I remember the first time I read through this passage. I definitely missed out on MOST of the wonderful stuff that is in here for us to enjoy. But even after years of studying the Bible I think it's easy to miss out on some of the subtle and powerful truths hidden in the text. Jesus' last supper is something "everyone knows" and, I would like to suggest that assumption of knowledge is causing many of us to miss out on the beauty and brilliance of this famous event. This is part 59 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:12-26. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF Here's my video on how Jesus fulfilled Passover... it's pretty amazing how intricately God laid out the symbolism! https://youtu.be/tbwylmj26SU Here's a teaching on Jesus fulfilling Isaiah 53, which He alludes to in Mark 14 as well. https://youtu.be/Ng0HMOs7ky0 This is my favorite series ever! How to find Jesus in the Old Testament. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 0:20 {Should We Obey the Sabbath?} What exactly does Jesus mean in Matthew 12:1-8 when He says we must obey His commands? Do we receive special rewards for obeying the sabbath, and are we jeopardized for not obeying the sabbath? 2. 7:09 {Are Unwanted Bad Thoughts from the Enemy?} I struggle a lot with bad thoughts popping into my head out of nowhere. I'm kind of horrified and I don't agree with them! Is it possible that they can come from the Enemy? 3. 12:19 {About the Local Church} What is a local church and how should one be started? Many teach that it should be a plant under the authority of an existing church, but is that a biblical mandate? 4. 16:09 {How to Rest in God’s Presence} How should we as Christians rest in the presence of the Lord? Is there anything you do to be connected to Him throughout the day? 5. 20:35 {How Could Judas Betray Jesus} Does Hebrews 6:4-6 apply to Judas Iscariot? How else could Judas betray Jesus even after he had "been enlightened" and "tasted of the heavenly gift" and had "partaken of the Holy Spirit"? 6. 28:00 {Refuting “Universal Salvation} How do you square Romans 5: 18 and 1 Corinthians 15: 22 (among others) with 2 Thessalonians 1:9 and Matthew 25: 46 (among others) regarding the issue of universal salvation? 7. 32:10 {Do Online Church Services Violate Hebrews 10?} How absolute is the instruction in Hebrews 10: 25 about "meeting together"? Are churches who go online-only due to COVID and/or government rules failing to live up to it? 8. 37:41 {Why did Command Killing Instead of Moving People?} In the Old Testament, I struggle with why God has Israel kill thousands of people to take the promised land, rather than just driving them out or trying to convert them. 9. 45:12 {Why was Zacharias Disciplined but Not Mary?] In Luke 1: 18 & 34, both Zacharias & Mary questioned Gabriel when he told them of their future offspring. So why was Zacharias disciplined for his question, but not Mary? 10. 49:16 {Does God Ever Stop Forgiving?} Can we anger God to the point where He never forgives? 11. 51:26 {Advice for Agnostics Seeking God} I am agnostic, trying to believe. How would you recommend someone should approach this? I am reading though the Bible – I started with John as some recommend, but my heart hasn't changed yet. Any advice? 12. 55:28 {About “Total Depravity”} How do you read 1 Peter 1:3 in light of your rejection of the doctrine of Total Depravity? 13. 58:15 {About Justification, Sanctification, & sin} Can someone be justified without being sanctified? In other words, can someone live a lifestyle of habitual sin and still be saved? 14. 1:03:30 {About the “Mandela Effect”} This is purely hypothetical, but: How would you respond to the suggestion that the disciples’ confidence in the resurrection was produced by the Mandela Effect? 15. 1:06:08 {Do Non-Believers get Physical Bodies Back?} Do the non-believers who have died or will die get their physical bodies back at the final judgment? I know we will, but does Scripture mention this about those who reject Christ? 16. 1:09:55 {About Peter & Satan – Was Satan Divided?} Jesus says to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan!" when Peter tries to rebuke Him from dying in Jerusalem, but "Satan entered into [Judas]" leading him to betray Jesus. Was Satan "divided against himself"? 17. 1:11:44 {About Fear of Kids Rejecting Christ} A friend is afraid to have kids because she’s afraid they’ll reject Jesus. She would feel guilty for having them if they went to Hell and doesn’t want to take that chance. How should I respond? 18. 1:13:44 {About Old Testament Scholarship} What is your take on scholarship that attempts to alter our common understanding of the Old Testament by questioning the translations or our understanding of the culture? 19. 1:17:06 {Does Jesus Directly Say He is “Son of Man”?} In the Gospel of Mark, since Jesus talked about the Son of Man in the third person, that means Jesus was talking about someone ELSE. Where in Mark does Jesus directly say He is the Son of Man? 20. 1:21:30 {About the Bema Seat of Judgment} Will sins be publicly exposed to an assembly or those we’ve sinned against at the Bema Seat before being erased/forgiven? (1Corinthians 5: 10, Luke 12:2-3) Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything.

Since Brandan Robertson has accused me of editing his clips to take him out of context here is a link to the full teaching on “Truth” that I got the clips from. The teaching portion begins at about 37 minutes in. You can see for yourself that I haven’t done that. https://vimeo.com/257414376 Here’s the video where Brandan makes this rather odd and baseless claim. https://vm.tiktok.com/ZMeaj3R3H/ He also said that I don’t want people to ask questions. Which is a great time to remind you of my weekly Friday Q&A! See you there! Sometimes it's helpful to examine a theological car accident. Brandan, or any of those who share his views, I have no bitterness toward you and hope that one day we can look at the Bible together and see the same Jesus. Most of the other video content I used can be found on Brandan Robertson's web site. Just match the background of the video to find whichever one you are looking for. http://www.brandanrobertson.com/audio-video-1

I know, I said this was going to be a shorter video but after having looked at hours of misleading teaching from Brandan Robertson I decided to dig a bit deeper. Here are some links that may interest you. My original teaching on the passage in Mark where Jesus says "dogs" https://youtu.be/DJZ7zmL2eyc My video on Critical Race Theory (I think this one is pretty important) https://youtu.be/yHvJx-rBYKo Reverend Brandan Robertson's original TikTok video saying Jesus repented of racism. https://www.tiktok.com/@revbrandanrobertson/video/6936268413010464005?lang=en&is_copy_url=0&is_from_webapp=v3&sender_device=pc&sender_web_id=6940438139509196294 Dr. Miguel De La Torre's original teaching video where he offers his Latinx version of Jesus https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=1131187867072318&ref=watch_permalink This next link is a tough one, it has Brandan and Miguel in conversation, trying to defend their views. I considered covering it all in detail but it is so chock full of misinformation (I really mean it, almost everything Miguel claims is not true and many of their answers are ignoring the real issues at hand) that I decided not to address all of it. You are welcome to watch it but please know that he is wrong on history, wrong on 1st century culture, wrong on Greek, wrong on Anselm and how the early Christians viewed Jesus, wrong on the nature of sin and complicity and almost never right at all. You all know me, I never use such strong words, I'm really not exaggerating here. https://youtu.be/s3DHktBCt1E Why do I share links with such terrible content? Because I want to equip you to think biblically about things and not to try to control what you can and can't listen to. You should be able to see that I have not misrepresented these guys but have honestly dealt with misinformation and spiritually dangerous teachings.

I have often heard this passage used in ways that I don't think it was ever intended to be. In this study we are going through the anointing of Jesus by Mary, but unlike last time where we handled a rather complex set of questions about how this passage supposedly shows irreconcilable contradiction in the Gospels we are now looking at this passage to learn what we can from it in the way of answering a few questions. Why did Jesus say we would always have the poor with us? Does that mean we don't need to give money to the poor? What about those who say that taking care of the poor is the job of the Church and not the government (a phrase I have heard on the lips of pastors many times)? Why was Jesus anointed with oil for burial? What symbolic meaning is in this (spoiler, it's beautiful)? Why did Judas fall the way he did? Can we learn something from it to keep ourselves from slip sliding away like he did? This is part 58 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 14:1-11. Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 1:29 [Is Salvation Applied to All Mankind?] Since Jesus died to save all of mankind, won't everyone be saved regardless of whether or not they place their faith in Christ, just like how gravity still works on everyone whether they believe in it or not? 2. 6:47 [About Energy & the Kalam] Why couldn’t energy be infinite, considering that we (as Christians) believe in an infinite God? The reason I’m asking is because the biggest Atheist objection I get to the Kalam while evangelizing is that 1. Energy can create a universe (quantum fluctuations) and 2. Energy may be constant (infinite). Can you object to these claims thoughtfully? 3. 10:18 [How can Jesus “become” sin?] The Bible says that Jesus “became sin who knew no sin” (2 Corinthians 5:21). You also mentioned it at times in your videos. How can Jesus become sin? 4. 15:08 [About Jerome, Latin Vulgate, Changes] Around 400 A.D., what were the biggest changes in doctrine that Jerome introduced in his first Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, and how did they differ from the original Gospel? 5. 18:55 [What does “impure” mean in Ephesians?] What does Paul mean, specifically, by "impure" in Ephesians 5:5? I can't find anything at all that clearly defines this. I would love to know what Paul, as a Jew, meant exactly by this term. 6. 25:23 [Advice while “Waiting on the Lord”] I'm currently in a season of "waiting on the Lord" to know what He wants me to do with my life. Any advice for someone in this season? 7. 28:20 [Can Christians Serve in Government Roles?] Can a Christian be called to be a governing authority talked about in Romans 13:1 with all that such a role would demand? Does it conflict or contradict with Romans 12:17 onwards? 8. 32:07 [What does Idolatry Look Like Today?] What would you say is modern day idolatry? I spend way more time on Christian YouTube channels and my phone than I do reading the Bible or praying. Do you get concerned that people may idolize you? 9. 38:37 [About Unclean Food/Items] In Mark 7: 14-19, why does Jesus seem appalled that the Jews believe that touching or eating certain things could make them unclean, given Leviticus 5:2-6 and Leviticus 11? This concept came from God. 10. 44:21 [Why Would God Give Multiple Wives?] It's often said that God does not affirm polygamy in the Old Testament, but 2 Samuel 12:8 seems to refute that. Why would God give multiple wives to David if he opposes polygamy? 11. 51:05 [When Were the Angels Created?] Were angels created on day 1 (with the heavens and all the hosts in them? (Nehemiah 9-6) Genesis 1 is not as clear. Are the hosts the angels? 12. 54:03 [How to Lovingly Correct Others] When discussing “correcting each other” in Bible studies (eg. Galatians 6:1, Matthew 18: 15), people mostly focus on when/why we shouldn't admonish someone. What does loving and appropriate discipline look like? 13. 59:33 [How do we Biblically Love Ourselves?] How can I love myself biblically? Any advice or Scripture? I feel like I hate myself sometimes. 14. 1:04:54 [Help with Reaching Atheist Family Members] Most of my friends and family are atheists and don’t take any argument for God seriously. How can I reach them in a way that they will listen and start to take Christianity seriously? 15. 1:06:38 [Biblical Thoughts about Birth Control] What is a biblical perspective on married believers using birth control or permanent measures (e.g. a vasectomy)? Heard some say no based on Genesis 38 and Psalm 139. 16. 1:09:40 [Why did God Allow Satan into the Garden?] Why would a God who hates evil place evil incarnate (Satan) into the garden, when the world was still good and sinless, knowing it would lead to the corruption of humans? 17. 1:12:39 [Does Judas have a Throne?] In Matthew 19: 28, Jesus told His twelve disciples that they will have twelve thrones of judgment to judge the twelve tribes in the future. Does Judas still have a throne? 18. 1:16:17 [Why is Jesus Called “The Rock”?] Why does God repeatedly declare that He is the only Savior in Isaiah? He says He knows of no rock. This was confusing because Jesus is said to be a rock. 19. 1:17:54 [About the “Narrow Gate” (Matthew)] Can you explain to me what the “narrow gate” means in Matthew 7: 13-14 (what it means in practice)? 20. 1:20:50 [Does 2 Consciousnesses = 2 Souls?] There have been cases of people that live with only half a brain. Does someone that has had the connection between the halves of their brain removed and now have two consciousnesses have two souls? After my stream you may want to check out Inspiring Philosophy's new video defending the historicity of the Exodus. It premieres 2 hours after my stream ends. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk4CLwL9BQs I had a chance to preview it and thought it was really well done. Helping you learn to think biblically about everything.

To protect himself from possible retribution by the World Mission Society Church of God, “David Erdman” is using a fake name and his face is blurred out. This is because the WMSCOG is alleged to use law suits and family separation as ways of silencing those who openly come against them. Here are some resources that came up in my discussion with David. I thought you might find something here interesting… and hopefully it will strengthen your confidence that Christianity is true. All of my videos on the WMSCOG (except for the one they had YT remove under a copyright complaint) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q0LhGhJDXtA&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvwOzziMOk9ZIHKphdag47d Misquoting Jesus appendix info. https://crossexamined.org/is-the-new-testament-reliable-erhman-refutes-ehrman/ A response to Bart Ehrman’s “How Jesus Became God” https://www.amazon.com/How-God-Became-Jesus-Nature/dp/0310519594 Dan Wallace and Bart Ehrman debate https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsVWFS9r9DY William Lane Craig’s not-as-hard-to-understand “On Guard”. Evidence for God and for Christianity in particular. https://www.amazon.com/Guard-Defending-Faith-Reason-Precision-ebook/dp/B005SJ19VM/ Josh Rasmussen’s brilliant argument for God. https://www.amazon.com/How-Reason-Can-Lead-God-ebook/dp/B07TK5LCRN/ Watch me try to use fulfilled prophecy to prove that Christianity is true. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvj5rdOI_3HtSrwvFK-96qH

I almost gave up trying to resolve this supposed "contradiction" between Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Was Jesus anointed with oil/perfume once, twice or three times? Is there error in the Gospels about this? This is a rather complicated set of problems that will take time to unpack. In my study this week I searched and searched and could not find a satisfactory answer; and I'm not really ok with half-answers, so I was about to give up on the issue when I set aside all my resources and just worked with the texts themselves. Now I think I understand a very plausible explanation for the differences and similarities in the four Gospels on this issue. Today is all about apologetics! I'll be answering a lot of the following questions. If Luke is a separate account that happened at a different time and place how do we explain the similarities between his account and those in Mt, Mk and John? Like the other Gospels, Luke records a woman anointing Jesus, using fragrance from an alabaster flask and the name of the home owner being "Simon". Even if Luke is a separate account we have questions about how John can be harmonized with Matt and Mark. Critics claim that John has this event happening 6 days before Passover while Mark and Matt have it happening 2 days before Passover. They say that John has this happening at the home of Lazarus while Mark and Matt have it happening at the home of Simon the Leper. Yet these three accounts seem too similar to say it happened twice in such a short period of time. This puzzle had me confused for a time, and when I looked up resources from other people who tried to figure out a good solution I found myself bothered even more. The solutions often disregarded obvious challenges! In the end, I think I've figured it out and decided to do a whole video on it to make sure a good resource was out there for those looking to answer the question. I also think we should talk a bit about the anxiety Christians often feel when trying to resolve a supposed contradiction. How do we process that, especially if we simply don't know the answer yet? This is part 57 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:32-37. Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 1:20 [Kalam Cosmological Argument] When using the Kalam Cosmological Argument, how can I convince skeptics that this argument should lead to belief in the God of the Bible specifically, and not just "a creator" in general? 2. 7:58 [About the Antichrist, Antiochus, & Daniel] Is there any biblical support for the idea that Daniel 11: 36-45 is talking about the antichrist instead of Antiochus IV? 3. 16:08 [Old Ages in Genesis – Literal?] How do you address the advanced ages found in the book of Genesis? My wife and I were discussing this last night. She takes them literally, while I view them more symbolically. How do you view it? 4. 23:15 [Is Tradition as Authoritative as Scripture?] I was speaking with Orthodox Christian friends about tradition, and they said John 21: 24-25 was the best example of the Bible mentioning oral tradition as being as authoritative as itself. Thoughts? 5. 27:52 [Mark & Revelation – Passage Comparison] Are Mark 13: 24-27 and Revelation 6: 12-17 describing the same event? 6. 31:37 [How to Tell when Scripture Directly Applies] How do we determine the difference between text in the Bible that only relates to the cultural context of the time vs. text that is trans-cultural and relevant for all time? 7. 37:41 [“The Restrainer” / Eschatology] When the restrainer is removed, will non-believers lose their compassion and morals? (See 2 Thessalonians 2:6-7) 8. 41:40 [Should Atheist Philosophers Shake our Faith?] Are you ever shaken by why there are brilliant philosophers of religion, like Graham Oppy, who are atheists? I sometimes feel like I must be missing something. 9. 48:39 [The “Sinner’s Prayer”] I was wondering, what is a good alternative to the “sinners prayer”? How should we lead someone to salvation? 10. 49:46 [Molinism, Free Will, Circumstances] In Molinism (or your soteriology), is people's choice to believe only dependent upon the circumstances God places them in? If so, why doesn't God make circumstances that makes everyone believe? 11. 53:44 [Difficult Passages – Deut. 22, Rape] A friend of mine points to the law on women and rape in Deuteronomy 22: 23-24 as an example of "flawed teaching" in the Bible. How should we understand this verse? 12. 59:19 [What is the point of the book of Esther?] Why is Esther in the Bible? I see no moral purpose, no mention of God anywhere, and the last two chapters have dangerous implications. 13. 1:04:02 [The Significance/Importance of Baptism] A friend who is a recent Christian hasn’t chosen to be baptized yet. He seems to not understand the importance of baptism. How can I explain the importance of baptism without being pushy? Ultimately, it’s his decision. 14. 1:06:57 [What does it Mean to "Wait on the Lord"?] What does it mean to "wait on the Lord," and how (in general) would you counsel someone who's in that season? 15. 1:08:53 [How to Differentiate between Our Mind and the HS] Can you speak to how to tell the difference between the Spirit burdening your heart & just being obsessive about something? A friend broke contact with me during great pain a long time ago, and I still worry. 16. 1:12:54 [Is it O.K. to Accept a Trial Instead of Praying?] My unborn baby has a serious birth defect. Several friends are praying for a miracle. Is it o.k. if we don't? I do believe God could heal that way, but I'm just trying to live with what's real right now. 17. 1:15:45 [1 Corinthians 5: 11, Family Gatherings] What is your perspective on the application of the “Do not even eat with them…” passage when it comes to family (1 Corinthians 5: 11)? Do you think this includes not going to family gatherings? 18. 1:19:48 [How to Help Someone who Doesn’t “Walk the Talk”] How do I talk to my wife, who believes in Jesus & prays “In Jesus Name, Amen,” but doesn’t read the Bible or know the true meaning & story behind Jesus Christ? Her lifestyle doesn’t add up with the script. 19. 1:21:10 [Do Politics Belong in the Pulpit?] Do politics belong in the pulpit? I 100% disagree with politics being in the pulpit for various reasons, but I wanted your opinion also. 20. 1:26:12 [How to Respect an Atheist Husband while Obeying God] I was saved last year, and my husband is still an atheist. He doesn't want me sharing Jesus with our daughter because he thinks she'll "think he's going to hell." How do I balance my faith and my respect for him? Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized. Every Friday at 1pm PT

