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All (4182) Mike Winger (4182)
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Deuteronomy prohibits worshiping God the way pagan nations worship their gods

Old Testament argument against adopting pagan spiritual practices

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy New Age syncretism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Colossians — New Testament prohibition against borrowing pagan or Old Covenant practices

New Testament argument against adopting New Age spiritual practices

Colossians Paul Colossians New Age
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Root cause of New Age adoption: absence of Holy Spirit necessitates manufactured methods

Theological diagnosis of why Christians turn to New Age practices

spiritual gifts Holy Spirit discernment
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Christian adoption of New Age practices is "a forgery of a forgery"

Conclusion of New Age syncretism argument

spiritual discernment New Age syncretism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

How Gospel writers knew what Jesus said when alone — Garden of Gethsemane example

Question from Meg Ward about eyewitness accounts for scenes where Jesus was alone

James John Matthew Peter James John
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Luke's technique of embedding source hints — Herod's household and Pilate's conversation with Jesus

How the Gospels account for private scenes between Jesus and officials

Luke Pontius Pilate eyewitness testimony Luke
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Mark's Gospel shifts eyewitness sources from Peter to named women when Peter departs

How the Gospel of Mark handles Peter's absence at the crucifixion and tomb

Mark Peter resurrection Gospel of Mark
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Christmas and birthdays — Mike changed his mind about pagan origins of Christmas

Question from Rosie A., a recovering Jehovah's Witness, about celebrating birthdays and Christmas

Christian liberty Jehovah's Witnesses Christmas
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Easter/Ishtar connection is largely false — inflammatory but inaccurate

Continuing the holidays discussion — addressing Easter's alleged pagan origin

Christian liberty Easter Ishtar
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Biblical basis for celebrating holidays — God gave Israel feast days; Jesus attended Hanukkah

Positive biblical case for Christians celebrating holidays

John 10 Christian liberty Jesus John 10
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Thanksgiving as a biblical holiday in practice though not in name

Applying the holiday criteria to Thanksgiving

Christian liberty Thanksgiving gratitude
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Birthdays: Jehovah's Witness argument from bad birthday examples in the Bible is fallacious

Addressing the JW teaching that birthdays are pagan/forbidden

Christian liberty Jehovah's Witnesses biblical interpretation
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Jesus's birth was celebrated — the Nativity as the premier birthday celebration

Positive biblical evidence for birthday celebrations

Jesus Christmas birthdays
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Can raptured believers help loved ones left behind? No biblical basis; Paul implies post-death impact ends

Question from Lassie Clyman about acting for loved ones after the rapture

Ecclesiastes Philippians 1 intermediate state rapture Ecclesiastes
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Luke 23:43 — comma placement debate: "today" with Jesus or delayed until resurrection?

Question from Hot Wax 93 about the comma in Luke 23:43 (thief on the cross)

Luke 23:43 thief on the cross soul sleep intermediate state
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Greek grammar does not support moving the comma — nearly universal translation consensus

Technical defense of the standard comma placement in Luke 23:43

Luke 23:43 Greek grammar soul sleep Bible translation
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Survey of Jesus's use of "today" (semeron) supports the standard reading

Additional lexical argument for Luke 23:43 standard reading

Luke 23:43 soul sleep intermediate state Luke 23:43
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Complementarianism vs. chauvinism — Paul's teaching on women roles is not male chauvinism

Question from Proverbs 17:11 about family calling him demon-possessed and a chauvinist for holding Paul's teaching

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

The Chosen series — artistic interpretation, not Scripture; worth watching with discernment

Question from Dilly Guy about Mike's view on The Chosen

discernment biblical accuracy The Chosen
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

The Chosen's depiction of Nicodemus — creative but without historical evidence

Specific example from The Chosen Episode 1

biblical accuracy Nicodemus The Chosen
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

The Chosen's historical concerns — gender relations and sabbath fishing

Specific historical-accuracy concerns with The Chosen

historical context Peter Sabbath
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Galatians 3:23 — the Law as guardian/nanny: imprisoned under law until Christ

Question from Jesse Jack about Galatians 3:23 and being confined/imprisoned by the law

Galatians 3:23-24 Paul paidagogos covenant theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Freedom from the law through Christ — justified by faith, law's penalty absorbed by Jesus

Completing the Galatians 3 explanation

Galatians 3 justification by faith atonement imputed righteousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Jesus appearing in the locked room — glorified body explanation from 1 Corinthians 15

