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All (374) Scripture Commentary (56) Theology (44) Mike Winger (273) Pulpit (1)

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 2020-09-25

Personal testimony: as a teenager Mike was told he was not saved because he had not spoken in tongues

Opening introduction before answering the first question about tongues and salvation

gifts of the Spirit tongues and salvation spiritual abuse

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

1 Corinthians 14:5 — Paul wishes all spoke in tongues, implying not everyone does

First Corinthians passage introduced as evidence against the tongues-salvation requirement

1 Corinthians 14:5 hermeneutics gifts of the Spirit tongues and salvation

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Introduction to soul sleep vs. immediate presence with God at death

Opening question of the 20 Questions livestream format

soul sleep intermediate state death and afterlife

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Philippians 1:19-23 — context of Paul in prison writing about life vs. death

Mike introduces Philippians 1 as the stronger text on immediate post-death presence with Christ

Philippians 1:19-23 Paul intermediate state Philippians 1:19-23

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Mike opens the Q&A by addressing a Facebook question from Paul Rem about the five points of Calvinism.

Calvinism R.C. Sproul TULIP

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Introduction: 20 Questions format — answering live chat questions to teach biblical thinking

Opening of the livestream. Mike explains the goal of the show.

apologetics methodology biblical thinking

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Hebrews 7:3 — 'without father, without mother, without genealogy': literary vs. literal interpretation

The key debated phrase in the Melchizedek/Christophany debate.

Hebrews 7:3 typology Melchizedek Christophany

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Revelation 3:14-22 — Laodicea: the lukewarm church letter read and introduced

Question from Louise about Revelation 3:16 and whether lukewarm Christians go to heaven.

lukewarm Revelation 3:14-22 lukewarm seven churches of Revelation Revelation 3:14-22

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Matthew 18 is widely misused on the internet to silence discernment of public teachers

Mike introduces the recurring question about whether he has the right to critique public teachers like Bill Johnson, Todd White, Brian Zond, and Brian Simmons

Matthew 18 Brian Simmons Matthew 18 Bill Johnson

Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

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

Mormonism apologetics pre-mortal existence

Mike Winger idea 2018-09-26

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.

fulfilled prophecy Q&A format Rethink Conference

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Introduction: The command to 'be fruitful and multiply' from Genesis 1 is the first question — should it apply to married couples today, including whether intentionally choosing to have no children is acceptable.

Opening of Friday Q&A, last livestream of 2020. Mike introduces the prepared question about Genesis 1:28.

Genesis 1:28 Genesis 1:28 Be Fruitful and Multiply Marriage and Childbearing

Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

Why Jesus allowed Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross: possibly to display the depth of his physical suffering, and Simon and his sons apparently came to faith — suggesting the encounter introduced him more fully to Jesus.

Q: Why did Jesus allow Simon of Cyrene to help him carry his cross?

Romans 16 — Simon's Sons Simon of Cyrene Crucifixion of Jesus Romans 16 — Simon's Sons

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Introduction and ministry update for 2021

Opening of first livestream of 2021 (New Year's Day)

thinking biblically BibleThinker ministry

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-15

Ministry faithfulness in obscurity is intrinsically valuable regardless of audience size

Mike introduces himself and describes his Sunday night service in Bellflower, CA — typically 12-15 attendees despite massive YouTube reach — as an encouragement to small-ministry workers.

Matthew 25:14-30 Luke 16:10 Matthew 25:14-30 Faithfulness in ministry Parable of the Talents

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-29

Introduction: channel milestone of 200,000 subscribers and format of the 20 Questions Friday livestream

Opening remarks before questions begin. Mike Winger celebrates reaching 200k subscribers and explains the Q&A format.

Mike Winger online ministry ministry perseverance

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike introduces the livestream as an informal Q&A format, explains he is preparing for an upcoming debate on the resurrection of Jesus Christ against an atheist on Thursday.

Opening remarks and format explanation

resurrection of Jesus debate preparation livestream format

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Holy Spirit in the Old vs. New Testament: Old Testament experiences were primarily empowerment for service; New Testament introduces indwelling.

Question from Elizabeth about the distinction between the Holy Spirit coming "upon" versus being "in" a person.

Ezekiel 29 Elijah Holy Spirit empowerment Holy Spirit indwelling

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

How to see God as a loving father: filter feelings about God through Scripture, especially Romans 5:8 — God loved us while we were sinners.

Question from Kaisu (Finland) about feeling that God is indifferent or impatient with her.

