Search — Theology Explorer

Darrell Bock Textual Criticism Pauline Epistles — Authorship

Mike has authorship of the contested Pauline epistles on his list but far down in priority; he recommends Darrell Bock as an existing resource for those who need it now.

Q: Do you ever plan to do a deep dive into the authorship of the contested Pauline epistles?

Spiritual Gifts Ministry and Disability Calling and Gifting

A person with Asperger's who fears public speaking should identify what they are actually gifted at and build ministry around those strengths rather than forcing it through their weakness.

Q: I suffer from Asperger's syndrome and have fear of crowds and public speaking — is my fear a valid reason not to spread God's word?

Spiritual Gifts Calling and Gifting Teaching Gift

Mike's own primary gift is teaching, not worship leading — he did worship leading for years out of necessity but recognized it was not his strongest gift; leaning into actual gifts maximizes ministry impact.

Personal illustration of the spiritual-gifts-discernment principle.

Heresy Hunting / Online Critics Ministry Time Management Self-Defense vs. Service

When handling online 'heresy hunters' who badger a minister, evaluate whether you are responding from self-defense or from genuine capacity to help — then use time for maximum ministry impact.

Q: How do you handle online heresy hunters that badger you through email about your teaching?

Humility Heresy Hunting / Online Critics Self-Defense vs. Service

Two issues with heresy hunters: (1) a divisive uncharitable attitude over secondary issues needing gentle correction toward unity; (2) the real possibility they are right — total openness to correction with zero self-defensiveness is required.

Continued advice on handling heresy hunters in ministry.

Craig Blomberg Douglas Moo Brian Simmons

Passion Translation project update: Mike has hired multiple scholars to review the Passion Translation — Tremper Longman (Song of Songs, already published), Nijay Gupta (Galatians, days away), Darrell Bock, Douglas Moo, Craig Blomberg are upcoming.

Closing ministry update on the Passion Translation evaluation project.

thinking biblically BibleThinker ministry

Introduction and ministry update for 2021

Opening of first livestream of 2021 (New Year's Day)

discipleship biblical thinking

Goal: teach people to think biblically, not just memorize answers

Ministry philosophy discussion

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism

Announcement: upcoming deep-dive study on women's roles and gender in the church

2021 ministry plans

divorce and remarriage biblical research methodology

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

Ministry methodology

BibleThinker ministry open theism

BibleThinker.org website improvements: searchable timestamp database

Website and ministry infrastructure plans for 2021

1 Corinthians 7 Matthew 19 1 Corinthians 7 marriage singleness

Q9: Is it sinful to not want to marry? Singleness is a gift, not inferior to marriage

Response to viewer asking about call to singleness

Ephesians 5:25 hermeneutics headship servant leadership

Ephesians 5: husband's model is Christ dying for the church on earth, not Christ ruling as Lord in heaven

Continuing Q19 on husband-wife authority

Matthew 25:14-30 Luke 16:10 Matthew 25:14-30 Faithfulness in ministry Parable of the Talents

Ministry faithfulness in obscurity is intrinsically valuable regardless of audience size

Mike introduces himself and describes his Sunday night service in Bellflower, CA — typically 12-15 attendees despite massive YouTube reach — as an encouragement to small-ministry workers.

Bethel Church Hillsong Brian Houston

Hillsong assessed as a mixed-bag ministry — not progressive, but tilted toward intense positivity over theological substance

Question from Christian Galindo about whether Hillsong is a progressive church with sound theology.

Hillsong Prosperity gospel / positivity gospel Ministry success metrics

Hillsong's explosive growth is driven by an extra layer of intense positivity — the "Happy Meal" model of Christianity

Continued analysis of Hillsong's ministry model.

1 Corinthians 14 2 Timothy 1:6 1 Corinthians 14 Elijah Spiritual gifts

Though gifts cannot be taught, believers can grow in their expression and use of already-given gifts

Nuanced development of the spiritual gifts question.

Christian music genres Cultural discernment Witness and lifestyle

Christian rock and metal can honor God but requires vigilance — the genre's sinful elements easily infect the message

Question from Simon Batha about whether Christian rock and metal can honor God.

Mike Winger online ministry ministry perseverance

Introduction: channel milestone of 200,000 subscribers and format of the 20 Questions Friday livestream

Opening remarks before questions begin. Mike Winger celebrates reaching 200k subscribers and explains the Q&A format.

