BibleThinker

Latest Episodes:

The Super-Cute and Super-Wrong Religion of Omnism Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

Omnism, in the sense that we just pretend all religions are true, is a really nice (in the old sense of the word) religion. It has high hopes and seems to help everyone to "get along," but it depends entirely on utter irrationality and dishonest evaluations of the really important issues that religions are disagreeing on. If you have fallen for Omnism, then I hope you'll consider this a kindness and a wake-up call to consider the evidence for Jesus and the importance of the truth about God and us.

This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions, and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I'll be posting these answers as individual videos, so keep an eye out for the rest in the set. Here's a playlist where I will add them as they come out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtc_kN13cgTRV1l3bl3wZiD

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 47) Sep 03, 2021

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:23 {Will Psychopaths be Judged the Same?} It has recently been scientifically proven that many psychopaths have a physical brain alteration that doesn't allow their synapses to receive the neuron chemicals for emotions such as sympathy. Oftentimes, they become violent criminals or even murderers. Will they be judged by God the same as any other person, even though they have something physiologically wrong with them?
2. 8:03 {What do Miracles/Healing Depend On?} If one were to pray over someone for a miracle or for healing, what would the chances of it working depend on? Jesus said that it depends on faith. Does it also depend on being a relatively righteous person?
3. 15:07 {About Glorified Bodies/Resurrection} If our bodies are glorified at the rapture, what happens to those people who are saved post-rapture? Is there a second resurrection?
4. 17:19 {About the Moral Argument} My brother has a very biblical worldview despite being an agnostic (in terms of homosexuality and celibacy, etc.) based on science. How do I prove that morality comes from God?
5. 26:41 {Is Everyone Claiming to be Saved Really Saved?} Paul Washer said that Matthew 7: 13-14 is not about Christians and non-Christians, but rather, real Christians and Christians who think they’re saved. He says many who think they are saved aren’t really saved. Thoughts?
6. 32:26 {About Giving Everything for the Lord} If salvation is a free gift and not by works, then why does Jesus say those of you who do not give up everything you have cannot be my disciples? How do we know when we have given up everything?
7. 38:53 {Honesty vs. Kindness?} Where do you draw the line between honest communication about things that bother you about something someone does, and “dying to self” if the person is a very close friend/loved one/spouse?
8. 44:09 {About Demons and The Nephilim} Are demons the spirits of dead Nephilim? Genesis 6 explains that the Nephilim are the offspring of women and angels. Demons never materialize, but we know angels can. Luke 22:3 is not convincing to me.
9. 48:04 {Can We Love Truth More than God?} Can I be a truth-seeker and a good Christian? Is it possible to love the truth more than God, considering that Jesus is the truth?
10. 55:35 {About the Sun Standing Still – Josh. 10} What do you think really happened during "the long day" in Joshua 10 during the battle between Israel and the armies of the 5 kings when "the sun stood still, and the moon stopped"?
11. 58:20 {About the OT Law & Sacrifices vs. Faith} Why was the old covenant law set up to require animal sacrifice, since we see Abraham was atoned for by his faith in the promise to come of what was Jesus (dimly perceived)?
12. 1:03:22 {Bethel Worship Music?} Can I keep listening to Bethel’s music, given the intent (as far as I understand) to invoke emotional responses? I want to avoid the idol of “emotional highs,” but I still see value in their music.
13. 1:07:03 {About the 153 Fish in John} In John 21, it is written that Peter caught 153 "large fish" and that "although there were so many, the net was not torn." Is there a message or theme John was conveying here?
14. 1:12:01 {Leaving a Church the Biblical Way} How do I go about leaving my church? Do I talk to my leaders? Do I have to explain why? What do I need to do to make sure that I do it the right way?
15. 1:16:28 {About the Dead Jesus Raised} Where did all the people that Jesus and the disciples raised from the dead go while they were dead? I would hate to think they were in Paradise somewhere, then had to come back.
16. 1:19:05 {About Asking for Forgiveness/Mark of the Beast} A popular internet ministry says Jesus never said we need to ask for forgiveness and the Bible doesn’t mention it. Is that true? They also say it’s impossible for a Christian to take mark of the beast. Is that true?
17. 1:24:00 {Why Keep the L.E. of Mark in the Bible?} If the longer ending of Mark isn't original, nor written by Mark, how is keeping it in the Bible not diluting the Word of God and cheapening the meaning of "Scripture"?
18. 1:26:09 {Help During Trying Times of Doubt} Why can’t I trust Christ for complete forgiveness even though I fully believe every word in the Bible? Why won’t my heart allow me to enter salvation? Why doesn’t God seem to want to help me?
19. 1:31:35 {Jesus’ Deity & His Title of “Son of God”} If Jesus is God, then why do Paul and the Gospels often speak of them separately? What is significant about the phrase "Son of God" being used for Jesus, since it is used for others, too?
20. 1:35:13 {“Hearing” God in Prayer/His Guidance in Life} When we pray, how do we "hear" God's reply? How can someone differentiate between hearing the voice of God and hearing their own thoughts? When I pray, I feel like it's just me. How can I make decisions if I don't know what God wants of me?