Mario became convinced that Jesus bodily rose from the dead because of the historical evidence for it. He wrote a paper defending the resurrection for a school project, in Belgium, and asked me to do an interview on the topic as well as to answer several objections from his teacher. What excites me the most is just knowing his story and how those of us who have been doing online ministry have been able to play a role in it. To any skeptics who may be listening. I encourage you to take this evidence seriously and to dig on your own. Not just looking for reasons to reject Christianity but looking to discover what the truth is. Here are some VERY helpful links. My video explaining why, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence", doesn't help the skeptic deny the resurrection. https://youtu.be/3GRAI-us4es A large video giving tons of evidence for the resurrection. https://youtu.be/0Rtmn5LLM-0 A short video for those who only have moment to hear the evidence. This is something to get the conversation started with a friend. https://youtu.be/4qhQRMhUK1o My video on the evidence for the empty tomb. https://youtu.be/C8BU_R7QoYo My playlist of live Q&A videos. Mario mentioned these have been helpful for him and I thought you might be interested as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gflBDcJV5wc&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsF2AppZDY7p1wGK0BwahuZ Here is my verse by verse series going through the Gospel of Mark and covering various theology and apologetics issues. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7jWg60N_0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

People have been using this verse of Scripture to deny the deity of Christ for a long time. in reality, it's actually a beautiful way of teaching the deity and humanity of Christ. We will go through it in detail and answer objections while trying to make sure we don't lose the simple and profound teaching of the passage. Jesus didn't know the day or the hour. Why not? Does He know it now? Did the Holy Spirit know it? If Jesus didn't know then how does that bear down on so many today who are trying to figure out the day and hour? This is part 56 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:32-37. Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 1:11 [Grieving the death of the unsaved] How do we biblically grieve the death of a loved one who wasn't saved? Since we don't believe in purgatory, and therefore we don't pray for deceased people, what is an appropriate (but still loving) response in this situation? And how can we kindly correct those who make a well-meaning offer to pray for a dead loved one without being harsh? 2. 8:20 [Plato & Christianity?] What does Plato have to do with Christianity? I recently read that Plato had as much influence on Christianity as the Bible. 3. 11:29 [Does Christianity impede critical thinking?] Is/was Christianity guilty of impeding critical thinking and exploring the mysteries of the cosmos and physics of the natural world? How would you advise a believer involved in both worlds? 4. 17:06 [Does God have a sense of humor?] Deep theological and philosophical question: Does God have a sense of humor? 5. 21:18 [Should I be rebaptized?] Are there biblical examples of people being baptized more than once? I was baptized LDS but don't consider it to be a legitimate baptism. I want to be rebaptized now that I found Christ. Is this ok? 6. 26:16 [About ‘gods’ of other religions] In Numbers 33:3-4, YHWH never denies other ‘gods.’ Are we then to understand gods of other religions (Allah, Zeus, etc.) as very much real ‘gods,’ albeit demons? 7. 32:00 [Does God really forget sins? Should we?] After forgiveness, all sin is wiped clean. Can a person then claim to have never taken part in certain sin in his past? If the Lord remembers our sin no more, why should we? 8. 35:17 [Is it biblical to mandate traditions?] The church I grew up in had extrabiblical "traditions" (women wear dresses, men are clean shaven, etc.), and justified this using Proverbs 22: 28 & Matthew 18: 18. Is it biblical to mandate adherence to tradition? 9. 40:38 [Answering skeptics’ claims online] I've been trying to reach skeptics online, but they've told me belief in God is irrational and that I must believe rape & torture are o.k. since I'm a Christian. They also call God evil, a murderer, and a megalomaniac, and say Christians are wasting their time believing in "fairytales." How should I respond to these claims, and how can I tell when a debate is not even going to be fruitful? 10. 45:35 [Should we pray against “spirits” of sins?] Is it Biblical to pray against spirits (e.g., the "spirit of" offense, laziness, depression, confusion, etc.)? What is a "Jezebel spirit," and is it real? 11. 51:15 [Perpetual virginity of Mary?] Did Mary remain a virgin? I've heard that the brothers of Jesus that are mentioned were actually his cousins, and that if she had other sons, John wouldn't have needed to care for her (John 19:26). 12. 58:16 [Defining persecution] Can you please define "persecution" and speak to whether these pastors imprisoned or being penalized for defying public health orders are in fact being persecuted? 13. 1:00:35 [Can secular songs be turned into worship?] What are your thoughts on using secular music as a form of worship music where half of the lyrics are secular words and the other half is supposedly Jesus’ words? 14. 1:02:34 [Do real Christians stop sinning?] Does 1 John 3:4-10 mean your aren’t a real Christian if you still struggle with sin? At face value that’s how it sounds, but then nobody would qualify for Grace - so I’m confused. 15. 1:11:30 [Why did God command death?] My 12 year old daughter asked me after reading Exodus 32: 28 “If God gives us free will to worship Him, why did He have Moses command the Levites to kill those 3,000 people who chose not to?” 16. 1:14:29 [Did God make individuals & not just mankind?] Even though I know people (as a whole) were made by God, because God made Adam, how do I know that I/people (individually) are also made by God, especially when they are conceived out of sin? 17. 1:17:03 [How to rekindle passion for God] How would you counsel someone who feels their passion for the Lord dying? (Not praying anymore, not reading the Bible, etc.) 18. 1:19:35 [Inerrancy & preservation of Scripture] How do you bring together an inerrancy and preservation to modern translations which say verses have been added and taken away (end of Mark, Acts 8: 37)? 19. 1:21:53 [Reliability of Scripture when Jesus was alone] How do we know parts of the New Testament are reliable that narrate Jesus when He is alone without witnesses? (Ex: Being tempted in the wilderness or His prayer in the garden of Gethsemane.) 20. 1:23:29 [Leviticus, uncleanness, and the Temple] What happens to people who become unclean (impure) in Leviticus? When they’re unclean for the whole day, are they just not allowed in the Temple, or do bad, negative things happen to them as well? Here’s the video where I go into detail about Mary not being a virgin forever. https://youtu.be/okrkXfrJrNA

I've had a number of people asking me about when pastor Chuck Smith predicted the rapture. It's an uncomfortable topic for a Calvary Chapel pastor, which I am, and for someone who looks up to and deeply appreciates pastor Chuck, as I do. This is because Chuck Smith is the founder of Calvary Chapel and I can say that his ministry has had a big, positive impact in my own life. But I think we should talk about it for a few specific reasons. 1) It did happen. 2) It has not been publicly dealt with, to my knowledge. In fact, it appears as though it has been denied. 3) My own ministry has led many people to Calvary Chapels and I feel obligated to talk about this because it's a significant issue in our past and I owe it to those who are or will attend Calvary Chapel churches because of my influence. 4) It wasn't just mentioned in one message. Pastor Chuck predicted it in multiple books and over the course of years. 5) It's based on a misinterpretation of Scripture which is still common among pastors today. It just so happens that this passage of Scripture is the one we are covering today in our verse by verse study in the Gospel of Mark. 6) Many pastors, in my own movement as well as beyond, have gotten in the habit of playing fast and loose with predictions related to the rapture, the tribulation and the second coming and I think that if we look honestly about mistakes of the past we can be warned not to fall into the same mistakes in the future. And if my own understanding is correct, we can expect to see a great deal of reckless prophetic speculation in the years to come. We would do well to be prepared for it. I really should have mentioned that in Mark 11 the fig tree being cursed is thought by some to specially represent Israel. Here is my response to that. The fig tree there is used to make an example that relates to Israel or the Temple but I don’t think that’s because fig trees in general represent Israel (see my survey of its usage in the Old Testament from the video). Also, the context in Mark 13 shows Jesus is using the budding of the fig tree to refer to the two signs He mentions and not using fig trees in general as a representation of the nation Israel existing. In addition to this, the parallel passage in Luke shows that Jesus said “the fig tree and all the trees”. In other words, even if a fig tree might specially represent Israel in some cases it didn’t in this passage because all the trees aren’t fig trees. This is part 55 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:28-30. Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 0:36 [Parable of the Dishonest Manager] What is the meaning of the Parable of the Dishonest Manager in Luke 16: 1-13? I was having a Bible study with a friend over Discord, and we're wondering about this. 2. 10:01 [Anxiety about the Rapture] Is it bad to hope that Jesus doesn’t come back until after I have died? Not knowing when the rapture will come (pre or post-trib) causes me anxiety. 3. 12:46 [Can Christians claim all biblical promises?] How do we respond to someone who says we can "claim" all the promises in the Bible for ourselves because we are "grafted into Israel" or because God is "no respecter of persons"? 4. 16:35 [Resources to guard against confirmation bias] I am afraid that I am just partaking in confirmation bias for theism, but I find that most atheistic arguments are just strawmen and ad-hominem attacks. Are there any good, thoughtful resources? 5. 23:42 [Premarital abstinence] I've been a follower of Christ for about 3 months now and my girlfriend of 2 years who I would say is "lukewarm" is hesitant to abstain. How should I handle this? 6. 26:08 [Golden chain of redemption – Romans 8] Can you give your interpretation of the "golden chain of redemption" in Romans 8: 29-30? 7. 29:53 [How is God glorified when a soul perishes?] Everything works together for God's glory, but I have a hard time reconciling that with the idea that God creates people that He knows are destined for Hell. Any thoughts? 8. 36:17 [Do different biblical interpretations make Scripture contradictory?] Given the multiple schools of thought on concepts like eschatology and Calvinism, and each school has Scripture to back up their contradicting views, does that make Scripture contradictory? 9. 41:28 [Advice for an atheist teen] Please give advice on what say to my 16 yr. old who has told me he is an atheist. He can barely defend his position. He has basically fallen victim to internet atheism, and he no longer wants to go to church. 10. 43:50 [Have I truly forgiven if I don’t feel it?] How do you know when you truly have forgiven someone in your heart? I can say the words but I’m unsure if my heart has changed. 11. 46:33 [Is Satan omniscient?] The Bible indicates that the mystery of God's plan for salvation was kept hidden for ages until after the resurrection. Could that mean Satan is omniscient, i.e. when Jesus had to rebuke Peter? 12. 50:30 [Matt. 10 & Mark 13 written similarly] Why does Matthew 10: 16-24 have Olivet Discourse wording (same wording as Mark 13:9-13)? It does not seem to fit here/make sense & this is NOT found in the parallel verses (Luke 9:1-6, Mark 6:7-13). 13. 52:56 [Is meditation style prayer o.k.?] I enjoy mindful meditation for mental health reasons and want to involve God in this, but I've heard this type of prayer is wrong. Why couldn’t I memorize a Psalm and repeat it in prayerful thought? 14. 55:21 [Intro to apologetics resources] What are some good sources to look at to start studying apologetics? 15. 57:50 [Can we allow extrabiblical sources to inspire us?] Is it sinful to be inspired by historical people in and outside of the Bible? Should I instead be exclusively inspired by the Holy Spirit who enabled believers or by the Father? 16. 1:00:21 [Caring for a grieving loved one] A loved one of mine (a believer) is going through a season of mental anguish. What are some practical ways that I can help and encourage them? 17. 1:02:37 [Disciples’ memory – Miracles in Mark 6 vs. Mark 8] How is it that when Jesus feeds the 4,000 in Mark 8, the disciples don’t seem to remember Him already doing the same thing in Mark 6 (the 5,000)? 18. 1:04:03 [Jesus’ death, burial, & resurrection] If Jesus was beaten unrecognizably, how can we be sure they checked the right tomb? 19. 1:08:41 [How could Adam & Eve know right from wrong?] If eating from the tree of knowledge is what gave Adam and Eve the knowledge of good vs. evil, how could they have been expected to know that disobeying God was evil before they ate the fruit? 20. 1:10:21 [Can Christians listen to secular music?] I was wondering if you had anything to say about secular music? Is it ok to listen to? What draws the line of something a Christian shouldn't listen to/ watch? Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 0:13 I'm a follower of Christ, and I have several major illnesses which makes me uninsurable, and I can’t afford a funeral plan. My family will likely cremate me, but I’m REALLY troubled about this. Can only buried bodies be resurrected? Will I miss out on eternal life and go to Hell if my body is cremated? When I asked a pastor nearby, he said cremation is Pagan and only burial is biblical. Is this true? 2. 8:10 How do you see God when you pray? My mind wants to envision a person. 3. 10:29 Is there a possibility that “Lady Wisdom” in Proverbs 8 is actually the Holy Spirit? Is there ever any definitively male or female pronouns used in the Hebrew or Greek to know? 4. 13:26 Romans 11: 25-32 seems to say that the Jewish people will turn back to Christ. Do you have any thoughts on that or see a connection between that and the rising number of Messianic Jews is Israel? 5. 18:59 I am a new Christian, formally LDS. Many LDS folk have been very active at challenging my new beliefs (the Trinity, etc.) I want to share the Gospel with them, but I recognize I'm still learning. Do new Christians have an obligation to defend our beliefs and evangelize, or is it o.k. to ask these challengers to give me space? 6. 22:02 If God is timeless, how could He have sequential thoughts, especially before time was created (e.g., His decision to make time and creation)? 7. 25:36 What are our "non-negotiables" as Christians? What doctrines do we unapologetically plant our flags on and refuse to back down from? 8. 32:33 To what extent do we expose works of darkness? (Ephesians 5:8-14) A family member who claims to be a Christian is openly selling food w vulgar text & images and I found out she’s supplying alcohol to minors as well, through her business. The 1st part was bad enough, but I can’t stay silent anymore. She is already unhappy with me and another family member calling her out on behavior that endangered her child & our family, but admitted at the time that she “should be a better Christian.” How do we handle this? 9. 34:12 Is the Paradise mentioned by Paul in his vision of being taken to the third Heaven, Jesus to the thief on the cross, and in the account of Lazarus the same place? 10. 37:11 How can God love the whole world while hating sinners like in Psalm 5:5? 11. 41:23 Any advice for a wife whose husband has admitted he is not as spiritually mature as the wife? She doesn’t want to lead *him,* but is more spiritually mature. 12. 44:07 If a born-again Christian dies suddenly with an unconfessed sin (not a lifestyle) like momentary lust or deceit, will this lead to Hell? Or does Christ's sacrifice cover all sins (past & future)? 13. 49:05 Where are we when we are judged? On Earth, in Heaven, or somewhere in between? 14. 50:51 In Matthew 27, who are the people coming out of the tombs when Jesus rises? Did they continue earthly life and die again, or ascend too? 15. 54:22 How can I get close to God and overcome demons I have and oppression? 16. 57:31 My wife and I think we are called to move to Alaska for missions (to Remote Alaska). How can I know God is guiding us there? 17. 1:01:47 Would you please explain Matthew 10: 23? What is meant by “before the Son of Man comes”? Mark does NOT state this in his rendition of “Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Apostles” (Mark 6:7-13). 18. 1:05:04 Have you ever read anything on the Eastern Orthodox view of the Holy Trinity called the Monarchy of the Father? If you have, do you have any thoughts? 19. 1:06:22 I think I'm getting diagnosed with Covert Narcissistic Personality Disorder. Proverbs 16:5 scares me. Am I unsavable? I want to be saved and truly converted, but fear is my motive. 20. 1:13:22 My heart has become hard due to continued rebellion which led to a problem trusting Christ and resting in Him. How do I know if I’m repentant when I’m not “sorry” anymore? I miss living near to Christ. Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

This is part 54 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:24-27 Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Introduction 1. 0:38 The NT has a lot of examples of demons being very active, and Jesus & the Apostles had to cast many demons out of people - there was a lot of activity and possession. But in the OT, demonic activity and possession is not talked about at all (or very, very rarely). I was wondering what happened to cause the change and huge increase…or why we rarely read about it in the OT but there are so many examples in the NT. 2. 9:32 How can Jesus be fully God and fully man if He died? How can God die? I can understand Him putting aside some of His divinity in order to die, but don’t we believe that He is both fully God and fully man? How can He be FULLY God at the crucifixion? 3. 13:44 Some pastors I respect live in in huge homes in gated communities. Their salaries are higher than about 90% of their church members. Do you find anything wrong with this? 4. 16:42 My sister has decided to make a vision board and was asking me to follow. I did a bit of research and it looks like it has ties with the New Age. Could you explain how Christians should deal with goals & dreams? 5. 20:42 In Matthew and Mark, Jesus calls the first disciples before healing Peter’s mother in law and heals her by touch. In Luke, they're called after, and she’s healed by “rebuking the fever.” Is this significant? 6. 21:38 What's your view of 2 Timothy 2: 20-21 saying people can "cleanse themselves" & using the same “honorable vs. dishonorable” wording as Romans 9? Does this refute the Calvinist view of “Total Depravity”? 7. 27:14 What should we do when confused on doctrine? I’ve seen your videos on Catholicism, but recently had a debate with a Catholic and feel so confused. My faith is shaken, and I don’t know what to believe. 8. 31:09 Any thoughts about the ecumenical movement? If my church is in it, should I get out of that church? In Finland, most churches have papers that you are officially in it. Is that biblical? 9. 34:15 If Jesus doesn't return until the Temple is rebuilt, how is the Temple rebuilt when the ark and its contents are gone? Perhaps I have a big misunderstanding of prophecy or the specs for the Temple. 10. 36:55 What happens to animals/insects when they die? 11. 39:31 Is there anything Christians should fear apart from God? 12. 41:41 Can you please comment on John 8: 30-38? Why was Jesus talking like this to those who believed Him? Would love to hear your insight! 13. 46:49 What does the Bible say about modesty in clothing? Are there certain parts of our body that we cannot show, or is it just a heart issue? If the uniform for a sport is a bikini, should we avoid that sport? 14. 51:18 Could you run through an explanation of the Armor of God in Ephesians? 15. 59:07 Does Psalm 121:6 literally mean that God can protect you from being sunburnt? I want to not wear sunblock but don’t want to ruin my skin if I’m wrong. 16. 1:01:44 Why do people go to Hell? Is it a penalty for sins, or for not believing in Jesus? Some say everyone's sins are forgiven, but that doesn't seem to square with Ephesians 5:5-6 and Colossians 3:5-6. 17. 1:04:44 In one of your past Q&As, you shared your thoughts on “JESUS CALLING.” I was wondering if it’s okay for someone to get quiet and try to hear God and write it down just for themselves. Is that wrong? 18. 1:07:18 You mentioned in an earlier video that you do not believe one goes directly to Hell once dead. Can you elaborate on that? 19. 1:09:29 Given the fact that evolution occurs, is observable, and is supported by a vast body of scientific evidence, earning it the highest degree of scientific support, how do you interpret Genesis 1 & 2? 20. 1:13:00 I have ADHD, and while looking for a Christian perspective on my condition I came across a website that calls mental illness a myth and attributes any abnormality in thinking to the influence of the devil and demonic spirits. It also says ADHD is a "behavioral problem" that happens because parents "refuse or don't know how to discipline their children” and that the "root of all disorders is some type of sin that is being committed" & that medications are used as an excuse for continuing to engage in the sinful behavior. Thoughts? HERE'S my video on Catholicism. Please listen very carefully as these points are often misunderstood but I did research a lot and work hard to refine my concerns. https://youtu.be/7ZVHHmCOjOg Every Friday at 1pm PT

