Theology Project with Matt O’Reilly

Who is Jesus—and what did he come to do?

Luke 2 doesn’t answer those questions with abstract theology or lofty claims. It answers them with a story.

In this episode, we slow down and listen carefully to Luke’s Christmas narrative—not as sentimental background music for the season, but as a bold theological proclamation. In a world ordered by emperors, censuses, power, and prestige, Luke int...

People frequently wonder whether they should be rebaptized. Usually, it's for one of two reasons. Either they were baptized as an infant, and they ask if they should be baptized as part of their profession of faith. Or they were baptized before they got serious about following Jesus and, having later committed to serious discipleship, wonder if they should rebatized

In this video, Dr. Jonathan Powers (Asbury Seminary) and Dr. Matt ...

In Scripture, holiness is never just about rule-keeping — it’s about participating in the character of God, living love perfected in Christ, and flourishing as a whole person in relationship with God and neighbor. Too often in the wider church, though, holiness gets misunderstood as legalistic rule observance. That understanding leads to burdens, shame, and a distorted picture of the gospel.

In this video, I unpack how the Bible, a...

In this episode of Theology Project, Dr. Matt O’Reilly sits down with Dr. Andy Miller III, President of Wesley Biblical Seminary, for an honest and forward-looking conversation about pastoral education in the Global Methodist Church.

We explore the value of the MDiv, options for the future of the Course of Study, and how robust theological training shapes healthier leaders, stronger churches, and more f...

Most people think they know the central message of Romans: justification by faith. It’s beautiful, and it’s true. But what if it’s not actually the main goal of the letter?

In this video, we take a closer look at the often-overlooked theme that frames the entire book of Romans from beginning to end—the obedience of faith. Paul opens with it. Paul closes with it. And he structures the whole letter around ...

Is 1 Thessalonians 4 teaching the rapture—or something else entirely? In this Theology Project video, we explore the historical and theological context of Paul’s words and argue that the passage describes the ascension of resurrected believers to welcome Christ as he returns in glory, not a secret rapture or escape from earth.

We examine 1 Thessalonians 4 in light of Daniel 7 and New Testament ascension theology to show why this pa...

What did John Wesley really believe about baptism? In this episode, Dr. Matt O’Reilly sits down with Dr. Jonathan Powers of Asbury Theological Seminary to explore Wesley’s "Treatise on Baptism" and his deeply sacramental understanding of this sacred act.

Together, they unpack why Wesley believed baptism is a means of grace—not merely a symbol—and how it relates to new birth and discipleship in as a member of the new covenant. Along...

It's common in the baptism debate to hear that the Greek word for "baptize" means "to immerse." In this video, we take a look at John Wesley's somewhat snarky rebuttal of that very dubious claim.

The full interview with Dr. Jonathan Powers posts on Monday. We work through John Wesley's "Treatise on Baptism" -- SUBSCRIBE NOW so you don't miss it!

BUY Jonathan's new book: New Life in the Risen Christ: A Wesleyan Theology of Baptism h...

How often should Christians take Holy Communion? In this video, we look at how John Wesley would answer that question. In his sermon “The Duty of Constant Communion,” Wesley insisted that the Lord’s Supper isn’t optional. It’s a command of Christ and a means of grace.

In this episode, Dr. Matt O’Reilly sits down with Dr. Ryan Danker, Director of the John Wesley Institute in Washington, D.C., to explore why Wesley believed constant ...

What do we mean when we talk about grace? In this episode, Dr. Matt O'Reilly explains some common misconceptions about the biblical concept of grace. You'll learn why we shouldn't talk about KINDS of grace, and that grace isn't a thing outside of the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Get UPDATES from Theology Project: https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

Free to Be Holy: A Biblical Theology of Sanctif...

What’s the difference between common grace and prevenient grace? Are these concepts compatible or contradictory? In this video, we explore how God’s grace works in Wesleyan and Reformed theology, unpacking the meaning of prevenient grace and its relationship to common grace. Discover how grace shapes salvation and human response!

GET UPDATES FROM THEOLOGY PROJECT https://www.theologyproject.online/subscribe

MATT'S BRAND NEW BOOKS

F...

How much did John Wesley shape C. S. Lewis’s vision of Narnia? In this interview clip, Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken and Dr. Matt O'Reilly explore the surprising ways Lewis may have drawn on Wesley’s theology of creation and animal life. Lewis cites Wesley’s sermon The General Deliverance" in The Problem of Pain when wrestling with the suffering of animals—a full decade before writing The Chronicles of Narnia. We discuss how ...

In this episode, Dr. Matt O’Reilly talks with Dr. Brian Yeich about John Wesley’s sermon The General Spread of the Gospel. Wesley envisions a future of global gospel advance grounded in the holiness of God’s people. While often overlooked today, Wesley’s optimistic eschatology—sometimes described as postmillennial—offers a powerful reminder: holiness is essential to the mission of the church.

Read "The G...

Who are the four horsemen of the apocalypse? The question is hotly debated. In this episode of Theology Project, Dr. Matt O'Reilly answers the question based on clues in the text of Revelation 6. It turns out...one of the riders may not be who you thought. 

My FAVORITE BOOKS on Revelation

1. Revelation by Robert Mulholland https://amzn.to/42c2SAz

2. Reading Revelation Responsi...

Romans 9-11 are often seen as Calvinism's silver bullet. It is assumed that these chapters by the apostle Paul make Arminian theology untenable and that Arminians have to explain away their plain meaning. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. In this episode, I'll explain why my Arminian theology is built on Romans 9-11 (and Romans 8), not built in spite of them. 

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Paul and the Resurrecte...

In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Jerome Van Kuiken (Oklahoma Wesleyan University) to discuss John Wesley’s profound sermon "The General Deliverance."

This sermon tackles one of the hardest questions in Christian theology: How can a just and loving God respond to a world filled with unjust suffering? Wesley’s reflections on one aspect of the problem of evil. He argues that God’s justice and mercy exte...

In this clip from my conversation with Joel Lawrence, president of the Center for Pastor Theologians (CPT), we talk about the upcoming 10th Annual CPT Conference: Good Shepherds – Pastoral Identity and the Future of the Church.

Listen to the whole conversation here.

The CPT is focused on forming pastor theologians to shepherd the church in our complex world. We equip pastors as theologians,...

The Book of Revelation can feel mysterious and overwhelming, but understanding it doesn’t have to be. In this video, we explore three essential keys to unlock its meaning. First, pay attention to the Jewish context—Revelation is rich with Old Testament imagery that shapes its message. Second, don’t read it as a strict timeline or chronological order—it’s a symbolic and cyclical vision. Finally, and most importantly, R...

We typically think of heaven as a place of happiness and serenity. The strange thing is that we get a glimpse of some people who died and went to heaven in Revelation 6...but they are not happy about it. Why is that? What do they want? Why are they dissatisfied? Those are the questions we're looking at in this episode of Theology Project. 

🧠 FREE RESOURCE: 4 Practices to Build Trust on Your Staff

Good l...