Church Theology

In this episode, Kirk talks to Mard Ward about the transmission of scripture, i.e., the process of how the Bible was copied, the manuscripts that were produced and collected, and how we have the Bibles we have today. This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

Mark Ward joins Kirk again as they continue their discussions on scripture, this time discussing scripture's sufficiency. What does it mean for Scripture to be sufficient? Sufficient for what? And what are the outworkings of believing and holding to this doctrine? This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

In this episode, Kirk and Mark Ward unpack the doctrine of scripture's perspicuity--that is, it's clarity. The doctrine of scripture's perspicuity was central to the convictions of the Protestant Reformation; and it's a doctrine that is just as important today in light of contemporary challenges. Not only so, but it provides a wellspring of encouragement for our Christian lives. This episode is br...

In this final (at least as currently planned) episode we consider our unexpected evangelistic opportunity brought on by this moment. May it be that God is preparing hearts and using this unusual situation to advance his gospel across the globe. This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

In this episode, we look at the church's pedigree of caring for people in crisis and even plagues. What can we learn from this, and scripture, as a model for our own calling in this present moment? This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

The current pandemic has caused disruption to our normal lives. This can be a great opportunity, however, for us to recalibrate how we live our lives. At the same time, they can become times where we flounder, and rather than growing we actually regress.  Could it be that this pandemic though, in some peculiar way, is--at least in some sense--a gift from God for our spiritual growth? How can...

As churches move online in the face of Sunday closures, it should cause us to ask, "What is the church in the midst of a pandemic?" Our current circumstances raise questions about what it means to be the church--questions that have always existed, with an underlying theology that's always been at play, but are now being forced into our immediate purview in light of our situation. This episode is b...

In today's episode, I offer some Biblical reflections and applications on thinking rightly and responding well to sickness--and more particularly as we seek to apply things to the current Coronavirus pandemic. This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

Today I'm releasing the first episode in what I intend to be a short series dealing with the Coronavirus--pastoral reflections on how to respond Biblically and act Christianly. Today I try to share some wisdom and Biblical reflections on responding specifically to health organizations and governments as they provide instructions to us on fighting this virus. This episode is brought to you by Logos...

Mard Ward and Kirk Miller continue their discussion on scripture by asking, What does it mean for Scripture to be our authority? And how does it exercise its authority? This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

Mard Ward joins Kirk to discuss the topic of canon, "the divinely authorized collection of books that God has given to govern his people" (John Frame). How do we know we have God's Word? Why these books? This episode is brought to you by Logos Bible Software , with special discounts available to listeners of this podcast.

In this episode, Kirk sits down with professor and well-regarded church historian, Dr. Scott Manetsch, to discuss what church life was like in Reformation-era Geneva under the ministry the John Calvin.

In this episode, Kirk sits down with professor and well-regarded church historian, Dr. Scott Manetsch, to discuss what church life was like in Reformation-era Geneva under the ministry the John Calvin.

Kirk and Dan close out their series on Bible translations by dispelling some misconceptions about Bible translations, as well as laying out some practical tips for making use of translations in your study of scripture.

Today Kirk and Dan talk about "Textual Criticism," and how some of the differences that lie behind the various translations actually have to do with different textual bases of what is being translated.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan illustrate some of the philosophical (or methodological) differences we find in the various translations. They also discuss some of the pros and cons of these differences.

Kirk and Dan continue their series on Bible translation by looking at the major reason for the differences in our available translations, namely, translation philosophy. We look at the difference between  formal and  dynamic  equivalent methodologies, and where on the spectrum the various popular English translations tend to fall.

Kirk and Dan begin a new series on Bible translations. Today they talk about some introductory matters on Bible translations, as well as why this is an important topic for us to consider and understand.

Kirk and Dan conclude their series on Ecclesiastes by examining the meaning of the book as it applies to us today.

Kirk and Dan continue their discussion on the message of Ecclesiastes by exploring the book's "above the sun" statements as it gestures towards and ultimately reaches its conclusive instruction for us.

In this episode, Dan and Kirk continue their discussion on Ecclesiastes by looking at the message (or main claim, or argument) of the book. They discuss the meaning of "vanity" ( hevel ), as well as some of the primary themes throughout the book.

Kirk and Dan begin there series on the book of Ecclesiastes. In this episode they look at the  method that Ecclesiastes uses to communicate its message, namely how it functions as a unique expression of wisdom literature.

Kirk and Dan continue their work on how to find a Biblical book's overall message by looking to the book of Philippians as a test case.

Kirk and Dan are gearing up to do a short series on Ecclesiastes. But before they do, they wanted to take a step back and ask, "What's the benefit of getting a Biblical book's big picture?" and "How do we do that?" (This episode and the following will serve as an initial contribution to what will become an ongoing collection of episodes on How to Read the Bible.)

In this episode, Kirk and Dan conclude their discussion on the importance of doctrine and theology by finishing out talking about the hurdles we face along the way, as well as giving some practical tips and suggestions towards growing your discipline in theological learning.