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

Why Mark's Gospel Has Such a Strange Ending: The Mark Series pt 70 (16:8) Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

I'm not exaggerating when I say that some skeptics, and even some Christians, and some scholars in both categories, will teach that if Mark ends his Gospel at 16:8 then it destroys Christianity as we know it. I think this is silly. But I also think it needs a response. After going through those over the top claims we will deal with the more subtle and thoughtful claims of those who say that there are internal and external reasons for thinking that Mark could not have meant for 16:8 to be the ending of his Gospel originally. All told I will walk through 7 specific claims against the shorter ending of Mark and give a case for how this seemingly strange ending is actually quite powerful and meant to cause us to sit with the massive implications of the death and resurrection of the Messiah, until we are stirred to action.

This is the last video in the Mark Series. I have SO enjoyed doing this with you and appreciate your prayers for me to have wisdom as I seek to launch into future series and videos. Next up is a thorough study of women in ministry (that will probably take months to prep, sorry for the wait) and then I'll do a verse-by-verse teaching through the book of Hebrews, with the same sort of methods you've seen in the study of Mark.

This is part 70 of the Mark Series - a thorough verse-by-verse study through the Gospel of Mark paying special attention to theology, apologetics, and historical context.
See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Here's Kelley Iverson's article, "A Further Word on Final Gar": http://www.jstor.org/stable/43725642

The notes for many of my studies are also available for free on my website (as is all the content on my website).
https://BibleThinker.org

