Podcast
Christian Questions Bible Podcast
Hosted by Rick and Jonathan · EN
Weekly podcasts from Rick and Jonathan dealing with life’s issues from a biblical perspective
23episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Should Women Be Pastors? (Part I)
5d ago00:32:49Summary readyThe world has changed dramatically over the last 2,000 years. If you are accessing this podcast information, then the world you live in has gone from a very localized environment where the fastest news traveled was by horseback or boat, to a society of instant access for all news and information. Your world has transformed from a patriarchal society where men represented the vast majority of power and influence in life, to a society that continues to make all roles equally available for both men and women. So, has Christianity kept up with the times? Have we made all roles, specifically the role of pastor and teacher in the church equally available to both men and women? If your church has, should they have? If they have not, then why not? Should women be pastors? There is a clear scriptural answer to this! Egalitarian and complementarian views In Part I of this important two-part series, we take a careful, respectful look at one of the most debated questions in modern Christianity: Should women serve as pastors or elders in the church? Rather than beginning with our own conclusion that women should not serve in this way, we start by laying out the pro-woman pastor egalitarian viewpoint, exactly as its supporters understand it. We walk through the strongest egalitarian arguments, including equality in Christ, women in biblical leadership, the distribution of spiritual gifts and the practical reality that women already serve in many ministry roles today. Once this perspective is clearly understood, the episode turns to Scripture to examine the foundation beneath the complementarian view we hold. What does “equality in Christ” actually mean? Does it erase distinctions God built into creation, or does it elevate men and women equally while preserving different roles? The conversation explores the Old Testament pattern of spiritual leadership, the significance of the priesthood, and the creation order established before sin entered the world. It also looks honestly at how sin distorted God’s design, leading to centuries of misuse, imbalance and cultural extremes Scripture never endorsed. Throughout the discussion, the goal is not to diminish women’s value or gifting, but to understand how God arranged roles for the protection, order and flourishing of the church. This episode invites our listeners to consider the question not through the lens of culture or tradition, but through the lens of God’s revealed design. Key Takeaways • Equality in Christ elevates men and women without erasing God-given distinctions. • Women in Scripture held significant leadership roles, yet not the highest spiritual offices. • Spiritual gifts are given broadly, but spiritual offices are assigned purposefully. • The creation order—not culture—forms the foundation for church structure. • Sin distorted headship into domination, but Scripture restores balance and dignity. • Clearly understanding both viewpoints clearly helps us approach this topic with grace and truth.
SummaryHow Does Our Free Will Work in God’s Plan? (Part II)
2w ago00:43:37Summary readyIn our last episode, we laid out a scriptural foundation for how human free will works by considering two Old Testament accounts. First, we looked at Joshua and how he was called upon by God to lead Israel after the death of Moses. His choosing to closely follow God’s direction in this task made him a great leader. This showed us the profound value of always using God’s word and His will to guide us. Second, we looked at the account of Adam and Eve and their sin. Their poor choices showed us how easy it is for us to apply our free will in self-destructive ways by listening to other voices that oppose godliness. Now we get practical and examine free will in relation to our Christianity, as well as free will in relation to the rest of the world. As Christians, our free will is meant to be shaped and elevated by the teachings of Jesus. Scripture calls us to “continue in his word,” reminding us that discipleship requires direction, discipline and a conscience trained by truth. Understanding how God guides our free will helps us see that He does not override our choices; instead, He surrounds our path with the “guardrails” of providence—Scripture, conscience, correction and the influence of His spirit. These guardrails don’t force us to stay on the road, but they can lovingly prevent us from drifting into danger. Ephesians 4 Ephesians 4 gives us a practical picture of how God guides our free will by showing what a renewed mind and transformed character look like in action. This chapter becomes a roadmap for what a transformed free will looks like in daily life. As we “put off” the old self and “put on” the new, our choices begin to reflect Christlike qualities: truthful communication, forbearance, godly morality, upbuilding words, diligent actions, purified emotions and a tender, forgiving heart. This transformation is gradual, intentional and deeply connected to our willingness to align our intellect and character with God’s word. This is good for Christians, but what about the free will of the world at large? While humanity’s choices now often lead to suffering and injustice, the Bible assures us that God has fixed a future “day of judgment”—a thousand-year period of restoration, clarity and righteous instruction. In that kingdom, every person will finally have the opportunity to choose God with full understanding. Free will, once confused and wounded, will be healed and guided toward life. Key Takeaways • Free will becomes powerful and safe only when it is aligned with Jesus’ teachings. • Ephesians 4 shows how a transformed free will produces Christlike behavior. • Christian growth requires “putting off” the old self and “putting on” the new. • The world’s uneven free will experiences will be addressed in the future kingdom. • The “day of judgment” is a restorative, thousand-year period of learning righteousness. • Ultimately, God’s plan leads every human being toward clarity, accountability and the opportunity to choose life.