Romans 5:8 Ephesians 1 Hebrews 4 God's love Romans 5:8 Ephesians 1

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Introduction to Friday Q&A format

Pastor Mike opens the show, noting he will answer up to 20 questions and will admit when he does not know something.

intellectual honesty Q&A format pastoral teaching

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Run through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Viewer Spazzy Jazzy asks for an explanation of the full armor of God from Ephesians 6.

Ephesians 6:10-18 spiritual warfare Ephesians 6:10-18 armor of God

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Introduction: learning to think biblically transforms every area of life

Opening of Friday live stream Q&A session

Christian living discipleship biblical thinking

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Strange or odd passages in Scripture deserve careful attention

Introducing the Parable of the Dishonest Manager (Luke 16:1-13)

Luke 16:1-13 hermeneutics biblical interpretation Luke 16:1-13

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Jerome's Latin Vulgate mistranslated "mystery" (mysterion) as "sacrament" in Ephesians 5:32, contributing to the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament.

Mark H asks about doctrinal changes Jerome introduced in the Vulgate around 400 AD.

Ephesians 5:32 Reformation Jerome Latin Vulgate

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-23

Introduction to episode 30 of 20 Questions with Pastor Mike; format overview.

Opening of the livestream, noting timestamps in all 20 Questions videos, Friday 1 PM Pacific recurring format.

livestream format 20 Questions with Pastor Mike

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 2021-03-19

Introduction: Friday Q&A format and purpose

Mike Winger opens the livestream, explaining the format of the Friday Q&A (formerly Tuesday). He positions himself not as an authority but as a fellow observer of Scripture.

Friday Q&A Scripture as guide Epistemological humility

Mike Winger idea 2021-04-30

Introduction: Mike frames the show goal as helping viewers think biblically about everything.

Opening remarks before first question; also notes resolved internet issues.

biblical thinking pastoral teaching 20 Questions with Pastor Mike

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Mike Winger introduces the livestream on evidence for God's existence, framing it as a resource video covering one strong argument simply, then in detail, then defending against objections.

Introduction to the Kalam cosmological argument livestream

apologetics evidence for God apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-12

Guest Braxton Hunter (president of Trinity Seminary, PhD) introduces the Kalam cosmological argument and explains its ultimate payoff: reasoning toward what the cause of the universe must be like.

Introduction to the Kalam — what it gets you

Kalam cosmological argument Braxton Hunter Kalam cosmological argument

Mike Winger idea 2020-01-08

Mike Winger introduces a panel response to Genetically Modified Skeptic's video "4 Questions That Could Make You an Atheist," joined by Braxton Hunter, Cameron Bertuzzi, and John McCrae.

Introduction — response to Genetically Modified Skeptic

John McCrae apologetics apologetics Cameron Bertuzzi

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-19

Mike introduces a response to pro-choice artist Tatiana Gill who drew images of Jesus supporting abortion using the phrase "with you always." She blocked Mike when he reached out privately for clarification.

Introduction — responding to pro-choice art

abortion pro-choice propaganda Tatiana Gill

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Mike gathered Twitter responses from people who switched from pro-choice to pro-life, asking what changed their minds. He presents 8 specific stories.

Introduction — 8 pro-choice to pro-life conversions

abortion pro-choice to pro-life conversion

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-04

Mike opens a general theology and apologetics Q&A livestream, taking questions from live chat.

Introduction — Q&A format

apologetics

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-11

Mike introduces a study on flat earth Bible verses. His goal is not to argue about the shape of the earth but to show that the Bible does NOT teach flat earth. Ground rules: not about conspiracies, geocentrism, or the firmament — only about whether specific verses teach a flat earth.

Introduction — flat earth Bible study

hermeneutics hermeneutics biblical cosmology

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-11

Daniel 4: a tree visible to "the end of the whole earth" — but this is Nebuchadnezzar's dream ("visions of my head as I lay in bed"). Dreams don't provide cosmological data. The phrase "ends of the earth" just means visible far away.

Daniel 4 — it's a dream

Daniel 4 flat earth Daniel 4 Nebuchadnezzar dream

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q&A livestream during early COVID lockdown period. Mike announces he'll livestream his Sunday night Bible study from home due to government guidelines.

Introduction — COVID-era Q&A

COVID lockdown

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-16

Mike's goal is not medical advice but biblical wisdom for the COVID pandemic. Key questions: should churches close? Is gathering an act of faith? Is staying home a compromise? He acknowledges we don't know the full extent of the danger.

Introduction — biblical wisdom during COVID

COVID lockdown pandemic response

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Mike presents a detailed gospel message: how to get saved. Romans 10:9 is the core verse — confess Jesus is Lord, believe God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. Simple but with deep layers when you zoom in.

