Apostolic Life in the 21st Century

Will marriage exist in heaven? Why did Jesus say that people will "neither marry" nor be "given in marriage" in the resurrection? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard examines Jesus’ response to the Sadducees’ question about marriage and the resurrection in Matthew 22:23–33. Dr. Bernard explains the theological significance of this passag...

How Do You Practice Spiritual Disciplines When Life Gets Chaotic? How do you remain spiritually consistent when life becomes busy, overwhelming, or unpredictable? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard addresses this practical and timely question by examining the spiritual disciplines that sustain a faithful Christian life. Dr. Bernard discusses essential prac...

Can genetic engineering resurrect extinct animals—and does that challenge God’s role as Creator? Recent headlines from Colossal Biosciences about the company's efforts to revive extinct species such as the dire wolf have sparked global conversations about science, ethics, and the origins of life. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard examines these scien...

Was Jesus Christ actually born on December 25? And does determining the exact date of His birth truly matter? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard explores the longstanding debate surrounding the date of Jesus’ birth. He examines both historical and biblical evidence related to the celebration of Christmas on December 25 and clarifies what truly matters abou...

What did the apostle Paul mean when he listed “the working of miracles” as a spiritual gift in 1 Corinthians 12:10? If God can perform miracles through any believer who prays and acts in faith, why does Paul distinguish this ability as a unique gift of the Spirit? In this episode of  Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard unpacks Paul’s teaching on the working of miracles, expla...

In Matthew 7:16, Jesus said, “You will know them by their fruits” (NKJV). Some use this verse to argue against the Pentecostal belief that speaking in tongues is the initial evidence of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In this episode of  Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard addresses that argument directly. He explores what “fruit” means in Scripture and clarifies how speaking...

Does Deuteronomy 6:4 teach the absolute oneness of God, or does the Hebrew text support a Trinitarian understanding of God’s nature? On this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard responds to a popular argument circulated by Trinitarian apologists which claims the Hebrew word echad in Deuteronomy 6:4 refers to “unity” rather than “singularity,” thereby implying plural...

Can Christians decree and declare blessings? On this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard responds to a question from a listener in Australia about the practice of “decreeing and declaring,” the belief that Christians can speak health, wealth, or other blessings into existence through the creative power of their words. Dr. Bernard explores whether Scripture supports...

How can we tell when God is truly speaking to us—and when it’s merely our own thoughts? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard answers a listener’s question about discerning the voice of God and understanding His will. Drawing from Scripture and decades of ministry experience, Dr. Bernard offers practical guidance that can help any believer grow in spiritual s...

Will the wicked dead suffer eternally in Hell or will they be annihilated and cease to exist? Dr. David K. Bernard looks to Scripture to settle this longstanding debate about the afterlife and the eternal fate of unrepentant sinners on this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century . Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Bernard's full catalog of published works. Enter promo code DK...

Who is authorized to perform Christian baptisms? While the New Testament clearly emphasizes baptism in Jesus’ name for salvation, it does not directly state which members of the church are qualified to perform them. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. David K. Bernard offers both biblical and practical guidance on this question. Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Be...

The Gospels include many accounts of Jesus casting out devils. In Mark 16:17 (NKJV), Jesus told His disciples that "those who believe" will "cast out demons." In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard compares cases of demon possession in North America with accounts from the New Testament and modern reports from other parts of the globe. Visit...

In 1 Corinthians 1:17, Paul wrote, "Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel" (NKJV). Some cite this verse to downplay the importance of water baptism to Christian salvation. Dr. David K. Bernard responds with an examination of the context of 1 Corinthians and Paul's teaching on baptism in other New Testament passages. Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. B...

In Revelation 21, the apostle John described a vision in which he saw "a new heaven and a new earth"," as well as "the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God" (verses 1-2). John's vision seems to contradict popular conceptions of Heaven as a place in the clouds. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard examines...

On this episode of the Apostolic Life in the 21st Century podcast, Dr. David K. Bernard responds to a listener's question about how Oneness Pentecostals understand Philippians 2:5-11. Dr. Bernard explains how this passage aligns with a Oneness view of Jesus Christ. For further study, see Dr. Bernard's book The Oneness View of Jesus Christ . Dr. Bernard's full catalog of published wo...

Join Dr. David K. Bernard for a special episode of the Apostolic Life in the 21st Century podcast, filmed live during the annual General Conference of the United Pentecostal Church International. General Conference 2025 was held September 23-26 in St. Louis, Missouri, and marked the 80th anniversary of the founding of the UPCI. Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Bernard's full catalo...

In Luke 16:1-12, Jesus shared a strange parable about an unjust steward who defrauded his employer. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K. Bernard explains the meaning of this puzzling parable and the lessons Christians can draw from Jesus' words. Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Bernard's full catalog of published works. Enter promo code DKB10 at...

Dr. David K. Bernard explains how the United Pentecostal Church International was formed in 1945 by the merger of two smaller organizations, the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal Church, Incorporated. The UPCI will celebrate the 80th anniversary of this event during General Conference 2025, which begins this week in St. Louis, Missouri, the site of the 1945 merger conferen...

In 1 Corinthians 12:8, the apostle Paul includes the "word of knowledge" in his list of gifts imparted by the Holy Spirit. Dr. David K. Bernard explains what the word of wisdom is and how it operates. He also  provides biblical examples and shares how he has seen the word of wisdom work in a modern church setting. For further study, see Dr. Bernard's book Spiritual Gifts , available...

If a Christian struggles with sin, does it mean they're not really saved? Dr. David K. Bernard explores the meaning of 1 John 3:6, which states, "No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him" (ESV). Dr. Bernard explains what it means to abide in God while still facing the reality of human weakness. Visit PentecostalPublishin...

Is artificial intelligence a technological gift or a tool of the Antichrist? Dr. David K. Bernard unpacks the promises, perils, and spiritual implications of AI. Visit PentecostalPublishing.com to shop Dr. Bernard's full catalog of published works. Enter promo code DKB10 at checkout to save 10 percent on your order. If you enjoy this podcast, leave a five-star rating and a review on Apple Pod...

Why do Oneness Pentecostals place so much emphasis on Acts 2:38? Dr. David K. Bernard explains the significance of Peter's response to the question, "What shall we do?” (Acts 2:37, NKJV) and how Acts 2:38 succinctly summarizes the New Testament plan of salvation. For more on this topic, see Dr. Bernard's book The New Birth , available at PentecostalPublishing.com . Enter promo code...

The fifth commandment instructs us to “Honor your father and your mother” (Exodus 20:12), a principle reaffirmed by Paul in Ephesians 6:2. But what does this mean for Christians whose parents are not believers? And how should believers respond when parents have been abusive or have damaged the relationship through sinful behavior? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century , Dr. David K...

Is it wrong for Christians to have doubts? How should believers respond when doubts arise in their minds? Dr. David K. Bernard examines what the Bible says about faith, doubt, and reason, and why truth bears investigation. For more on this topic, see Dr. Bernard's book Anchor Points , available at PentecostalPublishing.com . Enter promo code DKB10 at checkout to save 10 percent on your order....

Christian researcher George Barna released a report earlier this year revealing that only 16 percent of self-proclaimed Christians in the United States believe in the Trinity. Dr. David K. Bernard explores what this means for Oneness Pentecostals and their relationship with the broader Christian culture. You can read Barna's summation of this report at GeorgeBarna.com . Visit PentecostalPubli...