What is a Heart of Flesh?: What does giving us a heart of flesh mean, when flesh is usually negative?

Q&A question: What is a Heart of Flesh?

Author Unknown = Still Inspired?: Can we be confident that a book of the Bible is truly inspired and belongs in the canon if the author is unknown (like Hebrews)? If we don’t know who wrote it, how can we trust what it contains? How can we know it wasn’t just the written version of a sermon? A pastor may be educated, but they aren’t inerrant.

Q&A question: Author Unknown = Still Inspired?

The Upside-Down Kingdom Bible: What are your thoughts on the newly released Zondervan NIV Upside-Down Kingdom Bible, edited by Dr. Preston Sprinkle?

Q&A question: The Upside-Down Kingdom Bible

Helping Children Grasp the Gospel: As a pastor to the youth for so long, what would you recommend parents do with their children to help them have a personal relationship with God?

Q&A question: Helping Children Grasp the Gospel

Moses/Genesis: When/How?: When/how did Moses acquire the contents and narrative of Genesis?

Q&A question: Moses/Genesis: When/How?

Is Marriage an Oath?: James 5: 12 says not to make oaths, but isn’t getting married making an oath?

Q&A question: Is Marriage an Oath?

Overcoming the Grip of Sin: What’s the balance between the Holy Spirit changing us, and us trying to do good works and love God? I just feel so stuck in my sin. I don’t know how to get out of this habit. I’m scared my repentance isn’t real.

Q&A question: Overcoming the Grip of Sin

Sin in the Millennium?: Will there be sin in the Millennium? Will that affect our glorified bodies and our lives in the Millennium?

Q&A question: Sin in the Millennium?

Corporal Punishment: More Harm than Good?: I’m a new parent doing research. I’ve heard that the Bible supports corporal punishment, but also that scientific studies say corporal punishment has negative outcomes. How do you reconcile these two things?

Q&A question: Corporal Punishment: More Harm than Good?

Disciples: Not Recognizing Jesus?: There are some Scriptures where the disciples don’t recognize the resurrected Jesus. Is this because they are prevented by Jesus, or did He actually look different?

Q&A question: Disciples: Not Recognizing Jesus?

Water & Blood: 1 John 4: What is the significance of the water and the blood in 1 John 4:6, 8?

Q&A question: Water & Blood: 1 John 4

Relationships with Family in Eternity: What do you think our relationship will be like with family members in Heaven? Will we know each other? Will we still sort of be related? I know there won't be marriage.

Q&A question: Relationships with Family in Eternity

(Bonus Q!).Who's your favorite LOTR character? I bet it's Treebeard.

Q&A question

Specific Moment of Salvation?: Do you have to have a specific date of salvation, or can salvation be a gradual thing/realization? This has been a debate within our current Bible study.

Q&A question: Specific Moment of Salvation?

Should I Be Rebaptized?: I fell out of the faith years ago and recently came back and feel like I should get baptized again. Is there anything for or against this in the Bible?

Q&A question: Should I Be Rebaptized?

Are Body Piercings Sinful?: What does the Bible say about piercings? If a woman who serves in the worship ministry gets a belly piercing, should she no longer be allowed to serve in that ministry?

Q&A question: Are Body Piercings Sinful?

Ways our Worship Could Improve: What do you think about what the Bible teaches about principles of worship? How can our worship improve in the American Protestant churches?

Q&A question: Ways our Worship Could Improve

Biblically Defining a “Church”: Biblically (not legally), what constitutes a church? If someone were to host a weekly Bible study and do some volunteer work with just a few people, would that be considered a small church service?

Q&A question: Biblically Defining a “Church”

Does God Speak to Unbelievers?: My Mormon friend said, “I felt like God was telling me…” while reading the Bible. Is that really God? Does He speak to unbelievers? How is it any different when Christians read the Word and pray?

Q&A question: Does God Speak to Unbelievers?

