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All (473) Scripture Commentary (152) Theology (24) Mike Winger (296) Pulpit (1)
Mike Winger idea 2020-01-29

Proper logic and reason will never contradict genuine faith; apparent conflicts come from reasoning errors, not from reason itself

Q&A: whether logic can grieve the Holy Spirit

Holy Spirit epistemology faith and reason
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Mike does not hold to full Calvinist total depravity; the key disagreement is whether fallen humans can respond to the Holy Spirit's call

Question from Jason Staub about conditional election, prevenient grace, and total depravity — if Christ dies for all, why must a sinner overcome unbelief on their own?

soteriology free will Calvinism
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

No one overcomes unbelief "on their own" — God uses general revelation, conscience, and the Holy Spirit to call everyone

Continuing the conditional election question — answering the specific sub-question of why a sinner must overcome unbelief "on their own."

Romans 1 Holy Spirit conscience soteriology
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-04

Feeling vs. conviction: feelings are emotions; convictions are firm stances on issues, though they overlap

Q from Faith Brooks about the difference between a feeling and a conviction.

discernment emotions conviction
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-11

Romans 10:9 — confessing Jesus as Lord and believing in the heart involves personal yielding and trust, not merely intellectual assent

Response to Ryan Hasty asking how to know if one believes in the heart versus merely thinking the evidence points toward Christianity being true.

Romans 10:9 confession Romans 10:9 lordship
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Traditions can masquerade as pure biblical faith; willingness to change one's mind is essential

Closing reflection on how unbiblical traditions take hold in communities

hermeneutics tradition vs Scripture intellectual humility
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Liturgy is not inherently a hindrance; the theology beneath it is the critical question

Conclusion on the liturgy question

theology church tradition liturgy
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Proverbs 18:21 — death and life in the power of the tongue; verses 20-21 are a unit

Q&A from Noah Lavell Martinez about the word-faith misuse of Proverbs 18:21

Proverbs 18:21 Proverbs 18:20 hermeneutics Proverbs 18:21 Proverbs 18:20
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Proverbs 18:21 teaches the practical real-world consequences of speech, not speaking things into existence

Interpretation of Proverbs 18:21

Proverbs 18:21 Proverbs 18:21 word of faith tongue and speech
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-25

Presuppositional apologetics debate: Mike rejects the claim that evidential apologists need shared worldview common ground

Q&A from Daniel C about whether neutral or common ground exists in apologetics

apologetics presuppositional apologetics evidential apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Calvinism: regeneration precedes faith — the Holy Spirit regenerates the sinner first, making belief inevitable

Question from Jason Staub about whether faith from a fallen nature is "fruitful" faith, touching on the Calvinist doctrine of regeneration preceding faith

Calvinism soteriology total depravity
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

Mike's anti-Calvinist argument: faith is not a work regardless of its source; the Calvinist objection tries to smuggle faith into the "works" category

Mike's response to the Calvinist framing of faith as a "good work" that requires prior regeneration

Galatians 2 Romans 11:6 Genesis 15:6 Galatians 2 Abraham Romans 11:6
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Colossians — New Testament prohibition against borrowing pagan or Old Covenant practices

New Testament argument against adopting New Age spiritual practices

Colossians Paul Colossians New Age
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Baptism: no required level of knowledge — New Testament pattern is immediate baptism upon faith

Question from Dimitar Bratov about the level of understanding required before baptism

catechesis baptism discipleship
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Unconditional Election — Mike partly affirms, partly rejects

Second point of TULIP addressed.

Calvinism Molinism TULIP
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

"My faith is personal" — Mike says this is unbiblical and reflects spiritual deception

Q from Proverbs 17:11 about Christians who refuse to discuss religion because it is personal.

Mark 16:15 Evangelism Mark 16:15 Great Commission
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Parachute/airplane illustration: beliefs do not determine outcomes — reality is independent of belief

Mike uses a vivid analogy to show relativism fails when applied to real-world consequences.

evangelism eternal destiny objective truth
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Salvation is grounded in objective reality, not in the power of belief itself

Conclusion of the relativism discussion.

salvation resurrection objective truth
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

Rejecting the deity of Christ is a salvation issue -- John 5 says dishonoring the Son dishonors the Father

Responding to Isaac Floyd's question about whether denying the deity of Christ is a salvation issue

John 5 mediator salvation Christology
Mike Winger idea 2020-11-06

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

conspiracy theory Noahide Laws anti-Semitism
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

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

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

Calvary Chapel sola scriptura theological method
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Would aliens disprove Christianity? The real question is not whether aliens exist but what Christian belief would be lost if they did.

Opening topic of the 20 Questions livestream

apologetics aliens and Christianity
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Aliens would not disprove any core Christian doctrine: God's existence, the Trinity, Christ's death and resurrection, justification by grace through faith, or the future resurrection.

Working through whether alien discovery threatens Christian beliefs

Trinity justification by faith apologetics
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Many Christian doubts about heaven and death are psychological rather than intellectual; manufactured skepticism exploits unthought-through questions to create irrational doubt.

Question: can someone know for sure that heaven is real?

faith apologetics doubt
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

Biblical faith is not groundless belief but trust based on revelation and evidence; the response to psychological doubt is to exercise trust grounded in good reasons.

How to respond to psychological doubt

Abraham faith fulfilled prophecy
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-18

1 Corinthians 5:11 — not associating with a so-called 'brother' guilty of ongoing sin — targets life-pattern behavioral sins, not theological disagreement; the context is likely the communion/love-feast meal.

Q: How should 1 Corinthians 5:11 affect relationships with liberal Christian friends with unbiblical beliefs and practices?

