Search — Theology Explorer

Having the Gift of Prophecy: How does a Christian know if they have the gift of prophecy?

Q&A question: Having the Gift of Prophecy

prophecy

Does God Choose to Love Us?: Does God choose to love us? If He Himself is love and He can't help but love us, why should we feel honored by it? Doesn't that take away the meaningfulness of it?

Q&A question: Does God Choose to Love Us?

The Fear of Failing: I’m afraid I’ll sin or lead myself away from God if I make the wrong decisions about personal convictions, theology, and even daily choices. How should I deal with the fear of being wrong?

Q&A question: The Fear of Failing

Divination Worked: Am I Unsaved?: A man who practices divination visited and gave info about me that was about 60% correct. Does this mean I’m not saved if his spells seemed to work on me?

Q&A question: Divination Worked: Am I Unsaved?

Flat Earth Use of Scripture: Do I still say that Flat Earthers misuse Scripture?

Q&A question: Flat Earth Use of Scripture

Why Some Reject & Some Accept Faith: Could you help me answer the Calvinist who asks what the difference is between a person who has faith and a person who rejects faith? If we are all equally sinful, why do some choose Christ?

Q&A question: Why Some Reject & Some Accept Faith

Calvinism

Why My Prayer Isn’t Answered: How can I tell why a prayer hasn’t been answered? How do I know if I just have to wait longer, or if some sin is hindering my prayer, or if the answer is simply “no”?

Q&A question: Why My Prayer Isn’t Answered

prayer

The Bible: Chronological Order?: Is it helpful to read the Bible in chronological order?

Q&A question: The Bible: Chronological Order?

The “Who” of Romans 7: Who is Paul talking about in Romans 7? Himself, some hypothetical believer, or someone else entirely?

Q&A question: The “Who” of Romans 7

Romans 7 Romans 7

Single but Living As Married: My fiancée moved in, is sleeping with me, using my credit card, is on my home title and health insurance, and we’re filing taxes jointly. But our wedding ceremony is not until 2027. I want to break up with her. Is that OK since we’ve made no vow yet before God?

Q&A question: Single but Living As Married

dating and relationships

Romans 5 Moses Romans 5 salvation

Sin Before The Law: In Romans 5: 13, what does it mean that sin was not counted against those before Moses gave the law? Did all those people receive eternal salvation?

Q&A question: Sin Before The Law

Are You Reformed?: I think you've said that you consider yourself Reformed, and I wondered what you mean by that. What Reformed doctrines do you accept besides the ones that constitute basic orthodoxy?

Q&A question: Are You Reformed?

Does Porn Disqualify from Ministry?: What are your thoughts on pastors struggling with porn/lust? Is it disqualifying? I stepped out of ministry to heal. Many ministers my age (23) struggle. Please pray. I’ve seen progress, but I still fight.

Q&A question: Does Porn Disqualify from Ministry?

pastoral ministry

Evangelism amid Difficult Family Dynamics: What’s the appropriate way to navigate being an uncle and sharing the truth with nieces/nephews when your sibling doesn’t have a biblical worldview?

Q&A question: Evangelism amid Difficult Family Dynamics

angels

Bonus – Prayer Request: Can you please pray for my mom? She’s been diagnosed with breast cancer. Her prognosis looks good, but we are praying for God's miraculous and complete healing.

Q&A question

prayer healing

Rapture Predictions: Are rapture predictions always bad?

Q&A question: Rapture Predictions

rapture

Teaching Kids Theology: What are some easy ways to explain hard theological concepts to my son as he grows up? He’s only 9 months old right now, but I want to be ready.

Q&A question: Teaching Kids Theology

Isaiah Isaiah 53:5 Isaiah 53 Isaiah Jesus Isaiah 53:5

Jesus’ Stripes vs. The Cross?: My former church claimed that Jesus' stripes specifically paid for our sickness, while the cross paid for the rest, using Isaiah 53:5 to support it. Is this biblical?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Stripes vs. The Cross?

Titus Titus 1 Titus Titus 1 prophecy

Paul & The Cretans: What point was Paul making in Titus 1: 12 when he quoted a "prophet" who said “Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons”?

Q&A question: Paul & The Cretans

Prenups Always Bad?: Is a prenuptial agreement ever biblical? My fiance’s parents want us to get one. In my opinion, prenuptial agreements undermine the permanence of marriage, its covenantal nature, trust, and unity.

Q&A question: Prenups Always Bad?

marriage

Supporting Israel?: How do we know whether supporting what Israel is doing in Gaza is or isn't God's will?

Q&A question: Supporting Israel?

Israel

Moses church leadership Calvary Chapel

The Moses Model: Biblical?: Given your Calvary Chapel background and current focus on church leadership structures vulnerable to abuse, how does the Moses Model ensure checks and balances on authority in the church?

Q&A question: The Moses Model: Biblical?

Does History Really Repeat Itself?: With the death of Charlie Kirk, it feels like we are in times similar to the 60s. Is it biblical to think that history repeats itself, or is mankind just predictable?

Q&A question: Does History Really Repeat Itself?

death and afterlife

Matthew Matthew 13 Luke 8 Matthew Matthew 13 Luke 8

What’s a Backslidden Christian?: What's a backslidden Christian? Is this the same as a Christian with thorny soil (Matthew 13, Mark 4, Luke 8)? And are they a slave to sin if they do sin? I'm afraid I'm this Christian.

Q&A question: What’s a Backslidden Christian?

anxiety and mental health

Anxiety: Am I Doing Something Wrong?: I am a Christian and struggle with anxiety. It especially happens when I try to speak or when God is using me for something even around believers. It cripples me. Am I doing something wrong?

Q&A question: Anxiety: Am I Doing Something Wrong?

