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All (327) Scripture Commentary (94) Theology (22) Mike Winger (207) Pulpit (4)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Acts 18:13 -- Paul accused of persuading men to worship God contrary to the law. Again just an accusation, paralleling the pattern with Jesus: fulfillment misread as abolishment.

Survey of Acts 18:13

Acts 18:13 Paul the Apostle Law of Moses fulfillment theology
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Q&A: Gentiles and Sabbath/Sunday worship -- Winger says the day of worship does not matter; the Sabbath has not shifted from Saturday to Sunday

Q&A on Sabbath observance for Gentiles

Sabbath observance Gentile believers Lord's Day (Sunday worship)
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-30

Q&A: God does not share his glory with anyone — how does receiving a glorified body fit? — Different senses of glory

Viewer asks how receiving a glorified resurrection body is consistent with God not sharing his glory.

resurrection God's glory glorified body
Mike Winger idea 2019-08-07

Revelation 19 — the saints praise God for His judgment; wrath is recognized as good

Mike uses the eschatological vision of Revelation 19 as the ultimate vindication of God's wrath.

Revelation 19 repentance eschatology divine judgment
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Alexamenos Graffito: earliest known artwork depicting Christ on a cross shows a T-shaped cross

The Alexamenos Graffito is a piece of graffiti mocking a Christian named Alexamenos, dated between the 1st and 3rd centuries AD (possibly as early as 80 AD). It shows a person with a donkey's head on a T-shaped cross, and a man worshiping below.

crucifixion cross early church history
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Christians worship God, not the cross symbol; cross use is a reminder, not icon worship

Winger clarifies that Christians do not worship the cross as an object. It serves as a reminder of what Christ accomplished. The pagan origin argument for the cross is irrelevant — pagans used Greek before the NT was written in Greek; usage context determines meaning.

atonement idolatry worship
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Q&A: Is it wrong to wear a cross necklace? No, unless it becomes an idol or icon for protection

A viewer asks whether wearing a cross necklace is sinful. Winger says no in principle, but warns against specific misuses.

atonement Islam idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Slogan 3: "All religions teach basically the same thing" — superficial similarities mask fundamental contradictions

Second major pluralist slogan addressed

apologetics comparative religion Buddhism
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Assurance of salvation can fluctuate but does not determine a Christian's actual standing before God

Q&A: personal and pastoral reflections on assurance of salvation

1 John 3 1 John 4 assurance of salvation soteriology 1 John 3
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Repentance from lust should be immediate; do not delay until emotional relief arrives

Q&A: pastoral guidance to a viewer who struggled with lust

repentance sanctification lust
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Counsel for Christians experiencing unexplained spiritual doubt and attack

Response to a viewer (Christian Regal) who is experiencing doubt that does not seem to stem from any intellectual problem — it feels like an attack.

2 Corinthians 12:10 spiritual disciplines spiritual warfare doubt
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Liturgy is not inherently a hindrance; the theology beneath it is the critical question

Conclusion on the liturgy question

theology church tradition liturgy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Exodus 7: Pharaoh's magicians reproduced some of Moses's signs — two possible explanations: sleight of hand or demonic power

Q&A from Garrett De Jong about how the magicians duplicated the signs

Exodus 7 Satan Exodus 7 Pharaoh's magicians
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Deuteronomy prohibits worshiping God the way pagan nations worship their gods

Old Testament argument against adopting pagan spiritual practices

Deuteronomy Deuteronomy New Age syncretism
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Easter/Ishtar connection is largely false — inflammatory but inaccurate

Continuing the holidays discussion — addressing Easter's alleged pagan origin

Christian liberty Easter Ishtar
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Demon possession: less visible in Western cultures due to secular/medical framing

Q&A question from "Only in Antarctica" about why demon possession seems less prevalent today given population growth.

Satan Paganism Demon Possession
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-23

1 Corinthians 10 — food offered to idols has different rules depending on marketplace vs. temple context and whether a pagan makes it explicit

Mike addresses the idol food question in 1 Corinthians 10 as related to the Christian liberty discussion.

