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Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Mike announces BibleThinker is now its own incorporated ministry organization, separate from his local church (while still attending). Also previews follow-up to his marriage/divorce/remarriage study — longest teaching he's ever done (3 hours), nearly 1,000 comments in one week.

Announcements — BibleThinker incorporation, divorce study

divorce and remarriage BibleThinker ministry
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Mike addresses the George Floyd protests and racism from a biblical perspective: (1) All humans are made in God's image — foundational to human rights. (2) Race as commonly discussed doesn't fit the Christian worldview — skin color is irrelevant to human value. (3) Romans 12:21: don't let others' sin trigger your sin. (4) Galatians 6:1: restore in gentleness, keep watch on yourself lest you be tempted. The key warning: don't justify rebellion against God in the name of righteousness.

Biblical response to George Floyd and racism

Galatians 6:1 Romans 12:21 imago Dei Galatians 6:1 Good Samaritan
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

1 Peter 2:24 ("by his wounds you have been healed") does refer to physical healing in Mike's view, but the TIMING is the issue. Many benefits of the cross aren't received now — we still die, still have corruptible bodies. Full physical healing comes in the resurrection. It's theologically inconsistent to demand healing for the common cold while accepting death from old age. The "healing in the atonement" teaching overreaches on timing, not content.

Healing in the atonement — timing issue

1 Peter 2:24 physical resurrection 1 Peter 2:24 healing in the atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Advice for new believers encountering militant anti-theists: (1) Don't spend most of your time with them — get grounded in biblical truth first. (2) Many militant atheists repeatedly ask the same questions, get good answers, and ignore them — they want to stump, not learn. (3) If your good answers only generate more questions with no acknowledgment, you may be wasting your time. Focus on learning truth before combating error.

New believers and militant atheists

apologetics apologetics new believers
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

How to find a good church: (1) Sound biblical teaching is #1 priority — does the pastor handle Scripture correctly? (2) Genuine community — not just Sunday performance. (3) Don't expect perfection — you'll bring your own imperfections too. (4) Be willing to serve, not just consume. (5) Size doesn't determine quality. Visit several, ask questions, look for fruit.

Finding a good church

expository preaching expository preaching finding a good church
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-19

Jeremiah 3 shows God divorced Israel — this disproves the Catholic position that divorce is ontologically impossible. But Mike's point is about divorce, NOT remarriage. God's response: reconciliation is offered but CONDITIONED on Israel's repentance (Jeremiah 3:13). God requires acknowledgment of guilt before restoration — not unconditional reunion.

Jeremiah 3 — God divorced Israel, conditional reconciliation

Jeremiah 3:13 Jeremiah 3:13 God divorced Israel Catholic annulment
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-19

Can someone who unjustly divorced, repented, but whose ex has remarried, now marry someone else? Yes — the previous marriage is clearly over both legally and morally once the ex has remarried. The wrongly-divorcing party has repented. The alternatives (permanent singleness as unforgivable punishment, or pretending the marriage still exists) don't make biblical sense.

Unjust divorce + ex remarried = free to remarry after repentance

repentance repentance unjust divorce and remarriage
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-07

Mike shares major ministry update: BibleThinker is now its own incorporated ministry (no longer under his local church), reaching ~500,000 views/month. He's no longer on staff as a local pastor but still teaches weekly. Passion Translation scholarly project delayed by COVID — scholars have submitted papers but in-person interviews are on hold.

Announcements — BibleThinker incorporation, Passion Translation update

World Mission Society Church of God Passion Translation World Mission Society Church of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-12

Four things to know before historical investigation of Jesus: (1) Historical investigation is limited — historians intentionally bracket inspiration of Scripture. (2) Failure to confirm ≠ denial it happened. (3) History is probabilistic — the best verdict is "extremely likely," never 100%%. (4) Scholars are people with biases — Bart Ehrman rejects miracles by methodology, not evidence ("as a historian you're not allowed to posit miracles").

