a tough pill to swallow since He died for our sins and created everything. How do I process Jesus’ statement?

Q&A question: Greater Works than Jesus?

Jesus

Relearning Proper Theology: One of your videos gave my fiancé a change of heart. He is a former Jehovah’s Witness and feels like he has to start over and unlearn then relearn everything. Where do you suggest we start studying?

Q&A question: Relearning Proper Theology

Jehovah's Witnesses

Is God Constantly Speaking to Us?: My friend doesn't want to have too small of a view of God, so he sees every small event in his life as God speaking to him, even trivial things. Am I being too stingy, or is he "over-spiritualizing"?

Q&A question: Is God Constantly Speaking to Us?

Does the Devil Persecute Believers?: Is God giving the Devil permission to persecute the lives of certain Christians today, like in the book of Job?

Q&A question: Does the Devil Persecute Believers?

generosity

Exploring the Different Words for God’s Law: Every verse in Psalm 119 refers to God's Law, and ten different words are used, including: commandments, precepts, law, testimonies, ways, etc. Why? Does each word have a different meaning?

Q&A question: Exploring the Different Words for God’s Law

Psalm 119 Psalm 119

Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis women in ministry Genesis 1

How to Prepare Large Study Projects: How do you go about a project like the Women in Ministry series? I want to do something similar with Genesis 1-2 but I don't even know where to begin or what tools to use (other than Logos, of course).

Q&A question: How to Prepare Large Study Projects

What Was Paul’s Goal?: Can you explain to me what goal Paul hopes to achieve in Philippians 3: 11-12? What does he have to do?

Q&A question: What Was Paul’s Goal?

Philip Philippi

When Should I NOT Take Communion?: When should a believer NOT take communion? Is finding myself repenting of the same sin over and over and having an ongoing struggle with the same sin a reason not to?

Q&A question: When Should I NOT Take Communion?

communion

Committed Relationships as Good as Marriage?: How would you answer claims that “committed sexual relationships” have everything good that a marriage has? What’s the essence of marriage that withstands infertility/impotence/distance, etc.?

Q&A question: Committed Relationships as Good as Marriage?

{Are Non-Believers Always Wrong?{ Some Christians act like non-believers are inherently untrustworthy or dishonest, like they shouldn't be taken seriously. This feels really wrong. Can you please help me find biblical teaching on this?

Q&A question

Raising Children w/Unbelieving Family: Is it wrong that I don’t want to raise my son around my unbelieving family members? They can even be hostile to the faith. I even have a transgender niece, and my wife and I don’t want our son around that.

Q&A question: Raising Children w/Unbelieving Family

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Praising the Holy Spirit?: A friend said that Scripture never calls us to praise the Holy Spirit despite numerous worship songs and the Doxology saying otherwise. Is he wrong? Should we only worship the Father and the Son?

Q&A question: Praising the Holy Spirit?

worship

Would the Spirit Ever Leave Us?: Can you please explain what it meant in 1 Samuel when the Spirit left Saul?

Q&A question: Would the Spirit Ever Leave Us?

Samuel

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

The Vatican & Revelation: Does Revelation 7:9 apply to Vatican City despite its size and hosting unbiblical stuff?

Q&A question: The Vatican & Revelation

revelation revelation

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Indwelling, Infilling & Assurance: Do you have the Holy Spirit if you haven't been baptized with Him? I don't feel/believe like I do. I can't hear His voice.

Q&A question: Indwelling, Infilling & Assurance

baptism

Should Youth Pastors Simplify or Go Deep?: I absolutely love being a new Youth Pastor! However, I often find myself going over my students' heads. A small group of them tell me they're thrilled to "actually learn something." I'm conflicted on whether I should simplify my messages in an effort to hold as many attention spans as possible, or keep going into deeper waters to continue feeding those that seem to be benefiting from it. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Should Youth Pastors Simplify or Go Deep?

pastoral ministry

Does God Love Everyone?: I hear some people make the claim that God doesn't love everyone. If God doesn't love everyone, how can He require that we love our neighbor (neighbor defined as Jesus defined it in Luke 10) as ourselves?

Q&A question: Does God Love Everyone?

Luke 10 Jesus Luke 10

Why Didn’t Greek Spread?: Why didn't Greek spread through the Christian world like Arabic did through the Muslim one? Both revere holy books, yet Greek didn't become widespread. Surely it would have made understanding easier.

Q&A question: Why Didn’t Greek Spread?

Islam

Overcoming Lust: I’ve been struggling with lust for a few years, and it weighs heavily on my heart. Every time I think I can break away from it, I keep falling back into it. How can I finally break free?

Q&A question: Overcoming Lust

sexual ethics

revelation Revelation 20 Satan revelation Revelation 20

Scapegoat = Satan?: How can we be certain that the “scapegoat” isn't Satan in Leviticus 16 and Revelation 20?

Q&A question: Scapegoat = Satan?

Matthew Matthew 7 Matthew Matthew 7

Are You Casting Pearls Before Swine?: When should we apply Matthew 7:6? I ask because for Christmas, I want to give a spiritually themed gift to my unbelieving sister, who has crudely rejected the Bible and God multiple times. Should I even bother?

Q&A question: Are You Casting Pearls Before Swine?

Responding to “Oneness” Teachings: How would you respond to a Oneness believer who denies the distinct Personhood of the Father, Son, and Spirit, even after showing them clear verses that distinguish the Father from the Son, etc.?

Q&A question: Responding to “Oneness” Teachings

Honoring God & Each Other in Marital Intimacy: Does a wife have to do everything her husband wishes in the bedroom? I feel so uncomfortable doing oral acts, but he says it’s the only thing that satisfies him. I feel guilty. We both are believers.

Q&A question: Honoring God & Each Other in Marital Intimacy