Theology for the Rest of Us

Latest Episodes:

138: What is Covenant Theology? Aug 16, 2016

Show notes

There are two primary frameworks used by most Protestants today to interpret Scripture: Covenant Theology and Dispensationalism.

In this episode, Kenny talks about both frameworks of theology, giving us a brief overview of their histories and the key contrasting points between the two systems. Then Kenny dives into the nuts and bolts of Covenant Theology, highlighting that this system is founded upon using the theological concept of a “covenant” as an organizing principle for Christian theology.

Kenny specifically explains the primary covenants that God uses to relate to people: the Covenant of Works, which was established with Adam in the Garden of Eden and applies to humanity by default, and the Covenant of Grace, which is the covenant God uses to interact with and govern His people, the people of faith. (Note: There is a third covenant that Kenny mentions in this episode, but plans to elaborate upon that covenant in a future separate episode.)

Covenant theologians assert that covenants in the Old Testament are an extension or manifestation of one of the overarching covenants, either the Covenant of Works or the Covenant of Grace.

137: What Should We Think of the Jewish People, Being that they Rejected Jesus? Aug 13, 2016

Show notes

We know that the Jewish people were God’s chosen people, the nation that God chose to use as His instrument to bring forth the Messiah. This is a big deal that cannot be overstated. But many Jewish people in the first century rejected Jesus, and many more contemporary Jews reject Jesus as well.

In this episode, Kenny answers the question: What should we, as Christians, think of the Jewish people, and how should we feel towards them, in light of the fact that they rejected Jesus?

136: What Does It Mean to be Confessional? Aug 11, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, Kenny answers the question, “What does it mean to be confessional?” In essence, Kenny explains how subscribing to, or fully affirming, an historical confession can be helpful in our faith and church governance.

135: What is the Unforgivable Sin? Aug 10, 2016

Show notes

Many people have asked their pastors and church leaders about the topic of the “unpardonable sin” that Jesus talks about in Matthew 12:31-32. In that passage Jesus makes it clear that blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is an unforgivable sin.

Various people throughout church history have given different opinions, claiming that various sins fall into this category of “unforgiven” sins, with some of those asserting that suicide is one of the sins in this category. However, as we examine the Scripture, we see that this “unpardonable” sin has more to do with a person’s state of mind, and less to do with specific or particular behaviors.

In this episode, Kenny dives into the context of Matthew 12 in order to give us insight into this question. There are several views of this passage but the view that seems most consistent with the rest of the New Testament is the idea that the only sin that God will not forgive is unbelief. The very nature of unbelief indicates that God cannot forgive it. The unpardonable sin is simply the complete and final rejection of Jesus Christ as the Messiah.

134: What Is the Prosperity Gospel Movement? Why Is It Dangerous? Aug 09, 2016

Show notes

What is the prosperity gospel movement? Why is it so popular? Why is it so dangerous? With the rise of this so-called ” gospel” movement, it is very important to answer these questions.

In this episode, Kenny clearly defines the prosperity gospel movement and its most extreme form, wherein preachers claim that God wants all Christians to always experience good things, mainly to be financially wealth. Many contemporary preachers would lead you to believe that your enjoyment and your financial resources are God’s #1 priority… but His #1 priority is not you!

God is consumed with His own glory and His own fame… that should also be our #1 priority. Misunderstanding this truth can lead people to continually cultivate a desire for something(s) that may or may not be what God wants for you.

The prosperity gospel is consumed with material blessings, which cultivates desires in us that will ultimately lead to “ruin and destruction” but right Gospel preaching leads people to being willing to sacrifice all for the glory and fame of God.

Highlighted Passages

– Proverbs 30:7-9

– 1 Timothy 6:6-10

133: What Does It Mean to Have a Seared Conscience? Is It Irreversible? Aug 05, 2016

Show notes

What does it mean to have a seared conscience? And, maybe more importantly, is this condition irreversible? Or once you have a seared conscience, is that the final condition of your soul?

