Apostolic Life in the 21st Century

Doctrine matters—but are all doctrinal disagreements equally significant? Which truths are essential to salvation, and where is there room for sincere believers to disagree? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. David K. Bernard explores whether Scripture distinguishes between essential and secondary doctrines and explains biblical principles for making that distinction. Using examples such as church government, the timing of the rapture, and Christian practice, he discus...

Oneness Pentecostals believe God is calling the church back to the teachings and practices of the New Testament, including the plan of salvation proclaimed in Acts 2:38. But what about the many Christians throughout history who demonstrated sincere faith and devotion without repenting, being baptized in Jesus’ name, and receiving the Holy Spirit according to this pattern? Does a restorationist view imply that they are eternally lost? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. ...

Did Greek philosophy merely give early Christian theologians a new vocabulary, or did it influence how they understood the nature of God? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. David K. Bernard explores the influence of Plato, Philo, and Neoplatonism on Christian theology from the second through the fourth centuries. Drawing from church history, he examines how philosophical ideas entered theological discussions and considers whether their impact extended beyond terminolog...

The New Testament records believers being baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, but what does history reveal about baptism in the generations immediately following the apostles? In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. David K. Bernard examines the historical evidence surrounding early Christian baptism. Looking beyond the biblical record, he explores writings and practices from the early postapostolic church to determine whether the historical record supports baptism in Jes...

This week, the United Pentecostal Church International gathers in Salt Lake City, Utah, for its annual General Conference, where missions will once again be a central focus. Through Global Missions and North American Missions, UPCI churches work together to take the gospel to communities and nations around the world. In this episode of Apostolic Life in the 21st Century, Dr. David K. Bernard explains why missions is so important to the UPCI and why supporting missionaries and church planters ...