Search — Theology Explorer

Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?: Can fallen pastors who have engaged in egregious sin be restored back to ministry?

Q&A question: Can Fallen Leaders Be Restored?

pastoral ministry

Matthew Jesus Matthew healing

Jesus’ Ministry – Which Nature?: Do you believe Jesus did His ministry of preaching, teaching, and healing out of His divinity, or out of His humanity empowered by the Holy Spirit, in light of Matthew 3: 16-17, etc.? What about us?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Ministry – Which Nature?

Being Zealous for God’s Glory: In light of God's zeal for His own glory in all the Earth (see Ezekiel 36: 22-23; Psalm 46: 10; 2 Chronicles 6: 32-33), how can Christians be zealous for His glory among the nations, especially those who cannot go?

Q&A question: Being Zealous for God’s Glory

Ezekiel Ezekiel

“The River” = Heaven?: Is there a biblical basis for songs about “crossing the river” into Heaven, or is that just Greek mythology? Is the Jordan River a legitimate biblical metaphor for dying and going to the Promised Land/Heaven?

Q&A question: “The River” = Heaven?

heaven

Thinking Biblically about All Creation: Since all is God’s creation, will God hold us blameworthy for killing insects and other critters like cockroaches, mosquitoes, bees, spiders, mice, etc.?

Q&A question: Thinking Biblically about All Creation

creation

Matthew Romans 3 Matthew 7 Jesus Matthew Romans 3

Can the Unsaved Seek God?: Can people not yet saved seek after God? Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:7 to “…seek and knock and it will be opened,” but in Romans 3: 10 it says “There is no one who understands; There is no one who seeks God.”

Q&A question: Can the Unsaved Seek God?

Lazarus’ Resurrection – Missing?: I find the fact that the resurrection of Lazarus is missing from the Synoptics and the epistles to be unsettling. Do you have any insights on why such a massive claim is not in the earliest texts?

Q&A question: Lazarus’ Resurrection – Missing?

resurrection Lazarus

“By Faith” vs. “Through Faith”: What is the difference between “by faith” and “through faith” in Romans 3: 30?

Q&A question: “By Faith” vs. “Through Faith”

Romans 3 Romans 3

Investing in Rental Properties – Sin?: I would like to start investing in rental homes. Is this flat out a sin and should I be just giving my excess to the needy people, or is it OK to invest to earn more, and just give then?

Q&A question: Investing in Rental Properties – Sin?

generosity

Are My Dreams from God?: My pastor says you can tell if a dream is from God by whether or not it aligns with Gods Word, but also if it’s very bright, warm, and vivid. He says if you’re afraid in the dream, then it’s not from God. Is that true?

Q&A question: Are My Dreams from God?

pastoral ministry

A Child’s Stage of Accountability: My three-year-old passed away in a tragic accident. I’ve heard that infants are welcomed into God’s presence when they die, but what about a slightly older child? Is my daughter in Heaven?

Q&A question: A Child’s Stage of Accountability

heaven

Author Unknown = Still Inspired?: Can we be confident that a book of the Bible is truly inspired and belongs in the canon if the author is unknown (like Hebrews)? If we don’t know who wrote it, how can we trust what it contains? How can we know it wasn’t just the written version of a sermon? A pastor may be educated, but they aren’t inerrant.

Q&A question: Author Unknown = Still Inspired?

pastoral ministry

The Kingdom – “Suffered Violence”?: Can you help me to contextually understand Matthew 11: 12? Teachings I’ve heard have made no sense, and I have tried to understand it myself, but I’m not sure if I’m understanding what Jesus was saying here.

Q&A question: The Kingdom – “Suffered Violence”?

Matthew Jesus Matthew

Psalm 1 marriage Mormonism Psalm 1

50/50 Churches?: My LDS husband wants me and our kids to go to his ward & my church, split 50/50 every other week. Should I submit to him and do this, or should I get out completely from doing this? See 2 Kings 5: 17-19 and Psalm 1:1.

Q&A question: 50/50 Churches?

Grain Offering = More Holy?: In Leviticus 2:9-10, the part of the grain offering for the priests is "a most holy part." Why is the part that the priests eat more holy than the memorial portion that is burned on the altar?

Q&A question: Grain Offering = More Holy?

tithing

Avoiding Anger while Guiding Others: I see a lot of New Age-ish things (energy, manifesting, vibes) creeping into Christ followers’ lives around me. I’ve gotten blow-back trying to correct people in love. Do you have any advice about how to continue the conversation without angering them?

Q&A question: Avoiding Anger while Guiding Others

new age

revelation Malachi Elijah eschatology revelation

Malachi 4, Elijah & The End Times: Does the last verse of Malachi 4 suggest that Elijah will be one of the two witnesses in Revelation?

Q&A question: Malachi 4, Elijah & The End Times

Romans 6 Romans 6 homosexuality

Dying to Sexual Addictions: I’m only 18, but I’ve been addicted to pornography for 5 years now, which slowly turned homosexual over time. Can you please explain the past tense of “died” in Romans 6:2? Am I dead to sin, or do I die?

Q&A question: Dying to Sexual Addictions

Matthew 18 Matthew elder qualifications Matthew 18 Matthew

How to Biblically Confront an Elder: How should a church member confront an elder biblically? Is Matthew 18 still applicable, or is there another text that applies since they are an elder?

Q&A question: How to Biblically Confront an Elder

Baptized in the Name of Jesus Only?: Why were people baptized in Jesus’ name in the book of Acts? I was challenged by this question and can’t figure it out.

Q&A question: Baptized in the Name of Jesus Only?

Jesus baptism

BONUS Q!.We'll probably never find every artifact or an original manuscript. But what is on your list of top biblical artifacts you hope are discovered? Israel in Egypt is one of mine.

