Search — Theology Explorer

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.

Trinity Shield of the Trinity three persons one being

Christian definition of the Trinity: three persons in one being — not three gods in one God. Mike introduces the Shield of the Trinity diagram.

Third vocabulary comparison: the word 'Trinity.' Mike introduces the classic visual diagram used to explain Trinitarian orthodoxy.

Christian-Mormon dialogue monotheism Mormon polytheism

Christian monotheism: 'there is only one God' — meant literally. Mormon missionaries and teachers claim to affirm this, but use a different definition.

Fourth vocabulary comparison: the phrase 'only one God.' Mike recounts personal conversations with Mormon missionaries and seminary teachers in Utah.

Mormon afterlife telestial kingdom LDS soteriology

Mormon telestial kingdom: lowest level, for the wicked who may burn off sin in hell before arriving; no access to God the Father or Jesus, only the Holy Spirit visits.

Details of the lowest tier of the Mormon afterlife.

Mormon afterlife terrestrial kingdom LDS soteriology

Mormon terrestrial kingdom: middle level for 'lukewarm Mormons'; Jesus and Holy Spirit present, but no access to God the Father.

Details of the middle tier of the Mormon afterlife.

apologetics Mormonism vs. Christianity interfaith categories

Conclusion: Mormonism and Christianity use the same vocabulary but are completely opposed in meaning — Mormonism is a false Christianity that fails historically, biblically, and rationally.

Mike summarizes the entire vocabulary comparison section and delivers his conclusion about the categorical incompatibility of the two faiths.

Mike Winger idea 2018-03-28

'Easy believism' — intellectual assent alone does not save; genuine faith produces transformation and works

Q&A — response to JD Wolfe's question about 'easy believism'

salvation Holy Spirit easy believism

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Psalm 22: David was not a prophet? Mike rebuts and notes Psalm 22 clearly speaks of future events

Ra argues Psalm 22 is not messianic because (1) David was not a prophet, (2) the Psalms are in the 'writings' section not the 'prophets,' and (3) David never experienced anything like what's described

Psalm 22 Messianic prophecy Psalm 22 David as prophet

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-29

Q&A: How do you persuade someone who refuses to engage with prophecy evidence?

Viewer asks how to get through to someone who won't listen to fulfilled prophecy arguments

Apologetics methodology Evangelism Holy Spirit's role in conversion

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-11

Q&A: Why study the Bible if God writes his word on our hearts?

Viewer question citing the New Covenant promise (Jeremiah 31 / Hebrews 8): if God writes his word on our hearts, why do we need the Bible?

Jeremiah 31 Hebrews 8 Hebrews 4:12 Holy Spirit Jeremiah 31 Hebrews 8

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Acts 1:6-8 — Jesus does not promise imminence at the ascension; redirects disciples to mission

Mike cites a post-resurrection passage that confirms the same pattern: unknown timing, mission focus.

Acts 1:6-8 ascension Acts 1:6-8 kingdom restoration timing

Mike Winger idea 2018-04-25

Q&A: Does the abomination of desolation require a rebuilt temple? Yes — based on Daniel 11-12

Viewer Martin Gradwell argues the temple is our bodies and thus no physical rebuild is required.

Daniel 11 Daniel 12 Daniel 11 Daniel 12 rebuilt temple

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-22

Ahn Sahng-hong: CoG teaches he was the Second Coming of Christ, the Holy Spirit, and the Father

The founder of CoG. Mike did a separate video showing Sahng-hong did not even claim to be Christ — he thought he was Elijah.

World Mission Society Church of God Ahn Sahng-hong false Christ

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

The unforgivable sin (blasphemy against the Holy Spirit) — Mike is not fully settled on the interpretation but identifies the key exegetical questions: is it calling the work of the Holy Spirit the work of Satan, a continuous act of resistance, or any negative speech about the Spirit?

Q&A section: a viewer asks about the unforgivable sin.

Matthew 12 hermeneutics Q&A unforgivable sin

Mike Winger idea 2018-11-14

Anger management is not about appearances — it is about internal transformation through Christ and the Holy Spirit.

Closing exhortation; addressing both Christians and non-Christians.

