BibleThinker

Latest Episodes:

When to be scared you're NOT a genuine Christian. Apr 28, 2023

Show notes

I'm hoping and praying that God would use this to comfort those who need comfort and to shine a light on those who are living dangerously, so they can make a true faith commitment to Jesus.

Trust in Jesus, follow Jesus, be real about it.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 97) Apr 21, 2023

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro

0:56 {Self-Loathing vs. Self-Love?} As Christians, how do we deal with self-loathing without indulging in and practicing too much self-love?
26:19 {Evolved from Monkeys?} From a biblical standpoint, is there any reason that Christians believe we evolved from monkeys? I'm confused why some Christians believe that, and I’m curious if it’s purely a worldview standpoint?
37:50 {Who Are God’s Chosen People?} I had a debate with a friend about Israel still being God's chosen people. Doesn't Romans 9:6-8 and Galatians 3:28-29 communicate that God's chosen people are anyone who places their faith in Jesus?
48:20 {Do Animals Sin?} Are animals able to sin? They kill for food and sometimes it appears this may be likened to murder, but what does the Bible say about this?
51:28 {Should our Main Focus be Evangelism?} John Wesley says, “You have one business on this earth: to save souls.” Is Christlikeness or spiritual maturity chiefly a means to an end – of bringing people to Christ (Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, 2 Peter 3:18)?
55:00 {Setting Biblical Boundaries as Parents} I had a domestic violence upbringing, and I now have a son of my own. I have fears of family telling me how to parent my son. How do I set healthy biblical boundaries that protect my son and honor Christ?
59:19 {Bored in the OT!} How do I read the Old Testament without getting bored and distracted 2 minutes in?
1:02:13 {How to be a Worthwhile Servant} What makes a servant worthwhile to Christ? It seems like in Matthew 25, the servant was cast into outer darkness because he did not DO enough.
1:09:29 {Understanding a Difficult Passage} I'm struggling to interpret Judges 19:2, 25 on why the concubine suffered abuse. Some have said God was punishing her for adultery. How do I understand this without reading into the text?
1:23:18 {Who Sinned First?} I have been asked, "Was Adam's sin the first sin?" Something along the lines of: “Wasn't Satan the first one that sinned?” Thoughts?
1:25:00 {How to “Work Out Our Salvation…”} What does it mean to "Work out your salvation with fear and trembling"? Is that a literal statement?
1:28:07 {Is Nepotism Sinful?} Is nepotism a sin? My church was founded by my grandpa, my dad is the senior pastor, and my brother is a youth leader. I do believe they legitimately earned these roles, but others at my church don’t.
1:35:16 {Repentance After Death?} Can someone repent after death? Hebrews 9:27 seems to say “no,” BUT Revelation 2:21-27 seems to suggest “yes” for it is the “unwillingness” to repent that condemns. I really hope the latter is true.
1:41:23 {Did Adam Know Right from Wrong?} I was talking to an atheist and they asked, “If Adam had not yet eaten of the tree of knowledge, therefore not knowing disobedience, how can God hold him accountable and judge him for it?”
1:46:09 {The Waters “Above the Expanse”} What do you think the waters “above the expanse” are in Genesis 1:6-8?
1:49:01 {How to Biblically Process Grief} How do we deal with grief in the right & biblical way? I lost my dad months ago by sudden death. I feel worried, I’m angry, and I cry. I’m so tired of the rollercoaster feelings.
1:53:07 {About Foul Language} What makes language foul? Is it the words themselves, or the context? Like if I use a word in a friendly way, is it still considered foul language?
1:57:37 {Can Evolution be Plausible?} Do you think evolution is plausible theologically? I have never heard a good response to how there would have been death before the fall.
2:01:39 {How Could Satan Stand in God’s Presence?} If sin cannot enter God's presence, how could Satan present himself before God in the book of Job?
2:06:12 {Witnessing to Strangers} What’s your favorite way to witness to strangers?

CLICK HERE for my video showing the Bible does not teach a flat Earth.

CLICK HERE for my Romans playlist. The entire book, verse-by-verse.

CLICK HERE for the video I mentioned on replacement theology.

Here are my quick rules for questions:
1) We take questions from the LIVE chat, but only after the stream has actually begun.
2) Please include one or two Bible verse references if they are relevant to your question. I may have a hard time finding them depending on how you word your question.
3) It helps if you put a capital Q at the beginning of your question. That way we can easily spot it in the live chat, which can move rather quickly.
4) Please don't spam your question multiple times as everyone doing that makes the live chat hard to deal with.