SummaryHow Does Our Free Will Work in God’s Plan? (Part I)
3w ago00:40:03Summary readyThe Bible plainly teaches us that God in His unfathomable wisdom and power has a clear plan for the destiny of ALL humanity. We also know according to 1 Peter 1:20 that His plan for the sacrifice of Jesus was clearly in place even before the earth was created. Now, if God’s plan was clear to Him even before humanity existed, how does that fit into our understanding that each and every one of us has free will? Wouldn’t His foreknowledge by its very existence make us all puppets in His hands? If He knows how it will all turn out, then aren’t we just playing a predetermined role? Actually, nothing could be further from the truth! As we dig into these questions, we will see that God’s plans and purposes are firmly built around the free will of all of His intelligent creation. Understanding this is life changing! Joshua As we explored this question in Part I, we began with Joshua—one of Scripture’s clearest examples of how human free will operates within God’s will. Joshua was given a divine assignment and the assurance that God would be with him, yet he still had to actively choose obedience, courage and faith. God laid out the road, but Joshua had to walk it. His free will didn’t create God’s plan, but it determined how faithfully he would travel upon it. This powerful picture shows us that God’s foreknowledge does not eliminate our choices; instead, it provides the framework in which our choices gain meaning. Adam & Eve We also examined the first human exercise of free will in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve were created perfect, placed in an environment designed for success and given clear boundaries. Their free will was real, and so were the consequences of their decisions. When Eve listened to another voice and Adam followed her lead, they stepped outside of God’s protective boundaries. God didn’t force the outcome, but free will must be tested, proven and ultimately aligned with God’s character. Throughout the episode, we saw that God’s will is perfect committed time-tested and harmonious. Human free will, by contrast, is developing. It must learn strength, courage, character and intellectual alignment with God’s truth. Rather than making us puppets, God invites us into a lifelong process of choosing His way—again and again—until our will becomes anchored in His. Understanding this relationship between God’s sovereignty and our freedom is deeply practical. It shapes how we face decisions, how we interpret trials, and how we grow into Christlike maturity. Key Takeaways • God’s foreknowledge frames human free will. It does not cancel it. • Joshua shows that God provides the road, but we choose how faithfully we walk it. • Strength and courage are active choices, not automatic feelings. • Adam and Eve’s test reveals that free will must be proven and aligned with God’s character. • God’s will is perfect and unchanging. Our will is being shaped to match His. • Every decision becomes an opportunity to choose trust, obedience and spiritual growth.
