Was Melchizedek a mysterious king and priest—or was he actually an appearance of Jesus before His birth?

Melchizedek appears briefly in Genesis 14, where he blesses Abraham and receives a tenth of the spoils. Yet centuries later, Psalm 110 and the book of Hebrews return to him to explain something essential about Jesus. Why does this seemingly minor figure matter so much?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben examine the different views of Melchizedek, including the idea that he was a preincarnate appearance of Christ. They look at his missing genealogy, his roles as both king and priest, and the way Hebrews uses his encounter with Abraham to show that Jesus belongs to a greater and lasting priesthood.

So, was Melchizedek Jesus—or was he a real person whose life pointed forward to Him?

Discover:

• Who Melchizedek was in Genesis 14
• Why Abraham gave him a tenth of the spoils
• What Hebrews means when it says he had no recorded father, mother, or genealogy
• Whether Melchizedek could have been an appearance of Jesus
• Why his priesthood matters more than the Levitical priesthood
• How Melchizedek points to Jesus as both King and Priest
• Whether the bread and wine in Genesis 14 point forward to the Lord’s Supper

Key Passages:

Genesis 14:18–20 • Psalm 110:4 • Hebrews 5:5–10 • Hebrews 6:19–20 • Hebrews 7

The mystery of Melchizedek leads to a bigger question: What does his story reveal about Jesus? Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben explain why Hebrews looks back to this ancient king and priest to help us understand Christ’s eternal priesthood.

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Listen on Apple Podcasts – podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

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Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #Melchizedek #JesusChrist #Hebrews7 #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy

Is David and Goliath really a story about facing the “giants” in your life?

It’s one of the most familiar stories in the Bible—and one of the most common applications is simple: Be like David. Have courage. Trust God. Grab your five smooth stones and go defeat your giant. But is that actually the point of 1 Samuel 17?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben take a closer look at David and Goliath and the larger biblical story surrounding this famous battle. They unpack the failure of Saul, the anointing of David, and why David’s victory over Goliath is about much more than overcoming obstacles. They also trace the imagery of the victorious champion back to Genesis 3:15 and forward to Jesus Christ—the greater King who ultimately defeats sin, death, and Satan.

So, are you supposed to see yourself as David—or is David pointing us to someone greater?

Discover:

• Why David and Goliath isn’t primarily about “facing your giants”
• Why Israel wanted a king—and what went wrong with Saul
• The significance of David being God’s anointed king
• How David’s victory connects to the promise of Genesis 3:15
• Why crushing Goliath’s head matters to the larger biblical story
• How David, Samson, and Solomon point forward to Christ
• Why Jesus is the greater King and ultimate Champion
• How the story of David and Goliath should actually shape the way Christians face trials

Key Passages:

1 Samuel 8 • 1 Samuel 16–17 • Genesis 3:15 • Genesis 49 • Judges 16 • 2 Samuel 7 • Matthew 3–4

The point of David and Goliath isn’t that you need to become David and defeat every giant in your life. It’s that we can trust the God who keeps His promises—and the Champion He has provided for His people.

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts – podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Ben Skaug on Instagram

instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #DavidAndGoliath #JesusChrist #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology

Was Jesus’ body actually “broken” for us?

It’s a phrase Christians often hear in worship songs, sermons, and during the Lord’s Supper: “His body was broken for you.” But is that actually what Scripture says?

In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben take a closer look at 1 Corinthians 11:24 and the biblical imagery behind Communion. They unpack an important distinction: Scripture describes the bread as broken, while Jesus says of His body, “This is My body, which is for you.” They also explore why John specifically emphasizes that none of Jesus’ bones were broken, connecting His crucifixion to the Old Testament Passover Lamb.

So, are we just splitting theological hairs—or does the language we use actually matter?

