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All (140) Mike Winger (140)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Luke 9:54-56: Jesus rebukes disciples who want to call down fire to destroy enemies

Biblical response to Anderson's death-wish for homosexuals

Luke 9:54-56 James and John Steven Anderson Luke 9:54-56 spirit of Christ vs. spirit of destruction
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Matthew 9:11-13: Jesus eats with tax collectors and sinners — his heart is toward sinners

Jesus's posture of reaching toward sinners rather than destroying them

Matthew 9:11-13 Hosea 6:6 Matthew 9:11-13 tax collectors and sinners compassion over sacrifice
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Ezekiel 18:23: God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked

God's heart from the Old Testament itself

Ezekiel 18:23 repentance Ezekiel 18:23 God's heart toward sinners
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

2 Peter 3:9: God is patient, not wishing any to perish but all to come to repentance

God's eschatological patience reveals his salvific desire

2 Peter 3:9 repentance 2 Peter 3:9 God's patience
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Q&A: 2 Corinthians 7:10 — godly grief vs. worldly grief, applied to lust

Question about the difference between godly and worldly grief and how to repent better from lust.

1 Corinthians 10:13 2 Corinthians 7:10 repentance sanctification lust
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Response to Trinitarian harmony #2: the Father can have complexity in his desires — saving all who believe

Mike offers a positive alternative to the Calvinist Trinitarian harmony construct.

Trinity faith unlimited atonement
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

Ezekiel 33:11 — God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked; desires all to turn and live

Old Testament support for God's universal salvific desire.

Ezekiel 33:11 election Ezekiel 33:11 universal salvific will
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

1 Timothy 2:1-6 — God desires all people to be saved; Christ gave himself as ransom for all

Mike's central proof-text for the Father's universal salvific intention.

1 Timothy 2:1-6 unlimited atonement universal salvific will 1 Timothy 2:1-6
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-24

2 Peter 3:9 — God is not willing that any should perish but that all should reach repentance

Further Scripture evidence for God's universal salvific desire.

2 Peter 3:9 election repentance 2 Peter 3:9
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

2 Peter 3:9 — God delays judgment because He desires all to repent

Mike uses 2 Peter to explain the delay between God's wrath and its execution.

2 Peter 3:9 repentance divine patience 2 Peter 3:9
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Ezekiel 33:11 — God takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked

Mike demonstrates Old Testament consistency on God's wrath and mercy.

Ezekiel 33:11 repentance Ezekiel 33:11 God's wrath
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Ezekiel 18:31 — God urges Israel to make new hearts and turn from wickedness

Mike cites a second Ezekiel passage reinforcing God's gracious invitation in the face of wrath.

Ezekiel 18:31 repentance God's wrath divine mercy
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Buddhism's fundamental claims contradict Christianity: impersonal reality, illusion, no enduring self, cessation as goal

Detailed comparative religion analysis of Buddhism vs. Christianity

imago Dei comparative religion suffering
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Distinction between temptation and lust/sin: sin begins when the will yields to desire, not at first awareness of attraction

Response to Hot Wax 93 asking the difference between simple sexual attraction and lust.

James 1:13-15 Matthew 5:28 temptation sin sexual sin
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

What does the Bible teach on masturbation? — No direct address; biblical principles of lust, self-gratification, and marital fidelity apply

Question from Arvin Marlow.

marriage singleness biblical ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Track record in discerning Spirit leading is a practical check

Additional criteria for discerning Holy Spirit leading

discernment Holy Spirit leading of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Fasting's primary purpose is denying the flesh and gaining mastery over physical desires, not achieving spiritual mountaintop experiences

Correcting a common misunderstanding about fasting

spiritual disciplines self-denial fasting
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Philippians 1:23 — "my desire is to depart and be with Christ" refutes soul sleep

Exegesis of Philippians 1:23 as the strongest argument against soul sleep

Philippians 1:23 Paul soul sleep intermediate state
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Witness of the Holy Spirit is mental/spiritual awareness of sonship, not necessarily emotional feeling; love for God is primarily volitional, not emotional

Question from "JW" about not feeling the witness of the Holy Spirit or love for God despite trusting Christ.

Romans 8:15 assurance of salvation witness of the Holy Spirit Romans 8:15
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Lukewarm defined: a Christian who has conformed to surrounding culture — worldliness that replaced former zeal

Mike's interpretation of the hot/cold/lukewarm symbolism in Revelation 3.

lukewarm Revelation 3:16 lukewarm worldliness zeal
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Evangelizing resistant family members: heart attitude must precede strategy

Question from someone whose parents think religion is stupid and who fears being judged for sharing their faith.

evangelism prayer witnessing
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Temptation originates primarily from one's own sinful desires, not Satan — James 1:13-15

Question about whether all temptation comes from Satan/demons or from one's sinful self.

James 1:13-15 personal responsibility Satan sin
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

God's sovereign will and human free will coexist: God allows choices he does not desire; his overarching plan unfolds through, not in spite of, human free choices.

Q: How does God's will not infringe on free will? What is the point of praying if it is already in God's will?

Romans 8:28 Prayer Romans 8:28 Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Prayer is powerful precisely because God's will can be conditionally contingent on prayer — he may desire to do something but not do it if we do not pray; Moses' intercession for Israel is the paradigmatic example.

Answering the secondary question: what is the point of praying if it is already God's will?