SummaryAre Christians Today Really Capable of Healing People and Speaking in Tongues? (Part II)
4w ago00:36:09Summary readyAre Christians who claim to heal and who claim to speak in tongues operating within the scriptural guidelines of Christianity today, or have they taken a giant step over the line of appropriate Christian behavior? In our last episode, we observed how the Old Testament established healing as an occasional gift and was not necessarily granted based on faith. We also observed that Jesus healed the masses and generally did not require faith and following to give that gift. We also saw that Old Testament speaking in tongues was absolutely speaking in foreign languages. It was a sign of God’s disapproval when foreign languages were introduced. The Apostle Paul verified that speaking in tongues – in foreign languages – was STILL a sign, but now it was a sign of approval to UNBELIEVERS. In this episode, we examine healing and speaking in tongues in the New Testament to understand how these gifts functioned in the early church. The New Testament pattern As we turn to the New Testament, Jesus sets the pattern. He healed out of compassion, not as a reward for personal faith. In fact, out of the hundreds he healed, only four individuals are specifically commended for their faith. Healing was never meant to be a spiritual performance or a measure of someone’s worthiness. It was a sign that the Messiah had arrived and the call to the kingdom was open. After Pentecost, the pattern remained narrow Only two non-apostles—Philip and Ananias—are specifically recorded as performing healings. Both did so under circumstances that were tied to the spread of the gospel. The Apostle Paul later explained that healing was one of the lesser gifts and would eventually fade as the church matured and the written word took center stage. Scripture, not miracles, would become the enduring tool for building faith. The same is true for speaking in tongues. The New Testament records only three instances of this occurring. In every case, tongues were real human languages used to communicate the gospel to foreigners. Tongues were never intended to be a private prayer language or a display of spiritual superiority. Paul repeatedly corrected the misuse of this gift, reminding believers that prophecy and teaching were far more valuable because they edified the entire church. Once the gospel was firmly established and the Scriptures completed, the purpose of tongues was fulfilled, and the gift ceased—just as Paul said it would. Key Takeaways Healing in the New Testament was a sign of the Messiah and the arrival of the kingdom. Jesus healed out of compassion, not as a response to personal faith. After Pentecost, only two non-apostles are recorded as performing healings, both for specific gospel purposes. Speaking in tongues was always the miraculous ability to speak real foreign languages. Tongues served as a sign to unbelievers and a tool for spreading the gospel. Paul identified healing and tongues as lesser gifts that would eventually cease. The completed Scriptures replaced the need for miraculous signs.
SummaryAre Christians Today Really Capable of Healing People or Speaking in Tongues? (Part I)
Apr 2700:31:12Summary readyChristianity today is diverse. When you think about it, there should only be one version of the Gospel, and it should be entirely based upon the Bible as a whole, specifically the words and actions of Jesus as well as the words and actions of his apostles and disciples in the New Testament. In many cases, the Gospel has unfortunately been reduced to a wide variety of denominations and beliefs that often contradict one another. One area of this divergence has to do with the gift of healing and speaking in tongues in the Bible. Many Christians today believe these two spiritual gifts continue today, and many Christians believe they ceased a long time ago. Who’s right, and how do we know? In this first part of a two‑episode series, we take a thoughtful journey through Scripture to understand whether Christians today can genuinely heal or speak in tongues. We begin our conversation by stepping back into the Old Testament to uncover the foundation God laid long before Jesus’ ministry began. What emerges is a clear pattern: biblical healing and the use of foreign languages were never random miracles. They were purposeful signs—each revealing something about God’s sovereignty, His plan and His chosen messengers. Old Testament: Healings By exploring several Old Testament healings, from Abimelech’s household to the Shunammite woman, Naaman, and King Hezekiah, we find that account highlights that healing was rare, deeply intentional, and always tied to God’s authority or the advancement of His plan. These moments set the stage for the dramatic shift that occurs when Jesus arrives, bringing healing on a scale never before seen. His compassion, power and fulfillment of prophecy reveal healing as a sign pointing unmistakably to the Messiah. Old Testament: Speaking in Tongues The conversation then turns to the surprising Old Testament roots of speaking in tongues. Through the Tower of Babel, Deuteronomy and Isaiah, we see how foreign languages originally signaled God’s disfavor and judgment. But at Pentecost, everything changes. The same sign that once scattered now gathers. The same confusion that once divided now draws people toward the gospel. Speaking in tongues becomes a powerful, unmistakable sign for unbelievers that God’s favor has arrived through Jesus and the outpouring of the holy spirit. This episode lays the essential groundwork for Part II, where the New Testament gifts will be examined in greater detail. Key Takeaways Old Testament healings were rare and always served a larger divine purpose. Jesus’ healing ministry fulfilled prophecy and revealed God’s sovereignty in a new way. In the Old Testament, foreign tongues were a sign of God’s disapproval and judgment. At Pentecost, tongues became a sign of God’s favor, enabling the gospel to reach all nations. Understanding the Old Testament foundation is essential for interpreting New Testament gifts today.
