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
26episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Is It Necessary to Confess My Sins?
4d ago00:53:51Summary readyWe all sin. We all make mistakes and sometimes they are just plain embarrassing. As Christians, we know that forgiveness for our sins can be readily available as a result of Jesus’ sacrifice. The question is, what do I have to do to access that availability? Is it automatic? Am I forgiven just because I have claimed the name of Jesus? The answer to that question is an emphatic NO! While being a disciple of Christ grants us access to forgiveness from God, it does not automatically apply that forgiveness to our ongoing sins. So, what do we have to do? Do we actually have to confess our sins in detail to God? What does confessing our sins actually mean? Are there rituals that we should be following? Should we confess them to others? Is there a right way and a wrong way to do this? Confession is not a ritual or a formula. Scripture presents it as something far more meaningful: a relational step that brings us back into alignment with God. The Apostle John uses the Greek word homologeō—to “say the same thing”—meaning confession is agreeing with God’s assessment of our actions rather than defending, minimizing or hiding them. It is the moment we stop managing our image and start embracing honesty before the One who already knows every detail. King David’s experience in Psalm 32 gives us a vivid picture of this process. Before he confessed, he described his inner life as wasting away under the weight of guilt. But once he acknowledged his sin without excuses, he found relief, clarity and restored fellowship with God—even though the severe consequences of his actions remained. Confession didn’t erase the earthly fallout, but it reopened the door to God’s mercy and peace. The New Testament builds on this foundation by reminding us that we confess not to inform God, but to align ourselves with Him. Hebrews shows that Jesus, our sympathetic High Priest, opens the way to the throne of grace so we can approach God with confidence. Confession becomes the pathway out of darkness and into light, where cleansing and transformation can actually happen. It is how we keep our hearts soft, our conscience clear, and our relationship with God vibrant and honest. Key Takeaways • Confession is relational, not ritualistic—it restores alignment with God. • The biblical meaning of confession is to agree with God’s truth about our actions. • God already knows our sins; confession helps us see ourselves clearly. • David’s example shows that confession brings relief, honesty and renewed fellowship, even when consequences remain. • Confession is part of walking in the light, keeping us spiritually awake and accountable. • Through Jesus, we can approach God with confidence, knowing forgiveness and cleansing are available. • True confession leads to transformation—allowing God’s grace to work in us and through us.
SummaryDid God Curse the World?
2w ago00:37:26Summary readyThere are two fundamental lessons we can learn about God from having a general knowledge of the true message of the Bible. First, we know that God is love, as He created humanity for the sake of having an eternal human family. Second, God is just. His love for humanity is not weak and unreliable; it is based on a solid foundation of justice. When Adam sinned, this justice aspect of His character was plain to see as Adam would no longer have eternal life. He would now be destined to live out his life outside of the Garden of Eden, in a different environment than he had originally been given. Adam, Eve and the generations they would produce would now make their living off of a cursed earth. What would this mean for them? Did their disobedience doom to whole world to a cursed life of hopelessness? Did God curse the world? Two targeted curses When we look closely at the Genesis account, we discover that God’s actions in Eden were far more purposeful and hopeful than many assume. Rather than cursing humanity, God issued two targeted curses: one on the serpent and one on the ground. The serpent’s curse carried both humiliation and prophecy, pointing forward to the eventual destruction of Satan by the promised seed. The curse on the ground introduced toil, resistance and frustration into human labor—not as an act of divine spite, but as a teacher. Life outside the Garden would now reveal the true cost of sin and humanity’s deep need for redemption. Throughout Scripture, this theme continues. Cain’s judgment, Lamech’s longing for relief and Noah’s partial mitigation of the ground’s difficulty all show that God’s curse on the soil shaped human experience but never represented a curse on humanity itself. Even after the Flood, God reaffirmed stability and seasons, signaling mercy within the struggle. The ground remained cursed, but the world was not abandoned. Romans 8 The Apostle Paul picks up this thread in Romans 8, explaining that creation was “subjected to futility”—not cursed—and that this condition is temporary. Paul uses the imagery of childbirth to show that the world’s present suffering is leading toward something new. The groaning of creation is in anticipation. God’s plan has always been restoration. This is where Jesus enters the picture with breathtaking clarity. By taking Adam’s death penalty and stepping into the Law’s covenant curse—symbolized by being “hung on a tree”—Jesus opened the way for both Jews and Gentiles to become part of Abraham’s promised seed. His sacrifice ensures that the curse on the ground, the futility of creation and the burden of sin will all be resolved in God’s appointed time. The story that begins with a curse ends with healing and restoration, and the promise of a world made new. Key Takeaways • God cursed the serpent and the ground in Genesis 3. He did not curse humanity. • The curse on the ground served a purpose, shaping human experience and pointing to the need for redemption. • Creation’s “futility” in Romans 8 is temporary and filled with hope. • Jesus fulfilled the Law’s curse symbol by being publicly displayed on the cross. • Through Christ, both Jews and Gentiles become Abraham’s seed and heirs of the promise. • God’s plan moves from curse to consequence to redemption and finally, to restoration.
SummaryShould Women Be Pastors? (Part II)
3w ago00:54:52Summary readyIn Part I of this 2-part series, we introduced several reasons why many Christians believe women should be able to serve as pastors. Our scriptural considerations began with understanding what the “equality in Christ” in our theme text means. We found that it is pointing to an immovable foundation for people of differing ethnicities, different social standings and both genders to stand firmly upon. While Christ does not change our heritage, social standing or gender privileges, he equally welcomes all of us. We also briefly examined the roles of a few prominent Old Testament women. Here we discovered that even though they were wise and chosen prophets of God, that did not open the door for them to be in any way related to the priesthood of Israel. In Part II of our series, we continue examining the question of whether women should serve as pastors or elders by looking closely at New Testament women in ministry by including examples often raised in support of egalitarian views. We explore the lives of Priscilla, Phoebe and Junia—women of remarkable faith and influence—and consider how their contributions fit within the structure God designed for the early church. These women served powerfully and sacrificially, yet Scripture never presents them as holding the governing or teaching offices reserved for elders. Gift vs. office A major theme of this episode is the difference between gifts and offices. God gives spiritual gifts broadly to both men and women, enabling all believers to teach, encourage, counsel and serve. But the New Testament consistently assigns the formal teaching and governing roles of the church to qualified men. This distinction becomes especially important when we look at Pentecost. Peter quotes a prophecy from Joel to show that God’s spirit was being poured out on both sons and daughters, but his purpose was to highlight the arrival of miraculous gifts—not to redefine church leadership. Pentecost was a preview of God’s power, not a restructuring of the elder role. The Competency Argument We also address the modern argument of competency. Many women today are highly educated, capable leaders in every sphere of society. Scripture never denies their ability. Instead, it provokes us to consider how God arranges His body according to His design, not human preference. The pattern of male eldership is rooted not in culture, but in creation, headship and the consistent teaching of both Paul and Peter. This episode encourages all Christians—men and women—to embrace their God given roles with humility, gratitude and purpose, recognizing that leadership in the body of Christ begins and ends with faithful service. Key Takeaways • New Testament women served powerfully, but none are shown holding the office of elder. • Gifts and offices are different: gifts show ability; offices show responsibility. • Pentecost demonstrated God’s power, not a change in church leadership structure. • Competency is not the issue—God’s design and order are. • Headship is rooted in creation, not culture. • Every Christian can lead by example, regardless of role.
SummaryShould Women Be Pastors? (Part I)
4w 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)
May 1800:43:37Summary 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)
May 1100:40:03Summary 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)
May 400:36:09Summary 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.
Summary