3 Minute Theologian

Waukee Community Church
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Christianity
  • Updated Semiweekly

A theology podcast about what we believe, written by the pastors at Waukee Community Church.

  1. Mar 18

    S4E4 - Theology is Relevant

    The 3-Mintue Theologian: Extended EditionsS4:E4 - Theology is Relevant(Pastor Jeff, Jane Johannesen, & David Tank) Season 4 is about theology in general: why it’s important, how it’s practical, where to learn it, and overall what we’re supposed to do with it. 0:54     Jeff: You've gone from lay-person, elder, to now pastor. What’s this journey been like?2:33     Jane: Did you ever expect to be a pastor's wife? What has the Lord taught you? 4:10     How have your prayers changed over the years? ·       Jeff: Growing in theology has caused him to pray with increased confidence, and his theology has caused him to want to pray more in alignment with God’s Word.  ·       Jane: Growing in theology has influenced her to not only ask God for specific requests but to ask for God’s grace to be at work so that people are changed, and God is glorified. ––We pray because we have the means to know and talk with God. 6:37     How does what we believe shape our decision-making? ·       Jeff: Without over spiritualizing it, we should seek God’s will for our decisions.  ·       The counsel of good theology from God’s Spirit, God’s Word, and God’s people helps us make decisions that honor the Lord in our everyday lives in big/little things. ·       Jane: Good theology has prompted her to make decisions that are not just morally acceptable but based out of a desire/motivation to be godly. 10:08   How has your theology been relevant to marriage & your closest relationships? ·       Jeff: In the marketplace, we hear that ‘family is more important than work.’ But Jane and Jeff’s kids are not the most important part of his life: Christ (the Triune God) is!  ·       Jane: Her relationship with Christ, has deepened their faithfulness to each other. 13:11   How did your theology impact you as you were raising your children? ·       Jane: Just as their small group was an example to Jeff and Jane, they tried their best to model what it means to live out faith in Christ for their kids. Church was a priority. 14:55   As an elder and deacon, what do you really want our church family to know about the             church and world/local missions? ·       Jeff: “What we believe matters, our relationships with God and people matter, and what we do (based on our beliefs) matters.” Thus, we live, love, and give like Jesus. ·       Jane: She grew up with a works-based theology, but she learned that works matter for a different reason. We are saved by grace through faith, for good works (Eph. 2:8-10).  ·       We give glory to God with as individuals and as a church. Theology fuels missions.

    18 min

  2. Mar 18

    S4E3 - Theology is Learned

    (Molly Flinkman & David Tank) 1:55     Why should you and I learn theology? ·       “What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us.” - AW Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy. ·       What we know and believe about God is going to inform the way we show up to our lives, whether what we know or believe about God is true. ·       God’s presence, attributes, and promises anchor us in the hard times. 3:21     When should we learn theology? ·       If we wait to anchor ourselves in the truth of who God is until we face hard times, it will be harder to find security and comfort in the truth of who God is. And the hard things will skew what we believe and do. ·       The simple times are the most important times when we should learn about God. 4:22     What we gain by infusing truth about who God is into our day-to-day lives: ·       Learning theology: o   Is NOT like a debit card: we don’t learn it, then immediately apply/spend it. o   IS like a savings account: we save up what we learn long-term. o   IS like an IV-drip: like the slow, constant delivery of hydration from an IV when someone’s at the hospital, learning about God continually gives us life. 5:46     How is learning theology connected to being a disciple of Jesus? ·        JT English’s book, Deep Discipleship: Christians are to know God so that we can make disciples who make other disciples.  ·       He advocates for Christians not to be passive recipients of information. ·       We teach other men and women what we have learned about God, and about what God has commands us to do, so that in turn, they may likewise know and obey God and teach others to do the same. (Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Timothy 2:1-2) 7:49     What are you learning, and whom are you teaching? ·       Besides discipling her own kids, Molly teaches middle and high school girls. ·       As a 30-year old, Molly learned an effective way to read the Bible, and so Molly then wanted to pass this onto others.  ·       COIA model for Bible reading: (Context, Observation, Interpretation, Application) 10:51   How can someone bring theology into discipleship moments? ·       Theological resource for kids: The New City Catechism (Free online) ·       Simply using COIA In bible study, you can ask ‘interpretation’ questions like: o   What does this teach us about God, humanity, or the Gospel story? o   How does a specific text connect to the whole story? o   Why does this text say ____?  o   How does the truth about who God is shape this story? 13:44   How could someone at WCC experience deep discipleship or go to the next level in             their relationship with God?? ·       Start by asking yourself, ‘How can I build active learning into my life?’  ·       Then consider, ‘to whom could I give away what I have been learning?’ ·       You could formally join a Life Group, Discipleship Group, be part of a bible study. ·       Or you could informally meet up with someone for coffee once a month. 14:58   Misconceptions or hurdles to deep discipleship: ·       Discipleship is not optional for Christians, but it is also not a solo activity. ·       If we ask, God will bring people into our lives, who either can teach us or we can teach, and then it is up to take the next step. ·       Christians do not have to have all the answers before we can disciple others. ·       Titus 2:1-10 says we are to be actively learning about God, and to be bringing others who are younger (either physically or spiritually) along with us in the journey. ·       We learn more when we teach  16:39   Where can people go to learn more about theology? ·       Start learning more about God with our church family, the local church. ·       There are two kinds of literature: the Bible and everything else (See Lit by Tony Reinke). ·       While trusted bible teachers are good, don’t neglect to take up and read the Bible. ·       Let’s learn more about God together, just like the Bereans in Acts 17:11.

