The Word Without Walls Podcast

As we continue to work through questions related to baptism, one student asks how baptism relates to faith/belief/trust?  As we work through this, we define the terms faith/belief/trust.  We'll talk about different worldviews, including a Red Pyramid World, which you can view a visual of below.  What is the problem with thinking in this worldview?   Alternatively, we consider what happens when we...

This is the first of several questions regarding baptism.  A student wonders when a soul is regenerated, thinking about John the Baptist leaping in the womb.  As we work through this question, let's consider what each person consists of (body, soul, and spirit), and how life begins.  How integral is the Word of God in our lives?  How do we know an infant is a child of God?  When Peter says, "Bapti...

This episode's question concerns evil--How does God take evil and use it for good?  Does that make it good?  In working through this, we define what good, evil, and wickedness all mean.  How is it that evil is a necessity in the world?  How is wickedness different from evil?

In this episode, a student asks about how the flood narrative and Israel in Exodus connect with baptism, and demonstrate sin and salvation.  In answering, we look at examples throughout the Bible of both the Old Adam, and those who are honest about their dependance on God.  Can we also see examples throughout history?

A student asks about the genealogy of Jesus as written in Matthew.  How and why is it different from Luke?  What are the point of genealogies in the Bible?  What are important things to note, and what can we learn from them?  

I've often told my students (and you've probably heard in this podcast) that we're living in the best of all possible worlds.  A student asks how this could be.  I talk through this, including why there is suffering, and how we view the life that God has given us.

This student question is related to 2 Corinthians 3:16-18--what is the freedom that is being spoken of in this passage?  In working through this question, we must consider, what worldview are we using as we are looking at the world?  What is the essence of the image of God, regenerated in us?  What would be a more helpful word to use when thinking about our own lives, rather than "freedom"?

How is it that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, as mentioned in Romans 8 and Colossians 1?    Why do Jehovah's Witnesses use Colossians 1 as evidence that Jesus is not God?  What does firstborn mean in the New Testament? 

Several students have questions about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil.  Discussed in this episode are:  Why are God's words regarding the tree considered law? Did Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Life before the Fall? What about the language the devil uses to tempt Eve? As we look at this account from Genesis, you can also listen to a related episode on Genesis 3:6-7, found here .

A student asks about something I talk about in class a lot: different worldviews.  Why is it problematic when we have only a one-dimensional worldview?  Why does each person have conflicting thoughts?  How can our worldview help seemingly contradictory Bible verses make sense?  I refer to the Red Pyramid and Green Arc worldviews in this episode.  Here are the links to have a visual of each model. ...

A student asks what the vicarious atonement of Jesus means.  In answering, we consider the demands of the law, biblical examples such as the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, Abraham and Isaac, and (most importantly) Jesus and Barabbas.  Recommended Bible passages are John 16 and 2 Corinthians 5:21.

A student asks, "What difference does the coming and going of Jesus make, if there is still fasting before and after his life, death, and resurrection?"  In discussing the answer, we consider our interest in the law as Christians.

A student asks: Does being poor and lowly mean that you are automatically saved?  In the response, we consider what being poor and lowly has to do with faith.  How does this differ from popular thought?  How does salvation work?

In this episode, a student asks how there can be any personal responsibility without free will.  How can you test to determine if we do, in fact, have a free will?  What about all of the "choice" language in the Bible?  What about considering life as one of discovery, not of decisions? Any questions/challenge to this episode?  Contact me here .    

The student question discussed in this episode is who is saved, and how?  What is the downfall when we consider this question by starting with thinking about ourselves?  Where should we start?  How do we answer this question from God's perspective?  How is Lazarus and the rich man a good example?

When and what was the nature of the first wrongdoing?  Consider the creation account and God's design.  How did Adam's failure and corruption come about?  And what if Satan wasn't corrupted until after Adam?

To consider in this episode: How was the world made? How does Satan try to be God? Does this apply to us, as well? Why did God put the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil in the Garden?

Some of the questions we consider in this episode are: If you are all-powerful, can you do whatever you want? Does God have a free will? When people think they have free will, what are they not taking into account? Is religion a choice people are free to make?

Did God set us up to fail in the way He created us?  In this episode, different worldviews are mentioned.  You can find out more info about the Red Pyramid worldview here , and the Green Arc worldview here .  

How can this be the best of all possible worlds?

People often ask, "If there is a God, and He is all-knowing, all-powerful, all-good, why is there evil and suffering in the world?"  The answer often given is unsatisfying and unhelpful.  What are other ways that we can consider an answer to this question that defends the idea of an all-good, all-powerful God?

This episode addresses two student questions: Should we capitalize pronouns that refer to God?  Why is this done inconsistently? What is the exegete's prayer?  What is an exegete?

Starting a new topic for podcast episodes: questions I've received from students in my theology classes.  This first episode deals with feeling inadequate.

This episode records a homily I preached for chapel at CUI at the end of November, in the transition from the end of the church year to Advent.  The text is Malachi 2:13-16 and the subject is the abuse of women.

In this episode, hear the readings for Advent 1: Isaiah 64:1-9, 1 Corinthians 1:3-9, and Matthew 13:24-37.  Also, hear a meditation based on the reading.  What if these readings indicate the first true gift of Christmas?  What if Christmas isn't about getting, but about taking away?