PROCLAIM x BIBLEin365 — Live Q&A (Jan/Feb 2026)

Host: Pastoral Advisor James Kaddis (A), with Caitlin (B)
Date: February 23, 2026
Duration: ~105 minutes

Overview

This special LIVE Q&A episode unites the BIBLEin365 community for an in-depth session of faith-based questions and Bible study. With regular host Erika Kirk out due to illness, Pastoral Advisor James Kaddis leads the discussion alongside team member Caitlin. The Q&A covers wide-ranging topics from how to start reading the Bible, church selection, salvation, marriage, suffering, biblical history, and deep dives into Genesis and early Scripture.

The tone throughout is warm, pastoral, and transparent, prioritizing scriptural fidelity, practical encouragement, and honest acknowledgment of what is and isn’t understood. The conversation welcomes newcomers, seasoned readers, and those wrestling with doubts or trauma, offering practical advice, spiritual encouragement, and deeply personal illustrations.

Introductions, Prayer & Community Focus

[01:35–04:41]

• Opening: James acknowledges Erika’s illness, highlighting the team's commitment and genuine care for the community.
• Purpose: Emphasizes the ministry's heart — equipping people to understand and be transformed by the Bible ("We've been looking forward to this Q&A for quite some time...we want to better equip you to read the Bible, to understand what you're reading, to be changed by it for your life, to just dynamically grow as a result." — James, [02:10])
• Prayer: Opens in prayer for Erika and all listeners, asking for healing, clarity, and lasting spiritual fruit.
• Community Encouragement: Caitlin and James both urge newcomers not to be intimidated, invite repeated questions, and point to the “Dig Deeper” online resources, the ESV version they use, and James's bible study website.

Q&A HIGHLIGHTS (Timestamps approximate to first exchange per question)

Getting Started in Bible Reading

[11:42] Advice for New Christians Studying the Bible

• Engage the Bible as a spiritual pursuit—with prayer, acknowledging spiritual opposition ("You have an enemy, the devil, who hates you.").
• Use a translation you truly understand (ESV, New King James, NASB, HCSB recommended)—avoid language barriers and legalistic preferences.
• Journal questions; explore commentaries if you’re confused.
• Reread for comprehension: mastery grows with exposure and repeated reading.
• Look for real-life solutions in Scripture.

"Look for solutions in the Bible to problems that you actually have...don't read the Bible from the perspective of, well, I just got to do it to kind of get my few chapters in. Start reading the Bible from the perspective of I'm desperate for some answers to, to some problems I'm trying to solve. And you'll be blown away with how much more effective your Bible study will be." — James [16:37]

Finding and Choosing a Church

[17:36] What Makes a Good Church, and How Should I Invite My Spouse Back?

• Seek a church that teaches the Word of God uncompromisingly, applies biblical truth to all of life (not compartmentalized).
• Accountability and transparency in leadership is vital.
• "...where you find a good church is where they are preaching the word of God." — James [17:38]
• Empathizes with past hurt; acknowledges the challenge.

Church Rules: Communion, Baptism, Belonging

[20:54] What If a Church Excludes Me? (Communion, Baptism, Living Situation)

• Rejects unbiblical rules excluding people from church or communion due to living with nonbelievers or only having infant baptism.
• Communion is for those who examine themselves and trust in Christ—not for the baptized only (“Let a man examine himself…[not] to see if he's baptized. No. He's talking about...faith. Do you trust in the Lord?” [21:53])
• Expresses concern if church leaders (of any gender) introduce doctrines not found in Scripture.

Salvation & The Assurance of Faith

[26:51] “How do I get to heaven? Isn’t it more than faith?”

• Clearly explains the gospel: “The only thing that can get you to heaven is by living the law of God perfectly. The only person who's lived the law of God perfectly is Jesus Christ.” [24:23]
• Assurance comes from trust in Jesus; repentance and outward confession are evidence, not prerequisites for salvation.

Divorce, Remarriage, and Salvation

[27:37] “Am I excluded from heaven because I’m divorced and remarried?”

• Divorce and remarriage do not disqualify believers from heaven.
• “You were who you were before you knew the Lord...Do you have faith and trust in Christ? Then it's a wrap. You've got nothing to worry about.” [28:02]

Salvation for Those Who Never Hear of Jesus

[29:28] “What about those who never knew about Jesus?”

• God is fair and just; creation testifies to Him, and conviction comes through the Holy Spirit (see Romans 1).
• Those who know (i.e., listeners) are accountable for their response.

Abuse, Marriage, and Self-Denial

[31:20] “Should I leave my husband if he’s abusive? What about feeling lost in marriage?”

• Abuse is never to be tolerated; separation is biblically justifiable for protection—seek pastoral counsel.
• Marriage is a refining process, requiring self-denial, perseverance, and a focus on God’s commands above fleeting feelings.
• “There is a reward that comes from self denial within the context of marriage...the denial of self feels like the denial of a whole bunch of other things. But the reward that comes is extraordinary.” — James [36:55]

Suffering, Tragedy, and God’s Plan

[42:51] “Why does God let people die tragically?”

• God knows all outcomes before creation; tragedy is a consequence of sin’s entry, not a lack of foreknowledge or care.
• The hope is in the resurrection: “Charlie is more alive now than he ever has been…” [45:01]

Doubts, Belief & Proving God

[47:46] “How do I know Jesus is real? How do I explain God’s existence without just saying it’s not a coincidence?”

• Faith is evidence: fulfilled prophecy, creation’s design, morality, changed lives. Analogy: You may not see electricity, but you see its effects.
• Use Scripture, but also appeal to logic and the order/design of the world. (“If you see a watch on somebody's wrist...what's the likelihood that this apple watch just evolved on my wrist ... out of nothing?” [49:13])

SCRIPTURE QUESTIONS & BIBLICAL BACKGROUND

Creation, Genesis, and Language

[51:48] “Where did God come from? When did the angels fall? How long was a ‘day’?”

• God has always existed.
• The days of creation are literal days.
• The timing of Satan’s fall is not specified; Hebrew and Greek translation differences discussed for clarity.

Pre-Adamite Humans & Dinosaurs

[58:15] “Were there people before Adam and Eve? Where did dinosaurs fit?”

• Scripture is clear: Adam and Eve were the first humans.
• Fossil records and “pre-human” discoveries are attributed to the effects of Noah’s flood, not prior civilizations.
• Dinosaurs existed alongside humans in the early biblical record.

The Fall — Free Will and the Knowledge of Good & Evil

[60:40] “Was the fall predetermined? Why put the tree there?”

• God provided real choice for humans, which comes with the risk of disobedience.
• The command not to eat from one tree provided meaningful discipline and the exercise of free will—a vital context for genuine relationship and value for what one has.
• “The enemy wants us to focus so much on what we don't have that we ignore what we do have...” [66:18]

Genealogies in Scripture

[67:26] “Why list all the generations?”

• Essential to establish Jesus as the prophesied Messiah; genealogies ground the Bible’s overarching story and promises.
• Names in genealogies in ancient Near Eastern cultures were laden with meaning, unlike modern Western naming conventions.

Paradise and Afterlife Before Christ

[69:22] “Where did people go when they died before Jesus?”

• The righteous went to heaven (paradise); unrighteous to a place of punishment. No biblical doctrine of ‘purgatory’—different dispensations exist, but no contradiction in God’s redemptive work through history.

Why So Old? (Long Lifespans in Genesis)

[71:43]

• Possibly due to a protective “canopy” pre-Flood filtering out radiation; or simply God’s chosen design in that era.

The Flood & God’s Regret

[72:26] “Did God regret the flood?”

• God didn’t “regret” as in making a mistake; He was grieved by sin’s effects, but His actions were still righteous and necessary.

“Kill” vs. “Murder” Commandments

[73:54]

• “Murder” is the correct reference; Old Testament law distinguished justified killing (e.g., defense, war, execution) from murder (premeditated, unlawful).
• "Eye for an eye" is a limitation on personal vengeance—not a command for retaliation.

The Passover & Judgment on Children

[75:48] “Why did God kill Egypt’s firstborn if He doesn’t punish kids for parents’ sins?”

• Judgment fell only on those who rejected God’s provision (the Passover lamb’s blood); the choice was offered to all.
• The plague illustrates parental consequences, not arbitrary divine harshness.

Genesis Chronology – The Tower of Babel

[78:55] “Why do Genesis 10 and 11 seem out of order regarding languages?”

• Hebrew narrative often lays out a summary, then circles back for a detailed story (cf. Genesis 1–2 structure).
• Genesis 10 lists nations post-scattering; Genesis 11 explains how languages and nations were formed at Babel.

