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Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

God's choices of Jacob, Abraham, Moses, prophets — not favoritism but purposive grace for non-salvific roles

Question from Ryder Ness, a "struggling Calvinist," about divine favoritism in biblical election.

Isaiah 6 Romans 9 Genesis 25 election Moses Abraham

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Responding to an abusive parent who weaponizes 'honor your parents': adult children are not obligated to obey parents, and marriage triggers the leave-and-cleave authority shift.

Question from Enoch about an abusive father who uses 'honor your parents' to demand submission.

Genesis 2:24 Genesis 2:24 Honor your parents Leave and cleave

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if he foreknew the fall? Guessing divine motives is risky, but free will and genuine love require real choices.

Question from Reggie LQ about the tree of the knowledge of good and evil and divine foreknowledge.

Genesis 2-3 Genesis 2-3 Tree of knowledge of good and evil Divine foreknowledge

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: gave experiential knowledge of rebellion, not the initial ability to distinguish right from wrong

Responding to how Adam and Eve could be held responsible for disobeying before eating the fruit that gave knowledge of good and evil

Genesis 2-3 Genesis 2-3 sin nature Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-18

Survey of Mark showing Jesus consistently correcting false messianic expectations: (1) Mark 1:8 — baptize with Holy Spirit, not raise armies. (2) Mark 1:11 — beloved Son (sacrifice imagery from Genesis 22). (3) Mark 1:15 — repent and believe, not take up arms. (4) Jesus's ministry: exorcisms and healings, not political conquest — the enemy is Satan, not Rome; the problem is sin, not occupation. (5) Jesus sends crowds away instead of rallying them for war. The whole Gospel of Mark is about fixing these expectations.

Survey of Mark — correcting messianic expectations

Mark Series Genesis 22 (Isaac) Mark 1:8 Mark Series false messianic expectations Genesis 22 (Isaac)

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-24

About Jacob & Esau: Why didn't God punish Jacob and his mother for stealing Esau's birthright and blessing (Genesis 27)? In fact, why does He love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1)?

Q&A question: About Jacob & Esau

Genesis Malachi Jacob Genesis Malachi

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-15

Was Adam the First Man?: It seems in Genesis 1, that God creates humanity and blesses them, but then later in Genesis 2, God creates Adam as a representative in Eden. Doesn’t Scripture teach Adam was the first man?

Q&A question: Was Adam the First Man?

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 1 Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 1

Mike Winger idea 2022-07-01

Is Islam an “Abrahamic Faith” that Saves?: How do I defend the Christian faith with my family when they always bring up Genesis 22: 18, arguing that Islam can also lead to salvation because it's an Abrahamic faith?

Q&A question: Is Islam an “Abrahamic Faith” that Saves?

Genesis 22 Genesis Abraham salvation Genesis 22

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-05

Does Breath Determine Life?: I've heard people quote Genesis 2:7 (usually from the KJV) to show that a soul can't live or exist without both body and breath. Is this an accurate understanding, and if not, why?

Q&A question: Does Breath Determine Life?

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-13

How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?: In Genesis 20:4-6, Abimelech seems to think he didn’t touch Sarah out of his own will, but God says HE didn’t allow it. Any insight on the intersection between our will and God’s hand making stuff happen?

Q&A question: How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?

Genesis Sarah Genesis

Mike Winger idea 2023-12-16

Did God Command Sin?: In Genesis 22:2, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. How can God ask men to do something that is sinful, and how could Abraham obey God’s direction to sin?

Q&A question: Did God Command Sin?

Genesis 22 Genesis Abraham Isaac Genesis 22

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-20

Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?: How do you interpret Genesis 2: 24? How could Adam come with such a statement, since he had no earthly mother or father?

Q&A question: Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Mike Winger idea 2024-10-25

Confession Time: What did Mike get wrong about Genesis 2, relating to the topic of polygamy?

Q&A question: Confession Time

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis

Mike Winger idea 2025-02-07

Sinful Vows: Binding?: Are vows made in sin or amidst sinful circumstances still binding in eyes of God (Ecclesiastes 5:5, Joshua 9, Genesis 27, Judges 12)?

Q&A question: Sinful Vows: Binding?

Genesis Genesis

Mike Winger idea 2025-09-26

The Mortality of Adam & Eve: Is Adam and Eve's mortality a result of the poison in the forbidden fruit or the declaration of God in Genesis 2: 17?

Q&A question: The Mortality of Adam & Eve

Genesis 2 Genesis Genesis 2 Genesis Adam and Eve

Pulpit sermon 2026-03-22

"Does the Bible Permit A Woman to Preach?" - Jonny Ardavanis

A question that is both sensitive and significant within the life of the church — examining God's design, the effects of the fall, qualifications for church leadership, and relevant passages.

1 Timothy 2:12-14 Genesis 1 Genesis 1:26 Women in Ministry Complementarianism 1 Timothy 2:12

Pulpit sermon 2019-11-09

"Does the Bible Permit A Woman to Preach?" - John MacArthur

John MacArthur addresses whether the Bible permits women to preach, presenting a restrictive complementarian position. Sermon from Grace Community Church.

1 Timothy 2:11-15 1 Corinthians 14:34-35 Genesis 2:18-25 complementarian women in ministry church leadership

Pulpit sermon 2026-03-02

Wives Submit? | Ephesians 5:21-24 - Conrad Macintyre

Verse-by-verse teaching through Ephesians 5:21-24. Examines mutual submission and the meaning of "wives submit" in its literary and historical context.

