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All (370) Scripture Commentary (122) Theology (17) Mike Winger (226) Pulpit (5)
Mike Winger idea 2019-03-20

Isaiah 7:14 — 'alma' means young maiden; the context of Isaiah 7-9 supports the virgin birth interpretation

Q&A: question about whether Isaiah 7:14 refers to a young woman or a virgin, and whether it was a sign to Ahaz.

Isaiah 7:14 Isaiah 7-9 Matthew 1 virgin birth Isaiah 7:14 Old Testament fulfillment
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-23

Christian call to defend the fatherless — abortion as a moral mandate for Christians regardless of eschatological timeline

Q&A — question about whether abortion can be abolished given worsening culture as end times approach

cultural engagement eschatology Christian ethics
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

The Hebrew Roots Movement tends to involve a progressive radicalization through increasingly extreme positions

Mike describes what he observes as a typical trajectory for people who enter the Hebrew Roots Movement.

Torah observance Hebrew Roots Movement Paul rejection
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-27

Women as witnesses - criterion of embarrassment in male-centered culture

Why early Christians would not invent women as the first witnesses

Bart Ehrman Women witnesses Criterion of embarrassment
Mike Winger idea 2019-03-14

Humans are worse than they think they are, but Christ loves them more than they know — the paradox of the gospel

John wraps up his reflection on suffering and human nature

gospel grace human nature
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-03

Argument that Roman cultural attitudes toward Christians in 50-year span (first to early second century) remained consistent, so early second-century sources reflect first-century reality

Responding to the objection that 109/112 AD sources are too late to apply to the apostolic period

historical methodology early Christian persecution Roman imperial religion
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Dr. Sean McDowell background: professor at Biola/Talbot, high school teacher, speaker on theology, worldview, and culture

McDowell introduces himself

apologetics Sean McDowell Biola University
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Practical parenting principle: integrate discipleship into activities you are already doing rather than adding new programs

McDowell addresses practical application for parents

parenting discipleship worldview
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Gen Z's underlying worldview challenge: a consumer culture that conditions them to expect reality to conform to their desires rather than conform to external reality

McDowell identifies the deeper worldview issue beneath Gen Z's post-truth tendencies

truth Generation Z worldview
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Love communicates more than correct answers: valuing the person by taking their question seriously matters independent of whether the answer lands

Mike reflects on the principle of person-first engagement

evangelism love cultural engagement
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Practical idea: worldview movie nights — watch culturally relevant films with kids and discuss them

McDowell shares a practical tip while waiting for Q&A questions to come in

parenting discipleship worldview
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Why mainline churches are dying: no meaningful difference from wider culture gives people no reason to attend

McDowell gives the bottom-line diagnosis for mainline church decline

biblical authority cultural accommodation church attendance
Mike Winger idea 2019-04-24

Q&A: Traditional vs. contemporary worship music — worship is not primarily about personal enjoyment; cross-generational blending is ideal

Audience question about worship style preferences

church culture worship community
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-01

David Hume's confirmation bias: he used the prior improbability of miracles to refuse even examining the evidence

Mike connects Hume's philosophical approach to the confirmation bias critique (Problem 3).

David Hume Christopher Hitchens Miracles
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Biblical worldview should transcend culture wars rather than being shaped by either conservative or liberal culture

Opening monologue before Q&A begins

hermeneutics Scripture authority biblical worldview
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Biblical cosmology should not be assumed to match ancient Near Eastern flat-earth cosmology just because surrounding cultures believed it; Genesis radically demythologizes creation compared to the Enuma Elish

Response to question about Hebraic cosmology and the flat-earth interpretation

Genesis 1 hermeneutics Genesis 1 demythologization
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: Modesty in dress is a New Testament command—not law-keeping—and our culture is distorted about it

Pastoral application question about dress standards

Christian living modesty New Testament ethics
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: The Christian's primary cultural identity is the culture of Christ—follow Christ absolutely, adapt to culture in neutral matters

Pastoral guidance on Christianity and cultural identity

1 Corinthians 9 Christian liberty 1 Corinthians 9 Christian and culture
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: Mosaic Law on servants — corporal punishment was permitted; killing or maiming a servant freed them; Winger defends this as reasonable in historical context

Response to a question about slavery and beating in the OT law

Leviticus servant laws slavery in the OT Leviticus servant laws corporal punishment
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

The Christian message holds two truths together: all have sin AND God loves and saves

Proper gospel balance

gospel God's love universal sinfulness
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-13

Two truths the world and Anderson each reject: all sin is terrible; yet God loves and saves

Symmetry of error between secular culture and Anderson

God's love sin Steven Anderson
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

The Zeitgeist film and Bill Maher's Religulous cited as catalysts for the modern Jesus myth movement

Identifying pop-culture sources of Jesus mythicism

Jesus mythicism Zeitgeist (film) Religulous (film)
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-19

Lack of contemporary accounts of Jesus is explained by low literacy rates (~10%), oral transmission culture, and early Christian expectation of imminent return

Responding to the objection that no writings about Jesus exist from his lifetime

argument from silence oral tradition historicity of Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2019-06-26

Teresa Dedmon / Bethel: selling art as a vehicle for "spiritual impartation" and prophetic clothing that enhances God's presence is false teaching and commercial exploitation.

Second specific example from Bethel: the creative arts director's website claims her paintings and clothing impart heaven's presence.

