BibleThinker

Latest Episodes:

Should you be baptized in a church you don’t agree with? Jun 16, 2021

Show notes

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.

Jesus' Cross Defended Historically and Theologically: The Mark Series pt 64 (15:15-39) Jun 14, 2021

Show notes

On one side we have skeptics who want to easily dismiss much of the biblical account of Jesus' crucifixion. On the other side we have "progressive Christian" teachers who want to take away essential theological truths about the meaning of the cross of Christ. I'm tackling all of that today. I find it genuinely intimidating to be speaking on the topic of the death of our Lord, since I don't know how any man could do true justice to the glory and horror of the cross, but I pray that God uses this to bless you and draw you closer to Him.

This is part 64 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:53-72.

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 36) Jun 11, 2021

Show notes

0:00 - Introduction
1. 0:10 {Regrets about Not Sharing the Gospel} My father recently died, and I don’t think he was a true Christian. I’ve been a Christian for 7 months and I didn’t share the Gospel with him. Would things have gone differently if I did?
2. 7:03 {Witnessing to Mormon Family Members} I'm a Christian who is married to a non-practicing Mormon who still bases his beliefs on LDS doctrine. I think I want to go into apologetics (largely inspired by you), but I don't think my husband will approve. I also feel called to evangelize my Mormon in-laws, but I struggle to get past their feelings-based testimony and their beliefs about who Jesus is and salvation. Any advice on my apologetic aspirations in my specific circumstances, and on the best way to surmount these LDS hurdles?
3. 12:45 {How do we Meditate on Scripture?} I was wondering: how do you remember Scripture? I will read in the morning, and by the time night/the next day comes, I forget what I read. I know we’re to meditate on it, but how do we do this?
4. 15:26 {How to Pray for our Leaders} I find it very difficult to pray for the current administration. I know they need it desperately. How do I overcome this struggle?
5. 19:06 {Is “Deliverance” for Today?} Is deliverance for today? Should we be praying for each other to be set free from demonic bondage in our lives, along with seeking medical assistance and counseling where needed?
6. 25:51 {About Pastor/Elder Qualifications} How literally should we follow the "qualifications" for pastors/elders in 1 Timothy and Titus?
7. 31:10 {Can a Christian Marry a Non-Christian?} Is it OK for a Christian to marry a non-Christian like a Buddhist, atheist, or Muslim? And what if they already have children? How would you counsel the Christian?
8. 35:07 {About Married Couples in Heaven} Does Luke 20: 27-36 teach that people who are married on Earth won't be married anymore in Heaven? I feel sad that my husband and I might not be together still in Heaven.
9. 39:20 {About the Lord’s Supper during Covid} In my church, holy communion is postponed because of the measures surrounding Covid. Drinking from one cup is not possible. To justify this, they use Joshua 5:1-8. Is this biblical reasoning?
10. 45:06 {Will God Understand if I Hide my Faith?} I’m an ex-Muslim who became a Christian in 2020 and I have secretly been Christian but I still have to do Muslim practices. Will God understand that I have to keep it a secret?
11. 50:49 {Can we Truly Feel God’s Presence?} Todd Friel (Wretched Radio) said “The Bible doesn’t teach that we can feel God’s presence” and the “warm fuzzies” are only an emotional response when our minds receive biblical truth. Is this true?
12. 57:28 {Can we Compare Jesus & the Tree of Life?} What's your view on the comparison between Jesus and the Tree of Life? It came to me in a dream, and I googled it and found that it was exclusively an Orthodox belief.
13. 59:50 {What did Paul Do before his Missionary Work?} 11 years went by from the time Paul was saved ‘til his first missionary journey - I always thought it was only a few months. What did Paul do during those 11 years other than fasting and praying?
14. 1:00:34 {Are a Person’s Days Determined?} Job 14:5 says a person's days are determined, yet in Isaiah 38, God extends Hezekiah’s life. It almost seems that with enough prayer & faith, we can persuade God to change His mind. Thoughts?
15. 1:04:32 {Will we receive Glorified Bodies AND Minds?} We know that we will eventually gain glorified bodies, but what about glorified minds? Will someone who suffers from a mental disorder (like Down’s Syndrome) be “healed”?
16. 1:07:00 {Encouragement when we feel Empty} I struggle with emotional emptiness, abandonment issues, & having low self-worth. This makes my walk hard because my cup is always empty. God won’t answer my prayers. Any advice?
17. 1:11:36 {About Giving Everything for the Lord} Can you better explain Luke 14: 33 where Jesus tells the crowd, “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up all his own possessions”?
18. 1:15:29 {In Defense of Sola Scriptura} What is your understanding of 2 Thessalonians 2: 15, as many Orthodox Christians point to this as evidence of the legitimacy of traditions that are not explicitly written in Scripture?
19. 1:20:33 How is Isaiah 52-53 evidence for the Bible if most of the stuff in there is theology, and not testable historically?
20. 1:25:02 What does your personal time with God look like, Mike? How do you differentiate it from your study time?

