Cage Free Theology

"Would you kick me out of your church?"  And what do you do when a fellow believer refuses to turn from sin? Today's episode of Cage-Free Theology provides a clear, compassionate, and biblical breakdown of one of the most misunderstood aspects of the Christian faith: church discipline. Pastors Clint Archer and Will Brandon clarify the process, explaining that it isn’t about "shunning" or "kicking people out," but rather a heart-wrenching pursuit of love intended to restore the individual and protect the purity of the church. 

Using Matthew 18 and 1 Corinthians 5 as their guide, they walk through the practical steps of handling unrepentant sin.  They discuss the vital role of church elders and the congregation in the restoration process and show how church discipline is actually a beautiful path toward healing and restoration.

Whether you're a pastor navigating a difficult situation or a church member who wants to understand how to love others through their deepest struggles, this episode offers the biblical clarity you need.  Tune in to see how the "hardest thing a church does" is often the most loving thing it can provide.

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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
[00:00:00] – What Is Church Discipline And Why Does It Matter?
[00:00:33] – It’s Not "Amish shunning"
[00:01:11] – 2 Primary Goals: Restoration Of The Person & Purity Of The Church
[00:03:17] – The "Love vs. Discipline" False Dichotomy
[00:05:06] – Why You Should Look For A Church That Practices Discipline
[00:06:41] – Step 1: The Private, One-On-One Confrontation
[00:07:23] – Step 2: Bringing 2 Or 3 Witnesses To Confirm Facts
[00:08:41] – Does Discipline Apply to Non-Members?
[00:12:28] – Step 3: "Tell It To The Church"—The Members-Only Meeting
[00:14:14] – Step 4: Excommunication & Communion
[00:16:10] – 1 Corinthians 5: "Do Not Even Eat With Them"
[00:19:12] – 5 Years Of Discipline Leading To Restoration
[00:22:40] – Which Sins Qualify For Discipline? 
[00:26:10] – Handling Factious & Divisive People (Titus 3)
[00:32:18] – Trusting Your Elders Through The Process

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Is Artificial Intelligence a gift to the modern pastor or a threat to the integrity of the pulpit? In this episode of Cage-Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon dive into the ethics of using AI for Bible study and sermon preparation.

From the "Tower of Babel" risks of relying on technology to the practical benefits of using AI as a "digital intern" for research and illustrations, we explore where to draw the line. We discuss why the process of study is just as important as the final product and why the Holy Spirit’s work in the preacher can’t be automated.

Key Topics in this Episode:
   - Why "fetching" information is different from "creating" content.
    -The danger of losing critical thinking skills.
    -How tools like Logos are integrating AI responsibly.
    -The "dirty" feeling of AI-generated alliteration.
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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
0:25 – Should pastors use AI for sermon prep?
1:16 – The Ark vs. The Tower of Babel
2:05 – Warning #1: Using AI to write the sermon for you
2:54 – The mandate for the preacher to be a "workman" - 2 Timothy 2:15
3:30 – Warning #2: The loss of pastoral authenticity and personal connection
4:55 – Warning #3: Short-circuiting the work of the Holy Spirit in the study process
6:51 – Is there a place for AI in closed countries with limited training?
8:18 – AI can erode the ability to think critically 
9:26 – AI as a tool to "fetch" information, not to "create" content
10:36 – Real examples
13:46 – AI integration in Bible software
15:52 – Is using AI for alliteration "cheating"?
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Is there a "perfect" translation, or are we just getting closer to the source? In this episode of Cage Free Theology, Clint Archer and Will Brannon break out of their usual translation debates to take a deep dive into the Legacy Standard Bible (LSB).

Today, we explore why our church is making the switch to the LSB, focusing on its commitment to literal accuracy and the specific decision to restore the name Yahweh to the Old Testament text.  They pull back the curtain on the pastoral, theological, and practical reasons for the change.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The Philosophy: What sets the LSB apart from other formal equivalence translations?
• The Consistency: How "word-for-word" can you actually get without losing the meaning?
• The Transition: Is it worth switching your primary study Bible for a new update?

