Curiously Kaitlyn

Author and astrophysicist Deborah Haarsma joins us to tackle a tough theological and scientific question - why did God make the other planets? Dr. Haarsma shows us how Scripture describes God's cosmic creation, tells us how her scientific training helps her experience God in a different way, and gives us some guidelines for thinking about faith and science. - Sponsor - Better Help - Go to https://...

Pastor and theologian Corey Widmer is back, this time to talk about how to read the Bible well, how to understand violence in the Bible, and how to think about the Trinity. This week, an older kid asks "Does the God of the Old Testament and Jesus have different moralities?" Dr. Widmer teaches us how understanding who God is can help us better understand confusing or even horrifying stories in Scri...

Music director and producer Dr. Wen Reagen joins us to talk about angels, ghosts, and demons, oh my! Dr. Reagan explains the different kinds of angels, how depictions of angels have changed throughout church history, and what he thinks about Halloween.    - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https:// www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   - Sponsor - The National Association...

New Testament scholar Nijay Gupta joins Kaitlyn to answer another baptism question: why do we have to go underwater?! Dr. Gupta explains the significance of water in the ancient world and in the Bible, and shows us how something scary can also be beautiful. - Sponsor - Go to https://helloned.com/CURIOUSLY   or enter code CURIOUSLY   at checkout to get 15% off. - Sponsor - The National Association...

Pastor and theologian Sharon Hodde Miller joins Kaitlyn to answer a deeply personal and theological question: how do we know what God wants us to do? Dr. Miller explains three different levels of this question, and offers practical advice for people seeking God's will for their life.  - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY  to receive 50% off your first order - Sponso...

Dr. Keith Johnson joins Kaitlyn to answer the question: Why are we in the world if we are just tiny specks to God? Dr. Johnson teaches us about creation, why God does anything, and if we actually are just "tiny specks" to God. Plus, he answers an even thornier question: Why did God make us in the first place, especially if he knew we would sin? - Sponsor - For 15% off first order of Blueland clean...

This week, instead of kid questions, we're talking about YOUR questions! Kaitlyn is joined by Producer Mike to answer questions about the Trinity, teaching kids in church, and complementarianism. Plus: Kaitlyn gets some pop quiz kid questions! - Sponsor - The National Association of Evangelicals - Listen to the Difficult to explore how Christians can become peacemakers. Go to https://www.nae.org/i...

Pastor and theologian Steve Bezner joins Kaitlyn to answer a series of important questions: Why do we have to get baptized? Does it have to be in front of other people? Do I have to say all the words? Dr. Bezner helps us understand what baptism means, why we do it, and why those other people being there is important.  - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY  to receive...

Theologian Gayle Doornbos joins Kaitlyn to tackle a tricky question with big implications: Does God control us, or do our brains do that? Dr. Doornbos helps us understand how God's sovereignty and our agency can possibly make sense together. Then she answers another tricky kid question: If God is in control, does that mean he makes us do "the bad stuff"? - Sponsor - For 15% off first order of Blue...

Pastor and theologian Corey Widmer joins Kaitlyn to talk about two things that have confused and divided Christians for centuries: baptism and communion. Dr. Widmer helps us understand what these sacraments are, how they're related to each other, and why some traditions "fence the table." Plus: he and Kaitlyn agree that sometimes you need to dance to communion. - Sponsor - Better Help - Go to  htt...

Pastor and theologian Mika Edmondson joins Kaitlyn to talk about Satan, the problem of evil, and redemptive suffering. Dr. Edmondson tackles two tough kid questions about Satan: Why doesn't God take away Satan's power? Why does God sometimes let Satan do whatever he wants? He and Kaitlyn also discuss how the Black church has endured suffering, and what we can learn from their witness in American h...

Theologian Dr. Han-Luen Kantzer Komline joins Kaitlyn to answer a huge question: Where does evil come from? Dr. Kantzer Komline explains some wrong answers to the question, some biblical passages that can help answer it, and a better question we can ask instead. (And, surprise, there's more Augustine!) - Sponsor - Better Help - Go to https://www.betterhelp.com/CURIOUSLY  to receive 10% off your fi...

Historian and pastor Dr. Jennifer Powell McNutt joins Kaitlyn to help us understand how the Bible comes to us. Who passed it down to us? What languages has it been it? How can we trust that we're hearing from God in the Bible? Dr. McNutt shows us how even the story of Bible translation and transmission is a testament to God's grace and provision for us. - Sponsor - Go to https://helloned.com/CURIO...