Discover:

• Why Christians commonly say Jesus’ body was “broken”
• What 1 Corinthians 11:24 actually says
• Why some Bible translations include the word “broken”
• How Jesus fulfills the imagery of the Passover Lamb
• What the bread and wine represent in the Lord’s Supper
• Why Christ’s righteousness and our participation in His sacrifice matter
• How greater biblical clarity can deepen our understanding of Communion

Key Passages:

1 Corinthians 11 • John 6 • John 10 • John 19 • Exodus 12 • Exodus 16 • Numbers 9 • Isaiah 53

The symbols of the Lord’s Supper matter—and understanding what they point to gives us a clearer picture of what Christ accomplished for us on the cross.

What does it actually mean when the Bible says that God is gracious and merciful?

We often talk about God’s grace and mercy as things He gives us—but they aren’t simply things God does. They flow from who He is. In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben unpack what Scripture reveals about the grace, mercy, compassion, and patience of God—and why understanding these attributes changes the way we understand salvation.

They explore the difference between grace and mercy, common grace and saving grace, and why God never owes us either one. Then the conversation turns to salvation: Are we brought to a neutral place where we choose God for ourselves, or is even our faith a result of God’s gracious work in us? Looking at Ephesians 2, they discuss regeneration, free will, faith, and what it really means to be saved by grace through faith.

Discover:

• The difference between God’s grace and mercy
• Why grace is something God gives that we could never earn
• The difference between common grace and saving grace
• Whether God gives grace and mercy equally to everyone
• What Ephesians 2 teaches about faith and salvation
• How regeneration relates to our response to the gospel
• Why God’s grace, mercy, compassion, and patience work together

God’s grace isn’t something we earn, deserve, or contribute to. In Christ, God mercifully withholds the judgment we deserve and graciously gives us the righteousness Jesus earned through perfect obedience.

📖 Ephesians 2 • Genesis 3 • Romans 8 • Acts 17 • Galatians 3–4

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts

Listen on Apple Podcasts – podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Corey Abney on Instagram

instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Ben Skaug on Instagram

instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church

instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #GraceOfGod #MercyOfGod #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy #SavedByGrace #ChristianPodcast

What does it actually mean when the Bible says that God is holy?

We often describe holiness as being “set apart”—but God’s holiness goes much deeper than simply being different. In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben unpack what Scripture reveals about the holiness of God and why the angels surrounding His throne cry out, “Holy, holy, holy.”

They explore God’s majestic holiness, moral holiness, and gracious holiness—and how each helps us better understand who God is. They also discuss why holiness isn’t necessarily God’s “most important” attribute, but instead works perfectly alongside His love, justice, wrath, and every other attribute.

Then the conversation turns practical: If God alone is perfectly holy, what does He mean when He commands us to “Be holy, because I am holy”?

Discover:

• What it actually means for God to be holy
• Why Scripture describes God as “Holy, holy, holy”
• The difference between majestic, moral, and gracious holiness
• Why being holy means more than simply being “set apart”
• How God makes sinful people holy through Jesus Christ
• What sanctification and spiritual disciplines have to do with growing in holiness

God’s holiness doesn’t mean He is simply a better version of us. He is altogether different—and through Christ, He is transforming His people to reflect His holy character.

📖 Isaiah 6 • Leviticus 19 • 1 Peter 1

👉 Subscribe for more theology (and a lot more fun).

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Dr. Corey Abney on Instagram – https://instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Dr. Ben Skaug on Instagram – https://instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church – https://instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#TheologyIsFun #HolinessOfGod #ChristianTheology #BibleStudy #Holiness #ChristianPodcast

Does God change His mind?

Scripture tells us that God does not change. But what do we do with passages where God appears to change His mind or “relent”? In this episode, Dr. Ben and Pastor Steven unpack the doctrine of God’s immutability and why His unchanging nature is essential to understanding who He is.

Then, the conversation turns to passages like Jonah 3, where God relents from the judgment He announced against Nineveh after the people turn from their evil ways. They explore how these passages fit with Scripture’s clear teaching that God does not change—and why a change in God’s actions does not necessarily mean a change in God’s character, nature, or purposes.

