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All (43) Mike Winger (43)
Mike Winger idea 2022-05-30

Eldership is radically different from prophecy: anyone could prophesy instantly, but elders must meet extensive qualifications

Mike begins a detailed list of differences between prophecy and eldership.

1 Timothy 3 Titus 1 1 Timothy 3 eldership qualifications Titus 1
Mike Winger idea 2024-03-01

Failed egalitarian arguments against Pillar 2

Mike lists and dismisses various egalitarian counter-arguments.

1 Timothy 2:12 1 Timothy 2:12 egalitarian arguments authenteo
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-15

Q&A: The Christian's primary cultural identity is the culture of Christ—follow Christ absolutely, adapt to culture in neutral matters

Pastoral guidance on Christianity and cultural identity

1 Corinthians 9 Christian liberty 1 Corinthians 9 Christian and culture
Mike Winger idea 2019-05-22

Hebrew Roots response to Acts 15: it was only temporary, with full Torah teaching coming later. Winger demolishes this by pointing to the years of prior discipleship at Antioch.

Response to the Hebrew Roots 'temporary decree' argument for Acts 15

Acts 15 Acts 13 discipleship Acts 15 Torah observance
Mike Winger idea 2020-08-28

Mike declines to share his full personal testimony out of love for family members whose failures would be exposed publicly

Question from ZZ asking Mike to share his testimony and struggles as a new believer.

discipleship personal testimony pastoral ethics
Mike Winger idea 2020-09-18

How to start reading the Bible — begin with the Gospels, Acts, Romans, Hebrews; not Genesis-to-Revelation in order

Question from Dallin Byrd about the best starting point for Bible reading.

Romans Acts Hebrews Romans Acts Hebrews
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-17

Living with non-Christian parents who swear, drink, and watch vulgar content

Q from Soul about navigating holiness when living with ungodly parents.

Evangelism Holiness Family Relationships
Mike Winger idea 2020-10-30

Bible study tips for new believers: study Bibles and Blue Letter Bible as foundational resources

Question from Mia Joe, a new Christian of a couple months.

Bible study Blue Letter Bible new believers
Mike Winger idea 2020-12-11

For new Christians evaluating commentaries: trust your Bible more than commentators; blueletterbible.org is recommended as a generally reliable free resource.

Question from a new Christian about evaluating Bible teachers and commentaries

hermeneutics discernment commentaries
Mike Winger idea 2021-01-22

Protecting against false doctrine without a complete Bible knowledge: read in context and check the text

Katie, a newly saved teen (about 10 months old in the faith), asked how to guard against false teaching when she has not yet read the entire Bible.

Romans proof-texting discernment false teaching
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-05

A new believer should lovingly but firmly set sexual boundaries with a girlfriend, even at the risk of losing the relationship

Responding to a 3-month-old believer whose girlfriend is hesitant to abstain from sex

obedience sexual purity Christian relationships
Mike Winger idea 2021-03-19

Sharing Jesus with children when an atheist spouse objects

Listener Sheila is a new believer; her atheist husband does not want her sharing Jesus with their daughter because the daughter will think he's going to hell.

Acts 5:29 Acts 5:29 Atheism Religious liberty in marriage
Mike Winger idea 2020-03-18

Q: New church member sharing New Age content. Options: approach the person gently, or approach leadership. Example: Doreen Virtue (former New Age guru) became Christian but retained New Age practices — no Christians helped correct her, they just condemned her. New believers need patient discipleship, not condemnation.

Q&A — New Age content in church

New Age Doreen Virtue
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Mike announces BibleThinker is now its own incorporated ministry organization, separate from his local church (while still attending). Also previews follow-up to his marriage/divorce/remarriage study — longest teaching he's ever done (3 hours), nearly 1,000 comments in one week.

Announcements — BibleThinker incorporation, divorce study

divorce and remarriage BibleThinker ministry
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Mike addresses the George Floyd protests and racism from a biblical perspective: (1) All humans are made in God's image — foundational to human rights. (2) Race as commonly discussed doesn't fit the Christian worldview — skin color is irrelevant to human value. (3) Romans 12:21: don't let others' sin trigger your sin. (4) Galatians 6:1: restore in gentleness, keep watch on yourself lest you be tempted. The key warning: don't justify rebellion against God in the name of righteousness.