SummaryWhy Did Jesus Challenge Peter’s Love?
Apr 2000:56:14Summary readyIn our last episode, we examined the deep lessons Jesus was teaching his apostles when he appeared to seven of them after his resurrection while they were fishing. His miracle of orchestrating the massive catch of fish was a direct throwback to his fishing miracle three years before, when Simon Peter finally gave up fishing to exclusively follow Jesus. The first fishing miracle was a message about giving up all else to follow Jesus and to learn to be fishers of men. The second fishing miracle was a message to now become those fishers of men and step up to lead and preach. Jesus’ next direct conversation with Peter in that context was his questioning the depth of Peter’s love for him. Why would Jesus ask such questions right after showing such confidence in Peter and the other disciples? Do you love me? In this episode, we dive more deeply into that shoreline moment, uncovering how intentionally Jesus shaped Peter’s restoration and future calling. Jesus was purposefully reconstructing his memories. The miraculous catch mirrored Peter’s first call to discipleship, and now it marked the beginning of his call to preach and lead. From this setting, Jesus began reshaping Peter’s identity. Jesus asked three questions about love, but they were not repetitive. When Jesus asked, “Do you love me?” using the Greek word agapao, he was calling Peter to the self‑giving love that reflects God’s own character. Peter’s reply, using the Greek phileo, revealed great humility, as he no longer claimed more than he could live up to. Jesus accepted that sincerity and immediately entrusted Peter with responsibility: “Feed my lambs.” The mission expands Each question from Jesus expanded Peter’s mission. First, he was to feed the lambs—the youngest and most vulnerable followers of Jesus. Then he was to tend the sheep—guiding, guarding and keeping the maturing flock together. Finally, he was to feed the sheep—nourishing the entire community. These layers show Jesus moving Peter from follower to shepherd, from affection to sacrificial responsibility, resulting in a lifetime of powerful spiritual leadership. Key Takeaways Jesus intentionally recreated Peter’s past to prepare him for future leadership. Peter’s honest phileo response became the foundation Jesus built upon. Jesus gave three escalating responsibilities: “Feed my lambs”—care for the vulnerable. “Tend my sheep” — guide and protect the maturing. “Feed my sheep” — nourish the whole flock. This moment was about healing shame, but it was also about commissioning leadership. Being given the holy spirit at Pentecost would empower Peter to fulfill this calling.
SummaryAfter His Resurrection, What Did Jesus Teach Us About Fishing?
