Knowing Faith

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation about what happens to animals (and Jen’s pugs) when they die. Questions Covered in This Episode: What happens to animals when they die? How are humans and animals different? How does any creaturely thing make it into heaven? Are animals in need of redemption? Does the fall impact animals? Do animals have a soul? What is a soul? Do only hu...

Season 16 of the Knowing Faith podcast begins on January 15th! In this episode, Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley give you a preview of what is to come in Season 16. Questions Covered in This Episode: What are we doing this season? What are some of the topics we will cover? How can I submit questions for you to cover? If you could put your cohost on the hotseat for any question, what would i...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley answer questions submitted by listeners! Questions Covered in This Episode: Can you talk to the value or lack thereof of being a credential holder in any particular fellowship or denomination? Are there any secondary beliefs your denomination holds that you don’t agree with? Why is it good that denominations have core confessions? Do you think there will be...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley answer the question of whether a Christian can lose their salvation. Questions Covered in This Episode: Do Christians often struggle with this question? What are the things that can make us doubt salvation? What kind of encouragement do we give people when reading and evaluating the warning passages in Hebrews? Can Christians grow indifferent to the seriousn...

Kyle Worley is joined by Samuel Bierig to answer the question, “What does Jesus have to do with Proverbs?” Questions Covered in This Episode: What does Jesus have to do with Proverbs? Is it too simplistic to tell a Christian to just go do the things Proverbs says? Guest Bio: Samuel Bierig serves as Vice President of Undergraduate Studies, Dean of Spurgeon College, and Associate Professor of Biblic...

Kyle Worley is joined by Matt Boswell to have a conversation about worship and hymns in the local church. Questions Covered in This Episode: Why should we value the congregational voice of the church? What’s the difference between a psalm? A hymn? And a spiritual song? Are hymns just old songs? What’s your favorite hymn? Why? What do you tell the person who says, “I don’t like the singing? Just gi...

Kyle Worley is joined by Geoff Chang to discuss how Charles Spurgeon would answer specific questions if he were alive today. Questions Covered in This Episode: What are your thoughts on artificial intelligence? What are your thoughts on gambling? What are your thoughts on recreational marijuana? Guest Bio: Geoff Chang serves as Associate Professor of Church History and Historical Theology and the...

James Wood joins Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley to discuss the influence of Constantine on Christianity. Questions Covered in This Episode: Who was Constantine? What was his relationship to Christianity in the ancient world? Did he really convert? What are the Christians of this time thinking about Constantine? How does Monasticism replace martyrdom? Is there a protestant approach to livi...

Kyle Worley is joined by Don Whitney to answer the question, “How important is the local church and the Christian community to the journey of becoming more like Christ?” Questions Covered in This Episode: How important is the local church and the Christian community to the journey of becoming more like Christ? Helpful Definitions: Spiritual Disciplines: Practices found in the Bible by which we exp...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Macy English to play Knowing Faith Theological Trivia. Grab a pen and paper to play along! Questions Covered in This Episode: The Story of the Bible: Name the four gospels. In what waters did Naaman wash in to be healed of leprosy? Who in the Old Testament prefigures Christ as both priest and king? True or False: King Saul was from the tribe of...

Kyle Worley is joined by Jared Bumpers to answer the question, “Why does theological formation happen best in the local church? Questions Covered in This Episode: Why does theological formation happen best in the church? What does this mean at Midwestern Seminary? Helpful Definitions: Theology: The study of God and all other things in relation to God. John Webster Guest Bio: Jared Bumpers is the A...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss if Christians should gamble. Questions Covered in This Episode: Why is this timely? Why does this matter? Do Christians know how to answer this question? What is categorized as gambling? What was the most surprising thing you learned when you wrote your article? Does the level of risk matter? Does the purpose or heart behind gambling matter? Can you...

Kyle Worley is joined by Peter Gurr to answer the question, “Why trust the New Testament?” Questions Covered in This Episode: Why trust the New Testament? When you are talking about the resurrection, is it a spiritual reality or a historical event? Guest Bio: Dr. Peter Gurry is Associate Professor of New Testament at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary . He is the author of several books, incl...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss the question, Is God still speaking audibly today? Questions Covered in This Episode: Is God still speaking audibly today? In the Bible, has God spoken through dreams, visions, prophecies, and audibly? What are some strange ways God speaks in the Bible? Is there a time in scripture we are told this is over? What additional revelation do we need if he...

Kyle Worley is joined by Dr. Travis Montgomery to discuss how technology impacts spiritual formation. Questions Covered in This Episode: What is one blessing and one burden that technology provides on the journey of spiritual formation? Guest Bio: Dr. Travis Montgomery is the Assistant Professor of Christian Studies and Assistant Dean of Global Campus at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary . H...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation about what the Bible says about angels, demons, and Satan. Questions Covered in This Episode: Did you have any interest in this stuff as a non-Christian? Does talking about demons and angels make people a little uncomfortable? If someone brings this up in conversation with you, how do you react? What are some clear things that we can agre...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Bobby Jamieson to discuss his book “Everything Is Never Enough ,” the book of Ecclesiastes, and what happiness is. Questions Covered in This Episode: Is it wrong to want to be happy? Why did this become your thing? What are the common misconceptions about what happiness is? Do you feel like the answer lies in the book of Ecclesiastes or in the...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Gavin Ortlund to have a conversation about why Christians have disagreements and how we can engage in disagreements biblically. Questions Covered in This Episode: If all Christians believe the bible, why do they disagree so often? What’s the distinction between significant disagreement that separates and real disagreement that doesn’t require s...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around the question, “Why doesn’t God always heal the sick?” Questions Covered in This Episode: Why do people get sick? Where does sickness come from? What's the difference between personal sin and the presence of sin? Throughout the Bible, we see God perform miraculous healings. What are some examples that come to mind? Does my faith pla...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley have a conversation around giving and generosity in the life of a believer. Questions Covered in This Episode: What does the word “tithe” mean? Where do we get the principle of the “tithe?” What's the difference between tithes and offerings? How is Israel functioning in the Old Testament? Is tithing biblical? Must Christians tithe? Should they give 10% of th...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ian Harber to have a conversation about deconstruction in the Christian faith.  Questions Covered in This Episode: Is deconstruction good? What is deconstruction? What are some common examples? What is your personal story of deconstruction? How is your faith different from what it was before your deconstruction journey? Is there such a thing as...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley are joined by Ronni Kurtz to discuss the impassability of God. Questions Covered in This Episode: Why this is problematic to say (if it is): God has an emotional life. Does God feel? Is impassability part of historic Christian doctrine? What is true and beautiful about this? Are passions and emotions the same thing? When we say God is simple, what are we say...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss what preaching is and its purpose in the church. Questions Covered in This Episode: Does preaching still matter? What is preaching? How is preaching different from other forms of teaching in the church? Should preaching be a part of corporate worship? What are the core concerns/questions/considerations around this? Why is preaching not more formative...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss the role of an apostle and the importance of understanding its meaning when using the term. Questions Covered in This Episode: Are there modern-day apostles? Why are we asking this question right now? Are bishop and apostle the same thing? What is an apostle? What about Ephesians 4? Is that indicating that “apostle” is an office? Do the apostles ever...

Jen Wilkin, JT English, and Kyle Worley discuss what makes someone a real Christian. Questions Covered in This Episode: What makes a real Christian? Is everyone who claims to be a Christian a Christian? How does anyone get to define what Christianity is or is not? Why would we say a Jehovah's Witness or a Mormon is not a Christian? If Jesus is not God, does it change the nature of the atonement? H...