Lori Anne Thompson's full victim impact statement video - https://youtu.be/4kDe8caElaw This is not a video I'm looking forward to. But this is why I'm doing it. 1) Ravi's victims need vindication. In particular, Lori Anne Thompson has been continually maligned and horribly treated because she brought TRUE accusations against Ravi. I believed the worst about her because of the comments from Ravi and the echoes of those comments from RZIM. This only made her a continual victim. We need to clear her name. 2) Ravi's sins have left a lot of open wounds that need tending. Both in the body of Christ and in RZIM. Believers need to be reminded of how to process all this as a follower of Christ, of how true Christ remains regardless of this tragedy and how to handle this situation so that we don't wrongly treat RZIM staff, Ravi's family or continue to make the error of ignoring red flags that may still lead to more discoveries. I've seen every kind of wrong response online already. I pray to God that I would have wisdom to help us all to have wisdom here. If you are reading this before I go live then please stop and pray for me as I prepare for this video. 3) Scripture commands us to openly deal with a leader who persists in sin, which is proven by evidence, by telling the local body so that other leaders can properly fear their own falling (1 Tim 5:19-20). Since Ravi was a leader in worldwide Christianity with personal character endorsements from countless other leaders this command can only be fulfilled by taking the truth as public as his endorsements were. 4) If we as the body of Christ do not deal with this issue openly then I feel that we implicate ourselves in some sort of complicity at this point. The witness of Christ in the world has been harmed by Ravi's sin and we do need to publicly deal with it. Due to my own place in ministry as a public figure I do feel compelled to speak on this. Like many of you I am angry and I'm sad. But we can't respond with conspiracy theories that deny the overwhelming evidence of persistent sin, abuse of power, abuse of ministry funds, abuse of women and how calculated and deliberate it all was. The facts are in, all that is left is to face them and try to respond in ways that honor Christ. To Ravi's family, I'm really sorry I am making a video about your father/husband/relative. It breaks my heart and I hate the idea of adding hurt to what you are going through. Please know that I don't mean you harm and I'm not on the bandwagon of heartless crowds. I am compelled that this must be done and I pray that you will find, in some way, some help in it as well. The PDF of the full Miller & Martin investigative report on Ravi https://s3-us-west-2.amazonaws.com/rzimmedia.rzim.org/assets/downloads/Report-of-Investigation.pdf The board of RZIM's most recent statement (as of 2/15/2020) https://www.rzim.org/read/rzim-updates/board-statement The timeline according to Brad and Lori - https://julieroys.com/open-letter-to-rzim-from-brad-lori-anne-thompson/ Christianity Today Spa Article https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/september/ravi-zacharias-sexual-harassment-rzim-spa-massage-investiga.html World Magazine Spa Article https://world.wng.org/2020/10/new_sexual_misconduct_claims_surface_about_ravi_zacharias Open Letter from Thompsons - https://julieroys.com/open-letter-to-rzim-from-brad-lori-anne-thompson/ 10-13-2020 My teaching explaining that all sin is NOT the same. https://youtu.be/Tp_lAMuX16k My website https://BibleThinker.org

0:00 - Introduction 1. 2:11 If Revelation was written after 70AD, why wouldn't John say anything about the destruction of Jerusalem? Wouldn't he write about a prophecy of Jesus that came true? Pretty big event to ignore. 2. 6:09 Do we have free will? If not, how does that affect God's sovereignty? If yes, how can we be punished for sins when we had no other option? 3. 13:11 As a conservative Christian, is it wrong to enjoy New Age music? I enjoy playing and listening to the relaxing piano music, but if it is connected to New Age, I do not want to disrespect the Lord. 4. 16:08 From a Christian perspective, do you have any advice on dealing with and overcoming the fear of death? I've been experiencing a lot of anxiety over my own death and the death(s) of my loved ones. 5. 21:01 How do you view the false prophecies of Trump winning? Pride? A lying spirit spreading the same false prophecy? Do we stop listening to all those who claimed this? 6. 26:50 In a futurist view of the end times, which current country do you think would best represent Babylon? 7. 28:27 What is your advice for a young adult who wants to start a ministry platform similar to yours, but who doesn’t have any formal training? I want other young adults to care about theology like I do. 8. 31:02 If God is omnipresent, would His presence also be in Hell? 9. 34:23 Can you help me understand why Paul would permit Timothy to drink wine for his sickness in 1 Timothy 5: 23 even though it seems that he was under the Nazarite vow? (Numbers 6:1-4) 10. 38:25 In Galatians 4: 27 who is "the desolate" referring to: Sarah or Hagar? My Bible study disagreed and I can see arguments for either one. 11. 43:13 Who can baptize? Can I baptize my kids? 12. 45:56 Why is it that big name Calvinists, in general, are super arrogant and ultimately unloving? And shouldn't this disqualify them from leadership and make them false teachers? 13. 48:11 Should I stop reading the devotional on my “Bible in one year” plan? It seems to be eisegetical and groups the Old Testament, New Testament, and Psalms/Prov. daily reading under one common theme each day. 14. 49:05 Can it be argued that the authority and power Jesus gave to the 12/70 disciples in Luke 3: 15 and Luke 10:9 to heal the sick and to cast out demons is different from using our spiritual gifts? 15. 52:37 In Matthew 11: 22-24, Jesus says if Sodom saw and heard the miracles you have they would have repented. So why didn’t Jesus do those works in Sodom instead of destroy them? 16. 57:41 In your marriage videos, you referred to men as “knuckleheads” that weren't acting as the “head” in decision making. Is it permissible to actively consult with and make decisions with your wife, cooperatively? 17. 59:18 Am I a covenant breaker if I agreed to a divorce that I didn't want? My wife is divorcing me, and I told her we need to go to counseling first but she said she doesn't want to fix the marriage. 18. 1:01:11 Does the Bible teach that we can “feel Gods presence,” or is it just human emotion in response to our minds receiving biblical truths? 19. 1:05:26 What advice would you give to me who struggles with apathy in my spiritual life? 20. 1:07:11 Do we need to feel bad for our sin when we repent? Or is knowing it’s supposed to be wrong enough? My ex-girlfriend and I sinned and I feel bad about it, but she doesn’t. Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

I'm surveying different interpretations of "the abomination of desolation" and comparing them to the Scripture to see if they fit. If you want to see my teaching surveying 6 different end times perspectives then click here - https://youtu.be/xmw0uVLunwU Here’s my video on Daniel 9 https://youtu.be/pK5RsOaVy4U And here’s one on Daniel 11, the most prophecy packed chapter of the Bible https://youtu.be/lXrPhtQLj9E This is part 53 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:14-23 Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:53 Recently, I've seen several of your videos dealing with The Passion Translation, and the criticism seems very much on point. Clearly, Brian Simmons is a bit of a nut and I think you'd agree that religions can attract those types of people. So, why would you assume Paul, or the authors of Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John weren't also nutty? At the very least you should be skeptical of their writings. Further, there is no way to go back and do the sort of analysis of those authors, the way you can with Simmons. For example, the review you do of Simmons' lectures, as opposed to simply having his Passion Translation, is very effective in demonstrating just how nutty he is. Nothing even close to that is possible with the biblical authors. So why give them credence? 2. 9:05 If Moses was God's chosen one, why did God want to kill him in Exodus 4: 24? Also, what did Zipporah mean by "Surely a bloody husband art thou to me"? 3. 14:00 Can you help me understand the comparison/contrast between how the Holy Spirit comes upon vs. in someone? Is it correct that in the Old Testament, He came UPON someone (Exodus 29: 45 & Ezekiel 37: 27) but not IN, and in the New Testament, He indwells believers? 4. 19:08 What are your thoughts on Kenneth Hagin's "The Authority of the Believer" and other Christian spiritual authority concepts? If none, would you consider looking into it? 5. 21:27 Are angels immortal? if not, does that mean demons might have a chance to defeat them or some in a war? I ask because sometimes I see paintings of angels vs demons. 6. 23:03 I was wondering, why are there times where Jesus tells people not to talk about Him? Some Verses: Matt. 8:4, 9: 30, 12: 16) 7. 26:05 If God’s will is always done in Heaven, was Satan’s rebellion God’s will? 8. 28:41 What are some ways God disciplines us as it’s said in Hebrews? How do we know if He is disciplining? Can He discipline through physical or psychological ailments? 9. 32:34 What does someone need to believe for you to consider them your brother or sister in Christ? 10. 35:13 Could you comment on Matthew 13: 44-45? Most people seem to feel that the merchant is a man and the pearl/treasure is Christ, but in context I seem to see the opposite. 11. 40:27 You were in American Gospel 2. What do you think of the final 10 minutes teaching God's whole purpose for everything is His own glory, and we're "merely" incidental to that? 12. 44:17 Does the integrity of our faith need Adam and Eve to be literal historical people? Some people say the account of Adam and Eve is a myth, or a story to teach us theological and moral truth. 13. 47:01 If God is good and perfect, how can He ever be jealous (Exodus 20:6) or angry (Exodus 34:6) since both jealousy and anger are sins of the flesh (Galatians 5: 20)? More Cat Cam! 14. 51:48 Can you explain how you understand John 20: 23? I’ve read several commentaries on this verse and still have difficulty rightly understanding it. 15. 55:02 How can I learn to see God as a loving Father? I’m afraid and sometimes I feel that God is indifferent and impatient with me. Am I gonna make it to heaven? 16. 59:40 Any books you recommend for those courting and preparing for marriage? If not, any advice? 17. 1:02:00 If someone passes away, is it wrong to pray for their salvation? This would not be “get them out of purgatory,” this would just be in a “God, you knew back then that I would pray this” sort of way. 18. 1:03:20 In your opinion, who are the “gods of Egypt” in Exodus 12? The options seem to be rulers, idols, demons, or actual gods. 19. 1:07:59 I shared your Passion Project with the Elders of my church. They thought it was nitpicking. How do I decide to leave? Long history with these people. Seem to be becoming hyper-charismatic. 20. 1:09:52 What boundaries (biblical separation) should a Christian establish with a professed believer who is now in a gay marriage? BONUS Q: 1:12:11 I am a new cat owner. What are your cats’ favorite kind of toys? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

How could it end any other way. Step one: Take Scripture out of context. Step two: Absolutely demonize those who disagree, with highly emotional and extremely judgmental language. Step three: Summarize your unbiblical views with utter hypocrisy and plank-eyed judgment toward anyone who dares to hold to a biblical Christianity. Step four: Conclude that your views, which Jesus most certainly would not have agreed with, are righteous and loving while those who disagree are going to go to your version of hell (but do this while condemning others for thinking they are righteous and loving and that those who disagree are going to their version of hell). Step five: Ignore all those who would rationally analyze your view and compare it to biblical teaching and historical Christianity. Here's Alisa Childers's channel. I recommend subscribing because I see so much value in her content. https://www.youtube.com/user/alisachilders/videos 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

It's hard to find a group of so many words directly from the Bible being used to mean the exact opposite of what the Bible means. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

I actually had a hard time coming around on this topic but, in the end, the Bible constrained me to change my view on alcohol. The difference between me and the progressives we are responding to is that my mind was changed by the Bible and I get the impression that they would believe whatever they want whether the Bible said it or not. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

I'm hoping to offer some balance and wisdom on this issue. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

If you are around progressive thinkers and teachers much you will probably have heard them say, "God didn't demand a sacrifice, we did!" The problem with this quotable and heartwarming phrase is that it's terribly unbiblical and would have been rejected by Jesus and all the apostles. As it should be by us. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

0:00 Introduction & Overview 1. 4:09 Post Millennial/Preterist 2. 39:40 Hyper-Preterist 3. 45:11 Dispensational Pre-Millennial/Futurist 4. 1:05:17 Progressive Dispensational Pre-Millennial/Futurist 5. 1:16:02 Amillennial/Idealist 6. 1:29:28 Historicist I'll be teaching you the beliefs of premillennial, postmillennial, and amillennial views as well understanding their VERY different interpretations of the Book of Revelation. We'll cover preterist, hyper-preterist, 2 futurist views and idealist views of Revelation. I'm Mike Winger and my passion is helping people learn to think biblically about everything because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than the world knows.

It starts to feel like they aren't making any effort at all to understand biblical Christianity. Instead there are just a series of shallow misrepresentations that help to try to justify unbiblical beliefs. Don't fall for it. This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Please notice that the heart of progressive Christian distortions of Christianity is NOT a careful interpretation of the Bible but emotion-filled shaming. This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 2:49 What led to the “charismatic conundrum” of 2020 where large numbers of false prophecies were being given by seemingly well-respected & well-known teachers online? 2. 9:13 I'm writing a book with a Native American friend and I want to help him come to Christ. He is respectful of Christianity, but terrible things have been done to him and his family by people professing to be Christians (his aunt was beaten to death by a Catholic nun just to prove she had the authority). I want to share the Gospel with him in a way that is accurate, but at the same time, sensitive to what his people have endured. Any advice? 3. 13:19 Matthew 19: 12 talks about eunuchs from birth. Does that include intersex people? It seems to advise that eunuchs should not marry and should just serve God. Is that right? 4. 20:52 Is Ruth 4:5-6 typologically connected with Galatians 3: 23-25, where Boaz replaces the guardian-redeemer to redeem Ruth, Christ takes the place of the law to redeem the Church? 5. 25:08 I have a Japanese friend who believes in a false Japanese religion, mainly because when she sprained her ankle, her mom prayed over it and the Dr. said it was healed. How can I effectively share that her religion is false, after she experienced this convincing miracle? 6. 29:39 Can you please comment on the Book of Life and how one is written into it or blotted out from it? 7. 32:15 Is there biblical basis for a Christian being able to “release healing” into the atmosphere? I hear this quite a bit at my church, and I’m uneasy with it for some reason. 8. 36:26 What is the leaven of Herod? It seemed Herod was intrigued by John, even though John was against his unlawful marriage, and Herod did what people thought instead of God's law. 9. 39:44 As a youth leader, my students share these New Age things they learn to do on TikTok, and 1 of them sounds like Astral Projection. How do we talk about this with them without sounding crazy? 10. 41:52 Why should we care about false doctrine/teaching like the prosperity gospel or the word of faith movement? Does believing in such compromise one’s salvation? If not, why care at all? 11. 44:35 In Romans 8: 34, why is Jesus still interceding for the elect since they are already saved? 12. 47:44 Do you believe Solomon was saved seeing as he died worshiping false gods? 13. 48:55 I preach with a stutter, and sometimes it can be very discouraging! I know God uses it still, but do you have any advice for me, both practical and biblical? It tends to be worse when I'm nervous or tense. 14. 52:18 If you could visit any one moment in both the Old and New Testaments, what would it be, and how do you know when you’re ready to disciple others? 15. 54:58 Could you clarify the difference between forgiveness and salvation? 16. 56:27 How would someone test a prophecy until it had or haven't come to pass? Including you for all of the Trump prophecies? 17. 58:42 I constantly sin. I have prayed, struggled, and fought to stay on the narrow path. I can't seem to stop sinning. The guilt is still there but there is no change. Can a heart be too cold to change? 18. 1:02:48 In Hosea, God sends a message through Hosea and the names of his children. His family has to live with their children named things like "not loved" (Hosea 1:6). Does Hosea deserve this?! Is this a type of Christ, bearing others’ burdens? Is there more beyond the simple meaning of "Your child will be given a horrible name to get the attention of Israel"? 19. 1:05:40 What to do when tempted with lust online? I watch it to deal with stress & struggled to stop this week without it. I repent & believe the gospel, but I feel like my house is built on sand. 20. 1:08:25 I'm a biblical studies major with an end goal of being an online youth pastor. Do you have any advice about interpreting the Scriptures faithfully for the next generation? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

You know they have no real argument when they accuse you of worshipping the Bible. Take it as a compliment. This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Today's video is really important to me. I think this tactic of having a distorted version of Jesus and using him to reject and reinterpret the Bible is a rising trend in progressive circles. I hope this short response will help those who have become confused by this tactic. I don't want us to replace the true Christ with a Christ fashioned after ourselves. This sort of thing promises that it will make Christianity more likeable but it ends up fundamentally changing Christian truth. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

If we are going to think biblically then we need to do better. This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

This is the sort of funny and depressing caricature I've come to expect nowadays. I hope my answer helps. This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Behind all of these various claims from this progressive Christian is the idea that you can reinvent Christianity however you like with no accountability to a consistent view of Scripture or Jesus. In today's case there seems to be a very odd reference (seemingly out of context or just made up) to a former pope in the place of quoting scripture. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

This is one of my favorite Bible passages. I still remember when I was reading it and trying to figure out what sort of special meaning there was behind the actions of Jesus, and it hit me. I'm excited to get to share it with you. I'm not the first to discover this but it sure is a wonderful discovery! Today's study is from John 13, where Jesus humbles himself and washes the disciples' feet. I'm Mike Winger and my passion is helping people learn to think biblically about everything because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than the world knows.

It seems to me that what they hate is God's righteous judgment. I'm very sad to say it but since they are hating it in the name of Christianity someone needs to say it. Please don't let the emotional language of progressives confuse you on this issue. I'm including a link to my series explaining and defending Penal Substitutionary Atonement here just in case someone needs it. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

This is just weird. Are people in trouble merely for picking the wrong religion? Are they saved by magical magicky prayers? Here's my response. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference : 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:32 Since the Bible says we can "lift holy hands" up to the Lord, and this is due to the imputed righteousness of Christ and not our own, can you explain David's words in Psalm 18: 20-24? 2. 8:12 What does the Bible say about dinosaurs? As someone who has studied the Bible & believes the story of Adam & Eve, I want to learn more about the timeline. How are there fossils? 3. 16:10 I saw your video explaining that babies go to Heaven and I agree with you. Does this apply to people with severe dementia (so they can't repent) because they had a clear mind before? 4. 17:38 How do you respond to people who say that religion is just a way to control society (perhaps even in a good way) and that it just psychologically helps people not to fear death? 5. 22:18 Do you think Matthew 23:8-12 means that we shouldn’t use ministry titles? Elders (1 Timothy 3) and Pastors (Ephesians 4) seem to be roles and gifts rather than titles. 6. 28:47 Trying to wrap my head around why God would create people that He knew would not choose Him. What are your thoughts? 7. 31:59 Any advice on how to humbly share Jesus with loved ones who are facing struggle? I find that most people are defiant or see you as a Bible thumper on a high horse, even some believers. 8. 34:59 I’m a teen and got saved in March. I haven’t read the entire Bible yet. How can I protect against false doctrines and test them when I haven’t read the entire Bible? 9. 37:09 In your view, what is the fate of the Devil? Romans 16: 20 uses a verb (“crush”) that is common in warfare contexts, suggesting destruction. See also Hebrews 2: 14. How does this all work with 1 Corinthians 15: 24-28? 10. 40:37 I constantly hear the cliché, “God is in control.” Is it anything more than a meaningless platitude? It seems to me theologically sloppy, and implies divine determinism, which I reject. 11. 42:34 What are your thoughts on "Generational Curses"? Can believers be "cursed" by the actions of a parent or grandparent, or by having Native American blood? 12. 46:35 How do you know a vision given with eyes open while you're very lucid, is from the Holy Spirit and not your actual subconscious? 13. 48:19 Is it biblical to pronounce a blessing on someone? E.g. with words like "I bless you..."? I can sense a good wish but also looking down on someone (Hebrews 7:7). 14. 51:00 Why is Jesus called “everlasting Father” in Isaiah if He’s not the Father according to Trinitarian explanation? 15. 53:25 Is it possible that the current trend and level of awful political prophecies is actually setting up the Antichrist rather nicely to come and “save” the world? Will he be a progressive? 16. 57:33 I recently joined a ministry that goes into strip clubs to spend time with the women in the clubs. I've gotten backlash from my family and I’m just curious if in your opinion it is Biblical. 17. 59:32 I joined a prayer group at my church. This prayer group is discussing and praying for unbiblical things, and using a concerning “devotional” (Jesus Calling). What should I do? 18. 1:01:14 Why did Paul warn the Corinthians about "another Jesus" in 2 Corinthians 11:4? How is that relevant for us today, in light of John 17:3? 19. 1:05:21 My family is “oneness” and wanted me to get baptized their way forever. I was baptized at my trinitarian church and didn't tell them, to avoid disputes, but should I have been bold in my faith (from a teen)? 20. 1:08:06 Is there Biblical evidence for ghosts? Maybe not if a soul can only go to Heaven or Hell? Have those who believe they've seen ghosts actually seen demons? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! Helping you learn to think biblically about everything, because the Bible is more brilliant, beautiful and life-changing than most of us have realized.