Q&A question

textual criticism Israel

Learning to Pay Attention!: Were there really “Wise Men” at Jesus’ birth?

Q&A question: Learning to Pay Attention!

Jesus

No PSA = OK?: Is it possible to not believe in Penal Substitutionary Atonement without being a Progressive?

Q&A question: No PSA = OK?

atonement

Does God Know His Own Future?: Does God perfectly and exhaustively know His own future? If He does, is He able to change His future, or is He only able to do what He already knows He is going to do?

Q&A question: Does God Know His Own Future?

By Grace, Through Faith, No Works: As a former strict, legalistic Orthodox, will I ever be able to grasp that salvation truly is by faith and NOT works? I STRUGGLE!

Q&A question: By Grace, Through Faith, No Works

salvation

The Temple – Continued Sacrifices?: What do we make of the Temple at the end of Ezekiel? It says God will dwell there, and sacrifices will be continued by Levites (Ch. 43:7; 19). Verse 27 indicates this will continue happening.

Q&A question: The Temple – Continued Sacrifices?

Ezekiel Ezekiel

Is “Bodybuilding” Biblical?: My friends and I love natural bodybuilding. Is it biblical to work on your body to one day showcase it in minimal clothing on a bodybuilding stage or on social media in a non-sexual way?

Q&A question: Is “Bodybuilding” Biblical?

sexual ethics

True Peace in the Midst of Storms: Can you give us some thoughts on how to have peace and joy in Christ in this season, despite being stuck in some really messed up circumstances?

Q&A question: True Peace in the Midst of Storms

Choosing Sides?: A friend of a friend asked why he has to “choose sides” (God or the Devil). Why can't he just remain neutral? He claims it's not really free will when there's only one “right side.”

Q&A question: Choosing Sides?

free will

Hebrews 13:4 marriage Hebrews 13:4

Purity in the Marriage Bed: Are married Christian couples allowed to engage in things like kink, costumes, and roleplay in the bedroom? Hebrews 13:4 states that the marriage bed must remain pure. But what is in and out of bounds?

Q&A question: Purity in the Marriage Bed

1 John 3 David salvation 1 John 3

David’s Salvation – Murderer?: If according to John, no murderer has eternal life abiding in him (1 John 3: 15), how do we explain David’s salvation, since he had Uriah killed?

Q&A question: David’s Salvation – Murderer?

Bonus Q! Since Christmas is next Wednesday, what’s your favorite Christmas tradition? And what Christmas traditions would you recommend avoiding/refusing to participate in?

Q&A question

Genesis: Different Views: What are the different interpretations that different Christians have about the book of Genesis and the creation accounts?

Q&A question: Genesis: Different Views

Genesis creation Genesis

Exodus 32 Moses Exodus 32

Israel – God’s People or Moses’ People?: What’s the significance of God calling the Israelites Moses’ people in the golden calf story, and then Moses calling them God’s people? I can’t help but think it sounds like two parents of the same child saying “That’s your kid” as the child misbehaves (Exodus 32:1-14, specifically verses 7 and 11).

Q&A question: Israel – God’s People or Moses’ People?

Are our Souls Immortal?: Seventh-day Adventism claims that belief in an immortal soul comes from Paganism and leads to occult spiritualism (like necromancy and belief in ghosts). Is this biblical?

Q&A question: Are our Souls Immortal?

occult

Christians and Yoga: A family member does yoga for stretching, but in that quiet time they meditate, pray, and worship God. I know yoga for stretching is fine, but is worshiping while doing yoga an issue because of Deuteronomy 12: 30-31?

Q&A question: Christians and Yoga

worship

Colossians 1 Colossians 1 angels

Can Angels be Saved?: Does Colossians 1: 19, 20 suggest that Christ’s sacrificial death can be applied to fallen angels, as well?

Q&A question: Can Angels be Saved?

Can we Feel the Spirit Move?: Is “feeling the Spirit moving” biblical?

Q&A question: Can we Feel the Spirit Move?

Guilty of Unintentional Sins?: Are we guilty of sins we do not know we have committed (Leviticus 4: 27, 5: 17)?

Q&A question: Guilty of Unintentional Sins?

Prayer: How Long & How Many Times?: How long should our prayers be? I see many people online who need prayers, and I want to pray each night for everyone. It feels tedious & repetitive, but it feels wrong to pray for them only once. Thoughts?

Q&A question: Prayer: How Long & How Many Times?

prayer

revelation salvation revelation

Salvation by Works in Revelation?: Is Revelation 14: 12 talking about salvation by works?

Q&A question: Salvation by Works in Revelation?

From Intellect to Salvation: Is there a way for me to go from an intellectual belief in God to a relationship with God, or do I have to wait on Him for that?

Q&A question: From Intellect to Salvation

salvation

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?

Making Decisions “From Faith”: Is there a difference between indecisiveness and doing things “not from faith” (Romans 14: 23)? I struggle to make decisions and feel guilty about doing things without being 100% sure it’s God’s will.

Q&A question: Making Decisions “From Faith”

Romans 14 Romans 14

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

Difficult OT Passages: Nahum 3:5-6 is hard for me to reconcile with our holy and loving God. Can you help me understand this?

Q&A question: Difficult OT Passages

Nahum Nahum

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

Matthew 24 Matthew Jesus Matthew 24 Matthew

Does Jesus NOW Know?: Did Jesus’ limits He placed on Himself while on Earth disappear once He resurrected/exalted to Heaven (Matthew 24: 36, No one knows the day or the hour except the Father)? Could Jesus know now?

Q&A question: Does Jesus NOW Know?