Search — Theology Explorer

My Efforts & God’s Sovereignty: How much do my efforts influence situations when God is sovereign and in control? For example, my hard work vs. God blessing my business, improving my health to "extend" my life vs. God setting the number of my days, etc.

Q&A question: My Efforts & God’s Sovereignty

sovereignty of God

What is the “Harvest”?: What does the harvest refer to in Luke 10? I've always heard it talked about relating to evangelism, but a harvest implies that the work has already been done and you're able to get the fruit of your labor.

Q&A question: What is the “Harvest”?

Luke 10 angels Luke 10

Can Satan Stop God’s Plans?: Can Satan stop God's plan? I had to cancel a mission trip at the last minute due to something I couldn't control, but doors had opened and things had fallen into place for us to go, so it seemed like it was God's will.

Q&A question: Can Satan Stop God’s Plans?

Satan

Titus Titus 1 1 Timothy 3:4-5 Timothy Titus elder qualifications

Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?

Q&A question: Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5

Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members: How are we to relate to fallen brothers in terms of fellowship, and to cult members with hospitality according to 1 Corinthians 5: 11 and 2 John 1: 10?

Q&A question: Interacting with Fallen Believers & Cult Members

Does Gospel Rejection = Stop Hanging Out?: If I have a friend who is not saved and I have tried to evangelize them and have only been met with resistance, do I need to stop hanging out with them?

Q&A question: Does Gospel Rejection = Stop Hanging Out?

angels

Why Does God Allow the Wicked to Prosper?: Why does God allow success for celebrities that don’t follow Him?

Q&A question: Why Does God Allow the Wicked to Prosper?

1 Corinthians 14 1 Corinthians 14 tongues

Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues: 1 Corinthians 14: 27-28 says that someone should not speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter, but how are they supposed to know if there is an interpreter present?

Q&A question: Biblical Guidelines – Speaking in Tongues

Ministering to a Suicidal Friend: What is a correct approach to reach someone you care about who is dealing with suicidal thoughts?

Q&A question: Ministering to a Suicidal Friend

Resolving a Scriptural Discrepancy: In the KJV, 2 Kings 8: 26 and 2 Chronicles 22:2 give two completely different ages for Ahaziah when he took the throne. How can we account for this?

Q&A question: Resolving a Scriptural Discrepancy

suffering

Could God be Playing a Joke On Us?: I am a new Christian and my brother is an atheist. He has brought up the question of “What if God is lying about everything and this all a big cosmic joke?” How do I combat this thinking?

Q&A question: Could God be Playing a Joke On Us?

atheism

Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5:5 Ephesians 5 Ephesians 5:5

Saved by Grace – How is Anyone Excluded?: Ephesians 5:5 says that the sexually immoral will have no place in the Kingdom of God, yet later, Ephesians says we’re saved by grace through faith. Is this contradictory?

Q&A question: Saved by Grace – How is Anyone Excluded?

Isaiah Isaiah second coming

Unclean Meats & the Second Coming: If all meats were made clean, then how do Christians interpret Isaiah 66: 15-18, as that passage, I believe, refers to Christ’s second coming, and in it He “destroys” those who eat unclean meats?

Q&A question: Unclean Meats & the Second Coming

The Right Age to Evangelize?: When is the right age to evangelize? I'm 15 and I used to evangelize and many believed, but I also got into trouble with the police and at my school. My pastor told me to wait until I’m more mature and I’ve learned more of God’s Word.

Q&A question: The Right Age to Evangelize?

pastoral ministry angels

Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?: How do I help my dad (an unbeliever) who thinks religion is used to control us? He also says, “If God exists, where was He when my father was beating my mother and I, and I cried out to Him?”

Q&A question: Religion = Control? / Where’s God During Abuse?

evangelism

Do This if Your House is Haunted: What's the biblical response on what a Christian should do if they move into a haunted house? I know "hauntings" are demonic...

Q&A question: Do This if Your House is Haunted

demons

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