Ask Dr. E

If God is sovereign over our lives, how much responsibility do we have for our health and daily choices?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley tackles the tension between God’s sovereignty, personal responsibility, health, longevity, and Christian liberty.

The conversation explores what happens when taking care of ourselves becomes an obsession—and what happens when “God is in control” becomes an excuse for careless living.

Dr. E explains why the goal isn't simply “balance.” Instead, he points believers toward maturity: knowing we have freedom without feeling obligated to exercise every freedom, caring for our bodies without making health an idol, and considering how our choices affect others.

He also explores the biblical distinction between legalism, license, and liberty, drawing from Ecclesiastes and 1 Corinthians.

Key Topics Covered:

• God’s sovereignty and personal responsibility

• Health, exercise, and longevity

• Legalism vs. license vs. liberty

• Christian maturity

• Stewardship of the body

• Conscience and Christian freedom

• Causing another believer to stumble

• Enjoying God’s gifts with moderation

Chapters:

00:00 — God’s Sovereignty and Personal Responsibility

01:28 — Why “Balance” May Not Be the Right Word

02:32 — Health, Longevity, and Quality of Life

03:54 — Enjoying the Gifts God Gives Us

06:13 — Stewarding the Body

06:52 — Legalism, License, and Liberty

08:39 — Christian Maturity and Conscience

10:58 — Bearing With the Weak

12:10 — “I Have the Right, But I Don’t Have to”

13:02 — Liberty and Stewardship

14:31 — When Healthy Habits Go Too Far

16:52 — Moderation and Enjoying Life

17:16 — Trusting God Without Living Haphazardly

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Why would Ezekiel describe animal sacrifices during the millennial reign if Jesus already offered the once-for-all sacrifice for sin?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley tackles a difficult question about Ezekiel 40–48 and the prophetic temple. What purpose could sacrifices possibly serve after Christ has completed His work?

Dr. E explores the relationship between Ezekiel’s temple, Old Testament sacrifices, Christ’s finished work, ceremonial purification, and the millennial kingdom. He also discusses how dispensational and Reformed approaches can differ when interpreting prophetic passages.

Drawing from Jerry Hullinger’s work on Ezekiel’s temple, Dr. E considers whether these sacrifices could serve a ceremonial or purgation function rather than providing eternal salvation.

The conversation also explores why Ezekiel’s specific language matters, what Hebrews 10 teaches about Christ’s sacrifice, the role of the Levitical priesthood, and how God’s glory relates to the future temple.

Key Topics

-Ezekiel 40–48

-The millennial temple

-Animal sacrifices after Christ

-Christ’s once-for-all sacrifice

-Hebrews 10

-Ceremonial purification

-Dispensationalism and Reformed theology

-The Levitical priesthood

-Yahweh’s glory

-Biblical prophecy

Chapters

00:00 — The question: Why sacrifices after Christ?

01:16 — Why Ezekiel 40–48 is difficult

02:30 — The millennial kingdom and prophetic interpretation

03:32 — Jerry Hullinger’s work on Ezekiel

04:00 — Christ’s sacrifice once for all

05:00 — Memorial sacrifices or something more?

06:07 — Ceremonial cleanliness and temple purification

08:32 — Why Dr. E finds the purgation view compelling

09:21 — Does Ezekiel’s language determine the meaning?

09:44 — How word usage helps interpret Scripture

10:30 — Hebrews 10 and the efficacy of Christ’s sacrifice

11:29 — The purpose of sacrifices in the millennial temple

12:05 — Ezekiel’s detailed temple description

14:31 — Dispensationalism and prophetic literature

15:03 — Oral tradition and what ancient believers knew

16:27 — Final thoughts

Links Mentioned:

Hullinger, Jerry M. 1995. “The Problem of Animal Sacrifices in Ezekiel 40–48.” Bibliotheca Sacra 152.

The Longevity Project: Surprising Discoveries for Health and Long Life from the Landmark Eight-Decade Study by Howard S. Friedman and Leslie R. Martin
Ron Rhodes "Reasoning from the Scriptures with the Jehovah's Witnesses"

