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All (502) Scripture Commentary (306) Theology (44) Mike Winger (150) Pulpit (2)
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Repentance-free Christianity: omission of sin, judgment, and hell produces a distorted gospel

Question from Chip Lutec about self-improvement replacing holiness in modern Christianity.

Joel Osteen gospel prosperity gospel repentance
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Three arguments against drunk-in-the-spirit theology: self-control is a fruit of the Spirit; accusers were unsaved; Scripture describes the gifts

Mike's comprehensive rebuttal of drunk-in-spirit theology.

Acts 2 Galatians 5:23 Acts 2 self-control charismatic gifts
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Matthew 18 is widely misused on the internet to silence discernment of public teachers

Mike introduces the recurring question about whether he has the right to critique public teachers like Bill Johnson, Todd White, Brian Zond, and Brian Simmons

Matthew 18 Brian Simmons Matthew 18 Bill Johnson
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Acts 16:31 does not teach household salvation -- the household's rejoicing proves they individually believed

Responding to Sarah P's report that her Bible teacher taught household salvation from Acts 16:31

Acts 16:31-34 hermeneutics salvation Acts 16:31-34
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

John MacArthur — appreciation as a gospel champion; cautious about Strange Fire conference

A viewer asks Mike's opinion of John MacArthur.

John MacArthur John MacArthur Calvinism gifts of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

For new Christians evaluating commentaries: trust your Bible more than commentators; blueletterbible.org is recommended as a generally reliable free resource.

Question from a new Christian about evaluating Bible teachers and commentaries

hermeneutics discernment commentaries
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Rabbi Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT contains anti-Semitic propaganda and forged passages is theologically foolish — it substitutes his personal agenda for textual criticism and makes him the effective authority over Scripture.

Q: What do you think of Shmuley Boteach's claim that the NT has anti-Semitic propaganda Christians should reject as forgeries?

Romans 9-11 Shmuley Boteach Anti-Semitism and the New Testament Romans 9-11
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Mike's own primary gift is teaching, not worship leading — he did worship leading for years out of necessity but recognized it was not his strongest gift; leaning into actual gifts maximizes ministry impact.

Personal illustration of the spiritual-gifts-discernment principle.

Spiritual Gifts Calling and Gifting Teaching Gift
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Church fathers have historical value — especially the earliest second-century writers — but should not be granted extra theological authority; they are windows into early church history, not infallible teachers.

Q: How much utility should we find in the church fathers? Should we view them with extra credibility?

Justin Martyr Polycarp Church Fathers
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q12: Fear of studying theology — not studying is not safer; intellectual humility in study

Response to viewer afraid of making mistakes when studying eschatology

hermeneutics eschatology epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Consult additional translations when your interpretation hangs on the nuance of a specific wording

Second tip on when to consult secondary Bible translations; practical advice for teachers

hermeneutics Bible translation Blue Letter Bible
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Why care about false doctrine (prosperity gospel, word of faith)? Because doctrinal error has real-world spiritual consequences

Question from Tony about why false doctrine matters if it does not compromise salvation.

discernment prosperity gospel apostasy
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike articulates a Sola Scriptura position by arguing from Galatians 1 that the Apostles themselves placed their written gospel above any future authority — including apostles or angels — making all church fathers mere commentators with no binding theological authority.

Response to viewer question about the authority of early church fathers

1 Corinthians Galatians 1 Galatians 1:6-10 biblical authority Paul 1 Corinthians
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike examines 2 John 1:11 in context, explaining it refers to hosting traveling teachers and not to general social contact with heretics, then defends William Lane Craig's nuanced view on Catholics — acknowledging a false Catholic gospel while allowing that some Catholics may be genuinely saved.

Response to viewer question about whether to separate from William Lane Craig over his statements about Catholics

2 John 1:11 salvation false gospel works-based salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Listening prayer is not condemned in Scripture but formulizing the Holy Spirit's work is dangerous and can produce fabrications.

Question from Susan Krieg about whether the Bible endorses listening prayer.

Bethel Church Holy Spirit Listening prayer
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if he foreknew the fall? Guessing divine motives is risky, but free will and genuine love require real choices.

Question from Reggie LQ about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and divine foreknowledge.

Genesis 2-3 Genesis 2-3 Tree of knowledge of good and evil Divine foreknowledge
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Protecting against false doctrine without a complete Bible knowledge: read in context and check the text

Katie, a newly saved teen (about 10 months old in the faith), asked how to guard against false teaching when she has not yet read the entire Bible.

Romans proof-texting discernment false teaching
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Another Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4): prioritizing doctrine over teachers

Chip Ludick asked why Paul warned the Corinthians about "another Jesus" in 2 Corinthians 11:4 and how it applies today in light of John 17:3.

Galatians 1:8-9 2 Corinthians 11:4 Jude 3 sola scriptura Galatians 1:8-9 Kenneth Copeland
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Split-brain surgery (corpus callosotomy) and two consciousnesses: Winger admits this question about souls exceeds his competence.

