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All (224) Mike Winger (224)
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 2020-09-18

The witness of the Spirit (Romans 8:16) — an internal truth-awareness of being God's child, not an emotion

Question from John Butterfield about what the witness of the Spirit is and how to obtain it.

Romans 8:16 Romans 8:15 Holy Spirit Romans 8:16 assurance of salvation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

How to overcome long-held bitterness — pray for the person consistently; blessing them changes your own heart

Final question from Lillian McDonald about stopping bitterness held for years.

Matthew 5:44 Luke 6:28 prayer sanctification forgiveness
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 John 3:19-20 — God is greater than our condemning heart and knows everything

Additional passage addressing the fear and self-condemnation of the questioner

1 John 3:19-20 assurance of salvation fear of judgment 1 John 3:19-20
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Anxiety about the afterlife hinders prayer and joy; confidence before God enables effective prayer

Pastoral application of the 1 John 3 text

1 John 3:21-22 prayer assurance of salvation fear of judgment
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Christians are not required to tithe (give 10%), but are absolutely required to give generously

Opening question from Facebook: are Christians supposed to tithe?

tithing New Testament ethics Christian giving
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Paying a discipler is wrong; a paywall on discipleship disqualifies the discipler

Question from Blake about someone offering to disciple him for payment

Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18 Luke 8:3 Paul Acts 2:42 1 Timothy 5:18
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Sinning in dreams: only requires repentance if you yielded your will to it in the dream; involuntary dream content is not sin

Question from Christian Liang about whether to repent for sins committed in dreams

repentance sin dreams
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

Near-death / heaven-visiting accounts: deep skepticism warranted; Paul's 2 Corinthians 12 model shows the right posture is silence, not book tours

Question from S.M. Hart about people selling books on visiting heaven or hell

2 Corinthians 12 Paul 2 Corinthians 12 false prophets
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Thanksgiving as a biblical holiday in practice though not in name

Applying the holiday criteria to Thanksgiving

Christian liberty Thanksgiving gratitude
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Divine hardening in John's Gospel as a challenge to Calvinist Total Depravity

Mike argues divine hardening is inconsistent with Total Depravity.

Exodus Gospel of John Calvinism Exodus
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Favorite Bible verses for daily courage — Proverbs 3:5-6 and Psalm 62:8

Q from Eighth Day Adventist about Mike's favorite Bible verse for daily encouragement.

Proverbs 3:5-6 Psalm 62:8 Proverbs 3:5-6 Faith Guidance
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Spirit, soul, mind, body, heart: biblical anthropology terms overlap and resist precise systematic separation

Question from Juris de los Santos about the distinct biblical components of human nature.

soul trichotomy biblical anthropology
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Lordship salvation: repentance and faith are two sides of the same coin, not moral prerequisites for merit

Responding to Sally Richardson's question about what lordship salvation is

John MacArthur John MacArthur repentance salvation
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Handling a friend pursuing unbiblical mysticism — staged intervention using Galatians 6:1-2

Mike answers an emailed question from Nikki about a close Christian friend who keeps pursuing mystical and unbiblical things despite multiple conversations.

Matthew 18:15-17 Galatians 6:1-2 false teaching church discipline mysticism
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Evangelizing resistant family members: heart attitude must precede strategy

Question from someone whose parents think religion is stupid and who fears being judged for sharing their faith.

evangelism prayer witnessing
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Romans 10:1-4 refutes the idea that Jews can be saved apart from Jesus: Paul's heart's desire is that his Jewish kinsmen be saved — meaning they currently are not — despite their genuine zeal for God.

Q: How do I respond to family who believe Jews will go to heaven even if not saved by Jesus?

