Church Theology

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?

Kirk was privileged to sit down for a conversation with one of CrossWay Milwaukee's missionaries, Jeff, who serves in Albania. In this episode, we get to learn more about Jeff and his family, how the Lord called them to cross-cultural missions, what their ministry in Albania looks like, and ways we can be praying for them.

Jeff and Meredith received the call to missions while they were members of our church, and while Jeff was serving here as an elder. CrossWay Milwaukee is proud to be their sending church. Jeff and Meredith currently work with local Albanian Christians to help evangelize the lost and establish indigenous self-sustaining churches. Their ultimate goal to see the gospel spread to other surrounding regions.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan explore the importance of reading scripture according to its original, historical context before moving to our own ("Their World First"). How does understanding the historical context of scripture help us read the Bible more faithfully?

In this episode we talk about the importance of our overall disposition to scripture when it comes to Bible interpretation. Namely, we must place ourselves under the authority and scrutiny of scripture. In this way, scripture is like no other book we read. It "reads" us just as we read it. And this disposition is of vital importance if we are to read and understand scripture rightly. Reading scripture is not merely an intellectual exercise, but a moral, spiritual, and religious one.

We're kicking off a new series on how to read and understand the Bible. In this inaugural episode, we overview the "pathway" we should take if we are to interpret the Bible properly and faithfully.

Kirk and Dan finish out their series through Revelation with some reflections on the final passage, Revelation 22:6b-21. Finally, the end with some overall observations and takeaways on the book as a whole.

Revelation 21:9-22:6a presents John's vision of the new creation -- God's new Jerusalem, new temple, and new Eden. In this episode, Kirk and Dan walk through some of the overall details of this passage (0:00-46:05). Then Kirk closes the podcast with some application reflections (46:05-1:03:15).

In this episode, Dan has Kirk walk us through Revelation 20:11-20:8, the visions of the Great White Throne judgment and the introduction of the new creation.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan walk us through the three scenes of Revelation 19:11-21. This passage zooms in on the return of Christ at his second coming to judge and destroy the two beasts and those who align with them.

In Revelation 17:1-18, we saw a vision of Babylon, or the Great Prostitute's, judgment. In this episode, Kirk and Dan continue with part 2 of that judgment in Revelation 18:1-19:10. Whereas in chapter 17, the Harlot's judgment was depicted in visionary form, now in 18:1-19:10 we hear a chorus of songs -- both lament and praise -- in response to Babylon's fall.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan walk through the vision of Revelation 17:1-18, depicting the Great Prostitute, or Babylon, who rides on the beast with its seven heads (kings) and ten horns (kings).

In this episode, Kirk walks us through the bowl judgments in Revelation 15:5-16:21. We consider the ways this passage communicates the outpouring of God's righteous vengeance on the oppresses of his people and unrepentant sinful humanity.

In this episode, Dan joins Kirk to lead us through an overview of the entire section, Revelation 11:19-15:4, on the seven visions ("And I saw..." x7). First, Dan gives us some overview of the section, helping us get our bearings. And then we read through the entire passage with some commentary and drama along the way.

Kirk and Dan tackle the last 3 "and I saw" visions of Revelation 11:19-15:4. These three, along with the two visions of Revelation 14:1-13, unveil to us the "end game," the contrasting final destinies, for those who worship the lamb vs. those who worship the beast. We are empowered for patient endurance as we look forward to the full completion and final manifestation of God's salvation through judgment.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan cover the second monster and his mark in Revelation 13:11-18, the sealed 144,000 who sing the song of the redeemed in 14:1-5, and the message of the three angels -- a message of doom and reversal for those marked by the monster -- in 14:6-13.

In this episode, Dan joins Kirk to talk through Revelation 12, as well as some of our overall approach to handling this section spanning from Revelation 11:19-15:4. We discuss the structure and plot of this section, as well as work through some additional details from the three scenes in chapter 12.

Revelation 11 is somewhat infamous for its mention of two witnesses who will issue plagues and destroy people with fire from their mouths. In addition, in vv.1-2 we get the mention of a temple and the trampling of its outer court and the "holy city." What is this all referring to? Is it referring to a future, rebuilt temple in Jerusalem, and two literal witnesses in the "end times"? Or is this, as I will argue, symbolism of the church?