Audrey Addison asks whether a person with a severed corpus callosum (exhibiting two independent consciousnesses) has two souls.

soul intellectual humility split-brain (corpus callosotomy)
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

How to evaluate scholarship that challenges traditional OT interpretation through cultural/linguistic arguments

Question from True West about scholarship that challenges OT translations and cultural understandings.

James 3:1 Galatians (uncircumcision passage) Hermeneutics James 3:1 Biblical scholarship
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Sharing a stage with false prophets does not necessarily constitute endorsement; guilt-by-association logic can lead to unfair heresy-by-proxy labeling.

Q5 from Ricardo Sierra: are sound-doctrine pastors who share stages with false prophets guilty by association?

discernment false prophets/teachers guilty by association
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Ephesians 4:7-16 overview: gifts given to the church equip saints toward unity.

Question 1 from Tanya about Ephesians 4:7-16.

Ephesians 4:7-16 church unity pastor-teacher spiritual gifts
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Brief assessment of Spurgeon; no strong opinions on Swedenborg or Watchman Nee.

Question 3/4 from Marty (South Africa) about the works of Swedenborg, Watchman Nee, and Spurgeon.

Charles Spurgeon Emmanuel Swedenborg Watchman Nee
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Difference between a false teacher and someone you disagree with? False teachers violate essential Christian truths (e.g., denying Christ's deity). Secondary issues (like inerrancy debates) are in-house disagreements, not false teaching. The line can get blurry on some issues.

Q&A — false teachers vs disagreement

false teachers false teachers essential vs secondary doctrines
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

Q&A: Mark 9:42 "little ones" = any Christian of any status, not just children or Jews. Joel Osteen: Mike hasn't studied him enough to categorize fully, but what he's heard is "sub-Christian, sub-biblical" teaching. Being "for us" doesn't mean everything someone does is approved — there's still room for church discipline and correction.

Q&A — little ones, Joel Osteen

Joel Osteen Joel Osteen Mark 9:41-42 Joel Osteen Joel Osteen Mark 9:41-42
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-21

Why the gospels can't be explained as deliberate fabrication: (1) No scholar — even skeptics — proposes collusion between gospel writers as a serious hypothesis. (2) The gospels contain brilliant parables (Good Samaritan, Prodigal Son) recognized as among the greatest short stories ever told — you can't manufacture genius by wanting to. (3) The simplest explanation for one amazing storyteller across multiple accounts is that Jesus himself was the storyteller.

Against fabrication — parables and genius

parables of Jesus gospel reliability Good Samaritan
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-14

On Steven Furtick: Mike has seen a handful of his messages, finds his preaching style reckless with Scripture. Concerned about the level of allegiance/submission required around him — sounds like pastoral abuse from what he's heard. Furtick doesn't deal carefully with Scripture in context, prioritizing encouragement over accuracy. Similar critique to Joel Osteen.

Steven Furtick critique — reckless with Scripture

Steven Furtick Elevation Church pastoral abuse
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Mark 14 (Gethsemane) is the intentional counterpoint to Mark 11 — Jesus with perfect faith, no sin, no unforgiveness prays and God says NO. Faith means trusting God both when he says yes AND when he says no.

The missing piece: Jesus' Gethsemane prayer as counterpoint to the prayer promise

Mark 14:35-36 Word of Faith Gethsemane prayer Word of Faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

The claim "it's always God's will to heal sickness" is arbitrary — the apostles themselves suffered illness (Timothy's stomach issues, Trophimus left sick, Epaphroditus nearly died) while doing miracles.

Refuting the Word of Faith claim that sickness is never God's will

2 Timothy 4:20 1 Timothy 5:23 1 Peter 4:19 thorn in the flesh 2 Timothy 4:20 Word of Faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

Jesus's two options — "from heaven or from men" — establish a "sola heaven" principle: heavenly authority doesn't need earthly institutional approval. John didn't get Sanhedrin permission; neither does Jesus.

The theological implications of Jesus's binary question

Mark 7:8-9 sola scriptura Mark 7:8-9 sola scriptura
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

Psalm 118:22-23 (rejected cornerstone) is quoted by the crowd entering Jerusalem AND by Jesus to the Sanhedrin — the "builders" (scribes/scholars in rabbinic literature) reject the stone, but God establishes it anyway. The "others" who receive the vineyard are the leaders of the Christian church.

The cornerstone quotation and who replaces the vine growers

James 3:1 Psalm 118:22-23 papacy James 3:1 leadership accountability
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

The Gospel of Thomas is a mid-2nd century Gnostic forgery, not a legitimate alternate gospel. It's a sayings collection borrowing from Matthew/Luke with added Greek philosophical content inconsistent with a 1st-century Jewish teacher.

Q1: Thoughts on the Gospel of Thomas?

