Search — Theology Explorer

Christian ethics pastoral care sin nature

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

conspiracy theory Noahide Laws anti-Semitism

Noahide Laws conspiracy theory is rooted in anti-Semitism and misrepresents Jewish belief

Responding to John Ernest's question about whether Noahide Laws pose a threat to Christians

Mormonism apologetics pre-mortal existence

Socratic approach for witnessing to Mormons about pre-mortal existence: let them make their case first

Responding to Alexander Duncan's question about addressing Mormon belief in pre-mortal existence

Proverbs Word of Faith Proverbs discernment

Proverbs' paradoxical advice on rebuking a fool applies to confronting Word of Faith in-laws -- danger exists either way

Responding to Jackie Rock about whether to have a doctrinal confrontation with Word of Faith in-laws

Romans 14 Lord's Supper Romans 14 Christian liberty

Unleavened bread at communion is symbolically important (sinlessness of Christ); alcoholic vs non-alcoholic wine is incidental

Responding to Kumbo Munsaka's question about whether alcoholic wine and unleavened bread are required at the Lord's Supper

1 John 1 John 2:1 Peter 1 John perseverance

Habitual sin and salvation: honest uncertainty, but the answer is always to press toward Christ rather than despair

Responding to Adriano's question about whether living in habitual sin from addiction while truly wanting to stop means he is unsaved

fulfilled prophecy Q&A format Rethink Conference

Introduction to subscriber Q&A hangout format

Mike opens his first Q&A livestream, explaining the format and ground rules for how questions will be taken from the chat.

Bible translation Passion Translation The Message

The Passion Translation — concerns and how to warn others about it

A viewer asks how to lovingly warn people about the Passion Translation without wounding them, and which 2-3 most egregious verses to share.

Matthew 5:29 1 John 2:1 repentance hyperbole sin

Pluck out your eye (Matthew 5:29) vs. having an advocate with the Father (1 John 2:1)

A viewer asks how to reconcile the command to pluck out your eye with the promise of an advocate with the Father.

youth ministry evangelism Christlikeness

Advice for teenagers in the church — serve humbly, aim higher than leaders, evangelize peers

A teen asks for suggestions on how to contribute to the church.

word of wisdom word of knowledge prophecy

Cessationism vs. continuationism — Mike holds continuationism but respects cessationists

A viewer asks what Mike thinks about cessationists.

John 10:11 2 Corinthians 5:21 Mark 10:17-18 John 10:11 Ray Comfort deity of Christ

Mark 10:17-18 — Why does Jesus ask why he is called good? Implicit claim to deity

A viewer asks Mike to explain Mark 10:17-18, the rich young ruler passage.

2 Corinthians 6:14 marriage false gospel Catholicism

Can a Christian marry a Catholic? — Gospel distinction and the unequally yoked principle

A viewer asks whether a Christian can marry a Catholic.

eternal punishment conditional immortality hell

Annihilationism — Mike disagrees; critiques Chris Date and Rethinking Hell

A viewer asks if annihilationism is a Christian-condoned form of atheism.

John MacArthur John MacArthur Calvinism gifts of the Spirit

John MacArthur — appreciation as a gospel champion; cautious about Strange Fire conference

A viewer asks Mike's opinion of John MacArthur.

1 Corinthians 7 Luke 14:26 1 Corinthians 7 discipleship Luke 14:26

Luke 14:26 — Forsaking family for Christ: hyperbole and ultimate priority, not literal abandonment

A viewer asks what Jesus meant by forsaking family and hating father and mother.

Ephesians 2:2 Satan spiritual warfare kingdom of darkness

Conspiracy theories — Satan as the real unseen puppet master (Ephesians 2:2)

A viewer asks if Mike believes any conspiracy theories.

1 Corinthians 6 1 Corinthians 6:3 judges of Israel 1 Corinthians 6 Gideon 1 Corinthians 6:3

1 Corinthians 6:3 — We will judge angels: ruling/leading rather than condemning

A viewer asks what Paul meant when he said believers will judge angels.

hermeneutics commentaries sermon preparation

How Mike prepares his messages — text-first exegetical process

A viewer asks how Mike prepares for teaching.

Craig Keener miracles Miracles

Craig Keener's book on miracles — medically verified miraculous accounts

A viewer asks for a good example of raising the dead today.

Genesis 1 Genesis 1 creation evolution

Can a faithful Christian be an evolutionist? — Yes, but with complications

A viewer (biochem grad student) asks if a faithful Christian can be an evolutionist.

Bill Johnson charismatic movement Mike Bickle

Mike Bickle and IHOP — cautious non-answer; requires 60+ hours of research before opining

A viewer asks Mike's opinion of Mike Bickle and the International House of Prayer.

Calvinism Molinism middle knowledge

Molinism — middle knowledge reconciles divine sovereignty and human free will

A viewer asks about Molinism as a worldview for reconciling sovereignty and free will.

Revelation eschatology fulfilled prophecy Revelation

Preterism — all Bible prophecy fulfilled by 70 AD; Mike disagrees and will debate it on Remnant Radio

A viewer asks: if Revelation was all about Rome, what would be the point of it?