You can't just take whatever you don't like and call it a metaphor for a metaphor. At least not if you want to have intellectual integrity in your religious beliefs. I think the reason progressives redefine words is because they want the appearance of Christianity but without it's meaning. The claim of being Christian without the burden of following the teachings of Christ. Changing the meanings of words is sadly just a rejection of Christian teachings. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro This clip is from a recent interview I did on Alisa Childers' channel. I took that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

With their first quote you'd think they aren't dogmatic at all. That they are open to people having their own convictions. But the second quote shows this is all just part of "abortion in the name of Christ". It's tragic. Christians don't have to be republican but the issue of abortion is one where justice, love and the protection of the innocent compels us to stand pro-life. Abortion is one of the clearest social justice issues of our time. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro I was recently interviewed by Alisa Childers and I've taken that interview and broken it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

Today we deal with claim #2, "It's not a sin to be gay." I hope I can help us to think a bit more deeply about this. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro I was recently interviewed by Alisa Childers and I've taken that interview and broke it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. Here's a link where you can see every video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

I was recently interviewed by Alisa Childers and I've taken that interview and broken it down into topical videos dealing with the 23 different claims made by the "progressive Christian" Ragamuffin TV. You'll see a new video EVERY DAY until the whole series is uploaded. 0:00 intro 0:18 to SKIP intro Today's meme is about whether it is a sin to cuss or not. But because this is the first video in the series we will take some time to explain what this is about. I'd like to add that I know there are plenty of believers who disagree with me on this issue. I consider them my brothers and sister and I'm open to changing my mind but I have yet to hear an intelligent and biblical case that cussing is generally permissible Here's a link where you can see EVERY video in this series (as they go up) https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHstu7p_vncGknpVhWp9uxc1 Here are the links to the long form interviews which are on Alisa's channel Part 1 https://youtu.be/wVLLuyN-Ezo Part 2 https://youtu.be/CoBW3LY8xiw

I still remember when I first started to realize that we had completely misused the words of Jesus. It took a while to be able to confront the fact that the teachers I had been so blessed by had actually reversed the meaning Jesus intended when He spoke these words. I hope that I can encourage us today to have humility and greater accuracy when dealing with end times prophecy and how current events might play in to God's end times plans. Humility itself can save us from a lot of errors and lessen the harm caused even when we do fall into error. In short, today's study shows how many of the things people often appeal to as indicators that the second coming is soon are actually not indicators at all. Earthquakes, wars, famines and pandemics included. This is part 52 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 13:1-13 Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction - Allow me to deflate myself. 1. 5:16 What are your thoughts about Hillsong? Are they a progressive Christian church? Is their theology sound? 2. 13:48 Is it o.k. for Christians have icons in their home? 3. 19:06 Did the apostles speak a language everyone understood in Acts 2, or did each one speak one of the foreign languages? Any thoughts? Also, why exactly did some people mock them? 4. 25:06 Can you tell me your thoughts/insights about “missionary” Spencer Smith? He’s a fundamental Southern Baptist whose ministry seems more a witch hunt than the Gospel. 5. 26:48 Can a spiritual gift be taught? I am of the mind that no spiritual gift can be taught simply because a gift is, by definition, free to the recipient. The gift costs nothing. 6. 30:47 I am struggling to find a good response to Leviticus 25: 44-46 in terms of the Bible endorsing slavery. What are your thoughts on this passage? 7. 41:37 What does it mean for believers to be "one in us" (the Father and the Son) in the same way that they are in each other? John 17: 21 has me confused. 8. 46:26 I've heard my grandma say that sometimes she doesn't pray out loud so that the devil can't hear her, because "the devil can't know our thoughts.” Is there biblical basis for this? 9. 48:32 If God is the potter and I'm the clay, am I responsible for my own life, or not? Is it up to me to make something of myself, or is it my job simply to trust and obey God (and His will for my life)? 10. 51:12 Which “form” does Jesus have in Heaven: a human one, or a shapeless one? I am having a hard time picturing Him in my prayers. 11. 53:24 How do we know that the long book of Jeremiah which we use today is the right one (instead of Jeremiah in the Septuagint which is much shorter)? 12. 55:14 Can you explain Matthew 25: 14? What are the “bags of silver”? Are they the same as in 1 Corinthians 3: 12 (gold, silver, etc.)? 13. 57:46 What’re your thoughts on Christian Rock/Metal? Is it difficult (or even impossible) to honor God and spread the Gospel using genres often expressing dangerous messages and imagery? 14. 1:00:18 How do you respond to someone who demands you give a chapter and verse from the Bible to support any claim you make regarding things that tend to be more nuanced or situation specific. 15. 1:01:36 Is it biblical to anoint your home with oil that you’ve prayed over to combat spiritual warfare? 16. 1:03:33 I was baptized as an infant in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, but got saved a little over a year ago. Should I get baptized again? 17. 1:05:06 Hosea 8:4 vs. Romans 13:1? My county hasn’t allowed more than 2 households together in months. I want to be subject, but I wouldn't consider this a "godly" law as He taught hospitality. Thoughts? 18. 1:10:13 I've heard Mormons equate Paul's conversion experience with Joseph Smith's in order to justify Mormonism. From an apologetics standpoint, why is Paul's conversion story credible? 19. 1:12:59 On the subject of divorce, can the offending spouse remarry after trying to reconcile? Or is remarriage only available for the offended? What if the offense is sexually immoral to some, but not to others? 20. 1:15:04 Is imputed righteousness biblical? I find Evangelical Christians will say “the blood covers my sins,” but the Bible says we have to turn from wickedness. 21. 1:18:01 (Bonus Q!) Can you please give your thoughts on the New Century Version, The Amplified Version, and the Contemporary English Version of the Bible? I heard your video on translations, but these were not mentioned. I use the ESV and NLT mainly, but I like to use others from time to time, too. Here’s the video I did going through a variety of passages related to slavery https://youtu.be/l2q3fql-BlY Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Open description for time stamps. I've hired a number of scholars to review Brian Simmons' seriously flawed Bible version. This is my "Passion Project". Today's video features Dr. Craig Blomberg and his thoughts after reviewing the book of 1 Corinthians in The Passion Translation. Scroll down for links to Dr. Blomberg's paper. This same link will have ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by the beginning of January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What's was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this "translation" so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I've uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons' teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I'll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that "everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you". Yeah, it's weird. LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/the-passion-translation Dr. Blomberg’s book – Can We Trust The Bible? https://www.amazon.com/Can-Still-Believe-Bible-Contemporary/dp/1587433214 For even MORE content on TPT here is a playlist of my own research into this translation. I think it’s even worse than many of the scholars have said, but that’s not because of a failure on their part. They restricted themselves to reviewing the translation text of a single book each, and only glancing at the footnotes, whereas I looked at the work as a whole and found various other issues of concern including misleading statements from Brian about his own experience as a translator for the Paya Kuna Bible, his degree of education and even stunningly false prophecies he has given. https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvXha4rjCj1Po0WLQc_jGGW My website https://BibleThinker.org *These timestamps will work after the video has premiered. 0:00 Intro 0:17 Why this video is important: Brian Simmons wild claims. 1:55 What my Passion Project is. 2:35 Who is Dr. Blomberg and why is he reviewing TPT? 4:52 Dr. Blomberg's attitude toward paraphrases. 6:41 Dr. Blomberg is not driven by bias against TPT but by credible concerns. 7:51 Is TPT misleading people when it calls itself a "translation"? 9:27 A great example of why TPT isn't a translation. 10:07 The "glaring, recurring error" in TPT's footnotes (the "Aramaic"). 12:38 This is REALLY bad. Brian Simmons is deceiving people about what "all the scholars" think. 17:37 Simmons' knowingly misuses Mike Bird's scholarship even after Dr. Bird rebuked the misuse. 19:42 Brian Simmons claims that his FOOTNOTES in TPT are the result of God's inspiration. 23:50 Why we should reject Simmons' claims. 24:53 Why the "lack of italics" in TPT is deceiving people. 27:29 1 Cor 1 vv. 11-12 that show TPT is inconsistent with italics. 30:38 How Simmons messes up the "gender role" passage in 1 Corinthians. 35:07 Simmons has an axe to grind on the topic of women which he seems to be wrongly forcing into his translation of the Bible. 38:48 The one place where Simmons translation seems complementarian. 43:26 What attracts people to The Passion Translation? 45:03 Examples of Simmons adding "passion" to the Bible where he shouldn't. 46:08 TPT is named after and angel that Brian saw, according to Brian Simmons. 46:38 How Brian represents TPT as if it's a quality work without bias. 47:42 But Brian sometimes admits his translation is very much a sectarian work. 52:03 Simmons "reverses Paul's meaning" in 1 Cor 10 v. 13. 56:05 TPT perpetuates a "long standing mistranslation" in 1 Cor 11. 1:01:11 Dr. Blomberg thinks TPT can cause a doctrinal problem with the Trinity. 1:04:11 An example of hyper-charismatic alterations in TPT. 1:10:35 TPT once again mishandles a passage related to slaves. 1:13:39 Quick recap of other places TPT does this. 1:14:32 1 Cor 7 v. 36 is "particularly confused." 1:17:18 The best parts of TPT are also the worst parts. 1:18:11 1 Cor 13 shows us TPT's style. 1:21:21 Don't use TPT as a serious Bible. 1:22:13 Dr. Blomberg responds to Bill Johnson's quote. 1:23:33 TPT distorts the meaning of the Bible? 1:24:19 Misleading claims from TPT web site. 1:25:23 Should TPT be in apps and sites? 1:27:21 Did Brian really get secrets from God? 1:29:15 Brian's abuse of homonyms in the name of God. 1:33:29 Dr. Blomberg's advice to someone who loves TPT. 1:34:34 A Surgeon General's warning. 1:36:02 Can We Still Believe The Bible? 1:37:40 Last things. 1:39:56 "Cameo" from Brian.

Fakery, false spirituality and money-grubbing is a multi-million dollar industry. But it's not new. Jesus warned us about these issues in the first century and they just keep coming up again and again. But I don't think we would be wise to limit this warning to an issue that we see in some leaders. We should take seriously the fact that humans seem to have a natural drift from authentic spirituality to impersonated spirituality. From genuine character and godliness to laboring at the appearance of character and godliness. This is something that leaders will probably be tempted with the most but any one of us can fall into. God give us wisdom! This is part 51 of the Mark Series, going verse by verse through the Gospel of Mark. Today we are in chapter 12:38-44 Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Open for timestamps to each question (I did 25 of them today). My teaching on the fate of those who die without ever hearing the gospel. https://youtu.be/IiyxpE5UBz4 Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 1:56 When reading and studying the Bible, when is a good time to refer to a second translation to clarify what I’m reading? 2. 5:22 How do we reach a fellow believer who is not only believing in the lies but siding with them in the MSM when it comes to politics (i.e. Trump) or about any conservative viewpoint? 3. 9:11 How can we look at Psalm 37: 4 without falling into a WOF trap? 4. 15:27 Can a Christian work in the CIA, NSA, etc. when lying and deception is part of the job? You lie to enemies, other times you lie to your family, ex: saying you work for State dept. to maintain cover. 5. 20:47 Over the past year, my wife has gained a lot of weight. She’s been wanting to have more intimacy, but lately I don’t feel any sexual desire or lust toward her. Is sexual deprivation toward a spouse a sin? 6. 27:28 Mike, any comments for Christians? US Congress convened in the name of the Hindu god Brahma, and all the other monotheistic Gods called by other names. Then they said, Amen, Awoman… Idolatry? 7. 30:50 How can my relationship with God grow even more? I have felt so many times that I am “not there yet” or as if the fire I used to have is gone and something is wrong between me and God. 8. 33:51 The Epistle of Jude cites Enoch and the Testament of Moses. How do we know this letter isn't a fabrication of sorts like from Gnostic sects, and was snuck in during the council that established the NT? 9. 36:26 Please recommend reading for marriage counseling. Christian counselors say too submissive = codependent; biblical counselors say if you're submissive enough your spouse will repent (about 1 peter 3:1). 10. 43:39 What happens to all of the people who lived and died before Jesus was born? How will they be judged and saved? 11. 46:00 I am an ex-Catholic still doing a daily Rosary. I understand the theological problems. Can you suggest a replacement daily devotional? 12. 51:46 Does Hebrews 2: 17 "like them in every respect" indicate that Jesus had the same human nature as we do in every way? If so, can we conclude that we, like him, are born with an innocent human nature? 13. 54:32 Christians are using John 16: 13 to qualify a wide variety of claims, believing that the Holy Spirit led them to particular beliefs or practices. To what extent does this apply to a Christian today? 14. 58:47 I watched the conscience video and Romans 14: 23 confuses me. My conscience is so weak at the moment that I doubt just about everything…basic things. Should I obey my anxious inklings every time? 15. 1:02:37 What are your thoughts about going to church during a pandemic? 16. 1:03:50 In Judges 20: 18, why did God appear to deceive Israel and Judah as they sought His help in bringing justice on the tribe of Benjamin? They lost 40,000 people before He actually helped them. 17. 1:10:53 If the man in the Gospel of Mark was born blind, how did he even know what trees look like? This troubles me a bit. 18. 1:12:32 Do we have extrabiblical evidence for the earthquake & darkness that took place at the time of the crucifixion? 19. 1:13:21 In the U.K., COVID-19 laws are getting stricter. As Christians, are we obligated to follow these rules even we think some of them are pointless and could put a strain on relationships? 20. 1:15:19 What are your thoughts on baptizing children? my 8-year-old has made a profession of faith that we feel is genuine. Should we wait until he is older, say 12 or 13? 21. 1:18:10 Have you reached out to Dr. Michael Brown to discuss TPT? I believe he endorsed it. I've been loving the passion project by the way! 22. 1:19:07 Are re-baptisms biblical? 23. 1:21:02 What do I do if I have to be around someone who is easily angered and I have to walk on eggshells? 24. 1:22:40 I recently started posting Christian YouTube videos, and I have really enjoyed your second channel where you give advice for YouTube. Do you plan on still doing that in the future? 25. 1:23:48 Why does the Holy Spirit grieve, and not the Father or Jesus? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My website https://BibleThinker.org

Open description for time stamps. Welcome to my Passion Project! Where real scholars test the wild claims of Brian Simmons about his new Bible, The Passion Translation, so that YOU can know what’s really going on with this suddenly popular new Bible version. Today's video features Dr. Douglas Moo and his thoughts after reviewing the book of Romans. Dr. Moo has invested much of his scholarly life on the book of Romans and I am so excited to have such an expert weigh in on The Passion Translation. There's a link below to where I will put ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by mid-January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What's was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this "translation" so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I've uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons' teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I'll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that "everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you". Yeah, it's weird. Stay tuned to my channel for more info on this in the coming weeks. LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/the-passion-translation If you are interested in Dr. Moo's books and commentary they can be found here. He's a brilliant and highly accomplished scholar and has a lot of interesting insights, especially on the letters of Paul. https://www.amazon.com/Douglas-J.-Moo/e/B000AQ6VXE%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share My website https://BibleThinker.org *These time stamps will begin working after the premiere has aired. 0:00 Brian Simmons says God "increased the capacity" of his brain. 0:26 Brian says God gave him secrets of Hebrew and Greek. 1:03 What is "My Passion Project" 1:16 What today's video is about. 2:46 Brian says God gave him extra special help from an angel to do the book of Romans. 3:25 Who is Dr. Douglas Moo and why did he review Romans in TPT? 5:13 What positive things does Dr. Moo have to say about TPT's rendering of Romans? 6:34 How TPT has a "confusing translation philosophy". 9:39 TPT adds stuff to the Bible. Examples given. 12:12 Brian Simmons presents himself as a spiritual guru. 13:34 Shocking claims in TPT commercial from Sid Roth's show. 14:29 The suspicious nature of a one-man translation. 16:00 Brian Simmons' wild claims about inspiration from God. 17:44 A CENTRAL issue showing TPT can't be trusted; "the Aramaic." 20:10 Brain is making stuff up and pretending it is "scholarship". 23:51 Simmons uses "false appeal to etymology" in TPT (a lot). 25:55 Testing one of Brian Simmons "secrets of Hebrew", Homonyms. 29:56 Brian Simmons claims he is a linguist but makes basic linguistic errors. 30:44 Example of "questionable interpretations" in Romans in TPT. 32:38 Footnotes in the TPT that Brian claims are from God are sometimes "frankly nonsense." 35:33 Does TPT look like it was reviewed by scholars as most translations are. 38:23 Dr. Moo views "translation" and "paraphrase" differently than others I have interviewed. 39:34 TPT says that it "reclaims lost Aramaic texts," what does Dr. Moo think about that? 41:20 The TPT web site claims it is "an excellent translation you can use as your primary text to seriously study God's word," Dr. Moo responds. 41:59 Dr. Moo responds to the Bill Johnson quote. 43:27 Is TPT misleading people in it's promotional material? 44:51 What would Dr. Moo say to someone who loves TPT? 45:43 Did God grow Brian's brain and did an angel really help him translate Romans? 50:47 Preview from next week's interview with Dr. Blomberg. 52:05 Special "cameo" from Brian Simmons.