Bethel Church false prophecy discernment
Mike Winger idea 2019-07-17

Q&A: Egalitarianism vs. complementarianism — Winger's position

Question from a listener whose Biola-educated cousin introduced egalitarianism, which conflicts with what the listener has been taught.

women in ministry complementarianism egalitarianism
Mike Winger idea 2019-09-04

Upcoming content: critique of The Physics of Heaven (Bethel/Bill Johnson-connected book)

Winger previews his next Tuesday topic: a critique of The Physics of Heaven, a book promoted by Bethel Church, Bill Johnson, and Jesus Culture. He has read it without advance reviews and found the content disturbing.

Bill Johnson Bethel Church Jesus Culture
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Introduction: "All roads lead to God" is simultaneously the most common and one of the worst objections to biblical Christianity

Opening segment where Winger frames the topic and establishes his thesis

apologetics exclusivity of Christ religious pluralism
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

The emotional appeal of pluralist slogans: kindness, avoiding anger, hope, tolerance

Winger demonstrates empathy with why people hold pluralist views before critiquing them

religious pluralism tolerance cultural Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2019-10-02

Slogan 6: "God knows our hearts and good people will be okay" — people are not actually good

Final and most substantial of the six slogans

original sin human nature total depravity
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Culture's gospel of external beauty is antithetical to the Christian emphasis on inner godly character

Application of the 1 Tim 2:9 principle to contemporary women's ministry and culture.

1 Timothy 2:9 cultural critique women's ministry 1 Timothy 2:9
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

1 Peter 3:3-4 reinforces 1 Tim 2:9: true adornment is the gentle and quiet spirit, not external appearance

Reading and brief exposition of 1 Peter 3:3-4 as a parallel to 1 Timothy 2:9.

1 Peter 3:3-4 1 Timothy 2:9 Sarah Abraham gentle and quiet spirit
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Parallelomania: ancient Near Eastern parallels (flood, creation) do not prove the Bible borrowed; similarities are explained by common events or themes

Q from Folky about how to respond to claims that the OT is not true because the Bible copied surrounding cultures (flood, Exodus).

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 biblical inerrancy Enuma Elish
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

College professors often repeat thin secondhand claims about the Bible; a little research can expose the shallowness

Aside to Folky about the professor making claims about the Bible being borrowed from surrounding cultures.

apologetics Martin Luther Reformation
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Women and pornography: the church's silence stems from greater shame; solutions come from women who have found victory speaking out

Response to viewer asking for Christian resources for women struggling with pornography and why the church focuses more on men.

church culture sexual sin shame
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Are marriage contracts biblical? — Yes, with wisdom; keeping one's word is a biblical principle

Question from Mahit (likely from India) about whether signing a pre-marriage contract is biblical.

Psalm 15:4 marriage covenant contracts
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Global flood traditions across disconnected cultures support the historicity of a major flood event

Q&A question from Lindsay Pinkert about helping a friend who doubts biblical historical accuracy (flood and Exodus)

Genesis flood apologetics Inspiring Philosophy Genesis flood
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Attending a same-sex wedding generally expresses affirmation, not merely love — Christians should decline

Q&A from Joel Holmberg about attending a same-sex wedding

Christian ethics same-sex marriage sexual ethics
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 16:20 — "greet one another with a holy kiss" is a culturally applied principle, not a universal command

Question from Sarah Taytano about whether the holy kiss is a binding commandment.

1 Corinthians 16:20 hermeneutics cultural hermeneutics 1 Corinthians 16:20
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Lukewarm defined: a Christian who has conformed to surrounding culture — worldliness that replaced former zeal

Mike's interpretation of the hot/cold/lukewarm symbolism in Revelation 3.

lukewarm Revelation 3:16 lukewarm worldliness zeal
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Responding pastorally to a parent whose daughter came out as bisexual: distinguish identity from sin, love without approval

Responding to 'Whatever is Lovely' whose daughter was baptized in 2018 then came out as bisexual in 2019

Christian ethics pastoral care sin nature
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 2020-12-18

Western culture's refusal to have children is rooted in an unbiblical view that humans are parasites — a secular replacement of God's judgment with 'nature's judgment' for ecological sins.

Cultural diagnosis applied to the childbearing question.

Be Fruitful and Multiply Dominion Mandate Human Value / Imago Dei
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Conclusion on be-fruitful-and-multiply: It is a positive canopy mandate for all of humanity; culture has kicked against it by devaluing human life, and this infection has reached Christians.

Summary and transition out of first topic.

Be Fruitful and Multiply Dominion Mandate Human Value / Imago Dei
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q10: Dangers of treating positivity/negativity as moral categories — New Age/New Thought origins

Response to question about "happy church" culture where positivity = moral good

Philippians 4:8 Brian Simmons prosperity gospel Philippians 4:8
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Re-baptism is not prescribed in Scripture but can be appropriate when the original baptism lacked genuine understanding

Question from Andrew Green about whether re-baptisms are biblical

2 Corinthians 2 baptism grace re-baptism
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Bitterness, clamor, and slander toward political opponents grieve the Spirit — Christians must deal with their own carnality first

Application of Ephesians 4:30-31 to the current political/cultural climate

Ephesians 4:31 Matthew 7:3-5 Holy Spirit self-examination bitterness
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

Hillsong assessed as a mixed-bag ministry — not progressive, but tilted toward intense positivity over theological substance

Question from Christian Galindo about whether Hillsong is a progressive church with sound theology.

Bethel Church Hillsong Brian Houston
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Old Testament slavery laws contained extensive humanitarian protections radically superior to surrounding cultures and incompatible with chattel slavery

Continued answer on Leviticus 25 and slavery.

Leviticus 25:44-46 Deuteronomy slavery laws Exodus redemption as theological grounding for humane treatment Leviticus 25:44-46 Slavery in the Old Testament Deuteronomy slavery laws