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Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Romans 13:1 requires submission to governing authorities, but the command to gather (Hebrews 10:25) creates a potential tension during COVID restrictions

Question from Felicia Claan about Hosea 8:4 vs. Romans 13:1 in the context of COVID restrictions on household gatherings.

Romans 13:1 Romans 14 Hebrews 10:25 Romans 13:1 Romans 14 Hebrews 10:25
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike wrestles with whether the American Revolution violated Romans 13 (submission to government), concluding he cannot make a confident judgment but personally sympathizes with the revolutionaries and affirms his current submission to the established American government.

Response to viewer question about the American Revolution and Romans 13

1 Peter Romans 13 1 Peter just war Romans 13
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

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 Moses Exodus 4:24 Circumcision
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q19: Advice for spiritual apathy — do not be apathetic about your apathy; obey whether or not you feel it

Viewer Hugh Seeger asks for advice on struggling with spiritual apathy.

obedience sanctification spiritual apathy
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Romans 11:25-32 — partial hardening of Israel, fullness of the Gentiles, and end-times caution

Trevor T asks about Romans 11:25-32 and whether the rising number of Messianic Jews in Israel signals prophetic fulfillment.

Romans 11:25-32 eschatology Messianic Jews prophetic fulfillment
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

A new believer should lovingly but firmly set sexual boundaries with a girlfriend, even at the risk of losing the relationship

Responding to a 3-month-old believer whose girlfriend is hesitant to abstain from sex

obedience sexual purity Christian relationships
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Spiritual dryness and keeping God at arm's length: the will precedes the heart; make obedient decisions and let the heart follow over time.

Q9 from Arrivederci: struggling with trusting and wanting Christ — how to stop keeping the Holy Spirit at arm's length?

spiritual disciplines spiritual dryness faith and the will
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Levitical purity laws: ritual uncleanness restricted temple access and contact — many laws have pragmatic sanitary value

Q20 from Bluegreen: What happens to people who become ritually unclean in Leviticus — is the whole day negative or just can't enter the temple?

Leviticus Leviticus Levitical purity laws ritual uncleanness
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: How do you love God more? (1) Obey his commands — Jesus said "if you love me, obey my commands"; (2) prioritize him above everything; (3) delight in his Word. Obedience IS love. Priority means choosing Christ in any conflict of allegiance. "Hate father and mother" is a selection term, not literal hatred.

Q&A — loving God more

John 14:15 loving God John 14:15
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Baptism in Acts 2:38 — is it required for salvation? No. Acts 10 (Cornelius) shows people receiving the Holy Spirit BEFORE baptism. The gift of the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38 comes after repentance; baptism is commanded but not essential to receiving salvation. Cornelius was saved, Spirit-filled, and speaking in tongues before water baptism.

Q&A — baptism and salvation (Acts 2:38 vs Acts 10)

Acts 2:38 Acts 10 Cornelius Acts 2:38 baptism and salvation Acts 10 Cornelius
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Romans 13: Christians should generally obey government unless commanded to sin. Closing churches during a global health crisis isn't persecution — it's a quarantine affecting everyone. Government conspiracy theories about using COVID to target churches are unfounded (China was already persecuting churches without needing excuses). The line: obey until they demand disobedience to God.

Government authority and Romans 13

Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 church closures
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Q: Is this a case of obeying authorities when it doesn't conflict with God's law? Yes. If not going to church were sinful, defy the order. But missing a season of gathering isn't forsaking fellowship — people hospitalized for a month aren't forsaking fellowship either. The principle is proportionate and temporary.

Q&A — obeying authority and church attendance

Hebrews 10:25 Hebrews 10:25 government obedience forsaking assembly
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

Final applications: (1) Humility — see yourself with the same clarity you see others; (2) Obedience — receive God's messengers, don't reject them; (3) Leaders can be replaced; (4) The cornerstone wins — no matter what opposition arises, Jesus's lordship is the end of the story.

