Surprising God

A podcast about open theism and being children of a kenotic God.

Does Love Trust All Things or Believe All Things? 01/08/2026

Does Love Trust All Things or Believe All Things? The love passage of 1 Corinthians 13 says that love means to trust. Some translations say love "believes all things." Why the different translations? Which is right? What difference does it make? Dan discusses... Episode 44 YouTube Channel: Sermon: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/39664120

Does God Do Everything for Us? A Look at 1 Corinthians 15:10 11/27/2025

Does God Do Everything for Us? A Look at 1 Corinthians 15:10 Grab your favorite brand of spinach and join Dan Kent as he explores 1 Corinthians 15:10, where Paul says that he is what he is because of God's grace. Does this mean everything Paul is and everything Paul does is actually God acting through Paul? Dan discusses. Episode 43 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/39192765

What Does Grammar Say About God? 10/29/2025

What Does Grammar Say About God? Dan Kent tries to show why grammar might be more interesting than your school teachers led you to believe. Episode 42 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/38833835

What is Theological Memoir? 10/25/2025

What is Theological Memoir? Dan Kent tries to define Theological Memoir. Episode 41 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/38779485

Law and Loathing: What Calvin Gets Right and Wrong About the First Function of the Law 10/17/2025

Law and Loathing: What Calvin Gets Right and Wrong About the First Function of the Law Dan Kent looks at Calvin's claim that the first function of the Law is to convince us of our weakness and sin. Episode 40 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/38621385

What Does Jesus Mean by "Apart from me you can do nothing"? 10/08/2025

What Does Jesus Mean by "Apart from me you can do nothing"? Dan Kent looks at John 15:5. What does it mean when Jesus tells his disciples: "apart from me you can do nothing"? Does that mean God does everything through us? Episode 39 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/38517945

RC Sproul and His Rotten Hermeneutic and Atonement Theology 09/07/2025

RC Sproul and His Rotten Hermeneutic and Atonement Theology Dan Kent considers RC Sproul's self-loathing and how that might have influenced the development of his theology—including his claim: "What we are saved from, in Biblical terms of salvation, is God Himself." Episode 38 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/38119820

When is the Will Free? Peter van Inwagen Enters the Chat 08/14/2025

When is the Will Free? Peter van Inwagen Enters the Chat Dan Kent breaks down Peter van Inwagen's classic article "When is the Will Free," highlighting how the article exposes common problems with the academic attempt to understand free will—especially the attempt to prove or disprove its reality. Episode 37 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/37817410

Does Open Theism Collapse Under the Weight of Psalm 139? 07/29/2025

Does Open Theism Collapse Under the Weight of Psalm 139? Andrew Wilson claims that Psalm 139 poses and "enormous challenge" for open theists, as it claims that God knows all the days formed for me, even days that are still to come. Dan shows why this argument poses little challenge at all to open theists. Episode 36 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/37596220

What is the Future of Process Theism? 07/24/2025

What is the Future of Process Theism? David Ray Griffin casts a prophetic vision for process theism. In the clearing fog of the future, he sees it ascending the throne of contemporary theology—anointed by theologians, robed by scientists, and crowned by the zeitgeist. Is he right? Dan Kent reflects... Episode 35 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/37538685

God Works? Only Open Theism Says Yes. 07/15/2025

God Works? Only Open Theism Says Yes. What does it mean to say that God "works all things according to the purposes of his will"? How can we understand God clocking in for a shift in his sovereign occupation? Episode 34 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/37419330

Did Open Theism Break Norman Geisler's Heart? 07/10/2025

Did Open Theism Break Norman Geisler's Heart? Dan considers Norman Geisler's resignation from the ETS after his failed attempt to oust Greg Boyd, John Sanders, and Clark Pinnock. Episode 33 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/37360700

Can God Actually Rest? Can God Sabbath? 05/15/2025

Can God Actually Rest? Can God Sabbath? Dan considers what it might mean for a God who sustains everything... to rest. Episode 32 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/36585075

If Love is Risky, How Can the Triune God Be Love? 04/17/2025

If Love is Risky, How Can the Triune God Be Love? Dan considers the risks of love. Episode 31 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/36204805

Only Open Theism Makes Sense of Miracles 04/15/2025

Only Open Theism Makes Sense of Miracles Dan talks about miracles. Episode 30 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/36152370

What Would Moses Think of Calvin's View of the Law? 04/13/2025

What Would Moses Think of Calvin's View of the Law? Calvin says the primary role of the Law is to humble our hearts, which are blinded and drunk with pride. Is that right? Dan throws shade. Episode 29 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/36116785

Can God Give a New Will Without Creating a New Person? 04/01/2025

Can God Give a New Will Without Creating a New Person? Calvin talks about God giving us a new will. Is this possible? Isn't a person, when you get down to it, simply a will in a body? Episode 28 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/35963470

