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All (2187) Scripture Commentary (417) Theology (70) Mike Winger (1698) Pulpit (2)

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

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

Ephesians 5:25 hermeneutics headship servant leadership

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

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.

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

Ministry faithfulness in obscurity is intrinsically valuable regardless of audience size

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Genesis 1-2 and the age of the earth: Winger is no longer confident in young-earth creationism based on exegesis alone; plans a full research project.

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

Generational curses: pastoral concern and theological rejection

Ministry in strip clubs: evangelism principles and personal holiness

God's timelessness and sequential thought — divine omniscience outside time

Matthew 10:23 — 'before the Son of Man comes' refers to Christ's first-coming arrival, not the Second Coming

Approaching a teenage atheist: dig for motives (often sin-related) rather than just arguments, in an environment of love

Christians can and should serve in government; Romans 13 and Romans 12:17 are not contradictory — private morality and governmental justice operate on different principles.

Self-hatred often functions as a mismanagement of guilt — projecting sin onto an "other self" to adopt victim mentality instead of genuine repentance.

Hebrews 10:25 and the obligation to gather: absolute or contextual?

Biblical self-worth holds extreme value (image of God) and extreme humility (sinfulness) in tension; neither arrogance nor false modesty is biblical.

Spiritual doubt overcome through volitional trust: Mike's personal testimony of months of intellectual and emotional doubt resolved by choosing to trust God regardless of feelings.

Ephesians 4:7-16 overview: gifts given to the church equip saints toward unity.

Putting out a fleece (asking God for a sign) is not inherently wrong but carries dangers of presumption and heart projection.

The Holy Spirit speaks through fruit, track record, and confirmation from other believers; not every decision requires supernatural direction.

Q&A: Family members with distorted gospels — separate fellowship/church from family. 1 Peter teaches a wife should stay committed to an unbelieving husband. Family is not the same as church partnership; maintain relationship while not partnering in false ministry.

Q&A: Losing virginity doesn't eliminate the point of sexual purity going forward. The principle of "I already blew it so why bother" would justify stealing cars forever after the first theft. Sexual faithfulness continues to matter after sexual failure.

Mike announces BibleThinker is now its own incorporated ministry organization, separate from his local church (while still attending). Also previews follow-up to his marriage/divorce/remarriage study — longest teaching he's ever done (3 hours), nearly 1,000 comments in one week.

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