    20 min

  3. Mar 18

    S4E2 - Theology is Practical

    The 3-Minute Theologian: Extended EditionS4:E2 - Theology is Practical(David Tank & Mike Wagner) Season 4 is about theology in general: why it’s important, how it’s practical, where to learn it, and overall what we’re supposed to do with it. 0:34     Why is theology practical? ·       The Lord commands us to obey and listen to him. This involves applying what he teaches us in our everyday experiences.  ·       Theology is a way we experience the truth of relationship with God. ·       We use theology all the time without even knowing it, but not all theology is the same. ·       Different aspects of theology are applicable in different parts of our lives.  ·       Theology is like a Swiss army knife. It’s one knife, with multiple applications.   4:31     Textual Theology ·       The art and science of how to study the Bible is called Hermeneutics or Exegesis. ·       We have a philosophy of interpretation or theology of how we read the Bible. ·       This is foundational, and it’s why we teach the Bible Pathway and COIA tool. 5:23     Biblical Theology ·       This ties all of the Bible together into one big story, and it shows how the whole Bible is about Jesus Christ (See 3MT S1:E11). ·       BT trace themes God has woven through the Bible story. It’s like the connective tissue that holds everything together. 8:26     Historical Theology ·       HT Is the study of church history and theology that has emerged over time.  ·       It distinguishes the church fathers, medieval patricians, protestant reformers, & puritans, from the Free Church today. ·       HT also helps us understand different theological streams and traditions (to distinguish between Roman Catholics, Baptists, Presbyterians, and the free church movement). ·       And we say the Apostles’ Creed because we appreciate and can learn from HT. ·       We don’t read the Bible in isolation, but as part of the (universal) communion of Saints.  12:22   Systematic Theology ·       This is the most common or normative aspect that people think of as “theology.” ·       ST categorizes and seeks to bring clarity to all the truths which Scripture teaches. ·       It makes logical inferences about topics from all that the Bible says, and these collections of beliefs are helpful, because it’s how we got our statement of faith. 14:15   Everyday Theology ·       ET involves application of theological insights & perspectives, in a variety of different settings & circumstances: when we know God and trust him in our everyday lives.  ·       Pastoral (relational), Missional (evangelistic), Disciple-making (philosophy of ministry), apologetics (defending the faith),  ·       We take theology with us everywhere we go, and everyday theology is applied in faith. (We trust the Lord in light of what we believe and act.)

