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All (246) Mike Winger (246)
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Disciples' failure to cast out demons vs. faith as a mustard seed — two distinct teachings not to conflate

Q&A: Haggar Vid asks about the disciples having little faith and the mustard-seed faith saying

mustard seed faith disciples casting out demons little faith (oligopistia)
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-10

Advice to a 15-year-old aspiring pastor: character comes before ministry; study the pastoral epistles

Q&A: Isaiah Jones (age 15) asks for advice on becoming a pastor

1 Timothy Titus 2 Timothy 1 Timothy Titus pastoral qualifications
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Preview: Book of Acts will be examined next to show how the Apostles actually applied Jesus's commands regarding the Law

Transition to future installments of the series

Acts 10 Acts 15 Acts 10 Acts 15 Gentile mission
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Proverbs 30:1-4 — God and his Son in the Hebrew Bible

McLatchie highlights Proverbs 30:1-4 as an often-overlooked text implying the divine sonship within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Hosea 11:1 Proverbs 30:1-4 Hosea 11:1 divine sonship Jonathan McLatchie
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

Biological complexity — DNA as digitally encoded information pointing to design

McLatchie introduces biological fine-tuning and intelligent design via biological complexity.

natural theology Jonathan McLatchie DNA
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-16

1 Corinthians 15 creedal tradition — early apostolic testimony to the resurrection

McLatchie analyzes 1 Corinthians 15:3-7 as a pre-Pauline creed containing the earliest testimony to the resurrection.

1 Corinthians 15:3-7 Galatians 1:18-19 Paul Peter resurrection creed
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Church grows to ~5,000 in Acts 3-4, still entirely Jewish or proselyte. The default assumption is: continue doing what you were already doing regarding the law.

Summary observation from Acts 3-4

Torah observance Jewish believers early church
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Gamaliel's speech in Acts 5:34 -- a Pharisee teacher of the law advises the Sanhedrin to wait and see regarding the Apostles. The entire context remains Jewish.

Survey of Acts chapter 5, Sanhedrin confrontation

Acts 5:34-39 Gamaliel Sanhedrin Acts 5:34-39
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Peter did not violate food laws even years after the resurrection -- an important concession: there was no requirement for Jewish believers to stop Torah observance after coming to Jesus

Analysis of Peter's behavior regarding food laws

dietary laws Jewish believers Peter (Apostle)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Objection that scholars affirm historicity only because they signed faith statements is refuted by citing atheist/agnostic scholars who agree

Responding to the claim that Christian bias explains scholarly consensus on historicity

James Crossley John Dominic Crossan scholarly consensus Bart Ehrman historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Methodological principle: dismissing miracle claims in historical sources reflects worldview bias, not following the evidence

Responding to the claim that miracle claims in historical sources can be safely dismissed

miracles epistemology naturalism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Advice to those influenced by Richard Carrier: read other skeptical scholars — Ehrman, Lüdemann, Casey — who have proper training in historical Jesus scholarship

Practical guidance for those following Carrier's mythicist arguments

Richard Carrier Bart Ehrman Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Only a handful of bona fide scholars deny Jesus's existence — Carrier said there were seven including himself, none widely respected in their disciplines

Quantifying the scholarly minority who deny Jesus's historical existence

scholarly consensus Richard Carrier Jesus mythicism
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-03

Christian response to suffering: trust God's sovereign goodness despite not knowing the outcome

Pastoral application regarding suffering and theodicy

theodicy suffering faith
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

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.

biblical teaching verse-by-verse teaching ministry strategy
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

December 2017: Senior pastor redirects Winger to prioritize online ministry

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

BibleThinker Gary Ansdell ministry transition
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

False dichotomy: God is either petty or wrathless

Mike challenges a common framing used by progressive Christians and atheists regarding divine wrath.

false dichotomy God's wrath righteous anger
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Animal rights from a biblical perspective — Proverbs and the dominion mandate

Viewer asks whether the Bible supports animal welfare.

Genesis 1 Proverbs dominion mandate Genesis 1 stewardship
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Q&A: Does God's love have a time limit — does it turn to hatred at death for the damned?

Viewer asks whether God's love for the unrepentant ceases at death and becomes everlasting hatred.

eschatology God's love divine judgment
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Logical analysis of "all roads lead to God": three possible meanings, two incoherent

Winger begins systematic dismantling of the primary slogan

Hebrews 9:27 universalism final judgment religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

9/11 terrorists and suicide bombers: sincerity and sacrifice do not validate a belief system

Continued reductio ad absurdum against "all religions work"

reductio ad absurdum Islam religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-31

Circumcision-baptism parallel breaks down on multiple fronts: faith requirement, compulsion, and gender exclusivity

Winger extends the critique of the circumcision-baptism parallel by pressing its internal inconsistencies.

Lydia faith baptism
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

The inner witness of the Holy Spirit gives Christians warrant regardless of external evidence

Explaining how the witness of the Spirit functions as epistemic justification independent of external arguments

epistemology faith and reason warrant
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Biblical justice requires impartiality; modern social justice errs by elevating group rights over equal standards

Response to viewer Kara Gordon asking whether caring for the marginalized should look different for a Christian than secular socialism or communism.

