Theology for the Curious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!It began with questions in a university lecture room. Before long, ministers were being driven from churches, congregations were splitting, pamphlets were flooding the streets and armed troops were facing one another across Dutch cities. Somewhere along the way, a dispute about predestination had become a struggle over who governed the church, who governed the nation — and perhaps even who governed history itself.At the centre of the storm was a theologian who had once been expected to defend the very doctrine he would later question. Jacob Arminius died before the controversy bearing his name reached its extraordinary climax, but his ideas survived him — carried forward by friends, politicians and theologians until the Dutch Republic stood perilously close to fracture. How did an argument about grace and election lead to soldiers in Utrecht, political prisoners in The Hague and theologians from across Europe gathering at Dordrecht? This week the Curious team begin the first of two parts on the history of Jacob Arminius and his ideas. The road to the Synod of Dort is considerably more dramatic than the five points it eventually produced.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/arminius-and-remonstrantshttps://christianhistoryinstitute.org/magazine/article/defender-of-gods-justiceWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Keith D Stanglin and Thomas H McCall—Jacob Arminius: Theologian Of Grace Roger E Olson—Arminian Theology – Myths and Realities Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Imagine that before the first moment of creation, every road history might take lay open before God. Every decision you could make. Every decision you would make if your circumstances were different. Every conversation that never happened, every opportunity never presented, every alternative history never lived. Now imagine that God knew them all — and chose to create this particular world. Suddenly the familiar questions about providence and human freedom become considerably more intriguing.But hidden inside that proposal is a question that is surprisingly difficult to escape. If God knows what a genuinely free person would choose before that person even exists, what makes that knowledge true? Somewhere between God’s sovereignty and our freedom lies one of Christian theology’s most ingenious attempts to hold the two together — and perhaps one of its greatest philosophical puzzles. It’s called Molinism, and once you understand the problem it is trying to solve, you may find yourself looking at providence rather differently. Join the curious Team this week as they take a nose dive into the key players and ideas behind MolinismFurther ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/molinism-101https://academic.oup.com/mind/article/131/522/459/6382285What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! James R White—The Potters Freedom William Lane Craig—The Only Wise GodSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!We trust God with tomorrow. We pray about decisions we haven’t yet made, circumstances we cannot control and dangers we cannot see. We take comfort from the belief that however uncertain the road ahead may appear to us, it is not uncertain to Him. But what if we have misunderstood that? What if some of tomorrow remains genuinely undecided — not simply from our perspective, but from God’s?It is an idea motivated by some deeply human questions about love, freedom, suffering and prayer. Yet follow it far enough and it begins to touch almost everything we believe about God. Can He be surprised? Can He discover something He did not previously know? Can He change His plans? And if the future contains possibilities rather than certainties, what does that mean for prophecy, providence and the promises on which Christians have staked their lives? In this episode, the curious team are joined by theologian Professor Bruce Ware to explore one of the most fascinating — and controversial debates about the nature of God: Open Theism.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles, for and against, that compliment this episode….https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/openness-theology-divine-omniscience/https://www.rep.routledge.com/articles/thematic/open-theism/v-1What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Bruce A. Ware—God’s Lesser Glory: The Diminished God of Open TheismGregory A. Boyd — God of the Possible: A Biblical Introduction to the Open View of GodSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Who did Christ actually die for? Was the cross intended to make salvation possible for everyone, or did it actually secure salvation for a particular people? Few theological questions have generated more thoughtful debate within the Reformed tradition than this one. Standing between classic Calvinism and Arminianism is a little-known but highly influential position called Amyraldism—an attempt to uphold both the universal offer of the gospel and God’s sovereign election without surrendering either.In this episode, the Curious team travel to seventeenth-century France and the Academy of Saumur to meet Moïse Amyraut, the theologian whose ideas would challenge the Reformed world for generations. We explore the doctrine of hypothetical universalism, why it appealed to so many, how it differs from both classic Calvinism and Arminianism, and why theologians such as Herman Bavinck and John Owen believed it ultimately weakened the certainty of Christ’s saving work. Whether you’ve never heard of Amyraldism or have wrestled with the doctrine of the atonement for years, this conversation will help you understand one of the most significant and enduring debates in Reformed theology.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://www.modernreformation.org/resources/articles/amyraldianismhttps://wm.wts.edu/listen/the-church-in-the-modern-age-amyraldism---11-of-37What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! John Owen—The Death of Death in the Death of ChristAnthony A. Hoekema—Saved by Grace Edited by David & Jonathon Gibson—From Heaven He Came and Sought Her: Definite Atonement in Historical, Biblical, Theological, and Pastoral Perspective Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What if one of the most influential worldviews shaping modern Christianity isn’t atheism—but a subtle belief that God exists while remaining safely at a distance? A God who created the universe with breathtaking precision, yet never interrupts it. A God who inspires morality but never performs miracles, answers prayer, or steps into history. It sounds reasonable. It feels sophisticated. In many ways, it has become the default assumption of modern Western culture. But is it biblical?In this episode, the Curious team explore the fascinating rise of Deism—the “Watchmaker God” of the Enlightenment—and ask why its influence continues to echo through our churches today. From Isaac Newton and Voltaire to Thomas Jefferson’s remarkable “Jefferson Bible,” we uncover how reason gradually displaced revelation and how a God of design became separated from a God of relationship. Most importantly, we contrast the distant architect of Deism with the living God of Scripture: the God who speaks, sustains, intervenes, became flesh in Jesus Christ, and continues to work in His creation today. If you’ve ever wondered whether Christianity is merely about believing in a Creator—or about knowing a present, active and redeeming God—this conversation is for you.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/field-guide-on-false-teaching-deismhttps://www.christianity.com/wiki/cults-and-other-religions/what-is-deism-what-are-deism-beliefs.htmlWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Jen Wilkin—None Like Him: 10 Ways God Is Different from Us (and Why That’s a Good Thing)John Piper—The Providence of GodSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!We all fight battles that other people can’t see. For some, it’s anxiety that never seems to quieten. For others, it’s the lingering effects of trauma, depression, grief or simply the relentless pressures of everyday life. Many Christians quietly wonder whether they should be coping better, praying harder or trusting God more. But what if those assumptions are part of the problem? What if the church could become a place where people no longer have to hide their struggles, but instead discover the hope of Christ through honest community and faithful care?In this deeply pastoral conversation, the Curious team sit down with pastor, counsellor and author Steve Midgley to explore how churches can respond to mental and emotional suffering with both biblical truth and genuine compassion. Together we discuss anxiety, stress, trauma, lament, the role of professional care, and how the gospel reshapes the way we understand suffering. Whether you’re walking through your own quiet battle, supporting someone who is, or simply wanting your church to become a place of greater grace and wisdom, this episode offers hope that is both realistic and deeply rooted in Scripture.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://bcuk.orghttps://www.cmf.org.ukWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Steve Midgley—Understanding TraumaMental Health and Your Church Kelly M. Kapic—You’re Only Human: How Your Limits Reflect God's Design and Why That's Good NewsSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Can I really believe the Bible? How do I know it’s reliable? Many people say they believe the Bible—but what exactly are they believing? Is Scripture only trustworthy when it speaks about salvation, or can it also be trusted when it records history, geography and the events of the real world? In an age when confidence in truth itself is being challenged, the doctrine of biblical authority has once again become one of the defining issues facing the church. If the Bible is only reliable where we choose it to be, who ultimately becomes the final authority—God or us?In this episode, the Curious team sit down with internationally respected church historian Professor John Woodbridge to explore one of evangelical Christianity’s most significant debates. Together they examine biblical authority, inspiration, infallibility and inerrancy, unpack the famous Rogers–McKim controversy, and ask whether denying inerrancy has deeper theological consequences than many imagine. Whether you’re wrestling with difficult questions or simply want a deeper confidence in God’s Word, this conversation will challenge, encourage and equip you.