Apr 1300:54:17Summary readyThe crucifixion of Jesus was an event that absolutely overwhelmed his apostles and disciples. Even though Jesus had forewarned them of what was coming, they were still taken by complete surprise. In his great wisdom, Jesus arranged his post-resurrection appearances in such a way as to them to show them not only who he was, but what was to come. It is fascinating to see how he revealed more and more about their future with each appearance. When we get to his third appearance to a group of his apostles, Jesus came to them as they were fishing. What he did and what he taught related to fishing gave them a pointed and powerful lesson regarding their future! In this episode, we slow down and walk through John 21 step‑by‑step, noticing how Jesus masterfully uses a familiar setting—the Sea of Galilee—to reshape the apostles’ understanding of their calling. These men were back on their home turf, doing the work they knew best, yet they were also in a season of uncertainty. Jesus had risen, but he was no longer walking with them daily. They were waiting, wondering and trying to make sense of what came next. Into that moment of confusion and routine, Jesus stepped with purpose. What unfolds is far more than a miraculous catch of fish. It is a deliberate echo of an earlier moment—another empty night, another unexpected instruction, another overwhelming catch. By placing these two fishing events side‑by‑side, we can see how Jesus revealed how far the apostles had come and how much further they were about to go. The first miracle had been a call to follow. This one was a call to lead. Through this encounter, Jesus showed them that their future work would require obedience even when the instructions seemed unusual, trust even when the results were unseen, and courage even when the task felt too large to carry. He reminded them that success in their new mission would never come from their own expertise, but from listening to his voice—even when they didn’t immediately recognize it. This appearance at the Sea of Galilee becomes a living illustration about discipleship, leadership and the kind of faith required to become true “fishers of men.” It is a story of preparation and commissioning, and it still speaks powerfully to anyone seeking direction in seasons of waiting or uncertainty. Key Takeaways Jesus meets his followers where they are, often in the ordinary rhythms of life, to reveal extraordinary truth. The two fishing miracles act as bookends – one calling the apostles to follow, the other preparing them to lead. Obedience precedes understanding – the apostles cast the net before they knew it was Jesus speaking. The “right side” symbolizes divine authority, reminding us that true success comes from God’s direction, not human expertise. Seasons of waiting are not wasted – Jesus uses them to prepare us for the next stage of our calling. Leadership in Christ’s service requires humility, dependence on his guidance and willingness to act even when the outcome is unclear.
SummaryWas ‘Doubting Thomas’ Really a Doubter?
Apr 600:53:39Summary readyThere are many Bible accounts that have gathered a lot of attention over centuries because of their dramatic content. Cain and Abel, Noah and the Ark and David and Goliath are all powerful and dramatic Old Testament accounts filled with action. Two New Testament are Jesus in the manger and Jesus on the cross. All of these named stories show us a hero and their experiences. Then we have “Doubting Thomas.” Here was an apostle who did not betray Jesus and who was ultimately faithful to his calling, and yet we know him as the doubter. Is this a fair and unbiased way to be remembering one of Jesus’ closest followers? Was Thomas that far off from faithfulness so as to be labeled as a doubter? Not a lot of information Thomas’ specific actions or words appear only three times in Scripture. The first two instances in John 11 and John 14 reveal a disciple who has courage, loyalty and a deep desire to stay close to Jesus. It is the third instance that causes so many to see him as a doubter. Thomas was absent during Jesus’ first resurrection appearance to the other ten apostles. The disciples joyfully reported, “We have seen the Lord,” but Thomas—traumatized, grieving and left out of that experience—could not process their claim. His statement, “I will not believe,” is a Greek conditional phrase meaning, “I am not able to believe unless…”—a cry of emotional impossibility, not rebellion. A personal demonstration Eight days later, Jesus appeared again and immediately addressed Thomas with compassion, not rebuke. He invited Thomas to examine his wounds, offering the same evidence the others received. Jesus gently dismantled Thomas’ doubt step by step, showing that honest struggle is always met with personalized grace. Thomas responded with one of the strongest declarations of faith in the New Testament: “My Lord and my God.” Thomas’ story teaches five belief lessons about how Jesus builds faith, not by shaming doubt but by meeting it with truth and patience. Ultimately, Thomas became a model of how doubt, when brought to Jesus, can lead to deeper conviction and a more resilient faith. Key Takeaways Thomas’ doubt was rooted in trauma, not rebellion. Jesus treats honest doubt differently from hard‑hearted resistance. Thomas asked only for the same evidence the other disciples received. Jesus responds with compassion, personalization and invitation. Thomas’ final confession is one of the strongest expressions of faith in Scripture. We believe he should be called ‘Discerning Thomas’ or ‘Faithful Thomas”!
SummaryHow Does God’s Providence Work in Our Lives?
