Church Theology

We're kicking-off a new series on, what are sometimes called, the ecumenical creeds. In today's episode, we begin with what is known as The Apostles' Creed. Along the way, we also answer questions like, what is a creed, and why do the creeds matter? Maybe your church recites The Apostles' Creed. But what does it mean to call Jesus God's Son? And what about that line about him descending to hell? We hope you will be encouraged as you dive deeper into this historic articulation of the church's faith!

Are you burdened by anxious thoughts? Does your mind race uncontrollably? Are you prone to ruminate? Maybe you are wearied with thoughts of hopelessness, self-deprecation, unpleasant mental images, or a range other unwanted thoughts. At some point or another, all of us experience some form of mental anguish or distress. In this episode, Esther Smith, seasoned counselor and author of A Still and Quiet Mind: Twelve Strategies for Changing Unwanted Thoughts, provides us a multi-faceted, Biblically-integrated approach for dealing with the battles in our minds.

Jesus taught that divorce "from the beginning ... was not so" and that those who divorce commit adultery. Yet he also added, "except for sexual immorality" (Mt 5:31-32; 19:3-9). And Paul says believers are "not bound" if their unbelieving spouse leaves them (1 Cor 7:15). These texts are source of much debate. And yet their implications are extremely pressing and practical for many. What does the Bible have to say about divorce, and if divorce any possibility of remarriage thereafter? New Testament scholar Andy Naselli joins Kirk to discuss these matters.

Richard Baxter was a 17th-century English Puritan pastor best known for his rigorous and methodical approach to pastoral care. What can we today learn from Baxter about pastoring, what it looks like to be pastored, and the nature of the Christian life experienced within the church. Church history professor, Tim Cooper, joins Kirk to talk about the legacy of Baxter for the church today.

Why does our church, and churches like ours, require people to be baptized before we will admit them as members of our church? Today Kirk is joined by Bobby Jamieson, associate pastor at Capitol Hill Baptist Church in Washington, D.C., to discuss the Biblical and theological reason for this practice.

What are some of the major differences between Roman Catholic and evangelical theology? And how do we assess these differences? How should we relate to our Roman Catholic friends, family members, and neighbors? Join us for this episode with Gregg Allison as we discuss these questions and more.

On April 24th, 2023 our church, CrossWay Community Church of Milwaukee will be voted into the EFCA's Forest Lakes District. But what is the EFCA (Evangelical Free Church of America)? And where did it originate? In order to help us better understand the EFCA heritage, Kirk interviewed Dr. David Gustafson who is currently writing a book on the history of the EFCA.

How did Paul think about resurrection, and what role did it play in his overall theological understanding? Kirk sits down for a conversation with retired professor, Dr. Richard B. Gaffin Jr., about Paul's theology of resurrection. We explore questions like, what is the connection between Christ's resurrection and ours? What is the relationship between Christ's resurrection and the ministry of the Spirit in our lives? What does Paul mean when he says that Jesus was "raised for our justification" (Rom 4:25)? And how does Christ's resurrection empower us for our mission as a church?

The Old Testament tells a unifying story of God working to restore his creation and establish his kingdom. This would finally happen permanently and irreversible at the end of history, the "last days." But the New Testament presents this time as already having dawned in the arrival of Christ. We are living in those "last days," as Peter said (Acts 2). Premier New Testament scholar, G.K. Beale, visits the Church Theology podcast to talk about the New Testament's "inaugurated eschatology,” or as George Eldon Ladd put it, "the presence of the future."

In this episode, Kirk sits down with New Testament scholar, Dr. Peter Orr, for a conversation on theology and major themes of Mark’s Gospel. We discuss the identity of Jesus, the so-called “Messianic Secret,” the meaning of the cross and discipleship in Mark, the role of the temple in Mark, and much, much more. We hope this conversation helps you better understand the Gospel of Mark, even as you read it for yourself!

The Bible presents two offices (or formal positions) within the local church: elders (also called overseers and pastors) and deacons, which means "servants." But what exactly are deacons? Who should serve as a church's deacons? How are deacons meant to function? And why are they so very, very important to the health and mission of a church? Matt Smethurst joins us to discuss these matters and more.

What does it mean to be pro-life? Is it simply being anti-abortion (pro-birth)? Or is it something more? Karen Swallow Prior joins us to share, not only why we as Christians oppose abortion, but also how the same ethic that forms this opposition entails consistent care for human life.

Jesus is the true and better Adam. He's our Passover Lamb whose death brings about a new Exodus. Indwelt by God's Spirit, Christ's church is the end-time temple of God. And on and on we could go. The Bible is littered with typologies, "prophetic patterns," that anticipate and find their fulfillment in Christ. But what exactly is typology, and how does it function? What are its underlying assumptions, the theological operating system if you will, on which it runs? And should we be imitating the apostles by practicing typological interpretation even today? Mitch Chase joins us to help us answer these questions.

Talk about "Christian nationalism" is quite the buzz right now. Many are currently decrying it. Some now though are readily embracing the label to champion it. So what exactly is Christian nationalism? And is it something we, as Christians, should be concerned about? Paul Miller answers, "yes," helping us understand why Christian nationalism is both bad for our neighbors and harmful to the church.

What are the so-called doctrines of grace? And what bearing do they have on our lives? Jeff Medders joins me to talk about Calvinism and the practical ways it ought to manifest in those who believe it.

Not only do we work to apply the scriptures, but the scriptures do their work on us. So how do we foster a disposition and habit of regularly subjecting ourselves to the scripture's slow, ordinary, but supernaturally transformative work?

