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  • ep 16. Hebrews 1:6-14 | Jesus Is Not an Angel (part 2) — and Why That Changes Everything

    ep 16. Hebrews 1:6-14 | Jesus Is Not an Angel (part 2) — and Why That Changes Everything
    2026/06/19
    BEFORE WE JUMP IN — TWO QUICK ANNOUNCEMENTS 🎉 The website is live! Head over to theologyandtestimony.com to find all episodes, a community section for prayer requests and encouragement, and all the downloads related to this podcast. It's your new hub for everything In Case I Forget. 📥 Free Postcard Download — Each episode in the Hebrews series now has a companion postcard available in the show notes. It includes the key verse, an encouragement, three main takeaways, a reflection question, and a closing prayer. Scroll to the bottom of the show notes to grab yours — it's free! QUICK RECAP (New here? Go back to Episodes 14 & 15 first!) The author of Hebrews is unknown but accepted as divinely inspired by the early churchWritten before the destruction of the temple in 70 ADWritten to fellow believers — addressed as brethren and belovedHebrews 1:1-5 established that Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, the exact imprint of His nature, superior to angels, and the begotten Son of God THE PASSAGE Hebrews 1:1-14 ESV "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'? Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son'? And again, when he brings the firstborn into the world, he says, 'Let all God's angels worship him.' Of the angels he says, 'He makes his angels winds, and his ministers a flame of fire.' But of the Son he says, 'Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, your God, has anointed you with the oil of gladness beyond your companions.' And, 'You, Lord, laid the foundation of the earth in the beginning, and the heavens are the work of your hands; they will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment, like a robe you will roll them up, like a garment they will be changed. But you are the same, and your years will have no end.' And to which of the angels has he ever said, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet'? Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation?" UNPACKING THE PASSAGE Verse 6 — "Let all God's angels worship him." Every time in Scripture that someone attempts to worship an angel, the angel immediately redirects that worship back to God. We see this clearly in Revelation 19:10, where John falls at an angel's feet to worship and the angel says: "You must not do that. I am a fellow servant with you and your brothers who hold to the testimony of Jesus. Worship God." Now hold that thought — because what Jesus does is the direct opposite. In Luke 19, during the triumphal entry, the people are crying out, "Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!" The Pharisees tell Jesus to rebuke His disciples. And Jesus responds: "I tell you, if these were silent, the very stones would cry out" (Luke 19:40). He doesn't reject the worship. He receives it. And that matters more than we might initially realize. God is jealous for His glory. He does not share His worship. So for God to command the angels to worship His firstborn, and for Jesus to receive that worship without redirecting it — that tells us everything we need to know about who Jesus is. A Note on Jesus Never Saying "I Am God" Jesus never explicitly says word for word "I am God" in Scripture — and a lot of people use that as an argument against His deity. But what He does is actually so much more meaningful. He uses very specific language that the Jewish people — culturally rooted in the Torah, the synagogue, and centuries of prophetic expectation — would have understood immediately as a claim to be the Messiah, the Son of God. When Jesus is in the synagogue in Nazareth and reads from Isaiah 61:1-3 — "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor..." — and then tells the congregation "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing" (Luke 4:16-21), He is making an unmistakable claim. Not the kind of claim that Roman emperors made when they called themselves gods. Something far more specific. Something that could only mean one thing to that particular people in that particular moment. And their reaction — "Is this not Joseph's son?" — tells us they understood exactly what He was saying. Verse 7 — "He makes his angels winds and his ...
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    35 分
  • ep. 15 - Hebrews 1:3-5 | The Radiance of God and Why Jesus Is Not an Angel