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 46) Aug 27, 2021

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:29 {Why Didn’t Jesus Mention Paul?} Hello, I am a Christian, and it's been important to me to understand why the Lord Jesus didn't mention to the apostles or anyone that Paul would be coming to enlighten the Way for His Church. This question hasn't been addressed in any of the studies I've researched, nor by any of the pastors I listen to. But isn't this question a most serious matter, since Paul wrote the majority of our New Testament?
2. 6:45 {Is God Male?} Is God a male?
3. 10:08 {About the Woman of Tekoa & Banishing} How can someone be banished, and yet not cast out from God? I’m referring to what the woman of Tekoa said in 2 Samuel 14: 14. Is it only within that context, or can it be applied transcendently?
4. 17:34 {About OCD, Vows, & Fear} I’ve been struggling with OCD vows recently (such as, if I don’t say this in prayer, I’m not saved). Many places online say to let it go, and that you can’t make a vow out of fear. How can I look at this biblically?
5. 22:39 {Are Souls Eternal?} Is the soul as an eternal entity more of a Greek philosophical idea, or confirmed in Scripture? Do you have any biblical references for an eternal soul?
6. 25:20 {Did Anyone in “The Flood” Go to Heaven?} Do you think any of the people that died in the flood (above the age of accountability) may have been saved or will not go to Hell?
7. 29:01 {About Natural Revelation & Salvation} You've said people who've never heard of Jesus need to respond to natural revelation to be saved. Can you give an example of how a woman growing up in Saudi Arabia would respond to natural revelation?
8. 33:55 {About the “Mysteries of God” in Ephesians} Please explain what is meant by the mysteries of God in Ephesians 3:5.
9. 38:09 {About the Beginning of the New Covenant} Did the New Covenant start when the Temple, which housed the Ark of the Covenant, was destroyed?
10. 44:07 {About Miracles & False Religions} You've said miracles in other religions are false signs from Satan. Why would other religions have reason to think these signs are from Satan? Couldn't a Muslim say the same thing to a Christian?
11. 48:47 {Do We Have to Attend Church?} Is it OK to not attend church at all? I live in Russia and Christianity here is very unbiblical. I’ve tried a lot of churches and I don’t feel comfortable there.
12. 50:53 {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)
13. 56:07 {Do those who Seek God Really Find Him?} The Bible says that those who diligently seek God will find Him. What about the Muslims, Hindus, and all the people who are diligently seeking God but never find Jesus and stay in their religion?
14. 1:02:31 {Does God Forgive Repeated Sin?} If you struggle with sin and there is true contrition but you still keep repeating the same sin and asking for forgiveness, will God still forgive you?
15. 1:05:59 {Advice for the Timing of Baptism} I recently converted to Christianity. Our church does baptisms once a year, but my husband has Covid and can't attend. I want him to be there, but I also want to get baptized ASAP. What should I do?
16. 1:07:12 {About a “Gap” in Scripture} Can you explain the gap between the early churches in the New Testament and the first Protestants like Martin Luther?
17. 1:11:32 {Men of Valor Living in Sin?} Why does the Lord call Gideon a mighty man of Valor when he had many wives? Was this always a sin? I'm confused about this, honestly.
18. 1:16:59 {Where Does Sin Nature Come From?} If God knits us in our mothers’ wombs, where do we get our sin nature?
19. 1:19:54 {Defending the Trinity in 1 Cor.} I believe in the Trinity, but there is someone who has used 1 Corinthians 15:28 against the doctrine. Could you please explain this for me?
20. 1:23:18 {About Young Ambassadors Living for Christ} How can young people be good ambassadors for Christ when we also sin? How do we make sure we do not conform to this world?

Taking your questions from the YT live chat! Every Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific time. While I don't pretend to know all the answers, I hope to offer some thoughts that will help you in the direction of thinking biblically about things.

The BibleThinker mugs can be found here. I don't make any profit from these - they are made by a third party and $5 per mug will go to support different ministries I choose:
https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/new-bible-thinker-mug

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

100+ hours of research. Is the longer ending of Mark authentic?: The Mark Series pt 69 (16:9-20) Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

Today's the day. I've spent weeks trying to dig deep on the debate of whether the last 12 verses of the Gospel of Mark are actually part of the Gospel of Mark. We will look at manuscript evidence, translations, church fathers, lectionaries, internal evidence from vocabulary and style, and consider the question of how all this weighs in on the fact that most Christians throughout time have had these 12 verses as their ending to Mark. I want to warn you of one issue that I slowly noticed in my research. Proponents of the vs. 8 ending (the short ending) have a habit of overstating their case and making some mistakes in accuracy while proponents of the longer ending have the same tendency, perhaps worse than the former. Yeah, this was hard to muddle through but I'll share with you my own confusion and eventual clarity on the issue. I hope that you find it clear, thorough, and edifying.

I'm hoping today's video will not only answer your questions but serve as a good launching point for those who want to do more research on the topic. For that reason, I'm including several links here for you to consider looking into:

This is a book where 4 scholars each build a case for their different views on the ending of Mark. It’s a good introduction into the issues of the debate even if no one scholar has the space to fully flesh out their case.
“Perspectives on the Ending of Mark: Four Views”:
https://www.amazon.com/Perspectives-Ending-Mark-Daniel-Wallace-ebook/dp/B004OR17WK/