Each of us inevitably approaches scripture with a set of preconceived ideas, beliefs, outlooks, and assumptions. These can be theological convictions, social-political sensibilities, cultural baggage, or even experiences that have shaped us. How do we make sure we let scripture speak on its own terms and challenge these frameworks, and avoid imposing ideas onto the text?

Although a passage of scripture's message doesn't change and is located in the author's intent, its application will be manifold, not only as we tease out its various implications, but also as it comes to bear on different contexts, settings, times, and peoples.

Across history, Christians have worshiped God in their homes as families on a daily basis. What is family worship, what does it look like, and what are some practical instructions for how we might go about implementing it in our own homes? In today's episode, we talk to Donald Whitney, a professor of Biblical spirituality, about the practice of family worship.

So now that we understand the overarching storyline of scripture centered in Christ, how do we go about interpreting specific texts in light of it? In this episode, we conclude the C.H.R.I.S.T. acronym, a device to help us discern faithful connections to Christ.

So now that we understand the overarching storyline of scripture centered in Christ, how do we go about interpreting specific texts in light of it? In this episode, we continue unpacking the C.H.R.I.S.T. acronym, an easy-to-remember methodology for thinking about the ways various passages relate to Christ.

So now that we understand the overarching storyline of scripture centered in Christ, how do we go about interpreting specific texts in light of it? In this episode, we will introduce the C.H.R.I.S.T. acronym as an easy-to-remember methodology for thinking about the ways various passages relate to Christ.

If we are to read each portion of scripture in view of the broader story of scripture, then what is that bigger story? What is the overarching storyline of the Bible? In this episode we cover the next three epochs of that overarching story: Jesus' arrival, the church and her mission, and Christ's second coming.

If we are to read each portion of scripture in view of the broader story of scripture, then what is that bigger story? What is the overarching storyline of the Bible? In this episode, we cover the next three epochs of that overarching story: the initial form of the kingdom in Israel, the exile, and the prophets’ messages of warning and hope.

If we are to read each portion of scripture in view of the broader story of scripture, then what is that bigger story? What is the overarching storyline of the Bible? In this episode, we cover the first few epochs of that overarching story: creation, fall, and the covenants.

We contend that a proper reading of any passage of scripture will necessarily include interpreting it in light of the whole of scripture as centered in the Christ-event. But what is the basis for this position? And what are the errors involved in failing to read all of scripture in view of Christ on the one hand, or, on the other hand, spiritualizing the text and bypassing its original meaning as we get to Christ?

Mike turned to drugs and alcohol at around eleven or twelve years of age. Later in life, he would end up homeless, pursuing a life on the streets. But one day, God miraculously opened his eyes to the good news about Jesus. And he's never been the same. He's now a member of his church where he faithfully serves as a deacon.

Out of all the parts of the Bible, many find the Old Testament prophetic literature to be among some of the most difficult to read and understand. The prophets can feel incredibly distant, addressing unfamiliar historical situations. Their writings can feel bizarre, using imagery that's hard to understand, or even unruly—"Can someone provide me a roadmap to these books?" And yet Eric Tully argues that the prophetic writings serve as an important junction in between God's foundational activity in the Old Testament (think Genesis-Chronicles) and how God will finally resolve that story in Christ (the New Testament). If we want to understand the Old Testament and Jesus(!) we need to understand the prophets.

Have you ever been reading in the Old Testament and wondered, what does this have to do with the larger story? Or maybe it's never even occurred to you that the Old Testament even has a larger story! Well, in this episode, Kirk sits down with a premier Old Testament scholar, Stephen Dempster, author of the stellar book, Dominion and Dynasty, to talk specifically about the theology and storyline of the Hebrew Bible.

What does it mean and look like faithfully to preach the Bible itself rather than use the Bible as a launchpad for our own message? In this episode, Kirk sits down with seasoned pastor Mike Bullmore to talk about what's called "expository preaching" and why it's so important.

Have you ever read a passage from the Bible and wondered, what was the point of all that? Maybe you pick up some themes and ideas here or there from a passage, but you're unsure how it all fits together. Or maybe you've never thought to consider how a passage all fits together. In this episode, Kirk and Dan get back into their series on how to read the Bible, asking, after we've made all of our initial observations on a passage (e.g., tone, context, structure), then what? They talk about the need for understanding a passage's overall claim, message, or point.

Do you ever feel like the constant bombardment of technology and social media is making us dumber, or maybe even more foolish? Or does truth feel ever more elusive to you in an age of increasing options, viral conspiracy theories, and personally curated newsfeeds? How are we to navigate this post-truth world? Brett McCracken joins Kirk for a conversation about his most recent book, The Wisdom Pyramid: Feeding Your Soul in a Post-Truth World. Listen in as Brett gives us guidance on finding wisdom and feeding our souls amidst the information gluttony, perpetual novelty, and "look within" autonomy.

In today’s episode, Dan and I talk about skeletons and bridges. Well, kind of. We discuss one of the most important aspects of reading our Bibles well: understanding how a particular passage is organized in order to communicate its overall message.

Kirk and Dan talk about melodic line. Here we're talking about the overall message of a book that ties the whole and all its parts together. In this episode we talk about what the melodic line is, showing some examples from scripture. And then we talk about how can you go about discerning the melodic line, and what benefits does this yields to your reading of scripture.

In today's episode, we try to convince you never to read a Bible verse! Wait, what? That's right. Never read a Bible verse on its own, but always in context.

In this episode, we look at the matter of tone (and mood). What exactly do we mean by "tone"? And how does a passage's tone affect how we read and understand it?

The Bible is not one monolithic type of writing. Instead, it is made up of various type of writing styles called genres. So what are the different genres in scripture? And how do they impact how we read our Bibles?