Curiously Kaitlyn

So, every year, we talk about Jesus dying and coming back. Did that just happen once, or did he die and come back? Kaitlyn and Mike talk about why we mourn Jesus every year even though he only died once.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:45 - Does Jesus Die on the Cross Every Easter?   9:08 - Crucifixion and Communion   18:25 - Sponsor - Tyndale - Ask better question and discover the Gospel of Being Human with Marty Solomon. Check it out at: https://www.navpress.com/   19:30 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order!   21:28 - Mourning Jesus   27:01 - Lament with Hope   29:00 - End Credit

Ever read something Jesus said and thought… wait, was that supposed to make sense? One young listener asks why Jesus seemed to intentionally confuse people in Mark 4, and it turns out she's stumbled onto one of the hardest passages in the Gospels. Kaitlyn and Mike dig into the parable of the sower, Jesus' surprising quote from Isaiah, and whether God actually wants some people not to understand. They also wrestle with a tension many of us feel: why doesn't God just make everything clearer? The answer has less to do with intelligence and more to do with relationship, trust, and timing.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:15 - Why Does Jesus Confuse People?   2:45 - Mark 4   10:19 - Old Testament God   18:44 - Sponsor - Blueland - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning products, go to this link: https://www.blueland.com/CURIOUSLY   20:00 - Sponsor - Blissy - Pure mulberry silk pillow cases—hypoallergenic, naturally cooling, and recommended by dermatologists! Go to https://www.blissy.com/KAITLYN and use code KAITLYN to get 30% off!   21:22 - Truth Must Be Revealed   28:55 - Truth is Deep   34:54 - End Credits

You may have heard people in church say, "Jesus is the Word of God," but they also say, "The Bible is the Word of God." The Bible itself refers to Jesus as the "Word of God." How are those things both true? Kaitlyn's explains how the term "Word of God" is used throughout the Bible, the debates around the Greek word for "word," and how we interpret scripture to define important terms. 0:00 - Theme Song 1:00 - Why are Jesus and Scripture Both Called the Word of God? 4:30 - Translating "Logos" 10:20 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330 11:22 - Sponsor - Hear Women - Listen to Hear Women wherever you get your podcasts! https://www.ivpress.com/hear-women-podcast 12:05 - "Word" as Revelation 21:40 - God Loves Us 24:11 - End Credits

If your dog goes to heaven, will she see Jesus as a dog? Kaitlyn and Mike explore what the Bible actually says about animals, God's care for creation, and whether the pets we love might be part of the new creation. They tackle why Jesus became human and why that particular, embodied humanity still matters today. The conversation leads to a bigger question many adults quietly assume: is Jesus whoever we want him to be? And what happens when the real Jesus challenges the version we've made in our own image.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:05 - Will Jesus Look Like a Dog to Dogs?   5:04 - God Loves Animals   12:11 - Is Jesus Still Human?   19:00 - Sponsor - Toups and Co Organics - Simplify your routine and feel good about what you put on your skin. Get 25% off your first order with code KAITLYN at https://www.toupsandco.com/KAITLYN   20:18 - Sponsor - World Relief - Partner with World Relief in creating safety, stability and belonging for refugees and immigrants at https://www.worldrelief.org/KAITLYN   21:32 - Jesus Isn't All Things   29:53 - Self-Examination   33:52 - End Credits

Pharaoh's magicians seem to be doing magic in the Bible! If supernatural power comes from God, then how are these guys turning rods into snakes? Kaitlyn talks about how people have understood that passage in the Bible and what it reveals about our relationship to idols, magic, and God.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:56 - Why Did God Let Pharaoh's Magicians Do Magic?   4:25 - Was it Just a Magic Trick?   9:12  - God vs Egyptian gods   15:22 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   16:23 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   17:14 - Sponsor - Blueland - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning products, go to this link: https://www.blueland.com/CURIOUSLY   18:35 - Idols and Magic   26:30 - Final Words   30:55 - End Credits

