Theology Central is a podcast focused on making theology central to everything and challenging people to think. This is done via Bible studies, devotional messages, news commentary and sermons. New content is added on a daily basis.
In this episode, we examine a sermon's opening illustration that compares the Holy Spirit to Noah's dove "looking for a place to rest." Is this poetic revival language—or a hermeneutical and theological mess? We break down the biblical context, the flawed imagery, and what it subtly teaches about the Spirit and revival.
A popular devotional uses Joshua 1:8 and the story of Horatio Spafford to define success. But what if the Scripture is misused, the history is incomplete, and the message is deeply flawed?
I conclude my work on a new interpretation of Hebrews 10:25-26
Today's biggest hits sound like worship songs—but they aren't. We explore why "secular praise music" is dominating culture, what it reveals about our search for meaning, and how it blurs the sacred and the romantic.
I continue my work on developing a new way to understand Hebrews 10:25
I continue the work of developing a new way to understand Hebrews 10:25
I begin the work of developing a new way to understand Hebrews 10:25
A discussion about how sermons get the book of Nehemiah wrong and a review of a sermon on Nehemiah.
We check in with what others are saying about the song of the summer for 2025
We listen to a discussion about C.F.W. Walther's classic work The Proper Distinction Between Law and Gospel.
Who were Mary's parents? On the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, we explore the story behind the tradition, its apocryphal origins, and what it reveals about how unverified narratives can shape church belief and practice.
As the Salem witch trials spiral toward their end, two final accusations push the madness to its most disturbing point. A forgotten chapter you were never told.
Was being spared from Vietnam really God's grace—while millions died? This episode confronts the tension between personal blessing and global suffering, and what our words say about the God we proclaim.
This episode explores what the trend reveals about our culture—and what it means for the church. It's not about attention span. It's about meaning, depth, and presence.
Seminaries teach hermeneutics — but do their preaching courses follow the same rules? In this episode, I explore the disconnect between biblical interpretation and sermon preparation, and ask: when does faithful exposition go off the rails — in the classroom, or the pulpit?
The sermon explores the need for rigorous biblical interpretation within Protestantism, drawing from Bernard Rahm's *Protestant Biblical Interpretation* to advocate for a disciplined approach rooted in historical and grammatical context. The speaker laments the prevalence of subjective interpretation and the absence of systematic study, highlighting the failure to cultivate responsible Bible study methods despite repeated calls for them. Ultimately, the speaker challenges the assumptions of perspicuity of Scripture and the role of divine illumination, arguing that a commitment to sound hermeneutics is essential for navigating the complexities of biblical understanding and avoiding the pitfalls of individualistic, unchecked interpretation.
The sermon explores the unintended consequences of Sola Scriptura, arguing that while intended to empower individuals with direct access to God's word, it has fostered a culture of unchecked interpretation and theological chaos. The speaker contends that the Protestant emphasis on individual biblical authority has led to a system where laypeople evaluate sermons and theological positions without formal training, resulting in fragmentation, power struggles, and a lack of accountability. Ultimately, the speaker advocates for a more structured approach to biblical understanding, suggesting that individuals invest in formal hermeneutical training to navigate the complexities of Scripture and avoid the pitfalls of subjective interpretation.
The sermon explored the call of Abraham in Genesis 12, framing it as a template for contemporary believers to step out of their comfort zones and embrace a revivalist spirit. Utilizing a devotional and experiential hermeneutic, the preacher emphasized personal obedience and a faith-driven walk, often neglecting the historical and redemptive context of the Abrahamic covenant and its significance in salvation history. Interestingly, artificial intelligence, when tasked with predicting the sermon's content, accurately anticipated its focus on individual action and motivational appeals, highlighting a pattern of prioritizing personal revival over theological depth and accurate biblical interpretation.
The sermon presents a deeply pessimistic view of contemporary Christianity, arguing that the pursuit of personal application and emotional resonance within biblical interpretation has led to a system of spiritual anarchy where individual interpretations reign supreme, rendering theological consistency and objective truth meaningless. The speaker critiques the devotional experiential hermeneutic, highlighting its tendency to distort scripture by prioritizing subjective feelings over grammatical context and authorial intent, ultimately concluding that the widespread practice of manipulating biblical passages to fit pre-determined agendas has created a facade of unity while fostering discord and undermining the very foundation of Christian belief.
The sermon expresses frustration and skepticism regarding the modern church's tendency towards commercialization, exemplified by a church's fundraising campaign for a new building. The speaker critiques the misapplication of scripture, particularly Acts 11:29, and questions the prioritization of financial gain over genuine ministry and compassion for those in need. The speaker reflects on personal financial struggles and the irony of being asked to contribute to a large-scale project while facing their own precarious situation, ultimately questioning the church's motives and the value of its appeals for donations, while emphasizing the importance of authentic spiritual connection over material pursuits.
