THE CHARGE with Dennis Metzler

Dr. Sonderegger discusses divine omnipotence in light of Scripture, Augustine, Aquinas, Calvin, Barth, and process theologians. We look at omnipotence as it relates to God’s benevolence, theodicy, meticulous providence, sovereignty, God’s attributes, holiness, humility, weakness, the cross, the supernatural, “acts of God”, subjectivity and objectivity, the Trinity, and God’s mutable immutability.

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Dr. Metzger explains the nature and place of personalist ethics from a Christian perspective. We discuss his understanding of a person, his categories of faith and entangled ethics, hope and eschatological ethics, and love and embodied ethics as well as his metaphysical and methodological frameworks. Metzger continues with various contemporary ethical issues including disability, utilitarianism, marriage, sexuality, physician's ass...

New Testament Scholar Dr. Michael J. Gorman explains his views on significant theological concepts: Paul's narrative spirituality and narrative soteriology, kenosis, justification by co-crucifixion, participating in Christ, resurrectional cruciformity, missional theosis, early Christian ethics, non-violence, and new covenant atonement.

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Dr. Kärkkäinen discusses the atonement in relation to soteriology and reconciliation as well as the concepts of theory, model, and metaphor. We cover Christus Victor, recapitulation, ransom, satisfaction, moral example, and penal substitution models. Karkkainen then focuses on the non-violent understanding of the atonement and then considers the Incarnation, the suffering of Jesus and God, sacrifice, God's wrath, the Trinity, the R...

With three doctorates from Oxford and over 50 books to his credit, Dr. Alister McGrath is well-equipped to discuss apologetics including core elements, the inference to the best explanation, Dawkins' demand for a proof, and points of contact including a sense of longing, the beauty of the world, the ordering of nature, a sense of wonder, a sense of moral obligation, existential anxiety, and the fine tuning of the universe. He then ...

Bob Ekblad discusses the nature of his ministry to the marginalized, his philosophy of ministry, the theology of the cross, the "outside the gate" concept, the biblical "powers", the church as resisting community, and several stories where he put his faith into action.

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Check out "The Beautiful Gate: Enter Jesus' Global Liberation...

Historical orthodoxy has it that Lutheran pastor and theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer participated in some way at some level in a plot to assassinate Hitler. Dr. Mark Thiessen challenges this reading of history, arguing that Bonhoeffer maintained his pacifism till the end. Dr. Nation considers the views of other Bonhoeffer scholars, the biographical work of Eberhard Bethge, the writings of Bonhoeffer, and the thoughts of others who k...

Dr. Peter Enns discusses his personal story, Wesley's quadrilateral, Rohr's tricycle, orthodoxy, OT biblical stories as something other than history, his critique of conservative biblical interpretation, C.S. Lewis and theosis, science and evolution, and near death experiences.

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Dr. Peter Enns is Professor of Biblical Stud...

Dr. Joshua Rasmussen discusses various lines of thought related to understanding the nature and origin of the human person. We look at inquiry in terms of introspection, reason, and the scientific method as well as feelings according to eliminativism, reductionism, non-reductive materialism, and the something more view. We next consider thought in relation to the aspects of aboutness, structure, truth-value, logical linkability, an...

Dr. Craig Blomberg discusses several possible objections to the Christian understanding of God from the perspective of a New Testament scholar. We cover suffering and evil in the world, the notion of hell, and the relationship between slavery, gender roles, and homosexuality. Dr. Blomberg also considers miracles, mythology, violence, and biblical contradictions. I apologize for the poor audio quality.

NOTES: In the interview at 20:...

Dr. Alain Epp Weaver discusses his 11 years in Israel-Palestine, ways not to talk about the conflict, the history of Zionism and Palestinian nationalism, Palestinian Christian experience and theology, Christian approaches to Judaism and Zionism, reasons behind October 7 attack, Israeli intelligence prior to October 7, the ongoing war and its effects, Netanyahu's plans, aid workers and the World Central Kitchen killings, IDF policie...

Dr. John Walton covers prophecy as a subset of divination, Ancient Near Eastern background, prediction, covenant, message categories, message and fulfillment, messianic fulfillment, eschatology, and apocalyptic.

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Dr. Walton is Professor Emeritus of Old Testament at Wheaton College and the author of The Lost World of the Prophets: Old Testament Prophecy and...

Dr. Beale discusses OT echoes and allusions, the controversy over "fullness", the nature of the false teaching, food and holy days, "elemental spirits of the world", worship of angels, self-abasement, visions, grace and peace, Christ's supremacy, new creation, reconciliation, eschatological maturity, "certificate of indebtedness", and "disarming the rulers and authorities".

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Brian Blount tells his own story, discusses biblical directives and principles for power evangelism and healing, his look-listen-respond process, how he trains others, and gives amazing and compelling examples of his own ministry involving radical generosity, healings, evangelism, and salvations.

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Check out Brian Blount's book "P...

We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of both the egalitarian and complementarian views, third way alternatives, 19th and 20th century history of the issue, Scriptures, church, kingdom of God, ministry, marriage, equality, rights, inclusion, servant leadership, concept of reversal, unity, headship, and leadership.

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Dr. Witherington covers Pauline scholarship including Rudolf Bultmann, Ernst Kasemann, Krister Stendhal, E.P. Sanders, the new perspective, covenantal nomism, James D.G. Dunn, "works of the law", William Campbell, N.T. Wright, pistous christou, apocalyptic reading, John Barclay, and Stephen Chester.

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Check out "Voices and Views on ...

Using resources from the WWI era including church creedal statements, books, magazines, newspaper stories, Bureau of Investigation records, and draft cards Jay Beaman sheds light on Pentecostals' practice of pacifism when the movement was brand new. We look at the movement of conscientious objection as a whole as well as sectarian groups, Holiness groups, Zionism, British Israelism, nationalist myths, and various eschatologies. Dr....

Dr. Lynn Cohick discusses background information to the Letter to the Ephesians including authorship and the social and historical situation at Ephesus. We then dive into its core theology, the place of the Trinity, the explication of the gospel, “faith in Christ” vs. the “faithfulness of Christ”, and being “seated in the heavenly realms”. We move onto Jews and gentiles and the cross, the principalities and powers, the “mystery”, t...

Dr. Bender discusses theological Bible commentaries, the theology of 1 Corinthians, Paul's problems in Corinth, apostolicity vs. giftedness, holiness, divisions in the church, the cross, weakness, power, foolishness, wisdom, sexuality, the Lord's Supper, women's head coverings, the gospel, the resurrection, and the application of 1 Corinthians for today.

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