What's super interesting to me about what Jesus says here is that, in one short passage He covers the nature of the inspiration and authorship of the Bible, how messianic hermeneutics functions, and the identity of the Messiah as greater than they had known. In a couple sentences he gives us so much clarity and tools for our own understanding and interpretation of the Bible. And also shows some clever behavior in asking His own question to finally trump the numerous trick questions of the opposition. Showing superior knowledge of God, Messiah and the Scripture. Jesus is awesome! Here’s that video on Melchizedek and how he represents Christ. https://youtu.be/qP-m85M8HWk Feel free to use my videos in your own gatherings as an aid to studying Scripture. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Open video description for time stamps. Here's the video I mentioned which explains the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit https://youtu.be/KmCHX8-2Smo Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:29 What are your upcoming plans and/or announcements for this coming year? 2. 12:04 You seemed to imply in a previous video that the dead can be aware of what happens on Earth. How do you reconcile that with Ecclesiastes 9:5, which says "the dead know nothing"? 3. 16:00 In Genesis 4, what is your take on why God was not pleased with Cain’s sacrifice? The text says he was a worker of the ground, and Abel was a cattle owner, so wouldn’t it make sense that Cain would give grain and Abel would give meat, since those were just their individual professions? 4. 21:02 If soul sleep isn't a thing, people who have been resurrected are essentially being snatched out of Paradise or Hell and put back into a body. Why would that be? 5. 23:34 Scripture is clear that we are sinful, but do Christians sin every second, minute, and hour? ~(Bonus Q) 26:51 I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and baptized as a kid, but not in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How do I know what church to choose now, and who should baptize me? I’m afraid of being misled. 6. 30:57 In your video on Mark 11: 22-25 you talked about how important the Temple was for the Jews in regard to prayer. But didn't God hear the prayers of believers like Daniel without a temple? 7. 33:35 The other day my friend/future roommate, a Christian, told me he has pursued a gay lifestyle since March. Any advice on points to hit when he and I are able to talk again? 8. 37:28 Is it sinful to not want to marry? How do I know if I'm called to stay single? 9. 39:22 A lot of people like "happy church" where everything is "positive.” Thus, positivity and negativity become moral categories. What are the dangers of this approach? 10. 43:20 Who was the most notable old testament leader in your mind, and why? I am doing a study on biblical leadership and would love your response. 11. 44:10 Do you have any suggestions for someone who procrastinates on deeply studying the scriptures in fear of messing up? I want to study theological topics like eschatology, but fear I'll do it wrong. 12. 46:15 I have 100 Qs, but could you pray for me? I'm anxious about my salvation and fear often that I've blasphemed the Holy Spirit. Also, how can we be praying for you and your wife? 13. 49:15 If we can’t “lean on our own understanding” or trust in man or a group and there are many ways to interpret the Bible, how do we know whether we are following our heart or conscience? 14. 56:05 Does God actually love us unconditionally? Does He still love the people whose conscience He intentionally hardens, those who blaspheme the Holy Spirit, and those who go to Hell? 15. 59:05 Ehrman says the word for “born again” in Aramaic doesn’t have the double meaning it has in Greek, thus the conversation couldn't have gone the way it is referred to in John 3. What is the solution? 16. 1:03:12 What practices in a party/wedding should be different for Christians vs. non-believers? Or what should one not practice as a Christian…drinking? Dancing? 17. 1:05:56 Do you think the apostles taught the doctrine of imminence? Could it have been possible for someone like Peter who knew he was going to die according to Jesus’ words? Can we believe it today? 18. 1:08:23 1 Corinthians 11: 10 states that the husband has authority over his wife, and Ephesians 5: 23 states the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the Church. Since Christ disciplines the Church, is there biblical grounds for wife discipline, and to what extend can a husband enforce his authority? 19. 1:13:20 How literally should we take what is said about Hell? Is it a literal place of fire, gnashing of teeth, etc., or is it metaphor? Is either interpretation wrong? 20. 1:14:37 My kids (2 & 4) received children's books on evolution from a family member for Christmas. How would you approach the situation of receiving the books and introducing children to other worldviews? My wife and I want to teach our children about worldviews other than Christianity and allow them to think about and respond to them. They will inevitably be introduced to evolution, etc. 1:16:23 Closing announcements and a bonus! Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Open description for time stamps. Welcome to my Passion Project! Where real scholars test the wild claims of Brian Simmons about his new Bible, The Passion Translation, so that YOU can know what’s really going on with this suddenly popular new Bible version. Today's video features Dr. Darrell Bock and his thoughts after reviewing the book of Ephesians. Scroll down for links to Dr. Bock's paper. This same link will have ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by mid way through January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this "translation" so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I've uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons' teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I'll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that "everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you". Yeah, it's weird. Stay tuned to my channel for more info on this in the coming weeks. LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/th... A direct download link for just Dr. Bock's paper https://biblethinker.org/images/Notes... Here is Dr. Bock's "The Table" program on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list... Darrell Bock's CV https://blogs.bible.org/curriculum-vi... My website https://BibleThinker.org Time Stamps 0:00 Intro 0:16 What is My Passion Project? 0:38 Today's video synopsis. 1:41 Who is Dr. Darrell Bock and why is he reviewing TPT? 2:50 Why it is not truthful to call TPT a "translation." 4:09 If Dr. Bock was to evaluate TPT as if it were a paraphrase what would he say? 5:15 The CENTRAL issue of Simmons misleading people about using Aramaic in Ephesians. 8:14 How Brian Simmons abuses homonyms which he says are a secret that God gave him. 12:32 TPT changes the focus in Ephesians 1 from God to us. It is too anthropocentric. 13:59 One example of a where Simmons adds a whole sentence to the Bible. without italics or footnote. 15:50 In Eph 2 Simmons gives us more authority than we have in this passage. 17:32 Another passage where TPT changes the focus from God to us. 19:30 Are getting what Paul really wrote in TPT version of Ephesians? Spoiler: no. 20:38 A number of times Ephesians is changed in TPT from speaking to tho corporate church to individuals. 21:48 How a mistranslation in Eph 5 vs. 11 will can mess up how we apply the Bible. 23:25 How TPT limits what Ephesians is saying about marriage roles. 26:13 Brian tries to use "the Aramaic" to justify his alterations but Dr. Bock says this misleads the reader. 27:17 How TPT mishandled the passage on slavery in Ephesians. 28:45 Another example of taking the issue of slavery out of Ephesians with an unjustified appeal to "Aramaic" that doesn't exist. 30:40 The danger of TPT. 32:08 Dr. Bock comments on the claims that TPT website makes. 32:46 Dr. Bock reacts to Bill Johnson's quote endorsing TPT. 33:37 What paraphrase Bible would Dr. Bock recommend? 34:13 The challenge of translation and paraphrase and where TPT fits in that. 35:19 I ask Dr. Bock to comment briefly on The Message. I'm still not very happy with it ;) 36:29 Does TPT distort the Bible even though their web site says they don't? 37:26 Should TPT be in bookstores, Bible app, and Bible web sites? 39:10 Did God give Brian Simmons secrets of Hebrew and Greek? 41:37 Brian lacks real credentials and claims supernatural gifting. It could be true but it sure seems false. 43:13 What would Dr. Bock say to someone who loves TPT? 43:43 Dr. Bock's podcast (which I recommend as a resource). 46:11 A preview of the next interview. 47:07 Special "cameo" by Brian Simmons.

Open description for time stamps. I've hired a number of scholars to review Brian Simmons' seriously flawed Bible version. This is my "Passion Project". Today's video features Dr. Nijay Gupta and his thoughts after reviewing the book of Galatians. Scroll down for links to Dr. Gupta's paper. This same link will have ALL the reviews and papers as they are published. You should see a total of 5 uploaded by the beginning of January. After that I will need to wait a while for more scholars to finish their papers and do interviews. I hope to have it all done in the next few months. What's was my goal with this? I want the people of Christ to know the truth about this "translation" so that they can love what God has said without Brian Simmons altering it in unjustified ways. However, in the course of researching for this project I've uncovered some other very concerning things about Brian Simmons' teachings including false prophecy and various extreme claims regarding his own spiritual experiences. I'll be sharing some of this in future videos as well since I have realized that he is not just styling himself as a Bible translator but as an inspired Bible interpreter who is going to release a last days transformation in the people of God so that "everything that can be said about Jesus can be said about you". Yeah, it's weird. Stay tuned to my channel for more info on this in the coming weeks. 0:00 How Simmons’ secret revelation led to my Passion Project. 1:43 My disclaimer. 2:36 Who is Dr. Gupta and why is he reviewing Galatians? 4:19 Brian Simmons claims to have supernatural secrets. 5:53 Simmons claims TPT is a translation but it is NOT. 8:23 The difference between “official use” and “supplementary” Bibles. 10:51 TPT web site misleads people. 14:38 Does it seem like TPT has gone through the normal scholarly reviews before publishing? 17:02 Outrageous claims Simmons is making about TPT. 20:39 Does Dr. Gupta think Brian Simmons is qualified to make a translation? 22:08 “Unusual decisions” in TPT. 22:37 What Dr. Gupta find “MOST TROUBLING” about TPT (hint: Aramaic). 31:44 Should we just use TPT as a supplementary/secondary Bible? 33:22 Me and Dr. Gupta discuss The Message Bible briefly. 35:01 TPT is a lot like a “Targum”. 37:28 What “positive” choices were made in TPT? 39:02 TPT handles the word “religion” in unusual ways. 40:49 TPT uses “legalism” in unusual ways. 41:02 TPT does confusing things with the word “faith.” 41:56 Slave is mistranslated in a “most egregious” way. 43:47 Simmons’ “natural realm” creates a gnostic-like mistake. 44:29 The cumulative effect the TPT can have on you. 45:34 Artificial insertion of theology into Galatians. 46:50 Didn’t TPT just come out with a new 2020 edition that fixed these problems? 47:08 Dr. Gupta reacts to misleading quotes from TPT website. 49:10 Dr. Gupta reacts to the Bill Johnson endorsement of TPT. 50:38 Is it good for TPT be in apps, websites and bookstores? 51:21 What paraphrase would Dr. Gupta recommend? 52:51 What can you say to someone who loves TPT? 53:42 How do Simmons’ outrageous claims measure up to reality? 56:56 Dr. Gupta’s final word on TPT. 57:50 Plugging some other books by Dr. Gupta. 58:22 We reflect on my Passion Project. 1:00:11 I’ve got a few announcements for you all. 1:01:08 Brian Simmons’ false prophecy. LINK to all interviews AND papers as they are uploaded. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/the-passion-translation Dr. Gupta's gave me links to a few books of his you might be interested in. 1 & 2 Thessalonians https://amzn.to/3akb6vM Colossians https://amzn.to/2KxJdFD A Beginner’s Guide to New Testament Studies https://amzn.to/2KaEV7a Philippians https://amzn.to/37sbiqV My website https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:18 Is the command in Genesis to “be fruitful and multiply” still applicable to us today? Is it wrong for married couples to choose not to have children if they don’t feel the desire or the calling to be parents? 2. 13:43 Am I being too legalistic by not wanting to sing Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music due to the doctrines of the churches they are a part of? 3. 17:50 Can you please talk about your view on Netflix? Should Christians cancel their Netflix subscription? 4. 19:33 Why did the Holy Spirit leave Saul, and why did an evil spirit from the Lord enter into him? Why in the world would God do something that seems to be evil? 5. 22:25 Shmuley Boteach says that the New Testament contains anti-Semitic propaganda, and that Christians should reject those passages as forgeries. What do you think? 6. 24:56 I was raised a Jehovah’s Witness and baptized as a kid, but not in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. How do I know what church to choose now, and who should baptize me? I’m afraid of being misled. 7. 28:06 I have liberal Christian friends who believe they are Christians, but also have many unbiblical beliefs and practices. How should 1 Corinthians 5: 11 affect my relationships with them? 8. 31:52What does the Bible say about the role of church? Should it be focused more on reaching unbelievers, or on teaching believers who then go out and evangelize? 9. 34:28 Do you ever plan to do a deep dive into the authorship of the contested Pauline epistles? I feel this would be a great resource for those in talks with more liberal Christians. 10. 35:24 What are the steps to take while dealing with psychological doubts where no amount of reason helps you feel better? 11. 39:06 Do you think the SDA church (Seventh Day Adventism) is a cult? 12. 39:37 I have family that believes that Jews will go to Heaven even if they haven’t been saved by Jesus. What should I say to them when they say that? 13. 42:37 How does God’s will not infringe on free will? What is the sense of even praying for a situation if it’s already in Gods will? 14. 44:48 Do you believe amillennialism is biblical, and what arguments do you have for or against it? 15. 46:00 I feel called to spread God's Word but I suffer greatly from Asperger's Syndrome. Is my fear of crowds, public speaking, and inability to convey a thought coherently a valid fear? 16. 48:10 I got away with felonies years ago. No one got hurt & I have confessed to God & repented. Is the Godly thing to do to turn myself in? I have OCD & can’t tell if I’m feeling OCD or God's conviction. 17. 48:53 If the Angels weren't "100% safe" in Heaven seeing as they were able to be seduced by Satan, how can we be certain we will be safe in eternity with God once we go to Heaven. 18. 51:24 I have recently gotten back into full-time ministry. I'm dealing with online “heresy hunters” that badger me through email and such about my teaching. How do you handle these kinds of people? 19. 54:10 Can you talk about why Jesus allowed Simon to help Him carry His cross? 20. 55:45 How much utility should we find in the Church Fathers? I am still Protestant, but want to be consistent with historic Christianity, so should we view the fathers with any extra credibility? 1:00:24 Passion Project Update & Closing Announcements Here's my study on Penal Substitutionary Atonement - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4bTHScjdEo&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Here's Tim Barnett's answer to the challenge! I hope you'll consider subscribing to his channel. It's one of my favorite Christian YouTube channels and they are just getting started! https://youtu.be/WWN48lqa-sY It's not very easy to deal with so many confusions and misconceptions with only 18 seconds per answer. As I'm typing this I don't know if Tim made it under 3 minutes or not, so we may all end up atheists anyways. Oh well. Here's my video on "Did God create evil?" which explains Isaiah 45:7, among other things. https://youtu.be/GSToZ_4yh54

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:09 If aliens do exist, how would that affect the faith of Christians? Would aliens disprove Christianity? 2. 16:19 Regarding 1 Corinthians 7: 14 where it speaks of sanctification for the unbeliever if married to a believer, I have found it hard to understand that passage and was wondering if you could help me. 3. 20:11 Have you heard of the Documentary Hypothesis, and if so, can you tell me your thoughts about it? 4. 22:00 I believe in Christianity, but I have major doubts about Heaven & a fear of death. Can I know for sure while here on earth that it's true? 5. 27:00 How is Hebrews 13:2 to be interpreted? Have some people literally entertained angels without being aware? Do angels actually interact with creation in a tangible sense? 6. 30:39 I often hear Christians say that when we face big struggles it's because good things are coming. Is there any Biblical truth to this, or is this just a different version of the prosperity gospel? 7. 32:04 Is “revival” biblical? 8. 33:42 Why does Isaiah 9:6 call Jesus the “everlasting Father”? Oneness Pentecostals keep using this verse against me and I haven’t seen a good response. I don’t want to twist the Bible. 9. 34:56 I have such a sensitive conscience that I feel it’s a burden sometimes. People can’t even remember what I’m apologizing for! How can I change this? Not to be free to sin, but to live. 10. 37:36 Are women allowed to speak at all during Bible study? Such as read the Bible, pray the opening/closing prayer, or give commentary, and just not teach? Or do we have to be completely silent the entire time? 11. 38:07 What are your thoughts on Judges 11 and why Jephthah made his vow and followed through with it, even after God's Spirit was on him? 12. 43:35 Why don’t we celebrate Jewish holidays? God says in the OT to observe them forever. During the 1,000 year reign with Christ, we all observe them. Why don’t grafted-in Christians observe them now? 13. 46:00 I am trying to disciple my dad and he says he believes in Christ, yet wants nothing to do with Him. What do I do? 14. 47:53 How would you recommend determining credible commentaries, studies, & pastors? I am a new Christian & have concern about being inadvertently led astray by unbiblical interpretations & viewpoints. 15. 49:20 Mike describes himself as “charismatic” a lot. I’m just wondering if he can clarify what he means by that. Does he or his church practice the “gifts of the Spirit,” like tongues, prophecy, etc.? 16. 54:00 How can you know for sure that a loved one went to heaven? 17. 54:44 I have heard the range for Jesus' death to be between 26-36 (A.D.) with 30 and 33 being the most agreed upon contenders for Jesus’ death. Can we know for certain the exact year He died? 18. 55:58 If God said He would rid all creatures with a flood, what happened to the fish? And if they died, how did they multiply, because fish can’t be on an ark? 19. 56:29 Are "white lies" ok, to spare your spouse’s feelings? For example, when they ask what someone said and you say "I'm not really sure," but you do remember. 20. 59:09 How much freedom do we have in the marriage bed? Are some sexual acts prohibited even for married couples? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Dr. Tremper Longman tells you what's up with The Passion Translation. My name is Mike Winger and this is my "Passion Project". A project where I've hired a number of scholars to do reviews of different books Brian Simmons' seriously flawed Bible version. Scroll down for the links you are looking for! 0:00 The glorious intro 1:50 The reviewer’s credentials 3:30 Is it honest to call TPT a “translation”? 5:45 Dr. Longman’s BIGGEST issue with TPT’s Song of Songs? 8:19 How big of a deal is this really? 10:01 Simmons is wrong about church history. 16:25 Simmons blames DEMONS for people not agreeing with him. 18:57 How much alteration is taking place in TPT’s Song of Songs? 20:01 Is Dr. Longman bothered by translations that aren’t word for word? 20:51 Does Brian Simmons mislead people about The Passion Translation? 22:20 How Brian Simmons uses the etymological fallacy to translate. 25:00 An example of Simmons adding words to the text. 26:52 Simmons’ use of homonyms is unjustified and misleading. 29:34 How you CAN see Christ in the Song of Songs without altering the text. 30:25 How Simmons misuses the Greek Septuagint and Aramaic. 33:36 Footnotes in TPT may mislead people about scholars. 35:31 Should we trust Simmons’ wild claims? 38:47 Factual error #1 – En Gedi means goat, not lamb. 41:15 Factual error #2 – Sharon does not mean “his song”. 44:32 Factual error #3 – Seal does not mean “prison cell”. 46:50 Where does Dr. Longman think Simmons is getting this stuff from? 48:01 How the way TPT was made is different than how most translations are made. 50:52 What degree qualifications does Brian Simmons have? 51:43 Are people opposed to TPT just spiritually dead religious scholars? 52:55 Are most translations bad? 53:56 Should TPT be in churches, bookstores and Bible apps? 55:21 Do you have anything NICE to say about Song of Songs in TPT? 55:44 A deceptive quote from Simmons’ web site. 56:21 Bill Johnson’s endorsement of The Passion Translation 56:54 A misleading quote from the 2020 edition of TPT 57:28 What Dr. Longman would say to a Christian who loves The Passion Translation 58:19 My FAVORITE part of Dr. Longman’s review! 58:55 What you can expect from my Passion Project. 59:22 Special “cameo” from Brian Simmons You can download Dr. Longman's paper as a Microsoft Word document for free right here. https://biblethinker.org/images/Notes/FINAL_Longman_TPT_-_Song_of_Songs.docx If you want to read it on my website instead of downloading it, this link will work. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/our-media/message/review-of-tpt-song-of-songs-by-tremper-longman/read This is the playlist where I will eventually upload all the interviews as they become available. There should be 5 coming over the next couple months and I hope to eventually add more as I'm able to get more scholars involved in the project. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuv-ISp_iIw1WL8zaEm86L8 I want to give thanks to those who have donated to this ministry to not only enable me to continue teaching regularly online but to go above and beyond by doing this special project and to make everything I do totally free.