Who will Jesus reject? It might not be what you think. Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Learn to think biblically about everything. Countless hours of free content available here or at my website, https://BibleThinker.org

I’m embarrassed I ever said, "I'm spiritual but not religious." Apr 13, 2023

Show notes

If you don't know what's wrong with the phrase, please take a moment to think it through with me.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 96) Apr 08, 2023

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:14 {Feminism’s Impact on the Church} What’s your opinion on how feminism is impacting the modern Church?
16:30 {Is Ordination Necessary?} What are your thoughts on the necessity to be ordained into ministry? Can I turn my home Bible study into a church?
19:33 {Heaven or Earth During 2nd Coming?} Will we be taken to Heaven during the second coming, or will God’s Kingdom come to Earth to reign? Seems odd to create Earth for Him to just destroy it and bring us to His domain.
24:59 {Relationship Dynamics Before Divorce} I was wondering, if a couple is married and one of them is seeking an unbiblical divorce, does that give them the right to start dating other people before the divorce is finalized?
27:34 {Witnessing to Muslims} I'm 15, and my best friend at school is a Muslim. Do you have any advice for trying to evangelize Muslims who are intelligent and rational but very set in their ways?
35:43 {Should Men Move Out Before Dating?} Looking at Ephesians 5:31, Should a Christian man move out of his parents’ house before trying to date, to prove they can provide an income and a house?
40:07 {If God Seems Silent, Does He Still Care?} My sister walked away from God because she begged for direction in her life and she says she heard nothing from God. This led her to believe God doesn’t care about her. How do I respond to this?
45:48 {Slave to Sin?} In Romans 7:14, is Paul describing his experience before or after he became a Christian? He’s just shifted to the present tense, but says he is sold as a slave to sin. Does this differ from Romans 8?
52:45 {How Should We View Extrabiblical Books?} With extrabiblical books such as Enoch or 1 & 2 Maccabees, how do you discern within these books if they're true accounts, if they don't contradict our canon?
55:59 {Earthly Rulers vs. Spiritual Rulers?} In 1 Corinthians 2:8, is Paul referring to earthly rulers (i.e. Pharisees or Romans) or spiritual rulers as he does in Ephesians 6:12?
1:01:08 {Forgiveness while Guarding Against Abuse} In 1 Corinthians 13:1, we are told that love "keeps no record of wrongs.” But how do we reconcile this with setting boundaries to protect us from abusive behaviors?
1:03:11 {Should we Pray for Specific Gifts?} What do you think about praying expectantly for a very specific gift of the Holy Spirit? I see people blessed with certain gifts teaching classes. For example, I've seen classes on how to prophesy.
13.1:10:02 {Thoughts on the Anglican Church} Any thoughts on the Anglican Church? I found a church I like, but I have never been a part of a proper denomination before, so I’m worried about bureaucracy.
1:12:05 {Was Jesus Really Buried for 3 Days & Nights?} If Jesus died on a Friday and rose on a Sunday, then He was not in the grave for three days and three nights. Why is it that this seems never to be addressed?
1:18:33 {About Theistic Evolution} Can you explain your understanding of Theistic Evolution? I saw a video by InspiringPhilosophy and have a hard time accepting this viewpoint.
1:25:37 {Was Abel a Prophet?} Does Luke 11:50-51 mean that Abel was a prophet?
1:30:04 {Who Can Baptize People?} Can anyone baptize? Or must one be a pastor?
1:32:40 {Communicating with God} How can we have a relationship with God when He doesn’t talk back?
1:34:54 {Was Saul Justified in Ending his Life?} Could we say that Saul killing himself in 1 Samuel 31:3-5 was justifiable for the same reason 9/11 jumpers were justified?
1:41:51 {Holy Week Reflections} With Easter coming up, what is something that we might overlook but shouldn’t, considering that celebrating Easter might just become a yearly habit or tradition to people?

CLICK HERE for my video on 21 different ways that Jesus fulfilled Passover (so awesome!)
CLICK HERE for my video on how to explain that "three days and three nights" is an idiom for Friday to Sunday.
CLICK HERE for my extensive Women in Ministry series.
CLICK HERE for my video on different Christian views of Revelation

Here are my quick rules for questions:
1) We take questions from the LIVE chat, but only after the stream has actually begun.
2) Please include one or two Bible verse references if they are relevant to your question. I may have a hard time finding them depending on how you word your question.
3) It helps if you put a capital Q at the beginning of your question. That way we can easily spot it in the live chat, which can move rather quickly.
4) Please don't spam your question multiple times, as everyone doing that makes the live chat hard to deal with.