Holy Spirit gospel sanctification

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-12

Luke 16:16–17 and Matthew 5:17–18 show Jesus's own high view of Scripture — he came to fulfill, not edit, the law

Winger marshals Jesus's direct statements about the permanence and authority of Scripture to counter Zahnd's 'Jesus edits the Bible' method.

Matthew-5-17 Luke-16-17 Mark-12-36 law apologetics Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-19

John 3:6 — born of flesh vs. born of Spirit: the new birth is spiritual, not physical

Jesus explains what 'born again' means to Nicodemus

John 3:6 Holy Spirit born again John 3:6

Mike Winger idea 2018-12-19

Q&A: What does it mean to believe? — Faith is a choice to trust, not a blind leap

Answering viewer question about the nature of faith vs. fruit

Holy Spirit fruit of the Spirit faith

Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Hebrews 2:3-4 — signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit as confirmation of the gospel message

Mike's final direct positive scriptural argument that Christianity is evidence-based.

Hebrews 2:3-4 evidence-based faith Hebrews 2:3-4 eyewitness testimony

Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: How to explain to non-believers that the Holy Spirit's presence is a reason for faith

Viewer question from Cam 94.

Holy Spirit personal testimony apologetics methodology

Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

Paul's legitimacy as an apostle — Mike answers a claim that Paul was not a true Jew and therefore untrustworthy

Q&A: a viewer's sister and brother-in-law argue that Paul was not a true Jew and deceived his audience; they use this to reject his letters.

Acts 13 Paul Peter Paul rejection

Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit: not accidentally saying a wrong phrase

Q&A on the meaning of blaspheming the Holy Spirit.

Mark unforgivable sin rejection of Christ blasphemy of the Holy Spirit

eyewitness testimony Gospel historicity apologetics preparedness

Most Christians assume Gospel eyewitness origins without being able to defend it

Mike identifies a gap in typical Christian preparedness against scholarly skepticism.

Markan priority biblical inerrancy Markan priority Q source

Q&A: The Q document — does it matter if Gospel writers used written sources?

Q&A question about the hypothetical Q source document.

1 Corinthians 7:14 hermeneutics sanctification 1 Corinthians 7:14

Q&A: 1 Corinthians 7:14 — "sanctified" is a dictionary term, not a theological one; no automatic salvation for unbelieving spouse

Q&A on the meaning of sanctification language in Paul's marriage instruction.

Luke 22:41 Matthew 26:39 eyewitness testimony Holy Spirit inspiration private scenes in Gospels

Q&A: How did the disciples know what Jesus prayed in Gethsemane if he prayed alone?

Q&A on the epistemological basis for the Gethsemane prayer account.

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

Baptism of the Holy Spirit: Mike believes it can happen both at salvation and after; distinct from the indwelling.

Zach Bradley asks whether the baptism of the Holy Spirit happens at salvation or after.

Baptism of the Holy Spirit Indwelling of the Holy Spirit Pneumatology

discipleship evangelism church mission

The church must maintain evangelism as its primary posture toward unbelievers; community service without gospel proclamation is insufficient

Response to question about churches focusing solely on community service vs. discipleship and evangelism

Matthew 6:14-15 Philippians 2:13 assurance of salvation forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15

Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Response to question about applying Matthew 6:14-15 to life situations

1 Corinthians 10:13 temptation 1 Corinthians 10:13 suicide

1 Corinthians 10:13 refutes the idea that any temptation including suicidal impulse is unavoidably overpowering; God always provides a way of escape; the sense of enslavement is often a lie believed about oneself

Response to question about Christianity and suicide and whether God ever gives more than one can bear

Matthew 26:39 atonement Matthew 26:39 Gethsemane

The necessity of Christ's atonement is biblically defensible; Jesus's Gethsemane prayer implies there was no other way to redeem fallen humanity

Response to question about whether God needed Christ's sacrifice in order to cleanse us for indwelling by the Holy Spirit

John 16 Calvinism soteriology free will

Winger rejects irresistible grace: God's Spirit convicts all people universally but some freely reject him; Winger believes he personally would likely not believe without the Spirit's work

Response to question about whether Winger would believe in the Resurrection without God's testimony