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/are-biblical-manuscripts-reliable/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/why-you-can-trust-your-bible/https://rts.edu/resources/how-we-know-we-can-trust-the-bible/What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! John D Woodbridge—Biblical Authority: Infallibility and Inerrancy in the Christian TraditionBenjamin B Warfield—The Inspiration and Authority of the BibleKevin DeYoung—Taking God At His Word Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Do we actually need God, or have we simply learned to live without him? Is faith genuinely transformative, or is it merely a comforting story we tell ourselves? And if meaning matters, do we create it for ourselves or discover something that was already there? In this final conversation, Pete and Tony venture into some of life’s deepest and most uncomfortable questions: Why believe anything at all? Why this God and not another? Why should Christianity’s claims be taken seriously when so many religions make competing promises?We also step into the questions that often stop people in their tracks. What do we make of difficult passages in the Bible that speak of violence, slavery, and divine judgment? Why does evil seem so persistent, and what do Christians mean when they talk about the devil? And perhaps most personally of all, if God is real, why does he often seem hidden? Why do so many sincere people search for answers and feel as though they find only silence? This episode doesn’t claim to settle every question, but it does invite listeners into an honest, open, and thoughtful exploration of faith, doubt, and the search for meaning.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://podcast.gospelinlife.com/e/the-hiddenness-of-god/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/life-without-god-weird/https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/the-problem-of-evil/What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Timothy Keller—Making Sense of God Paul Copan—Is God a Moral Monster? Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Who really wrote the Bible? Did God write it, did people write it, or is it somehow both? Can we trust documents that are thousands of years old, and why are there only four Gospels? Was Mary Magdalene a repentant prostitute, a devoted disciple, or have we misunderstood her altogether? And if Jesus is sovereign, good, and powerful, why does the world still seem so broken?In this episode of God, Beer and the Meaning of Life, Pete and Tony explore the reliability of the Bible, the person of Jesus, and the biggest questions raised by our troubled world. We wrestle with history, faith, and doubt, asking whether Christianity offers compelling answers or simply more questions. If you’ve ever wondered whether the Bible can be trusted, who Jesus really is, and why God appears silent amid suffering and chaos, pull up a chair and join the conversation.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://www.solas-cpc.org/can-we-trust-the-gospels-in-conversation-with-peter-j-williams/https://redeemingtruthmedia.org/why-doesnt-god-just-come-and-fix-the-world/What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Peter J Williams—Can We Trust the Gospels?Lee Strobel—A Case for Christ N T Wright—The Resurrection of the Son of God Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Why is the Bible open to so many interpretations? Why do Christians only have these books in the Bible and not others? Is faith alone really enough—or is that just one religion’s claim among many? And what do we do with science, evolution, Adam and Eve, the flood, suffering, talking serpents, and people living for hundreds of years?In this episode of God, Beer and the Meaning of Life, Tony and Pete from the Curious Team tackle the questions that many people quietly wonder about but rarely ask out loud. We don’t pretend to have every answer, and we’re not afraid of uncertainty. Instead, we explore why these questions matter, what Christianity has historically said, and why wrestling honestly with difficult issues can sometimes lead not to weaker faith, but to deeper curiosity. If you’ve ever thought, “I believe… but what about this?”, this conversation is for you.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://frame-poythress.org/does-science-really-contradict-scripture-eleven-principles-for-apparent-tensions/https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/why-would-a-good-god-allow-so-much-suffering/https://biologos.org/articles/evolution-and-original-sin-the-historical-ideal-viewWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Rebecca McLaughlin—Confronting ChristianityJohn H. Walton—The Lost World of Genesis One Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Why are we even talking about God? It’s a fair question. In a world of deadlines, distractions, and endless entertainment, why spend an evening discussing faith over a pint of beer? Yet despite all our progress and technology, the big questions refuse to disappear. Why are we here? Does life have meaning? Is there something—or Someone—beyond ourselves?In the first episode of ‘God, Beer and the Meaning of Life’, Pete from the Curious Team sits down with his friend Tony, who isn’t a Christian but is curious enough to ask questions that many people think about but rarely say out loud. Together we explore where that curiosity comes from, whether belief in God is rational or merely emotional, and whether the God question actually matters at all. If God doesn’t exist, does it change anything? And if He does, could there be any more important question to ask? This isn’t a debate to be won or a sermon to be endured—it’s the beginning of an honest conversation about the questions that lie just beneath the surface of everyday life.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://www.cslewisinstitute.org/resources/what-scientific-proof-do-we-have-that-there-is-a-god/https://activechristianity.org/from-atheism-to-christianity-how-i-know-god-existshttps://philosophynow.org/issues/99/Does_God_ExistWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! C. S. Lewis—Mere Christianity Timothy Keller—The Reason For God Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!We have never been more connected, and yet many of us have never felt more distracted, hurried, and restless. Our phones sit beside our beds, our notifications interrupt our conversations, and our attention is constantly being pulled in a thousand directions. We can reach almost anyone at any time—but what might this perpetual connectedness be doing to our souls?In this episode, the Curious team sit down with sociologist and author Dr. Felicia Wu Song to explore the promises and perils of life in the digital age. Together we ask some unsettling questions: How is technology shaping our understanding of personhood, presence, and community? Why do so many of us struggle to be still? What happens when there is never silence, never solitude, and never a moment when we are simply present before God? While recognising the remarkable benefits of digital technology—education, support, and meaningful connections—we also consider its hidden costs and the practical wisdom needed to reclaim attention, recover deeper relationships, and cultivate spaces where our hearts can once again hear the voice of God.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://www.christianitytoday.com/podcasts/viral-jesus/felicia-wu-song-perils-of-digital-discipleship/https://publicchristianity.org/podcast/the-year-of-getting-off-your-phone/https://youtu.be/J71qzk_wMd4?is=TCwnKvZUt1go1QSWWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Felicia Wu Song—Restless Devices – Recovering Personhood, Presence, and Place in the Digital AgeAmy & Andy Crouch—My Tech-Wise Life: Growing Up and Making Choices in a World of DevicesSamuel James—Digital Liturgies: Rediscovering Christian Wisdom in an Online AgeSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Few theological labels generate as much heat—and as many misconceptions—as Calvinism. In this episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with historian and theologian Ken Stewart to discuss his insightful book Ten Myths About Calvinism and to separate fact from fiction when it comes to one of Christianity's most debated traditions. Is Calvinism simply whatever John Calvin taught? Must every Calvinist subscribe to TULIP as the ultimate test of orthodoxy? Does belief in God's sovereignty inevitably portray God as unloving, arbitrary, or selective in His affections? Together we examine some of the most common objections levelled against Reformed theology and ask whether they genuinely reflect what Calvinists have historically believed. We explore the perennial questions of divine sovereignty and human responsibility, wrestle with accusations that Calvinism undermines free agency, and consider whether doctrines such as election discourage evangelism, missions, prayer, or personal holiness. We also discuss the pastoral concerns often raised against Calvinism: Does it produce spiritual anxiety, fatalism, or doubt about salvation? Or can it, rightly understood, foster assurance, humility, confidence in God's grace, and zeal for gospel ministry? Throughout the conversation, Ken Stewart brings both historical depth and theological clarity, helping listeners understand how Calvinism has been caricatured, where legitimate criticisms should be acknowledged, and what a healthy, Christ-centred expression of Reformed theology should sound like in the church today. Whether you are convinced by Calvinism, sceptical of it, or simply curious about what it actually teaches, this episode offers a thoughtful and charitable exploration of one of the most influential streams within Christian theology.