Most of us assume angels rank above humans in the great cosmic hierarchy. But angels, for all their mystery and power, lack two essential parts of what it means to be human: a physical body and the kind of covenant relationship with God that shapes our story. Kaitlyn takes up the simple question of whether angels are boys or girls and uses it to draw out the deeper differences between angels and humans and how these differences point us back to the astonishing claim at the heart of Scripture: that embodied, relational humanity holds a uniquely honored place in God's creation.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:08 - Angels in the Bible   8:26 - Do Angels Have Bodies?   13:34 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   15:01 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   16:02 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   17:38 - Marriage in Heaven   22:06 - Are Angels Better Than Us?   28:37 - Goodness of Limitation   31:37 - End Credits

Did God choose you or did you choose God? Kaitlyn tackles one of Christianity's most debated questions, predestination vs. free will, exploring what the Bible says about God's sovereignty, human choice, and how believers have wrestled with holding both together for centuries. She also addresses the deeper motivations behind this debate, including fear about salvation, questions about responsibility, and the temptation to settle for overly simple answers to complex mysteries.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:10 - Free Will or Predestination?   5:18 - Bible Verse   15:00 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   15:50 - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   16:52 - The Center for Christianity and Public Life - Know a young person who would benefit from a Christian summer civics program? Point them toward https://www.ccpubliclife.org/HOLYPOST to sign up today   18:11 - Mystery and Theology   23:48 - Is Life "Choose Your Own Adventure?"   30:52- What to Read About Predestination/Free Will?   33:45 - End Credits

Isn't it weird that the Bible has all these little verse and chapter markers? And the original writers of the books of the Bible didn't write them. So, where did they come from? Kaitlyn explains why we have verse and chapter markers and how it sometimes changes how we read the Bible.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:52 - What's With All the Numbers in the Bible?   4:00 - Why Read Whole Books of the Bible?   8:18 - Dividing the Bible Into Verses   13:35 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   14:37 - Sponsor - Toups and Co Organics - Simplify your routine and feel good about what you put on your skin. Get 25% off your first order with code KAITLYN at https://www.toupsandco.com/KAITLYN   16:00 - Sponsor - World Relief - Join The Path, a monthly giving community for refugees. Through June 30th, your first donation will be matched dollar-for-dollar: https://www.worldrelief.org/KAITLYN   17:12 - Daily Vitamin   21:58 - How Divisions Change Interpretation   28:35 - Not Being Intimidated by Scripture   33:28 - End Credits

We all know the story of Lot's wife being turned into a pillar of salt, but have you ever stopped to look at it from her perspective? Kaitlyn unpacks this strange story to talk about God's mercy, our tendency to return to things that harmed us, and how to read the Bible when we come across stories we do not fully understand.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:07 - Why Was Lot's Wife Turned Into Salt?   9:00 - Why Salt?   14:20 - Sponsor - No Small Endeavor - Award-winning podcast where theologians, philosophers, and best-selling authors talk about faith with Lee C. Camp. Start listening today: https://pod.link/1513178238   15:33  - Sponsor - Blueland - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning products, go to this link: https://www.blueland.com/CURIOUSLY   16:36 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   17:33 - Why's the Bible Written Like That?   34:30 - End Credits

What does it mean to fear an all-loving God? Is it just reverence and awe, or are we actually supposed to be afraid? Kaitlyn and Mike wrestle with biblical stories, common misconceptions about Greek and Hebrew word studies, and the difference between fear that drives us away from God and fear that draws us closer. They also explore how a healthy fear of God can free us from fear of people, power, and politics and why that paradox might actually be good news.   0:00 - Theme Song   3:11 - Fear as Respect?   8:23 - Power is Frightening   16:15 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   17:17 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/HOLYPOST to receive 50% off your first order   19:22 - Fire and Brimstone   27:21 - Fear is Powerful   31:53 - End Credits

We think the after life will be perfect in every way, but that is not the picture that Scripture paints.  From Eden to new creation, Kaitlyn and Mike explore why scripture calls creation "good" instead of "perfect," why only God has perfection, and why eternal life won't be static, boring, or frozen in place. Instead, it's a future of growth, learning, and flourishing—far better than the perfection we imagine now.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:55 - Should the Word Be Used to Describe Something on Earth?   3:35 - Was Eden perfect?   12:48 - Sponsor - With & For: Psychology and Spirituality for Thriving Podcast. Check it out now! https://pod.link/1712333330   14:00 -Perfectionism   22:02 - Orienting Toward Heaven   25:28 - End Credits

