Everyday Theology In Plain English

Charlie Miller
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Christianity

What if theology didn’t feel intimidating—but inspiring? Everyday Theology in Plain English helps ordinary believers explore who God is and how His truth changes real life. In each short, conversational episode, host Charlie Miller breaks down big biblical ideas into simple, practical truths you can actually use — from understanding Scripture to trusting God in everyday moments. No jargon. No lectures. Just real conversations about who God is, what He’s like, and why that matters for your Monday morning. 📖 Season 1: God’s Word for Real People Learn how to trust the Bible, study it with confidence, and build your life on its truth. Over 18 episodes, you’ll discover that theology isn’t just for pastors or professors — it’s for anyone who wants to know God more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. Because God isn’t hiding from you. He wants to be known — and that’s exactly what we’re here to explore.

  1. 6d ago

    God the Father: Not Like Your Earthly Dad - S2E36

    When you hear the word "father," you don't hear it in a vacuum. You hear it through the filter of your own experience. And for many of us, that filter carries pain. In this potentially most personal episode of the season, we're exploring God the Father — and being honest about the wounds so many of us carry around fatherhood. Whether your earthly father was wonderful, absent, or harmful, that experience is shaping how you relate to God right now. We'll unpack who the Father really is according to Scripture, why he's utterly different from even the best (or worst) human father, and how knowing him can begin to heal some of the deepest wounds you carry. "Don't let your experience define God; let God redefine your experience. Let Scripture show you what fatherhood was always supposed to look like — and discover that the Father you've always needed has been there all along." In This Episode, You'll Discover: Five characteristics of God the Father — perfectly loving, completely trustworthy, always present, disciplining in love, and delighting in youWhy "Abba" — the Aramaic word Jesus used for the Father — is closer to "Papa" than to distant formalityHow God specifically identifies himself as "a father to the fatherless" (Psalm 68:5)Practical Applications: Acknowledge that your earthly father was not a true picture of God — you have permission to separate the twoLet Scripture redefine your understanding of fatherhood — the truth about who God is starts to heal the lies you've believedAsk the Holy Spirit to help you experience the Father's love — this isn't just intellectual work; it's heart workYour Assignment This Week: Spend time each day this week reading one passage about God the Father and asking the Holy Spirit to make it real to your heart. Start with Matthew 6:9–13 (the Lord's Prayer), then Luke 15:11–32 (the prodigal son), then Romans 8:14–17 (adoption as sons). As you read, pray: "Father, show me who you really are. Heal the places where I've believed lies about you based on my earthly experience of fatherhood." 💬 Community Question: How has your experience of earthly fatherhood — good, bad, or absent — affected how you relate to God the Father? This might be deeply personal, but sharing can bring healing — both for you and for others who might feel alone in their struggle. Whether your earthly father was wonderful, hurtful, or missing, how are you learning to let God redefine what "Father" means? Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to know that God the Father is not like the one who hurt them! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  2. Jul 6

    The Trinity Explained (Without Losing Your Mind) - S2E35

    God is like water: ice, liquid, and steam! God is like an egg: shell, white, and yolk! God is like a three-leaf clover! Ever had someone try to explain the Trinity that way, and it kind of made sense, but also kind of didn't? In this episode, we're tackling what might be the most mind-bending doctrine in all of Christianity, and we're going to make it as clear as possible without losing our minds. We'll unpack what the Trinity actually is (and isn't), why those popular analogies fall short, and — most importantly — why this isn't just an abstract puzzle for theologians. Understanding the Trinity changes how you pray, how you experience community, and how you relate to God every single day. "Every time you pray, you're experiencing the Trinity. You pray to the Father, through the Son, empowered by the Spirit. The three persons are actively involved in your relationship with God right now." In This Episode, You'll Discover: The three essential affirmations of the Trinity — one God, three fully divine persons, all distinctWhy the popular analogies (water, egg, clover) actually describe ancient heresies — and why that's okayWhy the Trinity means God is inherently relational — love existed before creation because God is TrinityPractical Applications: Approach God with confidence — the Father isn't the "strict one" while Jesus is the "nice one"; they're one GodEnter divine community — the God who exists as community invites you into community with himself and his peopleTransform your prayer life — you're not sending words into the void; you're engaging with the three-personed GodYour Assignment This Week: Be intentional about engaging all three persons of the Trinity in your prayer life this week. One day, focus your prayers on the Father — thanking him for his love and provision. Another day, focus on Jesus — thanking him for salvation and asking him to help you follow him. Another day, focus on the Spirit — asking for his guidance, power, and help. Experience the fullness of relating to the three-personed God and notice how it enriches your prayer life. 💬 Community Question: Which person of the Trinity do you relate to most easily, and which feels most distant or confusing? Maybe you love Jesus but feel nervous about the Father, or you're comfortable with the Father but unsure what to do with the Spirit. Your honesty might help others realize they're not alone in finding some aspects of God easier to connect with than others — and might spark some helpful conversation about how to grow. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who's given up trying to understand the Trinity! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  3. Jun 29

