What do gluttony and doomscrolling have in common? More than you might think!

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon explore the biblical meaning of gluttony and its deeper connection to self-control, idolatry, and our everyday appetites. Is gluttony simply eating too much? Does being overweight automatically mean someone is a glutton? And what does the Bible mean when it says that some people have made their stomach their god?

The conversation takes an unexpected turn as Clint and Will connect overeating with doomscrolling, binge-watching, and our constant pursuit of digital gratification. Both can reveal the same underlying heart issue: allowing our desires to control us rather than living under the lordship of Christ.

Most importantly, they explain why biblical self-control is more than willpower. Through the gospel and the work of the Holy Spirit, believers are empowered to resist the flesh, pursue godliness, and find lasting satisfaction in Christ.

Listen in as we consider how to stop feeding our appetites and start feeding our souls!

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 – What Do Gluttony and Doomscrolling Have in Common?
02:04 – Why Gluttony and Drunkenness Go Together
04:40 – Self-Control: A Fruit of the Spirit
05:39 – Is Eating More Than You Need Always Gluttony?
07:01 – What Does It Mean to Make Your Stomach Your God?
09:03 – Pastors, Gluttony, and Biblical Self-Control
15:08 – Stress Eating and Feeding the Flesh
16:23 – Doomscrolling: Digital Gluttony?
19:09 – How the Gospel Changes Our Approach to Self-Control
19:25 – Jesus, the Living Water, and Lasting Satisfaction
22:24 – The Fruit of the Spirit and Freedom from the Flesh

Can Christians gamble? Is playing poker, betting on sports, buying lottery tickets, or rolling the dice actually a sin? What does the Bible say about gambling?

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon tackle a question many Christians have wrestled with: Can Christians play dice, and should they?

The Bible doesn't explicitly say, "Thou shalt not gamble." But does that mean gambling is acceptable for believers? Clint and Will dig into biblical principles that help Christians think carefully about gambling, betting, and the motivations behind risking money for a potential payout.

From Clint's childhood checkers-for-money hustle to a church retreat poker controversy, the conversation explores some surprising personal stories before getting into the heart of the biblical discussion.

Together, they examine what Scripture teaches about greed, covetousness, get-rich-quick schemes, addiction, and financial stewardship. They also discuss biblical examples of casting lots, the difference between gambling and investing, the dangers of sports betting, and why the growing accessibility of online gambling should concern Christians, especially parents and young men.

In this episode, we discuss:
-Does the Bible explicitly forbid gambling?
-What is the difference between gambling and investing?
-How do greed and covetousness influence our decisions?
-What does biblical stewardship have to say about betting?
-And so much more!

Ultimately, this conversation is about more than whether Christians can legally or morally place a bet. It's about examining our hearts, honoring God with the resources He has entrusted to us, and recognizing the difference between Christian liberty and foolishness.

Jump to a specific chapter:
00:00 – Can Christians Play Dice? Introducing the Question
00:49 – Clint's Checkered History with Gambling
02:16 – The Church Retreat Poker Controversy
04:21 – Does the Bible Say Gambling Is a Sin?
06:05 – Gambling in the Bible: Casting Lots and Taking Risks
08:28 – Greed, Covetousness, and Get-Rich-Quick Schemes
11:07 – Sports Betting, Online Gambling, and the Addiction Problem
14:08 – Biblical Stewardship: How Should Christians Use Their Money?
19:49 – A Warning to Young Men: Gambling, Trading, and Getting Help

Does God control everything—even the roll of a dice? If God is sovereign over every detail of the universe, does that mean He ordains evil? And how can God's sovereignty bring comfort when we face suffering, sickness, tragedy, and death?

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon tackle one of the most challenging questions in Christian theology: Is God in control of absolutely everything, or are some things left to chance?

Drawing from Scripture, Clint and Will explore the relationship between God's sovereignty and providence, examine the biblical case for God's control over seemingly random events, and wrestle with the difficult question of how God's sovereign purposes relate to human sin and evil.

From Proverbs 16:33 and the casting of lots to the crucifixion of Christ, the suffering of Job, and Joseph's powerful declaration in Genesis 50:20, this conversation explores what the Bible teaches about God's rule over all things—and why that truth can offer profound comfort to believers in the midst of suffering.

In this episode, we discuss:
-What God's sovereignty actually means and how it relates to His providence.
-The difference between God's ordinary providence and miraculous intervention.
-How God can be sovereign over events involving evil without being the author of evil.
-Why God's sovereignty is a source of comfort in suffering, illness, and uncertainty.
-And more!

