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All (16) Mike Winger (16)

Mike Winger idea 2022-08-15

God views slavery as bad throughout Scripture; marriage as good and God-ordained

Mike contrasts the biblical evaluation of slavery vs marriage.

Exodus narrative Exodus narrative slavery in Scripture marriage as God-ordained

Mike Winger idea 2018-02-14

Examining 'Jesus-only' theology on its own terms: if we take only Jesus' three-and-a-half years, did he teach full present-tense prosperity? Matthew 26:11 — 'The poor you will always have with you'

Mike tests Bethel's Jesus-only hermeneutic against actual teachings of Jesus

Matthew 26:11 Bill Johnson hermeneutics prosperity gospel

Mike Winger idea 2017-12-27

Tip 3: Take a good long look at yourself — evaluate what you have done, not what has been done to you

Third of seven tips. Mike distinguishes victim-oriented thinking from personal accountability.

Revelation 2-3 calling self-examination Revelation 2-3

Mike Winger idea 2020-10-02

New Testament giving priorities: the poor, the persecuted church, local ministers, and generosity as lifestyle — not limited to 10%

Constructive answer on what Christian giving should look like without a tithe mandate

James 1 Corinthians 9 James 1 Corinthians 9 Christian giving

Mike Winger idea 2018-10-31

Mike dismisses the claim that Jesus was a socialist, arguing that caring for the poor is universal and the political question is how to do so, not whether to; he says Jesus' kingdom is a theocracy that no human government can imitate.

Response to viewer question about whether Jesus was a socialist

theocracy poverty Jesus

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Question: Is it wrong for a pastor to live in a huge home with a salary higher than 90% of his congregation?

Viewer JR asks whether high pastoral salaries and luxury homes are appropriate.

church leadership pastoral ethics pastoral compensation

Mike Winger idea 2021-02-19

Wise rule: pastor should live roughly at the level of his congregation

Mike's practical guideline for appropriate pastoral compensation.

church leadership pastoral ethics pastoral compensation

Mike Winger idea 2020-02-26

Q&A: Luke 14:33 ("renounce all you have") and Luke 12:33 ("sell your possessions") are hyperbolic expressions of total dedication to Jesus, not literal commands for universal poverty. Lydia continued her business after conversion and used profits to support missionaries.

Q&A — sell everything and follow Jesus

Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Luke 14:33 Luke 12:33 Lydia (seller of purple)

Mike Winger idea 2021-01-11

Sacrificial giving has the highest value to Jesus — the things that cost you the most are worth the most. When you think your service to God is at its lowest value, Jesus may see it at its highest.

The widow's mite principle: sacrifice determines value, not amount

widows mite sacrificial giving widows mite

Mike Winger idea 2021-05-14

God's impartiality doesn't mean equal circumstances — disabilities, poverty, and wealth may serve God's glory rather than being about what people deserve. Jesus healed the man born blind "for the glory of God," not as punishment for sin.

Q3: How is God impartial when people have such different lives?

John 9 Jesus John 9

Mike Winger idea 2022-04-01

The Beatitudes in Luke vs. Matthew: The beatitudes in Luke 6: 20-21 seem to have a different emphasis than those in Matthew 5 (physical poverty/hunger in Luke vs. spiritual poverty/hunger in Matthew). Much of the discourse in Luke 6 seems to cover similar teaching points as the Sermon on the Mount, so should the beatitudes in Luke be understood as the same as those in Matthew? If they are different, what is the takeaway from Luke's beatitudes?

Q&A question: The Beatitudes in Luke vs. Matthew

Luke 6 Matthew 5 Matthew Luke 6 Matthew 5 Matthew

Mike Winger idea 2023-08-18

Wealth & Poverty in Heaven: If we all get different wealth in Heaven based on our deeds on Earth, won’t that create a situation where some people are poor and some are rich? And what happens once we spend it all?

Q&A question: Wealth & Poverty in Heaven

heaven

Mike Winger idea 2025-03-21

Encouragement through Arduous Times: What gives people the will to live in the midst of terror, hardship, poverty, pain, childhood abuse, loss, and all other types of calamity (specifically non-Christians, but also Christians)?

Q&A question: Encouragement through Arduous Times

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

Mike Winger idea 2021-09-20

Winger shares from his own childhood: an absent/indifferent father, an abusive stepfather, and poverty — all three conditions the note-writer listed as grounds for abortion. His life was redeemed and transformed through Christ. He argues the pro-choice logic, applied to him, would have called for his death, yet God demonstrated that suffering circumstances do not determine a life's value or potential.

Personal testimony used to refute the claim that bad circumstances justify abortion

suffering abortion demons