    20 min

  4. Mar 18

    S4E1 - Theology is Important

    The 3-Minute Theologian: Extended EditionS4:E1 - Theology is Important(David Brooks & David Tank) Season 4 is about theology in general: why it’s important, how it’s practical, where to learn it, and overall what we’re supposed to do with it. 1:26  -  Why is theology important? Is it all equally important? ·       Al Mohler quote: “All Christians believe more than what’s contained in the Apostles’ Creed, but none can believe less.” (The Apostles’ Creed, 2019) ·       In the Free Church we major on the Majors, and minor on the Minors. ·       “Majors and Minors,” do not signify theology that is “important vs. unimportant.” ·       Majors are essential things we must believe, and Minors, we hold with an open hand. ·       There are things which are important, yet we can disagree and not divide. 3:00  -  EFCA History ·       Free Church broke away from the state (Lutheran) churches in Scandinavia. ·       While the Free Church brought together different traditions and all were welcome, they noted that the Lord’s Table is “for all believers, but believers only.” 5:30  -  If all theology is valuable but not equally essential, why do churches split? ·       Because minors are important, there have been times when the Church historically has just not been able to agree on a minor because we believe vastly different things. ·       Sometimes we have wrongfully treated minors like majors and split over dumb things. ·       It’s also good that Baptists, Presbyterians, & Evangelicals have strong views on minors. 6:41  -  How do we determine if something we believe is a major or minor? ·       Medical Triage: The ER will treat cardiac arrest before they treat a broken arm. ·       Theological Triage: while all theology is important, some is more significant to our salvation and the unity of the Church. (Some beliefs have more gravitas than others.) 7:51  -  Theological Triage: Tier 1 - Essentials ·       Every Christian must believe these major doctrines. ·       Examples: The Trinity, person & work of Jesus, person & work of the Holy Spirit, Bible is God’s Word, God’s people are the Church, Christ will return, etc. 8:27  -  Theological Triage: Tier 2 - Convictions ·       Convictions are important, but not salvific. They define our beliefs, but not our salvation. ·       Examples: mode of baptism (infant or adult), roles of men-women in the church, debates about Calvinism-Arminianism, the nature/activity of spiritual gifts, structure of church government (congregational, bishops, or elders), etc.  ·       All churches have to make a decision about these issues because they define us.(It’s good for us to worship in a church with others who share our convictions.) 10:20  -  Theological Triage: Tier 3 - Preferences ·       You can worship alongside other Believers with different opinions on these matters. ·       Examples: length of sermons, carpeting, chairs/pews, worship styles, programs, etc. 12:39  -  What about the age of the earth or definition of marriage? ·       The clarity of Scripture on issues helps us determine how tightly we hold to our beliefs. 15:03  -  How does majoring on the Majors & minoring on the Minors get worked out at WCC? ·       Measure Majors/Minors by the Apostles’ Creed or by our EFCA statement of faith. ·       When we weigh theology appropriately, we love each other well. 17:49  -  Outtakes

    18 min

  5. 04/10/2025

    S3E12 Humans Are Not Artificial

    S3:E12 - Humans are not Artificial (David Tank & Greg Strand) Welcome to the 3-Minute Theologian. A theology podcast about what we believe, produced by the family of Waukee Community Church. I’m your host, David Tank, and today, in this final episode of season 3, we’re talking about how humans are not artificial. Greg Strand is the Executive Director of Theology & Credentialling for the National Office of (our denomination) the Evangelical Free Church of America.  0:54 - Introductions 4:00 - Should Christians be excited or fearful about the development of AI? It is a category mistake to imprint human behavior on AI.God has uniquely given His Image to humans, not machines. (Genesis 1:26-28)We do not need to fear AI. We should fear and reverence of God.8:51 - How are humans different than intelligent machines? Generative AI can only ‘generate’ summaries of publicized information or make calculations of values, but it cannot designate value to anything.AI is not conscious, creative, or perceptive.AI can never mimic, replace, or surpass humans, made in the image of God.14:40 - How should believers use AI? Recognize that it is fallible. It could be inaccurate. It must be fact-checked. Use it as a tool, but do not let it replace our thinking.Quote by Phil Gons, Logos Bible Software chief product officer.19:26 - Is AI a neutral tool? Why we need to have relationships with people, not AI. AI reflects the intentions and worldview of its programmer/creator. We need wisdom from above (James 1:5, 3:17)Machines cannot replace human relationships.22:51 - AI and Truth 24:22 - Ethical and Practical Concerns for using AI Claiming AI-generated material as our own is plagiarism. (As a matter of authority and trust, people should know if the source is a person or ChatGPT.)Believers can and should use AI, but appropriately. (It can even be helpful in ministry.)We don’t need AI to teach us Scripture. The Holy Spirit promises to illuminate it for us.27:02 - Concluding comments Quote by Joanna Ng: “Divine wisdom is greater than artificial intelligence, because divine is greater than artificial, and wisdom is greater than intelligence.”  You can learn more about the Evangelical Free Church of America, and hear great messages from biblical pastors and theologians on the EFCA Theology Podcast. You can also learn more about the subject of Artificial Intelligence and the Human Condition:  2025 EFCA Theology Conference (theme: Theological Anthropology)See Plenary session #5, Jason Thacker: “A.I. Transhumanism, and Posthumanism.” The Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention, “Artificial Intelligence: An Evangelical Statement of Principles” (April 11, 2019). John Piper, “Should I use AI to help me write sermons?” Ask Pastor John (podcast), Desiring God. February 24, 2025.