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/what-is-reformed-theologyhttps://www.thegospelcoalition.org/blogs/kevin-deyoung/does-calvinism-discourage-evangelism/https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/how-does-a-sovereign-god-loveWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Kenneth J Stewart—Ten Myths About Calvinism R C Sproul—Chosen by GodMichael Horton—For Calvinism Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Pornography is often spoken about as a problem "out there" in the culture, but what if the reality is much closer to home? In this candid and compassionate episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with sexual and relationship psychotherapist Paula Hall to explore one of the most significant yet often hidden challenges facing the modern church. Drawing on years of clinical experience, Paula helps us understand why pornography use is as prevalent within Christian communities as it is outside them and why so many believers find themselves trapped in cycles of shame, secrecy, and repeated failure. We discuss the statistics that reveal the scale of the issue, challenge the assumption that this is a struggle limited to a small minority, and unpack the important distinctions between occasional use, problematic pornography use, compulsive sexual behaviour disorder, and addiction. Along the way, we explore the psychological and neurological shifts that can move someone from recreational use to compulsive patterns, the role that emotional pain and coping mechanisms often play, and the profound tension many Christians experience between their values and their behaviour. Paula also helps us understand the difference between impulse control problems and genuine addiction, offering practical insight into how these issues can be identified and addressed. We explore the often-overlooked impact on spouses and loved ones, discussing the pain, betrayal, and confusion that can accompany these struggles, and the liberating truth behind the "three Cs"—you can't control it, you didn't cause it, and you can't cure it. Yet this conversation is far from hopeless. We conclude by exploring Paula's framework for recovery and lasting change, offering a realistic but deeply hopeful vision for freedom, healing, and restoration. Whether you are struggling personally, supporting someone who is, or simply seeking to understand this issue more clearly, this episode offers wisdom, honesty, and hope in equal measure.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://thelaurelcentre.co.ukhttps://fightthenewdrug.org/#the-issuehttps://www.covenanteyes.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Paula Hall—Understanding and Treating Sex and Pornography Addiction Jay Springer—Unwanted: How Sexual Brokenness Reveals Our Way to Healing Michael John Cusick—Surfing for God  Patrick Carnes—Out of The Shadows: Understanding Sexual Addiction Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What happens to those who never heard the gospel? Is death the final boundary of human response to God, or might there be an opportunity for salvation beyond the grave? In this fascinating episode of Theology for the Curious, we sit down with Professor Jim Beilby to discuss his thought-provoking book Postmortem Opportunity: A Biblical and Theological Assessment of Salvation After Death. Together we explore one of the most debated questions in Christian theology: whether there is any possibility of salvation after death and how such a view differs from both universalism and the traditional understanding of eternal judgment. We examine key biblical texts often cited in the discussion, including the difficult passages of 1 Peter 3 and 4, where Christ is said to have proclaimed a message to the spirits in prison, and consider whether these verses suggest a postmortem opportunity for faith. At the same time, we wrestle with passages that appear to teach the finality of death and judgment, such as Hebrews 9:27 and Luke 16. Along the way, we discuss the theological, pastoral, and moral implications of the debate: if another opportunity exists after death, what becomes of the urgency of repentance and evangelism today? How should Christians understand the reality of hell, divine justice, and eternal separation from God? Whether you find Beilby's proposal persuasive or problematic, this conversation will challenge you to think deeply about the character of God, the scope of salvation, and one of the most profound questions facing Christian theology.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….https://www.equip.org/PDF/JAJ773.pdfhttps://bibleq.net/answer/6803/https://growrag.org/2019/03/28/a-brief-contra-to-the-possibility-for-post-mortem-salvation-with-reference-to-new-testament-teaching/What we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! James Beilby—Postmortem Opportunity Ed: Stanley Gundry and Preston Sprinkle—Four Views on Hell D A Carson—The Gagging of God  Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Few doctrines generate as much discussion, discomfort, and debate as the doctrine of reprobation. In this episode, the Curious team sit down with theologian Peter Sammons, author of ‘Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty’, to explore one of the most challenging questions in Christian theology: if God graciously chooses some unto salvation, what does that mean for those who are not chosen? Together they discuss the crucial distinction between preterition and double predestination, wrestle with Romans 9 and the hardening of Pharaoh, examine divine love, justice, fairness, and human responsibility, and consider how concepts such as concurrence and compatibilism seek to explain God’s sovereignty without making Him the author of evil. Along the way, Peter offers both biblical and pastoral reflections on how Christians can approach these weighty truths with humility, confidence, and worship. Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here for further reflection; https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/double-predestination-biblicalhttps://www.thegospelcoalition.org/essay/doctrine-of-reprobation/https://learn.ligonier.org/articles/predestination-what-does-mean-non-electWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Peter Sammons—Reprobation and God’s Sovereignty R C Sproul—Chosen by God John Piper—The Justification of GodSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What does it really mean to be free? If God is sovereign over all things, are our choices genuinely ours? And if human beings are unable to choose God apart from divine grace, how can they be held responsible for their actions?In this episode, the Curious team sit down with theologian and author Scott Christensen to explore some of the most challenging questions in theology and philosophy. Together they unpack the nature of the human will before and after the fall, the meaning of freewill, libertarian freedom, determinism and compatibilism. They discuss why we do what we do, whether our desires shape our choices more than we realise, and what it means to say that we are free to choose what we want, but we’re not free to choose what we choose! Along the way they tackle difficult questions about God‘s justice, human responsibility, and whether accountability can exist without ultimate self—determination. Whether you are wrestling with these issues for the first time or have studied them for years, this conversation will challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding of one of theology’s most endurable debates.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here, some of which may not fully capture the convictions of the Curious team, but in the interest of balance they are included; https://www.renewingyourmind.org/2026/03/04/what-is-free-willhttps://learn.ligonier.org/podcasts/ultimately-with-rc-sproul/do-we-have-free-willhttps://www.christianity.org.uk/article/predestination-and-free-willWhat we’re reading As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Scott Christensen—What about Free Will? Reconciling Our Choices with God's SovereigntyR C Sproul—Willing to Believe: The Controversy over Free Will Edited by David and Randall Basinger—Predestination and Free Will – Four Views of Divine Sovereignty and Human FreedomSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What do we do with a world that feels so full of beauty… and yet so marked by brokenness? In this episode of the Curious team sit down with Dr. James Anderson to explore one of the deepest and most personal questions we face: why does evil exist at all? Together, we gently unpack what we even mean by “evil,” where it might come from, and how it fits, or doesn’t seem to fit, with a God who is good, sovereign, and unchanging.Along the way, we touch on big ideas in simple ways… free will, suffering, purpose, and whether evil is something God merely allows or somehow weaves into a greater story. But this isn’t just philosophy. It’s about the questions that surface in real life, in grief, in injustice, in the quiet moments when things don’t make sense.We’re not offering neat answers or quick fixes. But if you’ve ever wondered whether the presence of evil means the absence of God… or whether there might be a deeper, redemptive thread running through it all… this conversation might open a door you didn’t expect.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….The Problem of Evil - TheGospelCoalition.orgThe Problem of Evil - CSLewisInstitute.orgThe Problem of Evil - WhyChristianity.org.auWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! C. S. Lewis — The Problem of painAlvin Plantinga — God, Freedom and EvilEd David and Jonathan Gibson — Ruined Sinners to ReclaimSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What really happens after we die… and why do Catholics and Protestants see it so differently?In part two of our conversation with Roman Catholic theologian Michael Barber, the Curious team move into some of the most profound and often misunderstood areas of Christian belief: death, judgement, and the afterlife. We explore the idea of an immediate judgement and a final judgement, and gently unpack the Catholic understanding of purgatory… not as a second chance, but as a process of being made ready for the fullness of God’s presence.We invite into a thoughtful and honest conversation that doesn’t shy away from the differences, but also reveals surprising depth and nuance. Whether you’ve always been certain about what happens after death, or you’ve quietly wrestled with the questions, this episode invites you to listen again with fresh ears.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….Purgatory - Catholic.comIs Purgatory in the Bible? - Catholic.comWhat Does the Bible Say About Purgatory? - DesiringGod.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Joseph Ratzinger— Eschatology: Death and Eternal LifeJohn Blanchard — Whatever Happened to Heaven?Loraine Boettner — ImmortalitySend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What do Catholics really believe about grace, faith, and salvation… and have Protestants sometimes misunderstood it?In this two-part conversation, the Curious team sit down with Catholic theologian Michael Barber to explore some of the biggest questions at the heart of Christian faith: Is salvation by grace alone? What place do works actually have? How do we understand justification and can we have real assurance?Together, we gently but honestly press into areas of tension and misunderstanding, asking the questions many people are already thinking. Whether you come from a Protestant background, a Catholic one, or you’re simply curious, this episode invites you into a thoughtful, respectful conversation that might challenge assumptions and deepen your understanding.