Exodus 32 — Moses Intercession Prayer Divine Sovereignty and Human Free Will Moses — Intercession
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q5: Do Christians sin every second? Distinguishing temptation from sin

Response to question about frequency of sin in the Christian life

James 1:14-15 sanctification sin temptation
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Believers as the temple — the astonishing access to God available through Christ

Continuation of Q7; reflection on prayer and access to God

1 Corinthians 6:19 prayer temple indwelling Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Bonus Q: Children's books on evolution — recommendations for teaching children multiple worldviews

Response to parent who received evolution children's books as Christmas gifts

Natasha Crain apologetics worldview
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37:4 is misused in Word of Faith teaching as a blank-check promise to receive material desires

Question from Lungil Zandi about how to read Psalm 37:4 without falling into a Word of Faith trap

Psalm 37:4 hermeneutics prosperity gospel covetousness
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37 in context is an encouragement to the righteous who are NOT experiencing abundance, not a promise of material wealth

Contextual reading of Psalm 37 to correct the Word of Faith misuse

Psalm 37 contextual interpretation eschatology prosperity gospel
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Sexual deprivation of a spouse is a sin — each spouse's body belongs to the other in marriage

Question from Talk to Me TV about lack of sexual desire toward a spouse who has gained weight and is seeking more intimacy

1 Corinthians 7:3-5 1 Corinthians 7:3-5 marriage one flesh
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Love in marriage means giving yourself to your spouse regardless of desire — selfless love, not feeling-dependent love

Practical application of 1 Corinthians 7 to the questioner's situation

self-sacrifice marriage love
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Lust toward others outside marriage diminishes desire for your spouse — exclusivity of sexual attention is essential

Second issue addressed in the marriage/intimacy question — possible causes of diminished desire

marriage lust pornography
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Desire is nice but not required for loving action in marriage

Closing thought on the marriage/intimacy question

marriage love covenant
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Though gifts cannot be taught, believers can grow in their expression and use of already-given gifts

Nuanced development of the spiritual gifts question.

1 Corinthians 14 2 Timothy 1:6 1 Corinthians 14 Elijah Spiritual gifts
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

In a divorce caused by sexual immorality, the offended spouse may remarry immediately; the offending spouse should pursue reconciliation and may only remarry after clear rejection of all reconciliation attempts

Question from Giant Mushroom Tree about whether the offending (sexually immoral) spouse may remarry.

Matthew 5:32 Matthew 19:9 Marriage Divorce and remarriage Matthew 5:32
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Leaven of Herod (Mark 8:15) -- ungodly ambition, desire for worldly approval, and yielding to wickedness

Question from Mark H about the leaven of Herod in Mark 8:15, and why it is named separately from the leaven of the Pharisees.

Mark 8:15 1 Corinthians 5:8 Herod Mark 8:15 1 Corinthians 5:8
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike discusses Old Earth Creationism and whether it is biblical, arguing that the age of the earth is not clearly specified in Scripture and that he holds a flexible position, though he finds an ancient Adam and Eve much harder to reconcile biblically.

Response to viewer question about Old Earth Creationism

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 Adam and Eve creation
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Satan's rebellion and God's will: God wills that creatures have genuine free will, which entails the possibility of rebellion.

Question from Casey Mills about whether Satan's rebellion was God's will if God's will is always done in heaven.

Isaiah 14 Free will Isaiah 14 Satan's rebellion
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

American Gospel 2 — mixed review: strong on exposing progressive Christianity, but overstates Calvinism as the solution and was harder to follow structurally.

Question from Derek Beeler about the final 10 minutes of American Gospel 2 and the claim that God's purpose is solely his own glory with humans as incidental.

Calvinism God's glory American Gospel (film)
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Free will and divine sovereignty are compatible — sovereignty means ultimate control, not micromanagement of every choice

Mike addresses how free will coexists with divine sovereignty.

free will divine sovereignty compatibilism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Galatians 5 fruit of the Spirit — desires to love, worship, and serve are Spirit-generated; Christians are slow to credit the Spirit working in them for good

Mike appends an observation about the Spirit while wrapping up the presence question.

Galatians 5 Holy Spirit sanctification fruit of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Plan according to your God-given gifts, not just desires or vague calling

Practical guidance for Christian life planning: identifying gifts rather than merely desires or claimed callings.

spiritual gifts planning and providence vocation
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Isaiah 6's commissioning does not mean God does not want Israel healed — the prophet's message hardens already-rejecting hearts, and God's overall posture throughout Isaiah is restorative.

Question from V Palumbi about Isaiah 6 and God's apparent unwillingness for the people to return and be healed.

Isaiah 6 Isaiah 1:18 Atonement Isaiah 6 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

How can God love the world and also hate sinners? Psalm 5:5 and Proverbs 6:16-19

Fly Serve Disciples asks how God can love the whole world (John 3:16) while Psalm 5:5 says God hates evildoers.

John 3:16 Psalm 5:5 Proverbs 6:16-19 God's love God's wrath John 3:16
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Approaching a teenage atheist: dig for motives (often sin-related) rather than just arguments, in an environment of love

Advising a mother whose 16-year-old son has declared himself an atheist and can barely defend his position

youth ministry apologetics teenage atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Forgiveness: will and emotions are separate; you can choose to forgive before your heart feels it

Responding to whether one can say words of forgiveness when the heart has not yet caught up

1 John 3:20 Christian living forgiveness walking by faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Idolatry ancient and modern: literal idol worship still exists; covetousness is idolatry; some Catholic practices parallel ancient idolatry; smartphone use threatens prayer life.

Al Naps asks about modern-day idolatry and whether excessive Christian YouTube consumption is problematic; also asks if Winger worries about being idolized.

Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 Roman Catholicism prayer idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Practical advice for an agnostic seeking to believe

Question from "It's Flawless," an agnostic trying to believe.

Gospel of John Apologetics Agnosticism / seeking faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Get Behind Me Satan (Mark 8:33): was Satan working through Peter, or is Jesus using "satan" metaphorically?

Question from Elijah Roman about Mark 8:33 vs. Satan entering Judas — was Satan divided against himself?

Mark 8:33 Peter Satan Judas Iscariot
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