Word for Word with Austin W. Duncan

"Word for Word" with Austin W. Duncan is a weekly podcast that tackles the most pressing questions about Christianity, faith, and spiritual life. Each episode provides clear, Scripture-based answers to fundamental questions that both believers and seekers ask, from "What must I do to be saved?" to "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people?" Through careful biblical teaching and practical application, Austin explores topics across Basic Christian Thought, Spiritual Growth, Apologetics, World Religions, Biblical Interpretation, and Contemporary Issues. Each episode breaks down complex theological concepts into understandable explanations, using visual elements and modern examples to illuminate ancient truths. Drawing from his passion for biblical teaching, Austin guides listeners through challenging spiritual concepts with clarity and warmth. Whether you're new to Christianity, a long-time believer, or simply curious about faith, "Word for Word" offers thoughtful, accessible answers to help you understand and grow in your spiritual journey.

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ALL WORD FOR WORD ARTICLES

ALL WORD FOR WORD ARTICLES

The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

Can God create a rock so heavy that He cannot move it?

The question usually comes with a smirk: 'Can God create a rock so heavy He can't lift it?' The asker thinks they've found the perfect trap - either God can't create the rock (so He's not all-powerful) or He can't lift it (so He's not all-powerful). For centuries, this puzzle has been used to challenge God's omnipotence. But here's what's fascinating: the question itself reveals something profound about both human logic and divine power - and the answer changes everything about how we understand God's omnipotence.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

Does God have a gender?

'Our Father who art in heaven.' 'He leads me beside still waters.' 'Like a mother hen gathering her chicks.' Wait - is God male, female, or neither? Some say using 'He' for God promotes patriarchy. Others claim changing God's pronouns is heresy. Churches split, friendships end, and books are banned over this debate. But here's what's fascinating: in over 170 references to God as Father, and hundreds of masculine pronouns throughout Scripture, God revealed Himself to humanity with absolute clarity and purpose. Today, we're discovering why this revelation matters - and what it tells us about the God who is far beyond any human category.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

If jealousy is sin, how can God be jealous?

There's a word we hate in relationships. It destroys marriages, ends friendships, and drives people to desperate acts. Jealousy. We call it toxic, sinful, destructive. Yet God looks at this same word and does something shocking: He claims it as His name. 'For I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God.' Today we're discovering why this isn't a divine contradiction - it's actually one of the most beautiful revelations of God's heart.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

Does God Repent?

Genesis 6:6 - 'The Lord regretted that he had made human beings.' First Samuel 15:11 - 'I regret that I have made Saul king.' Numbers 23:19 - 'God is not human, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.' Wait... what? Does God regret decisions or doesn't He? Does He change His mind or doesn't He? Today we're tackling one of Scripture's most fascinating paradoxes - and discovering how the answer reveals something profound about who God is.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

Does God know the future?

Picture two rooms. In one, a theologian argues that if God knows the future, we can't have free will. In the next, a grieving mother asks, 'If God knew this would happen, why didn't He stop it?' These aren't just academic debates - they're questions that shake faith, trouble hearts, and keep people awake at night. Today, we're diving into one of Christianity's most challenging questions: Does God really know everything that will happen? And if He does... does anything we do actually matter?

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

What does it mean to say that God is omnipresent?

A child prays in America. A mother weeps in India. A prisoner worships in China. A student questions in Brazil. All at the exact same moment. If God is personally present with each one, is He divided? Spread thin? Partially there? Today we're exploring one of God's most mind-bending attributes - and why understanding it might completely transform how you pray, worship, and live.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

If God is one, why does the Bible refer to Him in the plural?

Open your Bible to its very first chapter, and you'll find something strange. God says, 'Let US make man in OUR image.' Skip ahead to the tower of Babel: 'Let US go down.' Jump to Isaiah's vision: 'Who will go for US?' For centuries, these plurals have puzzled readers. Some call them proof of multiple gods. Others dismiss them as translation errors. Today, we're uncovering why these mysterious plurals might be one of Scripture's most fascinating revelations about who God is.

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The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan The Nature and Character of God Austin W. Duncan

Is the Trinity biblical?

The year is 325 AD. The greatest minds of the Christian world have gathered in Nicaea to debate a single letter in a single word - whether Jesus is 'homoousios' (same essence) or 'homoiousios' (similar essence) with God the Father. Some called it linguistic hairsplitting. But they understood what many today forget: change one letter in how you describe God, and you might end up worshiping something else entirely. Today, we're exploring why the Trinity isn't just complex theology - it's the heart of who God is.

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