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All (25) Mike Winger (25)

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Matthew 6:10 ('on earth as it is in heaven') is the central practical scripture of Bethel's theology — they interpret it as God manifesting heaven's conditions on earth right now

Mike identifies and challenges Bethel's key proof text for their present-kingdom expectations

Matthew 6:10 Bill Johnson Matthew 6:10 kingdom of God

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Revelation 6:16-17 and Revelation 11:15-18 show that the coming of God's kingdom involves wrath and judgment, not just signs and wonders

Mike cites specific Revelation texts to establish what Scripture means by 'the kingdom coming'

Revelation 6:16-17 Revelation 11:15-18 kingdom of God eschatology Revelation 6:16-17

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Matthew 6:33 — 'Seek first the kingdom of God' as the foundation for prioritizing godliness above all else

Biblical grounding for making godliness the top priority in annual evaluation.

Matthew 6:33 godliness priorities Matthew 6:33

Mike Winger idea 2018-08-22

CoG uses the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service as propaganda to signal divine legitimacy — Jesus explicitly condemned this kind of public righteousness display

CoG prominently features the Queen's Award on its website and presents it to members as evidence they are the true Church of God.

Matthew 6:1-4 World Mission Society Church of God Matthew 6:1-4 public righteousness display

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-17

Treasures in heaven are eternal, imperishable blessings — not necessities but blessings, possibly including crowns cast before God — as opposed to the temporary, corruptible treasures of earthly life.

Q&A section: a viewer asks what 'treasures in heaven' means and why they would be needed when all needs are met.

Matthew 6:19-21 Revelation 4:10 eschatology Q&A treasures in heaven

Mike Winger idea 2019-03-13

Distinction between being wealthy and pursuing wealth; Matthew 6 "seek first the kingdom" as the proper framework.

Wrapping up the prosperity gospel question.

Matthew 6 Matthew 6 Seek first the kingdom Wealth and Christianity

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-08

Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Response to question about applying Matthew 6:14-15 to life situations

Matthew 6:14-15 Philippians 2:13 assurance of salvation forgiveness Matthew 6:14-15

Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Jesus's ministry was exclusively to Jews (Matt 15:24; Matt 10:5)—the Sermon on the Mount is a Jewish address, not a Gentile one

Contextual argument that Matthew 5 cannot be applied directly to Gentiles

Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Matthew 6:32 Matthew 10:5 Matthew 15:24 Jewish audience of Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Question from David Ellington about whether failing to forgive others means losing salvation.

1 John Matthew 6:14-15 1 John salvation Lord's Prayer

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-09

Persistent prayer vs. vain repetition — the biblical balance

Question from Lunggail Zandi about wrestling with God vs. vain repetitions in prayer

Matthew 6:7 Luke 18 prayer vain repetition persistent prayer

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-08

Jesus warns against vain repetition in prayer — praying a formula many times over can become "heaping up empty phrases"

Exposition of Matthew 6:5-13 in response to the rosary question

Matthew 6:7 Matthew 6:9-13 prayer vain repetition Matthew 6:7

Mike Winger idea 2021-03-26

Waiting on the Lord is an active, not passive, posture — characterized by seeking first the kingdom in whatever capacity is available now.

Derek Beeler asks for advice on a season of waiting to discern God's calling.

Matthew 6:33 Chuck Smith Matthew 6:33 pastoral counseling

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-11

Q&A: Who should we direct prayers to? Generally to the Father (Matthew 6:6), but praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit is acceptable. "In Jesus' name" is not a required phrase — you pray through Christ whether you say it or not because he is your mediator.

Q&A — directing prayer

Matthew 6:6 prayer direction Matthew 6:6

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: Matthew 6:33 — seek first God's kingdom and he'll provide necessities. But Christians sometimes lack essentials. Mike's view: this is a general promise with exceptions. Paul experienced hunger, nakedness, and need (Philippians 4:12, 2 Corinthians 11:25-27) while faithfully serving God. Suffering doesn't invalidate the promise — it's for God's greater purposes.