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Does God command every Christian couple to have children? What happens when infertility makes biological children impossible? Is adoption the biblical answer? And where does IVF fit into a Christian understanding of family, faith, and God’s sovereignty?
In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley works through a listener’s difficult questions about infertility, adoption, IVF, embryos, surrogacy, and whether Christians are obligated to pursue having children.
Dr. E explains why the command to “multiply and fill the earth” should be understood in its biblical context rather than automatically applied as a universal requirement for every Christian couple. He also discusses how infertility fits within a fallen world, why adoption should not be treated as an automatic obligation, and why IVF presents ethical questions Christians should carefully consider.
The conversation ultimately points couples toward grace, wisdom, stewardship, prayer, and good counsel rather than simplistic formulas.
Key topics covered:
-Is having children a command for Christians?
-Biblical context of Genesis 1
-Infertility and God’s sovereignty
-Adoption and infertility
-IVF and Christian ethics
-Embryos and “snowflake babies”
-Donor conception
-Surrogacy
-Wise counsel for couples facing infertility
-Family, stewardship, and grace
Chapters:
00:00 – Is having children a command?
01:28 – The Genesis command to multiply
02:23 – God’s sovereignty and infertility
03:37 – Infertility in Scripture
04:45 – IVF and ethical questions
06:33 – Donor conception and unintended consequences
08:29 – Adoption, IVF, and wise counsel
09:40 – When infertility leads to adoption
10:00 – Biological children aren’t guaranteed either
11:15 – Family size and stewardship
11:52 – Family as a gift from God
12:16 – Further resources on IVF ethics
Links Mentioned:
Jim Denison IVF Article: https://www.patheos.com/blogs/denisonforum/2024/06/in-vitro-fertilization-southern-baptists-and-moral-relativism/
If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

What does it mean to be filled with the Holy Spirit? Does it mean receiving more of the Spirit, or does Scripture mean something deeper?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Dr. Michael Easley explains what Scripture teaches about the Holy Spirit and His work in the life of a believer.

Starting with Ephesians 5:18, Dr. E explains that being filled with the Spirit means being controlled by the Spirit. He then gives a memorable framework for understanding five aspects of the Spirit’s work: baptizing, indwelling, sealing, gifting, and filling.

The conversation also explores the fruit of the Spirit, what it means to quench or stifle the Spirit, the unforgivable sin, the Trinity, spiritual gifts, and why salvation depends upon the work of the Triune God.

Chapters:

00:00 — Ask Dr. E: Understanding the Holy Spirit

01:03 — Why We Need a Biblical Framework

01:46 — What Does “Filled With the Spirit” Mean?

02:30 — The Holy Spirit Indwells the Believer

03:21 — The Fruit of the Spirit vs. the Flesh

04:40 — “B Figs”: Five Aspects of the Spirit’s Work

05:40 — The Spirit Seals the Believer

06:44 — What Does It Mean to Quench the Spirit?

07:30 — Understanding Blasphemy Against the Holy Spirit

08:50 — The Trinity and Salvation

10:18 — Why the Trinity Is Difficult to Explain

10:57 — Spiritual Gifts and the Trinity

11:46 — A Trinitarian Insight from 1 Corinthians 12

11:55 — Submit Your Question to Dr. E

Key Topics Covered:

• Being filled with the Holy Spirit

• The indwelling of the Holy Spirit

• The sealing of the believer

• Spiritual gifts

• The fruit of the Spirit

• Quenching or stifling the Spirit

• Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit

• The Trinity

• Salvation and the Triune God

• 1 Corinthians 12 and spiritual gifts

Links Mentioned:

The Moody Handbook of Theology by Dr. Paul Enns

Find more episodes of Ask Dr. E here.

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

What should you say when someone you love is considering Catholicism?

In this episode, Dr. E responds to a listener whose young friend is seriously considering the Catholic Church and has carefully researched answers to common Protestant objections.

Dr. Easley explains why Christian apologetics must begin with relationship and then points to two foundational biblical truths: Jesus Christ is the one mediator between God and humanity, and His sacrifice is completely sufficient.

He also discusses why people can be drawn to Catholicism, the importance of examining what a church actually teaches, and the responsibility evangelical churches have to teach theology and Scripture deeply.

The goal isn't simply to win an argument. Christians are called to love people, speak truth with kindness, know Scripture, and continually point people back to Christ.

Key Topics Covered

-How to talk with someone considering Catholicism

-Relational apologetics

-Jesus as the one mediator

-The sufficiency of Christ's sacrifice

-Hebrews 10 and Christ's once-for-all sacrifice

-Scripture and church authority

-Why people may be attracted to Catholicism

-The need for deeper theological teaching in evangelical churches

-How Christians can respond with both truth and love

Chapters

00:00 Read the Council of Trent

01:10 A friend considering Catholicism

01:56 How do you respond?

02:02 Apologetics and relational capital

03:23 Two key biblical truths

03:38 One mediator: Jesus Christ

04:00 The sufficiency of Christ

05:44 Why people are attracted to Catholicism

06:30 The need for theological teaching

07:29 Dr. Easley’s own journey

08:48 The danger of confusing theology

09:23 Purgatory, indulgences, and justification

11:47 Examining church history and doctrine

12:03 Pray for your friend

Links Mentioned:

Dr. Chris Castaldo on inContext

Why Protestants Convert by Dr. Chris Castaldo

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Was David an illegitimate son of Jesse?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley explores a fascinating interpretation of David’s family history and the clues found throughout the Old Testament.

Psalm 51:5 says, “In sin my mother conceived me.” Could David’s words simply describe humanity’s sinful condition, or could they point to something unusual about his own birth?

Dr. E examines David’s absence when Samuel visits Jesse, the tension between David and his brothers, Psalm 51, and the broader pattern of God choosing unexpected people throughout the biblical story.