    ep. 15 - Hebrews 1:3-5 | The Radiance of God and Why Jesus Is Not an Angel
    2026/06/12
    EPISODE OVERVIEW We're back in Hebrews and picking up right where we left off. This week we're in verses 3 through 5 — and y'all, there is so much gold packed into just these three verses. We're talking about what it means that Jesus is the radiance of God's glory, how His sacrifice made purification for our sins, why it matters that He sat down at the right hand of the Father, and why Jesus is absolutely not an angel. If anyone has ever tried to tell you otherwise, this episode is your answer. Grab your Bible and let's get into it. QUICK RECAP FROM EPISODE 1 (New here? Go back and listen to Episode 14 first!) We don't know who wrote Hebrews, but the early church accepted it as divinely inspired Word of GodIt was written before the destruction of the temple in 70 ADIt was written to fellow believers — addressed as brethren and belovedThe purpose: to give believers a solid doctrinal foundation so we're not tossed around by every wind of teaching THE PASSAGE Hebrews 1:1-5 ESV "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. For to which of the angels did God ever say, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you'? Or again, 'I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son'?" UNPACKING THE PASSAGE "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature." — Hebrews 1:3 Think about the sun for a second. We can't look directly at it without it hurting our eyes. We can't get close enough to touch it without being consumed by it. And yet because of the light it gives off, we can see everything. The Bible calls God a consuming fire — holy, unapproachable in His fullness. In the same way we can't look directly at the sun, we can't look directly at God. But He gave us His radiance. Jesus is the radiance of God's glory — the light that allows us to see the Father. And when one of His disciples asked Jesus to show them the Father, Jesus responded: "Whoever has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9). He is the exact imprint of God's nature. Not a copy, not a lesser version — the exact imprint. The sun parallel also gives us a beautiful picture of the Trinity: The sun itself — God the Father, holy and unapproachable in His fullnessThe light the sun gives off — Jesus, the radiance of God's glory, by whom we see everything clearlyThe heat and warmth — the Holy Spirit, doing what only He can do: causing growth, bringing renewal, providing warmth, walking us through seasons And speaking of seasons — spring brings new growth, summer things flourish, fall the dead things fall away (old theology, old habits, old ways of thinking God needs to uproot), and winter brings that holy stillness where God quiets everything down so He can get our attention. Every season has purpose. "He upholds the universe by the word of his power." — Hebrews 1:3 This is echoed directly in Colossians 1:15-17 — all things were created through Him and for Him, and in Him all things hold together. And here's something that just wrecked me when I first learned it: There is a protein called the cell adhesion molecule (CAM) — part of an interlocking structural network called the extracellular matrix — that literally holds cells together. When you look at a picture of it, it is shaped like a cross. Y'all. The very thing that holds creation together at a cellular level is shaped like a cross. That is the intentionality of God woven into creation itself. Creation points back to its Creator. "After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high." — Hebrews 1:3 Think about how olive oil is made. Olives are stacked in layers in wide circular baskets and pressed down by levers until the pure oil is squeezed out. The impurities can't pass through — only the pure oil makes it. Extra virgin. Refined. Unstained. Jesus was pressed down for us. He went through that process so that when the Father looks at us, He doesn't see our sin — He sees us through the purification that His Son made. As Psalm 64 (Isaiah 64:6) reminds us, our best is like filthy rags before a holy God. We could never do enough on our own. But Christ did what we couldn't. And then — He sat down. You sit down when the work is finished. The right hand has always been a position of honor, status, and authority. Even the disciples understood this — James and John tried to quietly secure the seats at Jesus' right and left hand in the kingdom (Mark 10:35-37). Jesus told them they didn't know what they were asking. But ...
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    28 分
  • ep. 14 - Hebrews 1:1-2 | Who Wrote Hebrews, Why It Matters, and What God Is Saying to You Right Now