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here, some of which will not capture the convictions of the Curious team, but in the interest of balance they are included; Catholic and Protestant Views on Justification and Sanctification - Catholic.comFaith and Works - TheGospelCoalition.comWhat Does the Roman Catholic Church Believe About Justification - Ligonier.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Michael P Barber — Salvation: What Every Catholic Should Know Thomas Schreiner — Faith Alone: The Doctrine of Justification John Piper — Counted Righteous in Christ: Should We Abandon the Imputation of Christ's Righteousness?Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What if one of the most familiar ideas in Christianity… is also one of the most misunderstood? In this episode the Curious team sit down with professor Hans Madueme to explore the doctrine of original sin, not as a cold theological concept, but as something that quietly shapes how we see ourselves, others, and even God. Are we born guilty, or simply broken? Is sin something we inherit, something we imitate, or something deeper still? And how do we wrestle with the fairness of it all, especially when we think about children, responsibility, and what it means to be human?This conversation doesn’t rush to easy answers. Instead, it gently holds together big questions about justice, freedom, and grace. If we are more flawed than we’d like to admit, does that make us less human… or does it open the door to a deeper understanding of mercy? And if we soften or reject the idea of original sin altogether, do we risk losing sight of just how profound grace really is?Thoughtful, honest, and deeply relevant, this episode invites you to think again about what it means to be human… and why that matters more than we might realise.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Original Sin: Biological or Spiritual Problem? - ChristOverAll.comThe Origin of Original Sin and the Fall - Biologos.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Hans Madueme — Defending SinHans Madueme and Michael Reeves — Adam, the Fall, and Original SinCornelius Plantinga Jr. — The Doctrine of SinSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What if one of the most debated lines in Scripture isn’t about silence, weakness, or control at all… but something far more radical? In this episode, Theology for the Curious, sits down with writer, speaker and CEO of Restored, Bekah Legg, an organisation committed to working to transform relationships and end violence against women. Together we gently unpick the power and understanding (and misunderstanding) of Ephesians 5:22, reflecting on its original context, asking whether we’ve misrepresented both the call to submit and the call to love. Could it be that what felt restrictive is actually deeply freeing? And that what Paul asks of husbands might be even more confronting than we’ve realised? If you’ve ever wrestled with this passage, felt uneasy about how it’s been used, or wondered where strength, voice, and equality fit in… this conversation might surprise you.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Selfless Marriage: Ephesians 5:21-33 - CBEInternational.orgEphesians 5:21-33: How Paul Turns Headship on its Head - JuniaProject.comGuess What Paul Has in Mind for Marriage? - Blogs.Bible.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Beth Allison Barr — The Making of Biblical Womanhood Sarah Ruden — Paul Among The People Kristin Kobes Du Mez — Jesus and John WayneSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What if the questions we’ve been told not to ask are the very ones we most need to face?In this episode, the Curious team are joined by pastor, gay writer, activist and TikTok influencer, Brandan Robertson, as together they step gently—but honestly—into the tension around Scripture, sexuality, and what it means to live faithfully. Is the Bible prescribing a fixed framework, or describing a world still unfolding? Are we reading these texts clearly—or through layers we’ve inherited without noticing?We wrestle with Genesis, with friendship and covenant, with the language of desire and identity in a world that didn’t think in our categories. We talk about celibacy and commitment—not as abstract ideals, but as real callings that shape real lives. And we ask, quietly but directly: what does it mean for LGBTQ Christians to belong—not on the margins, but in the heart of the Church? You may find yourself challenged. You may find yourself comforted. Our hope, as a team, is that you’ll find yourself listening.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a cross section of articles here, some of which will not capture the convictions of the Curious team, but in the interest of balance they are included; Why All Christians Should Support LGBTQ Persons - WherePeterIs.comHow Can I Be an LGBTQ Affirming Christian? - ElaineKelly.ca A Christian's Posture Towards Pride Month and LGBTQ People - TheGospelCoalition.org   What we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy!   Brandan Robertson — Queer Christian   Sam Allberry — Is God Anti-Gay?   James V Brownson — Bible, Gender, Sexuality Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!This week the curious Team continue their conversation with Professor Tom Schreiner in reflecting on modern objections to classic Calvinism.Something old is revisited. Something misunderstood is questioned. Something controversial refuses to go away. In this episode of Theology for the Curious, the Curious Team sits down with professor Tom Schreiner to explore one of the most debated ideas in Christian theology: justification. What does it really mean to be declared righteous? Why did the Protestant Reformation hinge on it? And why are scholars still arguing about it today?Along the way we wander through the classic Protestant view, the Roman Catholic understanding, and the challenges raised by the New Perspective on Paul. Then the conversation turns to another set of ideas that spark strong reactions: the five points of Calvinism, captured in the historic acronym TULIP. The team will be challenging professor Schreiner, asking are these classic Dortian understandings biblical? Are they misunderstood? And do the common criticisms really land?Expect a thoughtful, good-natured exchange where difficult questions are welcomed, assumptions are tested, and Scripture is brought to the centre of the discussion. If you have ever wondered whether justification is a settled doctrine… or an unfinished conversation, this episode might surprise you.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….What Are the Five Points of Calvinism? - ReformationBibleCollege.orgWhat We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism - DesiringGod.orgThe Five Points of Calvinism - Journal.rts.eduWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Tom Schreiner — Faith AloneMichael Horton — For CalvinismTimothy George — Amazing Grace (God’s Pursuit, Our Response)Richard J Mouw — Calvinism in the Las Vegas AirportSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Something old is revisited. Something misunderstood is questioned. Something controversial refuses to go away. In this episode of Theology for the Curious, the Curious Team sits down with professor Tom Schreiner to explore one of the most debated ideas in Christian theology: justification. What does it really mean to be declared righteous? Why did the Protestant Reformation hinge on it? And why are scholars still arguing about it today?Along the way we wander through the classic Protestant view, the Roman Catholic understanding, and the challenges raised by the New Perspective on Paul. Then the conversation turns to another set of ideas that spark strong reactions: the five points of Calvinism, captured in the historic acronym TULIP. The team will be challenging professor Schreiner, asking are these classic Dortian understandings biblical? Are they misunderstood? And do the common criticisms really land?Expect a thoughtful, good-natured exchange where difficult questions are welcomed, assumptions are tested, and Scripture is brought to the centre of the discussion. If you have ever wondered whether justification is a settled doctrine… or an unfinished conversation, this episode might surprise you. Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….What are the Five Points of Calvinism? - ReformationBibleCollege.orgWhat We Believe About the Five Points of Calvinism - DesiringGod.orgThe Five Points of Calvinism - Journal.rts.eduWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Tom Schreiner — Faith AloneMichael Horton — For CalvinismTimothy George — Amazing Grace (God’s Pursuit, Our Response)Richard J Mouw — Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!There is a courtroom at the end of the story. The Judge is not elected, but enthroned — the One whom the Psalms foresaw and whom the Gospel of Matthew portrays separating sheep from goats, whom the Epistles to the Romans and Second Corinthians declare will weigh every life. But what, exactly, is placed on the scales? Are works the measure of reward but never the ground of salvation? Can a believer arrive saved, yet singed — secure in Christ yet emptied of treasure? Or do works function as the very criteria of destiny, as some traditions insist, grace enabling merit? Is faith alone the instrument, with works merely the pulse that proves the heart still beats — as the Epistle of James seems to press upon us? Between belief and behaviour, security and jeopardy, evidence and recompense, lies a tension as old as the gospel itself: Christ alone is enough — and yet nothing we do is forgotten.In this episode, the Curious team seek to probe the difficult and somewhat unsettling question of will what I do determine where I’ll end up? Step into the conversation this week as the Curious team invite you to reconsider how your actions and behaviours come to bear on eternity!Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Four Views on the Roles of Works at the Final Judgement - TheGospelCoalition.orgFinal Judgement According to Works - DesiringGod.orgA Future Justification Based on Works? - Ligonier.