1 Corinthians 10 1 Corinthians 10:22 1 Corinthians 8 Christian liberty 1 Corinthians 10 idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Reading Hebrews 7:1-3 and analyzing Melchizedek's royal/priestly identity

Mike reads the passage aloud and comments on key descriptors.

Hebrews 7:1-3 Melchizedek Hebrews 7:1-3 melek
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Marian apparitions — unreliable; evaluated by bad fruit of Mary-worship

A viewer asks whether visions of the Virgin Mary are reliable.

Matthew 7:16 Mary Catholicism Marian apparitions
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Worship music evaluation — two questions: is the song sound? Do I want to partner with the movement?

A viewer asks whether worship music should contain Scripture and doctrine, and whether Chris Tomlin and Jesus Culture are fine.

discernment worship music Bethel
Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

Gaps in vocational ministry — expository preaching, apologetics, archaeology, worship leading

A viewer asks what the church is most lacking in vocational ministry.

calling worship leading apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-20

Christian liberty includes disobeying government when God's commands conflict with the state

Continued discussion of biblical liberty.

Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29 conscience civil disobedience
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Refusing to sing Bethel/Hillsong/Elevation music is not legalism, but binding that refusal on others crosses into judgmentalism — this is a conscience matter analogous to Paul's 'meat sold in the marketplace' principle.

Q: Is it too legalistic to refuse to sing Bethel/Hillsong/Elevation music due to the doctrines of those churches?

1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols Bethel Music Hillsong Elevation Worship
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Bethel's primary export is false revival — fake gifts, prophecy, healings — mixed with genuine-sounding worship music that ranges from theologically neutral to theologically dangerous.

Mike's own view on Bethel, offered after establishing the meat-in-marketplace frame.

Bill Johnson Discernment / Heresy Worship Music and Discernment
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Worship leaders bear collective responsibility to their congregations: presenting music in corporate worship is like preparing a meal for everyone — songs known to cause stumbling should be avoided.

Application of the meat-in-marketplace analogy to congregational worship leading.

1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols 1 Corinthians 8-10 — Meat Offered to Idols Christian Liberty / Conscience Worship Music and Discernment
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

In times of psychological doubt, stop requiring emotional confirmation from Bible reading, worship, and prayer — treat spiritual disciplines as objectively worth doing regardless of how they feel.

Practical strategies for overcoming psychological/emotional doubt.

Prayer Doubt and Faith Trust in God vs. Feelings
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Mike's own primary gift is teaching, not worship leading — he did worship leading for years out of necessity but recognized it was not his strongest gift; leaning into actual gifts maximizes ministry impact.

Personal illustration of the spiritual-gifts-discernment principle.

Spiritual Gifts Calling and Gifting Teaching Gift
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Hebrews 11:4: Abel's sacrifice was better because it was offered by faith

Resolving the Cain/Abel question using Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11:4 faith worship sacrifice
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

A prayer opening Congress in the name of the Hindu god Brahma is blasphemy — but the appropriate Christian response is not rebellion

Question from Gorilla Christianity about a US Congress session opened in the name of Brahma

idolatry government early church
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Government paganism does not nullify Christian obligation to submit to civil authority

Continuing response to the Congress prayer question

John 18:36 Christian political engagement John 18:36 civil government
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

The Lord's Prayer is an excellent structured guide for prayer when used as a launch pad, not as a rote formula to repeat

Positive application of the Lord's Prayer and recommendation for daily devotional practice

prayer Bible study methods Lord's Prayer
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Images are not inherently wrong — the biblical prohibition is against images used for worship, not images per se

Question from Jesper about whether Christians can have icons in the home.

Romans 1 Exodus 20:4-5 Romans 1 Idolatry Graven images
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The temple's empty space at the center of worship is the model for where all prayer and worship must be directed — God alone, with no mediating object

Continued answer on icons/images, drawing on the temple design.

1 Timothy 2:5 1 Timothy 2:5 Temple theology Ark of the Covenant
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Catholic saint icons carry a superstitious protection function incompatible with biblical worship

Practical application of the icons question to Catholic devotional objects.