Q&A — Matthew 6:33 and Christian suffering

Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:12 2 Corinthians 11:25-27 Matthew 6:33 Philippians 4:12 2 Corinthians 11:25-27

Mike Winger idea 2020-03-23

Mark 9:35: "If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all." Jesus flips worldly leadership upside down. Parallel: Matthew 6:1-6 — Pharisees do good works for human recognition and get no reward from God. 1 Peter 5:3: lead by example, don't lord over people. The test: if everyone treated people the way you treat people, would it make a healthy church?

Servant leadership vs worldly leadership

Matthew 6:1-6 1 Peter 5:3 servant leadership servant leadership Matthew 6:1-6

Mike Winger idea 2020-09-28

Your part in prayer is faith, but GOD does the miracles — the power is not in your words or your belief, but in God's response. Forgiveness of others and repentance of sin are prerequisites for effective prayer.

Analysis of active/passive language in Mark 11 and the forgiveness requirement

1 Peter 3:7 Mark 11:25 Matthew 5:23-24 1 Peter 3:7 Mark 11:25 Matthew 5:23-24

Mike Winger idea 2022-01-28

Right and Wrong Public Worship/Prayer: In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says not to pray like people in public who try to get attention. Would that include praying and worshiping in church?

Q&A question: Right and Wrong Public Worship/Prayer

Matthew Matthew 6 Jesus prayer worship

Mike Winger idea 2022-09-02

Did Jesus Contradict Himself?: Why would Jesus instruct us to let our good works be seen by others (Matthew 5: 16) if He also instructed us to do our good works in secret (Matthew 6:1-4)? Am I misunderstanding something?

Q&A question: Did Jesus Contradict Himself?

Matthew 6:1-4 Matthew 5 Matthew Jesus Matthew 6:1-4 Matthew 5

Mike Winger idea 2022-09-30

Will the Father Not Forgive Us?: Matthew 6: 14-15 says we should forgive others of their trespasses or our Father will not forgive us of ours. But the Bible also says that all of our sins have been atoned for on the cross. Can you explain?

Q&A question: Will the Father Not Forgive Us?

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6

Mike Winger idea 2022-12-16

Is Absolution or Absolving of Sins Biblical?: Does John 20: 23 and Matthew 6: 14 indicate that absolution (the act of forgiving someone for having done something wrong or sinful) is biblical?

Q&A question: Is Absolution or Absolving of Sins Biblical?

Matthew Matthew 6 John 20 Matthew Matthew 6 John 20

Mike Winger idea 2023-10-17

Do Some Sins Indicate a Lack of Salvation?: Verses like Matthew 6: 14 make me feel like there are sins so bad that if you commit them (like unforgiveness), you’re 100% not a Christian. I feel like I have to maintain my own salvation.

Q&A question: Do Some Sins Indicate a Lack of Salvation?

Matthew Matthew 6 salvation Matthew Matthew 6

Mike Winger idea 2023-12-01

Faith in Christ = Guaranteed Protection?: Matthew 6: 25-34 seems to promise earthly protection. How do we contrast this with the "nakedness and starvation" that Paul and other Christians went through (especially under persecution)?

Q&A question: Faith in Christ = Guaranteed Protection?

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6

Mike Winger idea 2024-09-14

Tongues = Vain Repetition?: Would it be fair to consider the way some churches use tongues in opposition to 1 Corinthians 14 as a form of "vain repetition" (Matthew 6:5-8)?

Q&A question: Tongues = Vain Repetition?

1 Corinthians 14 Matthew Matthew 6 1 Corinthians 14 tongues Matthew

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-28

Are Charitable Tax Deductions Sinful?: Is claiming our charitable donations on our taxes “receiving our reward on Earth” (Matthew 6:1-5)?

Q&A question: Are Charitable Tax Deductions Sinful?

