This episode was prompted by a listener question. Stephen actually asked three interrelated questions. The first was, “In Luke 8:12, Jesus describes a type of person who hears the Word and then the devil snatches it away so that they do not believe and are not saved. The implication seems to be that if the devil did not snatch it away, the person w…

This present spiritual war isn't new in that the struggle began in the Garden of Eden by means of a weaponized lie. Satan’s plan, of course, was to persuade Adam and Eve to believe his lie so that they would stop trusting God. His plan worked, and his strategy has remained unchanged since the Garden: to provide a deceptive alternative to God’s trut…

We live in an age of increasing anxiety, uncertainty and doubt. This means people are more receptive to believing in conspiracy theories because—at least superficially—said explanation provides the comfort of some mental security in an uncertain world. And, if a person can explain why bad things are happening, it outwardly gives them some sense of …

Faith becomes unbelief whenever a disastrous theological error occurs: when the doctrine of justification (how a person is saved) is confused with the doctrine of sanctification (how an already saved person matures). We are not justified by faith alone and then become more like Christ by our works; that is Roman Catholicism, not biblical Christiani…

The question of the eternal destiny of unborn children presents us with a profound theological challenge: Do all unborn children go to heaven? In this episode Dr. Sadaphal will guide you through the Scriptures to demonstrate one way of arriving at a reasoned conclusion to the question through biblical reflection. The true value of this exercise ari…

Christ, understanding the myriad challenges and concerns we might face—be it health, finances, or our general safety and security—offers guidance for combating anxiety in the Sermon on the Mount. What Jesus makes clear is that the root of the problem is not worry; rather, it is unbelief. Therefore, the legitimate cure for anxiety is a spiritual mat…

In this special episode, Dr. Sadaphal shares three biblical observations on the current crisis in the Middle East.By Dr. C. H. E. Sadaphal

In Luke 15, Jesus tells a famous parable. Said parable tends to be best known by the name, “The Prodigal Son.” Yet, what is evident is that the central character of the story is the not the son who returns, but rather the father who lovingly demonstrates unmerited favor to both of his sons. Accordingly, in the episode, Dr. Sadaphal will extract the…

In Exodus, Moses understood that in order to be a shepherd to the Hebrews and stand before a holy God, he would need a special outpouring of grace. Moses will then go on to ask the Lord, “Please, show me Your glory!” (Exodus 33:18). What happens next is telling. Moses says, “Show me your glory” and how does God respond? He says something. Hence, we…

Giving thanks or thanksgiving has power because it is a self-denying grace; it sets the mind and heart of the creature on the kindness of the Creator. Consequently, for the one whose lips are dripping with thanks, his heart will be filled with blessings. Accordingly, in this episode, Dr. Sadaphal seeks to stir your soul to thankfulness by bringing …

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal recalls the events leading up to the conversion of his father-in-law, who was born again in the last few weeks of his life. Dr. Sadaphal subsequently mines wisdom from the experience of the death of a loved in order to provide five penetrating life lessons. Truly, the living take death to heart for the end of all peopl…

One of the basic foundations of human behavior is the ability to discern between right and wrong, between good and evil. Without this fundamental distinction, society would degenerate into chaos. So, in this episode, we will answer a few questions: What is morality? What must be true for morality to be meaningful now? What is the origin of morality…

One of the basic foundations of human behavior is the ability to discern between right and wrong, between good and evil. Without this fundamental distinction, society would degenerate into chaos. So, in this episode, we will answer a few questions: What is morality? What must be true for morality to be meaningful now? What is the origin of morality…

John 3:16 is important because it communicates God’s disposition toward the world. Having a true biblical understanding of God’s heart towards sinners is not just a therapeutic exercise that soothes guilty feelings or imparts false hope. Rather, a true biblical understanding of God’s disposition toward sinners is the Christian’s only hope in the mi…

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal challenges Christians to think about their relationship to modern technology because in his view, the technologies that we use are quickly becoming an ecosystem that we can’t escape. Consequently, he equips listeners with the biblical foundation necessary to answer the following question: Can I find a life of faith wit…

This is a replay (November 2018) of one of the most downloaded episodes in the 8-year history of the WCSK podcast. This "short" answers a specific question based on a brief Bible passage. In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal asks, "If the gospel tells the story of the 'good news' then how does the story end?" What is the ultimate conclusion of our Christi…

Likely, right now there are a few things consume your attention. There are likely a few things that you are concerned about, that cause you to worry or that burden your soul. These things—or thing—may reign over you to the point where it seems really, really big and everything else in your life relatively seems really, really small. Let me then ask…