1 Corinthians 5:11 1 Corinthians 5:11 Church Discipline Fellowship vs. Outreach Mode
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Diagnosing the root belief driving a gay-identifying Christian friend — four possible positions

Continuing Q8 — strategy for engaging friend

Matthew Vines biblical authority apologetics homosexuality
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 2021-01-01

Q12: Fear of studying theology — not studying is not safer; intellectual humility in study

Response to viewer afraid of making mistakes when studying eschatology

hermeneutics eschatology epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Q13: Anxiety about salvation and blasphemy of the Holy Spirit — prayer and resource recommendation

Response to viewer ("Spazzy Jazzy") anxious about salvation and blasphemy of Holy Spirit

Hebrews 12:2 Holy Spirit blasphemy of the Holy Spirit anxiety
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-01

Calibrated theological humility: hold beliefs with appropriate confidence, expect some error, keep learning

Continuing Q14 on following heart vs. conscience vs. Scripture

epistemology theological error intellectual humility
Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike shares his personal testimony: he came to faith at age 12 through the 10 Commandments convicting him of sin, then heard the gospel at a youth group he attended to get out of the house, believed immediately, and later pursued apologetics to verify his faith.

Response to viewer asking about Mike’s testimony

Holy Spirit apologetics gospel
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Endorsement circle comparison: Simmons is endorsed only within hyper-charismatic circles; the resurrection was affirmed even by hostile witnesses like Paul.

Second distinction in the Simmons-vs-apostles credibility argument.

Empty tomb Paul the Apostle Enemy attestation
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Proper epistemology: compare the quality of evidence for each religious claim rather than treating all religious claims equally.

Conclusion of the Brian Simmons / apostles comparison section.

Mormonism Joseph Smith Comparative religious epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-05

Who is a brother or sister in Christ? Core doctrines required: the identity and saving work of Jesus — his real existence, death, resurrection, and forgiveness of sins through faith.

Question from Rosie A. about the minimum beliefs required to consider someone a fellow Christian.

James 2 James 2 Christian essentials Salvation theology
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-12

Belief in Christ's resurrection transforms the believer's relationship to death — to die is to pass into God's presence

Mike continues his counsel on fear of death, drawing on the resurrection and Paul's teaching.

2 Corinthians 5:8 John 11 Paul the Apostle resurrection 2 Corinthians 5:8
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Are vision boards compatible with Christianity? (New Age concerns)

Viewer Kingsley Amaya asks about vision boards his sister wants to use, which seem tied to New Age practice.

New Age vision board goal-setting
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

John 8:30-58 — Jesus rebuking those described as believing in him; claim to deity (I AM)

Viewer from the Czech Republic asks why Jesus spoke so confrontationally to those described as believing in him in John 8.

John 8:30-38 John 8:58 Abraham John 8:30-38 John 8:58
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Interpretive options for belief in John 8:30 — salvific vs. surface belief; audience complexity

The theological puzzle: was this salvific belief that was then lost, or was it never salvific to begin with?

John 8:30-38 John 1:11 perseverance of the saints John 8:30-38 belief in John
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Do people go to hell for sin or for not believing in Jesus?

Viewer Phil Agape asks whether hell is the penalty for sin or for unbelief; references Ephesians 5:5-6 and Colossians 3:5-6.

Ephesians 5:5-6 Colossians 3:5-6 soteriology sin unbelief
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

John 3:16-18 — condemnation precedes unbelief; unbelief leaves you in existing condemnation

Scriptural support for the pit analogy.

John 3:16-18 salvation soteriology sin
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

How to find God: Christianity's goal is not emotional comfort but truth and relationship; reading and praying without trusting Christ is insufficient.

Question from an anonymous person (username 'it's me') who found comfort in the New Age but confusion in Christianity after 5 months of reading and prayer.

Assurance of salvation New Age spirituality Conversion and faith
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-04

Tips for an atheist starting to believe: gather intellectual reasons for God, practice spiritual disciplines, and make choices that shape belief.

Question from Emil Codrin about how to start believing after a lifetime of atheism.

Evidence for God Christopher Hitchens Spiritual disciplines
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Burial symbolism matters even though cremation is permissible

Mike affirms cremation is acceptable but argues for the value of burial symbolism and honoring the dead.

Luke 23 Leviticus Luke 23 Leviticus burial
Mike Winger idea 2021-02-26

Covert narcissism and Proverbs 16:5 — misunderstanding grace; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11

Giant Mushroom Tree is being diagnosed with covert narcissistic personality disorder and fears Proverbs 16:5 means they are unsavable.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Proverbs 16:5 repentance pride grace
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Confirmation bias accusations are themselves prone to confirmation bias; fear of confirmation bias is not sufficient reason to disbelieve something

Responding to a young Christian worried that his theism might be confirmation bias given that most atheistic arguments seem like straw men and ad hominem

straw man argument apologetics atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Changing one's mind is not required for intellectual validity; core epistemic beliefs are foundational and need no further justification

Continuing the apologetics discussion about confirmation bias

confirmation bias knowledge epistemology
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

Approaching a teenage atheist: dig for motives (often sin-related) rather than just arguments, in an environment of love

Advising a mother whose 16-year-old son has declared himself an atheist and can barely defend his position

youth ministry apologetics teenage atheism
Mike Winger idea 2021-04-09

Why was Zechariah punished for his question about John's birth, but Mary was not punished for asking the same type of question?

Question from Terry Defilo about Luke 1:18 (Zechariah) vs. Luke 1:34 (Mary) and the apparent inconsistency.

John the Baptist Luke 1:18 Luke 1:34 Mary John the Baptist Luke 1:18
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