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All (354) Mike Winger (354)
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Proverbs recommended as the antidote to the lack of wisdom on both political extremes

Closing remarks

Proverbs Craig Blomberg wisdom Proverbs
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Imputed righteousness does not eliminate moral obligation — it changes the basis of standing before God, not the Christian's motivation to pursue holiness

Question from John Dutton about whether imputed righteousness is biblical and whether it undermines the call to repent from sin.

Romans 3-5 Antinomianism Holiness Sanctification
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Book of Life: names blotted out -- the phrase is too non-specific to resolve the eternal security debate

Question from Paul Redding about how one is written into or blotted out of the Book of Life.

Revelation Hebrews warning passages Revelation once saved always saved eternal security
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Leaven of Herod (Mark 8:15) -- ungodly ambition, desire for worldly approval, and yielding to wickedness

Question from Mark H about the leaven of Herod in Mark 8:15, and why it is named separately from the leaven of the Pharisees.

Mark 8:15 1 Corinthians 5:8 Herod Mark 8:15 1 Corinthians 5:8
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

Framing the question: Does one fraudulent religious figure (Brian Simmons) justify skepticism about all religious authors, including the Gospel writers?

Question from Robert asks whether Brian Simmons being a "nut" should make us skeptical of Paul and the Gospel authors the same way.

Brian Simmons Passion Translation Anti-supernatural bias
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

John 20:23 — the authority to forgive or retain sins: the disciples are declaring what heaven has already determined, not independently granting forgiveness.

Question from Thomas Brownlee about interpreting John 20:23.

John 20:23 Apostolic authority John 20:23 Forgiveness of sins
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

1 John 4:18 — perfect love casts out fear; fear of punishment stems from insufficient awareness of God's love

Mike addresses the secondary fear connected to death — fear of divine judgment and punishment.

1 John 4:18 assurance of salvation God's love fear of judgment
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Q14: Is the authority Jesus gave the 12 and 70 disciples different from spiritual gifts? Mike distinguishes pre-Pentecost authority from post-Pentecost Spirit-enabled gifts

Viewer Silas Bourner asks whether the authority Jesus granted the Twelve and Seventy to heal and cast out demons is different from spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12 Luke 10 Pentecost spiritual gifts charismatic movement
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Why far more demonic activity in the NT than OT — quantity and intentionality

Even granting OT demonic activity, the sheer volume of exorcisms in the Gospels and Acts is historically anomalous and must be explained theologically.

Gospels demonic activity first-century context
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

2 Timothy 2:20-21 — Vessels of gold/silver vs. wood/clay for honorable/dishonorable use

Viewer asks whether 2 Tim 2:20-21 (self-cleansing to be an honorable vessel) refutes the Calvinist doctrine of total depravity, given it uses the same honorable/dishonorable language as Romans 9.

2 Timothy 2:20-21 sanctification 2 Timothy 2:20-21 vessels honorable dishonorable
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Lines Mike will not cross for ecumenism: false gospel and sexual ethics compromise

Where qualified ecumenism ends — the gospel and moral compromise that hinders repentance.

Galatians 1 repentance false gospel church discipline
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: What happens to animals and insects when they die?

Viewer Samantha Hott asks whether animals and insects have souls and what becomes of them at death.

death soul new creation
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Shoes of the Gospel of Peace — evangelism as spiritual protection

Third piece of armor: footwear as readiness to go with the gospel.

Ephesians 6:15 evangelism witness armor of God
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Interpretation of Genesis must be driven by hermeneutics, not science

Mike's methodological conclusion on the Genesis-evolution question.

Genesis 1-2 Genesis 1-2 hermeneutics young earth creationism
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

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 2021-01-22

Political prophecies, false prophets in 2020, and the antichrist

Joe Burton asked whether the wave of false political prophecies might be setting up the antichrist to appear as a savior.

Deuteronomy 18:22 1 John 2:18 Jeremiah Johnson discernment prophetic accountability eschatology
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 2021-02-26

Getting close to God and overcoming demonic oppression — prerequisites and warnings

Professor of Everything asks for advice on getting close to God and overcoming demons and oppression.

repentance pride spiritual warfare
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Knowing God's will for major decisions — acting without certainty

Simply Put asks how to know if God is guiding him and his wife to move to remote Alaska for missions.