Discover:

• What does it mean that God is unchanging?
• Can God change His mind?
• Why Numbers 23 says God is not like man
• What it means when Scripture says God “relented”
• How Jonah 3 fits with the doctrine of God’s immutability
• The difference between God changing and His response to people changing
• Why God’s unchanging character gives believers confidence in His promises

Key Passages:

Malachi 3:6 • Numbers 23:19 • Jonah 3:10

Does God change His mind? And how does knowing that God is unchanging affect the way you trust His character and promises? Let us know in the comments.

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Dr. Corey Abney on Instagram – https://instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Dr. Ben Skaug on Instagram – https://instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church – https://instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#GodDoesNotChange #ImmutabilityOfGod #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology #Christianity #Jesus #ChristianPodcast #Theology #AttributesOfGod #TheologyIsFun

Does God love everyone equally?

It’s one of the most common assumptions about the love of God—but is that actually what Scripture teaches? In this episode, Dr. Corey and Dr. Ben unpack what the Bible means when it says, “God is love” and why understanding God’s love begins with God Himself, not our own definition of love.

Then, the conversation turns to the different ways Scripture describes God’s love—from His general love for creation to His covenant love for His people in Christ. They explore how God’s love relates to His holiness, justice, wrath, and judgment, and why none of God’s attributes are ever in conflict.

Discover:

• Does God love everyone equally?
• What does “God is love” actually mean?
• The difference between God’s love for creation and His covenant love
• Why God’s love and His judgment are not in conflict
• How Jesus Christ reveals the love of God
• What God’s unchanging love means for our assurance of salvation
• How understanding God’s love changes the way we love others and our enemies

Key Passages:

John 3:16 • 1 John 4 • Ephesians 1 • John 15

Does God love everyone equally? And how has understanding God’s love changed the way you think about your relationship with Him? Let us know in the comments.

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Dr. Corey Abney on Instagram – https://instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Dr. Ben Skaug on Instagram – https://instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church – https://instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot

#GodsLove #GodIsLove #BibleStudy #BiblicalTheology #Christianity #Jesus #ChristianPodcast #Theology #AttributesOfGod #TheologyIsFun

What did Jesus mean when He said, "I am the true vine" (John 15)?

Before diving into one of Jesus' most profound "I Am" statements, Dr. Ben and Dr. Cori kick things off with a lively (and slightly controversial!) discussion about Christopher Nolan's The Odyssey. Is it a masterpiece or just "fantastically average"? Let us know what you think in the comments!

Then, the conversation turns to Scripture as they trace the biblical theme of the vine from Psalm 80, Isaiah 5, and Exodus 4 to John 15, revealing how Jesus fulfills Israel's calling as the True Vine and the True Son of God.

Discover:

• Why Jesus calls Himself the True Vine
• How the Old Testament points to Christ
• What it means to bear fruit that reflects God's character
• The connection between the Fruit of the Spirit and the Attributes of God

📖 Key Passages:

John 15 • Psalm 80 • Isaiah 5 • Exodus 4 • Deuteronomy 6 • Leviticus 19 • Romans 13 • Galatians 5

Was The Odyssey a masterpiece or just "fantastically average"? And what insight from John 15 stood out to you most? Let us know in the comments!

🎧 Available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Listen on Apple Podcasts – https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/theology-is-fun/id1808965100

Listen on Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/4EZUfXCbWCbSs6VpbAYSEb

Follow Dr. Corey Abney on Instagram – https://instagram.com/corey.abney

Follow Dr. Ben Skaug on Instagram – https://instagram.com/ben.skaug

Learn more about Bell Shoals Church – https://instagram.com/bellshoals

Watch full sermons from Dr. Corey Abney – https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLLbG1nVw0Ymu2gj1-OkB9WyX9vgWaOtot