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6

Mike Winger idea 2026-01-02

Matthew 6 – But Poverty?: How do we reconcile Matthew 6: 25-33 with the reality of poverty? I'm comfortable saying "even He doesn't, God is still good" but this passage sounds almost Word-of-Faith.

Q&A question: Matthew 6 – But Poverty?

Matthew Matthew 6 Matthew Matthew 6

Matthew 6:10 ('on earth as it is in heaven') is the central practical scripture of Bethel's theology — they interpret it as God manifesting heaven's conditions on earth right now

Revelation 6:16-17 and Revelation 11:15-18 show that the coming of God's kingdom involves wrath and judgment, not just signs and wonders

Matthew 6:33 — 'Seek first the kingdom of God' as the foundation for prioritizing godliness above all else

CoG uses the Queen's Award for Voluntary Service as propaganda to signal divine legitimacy — Jesus explicitly condemned this kind of public righteousness display

Treasures in heaven are eternal, imperishable blessings — not necessities but blessings, possibly including crowns cast before God — as opposed to the temporary, corruptible treasures of earthly life.

Distinction between being wealthy and pursuing wealth; Matthew 6 "seek first the kingdom" as the proper framework.

Matthew 6:14-15 has a direct and uncomfortable application; persistent unwillingness to forgive may be evidence of not being in Christ, not a cause of losing salvation

Jesus's ministry was exclusively to Jews (Matt 15:24; Matt 10:5)—the Sermon on the Mount is a Jewish address, not a Gentile one

Matthew 6:14-15 — is forgiving others necessary for salvation, or evidence of it?

Persistent prayer vs. vain repetition — the biblical balance

Jesus warns against vain repetition in prayer — praying a formula many times over can become "heaping up empty phrases"

Waiting on the Lord is an active, not passive, posture — characterized by seeking first the kingdom in whatever capacity is available now.

Q&A: Who should we direct prayers to? Generally to the Father (Matthew 6:6), but praying to Jesus or the Holy Spirit is acceptable. "In Jesus' name" is not a required phrase — you pray through Christ whether you say it or not because he is your mediator.

Your part in prayer is faith, but GOD does the miracles — the power is not in your words or your belief, but in God's response. Forgiveness of others and repentance of sin are prerequisites for effective prayer.

Right and Wrong Public Worship/Prayer: In Matthew 6:5, Jesus says not to pray like people in public who try to get attention. Would that include praying and worshiping in church?

Did Jesus Contradict Himself?: Why would Jesus instruct us to let our good works be seen by others (Matthew 5: 16) if He also instructed us to do our good works in secret (Matthew 6:1-4)? Am I misunderstanding something?

Will the Father Not Forgive Us?: Matthew 6: 14-15 says we should forgive others of their trespasses or our Father will not forgive us of ours. But the Bible also says that all of our sins have been atoned for on the cross. Can you explain?

Is Absolution or Absolving of Sins Biblical?: Does John 20: 23 and Matthew 6: 14 indicate that absolution (the act of forgiving someone for having done something wrong or sinful) is biblical?

Do Some Sins Indicate a Lack of Salvation?: Verses like Matthew 6: 14 make me feel like there are sins so bad that if you commit them (like unforgiveness), you’re 100% not a Christian. I feel like I have to maintain my own salvation.

Faith in Christ = Guaranteed Protection?: Matthew 6: 25-34 seems to promise earthly protection. How do we contrast this with the "nakedness and starvation" that Paul and other Christians went through (especially under persecution)?

Tongues = Vain Repetition?: Would it be fair to consider the way some churches use tongues in opposition to 1 Corinthians 14 as a form of "vain repetition" (Matthew 6:5-8)?

Are Charitable Tax Deductions Sinful?: Is claiming our charitable donations on our taxes “receiving our reward on Earth” (Matthew 6:1-5)?

Matthew 6 – But Poverty?: How do we reconcile Matthew 6: 25-33 with the reality of poverty? I'm comfortable saying "even He doesn't, God is still good" but this passage sounds almost Word-of-Faith.

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