Growing in Self-Discipline: Do you have any advice on how to become disciplined in life, such as in the realm of Bible study, sleep schedule, and working efficiently? How do I learn to force myself to do things?

Q&A question: Growing in Self-Discipline

2 Thess. 2 = Sola Scriptura?: Does 2 Thessalonians 2 teach Sola Scriptura?

Q&A question: 2 Thess. 2 = Sola Scriptura?

Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?: In Titus 2: 13, Is Paul explicitly saying Jesus is God and Savior? Why do New Testament authors often not address Jesus as God and appear to place Jesus outside of the Godhead (e.g. 2 John 1:3)?

Q&A question: Jesus’ Deity: Why isn’t the NT Clearer?

Biblical Recipe for Anointing Oil?: The book of James tells us that if any are sick they should call for the elders and get anointed. Shouldn’t we be using the anointing oil recipe in Exodus 30: 23-25 instead of just olive oil like most people use?

Q&A question: Biblical Recipe for Anointing Oil?

Personalities in Heaven: I believe that we will still have our personality in Heaven, but what about unborn babies? Will they walk around in Heaven like non-player characters since they haven't formed their own personality yet?

Q&A question: Personalities in Heaven

“Buried with Him in Baptism”: Can you help me understand Colossians 2: 12? Is this water baptism? Which baptism is it?

Q&A question: “Buried with Him in Baptism”

Where Was God Before Genesis?: Where was God before Genesis 1? If space, matter, and time was created, what was before it? Heaven and the angels already existed, so where was the “nothing” where God created everything in Genesis 1?

Q&A question: Where Was God Before Genesis?

About Jesus’ Omnipresence: I have a question about God’s nature. Since the Godhead hold all of their being in one indivisible present, in theory, could Jesus have been on Earth and in Heaven concurrently?

Q&A question: About Jesus’ Omnipresence

The Atonement: The Importance of Jesus’ Deity: Why did Jesus have to be God to be the acceptable sacrifice? If it was Jesus’ humanity that died on the cross and not His divine nature, why did Jesus have to be fully God?

Q&A question: The Atonement: The Importance of Jesus’ Deity

Can Christians Benefit from Secular Therapy?: What are your thoughts on secular therapy for a Christian? Self-help and self-idealization seem antithetical to the Bible. Why isn't the counsel of Scripture and other believers enough?

Q&A question: Can Christians Benefit from Secular Therapy?

Must Jesus be Lord of Our Lives?: Does receiving Christ begin with you trusting in His death and resurrection, or is there more to do, such as submitting to His lordship and then we are saved?

Q&A question: Must Jesus be Lord of Our Lives?

Bonus Q! What are your 3 favorite books of the Bible, and why? No cop-outs! Thanks so much for your ministry, Mike, it's such a blessing.

Q&A question

Temptation Increasing vs. Satan Fleeing?: The Bible says when we resist the devil, he will flee (James 4:7). So why does it often feel like spiritual warfare INCREASES when we try to buckle down and resist sins of the flesh, addictions, etc.? When I resist, it doesn't feel like the devil flees - it feels like he tries even harder to get me to fall. Why is this?

Q&A question: Temptation Increasing vs. Satan Fleeing?

Would They Abort Jesus?: What are four Bible verses to learn, to support the pro-live position? Would they have aborted Jesus back in history, based on current cultural reasoning we hear?

Q&A question: Would They Abort Jesus?

Expository Teaching: Biblical?: I asked a pastor at my former church why they chose to teach in a topical style rather than expository. He said we do not see examples of expository teaching in the Bible. Is this true, and a good reason?

Q&A question: Expository Teaching: Biblical?

The Bible: Chronological Order?: Is it helpful to read the Bible in chronological order?

Q&A question: The Bible: Chronological Order?

Responding to Zachary Levi: A respectful analysis of Zachary Levi’s beliefs on the Bible.