What Does the Worst Movie Line Ever Say About Calvinism? 12/10/2024

What Does the Worst Movie Line Ever Say About Calvinism? How does Calvin protect the idea of meritorious reward under the thumbs of his all-controlling God? Episode 27 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/34357680

Open Theism in the Church Fathers? 08/01/2024

Open Theism in the Church Fathers? As I build an aggragate argument for open theism in the early church I thought I'd share a couple gems with you here. The first is from The Epistle to Diognetus. The second is from Irenaeus's "Against Heresies." Enjoy! YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 26 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/32388362

A Courage Worse than Cowardice? 07/17/2024

A Courage Worse than Cowardice? Paul Helseth says that "true courage" is knowing God has your death all planned out and facing every moment knowing nothing depends on you. Is that right? Dan doesn't think so. What do YOU think? YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 25 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/32183942

Does Plausibility and Beauty Matter in Our Doctrine of God? 06/26/2024

Does Plausibility and Beauty Matter in Our Doctrine of God? Does plausibility and beauty matter in our doctrine of God? Mark Talbot says "no." To him, all that matters is what we find in the Bible. But is this enough? I offer FIVE problems with Talbot's perspective. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 24 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/31905017

Greg Boyd: Evolving as an Open Theist 05/03/2024

Greg Boyd: Evolving as an Open Theist This conversation covered a great deal of topics, and the Surprising God Think Tank did not disappoint! From his time as a Calvinist, to his controversy around open theism, to his current mindset about God and free will, Greg gets to the heart of it all! YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 23 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/31120653

If Love Requires Free Choice, How Could a Baby Get Into Heaven? 04/02/2024

If Love Requires Free Choice, How Could a Baby Get Into Heaven? If love is not love unless it is freely chosen—which is pretty central for many open theists—then how can babies go to heaven? Dan takes the case. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 22 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/30652528

Alan Rhoda on Open Theism 03/09/2024

Alan Rhoda on Open Theism One model to understand all the perspectives about God's foreknowledge? Alan Rhoda sits down with the Surprising God think tank to discuss his new book on Open Theism (you can check it out HERE: ). You can order Alan Rhoda's new book here: Read more of Alan's thoughts here: YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 21 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/30297838

Is Power Fundamentally Social? 03/07/2024

Is Power Fundamentally Social? Dan looks at another argument in Thomas Jay Oord's new book: The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence. Oord takes the premises: • Power is fundamentally social (it must be exercised on something). • Power does not exist in absolute isolation and he infers: • If God once existed without creation, that God had no power. • If that God had no power, that God could not have created anything. Does this argument work? Dan shares his initial doubts. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 20 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/30272213

Can BOTH God AND God's People Exert Power in Creation? Digging in to Thomas Oord's New Book 02/24/2024

Can BOTH God AND God's People Exert Power in Creation? Digging in to Thomas Oord's New Book Dan looks at an argument in Thomas Jay Oord's new book: The Death of Omnipotence and Birth of Amipotence. If it's true that "To exist is to exert power," what if we claim that God exerts all power? It seems to lead to the following disjunct: either (1) we do not exist or (2) we are God. Dan thinks through some potential problems with this line of thought. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 19 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/30091668

Does Open Theism "Bring God Down to the Human Level"? 02/21/2024

Does Open Theism "Bring God Down to the Human Level"? Dan looks at the potential arrogance of open theism in light of the good news of incarnation. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 18 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/30042758

The Improvisational God. What Improv Might Teach Us About God's Creation. The Samuel Tanner Interview. 02/11/2024

The Improvisational God. What Improv Might Teach Us About God's Creation. The Samuel Tanner Interview. The Surprising God Think Tank welcomes Samuel Tanner to discuss how improv might inform us about how God might perform sovereignly over his living creation. You can connect with Samuel Tanner at his website: YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 17 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Surprising God on X: Facebook: Dan on X: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/29892948

Anthropomorphism Problems: Do We Learn Anything About God From Jesus? 11/30/2023

Anthropomorphism Problems: Do We Learn Anything About God From Jesus? Dan wrestles with Ardel Caneday and Michael Horton about what can be known about God. YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 16 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Twitter: Facebook: Twitter: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/28875678

Deep Questions with Joshua L Rasmussen 10/28/2023

Deep Questions with Joshua L Rasmussen The Surprising God Think Tank welcomes Joshua L. Rasmussen in where we talk about everything from God's being, human consciousness, divine revelation, sin, and SO MUCH MORE! You can learn more about Joshua at Pick up Joshua's book YOU can join future Surprising God conversations at ! Episode 15 YouTube Channel: Dan's books: Send Questions To: Twitter: Facebook: Twitter: /episode/index/show/21cff55e-730d-4e9b-bee4-af59d8175778/id/28449620

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