Ask Dr. E

Full Q: Recently a young man in our Men’s Bible Study Group asked a good and relevant question — “ How do I discern or determine what spiritual gift(s) I have”? I supplied him with one of my historic books from 40 years ago but that got me wondering if inContext has discussed this issue in past podcasts or — if not, could Dr. E discuss and recommend a recent book or article, or even a spiritual assessment survey, for your audience’s information. I welcome your discussion on Spiritual Gifts, whether believers can have more than one spiritual gift, whether some spiritual gifts are no longer active in the church and whether some gifts are meant only for men and exclude women? Links Mentioned: Spiritual Gifts by Tom Schreiner Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts by William McRae Review of Spiritual Gifts by Tom Schreiner To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: I've been wanting to ask this question from a pastor or somebody from the church, but I'm hesitant because I feel that I get branded as "other" and nobody ever knows what to tell me. It usually makes things awkward and so I've gotten used to just sneaking in and out of church without letting anyone get to know me or my family. It's actually quite easy to do these days as relationships are not easily pursued in church. My husband is bipolar and to say it's been hard is a massive understatement. He does believe in Jesus and I see proof of God's work in his life. It is, however, very difficult in a much different way than most people describe difficulties in marriage. We only have one 5 year old daughter who has seen and heard things that she shouldn't have. I am just one person and cannot deal with the "all" of it that is our day to day. I've failed miserably at keeping her from witnessing some pretty traumatic stuff. I love my husband and he loves us. What does the word say about this type of situation? I've prayed and i trust the Lord. Is it just His will that we should be in this type of personal hell until death do us part? Is it the will of God for my daughter to be brought up in this environment? I'm not exactly sure what I'm looking for. Maybe just some hope. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: When the temple curtain tore in two after Jesus died, did the Jews put a new one back up? If not, why? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: My sister and I can't agree on this. Should we be baptized in the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit or just in the name of Jesus? I stand on Matthew 28:19 and she stands on Acts 19:5 and Acts 2:38. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: If I was to confess my sins to a priest or a religious leader who themselves is a bad moral character or a sinner, am I still absolved or would that nullify my confession? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: What is your belief/interpretation of when God created dinosaurs, and why were they not on Noah’s ark? Links Mentioned: Answers in Genesis To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Can a person get saved through seeing visions or having dreams of Jesus? or does salvation come by hearing the word of God, getting convicted of sin and then responding in faith? I’ve heard and read of stories especially from the Middle East of people (mostly Muslims) seeing visions of Christ and having dreams than waking up and converting to Christianity. Please clarify or explain ways of salvation (Biblically) To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: My question concerns Romans 1:24-28, where Paul is talking about the unrighteous, and how “God gave them up,” first in the “lusts of their hearts,” then to “dishonorable passions,” and finally to a “debased mind.” What does it mean when God does this? Is it a progressive removal of divine restraints and consequences that push people closer and closer to “rock bottom?” Does it ever go to the point that God abandons the unrighteous and they can never be saved, or is there still hope for them through the Gospel? If there is still hope for them, why does Paul seem to put them in a special category of being “given up?” Wouldn’t they be in the same state as everyone else before conversion, i.e. biased to choosing sin over holiness until God changes their hearts? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Do You Consider Social Security to be Income That You'd Tithe On? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Alistair Begg is in the headlines for his advice to a woman to attend her grandson’s gay marriage ceremony. I’ve also heard one of your previous episodes on the subject. The issue has hit close to home with a brother-in-law who has chosen this lifestyle. A hypothetical marriage combined with Alistair Begg’s advice made for an interesting Valentines date conversation with my wife. How do we juxtapose attending “in love” with “not compromising our faith”. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: There are people in the world in remote locations that have no access to God’s Word in their language. What happens to them when they die? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Do you think that Judas is in heaven? Does that Bible say anything about that? Is there any way to know for sure? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: What is your stance on homosexuality? How should we relate to the LGBTQ+community? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: When newborn babies die, (or stillborn or aborted) where do they go? Does Scripture tell us anything about this? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: After someone becomes a follower of Christ, is there any way for them to not sin aside from their gratitude and obedience to God? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: After the death of Jesus in Matt 27:52-53 it states that, 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many. Does this mean that physical bodies resurrected and witnessed to people or does it symbolize their spiritual accession into heaven? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: In the Bible, kings like David and Solomon had literal 100’s of wives, and yet, God never condemns their polygamy. In the New Testament, a woman who has had a mere 5 husbands is condemned by Jesus as a sinner. How can God have such a double standard? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: If the Bible says to follow the rules of the land, what if they outlaw the Bible or force you to bow down to other gods? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Did God create all the planets? And if so, what all is out there if there is an infinite number of galaxies and planets? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: If God hates religion, what should I do as a religious man? What does religion actually mean? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Does it take anything besides belief that Jesus is Lord to get into heaven and can I do anything to get out of that? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Does prayer change the providence of God? Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not trying to make a case against prayer. I just wonder if we pray in the right way or for the right things? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: I was recently in a conversation with a group of guys about answered prayers. One guy shared how years ago a group of them traveled to a foreign country on a mission trip and when they got there, they discovered that there was a need to build a house for orphan children. He said that night they all prayed about it and the next morning they got news that someone had offered to match up $50K in donation. He said that was confirmation of answered prayer. Was God waiting for that group of people to pray before He put in on the heart of another guy to donate a match? If no one prayed would the orphans still need a home? If God knew before the foundations of the earth who would be saved how does prayer affect those who we pray for to be saved? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Does the “more Christian” a person is affect if prayers are answered? Why do some receive healing and others don’t? Links Mentioned: ADE Episode 168 To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: It is always nice to know that people are praying for you. But does the number of people praying affect if God answers the prayer? Does the more popular you are, increase the likelihood to see answered prayer? Links Mentioned: Handbook to Prayer by Kenneth Boa Arthur G. Bennett- The Valley of Vision Joy and Strength by Mary Tileston To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: I’m currently a student at Truett Seminary, and am taking a Scriptures class over the Gospels. That has prompted this question: When preaching and teaching from the Gospels, particularly the synoptics, how do we approach passages that have differing or additional material in the other accounts? Should we harmonize, preach/ teach each account, preach it purely expository, or something else? Links Mentioned: Dr. Morris Proctor on Matthew 26:36-46 To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: Did the disciples leave their families to follow Jesus? Were they married with children? It seems that Jesus wouldn’t have them abandon wives and children, right? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: We’ve been following a chronological bible study plan together since the new year, and we’re really struggling to get through portions of the Old Testament, namely places where God’s wrath is in the foreground. After reading about the Rebellion of Korah, we were hit with a very troubling question about God’s ‘rightness’ to not only punish those who rebelled, but their children as well... We know that God is sovereign and His ways are higher than ours, and that’s so far been the only real answer to our struggles. Do you have further biblical understanding of why God would kill or order the death of children, infants, or otherwise ‘innocent’ people on account of the sins of their parents? Links Mentioned: Is God a Vindictive Bully? by Paul Copan Paul Copan on inContext Ask Dr. E: What Sin Caused God To Take The Lives of Ananias and Sapphira? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: Genesis 3:1 Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the Lord God had made. And as far as I understand, Satan was (is) an angel. Were the angels made as beasts of the field? Links Mentioned: Angels Elect and Evil by C. Fred Dickason To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: I’d like to visit a denominational church such as a PCA church or an Anglican Church - both Protestant churches. We go to a bible teaching church right now but for some reason I’m concerned about non-denominational churches not having oversight or connected to a larger church body for direction. I understand having elders but just feel having a mothership if you will church with layers may be better. If we go to a bible teaching church now, perhaps I should be grateful even with my doubts of non-denominational? Further to my question about possibly leaving a non-denominational church (albeit scripture taught) and looking at a conservative Protestant church like the PCA or Anglican think institutional unity is important. Ultimately my unity lies in Jesus and his followers as a whole but is there something important scripturally about having an earthly unified church. Is there something scripturally important or pointed about being with believers in a unified earthly church setting? On one hand every few years there occurs a split and is self perpetuating when they don't agree then just split even though they yearn for unity. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.” What is the will of God?? Links Mentioned: Decision Making and The Will of God by Garry Friesen To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: Hi Dr. E, you recently described reformed theology and I found that incredibly helpful! Can you talk about a biblical hermeneutic and some ways it might be at odds with dispensational theology? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: If Someone Goes to Hell, Are They Still Made in The Image of God? Dr. Michael Easley explains the image of God. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: What did Ananias and his wife Sapphira do in Acts 5:3-4 that would cause God to take their lives so quickly? I have always considered this to be blaspheming. Am I wrong? It couldn't be because they lied; I know we would all be dead. The Holy Spirit had led them to sell their property so that it could be shared by all and out of greed (representative of the acts of sin through Satan) they thought they knew better than God of where that money should be allocated. I believe they promised the whole amount to share among all and then reneged on that promise. Matthew 5:33-36 It is better not to promise anything and then if the spirit leads then to share or as Christ put it not letting your left hand know what your right hand is doing (not giving Satan a foothold into the decision) Matthew 6:3-4. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: I follow most of your podcasts and have listened to almost all of your "Michael Easley Sermons". Somewhere along the way I heard you say you were more of a "5 Point Spurgeon than a Calvinist". Can you please possibly explain further on this statement? I believe I am a "5 pointer" but I am unsure exactly if Spurgeon believed along those lines as well or if he had a slightly different view. Links Mentioned: Michael Easley Sermons Podcast The Extent of the Atonement: Limited Atonement Versus Unlimited Atonement (Part One) The Extent of the Atonement: Limited Atonement Versus Unlimited Atonement (Part Two) Pocket Dictionary of The Reformed Tradition by Kelly M. Kapic and Wesley Vander Lugt To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: I just learned that my little velty has a tumor in his bladder and I think I know what that means. I call him a velcro doggie. He's been my constant companion for 10 years and helped me through some really rough times including when my husband passed away 4 years ago. He's very bright and he follows me everywhere. Sometimes I look at him and I wonder if I could be as devoted as my doggy is to me. If I could be that devoted to God, I would be a better person. Anyway, some of my friends say we won't see our pets in heaven and some say we will. All I know is there's a phrase about the lion will lay down with the lamb, but I'm wondering what your thoughts are on this. It kind of gives me comfort to think that I'll see my Riley again in heaven, but I'm not sure that's right. To read the show notes, click here.