Nicholas Lunn recently wrote a book offering a very detailed case that the longer ending was always part of Mark’s Gospel. At first, I found Lunn’s book to be really helpful in challenging the scholarly majority. But after spending a lot of time with it, I’ve come to think that his work causes more confusion than clarity on the topic. Uneven standards in how evidence is handled make his work difficult to read without leading to important misimpressions.
“The Original Ending of Mark: A New Case for the Authenticity of Mark 16:9-20”
https://www.amazon.com/Original-Ending-Mark-Case-Authenticity-ebook/dp/B00OU6OB78/

Larry Hurtado offered three short reviews of Lunn’s book, all three at this link:
http://evangelicaltextualcriticism.blogspot.com/search/label/Nicholas%20P.%20Lunn

James Snapp’s theory is that Mark wrote the longer ending but it was originally not part of the Gospel of Mark. It was taken from some other work from Mark and then added on to the end of the Gospel of Mark. He offers 5 different theories for why it is missing from some manuscripts. I respect Snapp’s tenacity, but I think his logic has regular logical problems. I mean no insult by this, I just want you to be prepared to think very carefully about what he says. His book, “Authentic: The Case for Mark 16:9-20,” is free here:
https://www.academia.edu/12545835/Authentic_The_Case_for_Mark_16_9_20

The most helpful resource I found for dealing with the internal evidence in the longer ending of Mark is this article from Travis Williams:
https://www.academia.edu/1444542/Bringing_Method_to_the_Madness_Examining_the_Style_of_the_Longer_Ending_of_Mark

For those wanting to hear my verse-by-verse study of the longer ending of Mark, it’s here. It’s long, methodical, and shows that the passage doesn’t pose theological problems, even if it wasn’t written by Mark:
https://youtu.be/zA6s9O4o5Uo

For the 12th century Greek Codex 304, which is Byzantine in nature and ends Mark at 16:8, see the two links following; and you’ll need them because Snapp and Lunn have bad info on this and this is a really interesting piece of evidence showing not only a lack of the LE, but apparent debate on it from different owners of the codex! The text is viewable here:
https://mr-mark16.sib.swiss/show?id=R0EzMDQ%3D
A helpful commentary, from Dr. Mina Monier, on the text and its significance can be found here:
https://mark16-etalk.sib.swiss/index.php?dir=Mark16_MM_1#0

The MARK16 Project is awesome. Their website has a lot of helpful stuff, and I expect a lot more in years to come. This stuff isn’t easy to find elsewhere: https://mark16.sib.swiss/

Randall Booth’s paper on Mark’s use of “palin”:
https://www.silpacific.org/resources/archives/61477

For a full list of Mark’s use of the historical present and how other Gospels tend not to, see pages 144-148 in this old book, “Horae Synopticae”:
https://archive.org/details/1909horaesynopt00hawkuoft/page/144/mode/2up

This is part 69 of the Mark Series, going verse-by-verse through the Gospel of Mark.
See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

I have live videos Mondays and Fridays at 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Monday is a Bible study and Friday is a Q&A.

Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

Time Stamp Map:

0:00 - Introduction
1. 3:45 Mike admits his bias
2. 7:39 Why this research was so hard
3. 10:04 Mike’s basic conclusions on the passage
4. 11:21 Here begins the external evidence analysis
5. 16:40 Codex Sinaiticus
6. 22:38 Codex Vaticanus
7. 33:55 How important are those 2 manuscripts really?
8. 36:18 Codex 304; a Byzantine MS that ends at vs. 8
9. 40:40 Other Greek manuscripts that weigh in on this
10. 52:00 Syriac translations
11. 54:30 Armenian translations
12. 55:49 Georgian translations
13. 56:42 Sahidic translations
14. 58:03 Latin translations
15. 1:00:13 Lectionary systems
16. 1:01:38 What church fathers have to say
17. 1:02:35 Irenaeus (c. 180)
18. 1:04:01 Tatian (c. 170)
19. 1:04:38 Eusebius (mid 300s)
20. 1:10:45 Jerome (early 400s)
21. 1:16:03 Victor of Antioch (5th or 6th century)
22. 1:17:22 Clement of Alexandria
23. 1:18:04 Origen
24. 1:19:11 1st Clement (c. 95)
25. 1:22:00 My thoughts on Lunn and Snapp
26. 1:22:34 Conclusion on the church fathers
27. 1:24:32 What is the “internal evidence”?
28. 1:28:58 How vs. 9 doesn’t fit with vs. 8
29. 1:33:16 Two common bad examples of internal evidence
30. 1:36:45 Kai is not like Mark
31. 1:41:29 The historical present
32. 1:43:06 The demonstrative pronoun
33. 1:44:46 Verbs for perception
34. 1:45:57 The strongest piece of internal evidence
35. 1:50:10 21 Markisms
36. 1:55:00 The million-dollar question of scribal motives
37. 2:03:55 Why I still want the longer ending in my Bible
38. 2:06:46 Lingering issues

