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All (140) Mike Winger (140)
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

James 1:15 — desire conceived becomes sin; sin full-grown brings death. The passage primarily warns against blaming God for temptation and shows sin's natural progression.

Q8 from Kristen: James 1:15 says sin when full-grown "gives birth to death" — what does "death" mean for those in Christ?

James 1:13-15 Richard Carrier James 1:13-15 progressive Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Biblical self-worth holds extreme value (image of God) and extreme humility (sinfulness) in tension; neither arrogance nor false modesty is biblical.

Q13 from unnamed questioner: what is the biblical view of self-worth, asked in the context of a young ladies' group?

Jeremiah 17:9 (deceitful heart) 2 Corinthians 10:12 women's ministry humility human dignity
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Praying against "spirits of laziness, offense, depression" — most are human failures not demonic spirits; Jezebel spirit is not a biblical category

Q10 from Arfish: Is it biblical to pray against spirits of offense, laziness, depression, confusion? What is the Jezebel spirit and is it real?

James 4 Revelation 2:20 personal responsibility Jezebel James 4
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Molinism explained and distinguished from determinism

Listener Solomon Dahlberg asks whether on Molinism people's choices depend only on circumstances God places them in, and if so why doesn't God make everyone believe.

Molinism Free will Avengers: Infinity War
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Distinguishing the Holy Spirit's burden from personal obsession

Listener Keys of the Kingdom wonders whether concern about a friend who broke contact is the Spirit's prompting or personal obsession.

Titus 2 Discerning the Holy Spirit Obsession vs divine prompting Good works
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Putting out a fleece (asking God for a sign) is not inherently wrong but carries dangers of presumption and heart projection.

Question 5 from AZF Stories about whether Christians should ask for signs like Gideon's fleece.

Judges 6 Gideon signs Judges 6
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Mark 14:36 refutes Oneness Pentecostal modalism by demonstrating distinct wills between Father and Son.

Question 12 from Our Fish about witnessing to a husband raised in Oneness Pentecostalism regarding the Trinity.

Mark 14:36 Trinity apologetics deity of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The Holy Spirit speaks through fruit, track record, and confirmation from other believers; not every decision requires supernatural direction.

Question 14 from Gel Stapper (Netherlands) about how the Holy Spirit speaks personally, after leaving a hyper-charismatic church.

Ezekiel 13 Holy Spirit discernment wisdom
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

God chose to redeem through the cross to display his love, patience, righteousness, and desire for relationship simultaneously.

Question 15 from Daniel James about why God chose death and resurrection as the method of redemption.

John 3:16 atonement Incarnation righteousness of God
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Cameron adds: Michael Rota's avarice objection response — the wager need not be self-interested; one might commit to God out of desire to avoid disappointing God, to grow morally, or out of moral duty. Rota's drowning child analogy: even at 50/50, the stakes justify commitment.

Additional response to Q2 — avarice objection and drowning child analogy

Cameron Bertuzzi Michael Rota Taking Pascals Wager
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Reason 7 (The Real Hope): Becoming pregnant and experiencing the maternal drive to keep the baby alive — it was intuitive, not theological. Mike shares a story of standing outside an abortion clinic when a car accident happened nearby involving a pregnant woman, and the irony of everyone caring about that baby while babies were being killed across the street.

Reason 7 — maternal instinct and the car accident irony

abortion double homicide maternal instinct
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-15

Forgiveness: two types. (1) Heart forgiveness — releasing desire for vengeance/punishment — should be given to everyone unconditionally. (2) Relational restoration — actually restoring the relationship — reserved for those who repent, especially in cases of serious offenses. Parallels how God forgives: the cross pays for all sin, but it's not received until one comes with repentance.

Two types of forgiveness

two types of forgiveness heart forgiveness relational restoration
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 2020-08-07

Calvinism and free will: Mike isn't a Calvinist. He believes in genuine human free will while also affirming God's sovereignty. The key issue: does God determine every single human decision (Calvinist compatibilism) or do humans have genuine libertarian choice? Mike believes libertarian free will better fits Scripture and makes better sense of God's commands, judgments, and the problem of evil.

Calvinism and free will — Mike's position

Calvinism free will Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-21

Biblical view of entertainment: Laughter is good (Proverbs: laughter is medicine) but like sex, it's context-dependent. Entertainment that softens our attitude toward sin, mocks God, or turns holy things into jokes causes spiritual harm. Each Christian must develop personal convictions (Romans 14) rather than imposing them on others. The test: is your walk with God sustained while enjoying this entertainment?

Entertainment — biblical principles

Romans 14 Romans 14 Romans 14 Romans 14 entertainment ethics
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 2020-09-28

First-century magic (witchcraft) forced the gods' will to obey the practitioner. A distorted Mark 11 teaching that sources miracles in MY will rather than God's will moves into the realm of magic, not prayer.

Historical context: prayer vs. magic in the first century

Word of Faith Word of Faith magic vs prayer
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-28

About Same-Sex Attraction: As a Side B/Celibate same-sex attracted Christian, do you believe God can change my attraction to eventually desire to marry a woman?

Q&A question: About Same-Sex Attraction
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-08

Ways to Grow in Christ: I've recently found a renewed desire to get closer with God and was just wondering if you have any advice about how to do so.

Q&A question: Ways to Grow in Christ
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-10

Advice for Finding a Godly Spouse / Our Desires: I’m 23 yrs. old. 6 yrs. ago, my attraction to women just disappeared. This messed with my head a lot, and also, because of physical problems, I can’t approach girls in order to find a wife. Please, can you advise me?