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:09 One of my pastors used TPT on Sunday. What should I do? I would like to give him the benefit of the doubt that he just doesn’t know much about it, but I’m not happy at all that this “thing” (can’t even call it a translation) was used in my church. WWJD? 2. 5:14 Have you any solid information on Nicky Gumbel, Alpha, and The Message Bible (which he recommends)? Couldn't find it in a search here, and some friends think he's OK! 3. 10:29 What is the best way for me to prepare to one day be a pastor? I am 20 years old and attending college and then seminary. Any suggestions for the years of preparation ahead of me? 4. 13:30 How do I organize my prayer life and find ways to serve the Lord in quarantine? 5. 15:58 How would you respond to an abusive father who pushes the narrative to “honor your parents” (when he really means submit/worship) and disregards the Scripture to “leave and cleave”? 6. 19:20 How do you go about finding scholarly articles for the studies you are doing? I have begun doing my own study going through Matthew, and some scholarly work would be really helpful! 7. 21:26 What does the bible say about “listening prayer”? Should we spend time in silence listening for God's voice? 8. 24:09 Why did God not desire for the people to “return and be healed” in Isaiah 6? 9. 29:23 What did Jesus mean by turn the other cheek, give away your tunic, and go an extra mile in Mathew 5: 38-42? What about self-defense, or when being taken advantage of? 10. 37:02 Is accepting Jesus in our life the only way to Heaven? For someone who has never heard the Gospel or has seen harmful representations of it (i.e. JWs), will they also be given grace? 11. 41:00 How do I help my mother in law she says she has been ordained as an elder in the church and she is excited about it? thanks. 12. 42:47 How do I find God? Praying and reading the Bible got me nowhere in 5 months. And church is not available at the moment. New Age gave me comfort while searching, but Christ only gave me confusion. 13. 47:10 How do we study the Bible properly? 14. 48:06 Is there any evidence on the inspiration of the canonization of the Bible? or is the canonization something that was helpful but not inspired and thus inspired texts beyond the Bible could exist? 15. 52:28 Why did god create the tree of the knowledge of good and evil if His foreknowledge knew they would sin? 16. 54:46 In Mark 8:5-9, why does Jesus ask for bread in vs. 5, and why do they bring the fish to Him in vs. 7? Does it mean Jesus cannot create food "out of thin air,” but He needs something to start with? 17. 57:36 Do you view the early chapters of genesis as mythology or as history? I know it’s not a key issue, but would love your opinion! 18. 59:46 If I have turned away from the Lord after being close to him is there any chance of coming back to him? I basically lived like the world for a year and a half and don’t know if God is done with me. 19. 1:01:05 Any tips on how to start believing? I've been atheistic all my life. 20. 1:03:08 Our church believes you have the Holy Spirit once saved but can receive a prayer language through a separate experience called the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Is this scriptural? Bonus Q: 21. 1:05:08 Should a Christian take the Covid vaccine? My most recent video on The Passion Translation. https://youtu.be/2EtXBxAuZ3g But interviews with scholars are coming very soon! Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

This is a clip from one of the most important videos I've made, here's the full video - https://youtu.be/VIgVAlI8T2c Christopher Hitchens is an icon to many atheists. He was an entertaining mix of brilliant, snarky, irreverent and British. One thing he is well-known for is debating theists and making fools of them, at least from the perspective of some people. I was always struck by this particular challenge that he threw out regularly in debates. Hitchens was so proud of it that I once heard him encouraging crowds of atheists to use this challenge as well. He felt that it really proved something, and I dare say many atheists agreed. What's really odd to me is that none of his debate partners (to my knowledge) ever offered a good response to his challenge. This is odd because the primary moral of loving God with all our heart, mind, soul and strength answers this atheist dilemma quite well. It not only answers the question it gets right to the heart of what an atheist has lost when they have sadly embraced a false worldview which rejects God's existence. To any atheists that have read this far I'd like to say that this isn't meant to be a smackdown or a slap in the face. Rather, this is meant to open a door to the possibility that the most important thing in life is being robbed from you, and your atheism is the robber. After I uploaded this video a friend sent me a clip of William Lane Craig answering this challenge 10 years ago! I was surprised to see how similar his answer was and now I’m wondering how much my own answer may have been influenced by Craig’s but without me remembering it. Obviously we are both influenced by the teaching of Jesus, but still, It seems likely that I heard this somewhere along the way and forgot. Anyhow, here is Craig’s answer (he is always brilliant). https://youtu.be/qqt3Ie8l-fo

This was my favorite interview so far on The Passion Translation. I'm really hoping that those who are open to hearing the evidence will consider ditching Brian Simmons' Passion Translation. The evidence is mounting up more and more that this is not a good or faithful Bible translation. As scholars weigh in on this work it's only becoming more and more evident that my early concerns about it were well-founded. I'm hoping that my brothers and sisters in the charismatic movement will have ears to hear this and that organizations like YouVersion, Bible Gateway and various Christian bookstores would stop carrying this problematic and misleading "translation". Stay tuned because I will start posting interviews with scholars VERY soon which will help to drive the final nail in the coffin of The Passion Translation. I love the word of God way too much to just stand by and tolerate such alterations being made to what God has said.

Jesus, save us from modern morals! Actually, that's pretty much what He does when a scribe asks Him to tell us the most important command in the Law. Jesus brilliantly and simply sums up not only the Law of Moses but the moral duty of mankind with two simple statements. Love God with all and above all and love others as yourself. Our job is to let this truth invade all our moral reasoning and to make sure we don't turn it into a cliché and rob it of it's beauty and life changing results. The way this truth saves us from modern morality is by installing love of God above love of self or others. Yeah, that's the part everyone gets wrong. But Jesus sets us right. To me, one of the most remarkable things about all this is that love and relationship is at the heart of the moral purpose of mankind. We exist for love. We literally have love as our highest and constant moral duty toward God and others. Wow. I'm literally blown away by this but how could it be any different? After all, God IS love. Let that sink in. Man, I LOVE this study through Mark! This is part 49, see the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Oh my. Kenneth Copeland will "cure your baldness" and ruin your faith. This is a serious response to the sad, dangerous and demonstrably false teachings of Kenneth Copeland. Perhaps the most valuable thing I have to offer here is why people actually follow this guy. Here's my hope to change as many of his followers as possible! I’ve seen people asking for the full video of the blood thing (and FYI, he didn’t really cut himself, he was pretending) https://youtu.be/GNnSh-X1s5I

My video on why I think the death penalty is biblical. Please hear me out and if you disagree share why in the comments. https://youtu.be/gf259Qv2qv4 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:04 Is there a conflict between being pro-life and pro-death penalty at the same time? 2. 3:54 Can you address what John means when he says that certain sins lead to death and some do not (1 John 5: 16-17)? Is there evidence in this passage that suggests you can lose your salvation? 3. 7:37 When, in the research process, do you (1) know you have read enough secondary literature to comment on the topic and (2) become confident enough to share your conclusion with thousands of people? 4. 12:40 Are there any verses in the Bible where it clearly states or implies that rights (life, liberty, and property) are inalienable and inherently possessed, as opposed to being dependent on self-ownership? 5. 19:03 God answered Hagar directly. Both her and many others before and after Christ. Do you think God sometimes uses the still small voice today, or only directly through the Scriptures? (Hebrews 1:2) 6. 24:53 Do you think that macro evolution is consistent with Scripture, since evolution works by death? As sin entered the world through Adam and through sin entered death (Rom 5: 12, Rom 8: 21-22). 7. 29:06 In 1 Corinthians 14: 22, Paul says tongues are a sign for non-believers and prophecy is a sign for believers. The next verses seem to flip it though. I can't make sense of it but I wondered your take on it. 8. 32:50 My parents think religion is stupid and I don't want to evangelize to them because they'll judge me and say that I'm stupid. Is that ok, or should I try anyway? If so, how? 9. 35:47 How would you understand the numbers in Revelation 7: 4? What does it mean by "144,000 were sealed"? Does it mean only 144,000 are faithful Christians? 10. 41:11 In 2 Peter 2:6, is the example of Sodom & Gomorrah literal? Does it mean that on the final day of judgment the ungodly will literally be condemned to extinction like they were? 11. 43:58 Is the Athanasian Creed biblical (specifically the first part which seems to imply that one cannot be saved without believing the doctrine of the Trinity)? 12. 45:53 Is it biblical to say that all temptation comes from Satan and the demonic? Or can temptation also come from your sinful self? 13. 50:23 Is there biblical support for having monarchies today? What attitude should we have toward monarchy, specifically? 14. 52:48 What is your view on the Creation account given in Genesis? Some people hold to a young earth, but with modern science, that seems unlikely. Questions then arise such as: did Adam and Eve exist? 15. 59:22 Were Old Testament believers born-again? Could they be called (during their lives) "children of God" as Christians can be called nowadays? 16. 1:02:06 Are nerdy hobbies (comics, movies, games, etc.) reconcilable with Christianity? Or should we discard them and use our time in other ways? 17. 1:04:21 My pastor teaches that we are "little Gods" from the word of faith movement. I have disagreed with him in private conversation about this and he is firm in his belief. How important is this issue to salvation? 18. 1:05:43 How does Israel in the Bible correlate to the present day political state of Israel? Are the promises for Israel meant for Israel today? 19. 1:07:39 Is there a difference between the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Heaven? If yes, can you explain it for me? 20. 1:09:04 What do you think of “dual covenant theology” (the belief that Jews can be saved without believing in Jesus due to their special covenant with God)? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

It's a bigger issue now than ever before in my lifetime. We live in an upside down and rebellious culture and this is seen nowhere more clearly than our attitudes toward sex, marriage, dating, gender and purity. Dr. Sean McDowell has just written a book that is meant to give people a biblical vision for loving God and loving others in these areas. And if that seems like a cliche to you then it's because you too have become victim to upside down thinking on these issues. As a youth pastor I discovered that the most common reason people have for serious moral failure in their lives is a lack of godliness in relationships, particularly romantic ones. I'm happy to host Sean as we talk about this issue. Maybe you should get this book, for yourself or for someone else who can be saved a lot of pain and rebellion by getting their heads and hearts right on loving God in sexual purity. Sean's book, available December 1st or for preorder now. "Chasing Love" https://amzn.to/3f81xQM (affiliate link) Sean's video on Transgender Identities (really good content here) Https://bit.ly/36EGrWo

I'm amazed at the similarities that exist between modern progressive Christians and the Sadducees in the gospels. I'm even more amazed at how Jesus' roasting of the bad theology of the Sadducees applies to modern liberal theologians and progressives in general. Disclaimer: I am talking about religious progressives or liberal theology, not politics. It's true that those who have liberal theology tend to have liberal politics but they aren't the same thing. In this continuing series through the Gospel of Mark we will see how Jesus brilliantly refutes the Sadducees (and progressives and even Mormons) and we'll learn how we can better identify and not fall victim to the tactics that liberal teachers often use to get us to abandon biblical truth. Man, I love this series and love how applicable it is in our lives today! This is part 48 of a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Mark. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF HERE is me dealing with a popular progressive/liberal Christian teacher named Brian Zahnd. This may be my BEST example of how to notice and combat the common tactics of progressives who sadly twist the heart of Christianity and do so in the name of Christ. https://youtu.be/QUNdh1u6774

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:44 Is it right or wrong to refute other pastors who publicly teach false teachings? 2. 7:24 I was wondering if you could talk about and help me understand Mark 16: 17-18 (specifically verse 18). I haven’t seen those two signs played out...perhaps it could be metaphorical? 3. 13:58 How should we interpret 2 Corinthians 12:2? Are there “levels” in Heaven? And does it have anything at all to do with the phrase “seventh heaven”? 4. 17:55 Are Christians who believe that Genesis 1-11 is allegorical (unintentionally or not) denying the divinity and validity of Christ, considering what Jesus said in John 5: 44-47? 5. 23:33 What are the biblical principles, if any, about keeping our bodies physically healthy, and to what extent? (Think smoking, piercings, or eating/exercise habits) 6. 28:29 How do you respond to Matthew 16: 28? 7. 32:09 Do Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28 speak about Satan? 8. 33:46 Can you explain what Lordship Salvation is, please? 9. 35:54 How would you react if someone said that all truth is subjective and that there is no concept of truth, except what "works for you"? 10. 37:50 When you first accept Jesus into your life, is that when you become "born again" and baptized with the Holy Spirit? Or are they two different things? 11. 40:24 My bible teacher said my family is saved because I believe in Jesus, citing Acts 16: 31. I think she misused scripture. If so, how do I address the issue? Does forgiving mean trusting her again? 12. 45:33 Is it a salvation issue if someone rejects the idea of Jesus being one and the same with God? 13. 46:56 Are unbelievers forgiven to some degree? I'm looking at Luke 23: 34 14. 50:40 My daughter was baptized in 2018, and came out as bisexual in 2019. Any thoughts on how to talk to her about this? I’ve tried! 15. 53:08 What do you think about the Noahide Laws? I’ve been told that if they’re enacted, Christians would be found guilty of “idolatry” and executed. Should we be worried? 16. 54:26 I've seen your Mormonism series and have met with Mormons quite often, and I am wondering, what might be a good approach to addressing their belief in "sons and daughters of God" and pre-mortal existence? 17. 55:30 What are the "seven spirits of God"? 18. 56:38 My in-laws are WOF leaders and church owners, and it’s a constant "name it and claim it" around them. Should we have a doctrine "sit down," or just ignore? Its tough. 19. 59:02 Should Christians drink alcoholic wine at the commemoration of the Lord's Supper? And must we use unleavened bread? 20. 1:00:57 If I live in habitual sin from addiction, and I really want to overcome it but I keep backsliding, am I still saved, or am I using it as a license to sin? If I don’t stop before I die, what happens? My NEW YouTube channel "YouTube Tactics with Mike Winger" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPjFC53u7nIMUoNFZeAxhjg Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My video on "Was Jesus a Failed Prophet" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eExtYuAgB8 Satan: according to the Bible. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6xRA2jwYGM My video analyzing the YouTube miracles of Todd White (and a few others) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=je20XTohCNo My video on Bethel and Bill Johnson's teachings. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r3tEv26OMTU My videos on The Passion Translation of Brian Simmons. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CvlIDpjVyCs&list=PLi-tJmIiOS7MD3M1DdOiGrxUXbR9FHIRh My video on Brian Zahnd and his false version of Jesus and dangerous way of interpreting the Bible. https://youtu.be/QUNdh1u6774

If I put the Bible first, before politics, I will end up supporting the death penalty. But I think the Bible also answers some of the fears of those who do oppose the death penalty. This will basically be a survey of several key Bible verses that deal with the death penalty. From it's initial inception in Genesis 9 to it's use in the Old Testament Law and the important teaching in Romans 13 on the role of government in enacting lethal punishment. Along the way I'm going to answer a few challenges that I've heard regarding the death penalty. 1) What about those who are innocent but get the death penalty? 2) But didn't Jesus reject the death penalty when He said to "turn the other cheek" or when he wouldn't kill the adulterous woman? 3) But God's justice is restorative and not retributive. And the death penalty ends any chance to restore the person who committed the crime. 4) I just don't trust the government to get it right, therefore capital punishment should be off the table. 5) But we aren't under the Law of Moses any more. I realize there are major ramifications for political issues related to this question but I want us to approach it first as a question of what the Bible teaches. This is my own commitment in trying to think biblically about everything and it's what I hope you will do as well. My website https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:42 How should I approach a friend who does not believe in objective truth? 2. 7:34 Do you think that Melchizedek was was a theophany? How does the writer of Hebrews know so much about him if there's only a few verses in the Hebrew Scriptures about him? 3. 14:44 The Bible says that Satan is the "god of this world" (2 Cor. 4:4), but I know that God is sovereign over all things. How do I reconcile these two truths in a biblical way? 4. 17:55 What are your thoughts on "Oneness Pentecostalism"? 5. 19:13 Is marriage a choice? I've heard that marriage is God's will for most people, but I like Paul's argument in 1 Cor. 7: 25-40. If someone desires singleness, could it go against God's will? 6. 22:20 In John 3 where Jesus says "you must be born again," it isn't like you chose to be born, you just were. Any thoughts on that? 7. 23:59 What are your thoughts on attending a wedding between a believer and an unbeliever? 8. 25:40 My church encourages kids to participate in communion. My 4 year old does not participate because we feel she's not ready. Not because of sin, but not fully understanding what she's doing. Any thoughts? 9. 27:01 In regard to our spirit, soul, body, mind, and heart, what does each biblically consist of, and what is their purpose? 10. 29:00 What are your thoughts on this prevalent kind of "repentance-free Christianity" where psychological goals (self-improvement/fulfillment) have replaced pursuing holiness? 11. 32:57 Does Revelation 3: 16 mean that lukewarm Christians will not be in Heaven? ("...because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spit you out of my mouth.") What does lukewarm mean? 12. 38:36 What happened to Jesus on the cross? What does it mean that He took God's wrath? Was it just pain and death like we deserved, or something more? Was it the equivalent of spending eternity in Hell? 13. 43:51 I got saved a couple of months ago! Any tips on studying the Bible? Where could I look to get background information on different books of the Bible before I begin studying them? 14. 45:39 Could you please explain why there are two demon possessed men in Matthew 8, but only one in Mark 5? 15. 49:01 How do you respond to teaching that says the verses that say homosexuality is wrong are actually about pedophilia, and not about same sex relationships? Do you have a video on this? 16. 51:20 What do you do if you can't live at peace with a family member at home? 17. 52:45 I like David Wood, but do you think his approach is biblical? It is effective, but isn't it too harsh? 18. 54:37 At Pentecost, they were mocked for appearing to be drunk. Does this suggest that we should expect laughing, shaking, or falling when closely sensing the Holy Spirit? 19. 59:12 My friend told me that their relationship with God and religion in general is something they keep private. Is this biblical? How should I respond? Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My website https://BibleThinker.org

Here's all I want to know. What is Critical Race Theory and is it biblical? We'll answer both questions today with special guest Neil Shenvi. I agree that racism is a serious problem in our lives today. A very serious problem. But real problems can sometimes lead us to bad solutions. The solutions provided by Critical Race Theory (and concepts of "whiteness", "systems of oppression", "internalized oppression", the redefining of "racism" etc.) are actually solutions that involve more racism. It is injustice in response to injustice. It's unbalanced scales in response to unbalanced scales. It's prejudice in response to prejudice. A biblical Christian should recognize that because racism, partiality and injustice are serious issues, we can not embrace Critical Race Theory. This isn't about taking political sides or pleasing crowds, it's about being biblical and pleasing God. Neil Shenvi's web site - https://shenviapologetics.com/ Neil Shenvi on Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeilShenvi My website https://BibleThinker.org

