This week, Peter, Aaron, and guest-host Adam Powers answer listener questions from Out of Oz Season 03. If you have a question you’d like us to answer, send an email to [email protected]. 

[02:25] - How old is the Earth? And why does it matter?

[06:44] - Does the existence or non-existence of aliens affect Christianity?

[08:33] - What kind of rewards should believers expect in heaven?

[11:07] - Should Christians celebrate Jewish holidays?

[12:56] - If everything is truly part of God’s will and plan, then are things like presidential elections and natural disasters an attempt to turn us back to him?

[15:48] - Is there a difference between God’s action through Biden or Trump vs Saul and the kings of the Old Testament?

[21:15] - Rather than “active” and “passive”, would it be more precise to say that God is “active” and “responsive” in terms of election? 

[23:12] - If alcohol is used as a coping mechanism, how do you know where to draw the line into where it becomes sin?

[31:01] - What is the difference between New Age manifestation type of thinking and what has been called the “name it and claim it” kind of teaching?

[31:53] - How do you determine the difference between things like gossip or prayer requests, and confidence or pride?

[34:54] - How do you pursue holiness in a world of worldliness? 

[38:31] - How do you build discernment between soft gospel and good gospel?

[42:49] - How do we personally get ourselves to a place of knowing we are believing the true gospel?

[46:26] - What would be a good alternative to emotional alter calls?

[48:31] - If God designed us with the capability to fall into sin, isn’t that a design flaw?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Links

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SonRise Community Church

Good Mythical Morning

Out of Oz 0320: Do Aliens Exist And, If So, Does This Affect Christianity?

Out of Oz 0317: Is God the Author of Sin?

Out of Oz 0301: Is Double Predestination Biblical?

Out of Oz 0312: Are Christians Allowed a Coping Mechanism?

Out of Oz 0315: Should Christians Practice Manifestation?

Out of Oz 0316: Why Does the Church So Easily Accept Certain Sins?

Kevin DeYoung

Out of Oz 0313: Is Steven Furtick Going to Hell?

Out of Oz 0305: Are Altar Calls Biblical?

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Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” starts blaring in the department stores and men and women alike are pushing and shoving one another for the greatest deals. Amazon has been at your doorstep every day this week. Stockings are hung with care and matching pajamas are handed over with a smile. These are the sounds and sights of the Christmas season. For Christians, though, Christmas should be about celebrating the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ, but is it really about that? What about the pagan roots that kicked off this Hallmark Holiday to begin with? Should Christians celebrate Christmas?

This week, Aaron and guest-hosts Adam Powers, Dani Van Nortwick, and Ryleigh Demarse discuss:

[03:07] - Was Christmas time really around the time of the birth of Jesus? If not, why do we celebrate then?

[04:00] - What are the pagan roots of Christmas? Where did it originate?

[10:42] - Is the consumerist mindset of Christmas reason enough to not celebrate the holiday?

[16:53] - Can Christians make family an idol during this time of year?

[19:48] - Is it wrong for Christian parents to let their kids believe that Santa Claus is real?

[25:20] - Is it a compromise to not have a church gathering on Christmas day? 

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Ryleigh Demarse

Links

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SonRise Community Church

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In the 19th century, women began working outside their homes in large numbers after centuries of being the primary home caregiver. Fast forward to today, women may receive smug looks from others if they confess they stay at home to home school or care for children, burdened by concerns like, “Don’t you want more for yourself?” and “What about your career?” Within the church, the roles may be reversed. People may question why a mother would prefer to chase a dream or work in her desired field. Which side is legit? Which is Biblical?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers, Dani Van Nortwick, and Melissa Hale discuss:

[02:57] - How would you define “occupational” vs “stay at home” mom?

[03:50] - Why are we asking this question? Why is this an issue?

[07:14] - Biblically, what should the priority of a mother be?

[12:29] - Is it biblical for the wife to be the breadwinner? What if the husband has the desire to stay home?

[24:54] - At what point should a mom consider coming home from her job to take care of the home and children? How do you know when it’s time?

[32:34] - Is it unbiblical to put your kids in daycare when the wife or husband has the ability and flexibility to stay home?

[38:06] - Is it biblical to expect women to have children right after marriage? Is it selfish to wait? 

[40:44] - What if a Christian couple doesn’t want to have children? Or cannot?

[47:26] - What advice would you give to a couple looking to bring the wife home from the workforce? Or go back out into the workforce?

[51:45] - What encouragement can you give to working moms? What encouragement can you give to stay-at-home moms?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Melissa Hale

Links

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SonRise Community Church

Enneagram

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The subject of aliens has lingered in the minds of Americans for many years. The fervor around unexplainable happenings has been reignited at different times due to “new findings” or leaked footage of UFOs. History.com has an interactive map where you can explore possible UFO sightings. And, at one point, the US Government launched a systematic study, Project Blue Book, where they spent time and resources researching the very question at hand today. As Christians, we may grapple with this question differently due to the nature of salvation and our belief that our God created all things. So today we ask the question, do you believe in aliens?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Nate Currin, Adam Powers, and Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[02:34] - Why are we having this conversation?

[04:31] - How would you define what aliens are? Any intelligent life outside of Earth?

[06:50] - What proof is there that aliens exist or don’t exist?

[11:28] - Why aren’t aliens mentioned in the Bible?

[15:12] - Is the spiritual realm an example of alien life?