Exodus 23:2-3 Leviticus 19:15 abortion social justice biblical justice
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

1 John 4 on love and assurance: knowing and believing God's love is the foundation for freedom from fear about the afterlife

Q&A from Taste Remains about anxiety regarding the afterlife and assurance of salvation

1 John 4:7-16 propitiation assurance of salvation 1 John 4:7-16
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Exodus 7: Pharaoh's magicians reproduced some of Moses's signs — two possible explanations: sleight of hand or demonic power

Q&A from Garrett De Jong about how the magicians duplicated the signs

Exodus 7 Satan Exodus 7 Pharaoh's magicians
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Jesus commanded disciples to carry swords before his betrayal, indicating readiness for self-defense is a godly posture

New Testament grounding for self-defense, contrasted with earlier sending-out instructions

Luke 22:36 Peter Gethsemane Luke 22:36
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Hebrews 6:4-6 is the most challenging apostasy passage in the Bible; Mike is not yet ready to give a definitive answer on it

Question from Folky about the warning in Hebrews 6:4-6 regarding those who seem to have experienced salvation but then fall away

Hebrews 6:4-6 eternal security apostasy Hebrews 6:4-6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Mike's anti-Calvinist argument: faith is not a work regardless of its source; the Calvinist objection tries to smuggle faith into the "works" category

Mike's response to the Calvinist framing of faith as a "good work" that requires prior regeneration

Galatians 2 Romans 11:6 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 2 Abraham Romans 11:6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Romans 14: do not violate your conscience — if you cannot do something in faith before God, do not do it, even if it may be permissible

Question from Only in Antarctica about whether a Christian can work in the cannabis sector

Romans 14 Romans 14 faith and works Christian liberty
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Grace Community Church COVID decision: Mike is on the fence — neither fully endorsing nor opposing their refusal to close

Question from Teonbay about Grace Community Church defying California government COVID gathering restrictions

Acts 5:29 Romans 13 Acts 5:29 Romans 13 COVID-19
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

How Gospel writers knew what Jesus said when alone — Garden of Gethsemane example

Question from Meg Ward about eyewitness accounts for scenes where Jesus was alone

James John Matthew Peter James John
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

The Chosen's historical concerns — gender relations and sabbath fishing

Specific historical-accuracy concerns with The Chosen

historical context Peter Sabbath
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Pastoral preparation — character and godliness are the primary qualifications

Question from Jared Garrity about preparing for pastoral ministry

1 Timothy Titus 1 Timothy elder qualifications Titus
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Living with non-Christian parents who swear, drink, and watch vulgar content

Q from Soul about navigating holiness when living with ungodly parents.

Evangelism Holiness Family Relationships
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Bereshit Prophecy in Genesis 1:1 — Mike strongly dismisses as fabricated

Q from Enigma about the "Bereshit prophecy" in Genesis 1:1 regarding end times.

Genesis 1:1 bereshit Genesis 1:1 False Prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

Matthew 26:46 — Jesus voluntarily walks forward into betrayal and crucifixion

Question from Hunter Clyce about Matthew 26:46.

Matthew 26:46 crucifixion Judas Iscariot Garden of Gethsemane
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

1 Corinthians 3 — believers are judged at the Bema for their works (gold/silver/precious stones vs. wood/hay/straw), not for salvation

Question from Emily Bain about how forgiveness of sins relates to judgment day.

1 Corinthians 3 1 Corinthians 3:10-15 salvation judgment 1 Corinthians 3
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Parachute/airplane illustration: beliefs do not determine outcomes — reality is independent of belief

Mike uses a vivid analogy to show relativism fails when applied to real-world consequences.

evangelism eternal destiny objective truth
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Cessationism vs. continuationism — Mike holds continuationism but respects cessationists

A viewer asks what Mike thinks about cessationists.

word of wisdom word of knowledge prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

John MacArthur — appreciation as a gospel champion; cautious about Strange Fire conference

A viewer asks Mike's opinion of John MacArthur.

John MacArthur John MacArthur Calvinism gifts of the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Standing up for faith before it is taken away — Christians always stand; democracy creates gospel opportunity

A viewer asks at what point Christians should stand up for their faith before it is taken away.

Matthew 5:13-16 salt and light gospel proclamation religious persecution
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Hebrews 1:1-2 does not prohibit God from speaking to individuals today

Question about whether God still speaks through a still small voice today, referencing Hebrews 1:2.

Hebrews 1:1-2 1 Timothy 1:18 Revelation of John Hagar charismatic movement prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

No single biblical form of government; Christianity fits any system through principles

Question about biblical support for monarchy and the Christian attitude toward it.

Romans 13 theocracy justice Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Genesis 1-11 genre: separating science from exegesis; evaluating young earth, Walton, and William Lane Craig's archetypal history view

Question about the creation account in Genesis and young earth creationism vs. modern science.

Genesis 1-11 John Walton hermeneutics Adam and Eve young earth creationism
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Entertaining angels unawares is a super-rare event in Scripture; the main application of Hebrews 13:2 is the importance of showing kindness to strangers, not predicting frequency of angelic visits.

Application of Hebrews 13:2

Hebrews 13:2 hermeneutics angelology Hebrews 13:2
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Applying the "natural function" standard: anal intercourse is physically harmful even between a married man and woman and is therefore unnatural and prohibited.

Applying Romans 1 framework to acts within marriage

Romans 1:24-27 marriage natural law sexual ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

In times of psychological doubt, stop requiring emotional confirmation from Bible reading, worship, and prayer — treat spiritual disciplines as objectively worth doing regardless of how they feel.

Practical strategies for overcoming psychological/emotional doubt.

Prayer Doubt and Faith Trust in God vs. Feelings
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

The garter toss as an inappropriate sexualization of the bride — cultural critique

Continuing Q17 on Christian wedding practices

marriage cultural critique sexual ethics