The big question: If God is sovereign over all things, does He ordain evil? And if He is both sovereign and good, how should that shape the way we understand our suffering?

Join Clint and Will for a thoughtful, Scripture-centered conversation about God's sovereignty, human responsibility, the problem of evil, and the comfort of trusting a God who holds all things together.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 - Does God Ordain Evil?
00:42 - Does God Control Everything?
02:27 - God's Sovereignty and Providence Explained
04:18 - What Does the Bible Say About God's Sovereignty?
06:02 - If God Is Sovereign, Why Does Evil Exist?
08:33 - Does God Control Random Events, Even Dice?
10:19 - God's Sovereignty Over Life, Death, & Suffering
14:36 - Ordaining Evil? The Cross, Human Responsibility, & God's Good Purposes

How do you mortify your Sin? How do Christians fight sin and grow in holiness without falling into legalism, discouragement, or the trap of trying to earn God's favor? In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon tackle an essential question for every believer: How do you mortify your sin?

Drawing from Scripture and the wisdom of trusted Christian authors, Clint and Will explain what it means to put sin to death, how sanctification differs from justification, and why the fight against sin must always begin with the gospel and our union with Christ.

They explore the biblical balance between God's work in us and our responsibility to pursue holiness, showing why spiritual growth requires both dependence on the Holy Spirit and intentional obedience to God's Word.

In this episode, we discuss:
-What mortification of sin means and why it matters for Christian growth.
-The difference between justification, sanctification, and glorification.
-How God's work and our responsibility work together in the process of sanctification.
-What Romans 8:13, Colossians 3:5, and other passages teach about putting sin to death.
-How to respond when the same sin keeps returning and the battle feels discouraging.
-Why we pursue holiness out of love for Christ—not to earn salvation or maintain our standing before God.
-Recommended Christian books for fighting sin and growing in godliness.

The Christian life is not about earning God's love through personal performance. Because we belong to Christ, we have every reason to hate sin, pursue holiness, and grow in obedience. The fight may be lifelong, but it is never a reason to abandon hope in the gospel.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:33 — What Is Mortification of Sin?
02:00 — Justification vs. Sanctification
03:40 — Does God Sanctify Us, or Do We?
06:42 — Why Fighting Sin Must Begin with the Gospel
07:36 — What Does the Bible Say About Killing Sin?
10:02 — Practical Steps for Mortifying Sin
12:48 — Identifying Your Personal Struggles with Sin
14:08 — The Role of the Local Church in Fighting Sin
17:06 — What If You Keep Falling into the Same Sin?
18:29 — Scrupulosity, Conscience, and the Gospel
20:58 — Obeying Christ Out of Love, Not to Earn Salvation
22:45 — Recommended Books on Fighting Sin and Growing in Holiness

Can Christians cuss? Is swearing always a sin, or does it depend on the words we use, our intentions, and the culture we live in? What about substitute words like “gosh,” “dang,” or “nuts”? And does the Bible ever use strong or shocking language?

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon tackle the often-debated question of Christian speech and what the Bible teaches about cursing, swearing, profanity, and vulgarity.

Rather than simply making a list of forbidden words, Clint and Will explore the biblical principles that should shape the way Christians speak. From Jesus’ teaching that the mouth speaks out of the heart (Matthew 12:34–37) to Paul’s command to use words that build others up (Ephesians 4:29), they discuss why our speech reveals more about our hearts than we might realize.

In this episode, we discuss:
-What the Bible says about cussing, swearing, and profanity.
-Whether a word is sinful because of its meaning, our intentions, or its cultural context.
-The connection between the heart, anger, and the words we speak.
-Whether strong language is ever appropriate in a Christian context.
-And SO MUCH MORE!

The conversation also considers biblical examples of strong language, the teaching of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, and insights from Christian thinkers such as John Piper and Douglas Wilson.

So, can Christians cuss? Join Clint and Will as they work through the biblical principles and practical questions that help us think carefully about how we speak.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 – Can Christians Cuss? Introduction and Opening Question
00:43 – Cussing vs. Swearing: Does the Difference Matter?
02:37 – Biblical Principles for Christian Speech
04:41 – Is It a Sin to Swear When Nobody Hears You?
06:25 – What Your Words Reveal About Your Heart
07:46 – Jesus’ Warning About Anger, Insults, and Sin
08:58 – What Makes a Word a “Bad Word”?
10:15 – Should Christians Follow Changing Cultural Standards?
12:33 – Is It the Word Itself or the Intention Behind It?
13:48 – Four Categories: Swearing, Cursing, Obscenity, and Vulgarity
19:26 – Is Strong or Profane Language Ever Appropriate?
22:38 – John Piper on Strong Language and Misusing God’s Name
26:04 – Soft Cussing: Are Words Like “Gosh” and “Dang” Sinful?
31:59 – Final Takeaways: Grace, Self-Control, and Christian Speech

What can maps, archaeology, and ancient biblical sites teach us about the Bible?