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"Where the preaching of repentance, with judgments alone as evidence, had failed (Rev 11:6; cf. Rev 8:2-9:21), when fulfilled in witness to the point of death (11:7-10), participating in Jesus' witness and victory through and over death (11:12), the prophetic ministry of the church will effect the conversion of the nations to God (11:13). This is the heart of the revelation contained in the scroll (10:1-11), the heart of Revelation's message: that the church redeemed from all nations is called to suffering witness which, by virtue of its participation in Jesus' sacrificial witness, can bring the nations to repentance of idolatry and conversion to the true God. In this way--as Jesus' witness is extended universally in the life and death, as well as the preaching of the church--God's kingdom can come to the nations as salvation, rather than judgement."

--Richard Bauckham

In this episode, Kirk covers some overview material on the trumpet judgments and apocalyptic literature, and then dives into the theme of prayer in the book of Revelation as highlighted in Revelation 8:2-5.

In this short book, originally delivered as an oral address in 1911, Princeton theologian and professor Benjamin B. Warfield addresses his seminarians in anticipation of their upcoming theological studies He stresses to them the importance of not divorcing theological study from functional, religious (or what we might call "spiritual") experience.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan quickly survey and review the seal judgments of chapters 6-7. Then they spend the bulk of the episode answering the question, "Who are the 144,000 from chapter 7:1-8?" arguing that they are symbolic of the church in 7:9ff.

Kirk and Dan sit down to talk about some interpretive reminders as we approach the book of Revelation, and then take a look at Revelation 5:1-14 through the lens of various theological categories.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan discuss some additional matters related to the interpretation of Revelation 4. How should we understand the phrase "after this" used twice in verse 1, and what are some of the theological debates / discussions surrounding this phrase? Second, we take a closer look at the twenty elders and the four living creatures. Who or what might they be, and what role do they serve in this passage? Next, we consider briefly the theme of worship across the book. Who do you worship — God or the beast? And lastly, we consider the theme of heaven as God's very temple, and how this reaches its climax in chapters 21-22.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan look at the final message to the seven churches, the message to Laodicea. They discuss the nature of the Laodicean's sin and how we might fight its temptations through the promises of Christ.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan talk about Revelation 3:7-13. Some of the things discussed: What do we know about the background to Philadelphia? Does v.10 support the idea of a pre-tribulation rapture? What does it mean for Christ to refer to the Father as "my God"? And finally, we examine the promise in v.9 that those of the "synagogue of Satan" will one day worship Jesus.

Dan joins Kirk back on the podcast to discuss Revelation 3:1-6. We talk about what was likely going on in the church in Sardis, and what that same sort of sin might look like in our own lives today, as well as how the promises motivate us to "overcome."

We continue in our series, looking now at Revelation 2:18-29. We begin by thinking a bit more about the call to "hold fast" to the "[Christ's] works," and then dig a bit deeper into the description of the false teaching as well as the OT background to this promise that we will reign with Christ. Finally, we close by considering some of the practical questions about what it looks like to interact lovingly and winsomely when we face friction with the world on account of faithfulness.

It's that time of year when people walk around with ash on their foreheads and eat fish on Fridays. But wait, why don't we practice Lent? Sometimes folks in our church, especially those who may have come from a Roman Catholic or more liturgical protestant tradition, will ask me this question. So I thought I'd sit down and record an answer for them.

On Sunday (Feb. 21, 2021) Dan will be preaching on Christ's message to the church in Pergamum in Revelation 2:12-17. So in this episode, in anticipation of that upcoming sermon, we spend time modeling how we might interrogate the passage with questions to try to gain a better understanding of it.

Kirk and Dan record some material on their drive to a Charles Simeon Trust workshop. (Be on the lookout for the part when they go through the Starbucks drive-through). In this episode, they talk about Christ's message in Revelation 2:8-11 to the church in Smyrna.

In this episode, we look at the uses of "conquer," "overcome," or "victory" across John's writings, but especially the book of Revelation. What is the meaning of this call to "conquer"? And how does it shape our understanding of the book and the nature of the Christian life?

In this episode, Kirk looks further at Revelation 2:1-7, diving into some additional matters for our consideration as we reflect on its importance for our lives and our understanding of the rest of the book.

Dan and Kirk dive deeper into the details of the vision of the son of man in Revelation 1:9-20 to ask, "How does this vision -- and its "big" view of Jesus -- empower us for faithful endurance?"

In this episode, Kirk and Dan talk about some additional interpretive and theological matters we encounter in Revelation 1:1-8. We consider how this passage introduces some key themes that set the tone for the rest of the book. We ask, what is an Old Testament allusion and how do we go about attending to these in the book of Revelation? Finally, we reflect on the meaning of the passage's message for our every day lives.

After a long hiatus (thanks COVID...), we're back with a new series of episodes on Revelation. These episodes are intended to supplement our sermon series working through the book of Revelation at CrossWay Community Church. We begin in these first two episodes by discussing some introductory matters to the book.