Framework for historical investigation of Jesus

Bart Ehrman Mike Licona Bart Ehrman
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-12

Argument 2 — Multiple attestation: Mike Licona found 19+ passages across Mark, M (Matthew-only), L (Luke-only), and John independently attesting Jesus's death/resurrection predictions. Historians consider TWO independent sources "pay dirt" — this has far more. Jesus's prayer in Gethsemane (knowing he'll die) is in Mark 14, Matthew 26, and Luke 22 independently.

Argument 2 — multiple independent attestation

Mike Licona multiple attestation Mike Licona
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 2020-08-21

Mike affirms the rapture doctrine from 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 as plain biblical teaching. The Greek harpazo ("caught up") → Latin rapturus → English "rapture." He's unsettled on pre/mid/post-trib timing but firmly believes in the event itself. Holds a futurist view of Revelation — future events not yet fulfilled.

Rapture — affirmed, timing unsettled

1 Thessalonians 4:13-17 rapture rapture 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Parable of the 10 Virgins (Matthew 25): about persevering in genuine devotion to Christ's coming kingdom. The foolish virgins expected the bridegroom but weren't truly prepared — Christians in name only, not in genuineness. Oil likely represents the Holy Spirit (connected to oil symbolism in Zechariah) and genuine relationship with Christ. You can't borrow someone else's faith. The warning: don't be a nominal Christian coasting on a past experience.

Parable of 10 Virgins — genuine vs nominal faith

Matthew 25:1-13 Matthew 25:1-13 Parable of Ten Virgins nominal Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

The Triumphal Entry is better understood as the "Ironic Entry" — the central contrast is between the crowd's expectations of a political liberator and Jesus' actual mission of humble sacrifice.

Introduction to Mark 11:1-11 verse-by-verse study

Mark 11:1-11 Mark series Triumphal Entry Mark 11:1-11 irony in Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

The colt arrangement was likely a pre-arranged passphrase, not supernatural knowledge — Jesus had extensive prior contact in Bethany and could have sent someone ahead to arrange it.

Analysis of the "password" phrase in Mark 11:2-6

Mark 11:2-6 Mark 11:2-6 donkey symbolism
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

The unridden colt symbolizes Jesus' transcendent, non-derivative authority — unlike kings who rode conquered rulers' mounts to claim their power, Jesus' authority is wholly his own.

Analysis of "a colt on which no one has ever sat" (Mark 11:2)

Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

Zechariah 9:9-10 is the key OT prophecy behind the entry — the messiah comes humble on a donkey bringing salvation through service, not military conquest. The donkey vs. war horse contrast is central.

Old Testament prophetic background for the Triumphal Entry

Zechariah 9:9 Mark 10:45 Zechariah 9:9-10 Zechariah 9:9 Mark 10:45 Zechariah 9:9-10
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

The "fickle crowd" preaching point (same crowd shouts Hosanna then Crucify Him) is likely wrong — the Palm Sunday crowd was Jesus' traveling followers, distinct from the city population.

Correcting a common sermon point about the Triumphal Entry crowds

John 7:8-10 Matthew 21:10-11 Triumphal Entry John 7:8-10 Matthew 21:10-11
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

Psalm 118:24-28 contains a compressed gospel narrative: Hosanna (save now), the festival sacrifice bound to the altar (Christ crucified), and then "You are MY God" — relationship through sacrifice.

Continued Psalm 118 exposition with gospel typology

Psalm 118:24-28 songs of ascent Psalm 118:24-28 festival sacrifice hosanna
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Richard Dawkins is not respected even by fellow atheists as a philosopher of religion. Atheist philosopher Michael Ruse says The God Delusion "makes me ashamed to be an atheist."

Setting up Dawkins' credibility before addressing his arguments

Richard Dawkins Michael Ruse The God Delusion
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Argument 3 — Nietzsche's "atheism is instinctual" — backfires because sociological research shows religious belief is actually natural and atheism must be trained. Also applies a double standard on evidence.

Third argument from Nietzsche: atheism as instinct

circular reasoning atheism Matt Dillahunty
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Argument 4 — "Religion is desperation, fear of reality" (Nietzsche) — is circular (assumes atheism is reality) and actually describes Buddhism more than Christianity. Atheism itself denies key realities.

