Deformed Theology

They walked 3 hours to get into freezing water. 550 people baptized on a UK beach — what's really happening in the UK?In Ep. 78, Merlin Kraft joins Deformed Theology to share the story behind the mass baptisms sweeping the UK. What started with a simple social media post turned into hundreds showing up — some traveling 8 hours, others walking 3 hours — to get into the freezing water to follow Jesus.Merlin shares his own testimony growing up between Germany and Scotland, feeling judged in a traditional church, and finally encountering Jesus through Calvary Chapel. He tells the inside moments you have to hear to believe: "It's gotta be more than excitement to get into the freezing cold waters over here," the friend who took the roof off to get a wheelchair-bound man to the water, and the local councilor who came to shut it down and ended up getting baptized and praying in the water.We also talk about what comes next — why local churches must step up to disciple and nurture these new believers, why obedience matters more than academic understanding, and what true revival and unity look like beyond denominations.New episodes Mondays at 9AM Central. Subscribe and walk with us as we live under the lordship of Jesus Christ.#revival #massbaptism #faithstories0:00 Welcome Merlin Kraft from UK2:15 Merlin's Early Life and Faith3:47 Merlin's Church Background7:52 UK Revival and Mass Baptisms12:51 Discipleship and Church Connection21:17 Miraculous Baptism Stories31:58 God Still Moves Today38:58 Video of Mass Baptism49:53 Living Out Our Faith53:41 Deformed Theology and Unity59:06 Discipleship Obedience and Experience1:15:59 Return to Faith in UK

Is Sodomy in the Bible? What Scripture Says About Purity: Ep. 77Is the word sodomy in the Bible? What does Scripture actually say about masturbation, lust, and sexual purity?In Ep. 77, Jonathan and David answer two listener questions from Cecilia Ann and walk through God's design for sex, marriage, and holiness — from the heart to the body.What we cover in this episode:What sodomy means in Scripture — Sodom and Gomorrah, Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:18-32, 2 Peter 2:4-10, Jude 1:6-8Why sexual sin starts in the heart — Matthew 5, Proverbs 6:20-32, James on desiresMasturbation, lust, and self-control — 1 Corinthians 6:15-20, 1 Corinthians 7, Romans 7-8God's design for sex in marriage — Genesis 'two shall become one flesh,' Ephesians 5:25, Song of Solomon, Leviticus 15How to guard your mind — auditing entertainment, walking in the Spirit, 1 Corinthians 5:9-13, 1 Corinthians 13Your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. True freedom comes from denying selfish desires and aligning with God's will.New episodes Mondays at 9AM Central. Subscribe for weekly biblical discussions, testimonies, and Bible studies on living under the lordship of Jesus Christ.About Deformed Theology: Going beyond denominations to explore the gospel with a heart-centered, scripturally grounded approach. Topics include faith and fasting, spiritual gifts, biblical prophecy, and church unity.Share your take in the comments — what helped you walk in purity?

Did Jesus descend into hell after the cross — or does Scripture describe those three days very differently? That is the question we took to the text, and we worked through every passage that speaks to it.We start with Matthew 12:40 and the sign of Jonah — three days and three nights in the heart of the earth — then deal honestly with the "three days and three nights" controversy and how ancient Jewish timekeeping worked. Before anything else, we settle this: Jesus truly died. He did not faint, and He was not unconscious.From there we go to 1 Peter 3:19 and the proclamation to imprisoned spirits. Who are they — the spirits of the dead, or the angels who left their first estate? We weigh both readings against Jude 1:6-7, the Sethite view versus the fallen angelic view of Genesis 6, and what the book of Enoch adds as background without treating it as canon.Then Luke 16 and the rich man and Lazarus: Hades, Abraham's bosom, and the great chasm fixed between them. That leads to Jesus' promise to the thief on the cross — "today you will be with Me in paradise" — and why paradise is a holding place, not yet heaven.Finally, Matthew 27:50-53 and the saints raised after His resurrection, what it means that Jesus is the firstborn from among the dead, how His resurrection differs from Lazarus's, and the words He speaks in Revelation 1:17-18: He holds the keys of death and Hades. He was not resting in the grave. He was working.If death is the thing you fear most, this episode is for you. Jesus is the resurrection and the life.READING & RESOURCES"The Descent Into Hell" — Rory Shiner, The Gospel Coalition (referenced in this episode)More from Deformed Theology: DeformedTheologyShow.comWe make these episodes to edify the church, not to win arguments. If this helped you, comment with the passage you want us to open next — and send it to one person who is wrestling with this question. KEY TOPICSThe hosts explain how ancient Jewish inclusive counting can understand part of Friday and part of Sunday as three days.They emphasize that Jesus truly died, rather than fainting, and discuss 1 Peter 3:19’s reference to proclamation to spirits in prison.They weigh whether those spirits were human souls or rebellious angels, connecting the latter view to Jude 6-7 and Genesis 6 while acknowledging uncertainty.Luke 16’s rich man and Lazarus is discussed as a picture of comfort and torment divided by an uncrossable chasm; the hosts reject universal redemption after death as incompatible with this passage.They consider Jesus’ promise to the thief on the cross, “Today you will be with me in paradise,” and distinguish paradise from the final new heaven and new earth.Matthew 27:52-53’s raised saints are considered in relation to Jesus as the firstborn from the dead and the fulfillment of resurrection hope.The hosts connect Colossians 2’s disarming of rulers and authorities with Christ’s victory proclamation and Revelation 1’s image of Jesus holding the keys of death and Hades.The discussion concludes that Jesus’ death, interim work, resurrection, and ascension were purposeful, and that his victory offers hope in life, suffering, and death.Chapters00:00 Opening banter and the episode’s central question04:17 Why ask what Jesus did in the grave?06:10 Three days and three nights: ancient counting explained11:18 Jesus truly died, and 1 Peter’s imprisoned spirits16:13 Luke 16: Abraham’s bosom, Hades, and the great chasm20:17 Who did Jesus proclaim victory to?25:09 Jude, Genesis 6, and the limits of speculation32:12 Jesus was active in death, not unconscious34:38 The raised saints and Christ’s resurrection victory41:18 Lazarus, resurrection hope, and Jesus’ authority49:10 Unclean spirits and the appointed time of judgment56:01 Christ’s purposeful work and comfort in facing death01:00:05 The keys of death and Hades01:03:24 Suffering, the cross, and the closing encouragement

