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All (80) Scripture Commentary (27) Theology (4) Mike Winger (49)

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Women and pornography: the church's silence stems from greater shame; solutions come from women who have found victory speaking out

Response to viewer asking for Christian resources for women struggling with pornography and why the church focuses more on men.

church culture sexual sin shame

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Strategy for confronting prosperity gospel error in friends and family: affirm first, then use bridge-building resources they cannot interrupt

Response to Robert Butcher asking how to lovingly reveal errors of the prosperity gospel to friends and family.

discernment prosperity gospel false teaching

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

New Testament giving priorities: the poor, the persecuted church, local ministers, and generosity as lifestyle — not limited to 10%

Constructive answer on what Christian giving should look like without a tithe mandate

James 1 Corinthians 9 James 1 Corinthians 9 Christian giving

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Bible study tips for new believers: study Bibles and Blue Letter Bible as foundational resources

Question from Mia Joe, a new Christian of a couple months.

Bible study Blue Letter Bible new believers

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Recommended resources on NT manuscript reliability — James White and Daniel Wallace

A viewer asks for scholarly book recommendations on the reliability of New Testament manuscripts.

Daniel Wallace James White Daniel Wallace textual criticism James White

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

How Mike prepares his messages — text-first exegetical process

A viewer asks how Mike prepares for teaching.

hermeneutics commentaries sermon preparation

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Isaiah 9:6 calls Jesus "Everlasting Father" - Mike cannot recall his full answer but recommends James White's The Forgotten Trinity and Got Questions for responses to Oneness Pentecostal use of the verse.

Question about Isaiah 9:6 and Oneness Pentecostalism

James White Isaiah 9:6 Trinity James White Isaiah 9:6

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 2021-01-01

Announcement: upcoming deep-dive study on women's roles and gender in the church

2021 ministry plans

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The Potter/clay metaphor does not eliminate human responsibility — diligence and trust in God operate simultaneously, not in opposition

Question from David Mason about whether God being the Potter means humans are not responsible for their own lives.

Romans 9 Isaiah 64:8 Luke 16:8 Romans 9 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility Potter and clay (Isaiah 64:8 / Romans 9)

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Matthew 25:14-30 (Parable of Talents) and 1 Corinthians 3:12 are distinct analogies and should not be conflated

Question from Eelo Minish about whether the "bags of silver" in Matthew 25 are the same as the gold/silver/wood in 1 Corinthians 3:12.

Matthew 25:14-30 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Matthew 25:14-30 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 Parable of Talents

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

New age practices on TikTok (astral projection): equip youth by understanding what the practices are before addressing them

Question from Deanna about youth leaders dealing with students exploring new age practices like astral projection found on TikTok.

youth ministry discernment spiritual warfare

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Advice for a 20-year-old preparing for pastoral ministry: balance seminary education with active local church service, and remove ego.

Question from John Parizzo about preparing for pastoral ministry while in college and seminary.

Pastoral formation Seminary education Humility in ministry

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

How to find scholarly resources for Bible study: use academic commentaries, EBSCO, Google Scholar, and Google Books.

Question from Derek Johnson about finding scholarly articles for a Matthew study.

Matthew commentary Bible study methodology R.T. France Scholarly research tools

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Luke 16:9 — "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" may refer parabolically to using all earthly resources for gospel proclamation

Interpreting the command to "make friends by means of unrighteous wealth" so they receive you into eternal dwellings

Luke 16:9 parable interpretation gospel proclamation stewardship

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Apologetics resources: use general resources (Got Questions) to start, then targeted in-depth resources (books) for specific issues

Recommending starting points for apologetics study

Richard Bauckham apologetics William Lane Craig

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Q&A: Luke 14:33 ("renounce all you have") and Luke 12:33 ("sell your possessions") are hyperbolic expressions of total dedication to Jesus, not literal commands for universal poverty. Lydia continued her business after conversion and used profits to support missionaries.

Q&A — sell everything and follow Jesus

Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Lydia (seller of purple)

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Acts 4:32-37 communal living — why don't churches do this? Context: Jews from around the world came to Jerusalem for Pentecost, got saved, and didn't want to leave. They sold possessions to pool resources and learn from the apostles. This was a unique situation, not a policy — it doesn't appear in Ephesus, Corinth, or Antioch.

Q&A — Acts 4 communalism

Acts 4:32-37 Pentecost Pentecost Acts 4:32-37

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Natasha's journey: started a devotional blog in 2011 with three kids under 3. Skeptics began challenging her on her blog — she couldn't answer questions about biblical errors, Jesus's historical existence, science disproving God. Realized her kids would face these challenges and she needed to equip them. Discovered the world of apologetics.

Natasha's journey into apologetics

Natasha Crain apologetics apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-18

Mark 10:42-45 — Jesus's leadership model: "You know that those recognized as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them... but it is not this way among you." The greatest must be servant; the first must be slave of all. Pastoral abuse happens when leaders adopt CEO mentality — protecting their vision, reputation, and authority instead of serving. Signs: demanding allegiance to the leader rather than to Christ, silencing criticism, creating distance/hierarchy, using authority for personal benefit.

Pastoral abuse — CEO vs servant leadership

Mark 10:42-44 pastoral abuse CEO mentality in ministry Mark 10:42-44

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

The "outsider test of faith" (apply your reasons for rejecting Thor to Christianity) backfires for informed Christians because the evidence for Christianity specifically doesn't work for pagan deities.

Responding to the street epistemology version of argument 1

Luke Barnes William Lane Craig biblical prophecy William Lane Craig

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Argument 2 — "Don't indoctrinate children, teach critical thinking" — presents a false dichotomy. You can only separate religion from critical thinking IF you assume all religion is false, making this circular.

Second argument from Dawkins: the indoctrination argument

Natasha Crain false dichotomy circular reasoning

Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?: I heard on a program by the National Geographic that there’s a belief out there that Adam was buried beneath where Jesus was crucified. They say when Jesus died, His blood flowed down into the ground and through some cracks inside a tomb where Adam was buried, and Adam was resurrected from that. I am trying to find out where this belief even started, why it was started, and if there is any Biblical or Historical evidence to suggest that this ever happened. Have you ever heard of this, and do you know of any resources on this subject that might help me?

Q&A question: Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?

Jesus

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 2022-01-28

Resources for Seniors: Are there any good sources for ministering to seniors you can recommend?

Q&A question: Resources for Seniors

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

Choosing Biblical Homeschooling Resources: We homeschool, and one of the most popular "Christian" curricula happens to be from a Mormon. I keep going back and forth over if I should use it because it's very solid academically. Advice?

Q&A question: Choosing Biblical Homeschooling Resources

Mormonism

Mike Winger idea 2023-11-17

Was Ezra Wrong to Assume God’s Protection?: Regarding Ezra 8: 21-23, shouldn’t Ezra have been practical and used the resources available to him? Isn’t it unwise to just assume/hope that God will provide divine protection?

Q&A question: Was Ezra Wrong to Assume God’s Protection?

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-11

When God Protects 1 Person but Not Another: How do we respond if God spares us from harm but not others (e.g., during the recent hurricanes)? I know we should trust His will and use our resources to serve, but it is still a complex topic.

Q&A question: When God Protects 1 Person but Not Another