Question from Connor Robinson about Jesus appearing in a locked room after the resurrection

1 Corinthians 15 1 Corinthians 15 Jesus resurrection
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

John 16:24 — praying in Jesus's name: Jesus as the access point replacing the temple

Question from Danada Morin about what it means to pray in Jesus's name

John 16:24 Gospel of Mark Jesus as mediator intercession
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

"In Jesus's name" is not a required formula but a meaningful expression of mediation

Practical application of praying in Jesus's name

prayer Jesus as mediator prayer in Jesus's name
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Baptism: no required level of knowledge — New Testament pattern is immediate baptism upon faith

Question from Dimitar Bratov about the level of understanding required before baptism

catechesis baptism discipleship
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Renewing love for God — Revelation 2 letter to Ephesus: remember, return, repeat

Question from Trippy Penguin about renewing love for God when faith feels commonplace

Revelation 2 Revelation 2 church of Ephesus first love
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Spiritual dryness — returning to first works as the remedy

Continued application from Revelation 2

Revelation 2 spiritual disciplines Revelation 2 first love
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Leaving Word of Faith — approach departing member's sister with invitation, not condemnation

Question from Mimi about leaving a Word of Faith church and its effect on her sister

discernment Word of Faith pastoral care
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Empathy as a tool for helping others leave false teaching — remembering your own exit

Additional counsel for Mimi on reaching her sister in Word of Faith

discernment Word of Faith pastoral care
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Persistent prayer vs. vain repetition — the biblical balance

Question from Lunggail Zandi about wrestling with God vs. vain repetitions in prayer

Matthew 6:7 Luke 18 prayer vain repetition persistent prayer
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Vain repetition is an insult to God — better to pray less than with empty words

Conclusion of prayer discussion

prayer reverence for God vain repetition
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Pastoral preparation — character and godliness are the primary qualifications

Question from Jared Garrity about preparing for pastoral ministry

1 Timothy Titus 1 Timothy elder qualifications Titus
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Laziness is a major detriment to teaching ministry — pastors need to study deeply

Further advice on pastoral preparation

Bible study pastoral ministry teaching
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Serve humbly in any capacity — do not limit ministry to pastoral role; obey calling

Final advice to aspiring pastor Jared

calling pastoral ministry servanthood
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Feel-good phrases like "you are enough" and "Jesus came to bring a piece of heaven to earth" — ambiguous theology

Question from Ben Johnston about a pastor using feel-good slogans

Bethel Church discernment Bill Johnson
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Approaching a pastor using feel-good theology — gracious challenge, define the terms

Practical advice for Ben on speaking to a feel-good theology pastor

Bethel Church discernment false doctrine
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Using a book or resource as a proxy for delivering correction to a defensive pastor

Alternative strategy for Ben Johnston

discernment false doctrine pastoral correction
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Mike affirms the Five Solas but says they do not make him a Calvinist

Mike clarifies his relationship to Reformed theology before walking through TULIP.

Calvinism Sola Scriptura Reformed Theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Total Depravity defined as "total inability" — Mike rejects it

First point of TULIP addressed in detail.

Genesis 6:3 Holy Spirit Calvinism TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Regeneration precedes faith — the core of Calvinism, which Mike rejects

Mike identifies what he sees as the single unifying point underlying all five TULIP points.

Calvinism Arminianism Total Depravity
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Divine hardening in John's Gospel as a challenge to Calvinist Total Depravity

Mike argues divine hardening is inconsistent with Total Depravity.

Exodus Gospel of John Calvinism Exodus
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Unconditional Election — Mike partly affirms, partly rejects

Second point of TULIP addressed.

Calvinism Molinism TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Corporate view of election and God's foreknowledge conditioned on faith

Mike's alternative to Calvinist individual unconditional election.

Calvinism Free Will Election
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Limited Atonement — Mike firmly rejects it

Third point of TULIP addressed.

James White John Owen James White Calvinism TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Irresistible Grace — Mike rejects it as the mirror image of Total Depravity

Fourth point of TULIP addressed.

Calvinism TULIP Total Depravity
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Perseverance of the Saints — Mike is unresolved, not firmly opposed

Fifth and final point of TULIP addressed.

Hebrews 6 Hebrews 10 Hebrews 4 Calvinism Apostasy Hebrews 6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

All five TULIP points are ultimately one point: denial of free will

Mike summarizes his overarching critique of Calvinism.

Calvinism TULIP Free Will