Why do Christians bow their heads when they pray? Is it just tradition, a way to avoid distraction, or does our posture actually shape our faith? Kaitlyn and Producer Mike explore where bowing came from, how the Bible depicts it, what the early church thought about prayer posture, and how our bodies help form our hearts. Also in the episode: feudal hand gestures, sugar glider onesies, and why distracted prayers might not be something to feel guilty about after all. 0:00 - Theme Song   2:25 - Why Do We Bow Our Heads?   5:32 - Bowing in the Bible   12:32 - World Relief - Join The Path to help vulnerable people   14:15 - Is God in front of us?   22:10 - Trusting God's Love   29:42 - Summing it Up   31:14 - End Credits

It's mailbag time! Kaitlyn and Mike field your questions about faith and works, why churches sometimes prioritize nursery duty over community outreach, and how to move beyond the "Bible in a Year" grind. They talk salvation as allegiance, children as the church's shared responsibility, and creative ways to stay rooted in Scripture without treating it like a daily vitamin.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:25 - Is Salvation a Gift?   6:33 - What Did Paul Mean by "Work Out Your Salvation?"   12:02 - Sponsor - Blueland - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning products, go to this link: https://www.blueland.com/CURIOUSLY   13:27 - Should churches focus on outreach or inreach?   22:20 - How to Read the Bible Beyond Daily Reading   31:32 - End Credits

How can we have a personal relationship with God, when we do all the talking? How can Christians talk honestly about heaven and the afterlife without oversimplifying or confusing people? And why does Scripture sometimes show God responding with judgment and other times with surprising mercy? Kaitlyn lets the grown ups have a turn asking their questions, and they don't disappoint! She tackle these questions and explores grief, repentance, mystery, and what it looks like to trust God's character when easy answers fall short.   0:00 - Theme Song   3:35 - Wanting to Hear From God   14:21 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   16:31 - The Afterlife   21:50 - How Does God Respond to Evil?   34:22 - End Credits

Jesus cries out, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" How can the Father forsake the Son if they're the same person in the Trinity? Was the Trinity severed? Kaitlyn has thoughts on this important theological debate—and reveals how this debate is part of why she became a theologian!   0:00 - Intro   0:37 - Theme Song   1:20 - Show Starts   2:40 - Kaitlyn's Origin Story   12:50 - Penal Substitutionary Atonement   18:42 - Sponsor - Dwell - Listen to scripture throughout your day. Go to https://www.dwellbible.com/CK for 25% off!   19:42 - Sponsor - Word Relief - World Relief has a $415,000 challenge gift that ends December 31. Your gift can go three times as far! Give now at https://www.worldrelief.org/kaitlyn   21:18 - Relational, Trinitarian God   32:10 - The Father Grieving the Son   39:37 - Outro Song   Resources: Forsaken: The Trinity on the Cross, and Why it Matters by Thomas H. McCall: https://a.co/d/1PvcWvZ Delighting in the Trinity: An Introduction to the Christian Faith by Michael Reeves: https://a.co/d/ikSTCLB The Crucified God by Jürgen Moltmann: https://a.co/d/9LVdAw3

What if there was no angry innkeeper in the nativity story? Despite what Christmas pageants might suggest, Jesus was likely not born in a stable, and Mary and Joseph were probably not rejected by an innkeeper. Kaitlyn takes a closer look at Luke's nativity account, exploring what Scripture actually says about mangers, guest rooms, animals, and family—and why those details matter. What may seem like a small detail about Jesus' birth location reveals something much bigger about power, empire, and the surprising way God enters the world through humility, vulnerability, and nearness.   0:00 - Theme Song   2:01 - Was Jesus Born in a Barn?   6:03 - No Guest Room Translation   13:45 - Sponsor - World Relief - Giving will be tripled up to $415,000 til December 31! So start giving monthly now at https://www.worldrelief.com/kaitlyn   15:30 - Beautiful Chaos   22:10 - Why Bethlehem?   33:52 - End Credits