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 45) Aug 20, 2021

Show notes

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:37 {Conscience before the New Covenant?} Based on Jeremiah 31: 33-34, did people before the New Covenant not have a conscience (innate knowledge of God and the ability to know right from wrong as we do now)? Based on the radical changes that Jesus and the Church brought to the world, and God seemingly needing to give people constant special revelation in the OT, could there be a case for this? Could the need for the cycle of sin-judgement-repentance/cry for help-deliverance be connected to this?
2. 8:16 {Help for Maintaining a Godly Attitude} The Lord has blessed me tremendously in life. I love Him & want to please Him! But for some reason (& I have no excuse) I find it really hard to have a calm, grateful, God-honoring attitude. I'm easily irritated & find myself complaining about little things constantly, especially when I don't get my way or experience a minor inconvenience. I'm ashamed of this & don't want my attitude to be this way but I can't seem to change.
3. 12:31 {Covenant vs. Dispensational Theology} What's your thought on the reformed perspective of Covenant Theology vs. the dispensational view?
4. 15:46 {Jesus – “Forgive them, for they know not…”} Why did Jesus say “Forgive them, for they know not what they do” if Jesus knew they had to do it to save us at the cross?
5. 17:59 {About the Vanishing & Glass Seas – Revelation} In Revelation 21:1, it describes the "sea vanishing." Is this sea the same as the "sea of glass" in Revelation 4:6 where some have suggested it symbolizes the barrier that separated God from man?
6. 20:51 {Discussing Theology Without Focusing on Death} My 14 y.o. does not like the subject of death (her father/my husband died suddenly 4 years ago). How can I talk about salvation and other biblical things in a way that doesn’t make her anxious?
7. 23:37 {About the Paraclete} John 16:7 says Paraclete is the Holy Spirit, and 1 John 2:1 says it is Jesus Christ. I cannot believe this is a mistranslation, so what is 1 John 2:1 talking about?
8. 28:16 {Did Moses Write the Pentateuch?} Do we have evidence that Moses wrote the first 5 books of the Bible? My atheist friend is questioning this.
9. 31:14 {Does the Man Sin when an Abortion is Done?} Is it a sin for the man if a woman decides to get an abortion? With or without his consent (does that make a difference?)
10. 34:00 {Are We Obligated to Obey God’s Standards?} My friend asked me: If we didn't choose to exist or come into existence, why do we have to follow what God says or His "standards"? Why does He have standards anyways? How do I respond?
11. 37:45 {About the Covid Vaccine} How should Christians respond to the push to get the Covid vaccine (especially here in LA)? Is it our Christian duty to put others above ourselves, even if it betrays our own conscience?
12. 40:41 {About the Doctrine of Preservation} Does Matthew 5: 18 teach the doctrine of preservation? What are your thoughts on this doctrine?
13. 46:37 {About the Trinity & God’s Attributes} How can the three persons of the Trinity be distinct if they all have the same attributes (Omni-s) and their wills are the same?
14. 50:22 {Is Depression Ever a Sin Issue?} Is there ever a point where depression can be a sin issue? How should I view it in light of what Scripture says about worrying, while being charitable toward those who are struggling?
15. 54:23 {How to Evangelize at Work} What’s the best way to share the Gospel in the workplace? Is there a guide to sharing the Gospel that you keep to?
16. 56:56 {About Exodus 4 & Zipporah} Please explain Exodus 4: 20-26, especially Zipporah's part in it.
17. 1:02:46 {When Married Couples Disagree on Theology} What is your view of a husband and wife having differing opinions on eschatology or matters of salvation and particular biblical verses? Is it best to just agree to disagree?
18. 1:04:41 {Can a Person be Beyond Repentance?} Can someone be beyond repentance as Esau was?
19. 1:06:13 {Should our Faith Make Sense?} Is Christianity a faith that should make sense, or is it just having the faith to believe? How can we believe if one person interprets the Bible this way and another the other way?
20. 1:13:15 {Why did God Punish ALL Snakes?} Why did God punish all snakes for what Satan did in the Garden of Eden?