Romans 10:1-4 Galatians — Law as Condemner Paul Romans 10:1-4 Jewish Salvation / Two-Covenant Theology
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Divorce and remarriage study as model for deep-topic research projects

Ministry methodology

divorce and remarriage biblical research methodology
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Hebrews 11:4: Abel's sacrifice was better because it was offered by faith

Resolving the Cain/Abel question using Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:4 faith worship sacrifice
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Calibrated theological humility: hold beliefs with appropriate confidence, expect some error, keep learning

Continuing Q14 on following heart vs. conscience vs. Scripture

epistemology theological error intellectual humility
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

God's hardening of hearts: temporary, judgment-related, not arbitrary — non-Calvinist reading

Continuing Q15 — part about those God hardens, blasphemers, and people in hell

Romans 9 Exodus 4-14 Calvinism free will Romans 9
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37:4 is misused in Word of Faith teaching as a blank-check promise to receive material desires

Question from Lungil Zandi about how to read Psalm 37:4 without falling into a Word of Faith trap

Psalm 37:4 hermeneutics prosperity gospel covetousness
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37 in context is an encouragement to the righteous who are NOT experiencing abundance, not a promise of material wealth

Contextual reading of Psalm 37 to correct the Word of Faith misuse

Psalm 37 contextual interpretation eschatology prosperity gospel
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Psalm 37 presents future divine justice as the basis for present contentment amid the prosperity of the wicked

Continuing contextual walk through Psalm 37

Psalm 37 Matthew 5:5 anxiety divine justice Psalm 37
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Real-life example: a wife's Christ-like conduct broke through her angry husband's defenses and led to his conversion

Illustrative story supporting 1 Peter 3:1 and the "may" interpretation

1 Peter 3:1 1 Peter 3:1 marriage conversion
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Bitterness, clamor, and slander toward political opponents grieve the Spirit — Christians must deal with their own carnality first

Application of Ephesians 4:30-31 to the current political/cultural climate

Ephesians 4:31 Matthew 7:3-5 Holy Spirit self-examination bitterness
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

There is no biblical confirmation that Satan can read human thoughts, but he can place thoughts in the heart

Question from Juliet Isil about whether there is biblical basis for Satan not hearing silent prayers.

John 13:2 Ephesians 6:16 John 13:2 Prayer Satan / demonic activity
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

In a divorce caused by sexual immorality, the offended spouse may remarry immediately; the offending spouse should pursue reconciliation and may only remarry after clear rejection of all reconciliation attempts

Question from Giant Mushroom Tree about whether the offending (sexually immoral) spouse may remarry.

Matthew 5:32 Matthew 19:9 Marriage Divorce and remarriage Matthew 5:32
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Evangelism strategy for someone hurt by Christian abuse: separate Jesus from his misrepresenters

Question from Kenneth Kelly about reaching a Native American friend whose aunt was beaten to death by a Catholic nun.

Revelation 2-3 evangelism Revelation 2-3 Crusades
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Romans 8:34 and 1 John 2:1-2 -- Christ's intercession is not ongoing pleading but his perpetual existence as our propitiation

Question from Sephora Ba about why Jesus still intercedes for the elect if they are already saved (Romans 8:34).

Romans 8:34 1 John 2:1-2 salvation eternal security propitiation
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Was Solomon saved? Ecclesiastes may imply a late-life repentance and return to God despite idolatrous period

Question from Darcy 777 about whether Solomon died worshiping false gods and whether he was saved.

Ecclesiastes 1 Kings 11 repentance salvation apostasy
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Forgiveness vs. salvation: forgiveness is one component; salvation is the full package including adoption, the Spirit, and eternal life

Question from Olivia Heartland asking for clarification on the difference between forgiveness and salvation.

salvation forgiveness soteriology
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

1 Corinthians 10:13 -- No temptation is beyond your ability; sinning is a choice, not compulsion; God provides a way of escape

Question from Bob Satellite who says he cannot stop sinning and feels his heart is too cold to change.

1 Corinthians 10:13 sanctification temptation sin
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike reconciles Colossians 1:13's statement that Christians have been transferred into Christ's kingdom with premillennial teaching by distinguishing between the kingdom as an internal present reality (God reigning in the heart) and the future global, political kingdom established at the second coming.

Response to viewer question about how premillennialism handles Colossians 1:13

Colossians 1:13 Luke 17:21 John 18 eschatology second coming premillennialism
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Advice to someone whose church is becoming hyper-charismatic: leave, if you must, without bitterness, motivated only by principle and love.