[32:21] - How would it impact our faith if there was intelligent life somewhere besides Earth? How should Christians respond to claims of alien life?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Nathan Currin

Links

Watch Out of Oz on YouTube 

SonRise Community Church

History.com

Project Blue Book

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It is evident in Scripture that certain activities are dishonorable and off-limits, including adultery, abuse, and murder. Yet, throughout the Bible we see God’s people having multiple wives, and instances of abuse and slavery. This causes skeptics and Christians alike to wonder how God could call something sin, yet still seem to permit it or even engage in it or ordain it himself. Does this show a contradiction or inconsistency? Are polygamy and slavery allowed in the Bible?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers and Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[03:28] - What is polygamy? 

[17:17] - Is polygamy adultery?

[18:21] - How was David “a man after God’s own heart” while living in the continual sin of polygamy?

[22:35] - What is slavery? Is there a difference between slavery in the Bible and modern slavery in the West?

[33:16] - How can some of our greatest theologians (George Whitfield, Jonathan Edwards, etc.) have owned slaves? How do we reconcile this? 

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

Watch Out of Oz on YouTube 

SonRise Community Church

Out of Oz 0216: Is Divorce and Remarriage Biblically Permitted?

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“Am I really a Christian?” is a thought that can rattle the mind, body, and soul. There are circumstances and sins we engage in which may elicit our soul to ask this question of ourselves or others in our lives who may impose this belief upon us. Having faith is a matter of eternal life or infinite damnation, so we truly must ask ourselves, how can I know for sure I am a Christian?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers and Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[02:01] - Why are we asking this question?

[07:19] - What does it even mean to be saved? And what does it mean to have assurance?

[10:45] - What are we saved from?

[28:58] - How do we “grow closer” to Christ?

[34:41] - Closing thoughts

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

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SonRise Community Church

The Skeptical Saint

Saved from What? By R. C. Sproul

Martin Luther

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If you were to take a poll of the reasons why unbelievers struggle to grasp the idea of God or a doctrine professing Christians grapple with, one that drives to the forefront would likely be the origin of transgression. Where did sin originate? If God created all things, how can something exist that He didn't construct? God is infinite in wisdom and He did not intend for us to understand all things, but with the capabilities we do have, albeit limited, we can seek to study and uncover the question, is God the author of sin?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers and Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[02:49] - Why are we having this conversation?

[07:23] - Did God allow sin? And if He allowed it, does that make him evil?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

Watch Out of Oz on YouTube 

SonRise Community Church

Westminster Confession of Faith

R. C. Sproul

Out of Oz 0301: Is Double Predestination Biblical?

Putting Amazing Back into Grace: Embracing the Heart of the Gospel by Michael Horton 

Herman Bavinck

Providence by John Piper

Spectacular Sins by John Piper

Charles Spurgeon

Jonathan Edwards

A.W. Tozer Knowledge of the Holy

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When you see someone commit sin or hear confession of sin, the degree of said sin can either raise eyebrows or roll eyes. If you hear someone is struggling with gossip, the odds are, you’re not shocked. But if your friend went on an all-night rager and got wasted, the odds are you pass judgment and have a check in your conscience. There are certain sins that are embedded, engrained, and normalized in American culture as we know it: gluttony, pride, and greed. What’s the difference between our varying levels of sin? Why does the church so easily accept certain sins?

This week, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers and Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[03:00] - How do we define sin?

[12:35] - What are some examples of sins that are more easily accepted by the church?

[24:34] - There are different consequences to certain sins in society and the church, so shouldn’t there then be different levels of judgment?

[32:43] - How can we create a culture in our churches that isn’t so accepting of certain sins?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

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SonRise Community Church

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Manifestation is the idea of bringing something you want into existence through aspirational thought practices. This mind ritual is touted by people like Oprah, prominent wellness publications, and social media influencers. For Christians and non-Christians alike, this idea seems delightful. Who wouldn’t want to gain the desires of their heart by exercising a pattern of thought? But what spiritual implications does this have, if any? 

This week, Peter, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers, Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[02:07] - How do we define manifestation?

[08:31] - Is “Christian manifestation” a new idea?

[13:30] - What does the Bible say about speaking things into existence? What does the Bible say about our thought life?

[25:24] - What about Mark 11:23-24 and other passages (Luke 11:9, James 5:16) that seem to imply that manifestation is biblical?

[36:05] - What should Christians do instead of manifestation?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

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SonRise Community Church

The Inklings

Bethel

The Most Misused Verses in the Bible: Surprising Ways God's Word Is Misunderstood by Eric J. Bargerhuff 

C. S. Lewis

The Chronicles of Narnia

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There are countless things Christians do that they are wasting their time on. Mark 12:30-31 lays out clearly the priorities of the Christian life from the mouth of Jesus—that Christians are to love God and love their neighbor. As Christians, we know what we are supposed to do but we waste our time doing other things. So what should Christians stop doing?

This week, Peter, Aaron, and guest-hosts Adam Powers, Dani Van Nortwick discuss:

[03:59] - What’s the difference between universal and personal conviction?

[07:03] - What do you think is more important to God — that we exercise our Christian liberties, or that we pursue holiness and purity?

[14:59] - How do you handle a situation where someone points out something in your life that they believe is a sin, but you do not believe is a sin?

[19:12] - How do you talk to someone that you feel has taken a Christian liberty too far? Should you talk to them at all?

[29:31] - What does consumerism look like in the church?

[34:16] - Why are Christians so quick to be hyper-critical of leaders in ministry and tear them down?

[41:14] - What is the proper way to respond when a leader has done something wrong?

[52:38] - How do you guard against being hyper-critical, but still hold leaders accountable?

Guest Hosts

Adam Powers

Dani Van Nortwick

Links

Watch Out of Oz on YouTube 

SonRise Community Church

Out of Oz 0309: Why Do So Many People Hate Christians?

Matt Chandler

Ravi Zacharias

Mark Driscoll

Out of Oz 0313: Is Steven Furtick Going to Hell?

SBC

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