Why would God choose such a young woman to be the mother of Jesus? Kaitlyn Schiess reflects on Mary's age, vulnerability, and social position, and why those details matter so much in the Advent story. Drawing from Luke 1, they explore how God consistently works through surprising people, why Mary's response is so different from Zechariah's, and what this teaches us about faith, doubt, and trust. Mary shows us that faithful waiting isn't about doubting whether God can do this, but about asking how we are meant to participate.   0:00 - Theme Song   1:42 - Why Did God Choose Someone So Young?   6:33 - Cultural Marriage Norms   12:21 - Sponsor - Aura Frames - Need a holiday gift to share memories? Get 35% off the Aura Carver Mat Frame with promo code KAITLYN at https://www.auraframes.com   13:36 - Mary Compared to Zachariah   21:42 - When is Doubt Good?   29:37 - End Credits

What's the point of Advent in a world that's already been playing Christmas music since October? Kaitlyn digs into the ancient roots of Advent, why the church calendar begins with longing instead of celebration, and how this season teaches us to live in the tension between God's promises and our present reality. When we feel the quiet ache from the Christmas season never quite living up to our expectations, Advent helps us understand the true meaning of Christmas better than Charlie Brown ever could. 0:00 - Theme Song   1:20 - Why Do We Do Advent?   3:32 - Christmas Starts December 25?   7:20 - Advent is Somber?   14:07 - Sponsor - Aura Frames - Need a holiday gift to share memories? Get 35% off the Aura Carver Mat Frame with promo code KAITLYN at https://www.auraframes.com   15:08 - Sponsor - SelectQuote - Go to https://www.selectquote.com/kaitlyn to get started on your new life insurance policy   16:16 - Living Differently from the World   20:04 - A Thrill of Hope   26:48 - The Second Coming   30:21 - End Credits

We all know the wise men from our nativity sets, but what's actually going on in this story? Who were the wise men, and why did Matthew include them in his accounting of the birth of Christ? This well-known but undeniably odd part of the nativity story is loaded with meaning that can reorient how we enter Advent. Kaitlyn and Producer Mike follow kids' simple questions about stars, gifts, and travel timelines into the deeper layers of Matthew's Gospel, where foreign astrologers, of all people, become some of the first to recognize Jesus as king. 0:00 - Theme Song   2:05 - What's Up With the Star?   9:00 - How Many Wise Men?   12:50 - Sponsor - Blueland - For 15% off first order of Blueland cleaning products, go to this link: https://www.blueland.com/CURIOUSLY   14:03 - Sponsor - Aura Frames - Need a holiday gift to share memories? Get 35% off the Aura Carver Mat Frame with promo code KAITLYN at https://www.auraframes.com   15:04 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   17:00 - Why's this in the Bible?   27:00 - Balaam and the Magi   37:37 - End Credits

Does prayer make a difference? After all, if God knows everything about us, then why should we bother praying? Kaitlyn helps us understand how prayer is more than listing our requests, but an opportunity to experience relationship with a Father who delights to hear from His kids, reshaping our desires, and drawing us into dependence on Him.   0:00 - Theme Song   0:23 - Sponsor - Dwell - Listen to scripture throughout your day. Go to https://www.dwellbible.com/CK for 25% off!   2:50 - What's the Point of Prayer If God Knows Everything?   7:00 - God and Relationship   13:52 - Sponsor - World Relief - Partner with World Relief in creating safety, stability and belonging for refugees and immigrants. A $200,000 Challenge Gift is multiplying every donation—give today at https://www.worldrelief.org/KAITLYN   14:37 - Sponsor - Hiya Health - Go to https://www.hiyahealth.com/CURIOUSLY to receive 50% off your first order   16:33 - God Likes Us   21:25 - Prayers Aren't Magic   26:00 - Wanting the Right Things   29:05 - Being With God Daily   34:37 - End Credits