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Editor Stanley N. Gundry — Four Views on the Role of Works at the Final Judgement John Piper — The Future of JustificationSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Sanctification may be the quiet crisis at the heart of the Christian life — the slow, stubborn miracle that hurts more than we expect and heals more deeply than we imagine. In Romans 7 we hear the very familiar groan of a divided soul; in Romans 8:4 we glimpse the promise of a law finally fulfilled within us. Is holiness a crooked line that bends through failure and longing, or can love be so perfected that the will itself is made whole, as John Wesley dared to suggest? Is sanctification a crisis, a process, a gift already given, or a glory still unfolding? Between image created, image shattered, and image restored, we find ourselves caught in a work we cannot accomplish and yet cannot escape — a work at once positional and painfully practical, definitive and daily, wrought by another yet fought within our own trembling hearts.This week the Curious team delve into the mystery, and the wonder of what is commonly understood as sanctification. Join the team this week for what promises to be a very enlightening and fascinating conversation.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included some articles that compliment this episode….The Secret of Sanctification - Ligonier.orgGospel-Driven Sanctification - ModernReformation.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! J C Ryle — HolinessMichael Horton — Sanctification Kevin DeYoung — The Hole in Our HolinessTim Chester — You Can Change Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!In this second of our two-part series with writer Kurt Parton, the Curious Team continue their intriguing conversation around the idea of Christian universalism, ultimate reconciliation. In this episode the team explore those biblical passages that seem to clearly indicate judgement, death and hell. They reflect together on the rich man and Lazarus in (Luke 16), and Jesus‘s warning of the ‘unquenchable fire’ and ‘undying worm’ in Mark 9. How are we to understand the ‘fiery furnace’ of Matthew 13? The narrow and a broad ways Jesus spoke of? And what are we to make of the graphic imagery both Paul and John employ when they speak of an ultimate accountability for all mankind, especially those who reject Christ? Is post-mortem repentance really a biblical possibility? Join the team this week for what promises to be a second and final fascinating instalment into this highly controversial theme...Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Book Review: The Evangelical Universalist - RethinkingHell.comChristianUniversalism.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Curt Parton — Until the Last One’s Found: An Introduction to Universal Reconciliation and RestorationEd. Robin Parry and Christopher Partridge — Universal Salvation?: The Current Debate James B de Young — Exposing Universalism: A Comprehensive Guide to the Faulty Appeals Made by UniversalistsSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What if the final word of history is not separation, but restoration? In this thought-provoking two-part conversation with writer Curt Parton, the Curious team step into one of the most daring and controversial theological questions in the Christian tradition: ‘ultimate reconciliation’. Is it truly possible that no one is finally lost—that every prodigal, every rebel, every hardened sinner ultimately finds their way home? And what do we do with the sobering imagery of judgment woven through Scripture—fire, outer darkness, exclusion, destruction—especially in passages like Gospel of Matthew and Book of Revelation? Do these texts point to eternal conscious torment, annihilation, or something far more mysterious? Could divine justice and divine mercy converge in ways we have not yet imagined? And stretching the question even further—if reconciliation is truly ultimate, is it conceivable that even fallen angels, even Satan himself, could somehow be caught up in redemption? Or does such a vision compromise holiness and moral accountability? This episode doesn’t settle for easy answers; it invites you into the tension—between warning and hope, judgment and mercy, freedom and sovereignty—and asks whether the story of salvation ends in everlasting division… or in a reconciliation so vast it reframes everything we thought we knew about hell, justice, and the heart of God.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Book Review: The Evangelical Universalist - RethinkingHell.comChristianUniversalism.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Curt Parton — Until the Last One’s Found: An Introduction to Universal Reconciliation and RestorationEd. Robin Parry and Christopher Partridge — Universal Salvation?: The Current Debate James B de Young — Exposing Universalism: A Comprehensive Guide to the Faulty Appeals Made by UniversalistsSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Two thousand years ago, a man from the margins of the Roman Empire stepped onto the stage of history—and somehow split time itself. Why has Jesus of Nazareth been singled out above every other prophet, philosopher, or spiritual guide? Why do Christians dare to echo his staggering claim—“I am the way”—as recorded in the Gospel of John? Is that conviction a mark of arrogance… or allegiance to something that actually happened? In this episode, the Curious team are joined by prof. Stephen Wellum as together they seek to probe the unsettling possibility that the uniqueness of Jesus is not rooted merely in moral teaching, but in identity and action—that forgiveness required more than sentiment, that salvation required more than insight, and that pluralism, however generous, must still wrestle with a tomb that Christians insist was empty. Did humanity truly need a Saviour? Who was this first-century Jew who compelled worship rather than mere admiration? And what did he accomplish that no other religious figure even claimed to do? Step into a conversation that doesn’t offer easy clichés, but instead invites you to reconsider whether the most controversial claim in history might also be the most consequential.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….The Uniqueness of Christ in a Postmodern World and the Challenge of World Religions - Lausanne.orgIs Jesus Really the Only Way to God? - CSLewisInstitute.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Stephen Wellum — Christ Alone: The Uniqueness of Jesus as SaviourN T Wright — Simply JesusC. S. Lewis — Mere ChristianitySend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Did Adam actually exist? Were Adam and Eve literal people living in a literal garden of Eden? How do we understand the first 11 chapters of Genesis? How do they align with so many other origin narratives from the Sumerian King List to the Eridu Genesis and Gilgamesh? Does it really matter whether we literalise our Genesis understanding or not?How does science on the other hand, understand the origins of human life? Is it possible that all humankind originated from the seemingly narrow gene pool of two people? How does modern genetics understand the biblical claim of an historical Adam and Eve? Could it be that Adam was alone in being created first, or was he simply a Chieftain representing a far larger number of people?  Understanding the historical and theological relevance of Adam has always posed a great struggle for Christian thinkers and theologians. This week the Curious team are joined by Professor Jack Collins as they reflect on his book, “Did Adam and Eve Really Exist?” Together they examine all the difficult questions from an historical Adam, confronting origin narratives, and the age of the earth. To how we understand monogenesis and the genetic challenge. They also reflect on the implications our conclusions bring to bear on the broader understanding of the fall, theology and redemption Join the team this week for what promises to be a very enlightening and fascinating conversation.Further Reading Here’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included some articles that compliment this episode….Understanding the First and Last Adam - Crossway.orgFour Views on the Historical Adam - TheGospelCoalition.orgWhy I Think Adam was a Real Person - Biologos.orgWhat we’re reading? As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy!   C. John Collins — Did Adam and Eve Really Exist? Who They Were and Why You Should Care  Ed: Matthew Barrett and Ardel Caneday — Four Views on The Historical Adam  William Lane Craig — In Quest of The Historical Adam: A Biblical and Scientific ExplorationSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!The believers relationship with Church is often fraught with great hazards and difficulties. Despite the friendship, use, joy and blessing that comes from connecting to a community; there is also the unfortunate experience of disappointment, manipulation and in some cases even abuse. There are Christians who love the church but will not attend, and those who have been hurt by the church who have found their way back. For all its greatness, and at times misery, the local church remains God’s idea, his ordain means of transforming lives, and his chosen vehicle through which He touches and revives a dying world.This week the Curious team take an honest look at the place of church in the individual Christian’s life; it’s meaning, it’s struggle, it’s beauty and it’s significance. They explore how the church matters more than we think. That 2000 years of church history has shown that no individual Christian has ever thrived and developed in complete isolation. Yet they also recognise the failure and the abuse and the struggle that many have suffered at the hands of the church. In spite of remaining God‘s plan A, his divine intention; the church has nevertheless been placed into the hands of failing humans.Join the team in this weeks episode as they explore the thinking of Christian writers and reformers, reflecting on the beauty as much as the ugliness of Church.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….Why the Church is Vitally Important for Every Christian - Crossway.orgWhy God Made You for Membership - DesiringGod.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Barnabas Piper & Ray Ortlund — Belong: Loving Your Church by Reflecting Christ to One AnotherRobert H. Thune — The Gospel-Centered CommunityMegan Hill — A Place to Belong: Learning to Love the Local ChurchSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Every Christian knows the reality of the battle within. Paul defines as the flesh fighting against the spirit, the old you, combating with the new you, under grace. But how aware are we of the nature of this inner beast? How serious should we take it? How ferocious and proactive is our darker nature? What sinister potential does it hold of totally destroying us? And how are we to get any kind of guarantee that we will eventually end up on the winning side?The battle of personal holiness is a lifelong struggle from which there is no relief. In this weeks episode the curious team take the unusual step of drawing wisdom from a 400 year-old book written by perhaps one of Britain’s most outstanding Puritans of the 17th century. John Owen was 40 years of age when he wrote, “The Mortification of Sin” in 1656, as a means of teaching young ministers. The great emphasis of this classic work was, in Owen’s words, “be killing sin , or it will be killing you”In the four centuries that have passed since the book, there have been few if any that have rivalled Owen’s insight, pastoral observations and spiritual encouragement in terms of our battle with inner sin. Taking a number of principles from Owen’s thinking, the Curious team unpack what it means to understand sin, to renounce it, to develop a right perspective of it, and to embrace the power of God’s Spirit in the conquering of it. Join them this week for a very insightful and challenging episode.