Filter results by source database — Scripture Commentary, Theology, Mike Winger, or Pulpit. Click a tab to narrow to one database.

...more
All (761) Mike Winger (761)
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Acts 18:27-28 — Apollos vigorously refutes Jewish opponents using Scripture to show Jesus is the Christ

New Testament example of evidence-based persuasion in the early church.

Acts 18:27-28 Apollos typology evidence-based faith
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

John 5:31-38 — Jesus presents three specific evidences for his identity: John the Baptist, miracles, and Scripture

Mike analyzes Jesus's own self-defense in John 5 as a model of evidence-based persuasion.

John the Baptist John 5:31-39 resurrection evidence-based faith John the Baptist
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

No other religion has a comparative apologetic to Christianity

Mike makes a comparative religion claim after discussing Christian evidential resources.

Islam resurrection comparative religion
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

John 5:39 — the Old Testament scriptures testify of Jesus as a third category of evidence

Continuation of the John 5 analysis; the Father's testimony through Scripture.

John 5:39 evidence-based faith messianic prophecy John 5:39
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Matthew 9:5-7 — Jesus heals the paralytic as evidence of authority to forgive sins

Mike uses Jesus's healing of the paralytic as another instance of miracles functioning as proof.

Matthew 9:5-7 miracles as evidence Matthew 9:5-7 paralytic healing
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Hebrews 2:3-4 — signs, wonders, miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit as confirmation of the gospel message

Mike's final direct positive scriptural argument that Christianity is evidence-based.

Hebrews 2:3-4 evidence-based faith Hebrews 2:3-4 eyewitness testimony
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Pivot to objections: addressing 'but what about?' passages that skeptics use to support the faith-without-evidence definition

Mike transitions from positive case to handling counter-passages.

Hebrews 11:1 Romans 1:19-20 John 20:24 apologetics methodology Hebrews 11:1 Romans 1:19-20
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Hebrews 11:1 — introduction and reference to Amy Hall's article at STR.org

Mike begins addressing the most commonly cited 'faith without evidence' passage.

Hebrews 11:1 faith Hebrews 11:1 Amy Hall
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Hebrews 11:1 is a description of what faith looks like, not a definition of why or how we believe

Mike's core exegetical argument about the nature of Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:1 hermeneutics faith Hebrews 11:1
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Hebrews 11: 'not seen' means future realities not yet occurring, not things lacking evidence — illustrated by Noah building the ark

Mike's second exegetical argument about the meaning of 'unseen' in Hebrews 11.

Hebrews 11:7 hermeneutics eschatology Noah
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Abraham and Sarah in Hebrews 11: faith as trust in specific divine promises, not evidence-free belief

Further examples from Hebrews 11 illustrating that the characters had specific reasons to believe.

Hebrews 11:8 Hebrews 11:11 Sarah Abraham faith
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

The Hebrews 11 heroes had concrete reasons for their faith: direct speech from God, angelic visitations, inherited testimony

Mike argues that the faith-figures in Hebrews 11 are not examples of 'faith without evidence.'

Hebrews 11 Moses Sarah evidence-based faith
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Romans 1:19-20 — creation itself is the evidence through which God is perceived; not faith without evidence

Mike addresses the second counter-passage sometimes used to support faith-without-evidence.

Romans 1:19-20 evidence-based faith cosmological argument Romans 1:19-20
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

John 20:24-29 — Thomas passage: 'not seen' does not mean 'without evidence'

Mike addresses the Thomas story as the third counter-passage.

John 20:24-29 hermeneutics faith Thomas
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Thomas's demand to see the nail marks refutes Jehovah's Witness teaching that Jesus rose in a different body

Side point made while explaining the Thomas narrative.

John 20:24-27 Jehovah's Witnesses resurrection body Thomas
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Jesus gives Thomas evidence first, then commands belief — a model of evidence-based faith

The climax of Mike's Thomas analysis.

John 20:27-28 resurrection evidence-based faith Thomas
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Thomas's rebuke was for ignoring available evidence, not for demanding evidence — modern believers have the same pre-appearance evidence

Mike draws the application of the Thomas story to contemporary Christian faith.

John 20:24-29 resurrection Thomas Matt Dillahunty
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Skeptical objections to Christianity are often based on misunderstanding, misrepresentation, and bad scholarship rather than genuinely superior evidence

Mike's meta-level assessment of the state of skeptical arguments against Christianity.

evidence-based faith skepticism Christian apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Dictionary definition of faith: Google's two definitions — 'complete trust or confidence' vs. 'strong belief based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof'

Mike moves from Scripture to the dictionary to examine the secular definition of faith.

personal testimony faith spiritual apprehension
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Webster's dictionary definitions of faith: 'allegiance,' 'loyalty,' 'belief and trust in God' — the 'firm belief in something for which there is no proof' definition exists but does not represent biblical Christianity

Mike examines Webster's multiple definitions of faith.

faith Christian apologetics definition of faith
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Why Christians accept the bad definition: 'sloppy thinking' — illustrated by the peanut butter sandwich experiment

Mike explains how well-meaning Christians end up using imprecise language that harms their apologetic position.

faith apologetics methodology sloppy thinking
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Skeptics take advantage of Christians' sloppy language; Christians must speak precisely about faith

Mike's conclusion on the source of the problem and call to action.

faith apologetics methodology sloppy thinking
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Recommended apologetics ministries and resources for Christians who want a robust, evidence-based faith

Mike provides a resource list for viewers who want to deepen their apologetics.