I'm not going to pull punches today. This isn't really a "translation" of the Bible. It is one man's attempt to replace the gospel with his own false teaching. His false teaching is truly heart warming and encouraging. Francois Du Toit is a brilliant man, skilled communicator and as far as I can tell he is absolutely sincere and well-meaning in replacing the gospel with his feel good message that the real problem with people is that they believe the gospel when it says that all have sinned, are deserving of judgment and need to be born again in Christ. I'm not exaggerating when I say that the Mirror Bible is the worst translation I've ever looked into. In today's video we will survey through a number of Bible passages he has mistranslated and explain how he is trying to fight against the clear teaching of the text and how he tries to use Greek to trick people (and himself) into believing his anti-gospel. Yeah, it's really that bad. Wesley Huff's article on Bible translations https://bit.ly/3kzDFHy My NEW YouTube channel teaching you how to be a successful Christian YouTuber. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MVKQO2NpUZo My website https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:15 How do the Jehovah's Witnesses mistranslate and misuse John 1:1 in their "New World Translation"? 2. 10:22 What does Matthew 24: 34 mean? What is the "all these things" Jesus speaks of? Would the original audience/early church have thought He was referring to the second and final coming? 3. 20:54 What does Matthew 26: 46 mean? 4. 22:08 Can you explain the parable of the 10 virgins in Matthew 25:1? It cannot possibly mean that half the Church fails to enter in...or does it? 5. 26:18 I've heard people support abortion using Numbers 5, specifically v. 27. What is your take on that? 6. 30:43 The OT often calls the Old Covenant an eternal or everlasting covenant. If it is eternal and everlasting, how can there be a New Covenant? 7. 32:22 If I don’t read the Bible and pray every day, I feel a huge amount of guilt - like I’ve sinned and am not even worthy to be a Christian. Is this kind of guilty conscience or conviction healthy, or not? 8. 34:57 In Mark 7: 27-28, do you think that this passage is a good way to highlight that the eucharist is specifically spiritual and not physical flesh, or do you think it's not correlated enough? 9. 36:26 What is the "rod" in Proverbs 13: 24? Is it a method of corporal punishment, or does it refer to a rod of truth with which we hold our children/households accountable to? 10. 39:52 As a struggling Calvinist, could you explain the apparent favoritism of God throughout the Bible and why He "chooses" some over others? (ex. Jacob/Esau, Abraham, Prophets, and Moses.) 11. 43:01 In Genesis 9, Noah seems to curse Canaan for the actions of his father, Ham. Do you think Noah cursed Canaan, or is Moses emphasizing Canaan on purpose? 12. 44:26 How do you respond to the claim that Jesus came to dismantle systems of oppression? though He did dismantle "systems" like legalism, it also seems to diminish the Gospel when it becomes the focus. 13. 45:55 My wife and I are wondering if the parable of the sower (Luke 8:4-15) clarifies Hebrews 6:4-6...We both believe salvation is eternal. Thoughts? 14. 49:32 I don't feel the witness of the Holy Spirit or a love for God. I trust Christ to save me, but I'm not seeing fruit. Does the inward work of God take longer for some people? 15. 52:19 ​Is "the anointing" a real thing, or is it just another word for the Holy Spirit? And can we get an anointing today? Any verses to support your argument? 16. 53:54 How do we reconcile forgiveness for our sins by His work on the cross with being examined on Judgment Day? If we sin and receive forgiveness, will that be brought up again when we stand before God? 17. 57:03 Would you ever recommend The Message Bible? Any possible problems you see with it? 18. 58:53 Do you think some people focus too much on extravagant mission trips or campaigns instead of evangelizing by acting good in the world? 19. 1:02:13 In 1 Corinthians 6: 12 & 1 Corinthians 10: 22, Paul says all things are lawful. I know he isn't talking about sinful things, but is he talking about the law? I need some clarification. Thanks! 20. 1:06:38 I’ve heard some churches teach the "holy kiss" (1 Corinthians 16: 20) as a commandment. I’m curious about your thoughts on the matter. Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My website https://BibleThinker.org

Are there what appear to our eyes to be significant, deliberate, factual changes about the life of Jesus in the Gospels? Did the gospel writers seem to fabricate significant details about Jesus? If so, was this an expected and appropriate practice when writing a Greco-Roman Biography? Do "literary devices" exist, which were employed by the gospel authors, which allowed an ancient biographer to add fictional information to historical stories as a kind of "special effects"? Dr. Lydia McGrew joins me to discuss several controversial and important issues related to the reliability of the Gospels. This can be a rather complicated issue but I hope that today's interview will be enlightening and bring some clarity. Even if you don't agree with my guest (I'm not entirely sure what all my own views are on this issue) I think it's valuable to hear what she has to say because she has gone to such great lengths to bring clarity to a pretty fuzzy area of scholarship where I am genuinely concerned that some well-meaning, wonderful Christian scholars are making some significant mistakes. Get Lydia McGrew's book "The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospels from Literary Devices" https://www.amazon.com/Mirror-Mask-Liberating-Gospels-Literary/dp/1947929070/ Lydia's new YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSwhBk0vUSg_6prKkR82IDQ Dr. Mike Licona (a genuine Christian who I respect) has a series of videos responding to Dr. Lydia McGrew's book which you can watch on this playlist on his YT channel https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLpPGCP1zKznR06Jxb5RaQYrNIiH7xR7ZR Lydia McGrew did a series of videos in response to Mike Licona's series and you can watch that playlist on her YT channel at this link https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLe1tMOs8ARn0S9CsFG47bKjcYxsnHujhg

Jesus taught people to pay taxes. I think that most of us know that. But I think there is a lot more going on here and it helps us answer some of our tough ethical questions about how to deal with current issues in politics. If my understanding of the Bible is accurate on this then I think many Christians really need to have something of an overhaul on the way they deal with current political issues. This is part 47 of a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Mark. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

~Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: ~ 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:12 Do you agree with any of the 5 points of Calvinism? And what is the one “point” you see as the hardest to reconcile? 2. 16:17 Jesus cast out many demon-possessed people on Earth. With the explosion of the human population and religions, one would think this phenomenon would be more prevalent today, but it’s not. Any insight? 3. 18:31 What's your response to the idea that Isaiah was written by multiple authors? 4. 20:06 Do you believe that God is a matchmaker for Christian couples? The idea of waiting on “the one” whom God has chosen as your spouse? Some pastors say this is a waste of time, or unrealistic. 5. 24:49 Is it biblically o.k. for a trinitarian Christian to marry a Oneness Christian? 6. 25:41 In constructing a biblical theology, where do we start? How do we construct a biblical method for doing theology? 7. 28:00 Any advice for a Christian who lives with parents that are always swearing, drinking, and watching vulgar things? Whenever I give them my opinion, they think I'm being judgmental. Am I? 8. 30:09 My country, Armenia, a Christian Nation since 301AD, is defending their lives from genocide by Turkey & Azerbaijan. What are some actions I can take as a Christian? That is, can I go to war if it is to defend? 9. 32:04 What separates us from an angel? They had (have?) free will too, right? Is it still possible for them to fall from grace/Heaven if they choose? 10. 33:52 Have you heard of the Berisheet Prophecy in Genesis 1:1 regarding end times? It is something I've run into a lot recently and wanted to know if you have any thoughts on it. 11. 34:46 My JW friend says the Greek for “soul” just refers to any living being (person or animal) and that the “immortal soul” is taken from the Greeks and was not a Jewish belief. How would you respond? 12. 36:22 Do you plan to do more verse-by-verse studies of other books of the Bible? (Mark is great!) 13. 36:59 Is it a sin for a Christian not to vote in elections? Will not voting negatively affect one's relationship with God? Thoughts or advice? 14. 38:44 Is it better not to give if you can't do it cheerfully/lovingly, or would it be better to give even if reluctantly in order to pick up your cross and try to imitate Jesus? (I don't mean just money.) 15. 40:39 What is the purpose of a church service? Should it primarily be for believers, or should it be intentionally inclusive of those in attendance who are not saved? 16. 43:00 How do you respond to people who use verses like 1 John 3:6 to say that, as they mature in the faith, Christians come to a point where they will completely stop sinning? 17. 46:05 I’ve been told by Christians that their relationship with God is personal and they don’t wish to discuss anything in regard to religion. Is this biblical? 18. 48:18 What is your favorite Bible verse? (A verse that you would look at daily that gives you courage and strengthens you…or multiple?) 19. 50:07 Where is God's help when fighting a porn addiction? Why does it seem that crying out in prayer yields little help, and even when resisting the temptation, I'm left exhausted? 20. 54:54 Should Christians follow OT dietary laws? Many people point to Acts, but I'm stuck on the prophecy in Isaiah 66: 16-17 where eating pork still seems to be detestable to God, even in the end times.Every Friday at 1pm PT A biblical survey of the doctrine of divine hardening, which seem incompatible with Calvinism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mMuiT_R0zFQ&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHu8PlY0J-G2B9Pyp59S0pLZ&index=4 My video on how faith is not a work and how this relates to Calvinist teaching. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxakEl8BYBE&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHu8PlY0J-G2B9Pyp59S0pLZ&index=1 After my first video on Limited Atonement I got a rebuttal video from Dr. James White and I did a MUCH more in depth response to the Calvinist reasoning and to Dr. White in a second video (both are linked below and you can find Dr. White's video in the description of the second) 1st on Limited Atonement: https://youtu.be/DAKyQrAO3ps 2nd (deeper theological discussion) on Limited Atonement: https://youtu.be/shpZMRhr4uM For the question on obeying dietary laws here is my playlist on the Hebrew Roots movement. Lots of really good info here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR7xTYhXEbo&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuOD_BytSxbejzCnGPOcgFw

Why is this verse missing from the ESV translation? Why does it have brackets in the NASB? Here's a summary of the reasons why this verse may not be original and how I think we should think about it. This is the shortest video in the whole Mark series so far and I'm just tossing it out there in the middle of a bunch of other content but I thought it was worth taking some time to discuss. Here's the playlist to my three videos on manuscript issues and translations of the Bible (which I mentioned in the vid) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW Here's the entire Mark series playlist. I am absolutely LOVING this series and hope it blesses you tremendously. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7jWg60N_0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

This was an "in your face" moment between Jesus and the leaders of the Jews. But what strikes me the most isn't just Jesus' rebuke of the leaders, or how cleverly He does it (so that they cannot charge Him with a crime), or how Jesus integrates Isaiah 5 into this parable of the vineyard. What strikes me the most is how they could be totally aware of the failures of their forefathers and totally blind to those same issues when they were to be found in themselves. God help us to see our lives clearly, for we can all be just like they were. This is part 45 of a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Mark. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My website https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:17 Do we go directly to be with God when we die? Will we see Him immediately, or is there some type of "soul sleep" that happens? 2. 8:29 What do you think about pages like "Memes for Jesus"? Is it ok to make jokes about Bible stories or situations? 3. 11:29 Premil, Amil, or Postmil - which view is the most correct? 4. 13:37 Recently, many people have been uploading videos of their "prophetic dreams," with many implying that the rapture will be within the next couple of months...What do you make of these dreams? 5. 17:52 How do you answer a friend that says that "spiritualism" (all new age stuff, tarot, yoga, manifesting) needs to be rescued from the New Age & that spiritualism is pure and is what Jesus practiced? 6. 23:08 We are proud that the NT is based on eyewitness accounts, but how could the Gospel writers have known what Jesus said and did while He was alone, like in the desert or the garden of Gethsemane? 7. 26:20 Does the Bible support celebrating birthdays and Christmas? Recovering JW here. 8. 30:36 If I get raptured before the Tribulation, will I, from my new place of residence, be able to do something good for my loved ones who were left behind on Earth? 9. 32:34 Speaking of whether or not we go directly to Heaven or Hell when we die, what are your thoughts on the comma in Luke 23: 43? A lot of mortalists say it belongs after the word "today" instead of before. 10. 36:38 My entire family is Pentecostal. They say I'm demon possessed and a male chauvinist because I believe Paul's teachings on women. Am I wrong to think that those family members may not be saved? 11. 40:31 Have you seen "The Chosen" series? If so, what do you think of it? 12. 43:45 I was reading Galatians, and got confused by Galatians 3: 23. I know that we are saved by our faith and not by the law, but what does it mean to be "confined to" and "imprisoned by" the law? 13. 46:48 If Jesus was raised back to life as a human with a body, and not as a spiritual being, then how did He suddenly appear in the locked room with the disciples? 14. 48:02 I would love to know your thoughts on what it means to pray "in Jesus' name" such as in John 16: 24. 15. 50:10 If a man wants to be water baptized, do they need a specific level of understanding of the Bible and Christianity, or just the desire and a simple understanding of baptism? 16. 51:39 How can I renew my love for God when He seems commonplace? 17. 53:26 I have left a "Word of Faith" church and I am actively speaking out about their false doctrine, but it is affecting my relationship with my sister. What should I do? 18. 55:04 How do we draw the line between wrestling with God and having vain repetitions in our prayers? How long is it appropriate to keep praying for something? 19. 56:45 I am an aspiring pastor, and I hope to be the shepherd of a church one day. Until then, what are some good things for me to be doing? How can I prepare myself better for pastorship? 20. 59:14 How do I speak to a pastor who tends to use feel good phrases like "you are enough" and "Jesus came to bring a piece of Heaven to Earth"? I find these phrases unbiblical. Every Friday at 1pm PT Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My website https://BibleThinker.org

It seems eerie to me how similar the claims that Roman Catholicism makes are to the claims that the Pharisees and Sanhedrin were making in the time of Christ. The Pharisees claimed to have and oral tradition that wasn't written down but was handed down through an elder-succession from Sinai to Jesus' time (which was simply not historically true). They claimed that this tradition was equal in authority to the written word. They claimed that they had a special right to interpret that Bible and felt more authority than they really possessed. They thought they were sitting in Moses' seat and carrying the continuation of his authority in their own role. Well, all of these points are alive and present in the claims of the Roman Catholic Magisterium. They claim to have an oral tradition that wasn't written down but is equal in authority to the New Testament (which is simply not historically true). They claim to have special right to interpret the Bible. They claim to have special authority over God's people due to a claim that they have apostolic succession in their leadership roles. They claim to sit in the seat of Peter and carry the continuation of his authority in their own role. All of the parallels make it really interesting when Jesus simply dismisses the Sanhedrin and the Pharisees in the New Testament. In other words, we have a sample of how Jesus might respond to modern Roman Catholicism in the way that He responded to the 1st century Sanhedrin. And I think we should respond the same way. This is part 44 of a verse by verse study through the Gospel of Mark. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My website https://BibleThinker.org

0:00 Introduction 1. 0:12 Are Christians supposed to "tithe"? 2. 10:17 To what extent should Christians protect and retaliate? Should we do what we can to stop others from abusing others? 3. 16:14 Someone wants to disciple me, and is asking for payment, citing Luke 8:1-3, Galatians 6:6, 1 Timothy 5:8 & 5: 18, Acts 2: 42, and 2 Samuel 23:8-17. Is being discipled similar to going to school, that you'd need to pay for it? 4. 19:20 Hebrews 10: 26-27 seems to teach a non-merciful judgment for those who reject the Gospel but know its truth, does this mean mercy will be shown to those who haven't heard? 5. 23:36 I grew up Lutheran but lately I’ve had doubts about how biblical Lutheran doctrine is. Would you consider covering it sometime? God bless you ministry, you’ve been a huge blessing! 6. 25:07 Should we repent and ask the Lord for forgiveness of sins we commit in our dreams? 7. 26:09 What is your practical advice for young man in small local church with growing call to do the ministry of the Word? It's a circle without ordained ministers, only lay preachers. Thank you! 8. 30:00 How should I understand the warning against apostasy in Heb 6:4-6? It's hard to believe the experiences described do not refer to true believers. Yet salvation isn't earned, so how could it be lost? 9. 30:54 If the Bible says that works born from within = no boasting/bad fruit, and works born from the Spirit = good fruit, then why do we think that faith born from within (prior to regeneration) is fruitful faith? Wouldn't faith born from our fallen nature be insufficient? Wouldn’t we be incapable of bearing ‘good fruit’ faith? (Similar to saying we had good works alone.) 10. 36:15 Some folks on Facebook were flipping out about idea of "Q" that scholars talk about as a potential source material. Is it another Gospel? Can you speak to what the idea of "Q" as used in scholarship discussion is, to help calm some nerves? 11. 39:01 What are your thoughts as to professed accounts of people (selling books about) visiting either Heaven or hell? 12. 42:49 In John 3, what does the Bible mean by “unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God”? Is "born of water" referring to baptism, or is it referring to actual birth? 13. 44:02 Is being charismatically "slain in the Spirit" biblical (falling backwards, animalistic sounds, etc.)? If it is, how do we discern someone being "slain in the Spirit" vs. being demonically possessed? 14. 48:21 As an unemployed Christian, I feel convicted that I should not work at the cannabis sector, despite the fact that there are so many job opportunities now. As a Christian, can I apply to this sector, or not? 15. 49:56 Many people are prophesying right now. It seems like the Lord is pouring His spirit out just like He prophesied. What are your thoughts on that? 16. 51:37 I've heard you talk about annihilationism. Could you please expand on why you think it is not biblical. Does it affect any other doctrines? Can we disagree? 17. 53:11 I’ve heard Calvinists say that God is not guilty for sin He decrees, because His purposes are good. This seems like a version of the “ends justify the means." Is this a biblical way of thinking? 18. 55:45 What do you think of Grace Community Church disobeying the government of California by keeping their church open (since we are told to obey the government, but also to meet together as the Church)? 19. 59:17 1 Cor 6: 19-20 is often quoted at people who use tobacco or sometimes those who are just overweight. What is the biblical basis (if any) for maintaining our bodily health? 20. 1:04:58 What is Gossip? Is it simply sharing personal information about someone without their permission, even in a nice way? That is how I have understood it to be. Here is the podcast on interpreting "born of water" in John 3. Let me preface with this before you listen to it. I don't agree with all the reasoning here, in particular some of the objections to the evangelical view seem weak, but I do think the conclusion is probably the right interpretation of the passage. Also, some of this content will be hard to track with but in the end I think it's valuable and even if you don't get it all, that's how you really grow; listening to content that goes just a bit over your head. https://nakedbiblepodcast.com/podcast/naked-bible-330-the-exodus-and-john-35/ Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks! My website https://BibleThinker.org

This, right here, is probably the most powerful "name-it-and-claim-it" verse in the Bible. Mark 11:23–24 (NASB95) “Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be taken up and cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it will be granted him. “Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they will be granted you. Honestly, I really struggled in prep for this study. At first I found myself wanting to just make sure that this passage wasn't used for the kind of stuff Kenneth Copeland teaches. But I sensed that, in my desire to avoid a particular interpretation, I might be blinding myself to what the passage is saying. So, I took a different approach, one that I try to always take but one that was particularly difficult for me to do this time around. I took myself out of the debate over "name-it-and-claim-it" teaching in the 21st century and instead sought to thoroughly understand how this radical passage makes sense in the context of Mark and the rest of the New Testament. The result has been a really rewarding study on the power of prayer and the reality of faith in the midst of suffering. This passage doesn't fit "name-it-and-claim-it" and it doesn't fit cessationism either. My hope is that I can bring clarity with this study and stir up faith. Faith for miracles and faith for suffering. See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Every Friday at 1pm PT! 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:04 Must we speak in tongues in order to be saved? 2. 11:39 Does Scripture authorize only one cup during the Lord's Supper? How should we face different government regulations of Eucharist? (E.g. forbidden one cup drinking.) 3. 14:35 What are your thoughts on the book of 1 Enoch? 4. 17:36 A friend just told me he doesn't believe that the Bible is historically accurate (ex. The Exodus, flood). Any advice on resources to help him? 5. 21:26 Can you please explain the parable about using your talents, and how we can be sure about what our gifts are? 6. 25:44 What are your thoughts on the Lutheran Church? Is the liturgy/tradition a hindrance to the Gospel and true repentance, or is there any value in it? 7. 28:59 How do you understand 1 Thess. 5: 23? Is Paul saying that every person has a distinct spirit, soul, and body, or just that everyone has a material and immaterial nature? Also, how are spirit & soul different? 8. 31:41 People often use Proverbs 18: 21 to say that our words have power, and that we can use them to speak things into existence. Is that the true meaning of the verse? Are there any verses that support that point? 9. 36:17 What does it mean that God made the world through the Son in Hebrews 1:1-2? Is using the word “through” different than using the word “by”? 10. 40:04 How do I know the Holy Spirit? Are there any teachings about having a relationship with Him which are not focusing only on the gifts? 11. 42:20 Would it be appropriate for a Christian to attend a same-sex "wedding" of a family member/friend, or would that express acceptance of the union? 12. 43:46 For several years, when thinking about the afterlife, I've felt strong anxiety and I fear that these feelings might indicate that I don't love God. Any thoughts and/or tips on this? 13. 49:29 Do you think there is such a thing as neutral/common ground in apologetics? Or are our presuppositions so important that they have to be addressed before any evidence may be be examined, as presups say? 14. 52:29 How do you think biblically about RPG video games such as Elder Scrolls? Most RPGs you can play as a Warlock using fantasy magic. Does the content and nature of a game affect your game choice? 15. 57:19 Is there scientific evidence that speaking in tongues real? 16. 57:58 Can you please explain what Jesus meant when He said to sell your cloak and buy a sword in Luke 22: 36? 17. 1:00:35 I'm confused about fasting...should all Christians fast from time to time as a reminder that God is our true need? I've just never felt compelled to skip meals to grow closer to God. 18. 1:04:18 Hi Pastor Mike, I was wondering how the pharaoh's magicians were able to duplicate changing their staffs into snakes as Aaron did when accompanied by Moses in Exodus. 19. 1:07:19 How would you respond to a person who sees the Church as a historically bloody and evil organization? Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