Biblical response to George Floyd and racism

Galatians 6:1 Romans 12:21 imago Dei Galatians 6:1 Good Samaritan
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

1 Peter 2:24 ("by his wounds you have been healed") does refer to physical healing in Mike's view, but the TIMING is the issue. Many benefits of the cross aren't received now — we still die, still have corruptible bodies. Full physical healing comes in the resurrection. It's theologically inconsistent to demand healing for the common cold while accepting death from old age. The "healing in the atonement" teaching overreaches on timing, not content.

Healing in the atonement — timing issue

1 Peter 2:24 physical resurrection 1 Peter 2:24 healing in the atonement
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Advice for new believers encountering militant anti-theists: (1) Don't spend most of your time with them — get grounded in biblical truth first. (2) Many militant atheists repeatedly ask the same questions, get good answers, and ignore them — they want to stump, not learn. (3) If your good answers only generate more questions with no acknowledgment, you may be wasting your time. Focus on learning truth before combating error.

New believers and militant atheists

apologetics apologetics new believers
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Can a Christian be demon-possessed? Mike distinguishes possession from influence/oppression. Christians have the Holy Spirit indwelling them — demon possession (ownership/control) seems incompatible with the Spirit's presence. But Christians can be oppressed, influenced, and harassed by demons. The demoniac in Mark 5 was fully controlled; Christians may experience lesser forms of spiritual attack but not total possession.

Demon possession vs oppression in Christians

1 Corinthians 6:19 James 4:7 spiritual warfare spiritual warfare 1 Corinthians 6:19
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

How to find a good church: (1) Sound biblical teaching is #1 priority — does the pastor handle Scripture correctly? (2) Genuine community — not just Sunday performance. (3) Don't expect perfection — you'll bring your own imperfections too. (4) Be willing to serve, not just consume. (5) Size doesn't determine quality. Visit several, ask questions, look for fruit.

Finding a good church

expository preaching expository preaching finding a good church
Mike Winger idea 2020-06-03

Should new believers read the whole Bible? Yes, eventually. But start with the Gospel of John (written for the purpose of producing faith), then the rest of the NT. Read Psalms and Proverbs for wisdom/worship. Genesis for foundations. Don't start at Genesis 1 and try to plow through — you'll bog down in Leviticus. A reading plan helps maintain consistency.

Bible reading plan for new believers

John 20:31 Gospel of John Gospel of John new believers
Mike Winger idea 2021-08-27

Is it a Sin to Depict God?: I’m a new believer. I watched a Christian cartoon with my son, and it depicted God as a Santa-looking man. My son asked if we were breaking the 2nd commandment. Is it a sin to depict God in any way? (Exodus 20:4)

Q&A question: Is it a Sin to Depict God?

Exodus 20 Exodus 20:4 Exodus 20 Exodus 20:4
Mike Winger idea 2022-02-11

“Being the Light” in Difficult Situations: As a new believer, I feel I won’t be able to go to my sister-in-law’s house again because they smoke weed at every gathering. How do I find balance between being the light & not being in certain situations?

Q&A question: “Being the Light” in Difficult Situations
Mike Winger idea 2022-08-19

How to Reach Catholic Family Members: I’m a new believer, and my wife is a Catholic. Married 5 years. We have 2 very young baby daughters. How do I win my wife to Christ if she grew up rigidly Catholic? I can't break past her typological beliefs.

Q&A question: How to Reach Catholic Family Members

Roman Catholicism marriage
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Responding to Zachary Levi: A respectful analysis of Zachary Levi’s beliefs on the Bible.

Q&A question: Responding to Zachary Levi
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

The Witness of the Spirit: If I know I believe the Gospel is true but I don’t feel any “witness of the Spirit,” what does that mean? I’m trying to trust with my whole heart.

Q&A question: The Witness of the Spirit

evangelism
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Has God Abandoned the World?: My dad is an unbeliever but acknowledges God’s existence through creation. He believes that God created the world and then abandoned it. How can I help show him that God is still with us to this day?

Q&A question: Has God Abandoned the World?

creation
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Should I Worship a God I Don’t Like?: A common objection I hear is, "Why should I worship a God I don't like?"

