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All (312) Mike Winger (312)
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 2021-01-01

Q8: Pastoral advice for engaging a friend who has pursued a gay lifestyle — understanding before fixing

Response to viewer whose Christian friend came out as gay

evangelism love and truth homosexuality
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Prayer to Mary and the glorification of Mary in the rosary are the primary theological problems for an ex-Catholic

Question from Calm 23 — an ex-Catholic still doing the daily rosary, seeking a replacement devotional

Mary prayer Catholicism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

John 16:13 has primary application to the apostles; broadly applying it to all Christians sets the bar for Spirit-guidance too low

Question from Rocketman Sean about the extent to which John 16:13 applies to Christians today

John 16:13 apostles Holy Spirit prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

The Bible's trajectory on slavery moves from regulating and humanizing it in the OT to full abolition ideology in the NT (Philemon)

Closing summary of the slavery question.

Philemon Paul Philemon Slavery in the New Testament
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Bible translation taxonomy: word-for-word and thought-for-thought are both valuable; paraphrases (Amplified, The Message) are tools, not translations, and are misused when read as straight Bible

Bonus question from Constant (Australia) about the New Century Version, Amplified Bible, and Contemporary English Version.

ESV NASB NIV
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike shares a trivia fact about Reformation Day (October 31), explaining that Martin Luther nailed his 95 Theses to a church door as a culturally normal form of public announcement, not as an act of defacement.

Unprompted trivia shared by Mike about the Reformation anniversary

Martin Luther Catholic Church Reformation
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

First century as the ultimate spiritual battleground for all creation

Summary conclusion on demonic activity question: the first century was uniquely intense because it was the decisive battleground of salvation history.

Gerasene demoniac spiritual warfare salvation history
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Is there anything Christians should fear apart from God?

Viewer Omar Barr asks whether there are legitimate objects of fear for Christians beyond fearing God.

Proverbs Christian ethics fear of God Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Is it okay to sit quietly and write down what you hear from God (journaling/listening prayer)?

Viewer Mackenzie McEwan asks about the practice of trying to hear God and writing down what comes.

spiritual disciplines confirmation bias listening prayer
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

The Message Bible is a very loose paraphrase — idiomatic, interpretive, and potentially misleading, but not heretical; inadvisable as a primary study Bible.

Question from Jeanette Perry about the Message Bible and Nicky Gumbel/Alpha.

Psalm 1 The Message Bible Eugene Peterson Paraphrase vs. translation
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

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

Question from Patience Kachidza about a mother-in-law ordained as an elder in a church.

Women in ministry Women as elders Church leadership
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

How to find God: Christianity's goal is not emotional comfort but truth and relationship; reading and praying without trusting Christ is insufficient.

Question from an anonymous person (username 'it's me') who found comfort in the New Age but confusion in Christianity after 5 months of reading and prayer.

Assurance of salvation New Age spirituality Conversion and faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Non-negotiable Christian doctrines — essentials vs. secondary issues

DJ Diner asks what doctrines Christians should plant their flag on and never back down from.

Mormonism biblical inerrancy Trinity
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 2021-03-05

Hebrews 12:1 — the cloud of witnesses is the inspiring example of their lives, not people watching from heaven; secular inspiring figures are fine but cannot be primary mentors

Responding to whether it is sinful to be inspired by historical people outside the Bible

Hebrews 11 Hebrews 12:1 Hebrews 11 inspiration Hebrews 12:1
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

The empty tomb was verifiable: women as witnesses (embarrassing to early church = authentic), the women are named (eyewitness identification per Bauckham), Roman guards monitored it

Responding to how anyone could be sure the right tomb was checked if Jesus was beaten unrecognizably

Mark's Gospel Matthew 27:62-66 Richard Bauckham resurrection apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Satan in the Garden: God did not place Satan there; Satan's presence does not negate human free will responsibility for the Fall.

Brian Harper asks why a God who hates evil would place evil incarnate (Satan) in the Garden knowing it would lead to human corruption.

Genesis 3 Genesis 3 Satan free will
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Why was Zechariah punished for his question about John's birth, but Mary was not punished for asking the same type of question?

Question from Terry Defilo about Luke 1:18 (Zechariah) vs. Luke 1:34 (Mary) and the apparent inconsistency.

John the Baptist Luke 1:18 Luke 1:34 Mary John the Baptist Luke 1:18
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

The cross provides salvation benefits that are already secured but not yet fully experienced; eternal life is a present possession with a future fullness.