Is it too late for me? Jun 10, 2021

Show notes

This clip is taken from my weekly Q&A video, which happens live at 1pm pacific time on Fridays.

Several people reached out to tell me this particular answer was helpful to them so I decided to cut it out and make it into it's own video in the hopes that it would bless you.

How I Respond to King James Only Christians Jun 09, 2021

Show notes

You may be interested in my 3 part video series on what the original manuscripts of the Bible really say and how reliable our modern translations are. You can watch it here for only $29.99! Just kidding, all my stuff is free. Here it is! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW
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.

6 MAJOR Religious Groups Compared to Biblical Christianity with Mike Winger Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Can you believe in Christ and NOT Be a Christian? Join Mike Winger and I as we break down 6 MAJOR religious groups that ALL claim to believe in Jesus and compare them to Biblical Christianity.

These six major groups, if not careful, can make you think that what they believe is the same as what you believe. Mike Winger and I will break down some of the similarities and differences of these six groups as we compare them against Biblical Christianity.

TIME STAMPS

00:00 - Opening remarks
06:34 - Opening prayer
07:40 - Group #1 - The Mormon Church
22:18 - Group #2 - Jehovah's Witnesses
41:03 - Group #3 - Hebrew Israelites
1:01:38 - Group #4 - Roman Catholicism
1:26:43 - Group #5 - Seventh-Day Adventism
1:49:32 - Group #6 - "Pop" Christianity
2:07:54 - Final Remarks

Skeptics Say "No" to Barabbas and Pilate: The Mark Series pt 63 (15:1-15) Jun 07, 2021

Show notes

Skeptics claim that Barabbas was invented by the Gospels for symbolic purposes. Skeptics say that Pilate would never have given in to the requests of the Jewish leaders to crucify Jesus. Skeptics say that Pilate would not have released prisoners, like Barabbas or Jesus, for the Passover feast. I'll be answering all that today!
But I have two other really important things to cover as well. One of them is the sad fact that the trial of Jesus before Pilate has been historically used to justify persecution of Jewish communities by those who name the name of Christ; the Jewish Messiah, ironically enough! The second issue is simply the point of the passage as it relates to the theology we are learning from the trial of Jesus.

Whether you are joining me for the live stream or watching afterward I hope and pray that this will be a blessing to you and increase your confidence in the truth of Scripture and the love of God for all people.

This is part 63 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:53-72.