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….The Mortification of Sin - TheGospelCoalitionOn The Mortification of Sin - DesiringGod.orgMortification of Sin - APuritansMind.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! (We’d strongly recommend all three of Owen’s outstanding trilogy below)John Owen—The Mortification of Sin in BelieversOf Indwelling Sin in BelieversOf Temptation Kevin DeYoung—The Hole in Our Holiness J. I. Packer—Rediscovering HolinessKeep In Step With The Spirit Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What happens when lines of communication break down between us and God? How do we reconnect when such lines die? Is there always a way to reconnect beyond our ability to discern such paths? What role does grace and God’s Spirit play in steering us back to a better understanding and commitment?This week, the Curious team take a look at how we disconnect from God. Looking at the deteriorating effects of busyness, of , neglect, of the things we do not confess, of the unanswered and misguided reliances; all of which feed into separating us from the conscious awareness of God’s blessing. The team also take a deep dive into what Jesus meant when he said “abide in me”; and how that works out in day-to-day life. En route they also reflect on the difficulty and yet power of seasons of dryness that inevitably can lead to rediscovery.Join the Curious team this week as they look at the dangers of disconnecting and some practical steps to reconnection and personal restorationFurther ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….Strategies to Reconnect with God When You're Feeling out of Touch - Crosswalk.comHow I learned to Reconnect with God - IBelieve.comHow to Reconnect with God - AVirtuousWoman.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode… enjoy! Matthew C. Bingham — A Heart Aflame for God: A Reformed Approach to Spiritual FormationDane Ortlund — Gentle and Lowly: The Heart of Christ for Sinners and Sufferers Sinclair B. Ferguson — Devoted to God: Blueprints for SanctificationSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Resolutions and commitments are commonplace this time of year. But the idea of restarting, or starting over, is often a difficult one. Perhaps it is because it is never easy. Is progress in the Christian life really down to just trying harder, making better choices, and having a stronger willpower? Or is there an empowering and a shaping that grace offers to the individual life?How do we understand the cultural myth of self reinvention in light of developing a better us? Can we start over from scratch? Is our identity self-made as opposed to inherited? Is transformation always and endlessly possible, and do we owe nothing to the old story about us? How does 2 Corinthians 5:17 feed into this understanding? What does it mean to say that the “old has passed” and the “new has come”?In this episode, the Curious team examine what it means to restart and to get our lives back on track. They examine the understanding of ‘reset’, we can fix it; and ‘rebirth’, God remakes it. The discussion examines the role of repentance, of small acts of obedience, of God’s endless mercies, and the need to engage in the vital elements of grace’s provision.Join the team this week as they examine kickstarting our spiritual journey for 2026 Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….4 Ways to Approach the New Year with Jesus - TheGospelCoalition.orgNew Year's Resolutions for God's Glory, Not Our Own - Ligonier.orgNew Year's Bible Verses - ThePioneerWoman.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode… enjoy! Jared C Wilson — Gospel Wakefulness Kevin DeYoung — Just Do Something: A Liberating Approach to Finding God’s WillSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Beyond the tinsel and the presents and the turkey and the mistletoe; beyond the wisemen and the Shepherds, the manger and Bethlehem; there lies a richer, deeper, and more mysterious message of Christmas.  The Bible does not simply paint a picture of the first Christmas being for people then and now; book for the whole cosmic and natural world .Incarnation lies as one of the great mysteries and profound truths of scripture. CS Lewis defined it as the, “central miracle” of scripture, while Dutch theologian Herman Bavinck referred to it as the “Central fact” in all revelation. This week the Curious team go back before the manger, in an attempt to open up the cosmic and eternal reality of the Christmas story. Grappling with the profound nature of Colossians 1:15–20, defining Jesus as “the first born of all creation”, who was “before all things”; to the majestic Philippians 2 of Christ humbling and emptying himself, the team reflect on the cosmic ripple of Christmas Join them this week as they reflect on the eternal and timeless value of the Christmas story .Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a couple of articles that compliment this episode….The Christmas Miracle of the Incarnation of the Omnipresent Word - DesiringGod.orgThe Miracle of Christmas - AnneGrahamLotz.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Timothy Keller — Hidden Christmas Adam Hamilton — Incarnation: Rediscovering the Significance of ChristmasSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Christian orthodoxy has insisted that it is a monotheistic faith. It believes in one God. And yet it speaks and holds to this one God as being three! If God is Father, Son and Holy Spirit, then how can Christians continue to insist He is but one God? Why is it that no other world religion adheres to such an understanding of God—even the traditionally monotheistic religions of Islam and Judaism! Where did this understanding of God come from? After all, we find no where in the Bible where the word “trinity” is mentioned; so how do we know it’s a Bible based truth? Has the church always believed this? What did the early church say about it? In this weeks episode, the curious team dig in to what is meant by the “threeness” of God. Looking back into the earliest accounts of the church fathers, and the understandings of the various church councils over the centuries, and the Bibles own presentation of God and His salvific purposes; the team seek to define what is meant by a three in one God. Along the way, they touch on historical attempts to define this triune being, (modalism, subordinationism and tritheism) that ultimately proved to be faulty and were collectively rejected. They also explore the concepts of diversity, unity and perichoresis! Join the team this week as they dig deep into this historically significant bedrock of Christian orthodoxyFurther ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….The Holy Trinity - Christianity.comCan We Explain the Trinity? - DesiringGod.orgAlister McGrath: Thinking About the Trinity - Christinity.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…(including Michael Gaitley’s from within a more Roman Catholic framework)…enjoy! Robert Letham — The Holy Trinity Edited by John Thompson — Modern Trinitarian Perspectives Michael Gaitley — The One Thing Is Three: How the Most Holy Trinity Explains EverythingSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Can God really be pleased with me even if I don’t believe? If I live with good intentions, and perform good deeds, will it draw the favour of God to me? Does the Bible infer that one’s behaviour can draw the attention of heaven? What about Cornelius in Acts 10? Wasn’t he brought to God‘s attention through his good works? Is the goodness of God contingent on the level of acceptability he offers to individuals? How do we understand common grace in the broader context of the goodness and justice of God? Think about Matthew 25, the sheep and the goats. Doesn’t it teach us about the power of good actions? Can good works in of themselves create a space in which God reveals himself to people who may not explicitly believe? How does justice and mercy work together?God’s salvific relations to faith and our good works is a complicated and complex issue that gives rise to multiple questions. This week the curious team examine the difficult and at times contentious place our behaviour and deeds take in the overall salvific purposes of God. Was James in his epistle, truly offering an alternative to Paul or merely addressing a balance? How important is what we do in connection to what we believe? These difficult issues and more, the team dig into. Join us this week in what promises to be a rather interesting conversation. Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….How Are Faith and Works Related When it Comes to Salvation? - EPM.orgFaith and Works - TheGospelCoalition.orgIs My Salvation an Event or a Process - DesiringGod.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode…enjoy! Thomas H. McCall, Caleb T. Friedeman & Matt T. Friedeman — The Doctrine of Good WorksThomas R. Schreiner — Faith Alone: The Doctrine of JustificationSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!It is fair to say that the person of Jesus has probably sparked more conversation, intrigue and controversy than any other person in history. But where did he come from? Did he have a beginning or, as an ancient writers teach, he simply always was! In this episode, we step back before Bethlehem—before manger, straw, shepherd songs, or even the name Jesus itself—to ask who the Christ truly was before he walked among us. Was his divine identity something he discovered, revealed, or always knew? What does the mystery of the virgin conception tell us, and what misunderstandings does it sweep aside? Join the Curious team this week as they find themselves in conversation with American writer and theologian Stephen Wellum, around his fascinating book “God the Son Incarnate”. Together they explore the preexistence and uniqueness of Christ, pushing through the adoptionist and Arian detours to glimpse a deeper, older story—one that began long before the world did. Tune in to what promises to be a very thoughtful and enlightening episode  Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….Before Time Began, Jesus Was - DesiringGod.orgWas Jesus Created? - Christianity.