Greg Koukl William Lane Craig apologetics resources
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Evidence for Christianity spans multiple disciplines: Scripture, philosophy, history, science, and personal experience

Mike summarizes the scope of Christian evidential resources before moving to Q&A.

personal testimony evidence-based faith comparative religion
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: How to explain to non-believers that the Holy Spirit's presence is a reason for faith

Viewer question from Cam 94.

Holy Spirit personal testimony apologetics methodology
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: Can Satan, as a non-omnipotent being, put thoughts into people's minds?

Viewer question from Joy Chintons.

John 13:2 omnipotence Satan spiritual warfare
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: Connection between belief and obedience in John 3:36 — belief leads to obedience; lack of obedience implies lack of faith

Viewer question from Jacob Englet about John 3:36 and James 2:14-26.

John 3:36 obedience hermeneutics faith and works
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

James 2:14-26 — faith without works is dead; Mike references his dedicated video on Catholic vs. Protestant interpretations

Part of Jacob Englet's question on faith and obedience.

James 2:14-26 faith James 2:14-26 faith and works
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: Response to atheist videos on the Dr. Ragnar study and the lurking variable of family instability

Viewer question from Brian Stevens about a sociological study and atheist video responses.

Dr. Ragnar study Dr. Rosenfeld family instability
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: How to know you have the proper interpretation of Scripture — hermeneutics and contextual reading

Viewer question from Eric Seagardia.

hermeneutics biblical interpretation contextual reading
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: Distinction between 'evidence' and 'proof' — Mike is skeptical that they must be rigorously distinguished

Viewer question from Martin Gradwell.

epistemology evidence apologetics methodology
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: Personal testimony — Bradley Wilcox found God through science and history; Mike shares friend Travis's conversion testimony

Viewer comment on creation as evidence; Mike illustrates with a personal conversion story.

Romans 1:19-20 personal testimony Romans 1:19-20 natural theology
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Q&A: How to use the Bible as evidence with non-believers who don't accept it as God's word — the prophecy approach

Viewer question from Kate about apologetic method.

Isaiah 53 Bible as historical document Isaiah 53 Pontius Pilate
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-16

Closing summary: faith is simply trust; the reasons for faith are a separate discussion from the nature of faith itself

Mike's concluding definition and summary of the session.

evidence-based faith faith trust
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-23

The unborn is human — it has its own unique human DNA, distinct from both parents, present from conception

Establishing the 'Human' quality of the unborn with genetic evidence

embryo DNA human species
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-23

Jeremiah 1:5 — 'Before I formed you in the womb I knew you' refers to God's plan for Jeremiah, not pre-conception literal existence

Q&A — question about whether life begins even before conception, citing God's foreknowledge in Jeremiah 1:5

Jeremiah Jeremiah 1:5 Jeremiah hermeneutics pre-existence
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

Mike's positive disclaimer: he loves the Old Testament law and is not attacking it — the debate is about application, not truthfulness

Before making his critique, Mike establishes his high view of the OT law to clarify that his disagreement is about how and to whom the law applies, not whether it is true.

Leviticus Leviticus Law of Moses Gentile believers
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

119 Ministries opens by appealing to an "unsettling feeling" — Mike critiques this as emotional manipulation, not theological argument

Mike plays and critiques the opening rhetorical move of 119 Ministries' video, which begins by affirming that many Christians feel something is missing.

Hebrew Roots Movement 119 Ministries Rhetorical manipulation
Mike Winger idea 2019-01-30

Greek term anomia (lawlessness) does not exclusively mean violation of the Mosaic law — it has diverse NT usage

Mike makes a focused philological argument about the Greek word anomia.

1 John 3:4 Equivocation fallacy 1 John 3:4 Anomia
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Recommended apologetics resources: websites and books

Q&A asking for top suggested books and sources for apologetics and evangelism.

evangelism apologetics Josh McDowell
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Fulfilled prophecy as evidence for God

Q&A asking for apologetic reasons to believe in God.

apologetics fulfilled prophecy divine inspiration of Scripture
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Resurrection of Jesus as evidence for God

Mike lists the resurrection as a second major apologetic argument for God.

apologetics resurrection of Christ evidence for God
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Ontological argument: God's existence is necessary

Mike lists the ontological argument as a third apologetic reason for God.

apologetics evidence for God ontological argument
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Kalam Cosmological Argument for God's existence

Mike presents the Kalam Cosmological Argument as a fourth reason to believe in God.

apologetics monotheism cosmological argument
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Arguments against naturalism as evidence for the supernatural

Mike lists arguments against naturalism as another category of evidence for God.

apologetics evidence for God naturalism
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Problem of evil is actually evidence for God, not against him

Mike responds to the objection from the problem of evil.

apologetics problem of evil evidence for God
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-07

Personal experience of God and common sense as evidence for God

Mike closes his apologetics list with experiential and intuitive arguments.

apologetics evidence for God personal experience of God
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-13

Books like Job belong in the canon because Jesus accepted the Old Testament, and apostles were commissioned to teach

Viewer asking why books like Job are in the Bible if we don't know the author

Job apostolic authority biblical canon Job
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Introduction of Papias: Bishop of Hierapolis in the early second century

First major evidence: the testimony and writings of Papias.

Papias Hierapolis early church history
Mike Winger idea 2019-02-20

Aristion and Elder John as living eyewitnesses still active during Papias's collecting period (~80-90 AD)

Evidence that direct Jesus-eyewitnesses were still alive and teaching during the Gospel-writing period.

Ephesus Richard Bauckham Smyrna