    ep. 14 - Hebrews 1:1-2 | Who Wrote Hebrews, Why It Matters, and What God Is Saying to You Right Now
    2026/06/05
    A Study Through the Book of Hebrews | Episode 1 EPISODE OVERVIEW We are officially diving into the book of Hebrews together and y'all, I am so excited about this series. In this first episode we're laying the groundwork — who wrote Hebrews, who it was written to, when it was written, and why it matters for us today. Then we jump right into Hebrews 1:1-2 and start unpacking what it means that God has spoken to us through His Son. Whether you're knee deep in laundry or cooking dinner, pull up a chair — this one is for you. BACKGROUND: WHO WROTE THE BOOK OF HEBREWS? Here's the honest answer: we don't know — and we probably won't know until we get to heaven. The author never identified themselves in the text, which makes Hebrews unique among the New Testament letters. Traditionally, many people (myself included, up until recently) have assumed Paul wrote it. But scholars have found some interesting clues that complicate that assumption. According to commentary by Dr. Malcolm B. Yarnell III of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary: The author was a second-generation Christian — meaning he received the gospel from those who heard Jesus directly, not from Jesus Himself. Paul, on the other hand, claimed his gospel was revealed to him directly by the Lord (1 Corinthians 15:8; Galatians 1:12), which makes it unlikely Paul was the author.The author refers to Timothy as "our brother" (Hebrews 13:23) rather than "a true son in the faith" — which is how Paul consistently referred to Timothy (1 Timothy 1:2). Other possible authors scholars have suggested include Luke, Apollos, and Barnabas. At the end of the day, what matters most is that the early church accepted Hebrews as divinely inspired Word of God — and when you walk through it, you'll see why. WHO WAS IT WRITTEN TO? The recipients are addressed as "brethren" and "beloved" — language used for fellow believers in Christ. Scholars have proposed a few different theories about the specific audience: A breakaway house church that had separated from the main congregationFormer Jewish priests who had converted to Christianity and were considering returning to certain Jewish practices to avoid persecutionA mixed group of Jewish and Gentile Christians who all revered the Old Testament as Scripture WHEN WAS IT WRITTEN? The book was likely written between 64–68 AD — before the fall of Jerusalem in 70 AD. Here's why that timing matters: the destruction of the temple in 70 AD was something Jesus Himself had prophesied (Matthew 24), and it marked the definitive end of the old covenant system of sacrifices. The fact that Hebrews doesn't mention this event as having already happened suggests it was written before it occurred. This also lines up with the reign of Nero, who was actively persecuting the church during this period. THE PURPOSE OF HEBREWS Hebrews was written to anchor believers in sound doctrine so they wouldn't be tossed around by every wind of teaching. Specifically it addresses: Jesus is God — His deity, His nature, and why that changes everythingThe old covenant was not sufficient — it was always pointing to Jesus as its fulfillmentWhat it truly means to be a ChristianWhat biblical faith actually looks like — not a feeling, but a foundation THE PASSAGE Hebrews 1:1-2 ESV "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world." UNPACKING THE PASSAGE "Long ago, at many times and in many ways..." For the original audience reading this in the mid-60s AD, long ago was literally long ago. God had spoken through the prophets for thousands of years — and then went silent for 400 years between Malachi and the birth of Jesus. No major or minor prophet. No national word from God to Israel. Just silence. And yet even in that silence, the prophets had already done their work. From the very first messianic prophecy in Genesis 3:15 — where God tells the serpent that the offspring of the woman will crush his head — all the way through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Micah, Daniel, and every prophet in between, God was painting a picture of the One who was coming. That's how the Jewish people knew to look for a Messiah at all. A few examples of how God spoke "at many times and in many ways": Daniel — prophesying to King Nebuchadnezzar in Babylon, outside of Israel entirelyJonah — sent to Nineveh, where the people repented, put on sackcloth and ashes, and turned to God "But in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son..." We've been living in the last days since Jesus ascended to heaven. This isn't a reference to a specific future moment — it's a reference to this entire age we're currently in, the age of the church, before Jesus returns. God is outside of time entirely. A day is like a thousand years to Him (2 Peter 3:8). So "these last days" really means this last age — and in it...
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    29 分
  • New Series Alert: Walking Through the Book of Hebrews Together (TRAILER)

    New Series Alert: Walking Through the Book of Hebrews Together (TRAILER)
    2026/05/29

    Y'all, a new series is here and I am genuinely so excited about this one. We are walking through the book of Hebrews together — and whether you're feeling stuck in your faith, still figuring out who Jesus is, or you've known Him for years and just want to go deeper, this book has something for you. I've been camped out in Hebrews for the last two months and I just knew I had to bring you all along for it.

    What We'll Be Covering in This Series

    The book of Hebrews is pure gold, y'all. Here's just a taste of what we're going to dig into together:

    • Who is Jesus and why did He have to come? — If you've been wrestling with this question, Hebrews will meet you right there.
    • What does it actually mean to be a Christian? — Not just in title, but in practice and in truth.
    • What does it mean to have a biblical worldview? — Especially in a world that is becoming more and more secularized and postmodern by the day.
    • What is true faith as Scripture defines it? — Not the watered-down version, the real thing.
    • Jesus in the order of Melchizedek — Who is Melchizedek, why does it matter, and what does it tell us about Jesus as our eternal High Priest?
    • The old covenant vs. the new covenant — What changed when Jesus came, and what that means for how we worship and relate to God today.