Ephesians 5:21-24 Ephesians 5:18-20 Genesis 2:18-25 egalitarian mutual submission marriage

Pulpit sermon 2026-03-09

Is He Leading or Ruling? | Ephesians 5:25-33 - Conrad Macintyre

Verse-by-verse teaching through Ephesians 5:25-33. Examines what headship means — sacrificial love modeled on Christ, not authority or rule over.

Ephesians 5:25-33 Ephesians 5:21 Genesis 2:24 egalitarian marriage Ephesians

Pulpit research note

Commentary: Created Order Does Not Establish Hierarchy

Ardavanis says: > "First is not always best, or else beavers would be better than humans." Then immediately: "God had positioned Adam in the garden to be the priest and protector of Eden." He underc

Genesis 2:7

Pulpit research note

Commentary: Naming as Epistemology, Not Authority

Ardavanis says: > "Adam is given the responsibility of naming Eve, providing indication of God's design of the male operating in leadership with responsibility." The text gives its own stated purpos

Genesis 2:19-23

Pulpit research note

Commentary: Complementary Means Shared Roles, Not Divided Authority

Ardavanis says: > "God made man and women different and complimentary." Agreement: Yes — and this is precisely why God didn't make another man. He made a woman to rule WITH him. Their differences co

Genesis 2:18

Pulpit research note

Commentary: Adam's Failure Comes from Preparation, Not Rank

Ardavanis claims the Genesis narrative is "a warning for when God's design for leadership is distorted." But this presumes hierarchy onto the text. If God was preparing Adam through the naming/identi

Genesis 2:15-3:7

Pulpit research note

Commentary: "Priest and Protector" — What Was Adam Protecting the Garden From?

Ardavanis claims Adam was called to be the "priest and protector" of the garden. Grant that for the sake of argument. The question he never asks: protect it from WHAT? **Ge 2:15** says God placed Ada

Genesis 2:15

Pulpit research note

Commentary: Following a Woman Is Not the Problem — The Bible Commends It Repeatedly

Ardavanis says Adam "passively followed his wife's leadership," framing the act of following a woman as itself the failure. She did go first, and yes, he followed without objecting. But Ardavanis miss

Genesis 3:6; Genesis 21:12

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God's choices of Jacob, Abraham, Moses, prophets — not favoritism but purposive grace for non-salvific roles

Responding to an abusive parent who weaponizes 'honor your parents': adult children are not obligated to obey parents, and marriage triggers the leave-and-cleave authority shift.

Why did God create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if he foreknew the fall? Guessing divine motives is risky, but free will and genuine love require real choices.

Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil: gave experiential knowledge of rebellion, not the initial ability to distinguish right from wrong

About Jacob & Esau: Why didn't God punish Jacob and his mother for stealing Esau's birthright and blessing (Genesis 27)? In fact, why does He love Jacob and hate Esau (Malachi 1)?

Was Adam the First Man?: It seems in Genesis 1, that God creates humanity and blesses them, but then later in Genesis 2, God creates Adam as a representative in Eden. Doesn’t Scripture teach Adam was the first man?

Is Islam an “Abrahamic Faith” that Saves?: How do I defend the Christian faith with my family when they always bring up Genesis 22: 18, arguing that Islam can also lead to salvation because it's an Abrahamic faith?

Does Breath Determine Life?: I've heard people quote Genesis 2:7 (usually from the KJV) to show that a soul can't live or exist without both body and breath. Is this an accurate understanding, and if not, why?

How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?: In Genesis 20:4-6, Abimelech seems to think he didn’t touch Sarah out of his own will, but God says HE didn’t allow it. Any insight on the intersection between our will and God’s hand making stuff happen?

Did God Command Sin?: In Genesis 22:2, God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac as a burnt offering. How can God ask men to do something that is sinful, and how could Abraham obey God’s direction to sin?

Adam – “Leave & Cleave”?: How do you interpret Genesis 2: 24? How could Adam come with such a statement, since he had no earthly mother or father?

Confession Time: What did Mike get wrong about Genesis 2, relating to the topic of polygamy?

Sinful Vows: Binding?: Are vows made in sin or amidst sinful circumstances still binding in eyes of God (Ecclesiastes 5:5, Joshua 9, Genesis 27, Judges 12)?

The Mortality of Adam & Eve: Is Adam and Eve's mortality a result of the poison in the forbidden fruit or the declaration of God in Genesis 2: 17?

"Does the Bible Permit A Woman to Preach?" - Jonny Ardavanis

"Does the Bible Permit A Woman to Preach?" - John MacArthur

Wives Submit? | Ephesians 5:21-24 - Conrad Macintyre

Is He Leading or Ruling? | Ephesians 5:25-33 - Conrad Macintyre

Commentary: Created Order Does Not Establish Hierarchy

Commentary: Naming as Epistemology, Not Authority

Commentary: Complementary Means Shared Roles, Not Divided Authority

Commentary: Adam's Failure Comes from Preparation, Not Rank

Commentary: "Priest and Protector" — What Was Adam Protecting the Garden From?

Commentary: Following a Woman Is Not the Problem — The Bible Commends It Repeatedly

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