The IRS now says churches can endorse political candidates from the pulpit. In this episode, we break down what happened, why it matters, and how it threatens to replace Christ with political power at the center of the church.
We take a trip back to the summer of 1984 and discuss the song, When Doves Cry
In this brief update, I share some exciting news—SiriusXM has officially become the #1 platform where people are listening to Theology Central, making up over %50 of our total plays! I want to thank all of you who tune in through SiriusXM and reflect on what this milestone means for the podcast. Whether you're listening in your car, at home, or on the go—thank you for being part of this journey.
The sermon explores the concept of seemingly impossible commands in Scripture, challenging the notion that Christians can achieve obedience through their own efforts. It emphasizes a law-gospel framework, asserting that the law reveals human inability and drives individuals to Christ, whose perfect righteousness is imputed rather than infused. The speaker advocates for a theological perspective where commands are not seen as achievable goals but as catalysts for recognizing dependence on Christ, urging listeners to embrace a realistic understanding of their inherent sinfulness and to find security in His completed work, rather than striving for self-achieved righteousness.
The sermon explores the theological complexities of obedience to God's commandments and the role of scripture, ultimately questioning the effectiveness of contemporary church practices. It examines the futility of idolatry and human attempts to understand the divine, contrasting human efforts with God's sovereignty and purpose. Through an observational outline of Isaiah 44, the message highlights God's unique identity as Creator and Redeemer, emphasizing His promise of restoration and the use of unexpected instruments, like Cyrus, to fulfill His will, while challenging the tendency to impose human-centric interpretations onto biblical texts.
Over twenty girls swept away in a Texas flood at a Christian camp. In this episode, we confront the deep tension between promises of divine protection and the brutal silence of tragedy. What does it mean to trust a God who intervenes—sometimes?
The sermon transcript presents a frustrated critique of contemporary biblical interpretation, particularly regarding the book of Isaiah. The speaker laments the pervasive tendency to impose modern theological frameworks onto ancient texts, specifically highlighting the misapplication of Isaiah 44 and the conflation of church-centric themes with its original context of comfort and promise to Israel in Babylonian captivity. The speaker emphasizes the importance of observational Bible study and the need to resist the urge to impose personal or denominational preferences onto scripture, advocating for a return to careful reading and a recognition of the historical and covenantal setting of biblical passages, ultimately expressing discouragement with the state of biblical understanding and a desire for a more faithful engagement with the text.
This episode explores the devotional-experiential hermeneutic—a system where personal experience shapes how Scripture is read. We examine its roots, how it misuses verses like Hebrews 4:12, and the consequences of letting emotion override biblical meaning.
The sermon transcript reflects a deep concern for the accuracy of biblical interpretation, particularly within contemporary church settings. The speaker critiques the prevalence of devotional experiential hermeneutics, which prioritizes personal feelings and applications over careful textual analysis and historical context, especially evident in reviews of sermons on Isaiah 40-55. The speaker advocates for a return to rigorous hermeneutical training, emphasizing the importance of understanding original audiences, covenantal frameworks, and the broader redemptive narrative of Scripture, ultimately aiming to equip listeners to discern faithful teaching and avoid the pitfalls of superficial or misleading interpretations.
The sermon critically examines contemporary Christian practices, particularly the monetization of theological education through conferences and the sale of recorded sermons. It questions the biblical justification for charging fees for accessing spiritual instruction, contrasting it with the ideal of freely sharing the Gospel and emphasizing the importance of accessible theological resources. The speaker expresses concern over the commodification of preaching and encourages listeners to support ministries directly rather than through expensive conferences, advocating for a return to simpler, more accessible forms of spiritual growth and dissemination of knowledge.
The speaker grapples with the tension between theological doctrines and the realities of human experience, particularly the persistent presence of sin despite claims of divine empowerment. Examining sermons accessed through a platform like Sermon Audio, the speaker finds frustration with messages that oversimplify decision-making and ignore the inherent limitations imposed by a depraved nature. The discussion centers on the paradox of moral responsibility when individuals are born with a nature that predisposes them to sin, questioning the validity of free will and the coherence of holding people accountable for actions they cannot ultimately avoid, ultimately suggesting a reliance on faith in Christ as a resolution to this inherent conflict.
The discussion centers on leveraging artificial intelligence as a tool for critical thinking and theological exploration, emphasizing that AI is not a source of inherent truth but a pattern-imitating language model requiring careful training and engagement. The speaker advocates for establishing clear standards, demanding transparency, and correcting AI's outputs to cultivate a reliable tool for biblical study, sermon evaluation, and theological inquiry, ultimately aiming to enhance understanding and clarity rather than blindly accepting AI-generated information as definitive.
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