    What to Expect

    I'm not coming to you as someone who has Hebrews all figured out. I'm coming to you as someone who has been sitting in it, studying it, taking notes, and letting it do what God's Word does — change things from the inside out. My goal is to release a new episode every Friday, walking through whatever we're studying in Hebrews at the time. This is going to be real, it's going to go deep, and I want you right there with me.

    How to Jump In

    Subscribe so you don't miss a single episode when it drops on Fridays! And drop a comment below — tell me how excited you are, share a thought, or just drop a random word like Hebrews because she don't brew. I don't know, something. 😄 I just want to know you're here for it.

    Have a Testimony to Share?

    This podcast exists because of the stories God writes in our lives — and I want to hear yours. If you have a testimony you'd love to share, send me a quick overview at mcgarrypodcast@gmail.com and I would love to get you on the show. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11) — so let's keep telling them. 🤍

    My name is Miki and this is In Case I Forget — a space for busy wives and moms who want to go deeper in the word while you're deep in your life. I'll catch y'all next Friday.
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    2 分
  • ep 13 - God Flew Me 850 Miles For A Stranger - Here is What Happened

    ep 13 - God Flew Me 850 Miles For A Stranger - Here is What Happened
    2026/05/22
    Y'all, I recorded this one on my way home because I knew if I waited I'd lose the details — and this story is too good not to share while it's fresh. About three or four weeks ago, I took a trip to Kansas City, Missouri for a bridal fashion show with my flower business. And before I even left, God made it clear: I was going there for someone. This is the story of what happened when I actually showed up in faith, stayed off my phone, and kept my eyes open — and how God walked me right into a divine appointment on a tiny plane somewhere over North Carolina. The Setup: A Knowing Before I Left The Friday before my trip, I was cooking breakfast when I felt it — not just a feeling, but a knowing in my spirit that I was going to Kansas City for a specific person. I almost canceled the trip that night when I got some hard news. But when I brought it to my husband, he reminded me of what I had felt that morning. If God called me there for one person, there was no canceling. We were on one accord — and that was that. A few things made this trip extra stretching: I hadn't been on a plane in eight years and I genuinely hate flying.We hadn't been separated as a family in a long time, and I'd never left the kids before.A massive rainstorm delayed my flight home and rerouted my connection. But God had it all planned out — including the delay. The Whole Weekend: Watching and Waiting The entire trip I was watching. Praying. Making eye contact with strangers. I spent less time on my phone than I ever have. I just knew God sent me there for someone, and I was not about to miss it. But the whole weekend passed and I still hadn't found the person. Then Monday came. Rain like I'd never seen driving to the airport. My early flight got pushed back two hours, which bumped my connection — and that's exactly what put me on the right plane at the right time. The Divine Appointment: A Retired Golf Pro Named Keith I end up on this tiny three-row plane — the kind where you can basically touch both walls if you stretch out. No one's sitting next to me at first, and then a mix-up with seats puts a 62-year-old man named Keith right next to me. Like, right next to me. Inches apart. I started asking him questions. Found out he's retiring next year after 31 years as a golf pro, wants to spend his retirement fishing, and has recently gotten really into history — specifically the Revolutionary War. We ended up talking about my parents' organization, Hope for Bethesda, and their 21 years of mission work in La Gonâve, Haiti. I shared the miracle story of how my mom had a specific dream about where to dig for water on the Bethesda campus — and how after two days of digging, they cracked a reservoir that ended up drawing over a thousand people from the surrounding area to come see fresh water for the first time. When I finished the story, Keith looked at me and said, "That sounds like a miracle." And I said, "It doesn't sound like one. It is one." That was the moment. That was the knowing. Keith was who God sent me for. The Conversation That Opened the Door I asked Keith if he considered himself a man of faith. He said he believed there was a God, knew God wanted to be involved in our lives — but there were just some things he couldn't reconcile. So I asked him: "If there was one thing keeping you from fully submitting yourself to God, what would it be?" His answer surprised me: prayer. He'd seen too many people pray hard for something and not get an answer. He didn't understand when God says yes and when He doesn't. So I asked if I could share three things with him — and he said absolutely. Three Things I Shared With Keith 1. The story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego — Daniel 3 Three Hebrew boys in Babylonian captivity who refused to bow to King Nebuchadnezzar's false god, even knowing they'd be thrown into a furnace heated seven times hotter than normal. Their answer to the king: "Our God is able to save us — but even if He doesn't, we still won't bow." They got thrown in. The soldiers who brought them in died from the heat. And when the king looked through the window, there weren't three men in the fire. There were four — and one looked like the Son of God. They walked out without even the smell of smoke on them. 2. Isaiah 55:8-9 — God's ways are not our ways At 20,000 feet in the air, you can see so much more than you can standing right in front of a building. God's vantage point is infinitely higher than ours. What we think is the best answer sometimes isn't — and He, as a good Father, knows how to answer our prayers and when not to. 3. Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane — Luke 22:42 Jesus Himself prayed, "Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me." Not because of the physical pain — but because for the first time in His entire existence, He was about to be separated from the Father. And even in that anguish, He ended with: "Nevertheless, not my will but Yours be done." If Jesus modeled ...
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    31 分
  • ep 12 - I Finally Did It: How I Read the Bible Cover to Cover on My 4th Try