Fourth argument from Nietzsche: religion as escapism

Daniel Dennett circular reasoning atheism Sam Harris
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Argument 5 — The Problem of Evil (Epicurus) — is genuinely difficult but the logical version has been abandoned by academic atheist philosophers. The dilemma offers a false set of options.

Fifth argument: the problem of evil from Epicurus

Romans 8:28 problem of evil logical problem of evil problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Four theodicies provide a cumulative answer to the problem of evil: soul-building, free will, natural law, and skeptical theism.

Detailed treatment of theodicies responding to the problem of evil

theodicy theodicy problem of evil
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

The problem of evil actually backfires on atheism: evil's existence presupposes objective moral values, which have no grounding on atheism. The problem of evil is itself evidence for God.

How the problem of evil becomes an argument FOR God

atheism problem of evil atheism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

The problem of evil is the #1 argument that practically draws people away from God, but Christianity alone offers both intellectual answers and emotional/pastoral hope — atheism offers neither explanation nor solution.

Pastoral conclusion on the problem of evil and summary of all 5 arguments

theodicy atheism theodicy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

Tim Stratton's journey from cage-stage Calvinist determinist to Molinist — catalyzed by noticing atheists calling themselves "free thinkers" while denying free will, and Calvinists doing the same in reverse.

Stratton's background and what sparked his research

Calvinism Molinism Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

The Free Thinking Argument formal syllogism: (1) no libertarian freedom → no rational inference; (2) humans DO rationally infer; (3) therefore humans have libertarian freedom. Stratton calls it deductive and potentially debate-ending.

Presentation of the core Free Thinking Argument

libertarian free will free thinking argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

The expanded Free Thinking Argument Against Naturalism adds steps from naturalism → no soul → no libertarian freedom → no rational inference (all deductive), plus abductive conclusion that God is best explanation.

Full 8-step argument against naturalism

naturalism naturalism arguments for God
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

Premise 3 defense: if external forces determine your beliefs, you lose justification for knowledge. You become a "bag of beliefs, none of which are up to the bag." The mad scientist thought experiment illustrates this.

Detailed defense of the most attacked premise

determinism determinism consciousness
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-21

Premise 4 is self-evident: to argue that humans CANNOT rationally infer knowledge claims is itself a rational inference — it's self-defeating. Some things are properly basic beliefs that don't require proof.

Defense of premise 4 and discussion of properly basic beliefs

Alvin Plantinga self-refuting argument properly basic beliefs
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Faith for miracles is different from saving faith — it's initiated by God (a spiritual gift), not fabricated by the believer. Jesus had a responsive ministry to the Father, not initiatory. You respond to what the Spirit reveals.

Theological framework: miracle-faith as God-initiated response, not self-generated belief

1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14 1 Corinthians 12:8-11 John 5:19 1 John 5:14
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Conclusion: Mark 11 teaches new-covenant prayer through Christ, accessed by faith (not works). Real faith believes both for miracles AND in suffering when God says no. The harder path of faith is trusting God's "no."

Summary of the full teaching on prayer from Mark 11 and 14

Mark 11:22-25 Mark 14:35-36 Kenneth Copeland Word of Faith Kenneth Copeland
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

The chief priests, scribes, and elders = a delegation from the Sanhedrin (Jewish supreme court, ~70 members). This is a significant escalation — Jesus is now on their turf in Jerusalem, confronting the highest authority in Israel.

Identifying the Sanhedrin delegation in Mark 11:27-28

John 18:31 Mark 11:27-33 Sanhedrin Sanhedrin temple cleansing
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

Jesus's response pattern gives us a template: acknowledge the legitimate role (responsibility to teach) while rejecting the authority claims. The papacy has responsibility to teach God's Word but not the authority to determine truth.

How Jesus's response to the Sanhedrin applies to modern Catholic claims

Roman Catholicism sola scriptura papacy
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

The Sanhedrin's "we don't know" answer is pretend agnosticism — they knew what they believed but wouldn't say it. This is a modern plague: people claim not to know as a cover for not wanting to submit to the evidence.

Analysis of the Sanhedrin's non-answer and modern pretend agnosticism

Mark 11:27-33 Sanhedrin Sanhedrin Mark 11:27-33
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-05

Christians must have spines — courage of conviction — when facing cultural pressure. Not angry Christians, but Christians who speak truth clearly and wisely. The persecuted church's lesson: when you know you're following God's revealed Word, you don't need man's permission.

Application on Christian courage in the face of authority and cultural pressure

Christian courage people-pleasing
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

The Parable of the Vineyard (Mark 12:1-12) is Jesus's most backhanded parable — told directly to the Sanhedrin, predicting they'll reject and kill God's Son, be destroyed, and be replaced. They know it's about them but can't use it in court.

Introduction and overview of Mark 12:1-12

Mark 12:1-12 Psalm 118:22-23 Mark series Sanhedrin Sanhedrin Mark 12:1-12
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

We are great critics of the past but blind to our own sins — the Pharisees built tombs for prophets their fathers killed while plotting to crucify Christ. We must see ourselves with the same critical clarity we apply to history.

Jesus's rebuke of historical self-righteousness (Matthew 23:29-31) and personal application

Matthew 23:29-31 humility humility Matthew 23:29-31
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-26

Du Toit changes "forgiveness" to "I am-ness" and teaches that the Trinity has four circles (Father, Son, you/me, Holy Spirit). Jesus didn't die to save us from sin but from a wrong mindset. Hell is "just a pathway to heaven."

The Mirror Bible's broader theological distortions

John 17:7 Mirror Bible Mirror Bible François Du Toit
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Overview: Interview with Neil Shenvi on Critical Race Theory. The culture has real racism problems, but CRT distorts the problem and offers solutions that create more injustice. The goal is to think biblically, not politically.

Introduction to CRT discussion with Neil Shenvi

biblical justice Neil Shenvi Christian politics
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Biblical framework: impartiality in judgment (no favoritism for rich or poor), all humans of one blood in God's image, individual sin/accountability, Scripture as the authority over lived experience. CRT is incompatible with Christianity on every core tenet.

The biblical response to CRT

Leviticus 19:15 image of God image of God biblical justice
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-16

Jesus identifies TWO problems with the Sadducees: they don't know the Scriptures AND they don't know the power of God. He then proves resurrection FROM the Pentateuch — their own strongest ground — using Exodus 3:6 ("I am the God of Abraham").

Jesus's response: two rebukes and the burning bush argument for resurrection

Mark 12:18-27 Exodus 3:6 resurrection resurrection marriage in heaven
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-18

Verses 5-13 are a list of NON-SIGNS: false messiahs, wars, earthquakes, famines, persecution — Jesus explicitly says "the end is not yet" and "these are merely the beginning of birth pangs." Do not use these to predict Christ's return.

Detailed exegesis of Mark 13:5-13 as warnings against false predictions

Mark 13:5-8 World Mission Society Church of God Mark 13:5-8 World Mission Society Church of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-18

The Christian response to persecution is NOT pointing fingers and crying "persecution!" — it's loving enemies, blessing those who persecute you, praying for those who spitefully use you. Persecution is a chance to shine Christ's love.

Biblical response to persecution from Mark 13:9-13

Mark 13:1-13 Mark 13:1-13 persecution response
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 2021-05-14

Where was Daniel when the three were thrown into the fire? Unknown — possibly on a trip, ill, or exempt from the order for some reason. The text simply doesn't say.

Q11: Where was Daniel during the fiery furnace?

Daniel Daniel NAR
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Would Jesus have died of old age if not crucified? Probably yes — physical death entered through the Fall affecting all humanity, not just individual sinners. But Winger acknowledges he hasn't fully worked this out.

Q18: Would sinless Jesus have died of old age?

Romans 5 Romans 5:12 Romans 5 Jesus Romans 5:12
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

Who was Lilith?: Do you know anything about Lilith? I heard some rumors that she was Adam’s first wife. I don’t believe this, but I wanted to hear if you have any thoughts on it.

Q&A question: Who was Lilith?

marriage
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
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