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon explore what we can learn from the geography and archaeology of the biblical world. Clint recently returned from a trip through Greece and Turkey, visiting places connected to the ministry of Paul, John, and the early church.

From Corinth and Athens to Ephesus, Crete, Rhodes, and Patmos, Clint shares what it was like to stand in places mentioned in Acts and the New Testament—and how seeing these locations firsthand can bring biblical narratives into sharper focus.

The conversation explores:
-Why biblical geography matters when studying Scripture
-Whether archaeology actually “proves” the Bible
-Why Christians shouldn't confuse biblical sites with “holy” places
-Greece vs. Israel: Which biblical trip is more worthwhile?

This episode is a reminder that Christianity isn't rooted in mythology or a vague spiritual past. The events recorded in Scripture took place in real places, among real people, in real history.

You don't have to travel to Greece or Israel to understand the Bible—but sometimes seeing the geography for yourself adds a whole new layer of color and clarity.

⏱️ Timestamps:
00:00 — What Do We Learn From Maps?
02:26 — Why Visit Biblical Locations?
05:29 — Corinth
06:25 — The Bema Seat
08:25 — The Erastus Inscription
10:35 — Does Archaeology Prove the Bible?
13:00 — Athens, the Acropolis & Mars Hill
16:31 — Patmos, John & the Book of Revelation
19:02 — Are Biblical Sites Actually “Holy” Places?
21:39 — Greece or Israel: Which Biblical Trip Should You Take?
24:41 — Why Maps Matter

What does it actually mean to fear the Lord? Is it being afraid of God?

In today's episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon get into the Bible giving us a deeper picture of what the fear of the Lord looks like. Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” This kind of fear is not simply terror or dread. It is a deep reverence, awe, respect, and recognition of who God is.

Fearing God does not mean we have to live in constant anxiety that He will reject us. For those who trust in Him, Scripture also speaks about God’s love, mercy, forgiveness, and the confidence we can have in His presence.

They discuss whether Christians should watch horror movies, what Scripture means by “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,” and why biblical fear of God is more than simply “respect” or “reverence.” They also explore the difference between the fear an unbeliever should have of God's judgment and the holy awe believers should have toward God.

Most importantly, this conversation points to the comfort of the gospel: believers do not need to fear God's wrath because Christ has already borne that judgment on their behalf. The right fear of God doesn't drive Christians away from Him—it drives us toward Him.

⏱️ Timestamps
00:00 — What does it mean to fear the Lord?
01:19 — Should Christians watch horror movies?
03:18 — Violence, horror, and what we allow into our minds
05:20 — Is the fear of God a good thing?
08:59 — “He is not safe, but He is good”
10:38 — How should believers fear God differently?
11:16 — How does perfect love cast out fear?
17:25 — How fearing God can drive out other fears
18:02 — What if you feel like God is angry with you?
20:05 — “It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Fear and anxiety are part of everyday life—but when does normal fear become sinful fear? And how should Christians respond when our minds become consumed by “what ifs,” worst-case scenarios, or the opinions of other people?

In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon have a practical, biblical conversation about fear, anxiety, phobias, and the fear of man. They discuss how to distinguish a God-given response to genuine danger from fear that reflects misplaced trust, and they explore how Scripture calls believers to respond.

From alligators and frogs to flying, future uncertainty, and the fear of other people's opinions, this conversation brings biblical truth into very practical situations.

The central question throughout the episode is: What is true, and what does God say?

⏱️ Timestamps
00:36 — How Should We Think About Fear and Anxiety?
01:15 — What Is Fear, and Is Fear Always Sinful?
03:21 — When Does Fear Become a Sin Issue?
04:35 — Diagnosing Fear: What Are You Afraid of Losing?
05:47 — Philippians 4: Responding to Anxiety With Prayer
07:19 — Adam, Fear, and Hiding From God in Genesis 3
13:24 — How Should Christians Approach Fear Differently?
21:35 — Understanding the Fear of Man

And don't forget: fear doesn't have to control you—learn to ask what is true, what God has said, and how you should respond.