    God’s Patience: Why He Hasn’t Given Up on You - S2E34

    How many times have you made the same mistake? Confessed the same sin? Promised to change and then... didn't? And yet — here you are. Still loved. Still pursued. Still welcomed back. In this episode, we're exploring one of the most underappreciated attributes of God: his patience. We'll unpack what it really means that God is "slow to anger," why his patience has a purpose (not just passivity), how it has limits (no, really), and how the patience he's shown you should reshape how you treat the people who test yours. If you've ever wondered why God hasn't given up on you, this episode is your answer. "God sees everything you've done wrong — every sin, every failure, every broken promise — and he chooses to keep working with you rather than discarding you. That's not weakness. That's supernatural restraint." In This Episode, You'll Discover: What "slow to anger" really means — and why theologians call it "longsuffering"Four aspects of God's patience — including the sobering truth that it has limitsWhy God's patience isn't passive — it has a purpose, and it's actively buying time for sinners to be savedPractical Applications: Find hope when you keep failing — God isn't tired of you, and his patience hasn't expiredUse this time wisely — patience isn't an invitation to procrastinate on obedience; it's an opportunity to respondExtend patience to others — you've received far more than you could ever be asked to giveYour Assignment This Week: Spend some time reflecting on God's patience in your own life. Think about a specific sin or struggle you've dealt with over and over — one where you might have expected God to give up on you by now. Thank him that his patience hasn't run out and that he's still working with you. Then ask him to show you one person you need to extend more patience to this week — someone who's testing your limits the way you've tested God's. 💬 Community Question: Looking back at your life, where do you most see God's patience at work? Is there a specific area where he's been especially patient with you — a struggle that's taken years, a pattern he keeps forgiving, a growth process that's been slower than you'd like? Your story of God's patience might encourage someone who's feeling hopeless about their own repeated failures. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to hear that God hasn't given up on them! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  4. Jun 22

    God’s Grace: Getting What You Could Never Earn - S2E33

    Most Christians believe in grace for salvation but live like they have to earn everything else. We trust grace to get us in the door, then switch to performance mode for everything after that. Sound familiar? In this episode, we're rescuing the most important word in the Christian vocabulary from background-music status. We'll explore what grace really means, why it's not just how you got saved but how you live every single day, and how living by grace instead of performance can free you from the exhausting treadmill of trying to be "good enough." If your Christian life feels like an endless performance review, this episode is for you. "Grace doesn't just change your status before God — it changes your heart. When you truly understand that you're loved despite your sin, it makes you want to live differently. Not to earn more love, but because you've been so loved already." In This Episode, You'll Discover: The crucial difference between mercy and grace — and why you need bothFive characteristics of grace — free, undeserved, all-encompassing, transformative, and not opposed to good worksWhy grace covers not just the sins of your past, but the failures of your today and tomorrowPractical Applications: Stop performing for God's acceptance — you're working from acceptance, not for itBe honest about your failures — grace is bigger than your worst day, and honesty with God is the path to freedomExtend grace to others — give what you've received, even when people don't deserve itYour Assignment This Week: Identify one area where you've been living by performance rather than grace. Maybe it's your quiet time routine — you feel guilty when you miss it. Maybe it's your service at church — you're driven by obligation rather than overflow. Maybe it's your constant worry about whether you're "good enough." Confess that performance mindset to God, thank him that your acceptance is already secure in Christ, and ask him to help you live from grace rather than for approval. 💬 Community Question: Where do you most struggle to live by grace instead of performance? Is it in your spiritual disciplines, your service, your sense of God's approval, or somewhere else? What would it look like for grace to transform that area of your life? Share your struggle — you might help someone else realize they're not alone in treating their relationship with God like a performance review. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to stop performing and start resting in grace! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  5. Jun 15