    ep 12 - I Finally Did It: How I Read the Bible Cover to Cover on My 4th Try
    2026/05/15
    Y'all. I finally did it. On my fourth try, I read the entire Bible cover to cover — and I am not holding back the details. No intro, no fluff, just straight encouragement for anyone who has started (and stopped... and started again) on their own Bible in a year journey. If Leviticus has defeated you before, this one is for you. My Honest Journey to Getting Here Let's just be real about it: Attempt 1: Made it through Genesis, survived Exodus, crashed hard at Leviticus. Closed the book and walked away.Attempt 2: Knew Leviticus was coming, tried to prepare, made it maybe to Deuteronomy or 1 Chronicles — fell off again.Attempt 3: Got to Joshua, Judges, or Ruth (somewhere in there) and just... couldn't push through.Attempt 4: Finally did it. Cover to cover. Genesis through Revelation. And I've been a Christian for a very long time. So if you've felt embarrassed that you haven't finished it yet — you're in good company, and this episode is your sign to try again. Why You Need to Read It for Yourself In a world drowning in information nobody wants to actually sit down and read anymore. But here's why it matters for us as believers: 1. You have access — use it. There are believers around the world who can't even carry their Bible in public. Underground churches. Secret meetings. We don't have that persecution yet. So the fact that we have open, free access to Scripture? That's not something to take for granted. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) 2. It deepens your relationship with God in a way nothing else can. Reading through Leviticus made me so mad the first time. By the third time through, I started to see it differently — God's holiness demanding holiness from His people. The more you read, the more you understand who God actually is. Think about how the FBI trains agents to spot counterfeit money: they don't study all the fakes. They study the real thing — every line, every marking, every detail — until they know it so well that anything fake is obvious. Scripture works the same way. 3. It is alive and it is transformative. Hebrews 4:12 — the Word is living and active, sharper than any double-edged sword, dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. Everything I've ever wanted to grow in — being a better wife, a better mom, a better disciple — Scripture has been the tool God used to get me there. It does not return void. (Isaiah 55:11) Tips That Actually Got Me Through It 1. Use a guided study — specifically, The Bible Recap. Hosted by Tara-Leigh Cobble, The Bible Recap takes you through Scripture in chronological order, the way it was written and developed. At the end of each day's reading, Tara-Leigh recaps what you just read so you don't miss anything. I highly recommend starting with the intro video before you jump in — it sets the whole thing up and you'll want that context. (Link below!) 2. Don't feel like you have to catch everything. One of the things that kept tripping me up was the pressure to deep-dive every passage while also trying to get through the Bible in a year. Those are two different goals. When you're doing a read-through, you're building the foundation. The hermeneutics, the context, the deep study — that comes after. And here's the truth: even if it starts to feel like a checklist, the Word does not return void. If you catch one thing a day, your relationship with God is growing. Don't lie to yourself out of finishing. 3. Make it a non-negotiable — and get creative about when. For me, listening in the shower was the game-changer. I'd prop my phone up, read along while listening, and it kept me locked in. Find your version of that. Car rides. Folding laundry. The point is to make it happen daily, even if it's not in the most "ideal" setting. 4. Let the Old Testament do its job. The Old Testament is longer, and it can feel like a slow burn. But here's what I want you to know: by the time you get to the New Testament, you will feel it differently. All that time in the Old Testament builds this thirst, this foundation, so that when Jesus finally shows up — it just hits different. Everything clicks. Things you've read a hundred times suddenly connect in ways they never did before. The Moment That Started All of This Fun fact: it was actually during my fourth read-through — while listening to Exodus in the shower — that this podcast was born. I was listening to the Israelites complaining in the wilderness after everything God had already done for them, thinking how could they forget so fast — and the Holy Spirit stopped me cold. How often do you do the same thing? How often do we forget what God did last month because of what's hard right now? That question changed something in me — and out of it came In Case I Forget. The One Thing Read the book. Please. Basic instructions before leaving Earth. And if you're still unsure whether Scripture is reliable, inspired, and infallible, go back to Episode 8 where I ...
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    18 分
  • ep 11 - How to Choose a Church | Is Having So Many Denominations Harmful or Helpful?