After a long hiatus (thanks COVID...), we're back with a new series of episodes on Revelation. These episodes are intended to supplement our sermon series working through the book of Revelation at CrossWay Community Church. We begin in these first two episodes by discussing some introductory matters to the book.

I sit down with my old high school buddy, and now Leukemia-survivor, to ask what he means when he says that he wishes everyone would have a "successful brush with death" and that "getting cancer was the best thing that ever happened to me."

In this episode, Kirk sits down with pastor and political theologian Jonathan Leeman to talk Church and politics. They discuss, what is the relationship between church and state? Religion and politics? And how do we love those with whom we disagree politically?

In this episode, Kirk sits down with professor and well-regarded church historian, Dr. Scott Manetsch, to discuss what church life was like in Reformation-era Geneva under the ministry the John Calvin.

In this episode, Kirk sits down with professor and well-regarded church historian, Dr. Scott Manetsch, to discuss what church life was like in Reformation-era Geneva under the ministry the John Calvin.

Kirk and Dan close out their series on Bible translations by dispelling some misconceptions about Bible translations, as well as laying out some practical tips for making use of translations in your study of scripture.

Today Kirk and Dan talk about "Textual Criticism," and how some of the differences that lie behind the various translations actually have to do with different textual bases of what is being translated.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan illustrate some of the philosophical (or methodological) differences we find in the various translations. They also discuss some of the pros and cons of these differences.

Kirk and Dan continue their series on Bible translation by looking at the major reason for the differences in our available translations, namely, translation philosophy. We look at the difference between formal and dynamic equivalent methodologies, and where on the spectrum the various popular English translations tend to fall.

Kirk and Dan begin a new series on Bible translations. Today they talk about some introductory matters on Bible translations, as well as why this is an important topic for us to consider and understand.

Kirk and Dan conclude their series on Ecclesiastes by examining the meaning of the book as it applies to us today.

Kirk and Dan continue their discussion on the message of Ecclesiastes by exploring the book's "above the sun" statements as it gestures towards and ultimately reaches its conclusive instruction for us.

In this episode, Dan and Kirk continue their discussion on Ecclesiastes by looking at the message (or main claim, or argument) of the book. They discuss the meaning of "vanity" (hevel), as well as some of the primary themes throughout the book.

Kirk and Dan begin there series on the book of Ecclesiastes. In this episode they look at the method that Ecclesiastes uses to communicate its message, namely how it functions as a unique expression of wisdom literature.

Kirk and Dan continue their work on how to find a Biblical book's overall message by looking to the book of Philippians as a test case.

Kirk and Dan are gearing up to do a short series on Ecclesiastes. But before they do, they wanted to take a step back and ask, "What's the benefit of getting a Biblical book's big picture?" and "How do we do that?"

(This episode and the following will serve as an initial contribution to what will become an ongoing collection of episodes on How to Read the Bible.)

In this episode, Kirk and Dan conclude their discussion on the importance of doctrine and theology by finishing out talking about the hurdles we face along the way, as well as giving some practical tips and suggestions towards growing your discipline in theological learning.

Dan and Kirk continue their discussion on the importance of theology in the life of the believer and the life of the church. In this episode they talk about things like "theological triage" (or "dogmatic rank"), the Biblical spirit in which we are to hold to sound doctrine, as well as some initial hurdles we might face along the way.

In this episode, Kirk and Dan discuss "What is theology and why does it matter? Does it?"

Kirk and Dan continue their discussion on God's vision for the church by asking some diagnostic questions that help us consider what it looks like for us to pursue this vision in our own life.

In this episode Kirk and Dan continue their series on the concept of a "Church Theology" by digging into God's Biblical vision for the church. In the last two episodes we saw how God views the church, how he sees it. But now, what is God's vision for the church -- his desire for it and plan as it were to embody its calling and live out its mission?

Kirk and Dan continue their discussion on God's view of the church by now asking, "How does God's view of the church affect our own? And what does this mean for us practically when we adopt God's view?"

Church Theology is a podcast "on the church for the church." As such, we thought it'd be helpful to start off our podcast with an introduction series on that very idea of "church theology." We begin here in this episode by looking at the church, specifically God's view of the church and how that view should shape our own. In future episodes in this series we plan to look at God's vision for the church as well as the importance of the church's theology in living out that vision.

Announcing a new podcast, Church Theology: On the Church, For the Church. Join Kirk E. Miller and co-hosts as they dive into an array of topics, all the while asking, "How does this equip us for our mission as a church and as followers of Jesus?"