Philippians 4 Romans 6 Proverbs 11:14 Philippians 4 Romans 6 pastoral counseling

Scriptures for believers needing deliverance — Romans 6 for sin, Philippians 4 for oppression

A viewer at 3am asks for scriptures for believers needing deliverance.

Calvary Chapel youth ministry church discipline

How Mike ended up at Calvary Chapel — left previous church over moral compromise in youth ministry

A viewer asks how Mike ended up at Calvary Chapel in Bellflower.

apologetics William Lane Craig philosophical arguments for God

William Lane Craig as a model for popularizing philosophical apologetics

Mike references William Lane Craig while discussing vocational gaps in the church.

Mormonism Joseph Smith Book of Abraham

LDS Book of Abraham — Joseph Smith's evolving theology from monotheism toward polytheism

A viewer asks about doing a verse-by-verse study on the LDS Book of Abraham.

Christian ethics cultural engagement gender identity

Preferred pronouns — Mike cannot use false pronouns because it constitutes dishonest support of a delusion

A viewer asks whether Christians should use preferred pronouns as this becomes a larger cultural issue.

Matthew 24:15 Acts 1:7 Matthew 24:15 eschatology Martin Luther

Are we the last generation? — Acts 1:7 epistemic humility; abomination of desolation as one signpost

A viewer asks if Mike believes we are the last generation before Christ's return.

assurance of salvation Donald Trump Christianity and politics

Is Donald Trump a genuine Christian? — Mike's cautious non-assessment

A viewer asks if Mike thinks President Trump is a true believer.

Romans 10:13 election Calvinism soteriology

Does God choose who is saved? — Both election and free will are simultaneously true

A viewer asks how to understand salvation as a gift if God chooses who receives it.

Mormonism Jehovah's Witnesses comparative religion

Are other religions twisted versions of Christianity? — Depends on derivation vs. importation

A viewer asks whether other religions are twisted versions of Christianity.

Matthew 4 1 Peter 5:8 Ephesians 6:12 spiritual warfare Holy Spirit indwelling exorcism

Can a Christian be demonized or possessed? — No, the Spirit-indwelt believer cannot be internally possessed

A viewer asks if a Christian can be demonized and if Mike has ever cast out a demon.

discernment worship music Bethel

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.

Calvary Chapel sola scriptura theological method

Denominational influence on belief — Mike vets positions through Scripture before teaching them publicly

A viewer asks whether Mike's beliefs come from his denomination.

calling worship leading apologetics

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

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

1 Timothy Mark Luke 1 Timothy textual criticism Mark

Dating the Gospels — pre-70 AD arguments deserve more weight than commonly given

A viewer asks whether most NT historians date all four Gospels to around 70 AD or later.

eschatology fulfilled prophecy Israel

Israel 1948 prophecy claim — Mike is skeptical; caution about unverified fulfilled prophecy arguments

A viewer asks if Israel becoming a nation in 1948 was prophesied to the day in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 6:16 Deuteronomy 22:28-29 Exodus 22:16 marriage one flesh sexual ethics

Does intercourse constitute marriage? — No; vows before witnesses and God define marriage

Mike reads an email asking whether sleeping with someone makes you married.

Matthew 18:15-17 Galatians 6:1-2 false teaching church discipline mysticism

Handling a friend pursuing unbiblical mysticism — staged intervention using Galatians 6:1-2

Mike answers an emailed question from Nikki about a close Christian friend who keeps pursuing mystical and unbiblical things despite multiple conversations.

Matthew 5:13-16 salt and light gospel proclamation religious persecution

Standing up for faith before it is taken away — Christians always stand; democracy creates gospel opportunity

A viewer asks at what point Christians should stand up for their faith before it is taken away.

James White Romans 1 James White Calvinism Romans 1

James White's upcoming Calvinism response — Mike's posture of learning; concern about misrepresentation of Romans 1 argument

Mike closes by addressing James White's upcoming video response to his Calvinism video.

biblical ethics abortion pro-life

Pro-life and pro-death penalty are not contradictory positions

Mike addresses pushback from his death penalty video, responding to the charge that being pro-life and pro-death penalty is inconsistent.

1 John 5:16-17 hermeneutics eisegesis salvation

Sin leading to death in 1 John 5:16-17 — interpretation depends on prior theology

Question about whether 1 John 5:16-17 implies one can lose salvation.

epistemology humility biblical scholarship

Epistemic humility in teaching: share conclusions only to the degree of confidence you actually possess

Question about how Mike knows when he has read enough secondary literature to teach a topic publicly.

1 Kings 21 Genesis 4 Exodus 20 theocracy 1 Kings 21 right to life

Biblical basis for rights to life, liberty, and property

Question asking for verses that imply life, liberty, and property are inalienable rights.

Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29 conscience civil disobedience

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

Continued discussion of biblical liberty.

Hebrews 1:1-2 1 Timothy 1:18 Revelation of John Hagar charismatic movement prophecy

Hebrews 1:1-2 does not prohibit God from speaking to individuals today

Question about whether God still speaks through a still small voice today, referencing Hebrews 1:2.