Matthew 10 calling missions Matthew 10
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Forgiveness: will and emotions are separate; you can choose to forgive before your heart feels it

Responding to whether one can say words of forgiveness when the heart has not yet caught up

1 John 3:20 Christian living forgiveness walking by faith
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

The Kalam Cosmological Argument and responses to atheist objections about eternal energy and quantum vacuums.

Colin asks how to respond to atheist objections that energy could be infinite (eternal) and that quantum fluctuations could create a universe.

apologetics atheism William Lane Craig
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Idolatry ancient and modern: literal idol worship still exists; covetousness is idolatry; some Catholic practices parallel ancient idolatry; smartphone use threatens prayer life.

Al Naps asks about modern-day idolatry and whether excessive Christian YouTube consumption is problematic; also asks if Winger worries about being idolized.

Ephesians 5:5 Colossians 3:5 Roman Catholicism prayer idolatry
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

What is a local church and is planting under an existing church a biblical mandate?

Question from Droopy's Dad about church definition and whether church plants must be authorized by an existing church.

Ecclesiology Church planting Local church
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

How to evaluate scholarship that challenges traditional OT interpretation through cultural/linguistic arguments

Question from True West about scholarship that challenges OT translations and cultural understandings.

James 3:1 Galatians (uncircumcision passage) Hermeneutics James 3:1 Biblical scholarship
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Hebrews 12:6 uses "scourges" (from the Septuagint of Proverbs 3:12) to describe God's fatherly discipline; the intensified language is contextually appropriate fatherly correction, not brutal punishment.

Q6 from Stephanie: Hebrews 12:5-6 quotes Proverbs 3:11-12 but ends with "scourge" — why does it imply God brutally whips every believer?

Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12 Septuagint (LXX) Hebrews 12:5-6 Proverbs 3:11-12
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Spiritual dryness and keeping God at arm's length: the will precedes the heart; make obedient decisions and let the heart follow over time.

Q9 from Arrivederci: struggling with trusting and wanting Christ — how to stop keeping the Holy Spirit at arm's length?

spiritual disciplines spiritual dryness faith and the will
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-12

How to biblically grieve the death of an unsaved loved one: grief is good, blame is bad

Q1 from Megan Chan: How do we biblically grieve the death of a loved one who was not saved, and how do we respond to those who offer to pray for the dead?

Isaiah Isaiah purgatory God's goodness
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Daniel 11:36-45 — Antiochus IV or the Antichrist?

Listener Stephen (Passenger Ministries) asks whether Daniel 11:36-45 refers to Antiochus IV Epiphanes or the future Antichrist.

Daniel 11:36-45 Antichrist Typology Eschatology
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Daniel 11 points to the future Antichrist: Second Thessalonians 2 and the Olivet Discourse confirm it

Continuation: reasons for reading Daniel 11 as ultimately about a future Antichrist figure.

Mark 13 Daniel 11:36-45 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 Abomination of desolation Antichrist Mark 13
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 — the identity of the Restrainer is uncertain

Listener Louise Sorensen (Denmark) asks whether, when the restrainer of 2 Thessalonians 2 is removed, non-believers will lose compassion and morals.

2 Thessalonians 2:6-7 Holy Spirit Antichrist Eschatology
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Should Christians be shaken by brilliant atheist philosophers like Graham Oppy?

Listener Silas Abrahamson says he is sometimes shaken that brilliant philosophers like Graham Oppy are atheists.

Apologetics Atheism Graham Oppy
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Why is Esther in the Bible? Self-defense in Esther 8-9 is not problematic

Listener The Christian Metalhead questions the moral purpose of Esther and finds the final chapters' battle "dangerous."

Esther Ecclesiastes 3:3 Old Testament canon Typology Pacifism
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

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

Question 5 from AZF Stories about whether Christians should ask for signs like Gideon's fleece.

Judges 6 Gideon signs Judges 6
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

God physically appearing to everyone would not necessarily eliminate unbelief; unbelief is often a heart issue, not an evidence problem.

Question 8 from Amanda about why God does not appear physically and audibly to eliminate all unbelief.

Romans 1 John 5 John 1 apologetics Matt Dillahunty unbelief
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Mark 14:36 refutes Oneness Pentecostal modalism by demonstrating distinct wills between Father and Son.

