The Word Without Walls Podcast
This is the first of several questions regarding baptism. A student wonders when a soul is regenerated, thinking about John the Baptist leaping in the womb. As we work through this question, let's consider what each person consists of (body, soul, and spirit), and how life begins. How integral is the Word of God in our lives? How do we know an infant is a child of God? When Peter says, "Baptism now saves you," what did he mean?
info_outline Student Questions: Questions about evilThe Word Without Walls Podcast
This episode's question concerns evil--How does God take evil and use it for good? Does that make it good? In working through this, we define what good, evil, and wickedness all mean. How is it that evil is a necessity in the world? How is wickedness different from evil?
info_outline Student Questions: Examples of Sin and SalvationThe Word Without Walls Podcast
In this episode, a student asks about how the flood narrative and Israel in Exodus connect with baptism, and demonstrate sin and salvation. In answering, we look at examples throughout the Bible of both the Old Adam, and those who are honest about their dependance on God. Can we also see examples throughout history?
info_outline Student Questions: GenealogyThe Word Without Walls Podcast
A student asks about the genealogy of Jesus as written in Matthew. How and why is it different from Luke? What are the point of genealogies in the Bible? What are important things to note, and what can we learn from them?
info_outline Student Questions: Best of All Possible Worlds?The Word Without Walls Podcast
I've often told my students (and you've probably heard in this podcast) that we're living in the best of all possible worlds. A student asks how this could be. I talk through this, including why there is suffering, and how we view the life that God has given us.
info_outline Student Questions: Freedom and Responsibility?The Word Without Walls Podcast
This student question is related to 2 Corinthians 3:16-18--what is the freedom that is being spoken of in this passage? In working through this question, we must consider, what worldview are we using as we are looking at the world? What is the essence of the image of God, regenerated in us? What would be a more helpful word to use when thinking about our own lives, rather than "freedom"?
info_outline Student Questions: Firstborn of Creation?The Word Without Walls Podcast
How is it that Jesus is the firstborn of all creation, as mentioned in Romans 8 and Colossians 1? Why do Jehovah's Witnesses use Colossians 1 as evidence that Jesus is not God? What does firstborn mean in the New Testament?
info_outline Student Questions: The Tree of the Knowledge of Good and EvilThe Word Without Walls Podcast
Several students have questions about the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil. Discussed in this episode are: Why are God's words regarding the tree considered law? Did Adam and Eve eat from the Tree of Life before the Fall? What about the language the devil uses to tempt Eve? As we look at this account from Genesis, you can also listen to a related episode on Genesis 3:6-7, found .
info_outline Student questions: Different worldviews?The Word Without Walls Podcast
A student asks about something I talk about in class a lot: different worldviews. Why is it problematic when we have only a one-dimensional worldview? Why does each person have conflicting thoughts? How can our worldview help seemingly contradictory Bible verses make sense? I refer to the and worldviews in this episode. Here are the links to have a visual of each model.
info_outline Student Questions: Vicarious Atonement?The Word Without Walls Podcast
A student asks what the vicarious atonement of Jesus means. In answering, we consider the demands of the law, biblical examples such as the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant, Abraham and Isaac, and (most importantly) Jesus and Barabbas. Recommended Bible passages are John 16 and 2 Corinthians 5:21.
info_outlineMany of us know this passage well, when Jesus commands us to take up our cross and follow Him. But what does that mean, and what does it look like? When Jesus says He will repay everyone for what they have done (v. 27), what does He mean? Shouldn't we be terrified by that?