Theology Central

On Reformation Day, we move beyond the familiar story of Martin Luther and the Ninety-Five Theses to examine his often-overlooked theology of the cross. What did Luther actually teach at the Heidelberg Disputation of 1518? How does it relate to justification, suffering, human reason, and the distinction between Law and Gospel? We examine the biblical foundations, common misunderstandings, and why...

A devotional presents Nehemiah's prayer as a lesson in overcoming discouragement. But is that what Nehemiah 1 is actually teaching? We examine the devotional alongside the biblical text, exploring its historical context, Israel's covenant relationship with God, and the promises behind Nehemiah's prayer. What happens when we turn a passage about God's covenant faithfulness into a lesson about perso...

We return to our systematic theology series with a critical examination of a sermon titled Understanding Inspiration. What does it mean to say that Scripture is inspired by God? Does the Bible actually support the claims commonly made about inspiration? We examine the sermon's arguments, test them against Scripture, and consider whether our doctrine of inspiration is derived from the biblical text...

Does 2 Corinthians 12:9 promise that God will make us stronger through suffering? What if our weakness never goes away? In Part Two, we examine Paul's words in their biblical and historical context, exploring what it means for Christ's power to be made perfect in weakness. Is the promise about our personal empowerment, or about Christ accomplishing His purposes through weak and suffering people? T...

What does Paul mean when he says, "My strength is made perfect in weakness"? Does God promise to make us stronger through suffering? What if our weakness never goes away? We examine 2 Corinthians 12:9 through church history, its historical and textual context, and the reality of Christian suffering to discover what Paul actually teaches about Christ's power and human weakness.

Psalm 138:1 declares, "Before the gods will I sing praise unto thee." But who are these gods?

After years of scandal, moral failure, public disgrace, and silence, Hillsong Worship returns with new music. But has anything been learned?

Psalm 138:8 declares, "The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me." But what does that actually mean? Is this a promise that God will fulfill His individual plan for our lives? In this episode, we examine the verse in its textual, historical, and literary context, consider the original Hebrew, and explore how Christians can apply it without making the passage promise more than it actually says...

The Lord Is My Light: Rediscovering Daily Prayer From ancient Judaism to early Christianity and the development of the Liturgy of the Hours, Christians have a long history of praying at appointed times, following structured Scripture readings, and observing the seasons of the Christian calendar. In this episode, we explore that fascinating history and introduce The Lord Is My Light: A Liturgy for...

We return to our review of Jerry Arnold's sermon Decoys.

It’s almost midnight and I came across two thoughts, let’s talk about them

A sermon about Satan's decoys raises an important question: Is the devil actually the thief in John 10:10? We review Jerry Arnold's sermon Decoys and examine the textual and historical context to discover what Jesus was really teaching.

A quick episode about the book, Old Testament History - Genesis to the Silent Years Check the book out here: https://www.wayoflife.org/publications/course/mastering_ot_history_course.php

Proverbs 11:30 has been used in countless sermons to emphasize soul winning and evangelism. But is that what the verse actually teaches? We examine the Hebrew text, historical context, and ancient textual evidence to challenge a familiar interpretation and ask whether generations of Christians have misunderstood this famous proverb.

While exploring SermonAudio's new article section, I discovered the Independent Baptist Institute and its extensive collection of ministry courses, doctrinal teaching, and biblical exposition. I review one of their messages on biblical interpretation.

While exploring SermonAudio's new article section, I discovered the Independent Baptist Institute and its extensive collection of ministry courses, doctrinal teaching, and biblical exposition\. We examine the institute's educational philosophy, explore its available resources, and sample a lecture on biblical interpretation\. An opportunity to discover, investigate, and think critically\. Explore...

A controversial political attack ad in Ohio brings a disturbing history of childhood abuse into the governor's race. We examine the story, the campaign's defense of the ad, and the troubling question of what happens when political loyalty begins to corrupt Christian moral judgment.

Does participation in the divine nature guarantee victorious Christian living? We review teaching on 2 Peter 1, examine claims about holiness and human cooperation, and ask how some interpretations accounts for the continuing reality of sin in Christians.

SermonAudio has released a major app update! We explore the new article features, sermon transcripts, video clips, Scripture integration, curated collections, webcast improvements, and more. Plus, how Theology Central may begin publishing more written theological investigations through SermonAudio.

Did God really give that pastor his sermon? Responding to a listener's email, we examine claims of divine guidance, the problem of contradictory messages, human fallibility, and the logical implications of claiming the Holy Spirit directed a sermon. Before opening the biblical texts, we ask a fundamental question: How can anyone know that a message actually came from God?

A pastor presents Solomon as a model of godly husbandhood and a picture of Christ. But what about Solomon's 700 wives and 300 concubines? We examine a sermon on Song of Solomon 3, challenge its interpretation, and ask whether the preacher's beautiful picture ignores some very uncomfortable biblical facts.

A Kenyan preacher, Paul Mackenzie, and 28 others have been convicted of murdering 190 children and one adult. How did the Good News International Church become the center of the horrifying Shakahola massacre? We investigate the history, religious teachings, mass graves, criminal convictions, and government failures behind this tragedy.

What does Job teach us about ourselves when life suddenly falls apart? We begin examining and reconstructing seven lessons from Job about uncertainty, suffering, faith, and anguish.

A Baptist pastor uses the story of C.T. Studd and his brother George to illustrate obedience and disobedience to God\. But there's a shocking problem: the historical account is misleading, and the preacher leaves out clear historical facts.

Kid Rock releases Halfway 2 Jesus, a Christian-themed album featuring Eminem. But what exactly is the theological message? We examine the album cover, lyrics, and Kid Rock's statements about faith, salvation, and forgiveness. Is this a proclamation of the biblical gospel or something else entirely?