Search — Theology Explorer

false prophecy David Mead Harold Camping

Why do predictors keep trying to predict despite the clear scriptural prohibition? Possible motives: excitement, arrogance, novelty-seeking in Bible study

Part of the same Q&A exchange; Mike speculates on motivations.

Matthew 18 Matthew 18 false prophecy church discipline

Q&A: How to deal with people in your church or fellowship making end-times predictions — Matthew 18 process

Question from Bethany Cole Baum on pastoral response.

eschatology tribulation pre-trib / mid-trib / post-trib

Q&A: How should Christians feel about the end times — fear, joy, concern?

Question from Joshua Rivera.

Revelation premillennialism Revelation Two Witnesses

Q&A: Is Revelation linear? Where do the Two Witnesses fit in the timeline?

Question from William Toy.

apologetics numerology pastoral advice

Q&A: How to minister to young adults involved in numerology and end-times speculation

Question from Evan Adamson, a young adults leader.

Revelation eschatology premillennialism Revelation

Q&A: Premillennial vs. postmillennial; why Mike identifies himself as premillennial in this context

Question from B.C.B. Lloyd about millennial views.

John the Baptist Matthew 11:14 Malachi 4:5 prophecy interpretation Elijah John the Baptist

Q&A: Partial and multiple fulfillment of prophecy — the Elijah/John the Baptist example

Question from William Toy about whether Mike sees prophecy as having partial and multiple fulfillment.

Genesis Genesis young earth creationism age of the earth

Q&A: Age of the earth — Mike's honest agnosticism between young-earth and old-earth positions

Question from 'GotaMeetsix' about young-earth vs. old-earth creationism.

Calvary Chapel eschatology rapture

Q&A: Pre-trib vs. post-trib rapture — Mike's personal uncertainty and call not to divide over it

Question from 'Detective in Christ' about the timing of the rapture.

church leadership false prophecy repentance

Q&A: Can someone who made false prophecies be restored to vocational ministry after genuine repentance?

Question from Ryan Tanner.

hermeneutics numerology biblical symbolism

Q&A: Is biblical numerology nonsense? Distinction between symbolic numbers and predictive numerological systems

Question from Jessie Swanger.

Revelation 13 mark of the beast numerology 666 mark of the beast Revelation 13

Q&A: 666 and the mark of the beast — why any name can be made to equal 666 using flexible math; and why barcodes and microchips are not the mark

Question from 'Bible History Science' about whether 666 is itself numerological.

Second Coming hermeneutics eschatology

Closing exhortation: test all end-times claims by whether they come from clear Scripture or from Bible-to-symbol-to-math-formula chains; be ready rather than predict

Mike closes the Q&A and the entire session with a pastoral summary.

New Year's resolutions spiritual disciplines annual review

Introduction: A Christian framework for New Year's reflection with seven practical tips

Opening of Mike's first-ever live stream. He introduces the topic as something he has done personally each December for a few years with significant life impact.

Matthew 7:14 spiritual disciplines self-examination perspective

Tip 1: Look back before you look forward — December as a 'hilltop' for perspective

First of seven tips. Mike uses a journey/landscape metaphor to describe the value of year-end reflection.

self-examination responsibility practical discipleship

Tip 2: Evaluate your responsibilities — write them down as a concrete exercise

Second of seven tips. Mike turns the video interactive by asking viewers to write down their main life responsibilities.

spiritual maturity responsibility vs. desire Jesus as example

Godly maturity is marked by prioritizing responsibilities over desires

Expanding on Tip 2. Mike makes a theological claim about spiritual maturity.

self-examination responsibility discouragement

A forgotten responsibility is likely the most important one to focus on in the coming year

Continuation of Tip 2 exercise. Mike asks whether viewers left anything off their list.

Revelation 2-3 calling self-examination Revelation 2-3

Tip 3: Take a good long look at yourself — evaluate what you have done, not what has been done to you

Third of seven tips. Mike distinguishes victim-oriented thinking from personal accountability.

Revelation 3:17 Laodicea self-deception spiritual blindness

The seven churches in Revelation were shocked by Jesus's assessment of their spiritual condition

Illustration within Tip 3 about distorted self-perception.

self-deception self-examination blind spots

Restaurant rescue shows as an illustration of blind spots to one's own problems

Illustrative analogy within Tip 3 about honest self-assessment.

Isaiah 1 Haggai 1:7 self-examination Isaiah 1 consider your ways

God repeatedly commands self-examination in Scripture; Isaiah as an example of God calling people to see themselves clearly

Biblical grounding for Tip 3's call to honest self-assessment.

Ephesians 5:15-17 wisdom Ephesians 5:15-17 circumspectly

Ephesians 5:15-17 — 'Walk circumspectly' as a call to wise, 360-degree self-awareness and time stewardship

Scriptural support for Tip 3. Mike quotes and exegetes Ephesians 5:15-17.

accountability self-examination practical discipleship

Thought experiment: imagine a Christlike observer watching your life for a week — what would they say?

Practical exercise for Tip 3 self-examination.

self-examination responsibility godliness

Tip 4: Three specific areas to evaluate — godliness, relationships, and responsibilities

Fourth of seven tips. Mike defines the domains of life to assess in annual review.