Calling out false teachings. Mar 24, 2023

Show notes

Videos referenced in this episode:

Todd White "miracles" examined

Bill Johnson's theology examined
(I was genuinely too soft on Bill in this video, so please also consider watching the recent follow-up video HERE)

Brian Zahnd's teaching examined

A project with several credentialed scholars examining Brian Simmons' problematic new translation of the Bible: CLICK HERE

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

Happy, Smiley, Heresy. Mar 22, 2023

Show notes

According to his website, Salvatore Sapienza is an ordained minister serving as pastor of the UCC church in Saugatuck/Douglas, Michigan, where he lives with his husband, Gregg.

Listen carefully and see if you can spot how this one Progressive Christian pastor twists John 3:16 to reject the Gospel.

Note the rhetorical move of pretending that those who don't agree with him are mean-hearted and delight in condemning people.

Note how he isolates one part of one verse from its full context so that he can more easily pretend it teaches something very different than it really does.

Note, most of all, how a thoughtful reading of Scripture in context will protect you from nice-sounding, false doctrines.

Do you want to see the whole video this is from? It's a full analysis of this pastor's sermon on John 3:16. Deeply troubling. CLICK HERE to view.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 95) Mar 18, 2023

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:23 {Overcoming Covetousness} Why is it so hard to be content? I've been blessed with more than most people, but I'm always wanting MORE. I drain so much money buying more "stuff" and once I see something I like, I'm bummed/stressed until I get to buy it. I don't want to be this way. Please help!
25:10 {Eschatological Timings} What effect does Psalm 110:1 and Luke 20:42-43 have on the timing or placement of the rapture of the Church in reference to the tribulation?
29:59 {How to Pray for Unbelievers} I don’t believe Calvinism is biblical, but I find that my prayers for unbelievers often sound Calvinistic: “Change their hearts, bring them to You,” etc. How should we pray for unbelievers' salvation?
32:10 {Can We Be as Close as the Disciples?} Do you think that we can have as personal and intimate of a relationship with Jesus as His twelve disciples did? I've heard 1 John 1:1-3 used to support this.
36:17 {Did God Direct Moses to Deceive Pharaoh?} Why did God tell Moses to ask Pharaoh to go "three days' journey into the wilderness, that we may sacrifice to the Lord our God" (Exodus 3:18) if it wasn't God's intention for them to return to Egypt?
42:58 {Do our Prophecies Create Reality?} Kris Vallotton cites Ezekiel 37:1-6 to claim that our prophecies create reality, rather than just foretelling the future. Is there merit to this?
52:24 {Does Jesus’ Compassion Change?} When Jesus interacts with people, He is often compassionate. However, with the 12, he most often sounds harsh. Does His relationship toward us change once we are “on the team"?
1:00:17 {Moving Forward after Church Hurt} What are your thoughts on how to best get back involved with the Church after you have had past hurts both done to you, and you toward others? Also, should a person go back to the same church, or seek a new one?
1:05:48 {Trinitarian Clarity} How is the Holy Spirit not the Son or Father (Matthew 10:20, Philippians 1:19)? These verses confuse me when I’m trying to answer this question.
1:10:38 {Warnings about False Teachings} Do warnings to Churches and believers in verses such as Jude 1:3-4 or other Epistles regarding false/heretical doctrines apply to Mormons who want a relationship with God/Jesus but are just deceived?
1:15:29 {Knowing When to Yield} My pastor wants me to obey my husband even when it hurts my mental health, triggers my eating disorder, or my sleep disorder. Is he right or wrong? He says I should “Die like Christ.”
1:19:03 {Encouragement Amid Physical Limitations} What counsel would you give a discouraged believer with a debilitating chronic illness who carries a lot of guilt for not being able to serve in the ways they want to be able to?
1:24:10 {Jesus AND the Bible = “The Word”?} What is the distinction that is to be made between Jesus and the Bible, as far as the title "Word of God" goes, which is applied to both of them?
1:28:15 {When Translations Vary} What do we do when we find significant difference between translations (such as 1 John 5:7 in the KJV vs. modern translations)?
1:33:08 {Why Did God Choose the Tribe of Levi?} Do we know why God chose the tribe of Levi to be the priesthood?
1:34:26 {Tips for Preparing Your First Sermon} I give my first sermon this Sunday. Any tips/pointers for those going through seminary/preparing for their first sermon(s)?
1:39:29 {Advice for Raising Kids in the Faith} I want to raise my two kids aged 7 and 9 in the faith. I don’t want to push too hard. Any advice? My ex-wife has left the faith, so I feel like it’s up to me (and God).
1:41:23 {Was Paul Married?} I heard a theory that the Apostle Paul was married and a widower. Do you think that’s relevant, and does it have any biblical standing?
1:45:43 {Is My Daughter’s Cancer a Punishment?} When I got pregnant from an ungodly relationship, I turned to God and know He forgave all my sins. But my daughter was born with cancer. Is this a punishment from God?
1:50:19 {Should We Call Out Others’ Sins?} Should we call out sin in the lives of other Christian friends? I had a conversation with my pastor about this in regard to cussing, and he told me if we don't have a mutual edification then it might not be my place.