In this episode, Kenny addresses a listener question about our consciences and how sin impacts our souls. Kenny uses simple illustrations from his recent experiences with both his air conditioning repairmen and his dentist to explain how sin numbs our souls and impacts our spiritual health.

Highlighted Passages

1 Timothy 4:1-2

Ecclesiastes 3:11

Romans 2:15-16

132: Is the Bible Trustworthy? with Kenneth Freire Aug 01, 2016

Show notes

In this episode, our host Kenny interviews his personal friend Kenneth Freire about the trustworthiness of the Bible and the importance of shaping our lives around the core values we see in Scripture. They also talk about the importance of allowing the Bible to be our ultimate authority when determining our beliefs.

Kenneth Freire has proven to be an expert in the arenas of theology, apologetics, Christian worldview, and leadership development. He gives us three primary reasons why the Bible ought to be trusted:

1- Jesus substantiated the Scriptures.

2- The reliability of the New Testament manuscripts.

3- The living and active nature of the Bible.

131: Is Déjà vu a Spiritual Experience? Jul 30, 2016

Show notes

Déjà vu is a French term that literally means “already seen” and refers to a phenomenon that many people have claimed to experience wherein they experience having a strong sensation that an event, that is currently being experienced, has already been experienced at some point in the past.

So this begs the question: Is this phenomenon a spiritual experience? Is this experience, in some way, God speaking to us or guiding us?

In this episode, Kenny highlights both the scientific and metaphysical explanations for this phenomenon. Kenny also addresses the wrong assumption and false belief that this phenomenon could somehow be evidence for reincarnation (see Hebrews 9:27-28). Kenny also gives us a great reminder that the only spiritual experience that we ought to be seeking is the cultivation of personal friendship and intimate communion with the Holy Spirit.

130: Was Job Suicidal? Jul 28, 2016

Show notes

Suicide is a controversial topic, as well as a sensitive one for many people, therefore we ought to not be flippant as we dialogue about the subject. With that stated, we know that suicidal thoughts and tendencies are very real in the minds and emotions of many people.

As we examine the Bible, we sometimes see Biblical characters venting or lamenting, and sometimes they even seem suicidal. In this episode, Kenny dives into one specific Bible character that some people say seems suicidal; that is the Old Testament man named Job, whom suffered greatly after God gave Satan permission to attack Job.

After facing much pain and suffering, Job certainly seemed to be “done with life” but to say that he was suicidal doesn’t quite seem fair. Many times Job vented his frustrations to God, he lamented, and he even wrongly cursed the day of his birth, but many times Job would later acknowledge God’s sovereign hand and God’s right to determine when Job would die. Job often acknowledged the power and the majesty of God, which demonstrates that he still trusted God, even in the face of his incredible pain and his feelings of despair.

129: Does The Bible Support Slavery? Jul 27, 2016

Show notes

Some people claim that the Bible supports slavery; or that it does not say enough in condemning the institution of slavery. Are those people right? In addition, many of those same people claim that the Bible’s stance on slavery proves that it is an antiquated irrelevant book. Are they right?

In this episode, Kenny dives into the topic of slavery, starting off with the clear Biblical condemnation of any act of selling a human and/or treating any person like property (see Exodus 21:16), so to say that the Bible does not condemn slavery is simply inaccurate.

Then Kenny specifically contrasts and highlights the distinction between the ancient Roman practice of slavery that would have surrounded the writers of the New Testament and the modern forms of slavery that we today are much more familiar with, such as the African slave trade of the 17th and 18th centuries. Understanding the historical context gives you better insight into the passages of the New Testament that relate to slavery.

Kenny finishes the episode with a quick examination of the Apostle Paul’s most intimate letter, his letter to his friend Philemon, which gives us deeper understanding into the Apostle Paul’s expectations of slave-owners in the first century.

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