Question 12 from Our Fish about witnessing to a husband raised in Oneness Pentecostalism regarding the Trinity.

Mark 14:36 Trinity apologetics deity of Christ
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Objection: the cause could be a teacup orbiting Saturn or universe-creating pixies instead of God. Response: they're just describing God's attributes and labeling it something else; Occam's razor reduces pixies to one being.

Objection — teacup/pixies

Matt Dillahunty conceptual analysis Occams razor
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

A fourth reason the cause is personal: the universe began in a way that permits life, suggesting planning and intent — connecting the Kalam to the fine-tuning argument.

Design argument supplement

design argument fine-tuning argument
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Christianity would be the worst survival-promoting religion if it were invented for that purpose — it teaches loving enemies, not retaliating, turning the other cheek. Early Christians were pacifists for 300 years. This contradicts the "made up for survival" hypothesis.

Response to Q3 — Christianity is anti-survival by design

1 Peter 2:21-23 evolutionary morality early church pacifism 1 Peter 2:21-23
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Good #1: Freely choosing to enter a loving relationship with God is a great good — a love potion analogy shows forced love isn't real love. Good #2: Alvin Plantinga's supralapsarianism theodicy — the Incarnation and atonement (Christ dying for those who hate him) is among the greatest conceivable acts of love, only possible in a world with sin.

Response to Q4 — goods requiring earth (love and atonement)

free will Alvin Plantinga free will
Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Every argument for abortion in the womb can equally justify killing a baby five minutes after birth — the baby is just as dependent, just as unaware, just as small. The moral distinction collapses.

No principled distinction between pre- and post-birth

abortion human rights human rights
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Q: Acts 4:32-37 communal living — why don't churches do this? Context: Jews from around the world came to Jerusalem for Pentecost, got saved, and didn't want to leave. They sold possessions to pool resources and learn from the apostles. This was a unique situation, not a policy — it doesn't appear in Ephesus, Corinth, or Antioch.

Q&A — Acts 4 communalism

Acts 4:32-37 Pentecost Pentecost Acts 4:32-37
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

The OT has precedent for quarantine: Levitical laws kept contagious people away from gatherings. James 5:14 assumes sick people DON'T come to church — elders go to THEM. There is no biblical command requiring church gatherings during plague conditions.

Biblical precedent for quarantine

James 5:14 James 5:14 Levitical purity laws quarantine
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Romans 13: Christians should generally obey government unless commanded to sin. Closing churches during a global health crisis isn't persecution — it's a quarantine affecting everyone. Government conspiracy theories about using COVID to target churches are unfounded (China was already persecuting churches without needing excuses). The line: obey until they demand disobedience to God.

Government authority and Romans 13

Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 Romans 13 church closures
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Q: Is this a case of obeying authorities when it doesn't conflict with God's law? Yes. If not going to church were sinful, defy the order. But missing a season of gathering isn't forsaking fellowship — people hospitalized for a month aren't forsaking fellowship either. The principle is proportionate and temporary.

Q&A — obeying authority and church attendance

Hebrews 10:25 Hebrews 10:25 government obedience forsaking assembly
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Biblical love vs. secular love: secular love = affirming whatever someone wants for themselves (happiness as highest good). Biblical love = wanting for others what GOD wants for them, which may differ from what they want. The key: the two greatest commandments in order — love God first, then love others. Loving others is contextualized by loving God first.

Teaching kids about love — biblical vs secular

secular vs biblical love greatest commandments worldview assumptions
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

Mark 9:36-37: Jesus uses a child (culturally unimportant, not romanticized as today) to illustrate that receiving ANY believer — even the least significant by worldly standards — is receiving Jesus himself. Matthew 25:34-40 confirms: what you did for the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me. Ministry to any Christian = ministry to Christ.

Receiving the least = receiving Jesus

Mark 9:36-37 Matthew 25:34-40 Mark 9:36-37 receiving the least Matthew 25:34-40
Mike Winger idea 2020-04-29

Mike shifts to a loose upload schedule — fewer but higher-quality videos. He's been rushing 2-3 videos/week to satisfy the YouTube algorithm, sometimes at the cost of thorough preparation. New approach: study topics fully, publish when ready. Current deep study: marriage, divorce, and remarriage — a topic where getting it wrong harms real lives.

Content strategy shift — quality over quantity

divorce and remarriage content strategy quality over quantity
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