Q&A question: Should I Worship a God I Don’t Like?

worship
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Is My Sin Even My Fault?: Why am I accountable to God for my sins when I was born with a sin nature? Shouldn't a loving God provide the basic remedy for creation when they had no choice in being created and no choice regarding their nature?

Q&A question: Is My Sin Even My Fault?

creation
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Was YHWH Beaten in Battle?: How can I defend 2 Kings 3 when skeptics use it as an example of Yahweh being beaten in battle by another entity in driving the Israelites out, despite them being prophesied to win?

Q&A question: Was YHWH Beaten in Battle?

apologetics Israel
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Learning to Evangelize Better: I converted just over a year ago and had some success evangelizing to my community (libertarians). I've read the New Testament and I’m working on reading it twice now. What can I do to evangelize better, especially to libertarians?

Q&A question: Learning to Evangelize Better

angels
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

How Can God Have a God?: I heard this question in my group: God is considered the Most High; thus Jesus (who is God) is the Most High. Therefore, why does Jesus claim that He has a God above Him in Revelation 3: 12?

Q&A question: How Can God Have a God?

Revelation 3 revelation Jesus Revelation 3 revelation
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Does Doubt = Incomplete Faith?: I’m a new believer who used to be a Jehovah’s Witness. I gave my life to Christ a few years ago, but sometimes I wrestle with doubt. Does that make my faith incomplete?

Q&A question: Does Doubt = Incomplete Faith?

Jehovah's Witnesses
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Acceptance Only of a “Higher Power”: My daughter (13) believes that there may be a higher power, but doesn’t believe in Jesus. I’m trying to figure out how to reach her in an effective manner. What advice can you offer?

Q&A question: Acceptance Only of a “Higher Power”

Jesus
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

The Sadness of Animal Suffering: Why is there such a great amount of suffering that animals need to go through? Wouldn’t a good God create it to where the animals didn’t have to suffer and still feed us?

Q&A question: The Sadness of Animal Suffering

suffering
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Answered Prayer or Coincidence?: How can I tell if God actually answered my prayers or if the outcome was just a coincidence? Many Christians say God has spoken to or guided them without evidence. How can such claims be tested objectively?

Q&A question: Answered Prayer or Coincidence?

prayer
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Does God Send Us to Hell?: How can I convince my brother that God does not condemn us to Hell and that it’s our own free will that puts us there? He has stopped talking to us due to that belief he has.

Q&A question: Does God Send Us to Hell?

hell free will
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Explaining the Trinity to Muslims: I have a Muslim friend who is struggling to understand the Trinity and asked, “how can God be 3 things all at once, and how can He be crucified?” Can you explain it in a way that a Muslim will understand?

Q&A question: Explaining the Trinity to Muslims

Trinity Islam
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Street Healings: Are They Real?: Are street healings real? Christians pray for strangers who report relief from pain and various illnesses. But atheist Derren Brown has produced similar results. Are these miracles or psychological effects?

Q&A question: Street Healings: Are They Real?

Derren Brown miracles atheism
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?: I'm in a faith crisis. I shared my mental health struggle with my discipler, and at the next study, they called mental illness a fallacy. I walked away and struggle if it's all real.

Q&A question: Is Mental Illness a Fallacy?

doubt and faith anxiety and mental health
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Why is David in Heaven?: Can you explain how David would be in Heaven when he knew 1 wife was God’s design but was living in continuous sin (1 John 3:4-9, 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Hebrews 10: 26, Ephesians 5:3-7)?

Q&A question: Why is David in Heaven?

1 Corinthians 6 Ephesians 5 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 David marriage 1 Corinthians 6
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?: Can you have blind faith and not believe certain parts of the Bible?

Q&A question: Rejecting Certain Parts of Scripture?
Mike Winger idea 2025-10-03

Higher Healing Statistics?: Christians tend to pray for the healing of their loved ones when they are physically unwell, there should be a statistically measurable difference in health levels among Christians vs. non-Christians. Do we see it?

Q&A question: Higher Healing Statistics?

healing
Mike Winger idea 2026-01-02

Jesus Given a Higher Name?: New believer here, and my question is, since Jesus is YHWH, why is He given the name above every other name in Philippians 2? What does that mean?

Q&A question: Jesus Given a Higher Name?

Jesus Philip Philippi