    30 min

  6. 04/07/2025

    S3E11 Humans Will be Changed

    S3:E11 - Humans will be Changed(David & Sarah Tank) Welcome to the 3-Minute Theologian. A theology podcast about what we believe, produced by the family of Waukee Community Church. I’m your host, Sarah Tank, and today we’re thinking about, how in the future, humans will be changed. Right after seminary, we purchased a used car, and we were excited dive it in the Chicago suburbs. However, within a week of getting it, on a late night drive home from seeing family, David hit a deer, and our vehicle was totally ruined! We couldn’t afford to repair or replace the car. We were stuck! But then, a family member saved us from this crisis. They paid for the repairs, and helped restore the car. Like this story, humans were ruined by the fall. And on our own, we would have remained dead in our sin and under God’s wrath: We were helpless, and a Savior is our only hope! Thankfully, we do have such a Savior, and only Jesus can rescue, reconcile, and renew us! And one day all Christians will experience these changes personally: Here’s what that means: 1. Humanity will be rescued from the power of sin and death: For believers, death does not have the last word in our lives, for Jesus has turned death into the door that leads to eternal life. Paul says in Romans 6:7-8, The one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him.  When we die ––though the body is buried ––our souls immediately go to be with our Lord and Savior in heaven. There, we will be released from the temptations of our current sinful nature, and there, we will experience the freedom of having fullness of life with Christ.  2. Humanity will be reconciled with the world, and freed from the curse: After Adam sinned, all of creation was put under a curse, and Romas 8 explains that the curse has subjected the world to futility. But because Jesus is making all things right, one day “creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and experience the freedom and glory of God’s children.” (Romans 8:20-21 ESV, NIV, CSB) In the future, we will no longer be at odds with creation, or with other people. There will be no more disasters, diseases, disabilities, dangers, or demons to worry about. There will only be, complete and perfect peace, always! 3. Humanity we will be renewed in the image of Christ.  Different theories try to envision the destiny of humanity: Some anticipate that we will ascend into an ideal race: A perfect society without spot or flaw. Others say that we will merge with technology, becoming like the borg in Star Trek. And then there are those who say that we will simply, cease to be human entirely. We will no longer be homo sapiens, but something else. However, none of these theories reflect the true future which God has in store for His people: In 1 Corinthians 15:49, Paul says that “As we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven.” And Paul goes on to explain that this change will happen instantaneously: In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye… the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. (1Corinthians 15:52) When Jesus returns, our bodies will be resurrected.  Jeff Erickson, a member of our church family, has helpfully explained this change-in-reality, saying, “What we are now will not be replaced but added to. God will give us a new spiritual outer garment.” In the future, humans will not evolve into something different. We will reflect the image of Christ, the second Adam.  Right now, you and I cannot change our condition or make ourselves perfect. But when God makes us like His Son, you will be immortal, imperishable, and incorruptible, because of Jesus! In the future, believers will be human beings, free from sin, fully at peace, and truly alive. And so, Come Lord Jesus!