Matthew Philo salvation Thomas
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?: What is the deeper meaning of Matthew 12:22-28? I’m a little confused. Can a false teacher cast out demons? If so, wouldn't that be a kingdom that is divided against itself?

Q&A question: Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?

Matthew 12 Matthew Matthew 12 Matthew demons
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-18

About the “5-Fold Ministry”: Have you heard of the "5-Fold Ministry" way of thinking about apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers exercising those gifts today? And if so, what are your thoughts about it?

Q&A question: About the “5-Fold Ministry”

prophecy pastoral ministry Apostles
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-07

Bible Study Resource Recommendations?: Do you know of any good Bible Study resources for a group with no teacher, only facilitators?

Q&A question: Bible Study Resource Recommendations?

Bible study
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-22

How Important is Inerrancy?: I found out that several big teachers and content writers at my church don't believe that the Bible is inerrant? Should I be concerned?

Q&A question: How Important is Inerrancy?

biblical inerrancy
Mike Winger idea 2022-01-28

Book of Ecclesiastes – Enjoying Life?: When the teacher in Ecclesiastes says to enjoy life, in the context of the book, is it being said like "Enjoy it 'cause it is a gift from God," or "Enjoy your lot since everything is meaningless”?

Q&A question: Book of Ecclesiastes – Enjoying Life?

hermeneutics
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-04

Reaching Difficult Students for Christ: I'm a high school teacher at a school that’s heavily influenced by culture and broken homes. The students lack respect, and hate following rules. How can I reach these students that appear far from God?

Q&A question: Reaching Difficult Students for Christ
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-04

Encouragement for New Bible Teachers: I'm a recent MDiv graduate who gets questions from friends and family about the Bible. I do a study and answer them, and they respond with "that's what I thought." Any encouragement to keep trying?

Q&A question: Encouragement for New Bible Teachers
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-11

About Gog & Magog: I thought Gog & Magog in Revelation 20:8, and the Gog & Magog war in Ezekiel 28:2 were talking about the same event. I heard a Bible prophecy teacher say it was 2 separate events. Your thoughts?

Q&A question: About Gog & Magog

revelation Ezekiel 28 Ezekiel prophecy revelation Ezekiel 28
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-13

What is a False Teacher?: What do you think is the biblical definition of a false teacher? People's interpretations of this vary widely. I’d just like to have a fresh pair of eyes on it.

Q&A question: What is a False Teacher?

hermeneutics
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-13

Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?: I've been told that when witnessing to groups such as the LDS (Mormons), a rebuke is better than a conversation because of Acts 13:8-10. Should false teachers be shown less grace than non-believers?

Q&A question: Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?

Acts 13 Mormonism Acts 13
Mike Winger idea 2022-12-09

Should we Only Have One Teacher?: Please, can you talk about what we should do when a spiritual leader wants you to only take advice from them and no one else, especially when the Bible says to have a “multitude of counselors”?

Q&A question: Should we Only Have One Teacher?
Mike Winger idea 2024-01-26

Satan’s Guide to The Bible?: There is a dangerous video gaining popularity, called "Satan's Guide to The Bible," that illustrates a pretend children's Sunday school class learning from Satan as their substitute teacher. He claims that pastors keep secrets from their congregants, but that he will reveal those secrets and tell them the truth. Can you please analyze this video and refute its false claims about the Bible?

Q&A question: Satan’s Guide to The Bible?

Satan pastoral ministry
Mike Winger idea 2024-02-23

Mark vs. Matthew – Contradiction?: Can you explain what some say is contradictory between Mark 9: 38-41 (not against us = for us) & Matthew 12: 30 (not with me = against me) & how that applies to NAR/false teachers who profess Jesus?

Q&A question: Mark vs. Matthew – Contradiction?

Mark 9 Matthew 12 Matthew Jesus Mark 9 Matthew 12
Mike Winger idea 2024-07-26

Prophecy = Preaching the Word?: I hear many Bible teachers say that the New Testament gift of prophecy is merely proclaiming/preaching the Word; it is never predictive or revelatory. That doesn’t seem right to me. Could you give us your take?

Q&A question: Prophecy = Preaching the Word?

prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2024-10-18

Calling Out False Teachers: Who is supposed to call out false teachings and false teachers? How should it be done? I'm struggling to find Scripture.

Q&A question: Calling Out False Teachers
Mike Winger idea 2025-08-08

“Not Many…” So Should I?: How does someone answer the call to be a teacher or a pastor if they feel called but is concerned about the warning in James that not many should become teachers?

Q&A question: “Not Many…” So Should I?

James James pastoral ministry
Mike Winger idea 2026-01-02

Can All Believers Prophesy?: Does 1 Corinthians 14: 31 mean all believers can prophesy? If all can teach in some way without being teachers (i.e., teaching their children), can all prophesy without being prophets?

Q&A question: Can All Believers Prophesy?

1 Corinthians 14 prophecy 1 Corinthians 14
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