Closing summary and applications from Mark 12:1-12

humility humility leadership accountability
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-19

Christians should pay taxes even to corrupt governments that use money for immoral purposes — Jesus said to pay taxes to Rome, which would use that money to crucify him. Romans 13:1-7 teaches we OWE government obedience, taxes, fear, and honor.

Biblical teaching on taxes, submission to government, and Romans 13

Romans 13:1-7 Matthew 5:41 submission to government Romans 13:1-7 Matthew 5:41
Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

Discerning false prophets by their "fruit" (Matthew 7:15-20) — fruit is defined IN the passage as whether their teaching leads people to do God's will vs. lawlessness. It's not about charismatic experiences or emotional reactions.

Q4: How to practically use Matthew 7:15-20 to discern people?

Acts 2 Matthew Matthew 7 Acts 2 Jesus prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2021-07-23

Can Disobedience Thwart God’s Promises?: If God gives us a promise, could His promise be dependent on our obedience, and could we veto a promise either by our actions or by our unwillingness to receive? Please elaborate on Romans 4:13-15.

Q&A question: Can Disobedience Thwart God’s Promises?

Romans 4 Romans 4
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-08

Is John 15 Works-Based?: Is John 15 works-based? v.10 says, “IF you keep my commandments, THEN you will abide in my love.” That sounds like obedience earns God's love, contrary to the Gospel. What does a life of "abiding" look like daily?

Q&A question: Is John 15 Works-Based?

John 15 John 15
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-17

How to “Take Every Thought Captive”: What does it mean to "take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ" in 2 Corinthians 10:5? What are some examples of how we can live this out?

Q&A question: How to “Take Every Thought Captive”
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-05

Distinguishing Obedience from Legalism: How can we walk in obedience to Christ without falling into a “works-based salvation” frame of mind?

Q&A question: Distinguishing Obedience from Legalism

salvation
Mike Winger idea 2022-09-02

Why did God Send Jacob to Egypt?: In Genesis 12: 10, Abraham goes to Egypt. That decision is considered by many as disobedience to God. If going to Egypt is related to a bad decision, why is it that later, God sent Jacob to Egypt?

Q&A question: Why did God Send Jacob to Egypt?

Genesis Genesis 12 Abraham Jacob Genesis
Mike Winger idea 2022-12-02

How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?: If Adam and Eve didn’t have knowledge of good and evil, how would they know it is wrong to disobey God and eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil?

Q&A question: How Would Adam & Eve Know Disobedience was Wrong?

Adam and Eve
Mike Winger idea 2023-04-21

Did Adam Know Right from Wrong?: I was talking to an atheist and they asked, “If Adam had not yet eaten of the tree of knowledge, therefore not knowing disobedience, how can God hold him accountable and judge him for it?”

Q&A question: Did Adam Know Right from Wrong?

atheism
Mike Winger idea 2025-01-10

How to “Obey the Gospel”: How do we answer those who think “obeying the Gospel” means physical obedience (works)? They cite verses like 1 Peter 1: 22, 2 Thessalonians 1:7-9, Romans 10: 16, and Matthew 7: 21.

Q&A question: How to “Obey the Gospel”

1 Peter 1 Romans 10 Matthew Peter 1 Peter 1 Romans 10
Mike Winger idea 2025-09-19

Obedience Leading to Hardship?: My walk with Christ feels harder the more I obey. I lost family, friends, and even my girlfriend. Sometimes I wonder if this is even worth it, yet I still long to stay faithful. Any advice?

Q&A question: Obedience Leading to Hardship?
Pulpit research note

Commentary: One Flesh Cannot Be Hierarchy

Ardavanis says: > "This beautiful picture of men and women, a groom and a bride... this is the central metaphor in all of the Bible... complementary yet different sexes that come together in union pa

Ephesians 5:21-33
Pulpit research note

Commentary: Adam's Responsibility — Knowledge and Omission, Not Leadership Rank

Ardavanis says: > "God holds Adam responsible... this is Adam's failure to lead. His sin was that he passively followed his wife's leadership." He also says: "We read in **Ro 5:12** that sin entered

1 Timothy 2:13-14
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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