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

20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 35) Jun 04, 2021

Show notes

0:00 - Introduction
1. 1:13 {Adam Buried Beneath where Jesus Crucified?} I heard on a program by the National Geographic that there’s a belief out there that Adam was buried beneath where Jesus was crucified. They say when Jesus died, His blood flowed down into the ground and through some cracks inside a tomb where Adam was buried, and Adam was resurrected from that. I am trying to find out where this belief even started, why it was started, and if there is any Biblical or Historical evidence to suggest that this ever happened. Have you ever heard of this, and do you know of any resources on this subject that might help me?
2. 6:04 {About Bribery in the book of Proverbs} Can you please help me and my friend understand Proverbs 21: 14 about bribery? We read the references below the verse but still find it hard to understand.
3. 10:15 {Should I Attend a Calvinist Church?} The church that I currently attend is in search of a new pastor, and the one that will be voted in is a Calvinist. I don't agree with Calvinism and question if I can submit to his authority/teaching. What do I do? Stay? Go? I don't want to be divisive but want to stand on God's truth in love.
4. 14:09 {Faith vs. Works Contradiction?} I’m confused on two verses, Romans 4:3 and James 2: 21. I don’t believe the Bible has any contradictions, can you please clear up my confusion on this?
5. 22:51 {Is God Faithful when We’re Faithless?} Is 2 Timothy 2: 13 saying God is faithful to us, or to Himself? I hear people thanking God that when we are faithless, He is faithful to us, but it seems to read the opposite.
6. 25:26 {About God’s Will in our Lives} How do I know if I am living in the will of God for my life? Do wrong choices mean we have messed up Gods plan and we’re now living plan B?
7. 29:32 {About the Age of Accountability} Does Numbers 14: 29 give us any biblical reason to believe the age of accountability to be 20? In Numbers 14: 18-19 Moses pleads with God, and God pardons the sins of the children 19 and younger.
8. 34:40 {About the Wedding Feast/Garments} The man who was at the wedding feast without a wedding garment in Matthew 22: 11, is he like what would called a nominal Christian?
9. 41:48 {About Cohabitation Before Marriage} What Scripture shows that 2 heterosexual Christians who love each other and intend to marry can’t cohabitate if they are celibate?
10. 46:18 {How to Honor an Abusive Parent} My father was physically and mentally abusive when I was a child. Can I stop talking to him and still be honoring him?
11. 49:19 {About Assisted Suicide/Euthanasia} What are your thoughts about assisted suicide and euthanasia?
12. 52:55 {Is the Holy Spirit Jesus’ Father?} Might be a dumb question but if the Holy Spirit came upon Mary so that Jesus could be born, wouldn't that make the Holy Spirit Jesus' father?
13. 54:59 {About “Pascal’s Wager”} What is Pascal’s Wager, and do you believe that it has been refuted?
14. 59:10 {About Revelation – New Names/White Stones} What is the "new name" in Revelation 2: 17? Is it the individual's new name that receives the white stone, or is it Jesus' new name?
15. 1:01:28 {Should Pro-Life = Immigration Support?} Do you think that being pro-life means that I should also support immigration/refugee resettlement due to the pro-life belief that children should be taken care of regardless of circumstances?
16. 1:04:40 {Can a False Teacher Cast Out Demons?} What is the deeper meaning of Matthew 12:22-28? I’m a little confused. Can a false teacher cast out demons? If so, wouldn't that be a kingdom that is divided against itself?
17. 1:09:20 {Defense of the Trinity} Hi Mike! I fully believe in the Trinity due to ALL of Scripture. But 1 Corinthians 8:6 is a bit problematic and seems Unitarian. What do you make of it?
18. 1:13:20 {Should our Shortcomings Discourage our Callings?} I believe I am called to be a pastor, but I have sin & inconsistencies in my life. Do you think this could mean I’m not called, or do I just need to work on these things before being used in that area?
19. 1:14:24 {About our Prayers and Troubling Thoughts} When does God hear my prayers? I am asking you this because my thoughts are barely controllable nowadays, and those thoughts are causing me to pray very weird things and think about things I don’t want to think about.
20. 1:19:09 {Infinite Universes?} Is the theory of an infinite amount of universes biblical or unbiblical?

Q&A every Friday at 1pm pacific time.

The NEW BibleThinker mugs can be found here. These are made by a third party and I'm not making any money off of them BUT $5 per mug will go toward to support different ministries I choose. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/new-bible-thinker-mug

The Best Bible Version May Depend on Your Education Level Jun 02, 2021

Show notes

These are my tips on Bible versions as well as where to read depending on what's going on in your life. Please share your recommendations in the comments as well!
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. I'm Mike Winger and my goal is to help you learn to think biblically about everything!

The Theology of the Holy Spirit Explained and Defended May 31, 2021

Show notes

Can we prove the Holy Spirit is a person and not just an "active force" as the Jehovah's Witnesses claim?
Can we prove that the Holy Spirit is actually God and not just Gabriel the angel as the Muslims claim?
Today we'll do that and more as we look at a ton of verses that teach us about the nature and work of the Holy Spirit. I think you'll find that the most often ignored person of the Trinity is not only clearly taught about in the Bible, He is a blessing to know about.

Here's my study on what the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit is. https://youtu.be/KmCHX8-2Smo

I have live videos every Monday and Friday at 1pm 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.

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