Q2 from Felicia: a previous video said some things are "provided on the cross but not fully finished" — isn't deliverance from the enemy's power finished per Colossians 1:13 and Acts 26:18?

Colossians 1:13 Acts 26:18 atonement eternal life the great exchange
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Evangelism framed as "Red Rover" — the goal is transferring people from Satan's kingdom to God's kingdom, not destroying people.

Closing summary of Q2 on spiritual warfare and kingdom dynamics.

evangelism spiritual warfare kingdom of darkness
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Mary did not remain a perpetual virgin — Scripture clearly indicates she had other children with Joseph after Jesus

Q11 from Lovisa Bengtsen: Did Mary remain a virgin? Were the brothers of Jesus actually cousins? If she had other sons, why did John need to care for her?

James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle John 19:26-27 James (brother of Jesus) John the Apostle brothers of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

Are individuals made by God? Yes — through both direct soul creation and divine foreknowledge/providential design

Q16 from Mary Strickland: How do I know I personally was made by God if I was conceived out of sin through ordinary biology?

Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah 1:5 foreknowledge divine providence
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

The gospel presentation should be adapted to the individual; the content stays constant but the approach changes.

Question 13 from Steph T about how to summarize the gospel with strangers or those from different religions.

Acts 17 Paul Acts 17 evangelism
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

Mark 9:41-42: Whoever gives a cup of water to a believer won't lose their reward; whoever causes a believer to stumble, it'd be better to have a millstone hung around their neck and be cast into the sea. Galatians 6:10: do good to all people, ESPECIALLY to the household of faith. The church's primary charitable focus should be caring for fellow believers.

Rewards for blessing believers, judgment for harming them

John 13:35 Mark 9:41-42 Galatians 6:10 John 13:35 Mark 9:41-42 millstone judgment
Mike Winger idea 2020-05-21

Names in the gospels match the known name distribution of 1st-century Palestine (research by Tal Ilan, Richard Bauckham). The most common names (Simon, Joseph, Mary) are disambiguated with extra identifiers (Simon Peter, Simon of Cyrene, Simon the Zealot) while less common names (Thomas, Thaddeus) stand alone — exactly as you'd expect from authentic records. Names are the first thing lost in retelling; getting them right indicates early, close-to-source transmission.

Onomastic (name) evidence — statistical match

Richard Bauckham Tal Ilan gospel reliability
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

The problem of evil is the #1 argument that practically draws people away from God, but Christianity alone offers both intellectual answers and emotional/pastoral hope — atheism offers neither explanation nor solution.

Pastoral conclusion on the problem of evil and summary of all 5 arguments

theodicy atheism theodicy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Conclusion: Mark 11 teaches new-covenant prayer through Christ, accessed by faith (not works). Real faith believes both for miracles AND in suffering when God says no. The harder path of faith is trusting God's "no."

Summary of the full teaching on prayer from Mark 11 and 14

Mark 11:22-25 Mark 14:35-36 Kenneth Copeland Word of Faith Kenneth Copeland
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-12

The Parable of the Vineyard (Mark 12:1-12) is Jesus's most backhanded parable — told directly to the Sanhedrin, predicting they'll reject and kill God's Son, be destroyed, and be replaced. They know it's about them but can't use it in court.

Introduction and overview of Mark 12:1-12

Mark 12:1-12 Psalm 118:22-23 Mark series Sanhedrin Sanhedrin Mark 12:1-12
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

Jesus redirects from taxes to the image of God — you bear God's image, so you belong to God. For the Christian, there is no separation between religion and politics; being a Christian IS the lens through which you engage all of life.

The image of God as the foundational political principle

image of God image of God render to Caesar
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-29

Biblical framework: impartiality in judgment (no favoritism for rich or poor), all humans of one blood in God's image, individual sin/accountability, Scripture as the authority over lived experience. CRT is incompatible with Christianity on every core tenet.

The biblical response to CRT

Leviticus 19:15 image of God image of God biblical justice
Mike Winger idea 2019-11-06

Conclusion: Isaiah 53 clearly teaches that Christ suffered in our place as a sacrifice bearing our sin, bringing atonement so we receive his righteousness. Those who call PSA wicked are confused by caricatures — if the doctrine is so bad, why must they misstate it to argue against it?

