Calvary Conversations

Computer technology is a given part of our lives. We cannot live our modern lives without interacting with it. But we must be aware of the negative ideas some who see the world from other than the biblical worldview intend for AI. How can we protect ourselves from those negative uses of AI? How might AI be used in the fulfillment of the biblical prophecies surrounding Jesus’ Second Coming? Calvary...

What's the difference between someone who is "unreached" and someone who is unsaved? Why should we care and what should we do about it? How many people groups are considered "unreached"? Calvary University's Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Jeff McLinden, Executive Director of The Alliance for the Unreached, to discuss this important subject as well as the upcoming "Inter...

What does it mean to “love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength”? Before we can answer this question, we have to answer another one. In this conversation, the Calvary Conversations team explores this “foremost commandment” from the Law textually. In other words, Matthew, Mark and Luke all record a similar passage, but there are some differences that need to be explored. S...

What’s love got to do with it? Why is love so central to the ministry of Jesus and the Christian, biblical worldview? When Jesus was asked what was the foremost commandment in the Law, He responded with Deuteronomy 6:5, “And you shall love the Lord your God…” Why? Why is this the foremost commandment? Why does it “sum up the Law and the Prophets”? In this conversation, the Calvary Conversations te...

Contemporary Christian Music is huge! It has impacted the lives of millions of people. At the same time, there are some problems with some of the messages in some lyrics. Music has an ability to evoke emotions while bypassing the intellect, so many may not be using critical thinking skills while listening. No one is suggesting we should stop listening, but is all Christian music Christian? Calvary...

How should we respond to seemingly hopeless situations? Who can we turn to for help, for guidance, for deliverance? The Bible book Ruth is about two women, and a nation, facing seemingly hopeless situations! And yet God had been working providentially behind the scenes to provide for them and to work out His will through them—despite the seemingly hopeless situations they faced! Calvary University...

Is all worship good? Are some forms of worship superior to others? Does it matter? What distinguishes mundane, everyday worship from vibrant worship? Is it the music style? Spontaneity? Liturgy? Dr. Joshua Paxton—one of the hosts of Calvary Conversations—invited Pastor Greg Washington, pastor of Abiding Faith Baptist Church and Mission in Raytown, Missouri, to discuss worship and some of the misco...

Christians instinctively know that we should speak out on the moral issues of our time. But it’s not always easy to discern what is a wise approach for wading into politics. Which political issues are moral issues and which are not? How should Christian citizens respond to corrupt governments? Should pastors address political issues from the pulpit? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds led a discussion with t...

The challenges of local church leadership are as old as the church itself. Financial and resource problems, relational problems, unrealistic expectations and numerous other problems are the cause of numerous pastors walking away from the ministry. What can be done? Calvary’s Dr. Joshua Paxton invited Dr. David Deets of the Institute for Biblical Leadership to address this issue and offer advice to...

Some people love it! They say “The Chosen” has changed their lives. Others criticize it, call it heretical and blasphemous! Which is it? Is “The Chosen” a faith-building, uplifting, inspirational work of art or is it an unhelpful reimagining of the gospel story? Calvary University’s Dr. Tim Hange invited Prof. Shaun LePage, Dr. Josh Paxton and Dr. Mike Dodds to explore the value of the popular but...

The popular television series “The Chosen” has presented Christians with a dilemma: Is it wrong or confusing to speculate about what Jesus may have looked like? Is a visual depiction of Jesus the same thing as creating idols? Or, is it wrong to imagine what conversations—outside the text of the Bible—Jesus may have had with His disciples? Is it adding to Scripture? Calvary University’s Dr. Tim Han...

In the recent Super Bowl ads entitled “He Gets Us!” we’re told that “Jesus didn’t teach hate. He washed feet.” Certainly He didn’t teach hate. But did He really wash feet? Did He wash everyone’s feet? Is the symbolism of foot-washing appropriate for thinking about what Jesus wants to do in our lives today? Does this imagery help or hinder engaging a post-Christian culture with the gospel today? Jo...

The recent Super Bowl ads proclaimed, “He gets us!” What does it mean that Jesus “gets us”? Is that true? Is that the right message? The gospel message? Is it too short? Is it a distortion of the gospel? Is this an appropriate method for sparking conversation about Jesus? Calvary University’s “Calvary Conversations” team discussed and debated the value and shortcomings of the “He Gets Us” ad campa...

