Surprising God

Dan looks at why we cannot prove, or disprove free will—and also offers some thoughts on life and gambling.   Episode 52 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

In his book, The Only WIse God , William Lane Craig defends Molinism against the claim that a God who knows everything everyone will ever do is a fatalistic theology.   Episode 51 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

In his book, The Only WIse God , William Lane Craig ponders the supernatural knowledge of Jesus. But when he gets down to the gritty work of describing that knowledge, he ends up with something rather mundane. Dan argues that true supernatural knowledge looks far greater than what Craig's theology allows. It looks, rather, unfathomable (as Isaiah says in 40:28) and without limit (as the Psalmist s...

In Bobby Jamieson's excellent book, "Everything is Never Enough," Jamieson argues that humans are not autonomous because they depend on creation. Since people depend on forces outside themselves for survival, and because they did not create themselves and cannot sustain themselves, Jamieson says people are not their own. But the thesis of his book is that life is a gift from God. Are these two cla...

People will try to make free will compatible with a whole host of things that, on the face of it, seem determined. Folks will try to make free will compatible with philosophical materialism (all that exists are matter and energy), a settled future (Arminianism), and God's meticulous decree (Calvinism). But our concepts have consequences, and in this episode Dan Kent considers a strange consequence...

William Lane Craig beautifully describes the vertigo experienced when contemplating determinism. Dan Kent asks whether conteplating free will might create an obverse vertigo.  Episode 47 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Timothy Keller argues that the story of Joseph in the Old Testament is about God's control. Dan argues that the story is more about Joseph's control. What do you think?    Episode 46 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Calvin says God does everything, and everything that happens is because God brings it about. God never rests. But Sabbath is to rest, and we are told God rests. How can a God who does everything rest? Dan discusses...   Episode 45 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan...

The love passage of 1 Corinthians 13 says that love means to trust. Some translations say love "believes all things." Why the different translations? Which is right? What difference does it make? Dan discusses...   Episode 44 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Sermon: Love Trusts Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: Sur...

Grab your favorite brand of spinach and join Dan Kent as he explores 1 Corinthians 15:10, where Paul says that he is what he is because of God's grace. Does this mean everything Paul is and everything Paul does is actually God acting through Paul? Dan discusses.   Episode 43 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:...

Dan Kent tries to show why grammar might be more interesting than your school teachers led you to believe.   Episode 42 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan Kent tries to define Theological Memoir.   Episode 41 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan Kent looks at Calvin's claim that the first function of the Law is to convince us of our weakness and sin.   Episode 40 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan Kent looks at John 15:5. What does it mean when Jesus tells his disciples: "apart from me you can do nothing"? Does that mean God does everything through us?   Episode 39 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan Kent considers RC Sproul's self-loathing and how that might have influenced the development of his theology—including his claim: "What we are saved from, in Biblical terms of salvation, is God Himself."  Episode 38 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatd...

Dan Kent breaks down Peter van Inwagen's classic article "When is the Will Free," highlighting how the article exposes common problems with the academic attempt to understand free will—especially the attempt to prove or disprove its reality.  Episode 37 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Faceb...

Andrew Wilson claims that Psalm 139 poses and "enormous challenge" for open theists, as it claims that God knows all the days formed for me, even days that are still to come. Dan shows why this argument poses little challenge at all to open theists.  Episode 36 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingG...

David Ray Griffin casts a prophetic vision for process theism. In the clearing fog of the future, he sees it ascending the throne of contemporary theology—anointed by theologians, robed by scientists, and crowned by the zeitgeist. Is he right? Dan Kent reflects... Episode 35 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:...

What does it mean to say that God "works all things according to the purposes of his will"? How can we understand God clocking in for a shift in his sovereign occupation?     Episode 34 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan considers Norman Geisler's resignation from the ETS after his failed attempt to oust Greg Boyd, John Sanders, and Clark Pinnock.     Episode 33 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan considers what it might mean for a God who sustains everything... to rest.     Episode 32 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan considers the risks of love.     Episode 31 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Dan talks about miracles.     Episode 30 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Calvin says the primary role of the Law is to humble our hearts, which are blinded and drunk with pride. Is that right? Dan throws shade.     Episode 29 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent

Calvin talks about God giving us a new will. Is this possible? Isn't a person, when you get down to it, simply a will in a body?    Episode 28 YouTube Channel: Surprising God Dan's books: Confident Humility The Training of KX12 Send Questions To: Surprising God on X:  @SurprisingGod Facebook: SurprisingGod Dan on X: @thatdankent