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode.We’ve included two of Stephen’s books which we believe you’ll find wonderfully interesting…enjoy! Stephen Wellum — God the Son IncarnateStephen Wellum — Christ AloneTom Wright — Simply JesusSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What did God do before He created anything? It’s a question that invites both wonder and mystery — and in this episode, we dive into how philosophers and theologians have wrestled with it for centuries. Is time something that flows on its own, as Newton imagined, or is it something that exists only in relation to God and creation? We explore whether God is timeless — dwelling in an eternal “now” as Boethius described — or everlasting, moving with time without being limited by it. Along the way, we consider what it means for God to sustain the universe, how divine immutability fits with action in time, and what “zero-time” might mean for a Creator who stands both outside and within His creation.This week the Curious team dive into this mystery in the company of theologian and philosopher Alan Padgett. Relating to Alan’s book ‘God, Eternity, and the Nature of Time’; Alan and the team explore God’s relationship to time and eternity, and how God can remain changeless in an ever changing world. Join the team this week for a thoughtful and enlightening episode  Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….How Does God Relate to Time? - TableTalkMagazineWhat is God's Relationship to Time? - Christianity.comGod and Time Theories - Reasons.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode.We’ve included Alan’s book as well as a couple of others we think you’ll find interesting…enjoy! Alan Padgett — God, Eternity, and the Nature of TimePaul Helm — Eternal God: A Study of God Without TimeEdited by Gregory E. Ganssle — God and Time: Four ViewsSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!C. S. Lewis wrote, “No man knows how bad he is till he has tried very hard to be good….”. Trying very hard to be good is a Christian’s preoccupation, and with that often comes a deep sense of anxiety and fear. Paul captured something of this anxiety autobiographically in Romans 7—“I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate”. All of us as Christians struggle a great deal with the tension of knowing we’re called to be holy and Christlike, yet equally being painfully aware of our very evident humanness. We toy with such anxieties like will God bless me even though I do so many things wrong? How can I ever hope to meet the demand of holiness given my obvious weaknesses? The dutch theologian Herman Bavinck noted that the Christian’s dilemma lies in the fact that; “He knows that he must be holy, for without holiness no one will see the Lord; but he also knows that on this earth he will never attain to that holiness”, concluding, “His life is therefore a continual battle”. This week the Curious team take a look at the age old tension between holiness and humanness. How we cope with the discouragement that comes when we feel we can never hit the mark or measure up. That we may forfeit blessing of one kind or another unless we get it together! The team examine what is meant by holiness, and how biblical understanding of holiness is enfolded into our union with Christ. For all those who have struggled in this tension, this episode is for you! By looking through the practical power of confession, grace, community and sound practices; the team bring hope and strength to this difficult area. Join the team this week for an encouraging diagnosis of the holy/human dilemma!  Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliment this episode….Brothers and Sisters, Fight for Holiness! - TheGospelCoalition.orgAn Open Letter to Those Frustrated by Their Progress in Sanctification - Crossway.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode. We’ve included 3 great titles below and would strongly recommend all of them! Jared C Wilson — Imperfect Disciple: Grace for People Who Can't Get Their Act TogetherMichael Yaconelli — Messy Spirituality: God’s Annoying Love for Imperfect People Kevin DeYoung — The Hole in Our HolinessSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!In October 1991, Jerry Sittser and his family were returning from a time away when their minivan was hit head on by a drunk driver. Jerry lost his wife, his mother, and his four-year-old daughter in the collision. Jerry was to spend many years trying to rebuild his life whilst equally looking after his three other surviving children. How do we cope when our world is ripped apart? Where do we go, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, when all we’ve loved and known is taken from us? How does profound loss and deep tragedy affect our understanding of life, people and family? How do such moments inform our belief in God? How do they shape, or reshape our understanding of a God of love and kindness?This week the Curious team are in conversation with professor emeritus, theologian and writer Jerry Sittser. With touching honesty Jerry reflects on that dark moment all those years ago, and the journey since, speaking openly of pain, loss and faith. Jerry insists that you don't have to merely cope, but can grow in and through the dark and painful moments of lifeFor all those who have struggled making sense of their hurt; for those especially trying to come to terms with a God of love in the face of such overwhelmingly painful experiences; Jerry’s words will resonate in a very soulful way. Join the team this week for some very personal and honest dialogue.  Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….we’ve included a few articles that compliments this episode….The Waves of Grief Will Give Way - DesiringGod.orgA Grief Observed - Ligonier.orgGod's Purpose in your Pain - Plough.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode.We’ve included below Jerry’s excellent and plain talking book, as well as a couple of other highly recommended ones….Jerry Sittser — A Grace Disguised: How The Soul Grows Through Loss C. S. Lewis — A Grief ObservedTim Challies — Seasons of Sorrow: The Pain of Loss and the Comfort of GodSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Is the bible opposed to same sex relationships? Don’t the texts (Leviticus 18 and 22, Romans 1, 1 Corinthians 6:9 and 1 Timothy 1:10), provide all the evidence we need to tell us that the Bible stands against all things LGBTQIA+? What about creation? Adam and Eve? Surely these passages in Scripture tell us all we need to know?In this intriguing episode the Curious team are joined by minister, theologian and writer Jonathan Tallon reflecting on his book ‘Affirmative’. Together they traverse the thorny and all important scriptural references that are claimed to condemn any same-sex attraction. This episode pulls no punches, it deals with all the difficult passages in detail offering some surprising insights and drawing some interesting conclusions. If you’ve ever found yourself wondering what God thinks of same-sex attraction, whether being gay is something that contradicts scripture, and how are we to think and address the LGBTQIA+ community, then this episode is a must listen. Join the team this week for an honest, hard-hitting, straight-talking episode! Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….please note, we’ve included articles supporting both traditional and progressive perspectives for the sake of balance..…We recommend you take a good look at Jonathan’s website. Click the link below…https://www.bibleandhomosexuality.org/about/Has "homosexual" always been in the Bible? - UMInsight.netHow should Christians Respond to Gay Friends or Family Members? - Biola.eduWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve browsed related to this episode. For the sake of balance we’ve included those books that reflect both a progressive and traditional understanding of the subject…enjoy;James V Brownson — Bible, Gender, Sexuality: Reframing the Church's Debate on Same-Sex Relationships Jonathan Tallon — Affirmative: Why You Can Say Yes to the Bible and Yes to People Who Are LGBTQI+Danny Brierly — To Inclusion and Beyond: Evangelical and Affirming LGBTQ+ Relationships and Equal Marriage Robert A. J. Gagnon — The Bible and Homosexual Practice: Texts and HermeneuticsSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!October 7th 2023—marked the beginning of the latest in a decades-long conflict between Israel and Palestine. On that day, Hamas launched a coordinated attack on southern Israel which led to the death of civilians and the taking of hostages. Israel declared a state of war and their retaliation has, it is fair to say, shocked the global community. A UN‑body report, released 16th Sept 2025, officially concluded an act of genocide being committed in Gaza.In this very unique episode the Curious team are joined by Dr. Ghada Karmi — a Palestinian writer, academic, lecturer, and one of the most powerful voices chronicling the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people. Her book “Married to Another Man” explores —the roots of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, —the repeated failure of peace efforts, —and the realities of exile, dispossession, & resistance.In this conversation, the Curious team will trace the history of the conflict — from the events of 1948 and the mass displacement of Palestinians, through the wars of 1967, the Intifadas, and the peace processes that repeatedly faltered; including the events since September 2023 that has occasioned a humanitarian crises in Gaza and the West Bank.This episode reflects on Dr. Karmi’s personal story as a child forced to flee her home, (as told in her book, “In Search of Fatima”) and her lifelong commitment to justice and the right of return for the Palestinian people. Join the team this week for a very a difficult and sensitive episode  Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….please note, articles are featured here for balance and provocation and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and convictions of the Curious team.…After the Israel-Hamas War: Palestinian Perspectives - Brandeis.eduPalestinian-Israeli Relations - MyJewishLearning.