The Word Without Walls Podcast

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas for conversation inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe  by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue working through chapter 7 of the book, which discusses sin.   Some discussion prompts related to this passage can include: Why do bad things happen to good people? ...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas for conversation inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue working through chapter 7 of the book, which discusses sin.   Some discussion prompts related to this passage can include: Why not live according to design? Try an ex...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas for conversation inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we begin working through chapter 7 of the book, which discusses sin.   Some discussion prompts related to this passage can include: Consider this thought: It was wreckless and un...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe  by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter–Humanity.   Some discussion prompts related to this passage can include: How could Jesus be born and not have a fall...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter–Humanity.   Some discussion prompts related to this passage can include: What does it mean to be male?  What if being...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter–Humanity.  Specifically, we are still asking questions and thinking about discussion around the Genesis 2 passage whe...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter–Humanity.  Specifically, we consider the idea of woman being made for man. How is the woman a helper, and why does sh...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter–Humanity.  Here are some questions for discussion: What is the image of God? What does "dominion" mean, properly spea...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the sixth chapter--Humanity.  Here are some questions for discussion: How to be made in the image of God, but not be God, and not fail?...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the fifth chapter--Creation.  Here are some questions for discussion: Why creation and not evolution? Can we settle the question of ori...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the fourth chapter–God.  Here are some questions for discussion: Does God have control, or is He being controlled? Can a god be the wor...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we continue to consider how to have a conversation based on the fourth chapter–God.  Here are some questions for discussion: Why is the way to be saved narrow?   What is problematic about the abo...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we consider how to have a conversation based on the fourth chapter--God.  Here are some questions for discussion: If there is no god, what is god? If there is a living, sigular god, then how shal...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through ideas inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller. In this episode we consider how to have a conversation based on the third chapter on Law and Gospel.  Here are some questions for discussion: Why can't we import the kingdom of God into the world of human invent...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through questions inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller.  Chapter two of this book discusses revelation.   The discussion about this topic began in the previous episode .  This episode considers how we know things, and the special revelation from the Bible.  What...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through questions inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller.  Chapter two of this book discusses revelation.  What is revelation?  What are different ways of knowing things?  What serves as a constant, perpetual witness to God?  This episode discusses these questions,...

As the student questions series continues, I'm talking through questions inspired from a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine– Called to Believe by Steven Mueller.  Chapter one of this book is entitled, "The Task of Theology."  Today's episode continues the same topic as our last episode --the task of theology.   Discussions I have with my students based on this chapte...

As the student questions series continues, the next episodes will be based around a text we use in Core Theology class at Concordia University-Irvine-- Called to Believe by Steven Mueller.  Chapter one of this book is entitled, "The Task of Theology."  Discussions I have with my students based on this chapter include: What is truth? What is religion? What is faith? In this episode, I discuss how t...

As we continue from the previous episode on origins and evolutionarianism, in this episode, I have suggestions for what to do in conversation when a person isn't open to hearing anything.  What if someone is so adamant about their beliefs that they won't consider alternatives?  How can we ask questions and find a way to open up the conversation to reach that person?

In this episode, we start thinking about leading conversations around origins, or as I call it, "evolutionarianism".  Let's consider our attitude toward science.  Is religion contrary to science?  How can we come together and have positive conversations about objective reality?  How can we lead a classroom conversation about this, especially in a way that is collaborative, not combative?

As we continue thinking about free will and how best to engage people in conversation to challenge assumptions, this episode focuses on how we tend to think of maturing.  Is the modern-day notion of what it means to reach maturity an accurate one?  What are some big concerns regarding this in our current culture?  What are important, eternal truths to recognize as we work through this issue?  

We continue thinking about free will by considering if we can test for free will.  Some example questions include: Have you ever done anything you regret? What don't we have the ability to change, even if we wanted to? What does our DNA consist of? What is the most effective way to keep a person in bondage? Are decisions and choices cause or effect?  How does free will effect our choices? Is the e...

No free will??  This is an important topic, because how you think about free will affects how you read the Bible.  So, how do I approach this in my classes to get students to reconsider widely-held notions?  What are tests for free will?  What are some key words in the Bible to shed light on the idea of "will"?

We're aware the criticism from the world around us regarding the Bible.  How can we look at the arguments people have, and address them in a helpful way?  In this episode I share statements I typically make to my students to get them thinking and talking.   I mention Lee Strobel's book, The Case for Christ, which you can find here .

In this series about questions we can ask to spur conversation, we've talked about worldviews and collaboration versus competition .  Now we consider some illustrations that can further explain worldviews, including: The coast guard A drowning person Physican/hospital Fasting at Panera Ambassadors and stewards This episode references my new book, The Parabolic Universe , which you can find here . ...