Here's my teaching (from 6 years ago) on a biblical view of the conscience, if you want more on that: https://youtu.be/xYjSxiTQtdY

The BibleThinker mugs can be found here. I don't make any profit from these, they are made by a third party and $5 per mug will go to support different ministries I choose. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/new-bible-thinker-mug

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

Clarity on Homosexuality and the Biblical Term "Abomination" Aug 18, 2021

Show notes

Is Leviticus just offering advice about medical health? Is it identifying homosexual acts as sinful, or just potentially unhealthy? Can we calmly and carefully try to understand the passage in context? I hope so.

I think that the overall context of the passage makes its application pretty clear, and even though our current culture tends to misunderstand this as condemning certain kinds of people instead of certain kinds of behavior, we simply cannot be biblically faithful without standing our ground on this topic.

This is just one question from a long interview I did for the moderators of the r/Bible subreddit. They asked their subreddit to send me a bunch of questions and I spent a lot of time preparing so that I would be able to offer the best answers I could. I'll be posting these answers as individual videos so keep an eye out for the rest in the set.
Here's a playlist where I will add them as they come out:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtc_kN13cgTRV1l3bl3wZiD

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

How I Would Interpret The Longer Ending of Mark: The Mark Series pt 68 (16:9-20) Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

This passage is probably most well known because of its abuse by snake handling preachers in the United States. I will address that issue but it's far from the only important thing to talk about in these verses! Though the snake comments in the passage get a lot of attention from normal people, scholars are mostly interested in the question of whether the passage belongs in the Gospel of Mark at all. But, today I'm not answering the question of whether the last 12 verses of Mark are authentic or not. I'm just answering the question of how I would interpret the passage as it stands. Next week I'll deal with the complex issues related to whether the passage belongs in Mark in the first place.

This is part 68 of the Mark Series, going verse-by-verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in Mark 16:9-20.

See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

I have live videos Mondays and Fridays at 1 p.m. Pacific Time. Monday is a Bible study and Friday is a Q&A.

Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 44) Aug 13, 2021

Show notes

Here’s the video on dealing with depression, which I mentioned during the stream:
https://youtu.be/KspwQ2wyuUU

Taking live questions from the YT live chat! Every Friday at 1 p.m. Pacific time. While I don't pretend to know all the answers, I hope to offer some thoughts that will help you in the direction of thinking biblically about things.

The BibleThinker mugs can be found here. I don't make any profit from these - they are made by a third party and $5 per mug will go to support different ministries I choose.
https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/new-bible-thinker-mug