Q&A question: Advice for Finding a Godly Spouse / Our Desires

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-04

Desire to Believe, but Still Doubtful?: I am very eager to have a relationship with Jesus. However, I still have doubts about the truth of Christianity, and I don’t have full certainty. But people believe their mom loves them. Advice?

Q&A question: Desire to Believe, but Still Doubtful?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-04

Discerning God’s Will in our Lives: How do I learn God's will for major life decisions like buying a pet, when and where to move, who I should marry, or if I should even get married? How do I know if it’s from God, or from my own desires?

Q&A question: Discerning God’s Will in our Lives
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-11

Should we Desire to Read Scripture Daily?: Shouldn't a truly born-again believer desire to read the Scriptures regularly (even daily)? How should I approach and encourage a "Christian" who doesn't?

Q&A question: Should we Desire to Read Scripture Daily?
Mike Winger idea 2022-03-18

How to have More Self Control: You mentioned in a past session the issue of “becoming slaves to our desires” instead of "just doing the right things we don't feel like doing." Whether it’s reading Scripture, doing the housework, eating the right things, etc., I struggle with this daily, and my whole house is a disaster. Please, can you offer some advice on how to target this issue?

Q&A question: How to have More Self Control
Mike Winger idea 2022-04-15

Learning to Desire our Study Time: How do I develop a craving for solid biblical teaching? I really enjoy your content, but I become bored easily. It’s easy for me to get distracted in my free time.

Q&A question: Learning to Desire our Study Time
Mike Winger idea 2022-06-03

What are the “Best Spiritual Gifts”?: What do you think Paul is referring to in 1 Corinthians 12: 31 when he says to desire "the best gifts"?

Q&A question: What are the “Best Spiritual Gifts”?

1 Corinthians 12 spiritual gifts 1 Corinthians 12
Mike Winger idea 2022-06-17

Why Would God Give us our Heart’s Desires?: Why would God give us the desires of our hearts (Psalm 37:4) if the heart is deceitful above all things (Jeremiah 17:9)?

Q&A question: Why Would God Give us our Heart’s Desires?

Jeremiah Psalm 37:4 Psalm 37 Jeremiah Psalm 37:4 Psalm 37
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-16

How Much Should we Desire Marriage?: How fervently should I pray for the possibility of marriage being included in God’s will for my life? It has always felt pointless considering that it's likely God may not ever give it in my life.

Q&A question: How Much Should we Desire Marriage?

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2023-01-27

Mercy vs. Sacrifice: What does Jesus mean when He says, “I desire mercy and not sacrifice” in Matthew 9: 12-13?

Q&A question: Mercy vs. Sacrifice

Matthew Jesus Matthew
Mike Winger idea 2023-03-03

Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?: 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?

Q&A question: Do Unbelieving Children Disqualify an Elder?

Titus Titus 1 1 Timothy 3:4-5 Timothy Titus elder qualifications
Mike Winger idea 2024-07-19

Are Sinful Desires Sinful?: James 1: 15 speaks about your desire giving birth to sin, but if you have an evil desire, isn’t that already sin?

Q&A question: Are Sinful Desires Sinful?

James James 1 James James 1
Mike Winger idea 2024-07-26

Temptations from the Flesh vs. the Enemy: Is it possible to discern between temptations that come from Satan and those that come from within due to the sinful desires of flesh?

Q&A question: Temptations from the Flesh vs. the Enemy

Satan
Mike Winger idea 2024-10-04

No Persecution = No Godliness?: 2 Tim 3: 12 says, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” I’m not being persecuted. Does this mean I’m not living a godly life?

Q&A question: No Persecution = No Godliness?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2024-10-25

Balancing Ministry & Family: As a young youth pastor, I am struggling to balance my desire to fully invest time and energy into ministry, with also being married with 2 young boys (2 and 1). Can you give some good principles here?

Q&A question: Balancing Ministry & Family

pastoral ministry
Mike Winger idea 2025-01-03

Avoiding the “Barn Building” Attitude: I feel the need/desire to make good money - that it's necessary to feel secure, to be a provider, and yes - to have some nice things (a house, vacations, etc.). Am I the Luke 12 barn builder?

Q&A question: Avoiding the “Barn Building” Attitude
Mike Winger idea 2025-02-21

The Calling of a Pastor: I’m 17 and have a huge desire to go into pastoral ministry. I feel called and equipped for this, but hear a lot of people say God has to speak to you directly to do this. Is my burden for this enough?

Q&A question: The Calling of a Pastor

pastoral ministry
Mike Winger idea 2025-09-26

The Value of Fallible Gifts: If all the gifts of the Spirit are subject to human fallibility, what is their true value for the Church? Why would God tell us to eagerly desire them if they can so easily be misused or misunderstood?

Q&A question: The Value of Fallible Gifts
Mike Winger idea 2025-12-12

Trusting God While Questions Linger: I keep thinking I’ll trust God easier if I get more questions about God answered. But I’m sad about things like unmet godly desires. Remembering God’s promises doesn’t help. How do I fix this?

Q&A question: Trusting God While Questions Linger
Mike Winger idea 2026-02-20

Leaving Family for Military Service: I am a former member of the military and have a desire to go back to an elite unit. However, I feel anxiety leaving my wife and daughter for periods of time. How do I reconcile this?

Q&A question: Leaving Family for Military Service

marriage
Mike Winger idea 2026-03-20

God’s Calling, My Desires & My Fear: I feel drawn to teaching God's Word, but I’m also afraid. How can I tell if it's truly a calling from God and not just my own desire? I understand the responsibility and that scares me. Any guidance?

Q&A question: God’s Calling, My Desires & My Fear
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