    5 min

  7. 04/03/2025

    S3E10 - Humans Are Sinners

    S3:E10 - Humans are Sinners(Mike Wagner, David Tank) Welcome to the 3-Minute Theologian. A theology podcast about what we believe, produced by the family of Waukee Community Church. This episode was a recorded conversation between Mike Wagner and David Tank about Total Depravity.  Opening Story: Driving in Nebraska with a broken speedometer. There are 4 big problems in the Human Condition: 1. We have a Moral Problem (Mechanical Failure) ·       Depravity doesn’t mean people don’t have value. ·       “Total Depravity” refers to how sin has “radically corrupted” our human nature. ·       God’s common grace keeps us from being as bad as we could be, but we are not ‘as we ought to be.’ ·       Jeremiah 17:9; Romans 8:7-8 2. We have a Legal Problem ·       Sin is “Cosmic Treason” ·       We are not just guilty because of our own sin.  ·       Adam sinned on our behalf. ·       All humans are sinners because of Adam, with Adam, and have been ever since Adam. ·       While all our sins don’t all have the same impact on others, we’re all still guilty. ·       Romans 3:9-12, 23 3. We have a Will Problem  ·       We are all willful sinners, and so none of us can keep the Law. ·       We can’t pass on the blame to our condition, or to other people. We’re responsible. ·       Sin is foolish. ·       Titus 3:3 4. We have a Repair Problem ·       Tank couldn’t fix his speedometer on his own.  ·       We can’t fix our sin nature. ·       We need a new heart, to be born again. ·       Jeremiah 31:31-34; Ezekiel 3:5-8; Ephesians 2:1-3 Conclusion: ·       If we have been saved, we have a new identity. ·       We’re no longer “dirty-rotten sinners.” ·       God’s forgiveness is guaranteed. ·       1 John 2:1-2; Romans 8:1-2

    18 min

  8. 03/31/2025

    S3E9 - Humans Are Alienated

    S3:E9 - Humans are Alienated(Jennifer Crow, Clorrisa Brooks) Welcome to the 3-Minute Theologian. A theology podcast about what we believe, produced by the family of Waukee Community Church. I’m your host Clorrisa Brooks, this episode was written by Jennifer Crow, and today we will be talking about humanity’s alienation from God. There was a time when Jennifer felt like she was the black sheep of her family ––when every mistake or sin she made was worse than anyone else’s. Jennifers dad used to always tell people about the time she dated a guy with a pink mohawk, and she believes this was the start of her estranged relationship with her family. What made her feel like she was a black sheep? Her relationship with her dad was strained, and in a similar way: all of us have been estranged from our heavenly Father. In the Bible, the word ‘alienation’ means, “to be separated or estranged from God, others, or one’s intended purpose.” Let’s think how we are alienated from God. 1. Our access to god was broken. With one single bite of fruit, access to God was denied. Because of their disobedience, Adam and Eve could not stay in the garden. They had to leave. Then, God sent an angel prohibiting them from re-entering the garden. (Genesis 3:22-24) Can you imagine what they were thinking? They had lost everything. Their sin had cost them their intimate relationship with God. Personally, I have never thought about my sin like that, have you? Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. 2. Our access to God has been restored: Though we all fall short of the glory of God and need salvation, God drew near to us so that we can draw near to Him. Colossians 1:21-22 states: “And you, who once were alienated and hostile in mind, doing evil deeds, [Jesus] has now reconciled in his body of flesh by his death, in order to present you holy and blameless and above reproach before him.” Through the death of Jesus everything changed, our sins were forgiven, and our access to God has been restored: ·       Once you were hostile to God, but now you have peace. ·       Once you were alienated from God, but now you’re an heir to the throne.  ·       And once, you did not care what God thought, but now you know the Father.  When we repent and turn to Jesus, as stated in Acts 3:19, our sins are blotted out. That my friends, is good news! God is holy, so there is no way He can accept sin, but because of Jesus death upon the cross, God sees you as blameless and spotless. Instead of continuing to live in sin and do our own thing, we need to draw near to God. An invitation He extends to both you and me.  You and I are not to think of ourselves as “black sheep.” We are God’s children ––His beloved sons and daughters. And through prayer, worship and obedience, we can draw near to Him, rather than be estranged from Him. We are sojourners here, on our way, back not to a garden, but to an eternal place with God: There, there is no one who does not belong. Believers will be with God, our Father, the Creator who awaits our arrival home.

    3 min
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About

A theology podcast about what we believe, written by the pastors at Waukee Community Church.

Information

  • Creator
    Waukee Community Church
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    44
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Waukee Community Church
  • Show Website
    3 Minute Theologian