Matthew 6:33 godliness priorities Matthew 6:33

Matthew 6:33 — 'Seek first the kingdom of God' as the foundation for prioritizing godliness above all else

Biblical grounding for making godliness the top priority in annual evaluation.

calling personal responsibility accountability

Relationships area: evaluate whether you are fulfilling your calling — not whether others are fulfilling theirs

Elaboration on the 'relationships' area within Tip 4.

responsibility pursuing Christ spiritual growth

Responsibilities area: the question is whether you are 'just getting by' or actively pursuing Christ in each area

Elaboration on the 'responsibilities' area within Tip 4.

practical discipleship discouragement goals vs. resolutions

Tip 5: Make goals instead of resolutions — goals survive failure; resolutions don't

Fifth of seven tips. Mike argues against the traditional resolution framework.

Romans 12:1 Philippians 2:3 Romans 12:1 Philippians 2:3 living sacrifice

Tip 6: Go higher — set goals rooted in godly, selfless ambition rather than worldly self-interest

Sixth of seven tips. Mike calls believers to transcend secular motivations for self-improvement.

marriage self-control practical discipleship

Tip 7: Take practical steps — lofty goals require specific, actionable commitments

Seventh and final tip. Mike insists that all the prior steps require concrete behavioral change to produce results.

perseverance behavior change excuses

Be better at solutions than at excuses — the key to sustained behavior change

Practical advice within Tip 7.

Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:8 self-talk Philippians 4:7 Philippians 4:8

Stopping the inner monologue of complaint through prayer — personal testimony and Philippians 4:8

Mike shares a personal example of applying Tip 7, and ties it to Philippians 4:8.

evangelism apologetics stewardship

Mike's personal ministry goal: maximize online reach as a form of global gospel stewardship

Q&A/closing section. Mike shares his own goals for the new year as a personal application of the tips.

Luke 22:36-38 Luke 22:49-51 John 18:10-11 Luke 22:36-38 Luke 22:49-51 John 18:10-11

Q&A: Jesus's swords passage — 'have a sword but don't use it' and the principle of Christian self-defense

Live chat question from Ryan White about Luke 22:35-38 and Luke 22:49-51 / John 18:10-11.

comparative religion Scientology cult

Q&A: Scientology is not Christian — it is a dangerous, money-driven cult involving alien mythology

Live chat question from 'Pac-Man' about Scientology.

apologetics cult Mother God

Teaser: upcoming livestream critiquing the 'Mother God' cult active in Southern California and worldwide

Closing segment. Mike previews future content.

Calvary Chapel church selection statement of faith

Church selection advice: evaluate a church by both its statement of faith and whether it actually lives out those beliefs

Q&A response to a viewer in the Bay Area asking how to find a good church.

Mormonism Christian-Mormon dialogue vocabulary vs. meaning

Mormons and Christians share vocabulary but use a different dictionary, creating the illusion of agreement.

Opening thesis of the video — the core communication problem between Mormons and Christians.

Mormonism esoteric doctrine milk vs. meat teachings

The 'secret language' of Mormonism is partially hidden even from newer Mormons, who only learn the deeper doctrines as they advance in the faith.

Mike explains that this doctrinal vocabulary gap is not merely an outsider misunderstanding — it is also a mystery to many Mormons themselves until they progress further in the faith.

apologetics Mormonism vs. Christianity interfaith categories

Mormons cannot be called Christians and Christians cannot be called Mormons — this is a claim of integrity, not hate.

Mike frames his comparative analysis as motivated by honesty and genuine concern for truth, not anti-Mormon prejudice.

doctrine of God divine aseity omnipotence

Christian definition of God: eternal, unchanging spirit, omnipotent and omniscient from eternity — not a being who became God.

First vocabulary comparison: the word 'God.' Mike lays out the orthodox Christian view before contrasting it with the Mormon view.

Mormon theology Heavenly Father God was once a man

Mormon definition of God: 'Heavenly Father,' a being who was once a man, died, was resurrected, and progressively became God — and has a wife.

The Mormon conception of God is radically different from the Christian one, beginning with the claim that God was once a human being.

Mormonism prophetic authority Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith is the founder and first prophet of Mormonism, and his revelations form the doctrinal basis of the faith.

Background on Joseph Smith before quoting him directly from the King Follett sermon.

Joseph Smith King Follett Sermon prophetic inspiration

The King Follett Sermon: delivered April 7, 1844 at a funeral with ~20,000 present; Joseph Smith claimed to speak under inspiration to 'all ye ends of the earth.'

Mike introduces the King Follett Sermon as the primary documentary source for Mormon theology about the nature of God.

Joseph Smith God was once a man King Follett Sermon

King Follett Sermon quote: 'God himself was once as we are now and is an exalted man' — Joseph Smith teaches that God's pre-divine humanity is the 'great secret.'

Direct quotation from the King Follett Sermon establishing the Mormon doctrine that God was once a mortal man.

Joseph Smith God was once a man King Follett Sermon

Joseph Smith teaches that God lived on another earth, was born, lived, died, and was resurrected — just like Jesus — before becoming God.

Continuation of the King Follett Sermon quote, extending the doctrine that God was once a man by drawing an explicit parallel with the life of Jesus.

hermeneutics proof-texting Joseph Smith

Joseph Smith misuses a Jesus quote to argue that the Father 'laid down his body' just as Jesus did — Mike identifies this as 'bad Bible study.'

Mike critiques Smith's exegetical method in the King Follett Sermon, where Smith splices two separate Jesus quotes to derive the doctrine of the Father's mortality.

Mormonism vs. Christianity doctrine of God blasphemy

Christian and Mormon concepts of God are mutually exclusive — not just different perspectives but contradictory definitions of what God is.

Mike wraps up the 'God' vocabulary section by emphasizing the incompatibility is categorical, not merely a difference of emphasis.