Luke 5:17 discernment Benny Hinn charismatic movement

Releasing healing into the atmosphere -- unbiblical charismatic terminology rooted in crowd control rather than Scripture

Question from John Richardson about the biblical basis for Christians releasing healing into the atmosphere.

youth ministry discernment spiritual warfare

New age practices on TikTok (astral projection): equip youth by understanding what the practices are before addressing them

Question from Deanna about youth leaders dealing with students exploring new age practices like astral projection found on TikTok.

Jeremiah Exodus 4:10 Jeremiah 1:6 Paul Moses Jeremiah

Preaching with a stutter: accept your limitations, resist performing, and trust God to use you or redirect you

Question from Hudson Hancock, who preaches with a stutter and finds it discouraging.

youth ministry evangelism apologetics

Advice for online youth pastor: engage real youth in person; use apologetics and comparative theology to reach skeptical students

Final question from Dragon Fist 900, a biblical studies major pursuing online youth ministry.

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike examines 2 John 1:11 in context, explaining it refers to hosting traveling teachers and not to general social contact with heretics, then defends William Lane Craig's nuanced view on Catholics — acknowledging a false Catholic gospel while allowing that some Catholics may be genuinely saved.

Response to viewer question about whether to separate from William Lane Craig over his statements about Catholics

2 John 1:11 salvation false gospel works-based salvation

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike advises a youth pastor that discipleship of willing students produces more fruit than constant outreach programming, drawing on his own early ministry failure when he focused on students who did not care.

Response to youth pastor viewer about ministry focus

Hebrews youth ministry evangelism spiritual maturity

Exodus 4:24 Moses Exodus 4:24 Circumcision

Exodus 4:24 interpreted: God's threat on Moses's life is a warning to leaders who are hypocrites — faithful in ministry but unfaithful in personal obedience.

Interpretation of why God sought to kill Moses before he led Israel out of Egypt.

Exodus 4:24 Exodus 4:24 Sanctification Leadership accountability

Application from Exodus 4:24: ministry success does not substitute for personal sanctification; leaders must take heed to themselves.

Personal application of the Exodus 4:24 passage for ministry leaders.

Acts 4 Acts 4 Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit filling

The "upon" experience continues in the New Testament alongside indwelling: Acts 4 prayer for boldness as a second coming of the Spirit upon believers already indwelt.

Reconciling Old Testament "upon" empowerment with New Testament reality.

Matthew 8:4 Matthew 9:30 Matthew 12:16 Bartimaeus Triumphal Entry Messianic Secret

The Messianic Secret in the Gospels: Jesus's commands to silence were temporary, strategic, and progressively lifted as the crucifixion approached.

Question from Justin Harcharik about why Jesus told people not to speak about him (Matthew 8:4; 9:30; 12:16).

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5 Lifestyle sin Church discipline

Church discipline for a professed believer in a gay marriage: the local body should practice separation/excommunication; individual relationship may continue with pastoral intent.

Question from JTro Man about what biblical separation looks like with a professed believer in a gay marriage.

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q7: Advice for a young adult starting a theology ministry platform without formal training

Viewer Nathan Johnson asks how to start a ministry platform similar to Mike's without seminary training.

intellectual humility ministry platform theological training

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q9: Why did Paul permit Timothy to drink wine (1 Tim 5:23) if Timothy was under a Nazirite vow? Mike doubts Timothy was under such a vow

Viewer 'Christian Metal Head' asks about the apparent tension between Paul's instruction to drink wine and the Nazirite vow restrictions.

1 Timothy 5:23 Numbers 6:1-4 Timothy Samson Christian liberty

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Is it wrong for a pastor to live in a huge home with a salary higher than 90% of his congregation?

Viewer JR asks whether high pastoral salaries and luxury homes are appropriate.

church leadership pastoral ethics pastoral compensation

Pastoral formation Seminary education Humility in ministry

Advice for a 20-year-old preparing for pastoral ministry: balance seminary education with active local church service, and remove ego.

Question from John Parizzo about preparing for pastoral ministry while in college and seminary.

Prayer life Christian service Spiritual disciplines

Organizing prayer life: mindset matters more than rigid structure; serving God during quarantine requires ambitious creativity.

Question from Ian Becker about organizing prayer life and serving God during COVID quarantine.

Women in ministry Women as elders Church leadership

Women serving as elders is not Winger's current biblical position, but he plans a thorough future research project before finalizing his view.

Question from Patience Kachidza about a mother-in-law ordained as an elder in a church.