The discussion also connects David’s story with Ruth and Rahab and ultimately points toward the messianic lineage of Jesus Christ.

Key Topics Covered

-Was David an illegitimate son of Jesse?

-The meaning of Psalm 51:5

-Why David was absent when Samuel visited Jesse

-David’s relationship with his brothers

-Ruth, Rahab, and the messianic lineage

-Why God chooses people differently than man does

-David as a man after God’s own heart

-The importance of repentance

Chapters

00:00 Was David possibly illegitimate?

00:57 The question about David’s family history

01:45 Why was David absent from Jesse’s sons?

02:42 David’s conflict with his brothers

03:09 What does Psalm 51:5 mean?

03:42 Ruth and the unexpected messianic lineage

04:35 What “firstborn” means in Scripture

05:52 Could David have been born outside marriage?

06:42 Psalm 51 and David’s mother

07:24 David’s failures and repentance

08:05 Final thoughts on David’s possible illegitimacy

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

What does it mean to “sin against wisdom”?

In Proverbs 8:35–36, Solomon says that whoever finds wisdom finds life, but whoever sins against wisdom injures himself. Dr. E explains what that means and why biblical wisdom is something we cannot afford to miss.

The conversation also takes a closer look at Proverbs 31. Rather than presenting an impossible standard for women, Proverbs 31 gives us a picture of what a life shaped by wisdom looks like.

And what does wisdom ultimately teach us about the future?

We can smile at the future because we know who is in control.

In This Episode:

-What it means to “sin against wisdom”

-The Hebrew meaning behind “sin” or “miss the mark”

-Why Proverbs presents two ways of living

-How Proverbs 31 personifies wisdom

-What Proverbs 31 really teaches about a wise woman

-How wisdom shapes work, marriage, family, and speech

-Why wisdom allows us to face the future with confidence

Chapters:

00:00 — Why We Can Smile at the Future

00:38 — Can You Sin Against Wisdom?

00:57 — Proverbs 8: Finding Wisdom and Finding Life

01:30 — What “Sin” Means: Missing the Mark

02:32 — When We Miss Wisdom, We Hurt Ourselves

03:19 — What Proverbs 31 Really Means

04:13 — Wisdom Is More Than a Checklist

05:16 — What Happens When We Pursue Wisdom

05:36 — Smiling at the Future

06:06 — Don’t Miss Wisdom

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Is the Trinity actually taught in the Bible?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Michael Easley answers a question about whether God could simply be one being who appears in different forms throughout Scripture. Dr. E identifies this view as modalism and explains why it fails to account for the distinct nature of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Rather than beginning with theological labels, Dr. E walks through Scripture and examines what the Bible reveals about God.

Key Topics Covered

-Modalism and why it is problematic

-The distinction between the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

-Whether the Trinity contradicts monotheism

-Isaiah 48 and Isaiah 61

-Jesus’ baptism in Matthew 3

-The Father, Son, and Spirit in salvation

-The Holy Spirit’s role in the believer

-1 Corinthians 12 and the Trinity

-Why Scripture—not our assumptions—must remain our authority

Chapters

00:00 — The problem with denying the distinction

01:31 — What is modalism?

02:23 — Father, Son, and Spirit are distinct

03:49 — Biblical evidence for the Trinity

05:14 — Jesus’ baptism and the Trinity

06:14 — Who is Jesus praying to?

06:47 — Finding the Trinity throughout Scripture

08:45 — Let Scripture be the authority

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Are we made up of body, soul, and spirit—or simply body and soul?

In this episode of Ask Dr. E, Dr. Michael Easley explores the biblical relationship between grace and faith and explains why he ultimately leans toward grace as the most important theological term in the New Testament.

Dr. Easley also explains the Hebrew word chesed, which he considers one of the most important words in the Old Testament, and connects God’s covenantal lovingkindness with His gracious work in salvation.

Drawing from Ephesians 2:8–10, Dr. Easley explains the distinction between grace and faith and why saving faith cannot be separated from God’s grace.

He also challenges the phrase “cheap grace,” arguing that grace is anything but cheap because it is undeserved favor in the face of deserved wrath.

Chapters

00:00 — Grace and faith

00:30 — What is the most important word in the New Testament?

00:50 — Why chesed matters in the Old Testament

02:18 — Grace, faith, and salvation

03:50 — Are people really seeking God?

04:00 — What does grace actually mean?

04:45 — Grace is not cheap

05:10 — The ground is level at Calvary

05:20 — Grace and the Greek word charis

06:15 — Is grace the answer?

Key Topics Covered

-Grace and faith

-Salvation by grace through faith

-The meaning of chesed

-Covenant love and God’s faithfulness

-The Greek word charis

-“Cheap grace”

-Sin, wrath, and salvation

-The cross and Christ’s sacrifice

-Why the ground is level at Calvary

If you've got a question for Dr. Easley, call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].