Job, Suffering, and Spiritual Warfare

[83:00] “Are hardships spiritual warfare—God versus Satan?”

• All suffering ties back to the spiritual realm and sin, but not all is a direct attack by Satan—sometimes a result of brokenness in a fallen world.

Priesthood—Why Did Jesus Not Come from Levi?

[83:44]

• Jesus is a priest in the “order of Melchizedek” (Genesis, Hebrews), not Aaron—the only priest who could be both priest and king, and needed no sacrifice for himself.

Polygamy in the Bible

[88:11]

• God did not condone polygamy; the Bible honestly records flaws and the negative consequences of disobedience.

Animal Sacrifice

[88:41]

• Animal sacrifice illustrated the death penalty of sin and foreshadowed Christ’s ultimate sacrifice, not meant as permanent atonement.

“Where Two or Three Gathered”—Matthew 18:20

[89:30]

• Misquoted passage: context is about church discipline, not about God’s general presence; it means God supports those confronting unrepentant sin with His authority.

Pharaoh’s Hardened Heart

[92:07]

• God “hardened” what Pharaoh already decisively chose; He made Pharaoh’s self-imposed stubbornness permanent.

Jesus’ Ministry—Why Secrecy About Miracles?

[93:01]

• Timing and fulfillment of prophecy required discretion; public acclaim at the wrong moment would have derailed Christ’s ultimate mission.

Circumcision & Related Symbols

[93:42]

• Physical circumcision was for Jewish identification; spiritual circumcision (“heart”) means internal dedication to God.

Hell, Sheol, and Eternal Judgment

[94:50]

• Hell is biblically real, permanent, and conscious. Sheol was commonly understood as the realm of the dead but should not be conflated with purgatory.

Hearing God’s Voice—Why Not Audibly?

[96:08]

• In the past, God spoke through prophets and direct messages; today, He speaks primarily through Scripture and the “still small voice” (the Spirit’s prompting).

Miscellaneous / YouTube Questions

[97:37]

• Prayer Journaling: Optional; can help some, but spoken prayer is fine.
• Two Forbidden Trees: Separate trees—Tree of Life, Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
• Fasting: A spiritual discipline (“Fasting causes a certain level of clarity spiritually, that’s why it’s so important...” [99:24])

MEMORABLE QUOTES

• “You will never be able to create wealth if you spend more of your time focusing on what you don’t have instead of focusing on what you do have.” — James, [65:45], on both Genesis and practical life

• “There is a reward that comes from self denial within the context of marriage... and I would not have it any other way.” — James, [36:55]

• “God’s track record is perfect.” — James, [48:42]

• "We're so honored to serve you...I just wish you would know how much we love you and how much of an honor it is...that you might grow in your walk with the Lord.” — James, [102:18]

• “Pastor James is very smart, and you heard him say himself, there are things he doesn’t know.” — Caitlin, [103:24] — on not being discouraged at what you don’t understand yet.

KEY RESOURCES & ENCOURAGEMENT

• “Dig Deeper” — verse-by-verse commentaries available online alongside daily reading.
• James Kaddis Bible Studies: jamescadiz.com — Audio and video on whole-Bible teaching and topical questions.
• Book of Revelation — Mentioned new resource available, especially for connecting OT and NT.
• Encouragement to intercede & pray for Erika, her team, and the Biblein365 community.

CONCLUDING BLESSING

[104:25–105:41]

James closes with a prayer for the entire community—covering protection, encouragement, wisdom, and unity, underscoring the spiritual battles faced by all members.

“I want to ask you guys to [pray for the team]. And I also want to say this...We will forever be grateful for the honor and the privilege that we have to bring this to you, that you might be able to grow in your walk with the Lord.” — James [102:00]

EPISODE STRUCTURE REFERENCE

| Segment | Time | |---------------------------------------------------|-----------| | Opening, Prayer, Introductions | 01:35–06:28 | | About Bible Reading Plan (Order, Strategy) | 06:28–10:49 | | Lifestyle Q&A / Entry-Level Questions | 10:49–47:56 | | Deeper Scriptural (Genesis focused) Q&A | 51:48–105:41 |

For listeners new and seasoned alike, this episode offers empowering answers and points everyone to an active, ongoing relationship with the Word of God, the local Christian community, and the Lord Himself.