Q&A question: Responding to Zachary Levi

Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?: Can you have blind faith and not believe certain parts of the Bible?

Q&A question: Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?

When Christians Devalue Scripture: I’ve heard believers say things like, “The Bible isn’t the fourth member of the Trinity.” Phrases like this can feel dismissive of the Bible. How should we take this from well-meaning Christians?

Q&A question: When Christians Devalue Scripture

Witnessing to Muslims: My Muslim friend is willing to go through the Bible with me. Which books should I start with?

Q&A question: Witnessing to Muslims

One of Mike’s Favorite Verses: What is your favorite Bible verse and why? P.s., I liked your cat video.

Q&A question: One of Mike’s Favorite Verses

Biblical Justification: Works Based?: I’m struggling DEEPLY with James 2: 24 vs. Romans 3: 28. Your best argument in the video you did on this 7 years ago was the definition of "justified." But my NIV Bible says "considered righteous."

Q&A question: Biblical Justification: Works Based?

The New Bible Thinker Website

I Would Say They'Re Playing with Fire because It's if Someone Makes that Claim that the Bible Puts God in a Box and Limits What He Can Do Part of Me Would Say Okay It Does but It's the Box God Put Them In and You Caught What You Call God Being Putting Out in a Box I Call Believing that God Tells the Truth Right So if God Says I Do this I Don't Do that I Will Do this I Won't Do that You Can Call that Me Putting Him in a Box but I'M Just Believing Him that He Will and Won't Do the Things He Says He Will and Won't Do this Phrase of Don't Put God in a Box Is a Modern Phrase That Um Sometimes

Then You Should Be Unclear about It That's the Safest Thing To Do if You Feel like the Scripture Doesn't Speak Clearly on an Issue Then You Can Just Be Unclear about It or You Can Be Willing To Entertain Various Views As Long as those Views Don't Violate Scripture in some Other Way but What You Don't Want To Say Is the Bible Doesn't Say Anything about this So I'M Just GonNa You Know Believe What I Like I Still Won't Have Reasons for My Beliefs Deven Nicely Says What Are the Essential Elements of the Gospel One Must Believe for Salvation as Opposed to Secondary I Hear Different Things and It Makes Me Wonder if I'M Saved Sometimes and Kind Of Scares Me Let

37..Why I still want the longer ending in my Bible

Antiochus Epiphanes in 167 BC is the only historical event outside the Bible that uses the exact phrase "abomination of desolation" (1 Maccabees 1:54). He banned Jewish worship, erected an altar to Zeus in the temple, and sacrificed a pig on it — giving Jesus's audience a concrete reference point while Jesus still pointed to a future fulfillment.

Historical background: Antiochus Epiphanes and the Maccabean revolt

The real authority in JW life is not the Bible but the governing body — eight men in New York City who "formulate doctrine" and whose instructions, according to Watchtower, determine your "spiritual health and relationship with God." The NWT Bible is a doctrinally distorted translation that changes key texts about Christ's deity, and members are discouraged from researching outside Watchtower sources.

JW authority structure: governing body over Scripture; the NWT as a distorted translation

Michael W. Smith removed his endorsement of the Passion Translation after Winger and others highlighted scholarly consensus that it is an unreliable translation. Bible Gateway also removed the TPT from their platform. Winger sees this as a positive cultural shift: mainstream evangelicalism is becoming aware that the Passion Translation is a sectarian, doctrinally distorted product rather than a legitimate Bible translation.

The Passion Translation: Michael W. Smith removes endorsement; Bible Gateway drops TPT

DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) as typically practiced promotes equal outcomes rather than equal treatment — a distinction Winger argues is biblically significant. The Bible opposes oppression and affirms equal human dignity, but not coerced equal outcomes. Equal outcomes ideology ends up producing new forms of oppression and racism by design.

Biblical critique of DEI: equal treatment vs. equal outcomes; oppression theme in Scripture

"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.