    ep 11 - How to Choose a Church | Is Having So Many Denominations Harmful or Helpful?
    2026/05/09
    Okay, real talk . . . have you ever driven through your city and noticed just how many different churches there are? In my city alone, there are over 400 churches for a population of 80–90,000 people. Wild, right? So today we're diving into Christian denominations, what they are, why they exist, and whether having so many of them is actually a problem or a gift. And by the end, you get to decide for yourself. This is theology that shows up in your home, your marriage, and your everyday life - not just theory for the sake of theory. What Is a Denomination, Anyway? According to GotQuestions.org, a denomination is a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian church. The three main branches of Christianity are Protestantism, Catholicism, and Orthodoxy, and today we're focusing on the Protestant church specifically. Fun (and maybe surprising) fact: according to Essence of the Church by Craig Van Gelder, denominations are really only about 200 years old. They flourished during the colonization of the United States, largely fueled by the Reformation - which encouraged believers to read Scripture for themselves and separate from churches that strayed from the gospel. John Calvin himself encouraged followers of Jesus to leave a church if it moved away from biblical truth. And according to the Center for Study of Global Christianity, there are now over 47,000 denominations worldwide. Yeah. That's a lot. So How Do You Choose the Right One for Your Family? Here are three practical steps to help you and your spouse navigate this: 1. Research Most churches today should have a statement of belief, a creed, or a confessional statement. These tell you what the church believes, how they interpret Scripture, and how they apply it. Don't skip this step - especially if you're sensing something might be off at a church you're currently attending. 2. Run It Through the Theological Triage (Go back to Episode 10 for a full breakdown of what this means!) Think of it like the gospel ER. You're triaging a church's doctrine to make sure it lines up with Scripture, starting with the essentials: Primary doctrine (the non-negotiables): Jesus is the Son of God. He lived a sinless life, died to satisfy the wrath of God, and rose again. Salvation is through faith in Him alone. If a church doesn't hold to these essentials, that's a much bigger conversation.Secondary doctrine: Things like worship style, baptism beliefs, spiritual gifts, predestination vs. free will, the role of women in ministry. These don't save us, but they will often determine which denomination or church you land in.Tertiary doctrine: Honestly, these are the things we shouldn't be making a big deal of. Some churches unfortunately conflate these with primary or secondary issues - and that's where things can get messy. 3. Pray and Ask God for Wisdom James 1:5 says if you ask God for wisdom, He'll give it. So bring this to God. Bring it to your spouse. And trust that He will lead you. The Passage That Changed Everything 1 Corinthians 12:12–26 - this is the one. Read the whole thing, but here's the heart of it: the body of Christ is one body with many members. The eye can't say to the hand, "I don't need you." Every part matters. Every part is different on purpose. And here's what hit me: denominations can represent that same beauty. Different styles of worship. Different structures. Different expressions of faith - all submitted to the same Jesus. That's not division. That's design. The Bottom Line Denominations are not perfect. Some have twisted the gospel to make sin more comfortable. Some have created a Jesus in their own image. We know that. But when denominations are rooted in the essential truths of the gospel and submitted to Jesus Christ, they can actually be a healthy, beautiful thing . . . meeting people where they are, in the culture and expression God created them with. And here's the one thing I want you to walk away with: It's not doctrine over love. It's not love over doctrine. It's both. (1 Corinthians 13 - Paul's clear: without love, you're just a clanging gong.) Scripture References 1 Corinthians 12:12–261 Corinthians 13James 1:5 Resources Mentioned GotQuestions.org - definition of a denominationEssence of the Church by Craig Van GelderCenter for Study of Global ChristianityEpisode 8 - Who Wrote the Bible? (Scripture's authority, inspiration & infallibility)Episode 10 - What Do Christians Believe? (Part 1) — theological triage explained Let's Keep the Conversation Going! Did this episode shift how you see denominations? Drop a comment - I would love to hear what resonated with you, or even what you push back on. And if you know a friend who's been wrestling with this, send it their way. A review goes a long way in helping this show reach more busy mamas who need it. 🤍
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    18 分
  • ep. 10 - What do Christians Believe part 1 | Theology for Busy Moms and Wives