During the recent Super Bowl, an ad entitled “He gets us”—an obvious Christian message—was aired. It got a variety of responses, both positive and negative. Were these ads effective? Were they appropriate presentations of Jesus and the gospel? Were they trying to correct misconceptions about Jesus, the Church, Christians? Were they seeking to encourage Christians to communicate Jesus and the Gospe...

Worship and music are such an important aspect to the life and community of a local church. And there have been diverse answers to the questions surrounding the kinds of music and the depth of the lyrics. Calvary University’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Dr. Ian Guthrie, Assistant Professor of Music at Calvary University, to discuss music and its relationship to faithful and meaningful worship. RESOURCE...

“I love the drums in church!” “I hate drums in church!” “I love the contemporary worship songs!” “I love the old hymns!” We call this the “worship wars” in churches—so much debate surrounds the music in our worship services. Why? When is criticism good and when is it not so good? Calvary University’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Dr. Ian Guthrie, Assistant Professor of Music at Calvary University, to exp...

Persecution of Christians has been a part of the history of the Church since its inception, but it appears to be getting worse. While we in America have been free from serious persecution for our faith, some say that it is coming even for us and maybe soon. How do we prepare for it? If it were to happen to us, how should we respond? Calvary University’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Pastor Reed Waggoner,...

October 7, 2023: Hamas invaded Israel. Why? What did Hamas hope to gain? What are the causes of the conflict between not just Hamas and Israel but much of the Arab world and Israel? Calvary University’s Dr. Mike Dodds—and the Calvary Conversations team—invited Dr. Teddy Bitner, who has 26 years’ experience in the United States Army including as a Colonel commanding a battalion during Operation Des...

An “evangelical” is a “good news proclaimer”! It’s a perfectly good word to describe those who take the Bible seriously and desire to “proclaim the good news” of Jesus Christ. But, in recent times, it has become politicized—evangelicals are now thought of by many as a voting bloc. So, many who would have at one time embraced the label “evangelical” now consider it an outdated word that has obscure...

Does everyone need to be converted to Christianity? Evangelicals say yes. It’s called “Conversionism”: the belief that lives need to be transformed thorough a “born-again” experience through faith in Jesus Christ. But not everyone is excited about this belief. It assumes everyone is a sinner—we’re not okay the way we are. Dr. Joshua Paxton leads the Calvary Conversations team—Dr. Mike Dodds, Dr. T...

How do we know what is true? The National Association of Evangelicals claims that most evangelicals believe in “biblicism.” They have a high regard for and obedience to the Bible as the ultimate authority. Where do Christians get this idea? Are they anti-intellectual? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds had a conversation with the Calvary Conversations team—Dr. Tim Hange, Dr. Joshua Paxton and Shaun LePage—a...

The cross is an unusual choice for the symbol of a religion. It shows that the death of Jesus is one of the key beliefs of Christians—evangelicals in particular. But many today are asking whether we got it right—was Jesus our substitute? Was His death an atonement which satisfied the wrath of God? Some say this is akin to “cosmic child abuse.” Dr. Tim Hange led a conversation with the Calvary Conv...

The term “evangelical” has a rich heritage in Church History, going all the way back to the Greek word behind “preaching” or “proclamation” in the Bible, up through the Reformation. But in modern U.S. culture, it has been linked to politics and is often used for people and movements that are unbiblical in their beliefs. The Calvary Conversations team is asking the question, “Should we continue to...

People all around us need help. They need encouragement, help and answers. Should ordinary, average Christians wade into the waters of “counseling” or should we leave that to the professionals? Calvary’s Dr. Tim Hange, along with Dr. Joshua Paxton and Shaun LePage, invited Dr. Luther Smith—Chairman of Calvary University’s Biblical Counseling Department—to explore this issue. ____________________ ⁠...

Is the Old Testament for us today? Is everything in it for Christians living in the 21st Century? If we fail to study the Old Testament, what might we be missing? What might we be getting wrong? Calvary’s Dr. Mike Dodds invited Joel Williamson, professor of Hebrew and Old Testament studies at Calvary University, for a conversation about the importance of studying the Old Testament today. _________...