    God's Mercy: Getting What You Don't Deserve - S2E32

    Ever done something you knew was wrong, braced yourself for the consequences — and then received kindness instead? That's mercy. And every single one of us needs it desperately. In this episode, we're exploring God's mercy — the aspect of his love that looks at our sin and says, "I could punish you, but I choose not to." We'll unpack what mercy actually is, how it's different from grace, why the cross is where God's justice and mercy meet, and how understanding it can free you from shame, transform your relationships, and change how you approach God every single day. If you've ever felt disqualified by something in your past, this episode is for you. "The cross is where God said to his justice, 'Sin must be punished,' and to his mercy, 'But not on them.' Jesus took what we deserved so we could receive what we don't deserve." In This Episode, You'll Discover: The crucial difference between mercy and grace — not getting the bad we deserve vs. getting the good we don'tFive aspects of God's mercy — including the stunning truth that his compassions are new every single morningWhy the throne of heaven is called a throne of grace — not a throne of condemnationPractical Applications: Let God's mercy free you from the prison of shame — the God who sees you fully has already chosen mercyExtend mercy to others because you've received mercy — forgiveness isn't optional for the forgivenApproach God daily without anxiety — you're not relating to a demanding boss, but a merciful FatherYour Assignment This Week: Do two things. First, think of one thing in your past that you still carry shame about — something you've confessed but haven't fully released. Bring it to God again, not to re-confess it, but to thank him that his mercy has already covered it. Let it go. Second, think of one person you need to extend mercy to — someone who has wronged you and doesn't deserve your forgiveness. Ask God to help you release them, because you've received mercy you didn't deserve either. 💬 Community Question: Is there something in your past that you've confessed but still carry shame about? What would it look like to truly believe that God's mercy has covered it? Sometimes naming our shame out loud can be the first step to releasing it. Your vulnerability might give someone else permission to let go of the shame they've been carrying too. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to hear that God's mercies are new every morning! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  6. Jun 8

    God Is Love (But What Does That Actually Mean?) - S2E31

    "God is love." You've seen it on bumper stickers, heard it at weddings, and read it on greeting cards. But what does it actually mean? In this episode, we're rescuing one of the most familiar phrases in the Bible from cliché territory. We'll explore why "God is love" is more profound than the cosmic-teddy-bear version we've inherited, what makes God's love categorically different from human love, and how to bridge the gap between knowing about God's love in your head and actually experiencing it in your heart. If broken human love has shaped how you hear "God loves you" — this episode is for you. "We love people because of something in them. God loves people because of something in him. His love flows from who he is, not from who we are." In This Episode, You'll Discover: What "agape" love really means — self-giving, sacrificial love that initiates regardless of costFour characteristics of God's love — eternal, unconditional, sacrificial, and personalWhy God's love doesn't cancel out his holiness or justice — they all work togetherPractical Applications: Let God's love redefine love for you — don't let broken human love set the ceiling for what God's love must beMeditate on the cross until it becomes personal — when you doubt God's love, look at how far he was willing to goReceive God's love and let it overflow to others — you're not the source, you're the conduitYour Assignment This Week: Spend ten minutes each day this week meditating on one passage about God's love. Start with Romans 8:31–39, then move to Ephesians 3:14–19, then 1 John 4:7–19. Don't just read them quickly — sit with them. Ask God to make his love real to your heart, not just your head. Journal about what shifts in your understanding or experience of his love as the week progresses. 💬 Community Question: Do you find it easier to believe that God loves humanity in general, or that God loves you specifically? What makes it hard to receive his love personally? Is it past experiences, a sense of unworthiness, or something else? Your honesty might help someone else who struggles with the same thing realize they're not alone — and that God's love is for them too. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to experience God's love as more than just a bumper sticker! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  7. Jun 1