Full Q: A good friend of mine is wrestling with whether to close his business or not. He wants clarity from the Lord on what direction he should go but feels like he is getting silence. The topic came up in our discussion of "laying out a fleece" before the Lord as Gideon did in the book of Judges. We were both stumped, though, and also feeling like that was putting God to the test which we are warned not to do in Exodus 17 when the Israelites tested God at Massah. I tried reading both of these passages in context but still was met with some confusion. Is it wrong to "lay out a fleece" or is testing God something completely different? God did honor Gideon's request after all. Also, if we feel like we're hearing silence from the Lord in a major life decision, what are we missing and what might be the next step in seeking His help? Thanks for your wisdom on this one. To read the show notes, click here.

Full Question: Do you think there is anything more to the passage, Joshua 10:12-15? The NASB says “the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, Until the nation avenged themselves of their enemies… the sun stopped in the middle of the sky and did not hasten to go down for about a whole day.” I’ve heard everything from this being a solar eclipse to scientists at NASA discovering a “lost day”. Appreciate your thoughts! Links Mentioned: Bible.org To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: What does it mean to “take up your cross” as a person in Franklin, TN? In other words, a person who is relatively speaking “well off”, doesn’t experience persecution, etc? Perhaps a seemingly unrelated follow up– does this life somehow prepare us or allow us to practice for the next? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: What are your thoughts on aliens (like the extraterrestrial ufo ones) being brought up as a real thing in Congress? What does this mean for the Bible? If aliens are real are they the ones that bring on the end of the world? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: What do you think about Jephthah’s vow to sacrifice whatever came out of his house in return for his victory in battle that resulted in the sacrificing of his daughter? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: What was Christ’s purpose in going and proclaiming to the saints in prison? What are 1 Peter 3:18 and 1 Peter 4:4 all about? Links Mentioned: Constable’s Notes Did Jesus Spend Saturday in Hell? Read the show notes here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: I’m afraid I committed the unpardonable sin and blasphemed the Holy Spirit. What can I do to get the Holy Spirit back? Have I messed up so badly that God won’t forgive me? What does it mean to blaspheme, grieve, and quench the Holy Spirit? How are they different and what scripture backs this up? To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: I have now lived in NYC for a year and a half, and I've felt very stagnant and alone in my faith. I've never not believed in Christ and that he died for us, or in God. I somehow always have the battle of "doing good works." meaning, I haven't done much at all to learn, and I keep sinning. With everything online nowadays (especially tiktok), I keep seeing messages being spread on the end being near. I know fear does not come from the Lord, but I sin and sin, ask for forgiveness and still have fear, because of this, if Jesus will take me into His arms because my thoughts are telling me im taking advantage of His forgiveness. I've been lazy in finding a Christian community, lazy in studying my Bible, and lately have only been thinking about death. When I commit a 'big' sin, I usually cry the next day about it and beg for forgiveness. I don't know how to hear what he wants me to do. To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Question: A friend of mine, in Chattanooga, is upset because his Baptist church is starting to allow women to baptize. They have only men as elders and deacons, but he is afraid this could turn into other things. I argue that the New Testament is silent on this, and should not make a difference. But now, I’m second guessing that and would love to know your thoughts! To read the show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: My second child (19) has turned her back on the Lord and is "reconstructing" her world view. She has stopped attending Church. She has gone distant with all her Christian friends from childhood. She has moved out and is living with her boyfriend. My question is this: should I cut off all financial support, including the tuition I am paying from the 529 I already funded? Links Mentioned: Resources from Dr. Jay Burns To read the show notes, click here.

Full Q: Has The Lord's Prayer been misinterpreted ... Does the line “give us today our daily bread” mean daily food or the bread of life? Does the Greek word epiousios used in the prayer have another possible meaning? To read the show notes, click here. To watch clips on Youtube, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: What’s the difference between anglican and evangelical? I was looking into Logos & answering their quiz questions on how to determine what type of study software I should get. To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: I’ve heard both John MacArthur and Francis Chan teach we must fully surrender to Christ’s lordship in our lives in order to receive the gift of salvation. How could someone be mature enough at the point of salvation to fully know what it means to follow Christ without time for sanctification to occur? Links Mentioned: The Moody Handbook of Theology by Paul Ens To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].

Full Q: Can you please explain a few terms that I am hearing more frequently and direct me to some Biblically sound resources to learn more? Reformed-In the context of -“She has come out as being reformed.” Calvinism, and Arminian. Links Mentioned: What is Reformed Theology? Ask Dr. E Ep. 141 What is TULIP and How Does it Relate to Calvinism? Ask Dr. E Ep. 142 To read the full show notes, click here. Call or text us your question at 615-281-9694 or email at [email protected].