Are psychics real? Can entertainment open doors? What does the Bible actually say about counterfeit power?In Ep. 75, Jonathan and David break down spiritual warfare, the table of demons from 1 Corinthians 10:21, and how to test the spirits by their fruit. If your output looks less like Christ, it's time to examine your inputs.We cover King Saul and the medium, Egypt's magicians, Ouija boards, Reiki, yoga, curses, amulets, and why rebellion is as witchcraft. Plus guardrails for entertainment, lust, fame, and discerning deceitful spirits in the latter times.📖 Key Scriptures: 1 Corinthians 10:21, 1 John 4:1-4, Ephesians 4:27, 2 Corinthians 11:14, 1 Samuel 15:23, Galatians 5:20, Matthew 7:17-18, 1 Peter 5:8, Philippians 4:8, Matthew 4:8-9, 1 Timothy 4:1🙏 New here? Subscribe to Deformed Theology for weekly Bible study beyond denominations - living under the lordship of Jesus Christ.New episodes Mondays at 9AM Central.#SpiritualWarfare #Discernment #BibleStudy00:00 Welcome & Housekeeping00:50 Fall Nostalgia & Halloween Convictions02:00 The Reality of the Enemy & Spiritual Warfare03:45 Counterfeits: Psychics, Mediums, and Ancient Examples07:00 The Table of Demons & Satan as an Angel of Light08:30 Witchcraft: Rebellion, Not Harmless Fun11:00 The Cost: Spells, Curses, and Amulets13:00 The Devil's Dominion & Temptation of Christ15:30 Discernment in Entertainment: Inputs & Outputs21:30 Ouija Boards, Reiki, Yoga: Opening Doors25:00 Invitations & Agreements: Do Not Give a Foothold35:00 Testing the Spirits: By Their Fruit37:00 No Right to Entertainment & Guardrails39:00 Final Thoughts: Deceitful Spirits in Latter Times

What is it really like sharing the gospel with Hollywood Christians and celebrities?Join Jonathan and David as they welcome back Dylan Novak — The Celebrity Evangelist — for Episode 74 of Deformed Theology. Dylan shares what he's learned from years of sharing the gospel one-on-one with actors, comedians, and A-list stars, from Chris Pratt and Howie Mandel to David Duchovny, Craig Robinson, Jay Farrow, and John Travolta.In this conversation: why Dylan sees celebrities as an unreached people group, why horror actors are surprisingly open to Jesus, how Bryce Dallas Howard started a Bible study on a horror set, and what happened when Dylan got a study Bible to John Travolta at a chaotic premiere.Grounded in James on partiality, 1 Corinthians 9:22 on becoming all things to all people, and the call to love God and neighbor without judgment — this is about taking Christ beyond the church walls.👕 New here? Subscribe for weekly Bible study, testimonies, and faith conversations.🔔 Turn on notifications for new episodes Mondays at 9AM Central.#DeformedTheology #HollywoodChristians #SharingTheGospel00:00 - Welcome back Dylan Novak00:47 - Chris Pratt, Dinx the Puppet and outspoken faith04:51 - David Duchovny and the study Bible09:11 - Howie Mandel's curiosity about faith15:01 - Celebrities as an unreached people group30:14 - Why horror actors are open to Jesus36:02 - Craig Robinson and Jay Farrow's faith01:01:42 - Getting a Bible to John Travolta