Prayer Idolatry Catholic devotional practices
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

"Drunk in the Spirit" is not supported by Acts 2 — the mockers said they were drunk because they couldn't understand the foreign languages

Bonus note during Acts 2 discussion on the misuse of Acts 2:13 to justify charismatic "drunk in the Spirit" practices.

Acts 2:13 Tongues / glossolalia Acts 2:13 Drunk in the Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Jesus currently has a glorified human body in heaven — the localized presence of God is where Christ is embodied, worshipped by angels

Question from Agnes Magnusson about what form Jesus has in heaven.

Acts 1:9-11 Philippians 3:21 Glorified body of Christ Ascension of Christ Right hand of God
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 2021-01-29

Was Solomon saved? Ecclesiastes may imply a late-life repentance and return to God despite idolatrous period

Question from Darcy 777 about whether Solomon died worshiping false gods and whether he was saved.

Ecclesiastes 1 Kings 11 repentance salvation apostasy
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike briefly comments on the Abomination of Desolation, describing it as a future event in a literal rebuilt Jerusalem temple involving an Antichrist figure setting up an image and declaring himself God, occurring in the middle of the Tribulation.

Response to viewer question about the Abomination of Desolation

Daniel 9 Daniel 9 eschatology Antichrist
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Satan's rebellion and God's will: God wills that creatures have genuine free will, which entails the possibility of rebellion.

Question from Casey Mills about whether Satan's rebellion was God's will if God's will is always done in heaven.

Isaiah 14 Free will Isaiah 14 Satan's rebellion
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

The gods of Egypt in Exodus 12:12: the plagues systematically judge the deified forces Egypt worshipped, demonstrating Israel's God controls all creation.

Question from Essoptron about the identity of the "gods of Egypt" in Exodus 12:12.

Exodus 12:12 Exodus 12:12 Ten Plagues of Egypt Egyptian gods
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

1 Corinthians 10:20 — behind idols are demons: demons impersonate gods but do not possess the actual powers attributed to those gods.

Follow-up on the Exodus 12:12 question — are there actual spiritual entities behind the Egyptian gods?

1 Corinthians 10:20 Idolatry Ra 1 Corinthians 10:20
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

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

Question from JTro Man about what biblical separation looks like with a professed believer in a gay marriage.

1 Corinthians 5 1 Corinthians 5 Lifestyle sin Church discipline
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q18: Can Christians feel God's presence, or is it just emotion responding to truth? Both are possible — Spirit-generated emotion and ordinary human emotion are both real

Viewer Amelia asks whether feeling God's presence is genuine or just the mind responding emotionally to biblical truth.

Romans 8 Exodus 34 Moses Romans 8 Holy Spirit
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Galatians 5 fruit of the Spirit — desires to love, worship, and serve are Spirit-generated; Christians are slow to credit the Spirit working in them for good

Mike appends an observation about the Spirit while wrapping up the presence question.

Galatians 5 Holy Spirit sanctification fruit of the Spirit
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 2021-02-12

Q20: Do we need to feel bad for sin when we repent, or is knowing it is wrong enough? Feeling is healthy but not required — emotions are the caboose of the train

Viewer Joel Larson asks whether genuine repentance requires feeling bad about sin, noting his ex-girlfriend does not feel bad about their shared sexual sin.

2 Corinthians 4 repentance sanctification Paul the Apostle
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

David's music drives away Saul's harmful spirit — a type of exorcism

David is summoned to play the lyre and the harmful spirit departs from Saul, suggesting an early OT proto-exorcism.

Psalm 91 1 Samuel 16:23 David exorcism Psalm 91
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

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

Question from Ian Becker about organizing prayer life and serving God during COVID quarantine.

Prayer life Christian service Spiritual disciplines
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Tips for an atheist starting to believe: gather intellectual reasons for God, practice spiritual disciplines, and make choices that shape belief.

Question from Emil Codrin about how to start believing after a lifetime of atheism.

Evidence for God Christopher Hitchens Spiritual disciplines
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