Summary and Q&A on penal substitutionary atonement

Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 Isaiah 53 penal substitutionary atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-16

Jesus agreed with the Pharisees on 4 points (supernatural worldview, resurrection, Scripture authority, messianic focus of OT) but disagreed on 3 (traditions as doctrine, authority claims, works-righteousness). Jesus agreed with the Sadducees on NOTHING.

Summary: Jesus vs. Pharisees vs. Sadducees mapped to modern groups

Roman Catholicism sola scriptura resurrection
Mike Winger idea 2021-06-04

Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?: Might be a dumb question but if the Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that Jesus could be born, wouldn't that make the Holy Spirit Jesus' father?

Q&A question: Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2021-07-23

About the Perpetual Virginity of Mary: What are your thoughts on the Protoevangelium of James? Does it support the perpetual virginity of Mary?

Q&A question: About the Perpetual Virginity of Mary

James James angels
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-13

Refuting Catholic “Queenship” of Mary: How would you answer a Catholic who uses Revelation 12 to argue Mary's queenship?

Q&A question: Refuting Catholic “Queenship” of Mary

revelation Roman Catholicism revelation
Mike Winger idea 2021-10-08

Was Mary Surprised about Jesus’ Deity?: If Mary was aware of the immaculate conception (visited by an angel, etc.), why in Mark 3: 21 does it seem she’s surprised about Jesus being the Messiah? Scripture says His "family" that goes to "take charge of Him" for being out of His mind are His mother & brothers. Why would Mary think He is out of His mind if she had been visited by an angel?

Q&A question: Was Mary Surprised about Jesus’ Deity?

Mark 3 Jesus Mark 3 angels
Mike Winger idea 2021-12-10

How to Share a Summary of the Gospel: Do you have a simple way to share the Gospel? How can we know what to say to be obedient and share the Gospel effectively without missing any of the essentials?

Q&A question: How to Share a Summary of the Gospel

Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mike Winger idea 2023-01-13

Did God Die / Is Mary God’s Mother?: Can we say God died since Jesus died? And can we say Mary is the mother of God?

Q&A question: Did God Die / Is Mary God’s Mother?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2023-06-23

Has Jesus Always Had a Physical Body?: What form did Jesus exist in before He was conceived in Mary’s womb? Did He have a physical body before that?

Q&A question: Has Jesus Always Had a Physical Body?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-07

How to Explain Perceived Miracles: How can I respond with Scripture to my Catholic friend who says, “I’ve seen Mary & saints do miracles when my dad was in the ICU. That’s why it’s hard to leave the catholic religion: I’ve seen It”?

Q&A question: How to Explain Perceived Miracles

Roman Catholicism miracles
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-07

When Believers Disagree: Can you give me any advice on living in unity with other brothers and sisters in Christ? I always try to keep secondary issues secondary, but I’ve heard “Well, your secondary issues are someone else’s primary issues.”

Q&A question: When Believers Disagree

Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-21

About Jesus’ DNA: What was Jesus' DNA? Was Jesus' DNA 100% from God, or did He have Mary's human DNA? Perhaps it's the same DNA as Adam, since Jesus is the 2nd Adam?

Q&A question: About Jesus’ DNA

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2023-07-21

Did Joseph Fail to “Test the Spirits”?: 1 John 4 says to “test the spirits.” But Mary's husband, Joseph, didn't appear to do this when he had the dream to flee to Egypt. How should we understand or interpret this?

Q&A question: Did Joseph Fail to “Test the Spirits”?

1 John 4 Joseph marriage 1 John 4
Mike Winger idea 2023-08-18

Should We Pray to Mary?: How can I respond with Scripture to a Catholic friend who says, “Mary is the mother of Jesus, so why wouldn’t you seek help from her? Jesus wouldn’t like you disrespecting His mom in any way”?

Q&A question: Should We Pray to Mary?

Roman Catholicism Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2023-09-29

Did Jesus Have a Sin Nature?: Was Jesus the biological son of Mary? If so, how did He not inherit a sin nature?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Have a Sin Nature?

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2023-12-01

Christian Science: Would you ever be interested in doing a video on Christian Science and the teachings of Mary Baker Eddy?

Q&A question: Christian Science

faith and science Mary (mother of Jesus)
Mike Winger idea 2024-04-05

Does God still Speak through Dreams?: Does God still communicate through dreams? Is there any New Testament examples of God doing so, apart from Mary and Joseph?

Q&A question: Does God still Speak through Dreams?

Joseph
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