Two thousand years ago, an angel preached a sermon of "good news of great joy" to unsuspecting shepherds. In that sermon, he communicated who the Prince of Peace is, why He was born, what He came to do, and why the birth of the Messiah was the day when true heavenly joy was born. The good news of great joy that our Deliverer has arrived and shall l…

Is there a sin that is so heinous and egregious that the one who commits it is not and shall never be forgiven? The Bible speaks of only one such sin, called the unforgiveable sin. The matter is clearly an important one for the Lord saw it necessary to mention it three times in the New Testament: in Matthew 12:22-32, Mark 3:28-30, and Luke 12:8-10.…

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal equips Christians to think and act biblically when it comes to living amidst the tension of two kingdoms: of God and of the world. Specifically, he uses Dr. Sam Waldron's book, Political Revolution in the Reformed Tradition, as a foundation and guide to develop answers to five more critical questions: (1) What is the s…

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal equips Christians to think and act biblically when it comes to living amidst the tension of two kingdoms: of God and of the world. Specifically, he uses Dr. Sam Waldron's book, Political Revolution in the Reformed Tradition, as a foundation and guide to develop answers to five critical questions: (1) Where does the gov…

The Christian is saved by faith and then lives by faith, which is distinguished from the life of sight. Of course, the life of “sight” is not limited to literal eyesight but refers to what is natural and earthly. Sight is a gift the Lord has provided to all human beings regardless of their election. Sight is not therefore to be rejected, but a man …

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and one of the many gifts that the Holy Spirit graces to us through sanctification. So how does a Christian improve their joy? Well, because joy is a fruit of the Spirit, the source of joy is God. No one can fake joy or produce it by themselves. Still, Colossians 1:11–12 tells us something interesting: …

John Owen once wrote, "Be killing sin or sin will be killing you." So, every true Christian will be killing sin. But how? How does a Christian kill sin according to the Scriptures? These are the questions Dr. Sadaphal will provide answers for in this episode. The hope for any child of God is that after Yahweh saves a person, He does not leave them …

King Ahab and Queen Jezebel are two historical monarchs who appear in the narratives of the Old Testament. Ahab is best known for his failure to lead and his open endorsement of idolatry. Jezebel is best known for her bad behavior unbecoming of a queen, so much so that calling a woman a “Jezebel” is equivalent to using profanity in Christian circle…

The serpent tempted our first parents (Adam and Eve) by nudging them to doubt the love of God. Satan overthrow all of humankind in Adam, and he continues to try and overthrow you one by one. What is one way to resist? Do not doubt the love of God. No one loves humanity like the Lord, and no one will care for His children like our Heavenly Father. G…

This episode offers encouragement for the weary Christian: always remember the beautiful, magnificent and eternal love of God. Allow your mind to be saturated with the memories of the kind, good works that God has continually wrought for His people. Allow your heart to be warmed by the hopeful truth that all human history will culminate in the triu…

Now, in the spring of 2022, the world is a very different place compared to where it was before the worldwide outbreak of a novel virus two years ago. For many individuals the way they think about public health, personal health, sickness and personal hygiene has radically changed. The question now becomes, is that change in thinking a good thing or…

The Reformation axiom, "Scripture interprets scripture" speaks to the idea that when interpreting the Bible, we allow God to speak for Himself by using His own words. This is a faithful approach that enables the Christian to rightly handle the Word of Truth. If Scripture does not interpret scripture, then something else will: for example, personal …

Scripture teaches us that God never wastes pain. Meaning, the Lord always uses the pain of trials and adversity to accomplish His purposes. And what are His purposes? His glory and our good. Yes, pain hurts, but only a gracious God who is in complete control of all things can bring out a transcendent good from pain, hurt and sorrow. We therefore do…

In this special Christmas edition of WCSK, you will hear a sermon from Dr. Sadaphal preached in December 2018. In this message, learn what Christmas is really about. Our Scripture focus will be from Luke 1:26-33. There, the angel Gabriel tells the virgin Mary that she will conceive a baby boy in her womb. The angel also makes five prophecies about …

In this special Christmas edition of WCSK, you will hear a sermon from Dr. Sadaphal preached in December 2017 titled, "The Day Joy Was Born." Christmas is a time where many things are celebrated, but the real meaning of Christmas is bigger than trees, gifts or any natural festivities. In this sermon, learn who the Prince of Peace is, why He was bor…

In today's episode we define and unpack the biblical doctrine of providence, or the fact that God provides for His creation. Our launching point for this discussion comes from the Old Testament book of Esther where the Lord orchestrates a marvelous deliverance for His people despite the threat of their extermination. The power of providence is that…