Introduction — how to get saved

Romans 10:9 gospel presentation Romans 10:9 how to get saved

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Mike interviews Natasha Crain, author of "Talking with Your Kids about Jesus" — an apologetics book for parents covering 30 conversations about Jesus that kids need in today's world. Five sections: identity, teachings, death, resurrection, and difference Jesus makes.

Introduction — Natasha Crain interview

Natasha Crain kids apologetics Talking with Your Kids about Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-08

Each chapter has a conversation guide: (1) "Open the conversation" — easy questions to get kids talking without intimidation. (2) "Advance the conversation" — deeper questions with tips in parentheses guiding parents on key points to cover. Designed to move from kids' heads to actual parent-child dialogue.

Conversation guide structure

Natasha Crain kids apologetics conversation guides

Mike Winger idea 2020-04-19

Mike presents 24-26 ways Passover was prophetically fulfilled by Jesus. Passover is a typological prophecy — not direct prediction/fulfillment but symbolic correspondence between OT events and Christ's work. 1 Corinthians 5:7: "Christ our Passover lamb has been sacrificed." Jesus chose to die during Passover week — his timing was deliberate.

Introduction — Passover as prophetic type

1 Corinthians 5:7 Passover Passover Passover as prophecy

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

First livestreamed Sunday night Bible study (during COVID). Mark Series Pt 32 covering Mark 9:33-42 — unnecessary division, competition in Christian leadership, and why pastors shouldn't be CEOs.

Introduction — Mark 9:33-42

Mark 9:33-42 Mark Series servant leadership Mark 9:33-42 Mark Series

Mike Winger idea 2020-05-06

Mike interviews Dr. Sean McDowell about his doctoral research on apostolic martyrdom as evidence for the resurrection. The argument: martyrdom proves sincerity (not truth), which eliminates the conspiracy/lying hypothesis. It's one piece of a larger resurrection argument, not standalone proof.

Introduction — apostolic martyrdom and the resurrection

apostolic martyrdom Sean McDowell conspiracy hypothesis

Mike Winger idea 2020-05-21

Mike interviews Dr. Peter Williams (principal of Tyndale House Cambridge) about his book "Can We Trust the Gospels?" The approach: rather than proving individual claims, show that the hypothesis of reliable reporting is far simpler than the hypothesis of fabrication. Two competing explanations — reliable accounts vs complex conspiracy — and the data overwhelmingly favors reliability.

Introduction — cumulative case for gospel reliability

Peter Williams inference to best explanation gospel reliability

Mike Winger idea 2020-06-19

Follow-up to Mike's 200+ hours of research and 3-hour teaching on divorce and remarriage. He combed through 1,000+ comments and selected 29 issues to address — questions, pushback, and scenarios he hadn't covered.

Introduction — divorce/remarriage follow-up

divorce and remarriage

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-18

Mark Series pt 39: Mark 10:35-45. James and John ask for positions of authority in Jesus's kingdom. Jesus teaches that greatness in his kingdom = servanthood, the opposite of worldly leadership. This passage addresses pastoral abuse at its root: the false expectation that Christian leadership means authority rather than service.

Introduction — Mark 10:35-45 and pastoral abuse

Mark 10:45 Mark 10:35-45 James and John request servant leadership servant leadership Mark 10:45

Mike Winger idea 2020-08-31

The Triumphal Entry is better understood as the "Ironic Entry" — the central contrast is between the crowd's expectations of a political liberator and Jesus' actual mission of humble sacrifice.

Introduction to Mark 11:1-11 verse-by-verse study

Mark 11:1-11 Mark series Triumphal Entry Mark 11:1-11 irony in Scripture

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-15

Overview: Responding to an article presenting the "best arguments" of top atheists against God. The first four are circular and self-refuting; the fifth (problem of evil) is genuinely difficult but well-answered.

Introduction to video analyzing Sam Wickstrom article on atheist arguments from Dawkins, Nietzsche, and Epicurus

circular reasoning atheism circular reasoning

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

Personal testimony: as a teenager Mike was told he was not saved because he had not spoken in tongues

1 Corinthians 14:5 — Paul wishes all spoke in tongues, implying not everyone does

Introduction to soul sleep vs. immediate presence with God at death

Philippians 1:19-23 — context of Paul in prison writing about life vs. death

Introduction to TULIP as a summary of Calvinist theology

Introduction: 20 Questions format — answering live chat questions to teach biblical thinking

Hebrews 7:3 — 'without father, without mother, without genealogy': literary vs. literal interpretation

Revelation 3:14-22 — Laodicea: the lukewarm church letter read and introduced

Matthew 18 is widely misused on the internet to silence discernment of public teachers

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

Introduction to subscriber Q&A hangout format

Introduction: The command to 'be fruitful and multiply' from Genesis 1 is the first question — should it apply to married couples today, including whether intentionally choosing to have no children is acceptable.