Links I mentioned:

The funny St. Patrick's video
Video addressing the "Name It and Claim It" Bible verse: CLICK HERE
Video on the passage where Jesus was speaking to Moses in the burning bush: CLICK HERE
My analysis of the mass divorce God seems to approve of in the book of Ezra: CLICK HERE
My explanation of why we shouldn't confuse Jesus with the Bible: CLICK HERE
Resources for parents:
natashacrain.com (great books and articles I highly recommend)
foundationwordview.com (video curriculum that I highly recommend)

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 94) Mar 04, 2023

Show notes

A worthwhile ministry to support right now….
"Restoring Faith" is a ministry that helps bring aid to people in crisis. They are sending funds to Syria to assist victims of the recent earthquake. 100% of the money donated goes to aid for the victims: http://restoringfaithinc.org/

Today's Time Stamps:

0:29 What does it mean to worship God “in Spirit and in truth”?
14:14 Is Hebrews 1:1 a reasonable proof text for cessationism in relation to prophecy? It says God spoke to our ancestors through prophets, but "in these last days," He has spoken to us through Christ. Are we in the "last days" Paul refers to?
21:23 At my age and health, it’s hard to manage my long hair. May I cut it chin length as long as I keep it looking feminine and still relatively longer than a man’s? Is simply maintaining that gender distinction the important part?
23:16 Coming from a “2 works movement” (CHM), I’ve always heard 1 Thessalonians 5:23 taught as calling people to a second work of Grace, or an experience of entire sanctification. What is Paul actually saying there?
29:42 How much do my efforts influence situations when God is sovereign and in control? For example, my hard work vs. God blessing my business, improving my health to "extend" my life vs. God setting the number of my days, etc.
33:25 What does the harvest refer to in Luke 10? I've always heard it talked about relating to evangelism, but a harvest implies that the work has already been done and you're able to get the fruit of your labor.
37:01 Can Satan stop God's plan? I had to cancel a mission trip at the last minute due to something I couldn't control, but doors had opened and things had fallen into place for us to go, so it seemed like it was God's will.
41:47 1 Timothy 3:4-5 and Titus 1:6 seem to indicate if someone desires to be an elder they are disqualified by unbelieving children. Does this include adult children? The wife? What do these verses mean?
48:19 How are we to relate to fallen brothers in terms of fellowship, and to cult members with hospitality according to 1 Corinthians 5:11 and 2 John 1:10?
55:56 If I have a friend who is not saved and I have tried to evangelize them and have only been met with resistance, do I need to stop hanging out with them?
58:41 Why does God allow success for celebrities that don’t follow Him?
1:02:17 1 Corinthians 14:27-28 says that someone should not speak in tongues unless there is an interpreter, but how are they supposed to know if there is an interpreter present?
1:04:19 What is a correct approach to reach someone you care about who is dealing with suicidal thoughts?
1:06:18 In the KJV, 2 Kings 8:26 and 2 Chronicles 22:2 give two completely different ages for Ahaziah when he took the throne. How can we account for this?
1:14:43 I am a new Christian and my brother is an atheist. He has brought up the question of “What if God is lying about everything and this all a big cosmic joke?” How do I combat this thinking?
1:19:55 Ephesians 5:5 says that the sexually immoral will have no place in the Kingdom of God, yet later, Ephesians says we’re saved by grace through faith. Is this contradictory?
1:25:20 If all meats were made clean, then how do Christians interpret Isaiah 66:15-18, as that passage, I believe, refers to Christ’s second coming, and in it He “destroys” those who eat unclean meats?
1:28:48 When is the right age to evangelize? I'm 15 and I used to evangelize and many believed, but I also got into trouble with the police and at my school. My pastor told me to wait until I’m more mature and I’ve learned more of God’s Word.
1:31:09 How do I help my dad (an unbeliever) who thinks religion is used to control us? He also says, “If God exists, where was He when my father was beating my mother and I, and I cried out to Him?”
1:38:24 What's the biblical response on what a Christian should do if they move into a haunted house? I know "hauntings" are demonic, and I've been there before for 3 years. What do I do if it happens again?

CLICK HERE for the “Jesus in the Old Testament” series

Here is the “Got Questions” article I read during the stream.

Did Pharaoh Have Free Will When "God Hardened His Heart"? Feb 28, 2023

Show notes

CLICK HERE for the full study on this topic from my verse-by-verse teaching through Romans.

This is my best understanding of this topic and I think that it fits really well with a wide variety of Scripture that speaks to the issue. For a fuller defense of my own view, please see the video I have linked above.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

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