Rapture Craze?: Can you address “Brother Joshua” and the current rapture craze?

Q&A question: Rapture Craze?

rapture

Galatians 2 Romans 6 Galatians 2 atonement Romans 6

PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?: How does the doctrine of Penal Substitutionary Atonement harmonize with us being “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2: 20, Romans 6:5-6)? The substitution element seems to be missing, and wrath seems confusing if we are to affirm crucifixion with Christ.

Q&A question: PSA + Crucified WITH Christ?

Pre-Wired to Sin?: Why are Adam and Eve guilty when the brains God gave them are what guided them to make their decision to sin? They processed the situation based on the way God had pre-wired them.

Q&A question: Pre-Wired to Sin?

Adam and Eve

Eschatology in The Psalms?: Is it valid to interpret Psalms 42-49 as talking about the End Times (Tribulation in 42-44, Lamb’s wedding in 45, God’s reign/judgment and New Jerusalem with a river in 46-49)?

Q&A question: Eschatology in The Psalms?

eschatology tribulation

Obedience Leading to Hardship?: My walk with Christ feels harder the more I obey. I lost family, friends, and even my girlfriend. Sometimes I wonder if this is even worth it, yet I still long to stay faithful. Any advice?

Q&A question: Obedience Leading to Hardship?

Galatians 1 salvation baptism Galatians 1

Baptismal Regeneration: False Gospel?: Would you consider the teaching that baptism is necessary for salvation to be a "different gospel” (Galatians 1:6)? If not, how would you distinguish it from the Circumcision Party's false teachings?

Q&A question: Baptismal Regeneration: False Gospel?

Malachi 4: About Jesus?: Is Malachi 4:2 talking about Jesus? Some translations like NKJV vs. NASB seem to reference it differently.

Q&A question: Malachi 4: About Jesus?

Malachi Jesus Malachi

Loving God Above Family: My husband is an unbeliever. He recently told me he can't be a believer because he idolizes me and our kids and couldn't love God more than us. Beyond praying, how can I address this biblically?

Q&A question: Loving God Above Family

marriage

Church Membership but Rarely Attending?: I’m a youth pastor at my church, and several families at my church consider themselves members but are only present a few times per year due to weekend activities. Should we address this strongly?

Q&A question: Church Membership but Rarely Attending?

pastoral ministry

Trusting God More in Prayer: I fully believe God never fails and His decisions are always right and good. But it's still hard not to feel like He's "let me down" when I pray SO hard for something and it doesn't happen. It feels like He's absent and it (ashamedly) makes me question the parts in Scripture where He invites us to ask and SAYS He'll act.

Q&A question: Trusting God More in Prayer

prayer

Mike’s Favorite Christian Music: Bonus!.What are some of your favorite or best recommended Christian music artists and albums?

Q&A question: Mike’s Favorite Christian Music

Failed Rapture Predictions: Learning the lesson: An autopsy of recent rapture predictions.

Q&A question: Failed Rapture Predictions

rapture

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis Adam and Eve

The Mortality of Adam & Eve: Is Adam and Eve's mortality a result of the poison in the forbidden fruit or the declaration of God in Genesis 2: 17?

Q&A question: The Mortality of Adam & Eve

Ezekiel 37: 2 Separate Events?: In Ezekiel 37, Ezekiel is told to prophesy to dry bones, and they come together, but he had to prophesy again for them to come to life. Do you think this is referring to two separate events?

Q&A question: Ezekiel 37: 2 Separate Events?

Ezekiel Ezekiel

Honoring Tradition & Embracing Change: How can pastors balance honoring tradition with leading forward when influential members of the congregation resist technology, new ideas, and change?

Q&A question: Honoring Tradition & Embracing Change

pastoral ministry

The Value of Fallible Gifts: If all the gifts of the Spirit are subject to human fallibility, what is their true value for the Church? Why would God tell us to eagerly desire them if they can so easily be misused or misunderstood?

Q&A question: The Value of Fallible Gifts

Repentance after Spiritual Drought: Do you have any advice for someone who was raised Christian, who professed faith and went to church but still lived a worldly and immoral lifestyle, then has recently come to Christ in repentance?

Q&A question: Repentance after Spiritual Drought

repentance

A “Word” from the Lord?: I go to a Calvary Chapel and there are a lot of “words” given to people. They’re not unbiblical but seem sort of vague, like I’m not able to test them. Should I only accept it if I can test it?

Q&A question: A “Word” from the Lord?

Calvary Chapel

Gathering while Disabled?: In light of the Scripture that states not to forsake the gathering together, I am concerned about that because I am disabled, do not drive, and do not have consistent transportation to church. Advice?

Q&A question: Gathering while Disabled?

John 3 Jesus Elisha Enoch

Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?: Enoch and Elisha are said to be in Heaven in the Old Testament. Why did Jesus say in John 3: 13 that no one has gone to Heaven except Him?

Q&A question: Enoch & Elisha – In Heaven?

Let’s Grow in Christ!: Can you please share a few suggestions, just for fun and faith-building, for us to do this weekend to grow in Christ (besides going to church)?

Q&A question: Let’s Grow in Christ!

Responding to Zachary Levi: A respectful analysis of Zachary Levi’s beliefs on the Bible.

Q&A question: Responding to Zachary Levi

The Witness of the Spirit: If I know I believe the Gospel is true but I don’t feel any “witness of the Spirit,” what does that mean? I’m trying to trust with my whole heart.

Q&A question: The Witness of the Spirit

evangelism

Has God Abandoned the World?: My dad is an unbeliever but acknowledges God’s existence through creation. He believes that God created the world and then abandoned it. How can I help show him that God is still with us to this day?

Q&A question: Has God Abandoned the World?

creation