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book(s) that we’d encourage a browse related to this episode. For the sake of balance we’ve included not only two of Dr. Karmi’s excellent books, but Daniel Gordis’s thorough history of Israel……enjoy;Ghada Karmi - In Search of Fatima: A Palestinian StoryGhada Karmi - Married to Another Man Daniel Gordis - Israel: A Concise History of a Nation RebornSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!It was John F. Kennedy who once famously said, “Success has many fathers, but failure is an orphan”. Failure is a thing nobody wants to have or own. Another word the vast majority of Christian people are equally reticent to own, is the word ‘doubt’! Most find it very difficult to see any positive reason for its existence, we often feel weak and shameful when it characterises our Christian experience in any way. Most of us have come to see doubt as our enemy; we find it uncomfortable, disconcerting and frankly, embarrassing! But is doubt really something we ought to fear? Is it really our enemy? What if we came to understand doubt not simply as a distant friend, but a very necessary companion in the growth and development of our faith! This week Pete and the Curious team not only unpack the stereotypical fears and struggles doubt brings, but seek to reframe and repurpose it, capturing it as something of a catalyst to igniting genuine, reinforced faith. The team express how doubt is not someone we ought to be reluctantly opening the door to, but rather one we ought to be enthusiastically offering entrance. Join the team this week as they repaint doubt and emphasise its place and significance in building strong faith.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….please note, articles are featured here for balance and provocation and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and convictions of the Curious team.…Faith and Doubt - PhilipYancey.comBorrowing Faith when Doubt Creeps In - ChristianityToday.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’d encourage a browse related to this episode. So here goes…enjoy;Craig Groeschel — The Benefit of Doubt: How Confronting Your Deepest Questions Can Lead to a Richer Faith Todd Mullins — Don’t Let Doubt Take You Out: Replacing Fear and Doubt with Faith and TruthPhilip Yancey — Disappointment with God: Three Questions No One Asks AloudSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Who was Jesus—and what did he look like? And more significantly, what colour was his skin? In this provocative episode, the Curious team are in conversation with professor Edward Blum who, alongside Paul Harvey, co-wrote the intriguing and highly informative “Color of Christ”. Together they unravel the centuries-long struggle over the colour of Christ. From Warner Sallman’s iconic white Jesus to Black liberation theology’s reimagining of a Christ who shares the suffering of the oppressed, Professor Blum and the team explore how race, power, and identity have shaped - and been shaped by - the image of Jesus. Drawing on Professors Blum and Harvey’s work ‘The Color of Christ’; this episode examines how art, theology, and politics have collided in the portrayal of the Messiah - from 1950s Sunday school cards to Mormon imagery, from ancient myths like the Letter of Lentulus to modern racial reckonings. This isn’t just about art history - it’s about who gets to see themselves in the divine.Join the team this week as we traverse some controversial and at times, delicate terrain.Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….please note, articles are featured here for balance and provocation and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs and convictions of the Curious team.…What colour was Jesus? - Theologetics.orgJesus is black. Get over it - PremierChristianity.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes…enjoy;Prof. Edward Blum and Prof. Paul Harvey - The Color of ChristSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Power can be a very emotive word. How do we understand it? There is perhaps no such thing as a truly impotent individual, for everyone holds a degree of power whether they realise it or not. No one is immune from wielding a form of power. The question is not whether we have the power, but how we understand it and what we do with it and how we define it. This week the Curious team are joined by Restored CEO Bekah Legg, as they explore the meaning, layers, application and abuse of personal and corporate power.Together Bekah and the team explore a theology of power. How scripture defines it. How God dispenses it. And how often the church can misuse it or even abuse it. This episode builds a case for what healthy, redemptive power looks like that brings wholeness into relational, familial and spiritual environments. Join the team this week as Bekah unpacks some much needed wisdom in a very sensitive and difficult area Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you… check out the Restored website for important information…restored-uk.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes…enjoy;Justin Humphreys and Dr. Lisa Oakley — Escaping the Maze of Spiritual AbuseNatalie Collins — Out of Control (See the Restored site above for more recommended reading)Send your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What do we mean by God’s presence? Are we always assured of its tangible reality? In spite of Jesus’s promise to never leave us or forsake us, we also understand the painful tension of scriptures like Psalm 13:1—“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me?” What does scripture mean when it speaks of God’s hiddenness within the reality of his permanent promise of presence? Many Christians believe that it is within themselves to determine God’s presence with them. If we behave, God walks with us, if we don't, he departs from us; but is that what scripture truly tells us, or is the picture very different?This week the Curious team seek to lay a biblical foundation of divine presence, unpacking a threefold understanding of presence namely; God’s general omini-presence; his tangible, visceral presence; and his redemptive, saving presence. They’ll seek to more adequately define absence and hiddenness in the light of these three resounding truths of presence; before closing the episode with a number of practical understandings in how we better live with the absence/present tension. Join the team this week as they uncover some rather significant and surprising aspects of God’s dealings with us Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….check out these articles around this weeks theme…When God's Presence Feels Absent - TheGospelCoalition.orgWhen God isn't there - DesiringGod.orgCultivating Attentiveness to God's Presence - CSLewisInstitute.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes…enjoy;Francis A. Schaeffer — He Is There and He Is Not Silent David Bowden — When God Isn’t ThereSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!Despite the great value of individual quiet times, singular Bible reading plans, and personal commitments to church ministries; the great danger prevails that as Christians we are in danger of increasingly privatising our faith. Could it be that we are losing the edge to look outward towards the other as we become ever more preoccupied with looking inward toward ourselves?The gospel has always historically been a gospel of the “we” as opposed to simply the “me“. The term “one another”, that so closely identifies the kernel of Kingdom understanding, is repeated over 30 times throughout the New Testament. The gospel did not simply come to save us, but to move us. To move us beyond simply my health, my joy, my spiritual life, and my Church position; to a servant like mentality of being bread, light, and salt to those in our lives and our world.This week the curious team are joined by activist, speaker, writer and podcaster Lisa Sharon Harper whose book, “A Very Good Gospel”, makes a strong and biblical appeal for Christians to live with a wider focus and deeper perspective toward the other. Lisa has for many years advocated a gospel of the “we”, emphasising the great biblical, overarching understanding of creational, relational, and spiritual shalom. Join the team this week as Lisa both inspires and challenges us to become God’s shalom to a needy world Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you….check out Lisa’s website…https://lisasharonharper.comWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes….here’s Lisa’s book;Lisa Sharon Harper — A Very Good GospelSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious

Click here to text us your thoughts and questions!What do we mean by “salvation by works”? What does Scripture say? What did the early christians believe? What about the medieval church? And how did the turbulent waters of the reformation confront that? Historically the good works that we do, the way we behave, has always been considered vitally and fundamentally important, irrespective of whatever denomination or persuasion one might represent be it hardcore Protestant or entrenched Roman Catholic. Yet the controversy has persisted as to what role they play precisely in ones acceptance before God. Do our good deeds win us anything with God? Are they meritorious in any way? Could they be understood to be determinative, especially in regards our eternal state! If some imagine good works may not immediately be significant to our gaining favour with God, will they be ultimately? In this second episode of our new series looking at contrasts and comparisons both theological and practical; the Curious team reflect on the age old dilemma of works and faith. Why are good works important? What role do they play? How are we to correctly understand their role in our ultimate salvation? Join the team this week as they get stuck into this perennial dilemma. Further ReadingHere’s a bit of homework for you that offers a cross-section of insight into this weeks theme…Faith and Works - TheGospelCoalition.orgCatholic Belief on Faith and Works - Catholic.comWill We Finally be Saved by Faith Alone? - DesiringGod.orgWhat we’re reading?As a feature to our notes, we are adding the book or books that we’ve been browsing and reading as part of this series. So here goes….here’s a couple of recommendations especially for this episode;(Please be aware. Theology for the Curious do not endorse everything taught in the books they recommend. Often for the sake of balance and contrast, they will recommend opposing views to offer balance that may or may not reflect their own particular opinion.)R. C. Sproul — Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification Robert A Sungenis — Not by Faith Alone: A Biblical Study of the Catholic Doctrine of JustificationThomas Schreiner — Faith Alone: The Doctrine of JustificationSend your questions or thoughts to: [email protected] us on Instagram @theologyforthecuriousFind us on TikTok: @theologyforthecurious