Why Jesus allowed Simon of Cyrene to carry his cross: possibly to display the depth of his physical suffering, and Simon and his sons apparently came to faith — suggesting the encounter introduced him more fully to Jesus.

Introduction and ministry update for 2021

Ministry faithfulness in obscurity is intrinsically valuable regardless of audience size

Introduction: channel milestone of 200,000 subscribers and format of the 20 Questions Friday livestream

Mike introduces the livestream as an informal Q&A format, explains he is preparing for an upcoming debate on the resurrection of Jesus Christ against an atheist on Thursday.

Holy Spirit in the Old vs. New Testament: Old Testament experiences were primarily empowerment for service; New Testament introduces indwelling.

How to see God as a loving father: filter feelings about God through Scripture, especially Romans 5:8 — God loved us while we were sinners.

Introduction to Friday Q&A format

Question: Run through the Armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18)

Introduction: learning to think biblically transforms every area of life

Strange or odd passages in Scripture deserve careful attention

Jerome's Latin Vulgate mistranslated "mystery" (mysterion) as "sacrament" in Ephesians 5:32, contributing to the Roman Catholic doctrine of marriage as a sacrament.

Introduction to episode 30 of 20 Questions with Pastor Mike; format overview.

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.

Introduction: Friday Q&A format and purpose

Introduction: Mike frames the show goal as helping viewers think biblically about everything.

Mike Winger introduces the livestream on evidence for God's existence, framing it as a resource video covering one strong argument simply, then in detail, then defending against objections.

Guest Braxton Hunter (president of Trinity Seminary, PhD) introduces the Kalam cosmological argument and explains its ultimate payoff: reasoning toward what the cause of the universe must be like.

Mike Winger introduces a panel response to Genetically Modified Skeptic's video "4 Questions That Could Make You an Atheist," joined by Braxton Hunter, Cameron Bertuzzi, and John McCrae.

Mike introduces a response to pro-choice artist Tatiana Gill who drew images of Jesus supporting abortion using the phrase "with you always." She blocked Mike when he reached out privately for clarification.

Mike gathered Twitter responses from people who switched from pro-choice to pro-life, asking what changed their minds. He presents 8 specific stories.

Mike opens a general theology and apologetics Q&A livestream, taking questions from live chat.

Mike introduces a study on flat earth Bible verses. His goal is not to argue about the shape of the earth but to show that the Bible does NOT teach flat earth. Ground rules: not about conspiracies, geocentrism, or the firmament — only about whether specific verses teach a flat earth.

Daniel 4: a tree visible to "the end of the whole earth" — but this is Nebuchadnezzar's dream ("visions of my head as I lay in bed"). Dreams don't provide cosmological data. The phrase "ends of the earth" just means visible far away.

Q&A livestream during early COVID lockdown period. Mike announces he'll livestream his Sunday night Bible study from home due to government guidelines.

Mike's goal is not medical advice but biblical wisdom for the COVID pandemic. Key questions: should churches close? Is gathering an act of faith? Is staying home a compromise? He acknowledges we don't know the full extent of the danger.

Mike presents a detailed gospel message: how to get saved. Romans 10:9 is the core verse — confess Jesus is Lord, believe God raised him from the dead, and you will be saved. Simple but with deep layers when you zoom in.

Mike interviews Natasha Crain, author of "Talking with Your Kids about Jesus" — an apologetics book for parents covering 30 conversations about Jesus that kids need in today's world. Five sections: identity, teachings, death, resurrection, and difference Jesus makes.

First livestreamed Sunday night Bible study (during COVID). Mark Series Pt 32 covering Mark 9:33-42 — unnecessary division, competition in Christian leadership, and why pastors shouldn't be CEOs.

Mike interviews Dr. Sean McDowell about his doctoral research on apostolic martyrdom as evidence for the resurrection. The argument: martyrdom proves sincerity (not truth), which eliminates the conspiracy/lying hypothesis. It's one piece of a larger resurrection argument, not standalone proof.

Follow-up to Mike's 200+ hours of research and 3-hour teaching on divorce and remarriage. He combed through 1,000+ comments and selected 29 issues to address — questions, pushback, and scenarios he hadn't covered.

The Triumphal Entry is better understood as the "Ironic Entry" — the central contrast is between the crowd's expectations of a political liberator and Jesus' actual mission of humble sacrifice.

Overview: Responding to an article presenting the "best arguments" of top atheists against God. The first four are circular and self-refuting; the fifth (problem of evil) is genuinely difficult but well-answered.

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