My website: https://BibleThinker.org

1. 0:31 {Were Jesus’ Disciples Married?} Were Christ’s disciples married / did they have families? I believe there is a reference to Peter’s in-law, but I find it to be an interesting question. What would it be like for them? How would that fit with what the Lord tells us about the role of a husband/father? The love for God trumps all, so did that override their responsibilities as a husband/father?
2. 9:55 {Should We Give to Beggars?} I've had multiple encounters where people directly approach me and my wife on the street or at a gas station asking for money, food, or a ride. I know most people would say don't give anything because you're feeding their bad habit, and I know there is also the risk that if you do help/give, they may try to push for even more favors. But it's obvious that Jesus was compassionate toward beggars. What are some biblical principles for this in today's age?
3. 15:37 {What is a Miracle?} What is a miracle? If it can be explained, is it still a miracle?
4. 20:54 {Should we be Worried about Gov’t Control?} Should Christians be worried about government control? I have friends not getting the Covid vaccine because "it's a way to be controlled by the government.” I want to think biblically about this.
5. 26:09 {About Walking by the Spirit} Does living in the Spirit mean fighting the flesh? How do you fight something that is already dead?
6. 32:04 {About “Perfect Love Casting Out Fear”} What did John mean in 1 John by “perfect love casts out fear, and that whoever fears has not been made perfect…”?
7. 34:43 {About Paul and a Time Gap in Scripture} Why didn’t Luke mention the time gap that took place during Acts 9: 20-26, that Paul mentioned in Galatians 1: 17-18?
8. 40:20 {Prayer to Help with Deep Depression} Can you pray for me? I’ve battled depression my whole life, and the past 2 weeks I’ve gotten so low I need some prayer if you have the time.
9. 43:13 {Why did Jesus need to be Led by the Spirit?} Why did Jesus (God) need to be filled, led, or anointed by the Spirit? Troubled by some saying that Jesus did everything as a man through the Spirit, so we should be able to do everything Jesus did.
10. 48:10 {Forming a Healthy Work/Rest Balance} Since life is finite and Heaven is infinite, how do we justify spending any time not working to influence eternity? Where is the balance between relaxation & work? (Ephesians 5: 15-16 vs. 1 Thessalonians 4: 11)
11. 53:10 {Refuting Catholic “Queenship” of Mary} How would you answer a Catholic who uses Revelation 12 to argue Mary's queenship?
12. 59:06 {Can we be Confident in God’s Existence?} How can one ever be sure that the arguments for God’s existence are truly sound? Is it because all current objections fail? Maybe there is an Achilles heel that has not come up yet.
13. 1:02:44 {What is Prevenient Grace?} I just heard about prevenient grace. I have looked it up and it just don't understand it. Can you explain it?
14. 1:05:48 {Finding Hope in Difficult Situations} How do you interpret the hopelessness of Psalm 88? How can you comfort someone who feels what Psalm 88:18b (NIV) implies?
15. 1:16:27 {Is Receiving Mental Health Therapy Biblical?} Is it a sin for Christians to see a mental health therapist/psychiatrist? Is biblical counseling the only option for Christians?
16. 1:18:54 {Can we Know 100% our Faith is True?} Is it possible to be 100% certain of Christianity and the Bible? Is believing but also having doubt a sin? I would like to have 100% certainty, but there's always a doubt that it all could be a lie.
17. 1:22:59 {How to Respond to Verbal Abuse in Marriage} My husband yells & curses at me. I always tell him I don’t deserve it, but he continues. Can this be corrected? If so, how? And would I dishonor God if I stop being physically intimate with him?
18. 1:27:02 {Is God Actively Judging Today?} Is God actively judging the world today or is all judgment held out ‘till the second coming? When negative things happen like natural disasters, how much of this can we say is God’s judgment?
19. 1:29:59 {Hidden Meaning in the Book of Ruth?} Is there any hidden meaning behind Ruth uncovering Boaz's feet in Scripture?
20. 1:31:33 {How to Stay Close to God When We’re Slipping} How do I get better in my relationship with God? I'm slipping away, what do I do?

