Striving For Unity, Holding Your Views: Women in Ministry

Episode Description
In this episode, we dive into one of the most debated topics in church leadership: women in ministry. We unpack the two main positions: complementarianism and egalitarianism, and explore what Scripture says about the woman who impacted the world with their ministry and what it teaches about women in leadership roles.

We study prominent women in the Bible like Deborah, Phoebe, Junia, Priscilla, and Lydia among others and how each side interprets their roles. Were some of these women exceptions? Do they give us examples of women leading with authority? How does this inform our fellowship with others who hold different views?

Where do we land? Holding our convictions while loving those who disagree, we look to the Word for how to understand this topic. Let's see how unity in Christ is not just possible, but compelled by the Gospel and furthers the Great Commission.

Expanded Notes

I forgot to mention Galatians 3:28 from the Egalitarian position.  Galatians 3:28: Egalitarians say no distinction between male and female, therefore no roles. Complementarians say it is spiritual truth in Christ, not church leadership or home roles.

Key Passages & References:

• 1 Timothy 2:11-15 — central text in the leadership debate
• Romans 16 — Phoebe and Junia
• Judges 4 — Deborah
• Acts 16 — Lydia
• Gotquestions on egalitarianism
• The Danvers Statement
• Wayne Grudem on Healthy Complementarianism

Why This Matters
Understanding these debates equips believers to engage with conviction and love. Scripture is the foundation for our theology, and historical context and church tradition provides necessary interpretive nuance. This episode is for those who want to hold their view while pursuing unity in the body of Christ. 

✅ Key Takeaways:

Brothers and sisters on both sides love Jesus, love His Word and make disciples.
Both sides want to take Scripture seriously.

In conversations:

• Lead with the Gospel
• Listen well
• Learn the other side

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We hope this episode helps to equip both your view, and how you serve the Lord with it.

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Listen to the end for the call that matters most...

Grab your coffee, open your Bible, and join the discussion as we strive for unity without sacrificing truth.

Episode Title:Calvinism vs. Arminianism
Series: Striving for Unity, Holding Your Views

In this episode, we step into one of the most defining conversations in Christian theology: Calvinism and Arminianism. We’re exploring how regardless of our views, we can navigate this conversation with both conviction and grace.

You’ll hear a simple breakdown of each perspective: Calvinism’s focus on God’s sovereignty and grace, and Arminianism’s emphasis on human responsibility and choice. We’ll look briefly at their historical roots in John Calvin and Jacobus Arminius, and how they each approach key passages like Romans 9 and Philippians 2:12.

But this isn’t just about doctrine. It’s about discipleship, the Great Commission and the Kingdom of God. How can we seek understanding, listen well, and love others even when we disagree? What does humility look like when the topic is complex and decidedly personal?

We’ll close by remembering that while believers may differ on how God’s saving work unfolds, we share the same Gospel: salvation by grace through faith in Christ alone. We are living for the same God, and the same Gospel.

These debates matter, but they’re secondary to the greater call; to love God, love others, and live out the unity Jesus prayed for in John 17:20.

Let’s walk through this conversation with humility and a thirst for the glory of God and His righteousness.

Quick Links:
Calvinism 5 Points and Arminianism Explained

My View

Why We Do Bible Study On Established In The Truth

How Does The Gospel Compel Us To Love?

Calvinism Resources:

Desiring God on Calvinism   Calvinism DEEP DIVE

TULIP by Reformation Bible College 

Arminianism Resources

Got Questions on Arminianism    Got Questions on Prevenient Grace

A Look At The Original View

Understanding Both Sides

Easy Side By S

What's your favorite Bible verse?

We hope this episode helps to equip both your view, and how you serve the Lord with it.

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Striving for Unity, Holding Your Views: Baptism

Episode Description
In this episode, we explore how Christians can hold differing views on baptism without compromising unity in the Gospel. We tackle the two main approaches: infant baptism and believer’s baptism.

We'll look into Acts and see how each side understands the 16th chapter on the household baptism. Some see infants in this text because of first-century family structures and covenant promises, while others understand the household as consisting of those capable of faith.

Where do we land? How do we have boldness in conviction and yet love each other our in relationships? The Church is united by grace through faith in Christ alone. Let's dive into how we can strive for unity, and hold our view, while we seek first the Kingdom of God.

Optional Additions in Show Notes:

• References: Matthew 28:18–20; Acts 2:38–41; Acts 16:15, 33, 34; Romans 5:1; Eph 2:8
• R.C. Sprould on Baptismal Regeneration
• Gotquestions.org on bapstismal regeneration and answer on 1 Peter

What's your favorite Bible verse?

We hope this episode helps to equip both your view, and how you serve the Lord with it.

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Disclaimer: Any links are NOT affiliate links. They are merely links to resources I found helpful in study. I receive NO COMMISSION on any links. Please enjoy any resources linked to episodes. I pray they are helpful in your walk with Christ. :)

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Tell us what your view is! Spiritual Gift Poll for this episode

1. Welcome

• Updates and shout outs! (Thank you for your patience for the missed episode last week, I had family obligations, sorry for the delay!)
• This episode: spiritual gifts
• Unity, humility, love for the church in the Gospel.
• The text we will mainly look at today is 1 Cor. 13.

2. The Debate

Cessationists: See gifts as serving a foundation-laying role in the early church, but that they ceased after the Bible was canonized.

Continuationists: Gifts are still active and useful today in the church.

The debate often centers not on if God can do miracles, but on whether the gifts are normative for the church.

1 Cor. 13

 When the “perfect” comes:

• Cessationist perspective: is the canon fulfilled, maturity of the church. 
• Continuationist perspective: is Jesus’ second coming. Jesus is the "perfect".
  • John Piper on this
• Validate each side, scripture, church history, experience.
• Compelling Truth on this
• Personal position/view on spiritual gifts: Continuationist, fully submitted to sola scriptura, the gifts are critical to church health, don’t operate like they did in the 1st century. John Piper and Matt Chandler are two solid teachers on this, among many brilliant bible teachers. Wayne Grudem too.

2. How we got here

Early Church (1st–3rd c.): In the early church, spiritual gifts were assumed to be active, rooted in both Scripture and experience. By the 4th century, voices like Chrysostom noted the gifts seemed to fade, though this wasn’t formal doctrine. 

Medieval Period: In the medieval era, miraculous claims shifted to relics and saints, shaped more by experience and church authority than Scripture. 

Reformation (1500s): At the Reformation, Calvin and Luther emphasized Sola Scriptura and were cautious of miracle claims, especially when Rome used them to justify authority.

18th–19th c.: By the 18th and 19th centuries, Enlightenment rationalism reinforced skepticism toward the miraculous, and many Protestants concluded the gifts belonged only to the apostolic age. 

Early 1900s – Pentecostalism: The Azusa Street Revival reignited belief in tongues, prophecy, and healing as active, with experience once again interpreted through Scripture. This spread through the Pentecostal and Charismatic movements. 

Today: Today, Christians are divided: some see the gifts as foundational and tied to the apostolic era, while others see them as still active and edifying. The

What's your favorite Bible verse?

We hope this episode helps to equip both your view, and how you serve the Lord with it.

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How the Original Languages Help Us Understand God's Word and Worship Him 

Welcome and Thanks

Can now comment on episodes on Spotify (if you're reading this on Spotify, say hi!)

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Reels on Insta as well as bonus content on the website.

Praying for you, all of us are in different seasons.

God is using you in His Kingdom.

Pray for time.

How do the original languages deepen our study of the Word?

Multifaceted, but because the Bible was written originally in Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek, translations do a wonderful job, however, nuances be missed in translation. We still get the meaning, we can know the idea of what the original manuscript was saying, but studying, key word there, allows us to dive deeper, understand better, and more accurately.

CNC machine. A highly accurate machining machine. 

Was going to explain why the original languages are important, but instead, let’s walk through it together!

You can generally trust your translation.

The Holy Spirit is our teacher as we study. 3 Keys of Bible Study.

Scripture interprets Scripture. God is faithful.

Here are just a few reasons why at least a surface level understanding of the original languages are important.

Original languages for study: 

• Grant a greater understanding of nuances in the text 
• Help us test teaching and detect false teachings more easily 
• Better understanding of translations and discerning translation types 
• Grow in a richer, worshipful understanding of God's Word 

In this episode we are going to briefly unpack each one. 

The point here. Know your Bible. Know it well. Know it with humility before God. Let it shape you, let it master you. So you know and love the LORD.

Greater understanding of nuances in the text 

Matthew 7:7

Ask seek knock 

Explain tenses briefly 

"Tense in English refers to both the time when the action of the verb takes place and the form of the word."

11 William D. Mounce, Basics of Biblical Greek: Grammar, ed. Verlyn D. Verbrugge, Third Edition (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2009), 123. ]

Test teachings (not critically) and detect false teachings more easily 

John 1:1 

"the Word was God", not "a god".

Refuting Jehovah Witnesses. There’s no article before theon. 

Better understanding of translations and discerning translation types 

Romans 3:23 Different translations 

ESV, NLT, NIV, NET and others. 

Psalm 37:4 Gloss for delight and it’s use in Is 57:4

Grow in a richer, worshipful understanding of God's Word 

John 19:30

The beauty of tetelestai

Now take this with and check these links!

Resources:

Biola on Tetelestai

Blue Letter Bible on Tenses and other Greek goodnes

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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Welcome 

Check out the downloadable infographic for this episode! Don't miss the resources section for other links used in this episode.

Additional content on Instagram

Send us a text! I won’t see your info, just your message. 

Last part of our series on Bible vs. Science.

1. Intro

Isaiah was a prophet living during the time of several kings of Judah who reigned from 767 B.C. to 686 B.C.

Basically the 8th century.

2. Diving in: What does Isaiah say?

• Reading the prophecy about Cyrus.
• Isaiah 45:1-4
• Name specific, people specific.
• Cross references
  • 2 Chronicles 36:22
  • Ezra 5

3. What do the outside sources say?

• Empirical data of what Isaiah said that the outside sources corroborate.
  •  "His decree that is written on the cylinder matches perfectly what the Bible predicted he would do." 
  • The Dead Sea Scrolls

4. What do the skeptics say?

• Written later
  • Briefly explain ex eventu.
  • Written after Cyrus delivered Israel
  •  Multiple authorship: Differing styles and themes 
  •  Using literary differences to determine authorship 

5. How can we know Isaiah has one author?

Besides Isaiah himself: The New Testament

• Jesus in Matthew 13:14
• Paul Romans 11:8
• John 12:39-40

6. What does the physical evidence show us?

• One continuous scroll
• The Cyrus cylinder

7. Why do critics ignore these things?

• Methodological naturalism
• Their lens prohibits prophecy

8. The Gospel tie in

• Isaiah prophecies Jesus
• If they don't accept inerrancy, if they don't accept Jesus' words, they simply won't be willing to believe. Pray for them.
• This means that, if we follow this logically, that if Isaiah prophesied this, what else did he prophecy?
• Luke 4:21

9. How do we approach these conversations as believers?

• Spiritual conversations using history/science
• Those who reject the words of the Lord Himself will never be convinced by any other means. Pray for them. Let's speak the truth in love.
• It' s not about just knowing these things, it's about how God wants to use it to lead people to His Word and to Himself.

Next episode: exploring the importance of Biblical language for every believer! Planned for next Wednesday.

Resources:

Downloadable Infographic

Got Questions On Isaiah

Explore The Isaiah Manuscript On The Dead Sea Scroll Website

Evidence Unseen on The Book of Isaiah

Apologetics Press on The Book of Isaiah

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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 EPISODE OUTLINE:  When Science Seems To Disprove Genesis 

Bible vs. Science - Part 2

When Science Seems to Disprove Genesis

Series: the bible vs. science – Part 2

Strong Phrases from Heavy Skeptics

Segment 1: Story from College (3 mins.)

Segment 2: What’s Really Going On

Segment 3: Why It Matters

Segment 4: Examples & Pushback

“Radiometric dating proves an old earth.”

“Fossils show millions of years.”

“Adam and Eve couldn’t be literal, it’s genetically impossible.”

Segment 5: Theology of Science

General Revelation

Psalm 19:1 creation declares God’s glory

Romans 1:20

Colossians 2:8

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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Does science disprove the Bible?

Can Christians be confident in the Word when scientific findings seem to contradict it?

This episode will explore how to approach science and the Word in a way that honors God, while also respecting the tool that He created science to truly be, a tool to worship Him.

One of the most robust resources on the topic of the flood:
Answers in Genesis

Example of Critical Scholarship (this is what I was referring to when a fallible scientific worldview dictates your understanding of truth and error)

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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Last episode in this series on Bible study!

This episode focusing on applications in Bible study.

Head and Heart

• The first and most important application of any passage is applying the theological truth to our hearts and minds.
• What does the text say about God?
  • Ex. Psalm 90:2

Yielding our hearts to what a passage reveals about God is the primary work of the passage.

• Do I believe this?
• The Spirit does this work in whatever passage we are studying.

This is true even in Difficult passages

What are some practical ways that we can "apply" this to our bible study.

1. Ask do I believe what the text says about God?
2. Does this stir in my heart affections for Christ?

Meditating is a great way to truly chew on the Word daily.

Being a Doer

Start with the passage

• Get the gist of it down
• What does the text instruct the reader to do?
  • Hint: Look for the verbs of the passage.

This could be an action, it could be believing something about God, it could even be a sin issue that God wants you to deal with.

1 Cor 13

The Love chapter

What passages explain the Gospel? Have you encountered questions that you are unsure the answer to regarding it? Do you have resources you can go to to get the answer?

Applying Bible Study Daily 
The Spirit working in us with right interpretation, clarifying what passages mean and what they don't, gives us confidence in how to apply passages in every day life.

We should not take this truth for granted: the Bible should inform and through the Holy Spirit, empower every area of our lives, to bring us into conformity with God's will for us. We should not build on anything else but the rock of Christ.

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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IMPORTANT
People reject Christ due to this topic alone. Bible redaction is a currently hot topic and a difficult one in many circles of theology, particularly higher criticism (those who reject inspiration of Scripture). Before I lose you on this wording, note that as Christians, this topic has implications in both Bible study AND apologetics. If you are new to this topic,  please allow this episode to be a kind of introduction, and please email us or follow links below if you need more information.

Join us in this episode with our special guest Caleb Alons as we discuss a unique and difficult topic in Bible study of our time, redaction criticism.

ABOUT OUR GUEST
Caleb is currently a student at Oral Roberts University pursuing degrees in both the mathematics and Biblical Literature! A dear brother in Christ, fellow worship leader and growing theologian, I consider it a privilege to have him discuss Bible redaction with me in this episode.

If you have any questions on this episode, please email us at [email protected]. 

RESOURCES

Follow us on Instagram and on your favorite streaming platform! Links in bio. God bless! #podcast #Christian #christianpodcast #theology #biblestudy #jesus #god #exegesis #faith #grace #godsword #holyspirit #church 

What's your favorite Bible verse?

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Disclaimer: Any links are NOT affiliate links. They are merely links to resources I found helpful in study. I receive NO COMMISSION on any links. Please enjoy any resources linked to episodes. I pray they are helpful in your walk with Christ. :)

Comments, questions, prayer requests? Click here!