In this episode, Dr. Sadaphal continues to provide listeners with a biblical framework on how to think about innate human freedom. Here, he develops biblical answers to the questions: What happens when one person’s freedom to choose comes in conflict with another person’s conscience? What is the amicable solution? In particular, he applies the answ…

This episode makes a theological argument for the inherent freedom of all human beings: this includes, but is not limited to, freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of choice. A proper biblical understanding of human freedom is necessary cognizant of many sweeping changes in our world where people have lost (or are losing) their ability …

Repentance is not behavior change because biblically speaking, repentance is a change of mind. What you do results from what you think and therefore repentance affects not the symptom (works) but the disease (thinking). Of course, all Christians are not called to delight in sin but to pursue holiness. A proper understanding of repentance is crucial…

In this practical "how-to" episode, Dr. Sadaphal explains how you can use a religious exemption to opt-out of COVID-19 vaccine mandates at your job or school. He provides three lines of biblical reasoning that may help to support an individual's decision not to consent. Links mentioned in the show: Religious Exception Letter Handbook: https://drive…

The Judaism of the modern world is a religion separate and distinct from the Judaism of the ancient world, pre-Christ. The former is an idolatrous faith that rejects Jesus while the latter anticipated the coming Messiah. The former is based on the traditions of men, the latter was based on the Word of God. Accordingly, in this episode, Dr. Sadaphal…

In this special episode of WCSK, Dr. Sadaphal provides an update to the episode that originally aired on December 15th, 2020. Here, he analyzes new information on the COVID vaccines that have accumulated over the past 2-3 months. He still cautions listeners who are thinking of getting any of the vaccines because the so-called prevention may be more…

Many people today are afraid. They hear messages of fear and are encouraged to fear those around them. This fear is irrational because it is not grounded in reality and trumps faith in the Lord. Fear has even birthed a new faith: the cult of COVID, complete with its own code of morality and signals of virtue. With all this to consider, this begs th…

Since God is good, then how can He allow evil to exist? Since God is sovereign, is it inescapable to conclude that the ultimate cause of evil rests in the Lord? "If God, why evil?" is one the the most difficult questions to wrestle with. Yet, God's Word provides clarity and meaningful answers. Our Scripture focus will be Isaiah 45:7.…

Part I searched for a biblical answer to, "When is it permissible for the Christian to disobey civil authorities?" Part II explores why Christians may come to different conclusions as to when (or if) it is biblically permissible for the Christian to act contra Caesar or against the State. The possible answers to this inquiry are numerous, but one r…

WCSK has launched a new biblical counseling ministry called WiseWord that helps people who need help making tough decisions. WiseWord helps you answer questions like, "How do I find my calling?" So, if you found the general content in this episode helpful, consider how much more valuable having specific and customized and advice would be. To get tr…

In this special episode of WCSK, Dr. Sadaphal provides his medical opinion on the novel COVID-19 vaccine. He cautions listeners who are thinking of getting it because the so-called prevention may be more dangerous than the disease. You may refer to the written version of this episode in order to view and read all of the references: http://what-chri…

WCSK has launched a new biblical counseling ministry called WiseWord that helps people who need help making tough decisions. WiseWord helps you answer questions like, "How do I make a decision biblically?" So, if you found the general content in this episode helpful, consider how much more valuable having specific and customized and advice would be…

WCSK has launched a new biblical counseling ministry called WiseWord that helps people who need help making tough decisions. WiseWord helps you answer questions like, "How do I know God's will for my life?" So, if you found the general content in this episode helpful, consider how much more valuable having specific and customized and advice would b…

40 Days Alone with Jesus: How to Find Clarity, Comfort & Hope when Life Hurts is the new daily devotional from WCSK's founder, Dr. Sadaphal. In this episode, he will be reading an excerpt from this ebook. If you like what you've heard, you can pre-order the book now by clicking this link: https://amzn.to/3k6PHaz…

40 Days Alone with Jesus: How to Find Clarity, Comfort & Hope when Life Hurts is the new daily devotional from WCSK's founder, Dr. Sadaphal. In this episode, he will be reading an excerpt from this ebook. If you like what you've heard, you can pre-order the book now by clicking this link: https://amzn.to/3k6PHaz…

40 Days Alone with Jesus: How to Find Clarity, Comfort & Hope when Life Hurts is the new daily devotional from WCSK's founder, Dr. Sadaphal. In this episode, he will be reading an excerpt from this ebook. If you like what you've heard, you can pre-order the book now by clicking this link: https://amzn.to/3k6PHaz…

When is it permissible for the Christian to disobey civil authorities? More specifically, in the current environment, in which secular authorities have already used their political power to shut down houses of worship all across the United States, when is it biblically permissible for the Christian to say, “Enough is enough” and act contra Caesar o…