Question from Jay Parker about whether to leave a church moving toward hyper-charismaticism after elders dismissed critique of the Passion Translation as nitpicking.

Galatians 5 Galatians 5 Passion Translation Hyper-charismatic movement
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q3: Is it wrong for a Christian to enjoy New Age music? Genre itself is not inherently sinful; lyrics and spiritual content matter

Viewer Linda Caswell asks whether listening to relaxing New Age piano music is wrong for a conservative Christian.

Christian liberty music and spirituality entertainment culture
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Belief in Christ's resurrection transforms the believer's relationship to death — to die is to pass into God's presence

Mike continues his counsel on fear of death, drawing on the resurrection and Paul's teaching.

2 Corinthians 5:8 John 11 Paul the Apostle resurrection 2 Corinthians 5:8
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

1 John 3:20-21 — God is greater than our condemning heart; confidence before God is the mature Christian posture

Mike continues the fear-of-death answer, noting many Christians are condemned not by actual rebellion but by vague fear.

1 John 3:20-21 assurance of salvation fear of judgment 1 John 3:20-21
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q20: Do we need to feel bad for sin when we repent, or is knowing it is wrong enough? Feeling is healthy but not required — emotions are the caboose of the train

Viewer Joel Larson asks whether genuine repentance requires feeling bad about sin, noting his ex-girlfriend does not feel bad about their shared sexual sin.

2 Corinthians 4 repentance sanctification Paul the Apostle
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Does Psalm 121:6 protect against sunburn? Analysis of the psalm as an Israel protection psalm

Viewer Brunette Family asks in a lighthearted way whether Psalm 121:6 permits skipping sunscreen.

Psalm 121 Song of Ascents hermeneutics Israel divine protection
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Isaiah 6's commissioning does not mean God does not want Israel healed — the prophet's message hardens already-rejecting hearts, and God's overall posture throughout Isaiah is restorative.

Question from V Palumbi about Isaiah 6 and God's apparent unwillingness for the people to return and be healed.

Isaiah 6 Isaiah 1:18 Atonement Isaiah 6 Divine sovereignty and human responsibility
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Ministry titles and the clergy-laity distinction: what Jesus really forbade in Matthew 23

Chris Horn asked whether Matthew 23:8-12 prohibits using ministry titles like pastor or elder.

1 Timothy 3 Galatians 3:28 Matthew 23:8-12 servant leadership overseer episkopos
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Burial symbolism matters even though cremation is permissible

Mike affirms cremation is acceptable but argues for the value of burial symbolism and honoring the dead.

Luke 23 Leviticus Luke 23 Leviticus burial
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Covert narcissism and Proverbs 16:5 — misunderstanding grace; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Giant Mushroom Tree is being diagnosed with covert narcissistic personality disorder and fears Proverbs 16:5 means they are unsavable.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Proverbs 16:5 repentance pride grace
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Hardened heart and repentance — how to break callousness and return to closeness with God

Final question: someone says their heart has become hard through continued rebellion, they no longer feel sorry, and they miss living close to Christ.

1 Corinthians 10:13 Psalm 34:18 Psalm 51:17 repentance sanctification 1 Corinthians 10:13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Forgiveness: will and emotions are separate; you can choose to forgive before your heart feels it

Responding to whether one can say words of forgiveness when the heart has not yet caught up

1 John 3:20 Christian living forgiveness walking by faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Helping a believer in mental anguish: bear burdens without requiring performance; listen and meet needs without trying to fix them

Responding to how to help and encourage a believer going through a season of mental anguish

Galatians 6:2 Proverbs 14:10 pastoral care Galatians 6:2 mental health
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Mark 7:14-19 — Jesus declares all foods clean by distinguishing ceremonial uncleanness from moral defilement; the Levitical purity laws were pedagogical, not moral.

Tabitha Littman asks why Jesus seems appalled that Jews believed touching/eating certain things made them unclean given God instituted those laws in Leviticus.

Acts 15 Leviticus 11 Mark 7:14-19 Acts 15 Pharisees Leviticus 11
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