    God's Wrath Isn't Anger Issues - S2E30

    Lightning bolts from heaven. Fire and brimstone. An unpredictable God with anger issues. Is that really what the Bible means by "the wrath of God"? In this episode, we're tackling one of the most misunderstood attributes of God — and one that many Christians quietly try to edit out. We'll explore what God's wrath actually is (and what it isn't), why it's not the opposite of his love but an expression of it, and how the cross is where wrath and love meet in a way that changes everything. If you've ever wanted to focus on the "nice" parts of God and skip the wrath stuff, this episode will give you a completely different picture. "God's wrath is what his love looks like when it encounters things that harm what he loves. A God who never got angry at evil would not be a loving God. He'd be an indifferent God." In This Episode, You'll Discover: Why God's wrath is nothing like human anger — it's never irrational, unpredictable, or selfishHow God's wrath is actually an expression of his love — not the opposite of itWhat "propitiation" means and why it's the heart of the gospel — Jesus absorbed the wrath we deservedPractical Applications: Let God's wrath show you how serious sin really is — it's not a minor issue; it cost Jesus everythingFind hope as a victim of evil — God's wrath guarantees that no injustice will ultimately get away unaddressedDeepen your gratitude for grace — you can't fully appreciate what you've been saved to without understanding what you've been saved fromYour Assignment This Week: Read Romans 5:6–11 slowly and carefully. Notice how Paul connects wrath and love, judgment and salvation. Let it sink in that you were once under wrath, but Jesus absorbed it for you. Then spend some time thanking God — not just generally, but specifically — for saving you from the wrath you deserved. Let this deepen your gratitude and transform how you view both your sin and your Savior. 💬 Community Question: Before today, how did you think about God's wrath? Did it seem scary, confusing, or something you tried not to think about? Has this episode changed your perspective at all? Share your honest reaction — whether you're feeling relief, still wrestling, or somewhere in between. Your processing might help someone else work through their own understanding of this important truth. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to see God's wrath as good news, not bad news! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

  8. May 25

    God's Jealousy Is Actually Love - S2E29

    "Your God is jealous? Sounds like he has some insecurity issues." Ever heard that? Ever quietly wondered the same thing yourself? In this episode, we're tackling one of God's most misunderstood attributes: his jealousy. We'll unpack the crucial difference between sinful jealousy (wanting what isn't yours) and righteous jealousy (protecting what is yours), why God calling himself "Jealous" is actually one of the most beautiful things about him, and how his fierce pursuit of your heart reveals just how deeply you're loved. If the word "jealous" has ever made you wince when reading the Bible, this episode will completely flip the script. "God's jealousy is actually a measure of his love. The more deeply someone loves, the more intensely they're grieved by unfaithfulness. A God who didn't care about our wandering hearts would be a God who didn't love us." In This Episode, You'll Discover: The crucial difference between sinful jealousy and righteous jealousy — and why only one is wrongWhy God's jealousy is the flip side of his committed, passionate love for youHow modern "idols" — career, relationships, approval, comfort — quietly compete for the throne of your heartPractical Applications: Examine your heart for rivals — what do you think about most, fear losing most, believe you need to be happy?Let God's jealousy reveal how deeply you are loved — the infinite God yearns for your heart, and you are intensely pursuedEmbrace exclusive devotion — divided hearts lead to divided lives, but when God is truly first, everything else falls into placeYour Assignment This Week: Do a heart audit. Ask yourself these three questions: What do I think about most when I have nothing else to think about? What do I fear losing most? What do I believe I need to be happy? Your honest answers might reveal rivals that have crept onto God's throne. Bring what you discover to God in prayer — not with shame, but with honesty — and ask him to reclaim his rightful place in your heart. 💬 Community Question: What's one thing in your life that might be competing with God for your heart's allegiance? It doesn't have to be something bad — it might be something good that's become too ultimate. Naming our idols is often the first step to dethroning them. If you're willing to share, your honesty might help someone else recognize an idol they hadn't noticed in their own life. Email us at Charlie@heychurchmedia.com or just hit the "Send us a text" link below! We're building something important together in Season 2, and YOUR voice matters. Follow the show so you don't miss the next episode, and share this with someone who needs to hear that God's jealousy is actually love! 📖 Want to go deeper? Grab the Season 2 companion guide book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Nvi2fk Send us Fan Mail Watch our podcast episodes on YouTube. Follow our channel right HERE Get The Books! Grab your copy of the Season 1 and Season 2 Companion Guides from Amazon.com... Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 1 Companion Guide Everyday Theology In Plain English: Season 2 Companion Guide You can find ALL of Pastor Charlie's books on Amazon: CLICK HERE to see Pastor Charlie's books Thanks for listening to Everyday Theology In Plain English!

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About

What if theology didn’t feel intimidating—but inspiring? Everyday Theology in Plain English helps ordinary believers explore who God is and how His truth changes real life. In each short, conversational episode, host Charlie Miller breaks down big biblical ideas into simple, practical truths you can actually use — from understanding Scripture to trusting God in everyday moments. No jargon. No lectures. Just real conversations about who God is, what He’s like, and why that matters for your Monday morning. 📖 Season 1: God’s Word for Real People Learn how to trust the Bible, study it with confidence, and build your life on its truth. Over 18 episodes, you’ll discover that theology isn’t just for pastors or professors — it’s for anyone who wants to know God more deeply and follow Him more faithfully. Because God isn’t hiding from you. He wants to be known — and that’s exactly what we’re here to explore.

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