Pastor and theologian Alex Sosler joins Kaitlyn to talk about a question kids and grown-ups keep asking ourselves: how do we know when we have a strong relationship with God? Dr. Sosler reminds us that we are secure in our relationship with God, and that God has given us regular practices to receive grace from God. Plus: there's even more Augustine! - Sponsor - Go to https://www.fromourplace.com a...

Who could possibly answer a fantastic and hilarious question like "Is Jesus big enough for everyone to take a bite of him?" Someone who knows her theology AND her bread, baker and writer Kendall Vanderslice. Kendall and Kaitlyn talk about communion/the Lord's supper/the Eucharist: what it is, what it means, and why the bread should taste good. Sponsor - Purity Wood - Go to  https://www.puritywoods...

Pastor and theologian Glenn Packiam answers "Why do they do songs in church? Some kids can't really understand the songs!" He and Kaitlyn discuss why songs are part of Christian worship and why we do things in worship that we don't always understand. Plus, they talk about Kaitlyn's favorite topic: welcoming kids in church, noises and wiggles included. - Sponsor - Go to https://helloned.com/CURIOUS...

Theologian Dr. Joseph Gordon joins Kaitlyn to tackle one of our most frequently asked questions: Do dogs go to heaven? Dr. Gordon answers the question, but also gives us a much bigger theology of creation, redemption, and creaturely life on earth. Plus, we also tackle even harder questions like: Do snakes go to heaven? What about mosquitos? - Sponsor - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning...

Children's ministry expert Dr. Scottie May joins Kaitlyn for an extra-special episode of Curiously, Kaitlyn! Instead of answering a kid question about God, Kaitlyn asks Dr. May all about how we talk to kids about God: How do we talk about hard things in the Bible with kids? How do we get kids to love learning about God, instead of memorizing facts about the Bible? What can we learn from kids about...

Dr. Carmen Imes joins Kaitlyn to answer the question "Why did God choose the Israelites as his special people out of everyone else, and bless them in a certain way he didn't bless others?" Dr. Imes takes us back to the Bible, pointing us to the reason God gives for choosing Israel and blessing them: so that they can be a blessing to all of creation. Dr. Imes teaches us a fancy new Hebrew word, giv...

Dr. Matthew Lynch joins Kaitlyn to answer two kid questions today: Why does God destroy stuff? and Why did God send the flood? We talk about the story of the great flood, why it happened, and God's promise never to destroy the world with a flood again. Plus, Dr. Lynch describes a few different ways people think about violence in the Bible. Go to https://helloned.com/CURIOUSLY or enter code CURIOUS...

Dr. Barry Jones joins Kaitlyn to answer a question that we have probably all wondered at some point: Why do we fight God in our hearts? Dr. Jones gives us a theology of sin – where it started, how we encounter it, and what God has done to defeat it. Then he offers some practical help for addressing the sin we find in ourselves: practices of prayer and surrender that acknowledge our dependence upon...

Mike Erre joins Kaitlyn to answer the question "Does God bring heaven to earth?" They talk about what "heaven" is, what it means for God to bring it to earth, and Mike predicts exactly when God will do it (not really). Plus, Mike explains why the Bible sometimes calls the world "good" and other times tells us to hate it. Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to  www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% of...

Theologian Matthew Emerson joins Kaitlyn to answer a surprisingly complicated question: Where did Jesus go when he died on the cross? Dr. Emerson gives us a simple answer that opens up lots of other questions: What is the "Paradise" Jesus talks about on the cross? What did Jesus do while he was there? Plus, Dr. Emerson helps us think about the theology all Christians share vs. the theological ques...

One of the most common Sunday school questions is also a really contentious one! Theologian Fellipe Do Vale joins Kaitlyn to tackle the question: Is God a boy or a girl? Wrapped up in that one question are lots of other important questions: How is God like (and unlike) us? What does it mean to be a boy or a girl? Why is this such a contentious question? Dr. Do Vale helps us think through this ques...

Theologian Fred Sanders joins Kaitlyn to answer a very important and very common question for Christians: what is going on with the Trinity? Dr. Sanders explains why the Trinity is so important for understanding the gospel, why analogies for the Trinity aren't usually helpful, and how God can exist as three persons (and what "persons" means!).