Whether you're a Greek geek or just looking for a more faithful reading experience, grab a seat. It’s time to talk shop.

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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
0:00 - Why is our church switching to the LSB? 
3:30 - Comparing the LSB to the NASB
4:44 - The Consistency Factor: Why "word-for-word" matters 
8:00 - Restoring the name Yahweh 
9:28 - The Preacher’s Dilemma 
11:28 - Congregational reaction 
13:00 - Formatting Wins
13:58 - The Logistics 
16:50 - Is the LSB too "niche" for the average churchgoer? 
19:37 - Avoiding doctrinal bias 
21:04 - Does a translation need to be a "Top 5" seller? 
23:11 - What the pastor's Bible says about the preaching

Is it ever too late to turn to God? In this episode, Clint Archer and Will Brannon tackle the controversy of deathbed conversions and the recent public statement by Scott Adams  (creator of Dilbert) regarding his faith. 

From the repentance of the "most wicked king" Manasseh to the classic example of the thief on the cross, Clint and Will discuss whether God’s grace truly covers a lifetime of rebellion in a person's final hours.  The duo explores the biblical reality of late-life professions of faith. 

They also break down:
    The Parable of the Vineyard Workers: Why God's "unfair" grace is the heart of the Gospel.
    Pascal’s Wager: The danger of treating faith as a "risk-reward calculation" or fire insurance.
    The Bare Minimum: What a person must actually believe in their heart to be saved.

Whether you're curious about the limits of forgiveness or wondering why "getting right with God later" is a dangerous gamble, this episode offers a clear, biblical perspective on the power of grace at the finish line.

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👇 Jump to moments (chapters):
[00:01:33] – Can a person really be saved on their deathbed?
[00:02:49] – King Manasseh 
[00:03:08] – The thief on the cross 
[00:06:47] – How is that fair?
[00:08:20] – The Parable of the Generous Landowner (Matthew 20)
[00:11:01] – What is Pascal’s Wager?
[00:12:02] – Scott Adams' public conversion statement 
[00:13:53] – Romans 10 and Ephesians 2
[00:16:40] – "The Bare Minimum"
[00:18:24] – 1 Corinthians 15:3 

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Is Hell a place of eternal suffering, or does the soul eventually cease to exist? Following the recent public "dust up" involving Kirk Cameron, Clint Archer and Will Brandon dive back into one of the most sobering topics in theology.

In this episode, we break down the differences between the traditional view of Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT) and the rising popularity of Annihilationism (or Conditionalism). We explore the biblical definitions of "eternal," the weight of sin against an infinite God, and why this conversation matters for our understanding of God’s justice and the beauty of the Cross.

Whether you're struggling with the "fairness" of hell or curious about the current evangelical debate, join us for a balanced, biblically-grounded look at the duration of judgment.

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👇 Jump to moments:
[00:00:29] - Why another episode on Hell? 
[00:01:18] - The Kirk Cameron controversy: What sparked the "dust up"? 
[00:02:24] - Defining Annihilationism and Conditionalism 
[00:04:44] - The Traditional View: Eternal Conscious Torment (ECT)
[00:08:52] - Why an infinite punishment for a finite life? 
[00:10:18] - Biblical evidence: Jesus’ words on Hell
[00:13:21] - Reflections on Kirk Cameron’s intentions and the public response
[00:16:36] - How to talk to children about Hell 
[00:18:04] - How Hell highlights God’s grace 
[00:22:24] - Is denying the traditional view of Hell considered heresy?
[00:26:36] - Kirk Cameron’s follow-up video and the Preston Sprinkle reference 

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Resources Mentioned:
    Book: A Visitor’s Guide to Hell by Clint Archer
    Book: Hell on Trial: The Case for Eternal Punishment by Robert Peterson
    Scripture Highlights: Mark 9:44-48, Matthew 25:41-46, Revelation 14:10-11, Luke 16
    Previous Episode #013: "A Visitor’s Guide to Hell" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0-50iao6fE
    Previous Episode #009: "Side B Theology" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqJPBSxXrk0

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