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 43) Aug 06, 2021

Show notes

The BibleThinker mugs can be found here. $5 per mug will go toward supporting different ministries I choose. For the time being, it's supporting refugees driven from their homes by ISIS.
https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/new-bible-thinker-mug

Here is Restoring Faith, the ministry helping refugees in the name of Christ: https://www.restoringfaithinc.org/

My website: https://BibleThinker.org
1. 0:17 {Did Jesus Consider the OT to be Scripture?} You said in a past Q&A session that Jude references Enoch, and your best explanation is that it's just to make a point, not to say that Enoch is canon or inerrant. But that's also my conclusion about when Jesus refers to the Old Testament. Isn’t it the same for when Jesus refers to the Old Testament?
2. 5:18 {If I Don’t Read Scripture, am I Still Accountable?} Romans 1:8-2: 16…Responsibility? I'm afraid to read/not read the Scriptures. So I read/don't read, sometimes feeling physically ill/deeply anxious/even empty. Is it normal to feel like this?
3. 10:16 {Discussing a Confusing Verse} What are your thoughts about Matthew 26: 13? You taught earlier that this specific action is not even recorded in all the Gospels, so what does Jesus mean?
4. 13:42 {How did OT Punishments Display God’s Love?} What was the point of capital punishment in OT, which was way too harsh to the point that it was not strictly followed back then? How does it display God's love when people are killed for not obeying?
5. 22:19 {Reconciling Two Verses} How does Ecclesiastes 9:4-6 reconcile with Paul’s statement that “to live is Christ and to die is gain”? Am I misreading it?
6. 27:01 {Overcoming Condemnation/Embracing God’s Grace} I have a good understanding of God’s Love and forgiveness in my head, but I have trouble living as though I believe it in my heart, and I still feel condemned at times (1 John 4: 16-18). Any advice?
7. 32:36 {About Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh} What is your opinion on Paul's thorn in the flesh? I heard it was his eyes, maybe from his encounter on the road to Damascus? 1) He had Luke, a doctor, with him during his travels 2) He had others write his letters.
8. 40:00 {How to “Walk in the Spirit”} From Galatians 5, what is does it mean to “walk in the Spirit”? And do you have any pastoral advice for a new disciple on this subject?
9. 47:46 {Difference: Doubt vs. Unbelief} What is the difference biblically between doubt & unbelief? Are either of them a sin?
10. 52:48 {How is the Holy Spirit Received?} How does receiving the Holy Spirit work? In Acts, there are two times the HS is poured out: Jews (Ch. 2) and then Gentiles (Ch. 10), but every other time is passed by laying on of hands (Acts 8: 14-18, 19:6, etc.).
11. 56:27 {Advice for a Difficult College Situation} I have to read “The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks” for school, but Oprah did a movie on it. Since she denied that Jesus is the only way, I don’t know if I should drop the class. Thoughts?
12. 58:24 {About the Timing of our Death} Are our deaths appointed to us in both time and manner? If a person dies being hit by a car on the corner of Times Square, was it always going to end that way?
13. 1:02:20 {How to Handle Online-Only Congregants} How should churches handle their local online only congregants? This is a big dilemma in my church's leadership right now. (Let's assume that it is safe to return to in-person church.)
14. 1:04:13 {About the “Day of the Lord”} What is the day of the Lord?
15. 1:06:16 {Was Jesus Created? Answering JWs} How would you respond to a JW who says that Revelation 3: 14 proves that Jesus was created when it says He is the “beginning of Creation”?
16. 1:09:48 {Using Apologetics to Reach Friends} How do you recommend bringing up apologetics with unbelieving friends?
17. 1:12:48 {Are Non-Believers Morally Superior?} How should I respond to the attitude of, “So-and-so is moral without a belief in God - therefore, they are better than someone who needs religion to be good”?
18. 1:17:30 {Can Preaching the Truth Harden Hearts?} What is a Christian’s role to speak truth on cultural issues to non-Christian society? Just preach good news & individual hearts get changed? It seems like preaching against homosexuality hardens hearts.
19. 1:24:48 {Is Receiving Imputed Righteousness Just?} How/why can our sins be imputed to Jesus? I'm confused about the "transfer." If God is just, how can He let someone else step in for our sin? And how valid is the sacrifice if He was going to rise again?
20. 1:31:28 {Is God the Branch, or the Vine?} A few times in the OT, Jesus is referred to as the Branch (Zechariah 3:8, 6: 12, Jeremiah 23:5). Why then is He referred to as the Vine and us the branches in John 15:5?

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected