Search — Theology Explorer

apologetics truth discipleship

Holistic discipleship: the false dichotomy between relationships and truth must be rejected

McDowell and Mike discuss the thesis of the book

youth ministry apologetics Josh McDowell

Apologetic questions are being asked at younger and younger ages due to technology — Josh McDowell's observation about shifting ages of questioning

McDowell references his father Josh McDowell's observation from 55 years of ministry

evangelism apologetics Generation Z

Mike's rationale for being on YouTube: putting apologetics answers where people are already looking

Mike explains his YouTube ministry philosophy

youth ministry apologetics J. Warner Wallace

J. Warner Wallace's youth ministry lesson: teaching content vs. training for engagement — and the failure of candles-and-experience ministry

McDowell recounts how J. Warner Wallace transformed his youth ministry approach

Mormonism youth ministry Trinity

Apologetic mission trips: exposing youth to real intellectual and religious conflict as a discipleship strategy

McDowell describes the mission trip model developed with Brett Kunkle and J. Warner Wallace

evangelism Jesus sexuality

Strategy for LGBTQ conversations with non-Christians: start with listening, ask about their story, do not lead with the biblical sexual ethic

McDowell describes how he approaches LGBTQ questions with non-Christians

marriage discipleship LGBTQ

Strategy for LGBTQ conversations with Christians: still lead with questions, then move to Scripture on God's design for marriage and sexuality

McDowell addresses the same topic from the angle of a Christian asking

evangelism Jesus apologetics methodology

The habit of assuming you know the question and answering it before truly listening — a common apologetics failure

McDowell reflects honestly on his own failures in apologetic conversations

evangelism love cultural engagement

Love communicates more than correct answers: valuing the person by taking their question seriously matters independent of whether the answer lands

Mike reflects on the principle of person-first engagement

church culture worship community

Q&A: Traditional vs. contemporary worship music — worship is not primarily about personal enjoyment; cross-generational blending is ideal

Audience question about worship style preferences

Romans Paul youth ministry Romans

Q&A: Rooting youth in the person and work of Christ — requires both good theology (who Jesus is) and practical application (how to live it out)

Audience question about how churches can help youth be rooted in Christ

youth ministry J. Warner Wallace Generation Z

Book promotion: The Next Generation Will Know releasing May 1, free bonus materials available before release

Closing segment — book details and offer

James the brother of Jesus Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus James the brother of Jesus

The cumulative case for the resurrection: what evidence we actually have

Mike assembles the positive evidence for the resurrection after dismantling the slogan's objections.

Youth ministry Discipleship Pastoral ministry

Q&A: Tips for young first-time pastor doing outreach to youth/college-age in a congregation of older saints

Pastoral question from a viewer.

Greg Koukl Evangelism Tactics (book)

Q&A: Tips for evangelizing to peers before military training — Greg Koukl's Tactics recommended

Viewer heading to military training asks about evangelism strategies.

Isaiah 53 Psalm 22 William Lane Craig Isaiah 53 Psalm 22

Q&A: How to deal with coworkers who want proof of God's existence — resources recommended

Viewer (law enforcement officer) asks how to engage atheist coworkers.

1 Corinthians James the brother of Jesus 1 Corinthians Paul the Apostle Resurrection of Jesus

Paul and James as enemy/skeptic witnesses to the resurrection — more powerful than Pilate would be

Mike argues we already have the category of evidence (non-follower witnesses) that skeptics demand.

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Matthew 5 and Matthew 28 are from entirely different contexts and cannot be simply combined

First critique of the Hebrew Roots interpretive move

Matthew 10:5 Matthew 28:18-20 Matthew 5:17 hermeneutics Matthew 10:5 Matthew 28:18-20

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Jesus's ministry was exclusively to Jews (Matt 15:24; Matt 10:5)—the Sermon on the Mount is a Jewish address, not a Gentile one

Contextual argument that Matthew 5 cannot be applied directly to Gentiles

Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Matthew 6:32 Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Jewish audience of Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Extra-biblical corroboration: Luke 3 — soldiers on active duty near John the Baptist

McLatchie presents a subtle corroboration between Luke 3's soldiers and the specific military situation in the region during John the Baptist's ministry.

John the Baptist Luke 3:14 Josephus John the Baptist Herod Antipas

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

James the brother of Jesus — conversion from skeptic to martyr

McLatchie presents the conversion and martyrdom of James, Jesus's brother, as particularly strong evidence for the resurrection.

Acts 1 James the brother of Jesus John 7:5 Josephus resurrection of Jesus Acts 1

Acts 1:8 Judea Great Commission Acts 1:8 progressive revelation

Acts 1:8 establishes the progressive geographic expansion of the gospel: Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, uttermost parts of the earth

Survey of Acts chapter 1

Acts 14:8-11 Barnabas Paul the Apostle Acts 14:8-11

Acts 14 -- Paul in Iconium and Lystra heals a lame man; Gentiles try to worship Paul and Barnabas as gods. Paul corrects their polytheism but never mentions the Law of Moses.

Survey of Acts 14, Paul's ministry in Lystra

Acts 16:1-3 Timothy Paul the Apostle circumcision

Acts 16:1-3 -- Timothy is circumcised by Paul, despite delivering the decree that Gentiles need not be circumcised. His circumcision is for missionary effectiveness among Jews.

Survey of Acts 16, Timothy's circumcision

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 Timothy Paul the Apostle law of Christ

1 Corinthians 9:19-22 -- Paul becomes as a Jew to win Jews, as under the law to win those under the law, as without law to win those without law. Timothy's circumcision fits this pattern.

Cross-reference to 1 Corinthians 9 to explain Timothy's circumcision

Timothy Jewish identity fulfillment theology

Timothy was not circumcised because he was Jewish -- he was circumcised for ministry effectiveness. This distinction is critical: it is fulfillment theology, not law-keeping.

Clarification on Timothy's circumcision motivation

Acts 28:17 Paul the Apostle fulfillment theology Acts 28:17

Acts 28:17 -- Paul says he has done nothing against the customs of our fathers. Again consistent with fulfillment theology.

Survey of Acts 28:17

New Covenant Law of Moses Levites

Q&A: tithing -- the tithe is a Mosaic law (10% to Levites/temple) and is not required for believers; Christians should give freely as the Lord directs to the poor, persecuted, and ministers

Q&A on tithing

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-05

119 Ministries' interpretation of Romans 6:14 is the specific target of the episode

Naming the opposing interpreter

Romans 6:14 119 Ministries under the law Romans 6:14

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

James White tweet: respectful but firm disagreement; White acknowledged for textual criticism work and Ehrman debate

Winger shows the James White tweet that prompted deeper preparation for this stream.

James White textual criticism James White Bart Ehrman

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

John 7 records Jesus's brothers not believing in him during his ministry, then Acts records them as believers after resurrection — this disbelief/conversion arc supports biological relationship

The conversion of Jesus's brothers as evidence for their biological relationship

Acts James (brother of Jesus) John 7 Acts James (brother of Jesus) resurrection appearances

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Cessationist Interpretation 2 (Masters Seminary): prophecy and knowledge = inscripturated revelation; massive time gap between vv. 11 and 12; "the perfect" = the church brought to maturity by the Bible.

Summary of the three key concepts in the Masters Seminary article that underpin its cessationist reading of 1 Cor 13.

1 Corinthians 13:8-12 cessationism canon of Scripture to teleion

Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Critique of Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry: prophetic activation exercises using Uno cards reduce prophecy to social engineering and fabrication.

Winger pivots to critique hyper-charismatic practice, using Bethel's published school curriculum as a concrete example.

Matthew 18 Matthew 18 Bethel Church Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry

online ministry BibleThinker ministry transparency

Introduction: Ministry update overview and video structure

Mike Winger opens a Tuesday livestream with an agenda covering ministry changes, church status, goals, and Q&A.

calling youth ministry Hosanna Christian Fellowship

Calling to online ministry: A strong sense of divine compulsion in 2012

Winger describes how in 2012 he experienced an unusual, intense sense that he had to do something in ministry beyond his local church.

BibleThinker atheist objections to Christianity YouTube ministry

Starting YouTube: Identifying a vacuum of quality Christian online content

Winger began experimenting with YouTube after feeling called to reach beyond his local church, motivated by the dominance of scoffing and misrepresentation of Christianity online.

Jehovah's Witnesses YouTube ministry divine confirmation

Early YouTube confirmation: Jehovah's Witnesses video blows up

After making several videos with minimal traction, Winger prayed for confirmation that YouTube was the right investment, and one video took off.

biblical teaching verse-by-verse teaching ministry strategy

2015 turning point: Sunday evening service and weekly video strategy

In June 2015, Winger's senior pastor offered him the freedom to teach an adult Sunday evening service, which catalyzed a new approach to his YouTube ministry.

discipleship apologetics biblical worldview

Four target audiences for BibleThinker ministry

Winger articulates the specific audiences he aims to reach through his online ministry.

Romans 9 Leighton Flowers BibleThinker Romans 9

Ministry impact testimonies: Global reach and unexpected pastor influence

Winger shares concrete examples of ministry impact by late 2017 when he had ~9,000 subscribers.

BibleThinker Gary Ansdell ministry transition

December 2017: Senior pastor redirects Winger to prioritize online ministry

Pastor Gary challenged Winger with a hypothetical that forced a reckoning over ministry priorities.

verse-by-verse teaching Tuesday livestream Bethel Redding

Tuesday livestream purpose: Meeting online-specific needs rather than local church needs

Winger explains the distinct function of the Tuesday livestream format within his overall ministry strategy.

marketplace of ideas evangelism Paul the Apostle online ministry

Analogy: Paul would be doing online ministry today

Winger reflects on the scale and nature of online ministry as a modern equivalent to reaching the marketplace of ideas.

discipleship youth ministry ministry transition

Burnout and shedding responsibilities: Transitioning out of youth ministry

The combination of youth pastoring, online ministry, and other church roles became physically unsustainable.

Hosanna Christian Fellowship church staff volunteer ministry

Church and staff status: Volunteer again, not fired

Winger clarifies his church relationship in response to questions and misconceptions.

BibleThinker ministry funding free content

Funding model: Donation-supported free content

Winger explains how the ministry sustains itself financially and his commitment to keeping all content free.

theodicy apologetics divine judgment

Q&A: Canaanite genocide — was it genocide, and does God have the right to kill?

Question from Texas Tech asking how to justify God commanding the killing of Canaanites, which skeptics call genocide.

hermeneutics Bible study interpretation

Q&A: Hermeneutics — advice for a new Bible student afraid of misinterpretation

Question from a student who has taken hermeneutics courses but feels intimidated to start studying.

Isaiah 14:12 Revelation 22:16 NIV translation Satan Isaiah 14:12

Q&A: NIV Morningstar — does the NIV call Jesus Satan?

Question about why the NIV uses "Morningstar" for both Isaiah 14:12 (apparently referring to Satan) and Revelation 22:16 (Jesus).