    ep. 10 - What do Christians Believe part 1 | Theology for Busy Moms and Wives
    2026/03/06

    Theological Triage: How Christians Prioritize Beliefs What Is Theological Triage?

    Think about going to the emergency room. Doctors do not treat every problem the same way. They first figure out how serious the problem is. This process is called triage.

    The same idea can help us understand Christian beliefs. Not every belief carries the same weight. Christians often sort beliefs into three levels:

    1. Primary doctrines

    2. Secondary doctrines

    3. Tertiary doctrines

    This helps us know:

    • What we must agree on

    • What we can disagree on

    • What is simply personal conviction

    Doctrine is not the enemy of love. We actually need good doctrine to love people well. Paul talks about this in: 1 Timothy 1:3 Believers are warned not to teach false doctrine. But doctrine without love is also empty. 1 Corinthians 13 reminds us that truth must be carried with love. Healthy Christianity always holds truth and love together.

    Primary doctrines are the core truths of Christianity. Every true Christian church agrees on these. Examples include:

    • Jesus is God

    • God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

    • Jesus was born of a virgin

    • Jesus lived a sinless life

    • Jesus died for our sins

    • Jesus rose again

    If someone denies these truths, they are not teaching biblical Christianity. Two historic creeds help summarize these beliefs:

    • Nicene Creed
    • Apostles' Creed

    These early creeds help show what the early church believed about Jesus and the Christian faith.

    Secondary doctrines are important, but Christians can disagree about them. These differences often explain why we have different denominations. Examples include:

    • Predestination vs free will

    • Spiritual gifts today or not

    • Worship styles

    • Church traditions

    • End times views

    Christians may disagree here, but they can still be brothers and sisters in Christ. These beliefs often help families decide which church to attend.

    Sometimes Christians treat secondary beliefs like they are primary. This creates unnecessary division. We should not turn personal preferences into salvation issues. Scripture does not ask us to die on every hill. It calls us to protect unity while holding to truth.

    Tertiary beliefs are personal convictions. They may matter to one believer but not to another. Paul talks about this idea in 1 Corinthians 10. Believers have freedom in some areas, but we should always ask:

    • Is this helpful?

    • Does it build others up?

    • Does it honor God?

    Paul sums it up in 1 Corinthians 10:31: “Whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”

    Other helpful guidance:

    Philippians 4:8 Think about what is true, pure, and honorable.

    James 3:17 Seek wisdom that comes from God.

    A Personal Example

    Miki shares a story from when she was 17. An older woman once told her it was a sin to wear big hoop earrings. For years she believed it. Later she searched the Bible and realized that this was not a biblical rule. It was simply someone's personal conviction. This is a great example of a tertiary belief being treated like a primary one.

    Understanding theological triage helps us:

    • Raise our kids in truth

    • Navigate church transitions

    • Avoid unnecessary church conflict

    • Keep the main things the main things

    Not every disagreement needs to divide the church. But the core truths of the gospel must always be protected.

    Question for You: What is one belief you were taught growing up that might actually be a tertiary issue? Something that felt like a rule but was really a personal conviction? Share it in the comments if you are comfortable.

    Next we will talk about another big question: Are denominations helpful or harmful to the church? And how should Christians think about them?

    If this episode helped you, please like the video and share it with someone who might enjoy the conversation. Be blessed and I will see you next time.
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