Mar 3001:02:43Summary readyGod is watching over me. God’s got this. The Lord will take care of it. These are all expressions of faith in God’s overruling care for us. While this kind of faith is something we should all strive for, the question remains as to what makes these statements true. Just because I say, “God will take care of it,” does that mean it is absolutely going to happen? Are there things that I personally need to have in place for God’s providence to be reality, or does saying this with conviction qualify as having enough faith? Is there a difference between our believing in God’s attentive care and His actual giving of His attentive care? The quiet way God leads us The episode explores these questions by reminding us that God’s providence (His holy and wise supervision of all things) is not something we activate with confident phrases. His care unfolds within His character, His timing and His purposes—not our expectations. Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness becomes a vivid example. God fed them, sustained them and disciplined them, but none of it happened on their preferred schedule. Much of His care was quiet, even unnoticed, until they looked back and realized how thoroughly He had carried them. Providence, in other words, often feels ordinary while it is happening and only becomes obvious in hindsight. When God’s providence arrives as hardship Jesus’ preparation follows the same pattern. Before his ministry began, he faced hunger, misapplied Scripture and the lure of an easier path. None of these experiences looked like “providence” in the moment, yet each one shaped him for the work ahead. The episode emphasizes that God’s providence sometimes arrives as difficulty rather than relief—not because God is distant, but because He is forming something deeper in us than comfort. Jesus refused shortcuts, refused to manipulate God’s promises and refused to step outside his Father’s will. Only after the testing did the angels come to minister to him. That order matters. Christians do not command providence; we receive it. We don’t decree outcomes or speak miracles into existence. Instead, we place ourselves where God’s guidance can reach us—by obeying what we already know, by waiting when the way is unclear and by trusting that God’s care is active even when it feels hidden. Key Takeaways God’s providence follows His timing and purposes, not our declarations. Israel’s wilderness years show that God’s care is often quiet and recognized later. Jesus’ temptations reveal that hardship can be part of God’s preparing grace. We receive providence through obedience and patience, not by forcing outcomes. True providence shapes us to follow God’s will, even when the path is difficult.
SummaryHow Is My Faith Revealed When I Am at Work?
Mar 2301:00:49Summary readyLet’s get practical. For most of us, the largest portion of our waking hours is spent working in one way or another to support ourselves and our household. Whether we are in a trade or at a desk, whether we are engaged in a service or retail or farming, building, manufacturing or raising children or going to school or freelancing, most of us are tied to the responsibility of investing time into our physical care. Now, if we are truly dedicated Christians, we know our primary responsibility is to God through Christ. How do we make these seemingly contradictory investments of our time work in perfect harmony? How do we fully live our Christianity while involved in spiritually mundane activities? What does my Christianity look and sound like when I am simply taking care of business? One way to best frame the answer to these questions is to lay out what it looks like for a Christian to be an ideal employer or employee. By using the word “IDEAL” as an acronym, we can appreciate the guidelines we should strive for. I.D.E.A.L. Integrity, Diligence, Excellence, Attitude, Leadership—These attributes are a framework for living out faith at work. Integrity is described as wholeness and consistency. Integrity is not an idea; it is a decision. Diligence builds on integrity by turning conviction into sustained action. It is “urgent devotion,” not passive effort. Christian workplace diligence comes from seeking God’s will first! Excellence is not just an ideal; it is an attainable reality and can be achieved even when the conditions of our work environment are lacking. Jesus is our example of excellence, and he should be ever present in our minds while we work. Attitude is not just an emotional state; it is a driving force. The prophet Daniel is a powerful example of a godly attitude while he positively served the kingdom he was a captive of for his entire life. Leadership is not just for those in front; it can be a privilege for all! When we work with Integrity, Diligence, Excellence and Attitude, we ARE leading by example! Faith at work is revealed not primarily through words but through character—how we show up, how we treat others, how we handle pressure, and how we honor God in the mundane. Key Takeaways: Integrity is being the same person in every setting. Diligence is action, not emotion Excellence comes from always truly applying our best efforts Attitude is a powerful force that can change an environment Leadership is a result of all these things in action Faith at work begins internally, with Scripture, discipline and purpose.
Summary