I was interviewed by Rachelle and Carder on the Anything But Quiet Time Podcast. We talked about a variety of issues and I think the one consistent theme that might apply to this whole interview is having more wisdom in how we handle theology, apologetics and evangelism. Anyhow, I hope you'll find some personal benefit in it! Here is Rachelle and Carder's podcast but you can also find it on whatever pod catcher you have https://hopeondemand.com/podcasts#/anything-but-quiet-time

Dr. Tim Stratton presents his case that free will is evidence for God. Tim has spent a good deal of time refining this argument in his PhD studies and we're going to get an accessible breakdown of how it works. Now, Tim doesn't normally have an eye patch but since he didn't send me over a better photo I'm punishing him... and really, I just thought it was funny. I hope this breakdown of the "free will argument against naturalism" will be not only personally enlightening and convincing to you but will become another tool in your own intellectual toolbox of ways to help others see the truth of Jesus Christ. Here's Tim's web site and specifically an article on the problem of evil and how he answers it. Tim has TONS of free articles you may be interested on his site in addition to this one. https://freethinkingministries.com/3-circles-all-the-problems-of-evil/ Another article from Tim on "unjustified suffering" https://freethinkingministries.com/a-thought-experiment-vs-unjustified-evil-suffering/ Tim's YouTube channel, which he intends to utilize more in the future, has a video he asked me to share with you on how he handles divine determinism which many Calvinists affirm. https://youtu.be/qFKg0veH7fo

Every Friday at 1pm PT! Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction & Cat Cam! 1. 0:16 How should we correctly interpret "by His stripes we are healed" in Isaiah 53:5? Has physical healing for today been purchased through the atonement? 2. 11:22 Can you explain why Old Testament sacrifices and offerings were "seasoned with salt"? Is there a spiritual/messianic picture or element involved in that? 3. 13:49 We are told to have a large amount of faith, but Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains. So what does that mean, in terms of faith? 4. 16:10 Is it biblical to sign a marriage contract before you marry someone? 5. 17:39 If you've had an abortion in the past, is it hypocritical to stand against it now, and would it be hypocritical to have a baby afterwards or think that you deserve to have a child afterwards? 6. 23:07 What does the Bible teach about masturbation? Is that act permissible for a follower of Christ? 7. 29:20 Do you share the opinion that we shouldn't ask God to heal diseases, but instead should speak over the sick person as if we have authority over sickness? Should we do it like Peter in Acts 3:6? 8. 35:02 What do you think of denominations? Are divisions ok, and can multiple factions of Christianity be legit? 9. 37:33 What are your thoughts on the apparitions of Mary at Fatima and messages given to the shepherd children? 10. 40:39 What is the "witness of the Spirit" mentioned in Romans 8: 16? Is it an experience like John Wesley's "strangely warmed" heart? How do you obtain the witness if you don't think you have it? 11. 43:58 What is the best way to study the Bible? Should I start in Matthew, or maybe Genesis? 12. 45:28 Mike what happened in Gethsemane? Was Jesus Christ separated or forsaken by the Father? 13. 48:39 What does Mark 16: 17-18 mean? I grew up in the prosperity gospel, and my family and 80% of my country is in it! I would really like to help them open their eyes to it. 14. 51:02 I know you're not a Calvinist, so are you Arminian, Molinist, or none of the above? 15. 51:41 Does Matthew 6: 14-15 imply that forgiving others is necessary for salvation? 16. 52:31 Do you have any counsel on how to be discerning and grow in the Lord without constantly worrying about every new heresy and false teaching that crops up? 17. 53:30 How should I approach a growing issue at my church where the Bible is not being preached, the pastoral staff is beginning to go off base, and the lead pastor bulldozes over people? 18. 54:55 To what extend should we try to rectify our sins? (e.g. should two Christians who fornicate then marry?) 19. 55:55 Where was Jesus' spirit during the 2 days he was dead? 20. 56:36 How to you stop bitterness and hatred from being in your heart, if you’ve held onto it for years? Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Time Stamp Map 0:00 Introduction 1. 6:24 How did you initially find out about the WMSCOG, and what caused you to recognize the need for their teachings to be refuted? 2. 11:40 What are some of the books and other resources you used to delve into your research of this cult, and how did the difficulty of obtaining certain resources impact your studies? 3. 15:15 Overview of the origin & history of the WMSCOG, and their current teachings 4. 23:55 How does the WMSCOG's modalistic view of God allow them to elevate the position of key leaders in their organization? 5. 26:25 Does the WMSCOG believe there is a distinction between "Christ" and "Jesus"? 6. 27:23 How does the WMSCOG respond to the biblical truth that "the fullness of deity dwells bodily" in Christ (Colossians 2:9), and in all cults, how does their tendency to take verses of Scripture out of context affect their ability to spread false teaching? 7. 32:16 (Overview of the WMSCOG's current teachings *continued*) 8. 36:01 About AhnSahngHong's book, "The New Jerusalem and the Bride: Interpretation on Women's Veil" 9. 40:27 What are some of the definitive cultic characteristics of the WMSCOG, and how can having a solid Christian worldview serve as a safeguard for us against false teaching? 10. 42:12 About Steven Hassan, his books, and his B.I.T.E. Model of cult characteristics --43:19 B - Behavior Control --48:00 I - Information Control --1:05:02 T&E - Thought & Emotional Control 11. 1:00:07 and 2:00:53 If any of our listeners have WMSCOG books and would like to donate them to help equip our ministry, where can they send them? 12. 1:11:14 What role can spiritual warfare play in how the characteristics of the B.I.T.E. Model can affect cult members? 13. 1:13:05 When we engage in conversations with WMSCOG members, what are some of the key verses/arguments that get brought up, their perspective on how those verses/arguments support their theology, and some good responses we can offer to those verses/arguments? 14. 1:31:34 About the "Prophecy of the 40 Years of David" that WMSCOG members are taught 15. 1:38:53 Do you think the WMSCOG may claim that AhnSahngHong's baptism was at the age of 30 in order to strengthen the connection between him and Jesus (who was baptized at the age of 30)? 16. 1:39:33 About their observance of the feasts, and their claim that observance is necessary for salvation 17. 1:48:00 How do WMSCOG members interpret Galatians 4: 26, and how can we respond to that verse, offering them an explanation of its proper context? 18. 1:55:37 If I've come to realize that I've been a part of a cult (either formerly or presently), what should I do? Here is EVERYTHING I have on the WMSCOG. Please share this content with those who need it because there isn't nearly enough stuff out there on this group and they are making inroads all over the place. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvwOzziMOk9ZIHKphdag47d Cultish appears on podcast or on the YouTube channel Apologia Studios, here's a link. https://www.youtube.com/user/Defendthefaithorg

0:00 Introduction 1. 6:23 We Are All Atheists 2. 24:46 Religion Only Exists Through Indoctrination 3. 44:42 Atheism Is Instinctual 4. 48:06 Religion Is Desperation 5. 1:00:58 The Problem of Evil An atheist offers what he sees as the best arguments against God. I admit ahead of time that this is mostly low hanging fruit. But I also would say that this sort of atheist reasoning is so prevalent that it needs to be addressed. That being said, this stuff is pretty bad. I want to offer a breakdown of this atheist's article which is perhaps a pretty serious commentary on some of the problems in pop-atheism. All in all there are 4 really bad arguments and 1 really tough one. I'll try to get to all of them but when I did this for my small group yesterday I was only able to get to the first four. We'll see how it goes. This video is in lieu of the Mark series which will pick up in TWO weeks. Link and more links to stuff you probably want to see The original article I'm responding to is here https://owlcation.com/humanities/Top-Atheists-Their-Best-Arguments The Kalam Cosmological Argument (this is so thorough and simple it can be used in line at Disneyland or in academic debate) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrgSbFhHCmU A teleological argument from the design in the universe presented by a physicist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58brbYwN0Q0 A playlist of videos going deep into a moral argument for God by one of my favorite people, William Lane Craig. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuenDhnk7fxcfPYUKwDASyK The argument from beauty (and yes, you should take this more seriously than you do) https://youtu.be/Jz7phjZa3EM A ridiculous amount of evidence for the resurrection of Jesus presented by two historians https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mc6XhMySxdY To show the unity of the Bible here is my Jesus in the Old Testament series. I think this is a very strong cumulative case for "unity" which is best explained by inspiration. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuhA0RPKZFHVcjIMN_-F596 For parents wanting to teach their kids critical thinking, here's a resource on Natasha Crain's blog for Christian parents. She not only teaches you to teach your kids to think critically, she teaches you to think critically as well. https://christianmomthoughts.com/how-to-teach-your-kids-critical-thinking-skills-a-great-resource/ Extraordinary claims don't require extraordinary evidence. Seriously, let's think critically about this slogan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3GRAI-us4es A great resource for the problem of evil is Clay Jones' book "Why Does God Allow Evil". I'm giving this to you as a book instead of a video as I honestly think it's going to be more helpful to read this one instead of casually watching a video. This topic is tremendously difficult and the patience and thought that reading invokes is going to serve you well as you process it. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07117FSWD/

Every Friday at 1pm PT! Time Stamps! 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:33 Since Jesus flipped over tables in the temple, does that give people an excuse to have violent protests today? 2. 9:59 I've been dealing with doubts lately, and it never seems to be the cause of any intellectual problem - It feels like an attack. How would you handle this? 3. 12:39 We can see in the Bible that we are to care for the orphan, widow, etc. and uplift those whom society shuns. Should this play out differently in the life of a believer than it does currently in the world (e.g. many people, especially in my young student circles see political action/ideals like socialism or communism as the way forward in this)? Basically, do you think there’s a difference between biblical justice and modern social justice? 4. 22:00 Any suggestions of Christian resources/ministries for women struggling with pornography? Why does the church focus more on men with this sin? 5. 24:09 What are your thoughts on the Enneagram and its origins? Some research states that it was created by desert fathers and mystics, however, some churches point its origins to Catholicism. 6. 26:46 You say we are saved by faith alone and not by works, so how can you say someone is not saved if they live in a homosexual lifestyle? Isn't that blending faith and works? So which works are required? 7. 29:55 How do you know if you believe in your heart vs just logically thinking in your mind that the evidence points more toward Christianity being true than false? referring to Romans 10:9 8. 32:51 Romans 6: 23 says, “for the wages of sin is death”...what kind of death it is referring to? Is it an eternal death? A physical one on Earth? A spiritual death? 9. 34:55 Have you heard of the dreams of Pastor Dana Coverstone? If so, what are your thoughts? 10. 37:42 Why is God the Father just called "God" in the NT? He doesn't typically have the descriptor "the Father" added, where as Jesus is specifically called the Son and the Spirit is called the Spirit? 11. 40:15 What in your mind is the difference between simple sexual attraction and lust, if any? It seems like too many Christians conflate them as one and the same. 12. 45:03 1 Cor 13: 10 is so controversial. If "the perfect" means the Bible and not Jesus, then spiritual gifts have ceased - so wouldn't that leave so many in deception and false understanding? 13. 48:11 Was God angry with Eli as a father or as a priest for not keeping his sons in check? 14. 50:07 What do you think about the Book of Enoch? 15. 52:13 We relocated, and the pastor at the church we are going to and want to join has been reading out of The Passion Translation more and more. Should we rethink our decision? 16. 53:51 How can I lovingly bring up and reveal the errors of the prosperity gospel to friends and family? 17. 55:09 If I am truly seeking God, will He show up for me? 18. 55:31 I've been reading lots of reports of exploitation of the laborers who make the products we use everyday (chocolate, phones, etc.) Should we as Christians boycott/abstain from these things? 19. 55:57 Are Christians allowed to read and study the Quran? In Denmark I have to take a class on religion before I can study theology at the university, but I feel convicted when reading. Should I stop? 20. 57:31 Why was the tree of knowledge of good and evil bad? Isn’t wisdom generally regarded as a good trait in the bible? Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Jesus isn't "acting like Jesus" here. He does a number of things that simply don't fit our modern pacified version of Jesus. And that's a good thing. I don't want to fall into the pacified version of Jesus that our culture likes but I also don't want to act like Jesus' radical and aggressive actions of cursing the fig tree and kicking people and animals out of the temple while flipping tables is somehow an excuse for me to overstep my own authority and act sinfully in my own anger just because I think I am in the right. But, there's more to this passage than just finding the balance of how we can apply Jesus' extreme actions. We need to see the theological message of the passage as well as apply it into our lives by seriously evaluating our own status as the "temple of the Holy Spirit" and restoring the purpose of prayer and relationship with God in our lives. Craig Evan's article, which had a lot of interesting historical insights into this passage. "Jesus' Action in the Temple: Cleansing or Portent of Destruction?" https://www.jstor.org/stable/43717764?read-now=1&seq=23#page_scan_tab_contents See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Every Friday at 1pm PT! Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:16 Do 1 Timothy 2:9 and 1 Peter 3:3-4 prohibit jewelry (wedding bands, necklaces, etc.)? 2. 9:16 In Matthew 21:1-8, there is a donkey and a colt (2 animals). Does this have something to do with Jews and Gentiles? 3. 11:30 Can a person who struggles with addiction be born again? Can you be saved, but not enter the Kingdom of God? (John 3:3) 4. 14:39 How do I pray for a believer who isn't truly walking in line with Christ, and not showing evidence of any growth or transformation in their life due to habitual sin and lack of intimacy with God? 5. 18:23 When you ask God for wisdom, how do you expect a reply? How do you hear from God? Does He send thoughts? 6. 22:27 My church is having an indoor wedding tomorrow, despite the local government's current mandate prohibiting indoor ceremonies. Is this in accordance with God's Word? (Romans 13, 1 Peter 2: 13) 7. 27:25 Shouldn't Christians practicing polygamy have the same moral obligation to obey God's commands on marriage as divorced Christians who should pursue restoration? Isn't polygamy a sin, no matter what? 8. 30:05 In 1 John 5: 16-17, can you explain what is meant by "sin not leading to death" and "sin leading to death"? 9. 34:05 Can you elaborate on Hebrews 6:4? Is it referring to backsliding, or salvation? 10. 35:00 What is "righteous anger" according to Scripture, and could it be applicable for us to occasionally experience today? 11. 37:47 What are your views on communion and the eucharist? How much should the early Church writings affect our views on communion? 12. 44:36 Is there any good reason to think that the rapture of the Church will most likely happen during the "Feast of Trumpets"? 13. 45:33 What is the difference between a feeling and a conviction? 14. 46:40 How much authority does a father have over his adult children, and does it differ between sons and daughters? 15. 49:33 Can you comment on Michael Heiser and his "Divine Council Theory"? 16. 53:29 How would you respond to someone who claims that the Old Testament is not true due to their belief that there was never a biblical flood or Exodus, and that the Hebrews just copied the cultures around them, etc.? 17. 59:04 In Genesis 6 and 1 Samuel 15, God regretted His decisions. How can God, who knows all things, make a decision that He later decides was wrong? Here is the video I mentioned about why God "repents" and "changes his mind" https://studio.youtube.com/watch?v=YpjKPn8hZQs Here’s how you get your questions answered in the Q&A 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

This question is NOT just a hypothetical. Missionaries in Africa asked me to answer this and I don't think it's application will be limited to them for too long. It seems to me that the moral slip-slide of our culture is heading toward a time when more and more of us will be confronted with the topic of polygamy. This is one of my final videos in the series I have done on divorce and remarriage. Here's the playlist with all those videos. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j

OH MAN! I forgot to mention a really cool historical insight we get from the Mishnah! Apparently, Jews were expected to enter Jerusalem on foot when travelling there for Passover. This means that when Jesus entered on a donkey it would have stood out as particularly odd and unique. This give us another reason to see the profound and deliberate proclamation to be the Messianic King. I meant to share that during the study to help those who might think, "so what, lots of people ride donkeys into Jerusalem". This was obviously a lot more than just a donkey ride. Sometimes it's the passages we find the most familiar that we have the most new stuff to learn from. This will be a careful study of the "Triumphal Entry", or "Palm Sunday" where we intend to get a deeper understanding of the passage and hopefully a greater appreciation for how strategically ironic the whole thing is. Mark 1:1-11 is probably the most ironic passage in the book, in my opinion. Here's my study on 24 ways Jesus fulfilled Passover. https://youtu.be/A-_6rpQ4zLg Here's my study on Daniel 9 and it's connection to the timing of Jesus' sacrifice. https://youtu.be/pK5RsOaVy4U See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Every Friday at 1pm PT! Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 0:47 Since there is no marriage in Heaven, are married couples going to be strangers in Heaven? 2. 5:11 If I’m not mistaken, you hold the view of conditional election, prevenient grace, and total depravity (though maybe not to the extent of the Calvinist). ​My question is, if Christ dies for all people and all sins, why does a sinner have to overcome the sin of unbelief on their own? 3. 8:38 A friend, at age 12, signed his soul over (in a blood pact) to Satan, in an at-home ceremony. He was a kid, but he now feels that he cannot be saved. Please comment on this deal with the Devil. 4. 10:01 What are your thoughts on Proverbs 16:4? Does that passage suggest that God created (perhaps predestined) the unsaved for judgment or condemnation? 5. 13:40 You inspire me to study my Bible verse-by-verse, but I don't know where to start! I was wondering what study resources you use or would recommend for someone not familiar with the original languages. 6. 18:16 How should I speak to someone who is going to die because of cancer, while another Christian got her hopes up that her cancer wouldn't return, claiming that "God said" it wouldn't? And how should I speak about evil & suffering to her? 7. 22:31 You mentioned, in Part 2 of your Mark series, that John the Baptist was the one setting the way for the Lord (Yahweh). Why, then, did you use the word "Yahweh", when Logos displays the Hebrew word there as "kyrios"? 8. 24:32 Verses like Jeremiah 29: 11 are quoted a lot to us, and I get confused while trying to understand whether God was speaking only to a group of people back then specifically, or whether we can still apply those verses to us personally today. 9. 28:18 I go to a liberal Christian university, and the Bible teaching here is untrue. Scripture and the Gospel are undermined consistently. How do I properly address these issues in my Bible class? 10. 30:40 Why does Paul teach that we are saved by faith alone and not by works, but Jesus teaches that works (like obeying the commandments) are necessary to get into the Kingdom of God? 11. 32:06 How does Matthew 28: 18-20 apply to each individual Christian, and how does one make a disciple? Is it just evangelism and baptism of a lost person, or is it overseeing their growth? 12. 35:28 Could you please share your testimony, and the struggles you may have had as a new believer? 13. 36:57 It is said that Jacob fought against God in Scripture, but the text refers to a fight with an angel...Is God the Angel of the Lord? 14. 39:20 Can someone who commits suicide go to Heaven? I’ve heard it argued that if they were true believers who just happened to commit that act in a moment of weakness/confusion, they are still saved. Is that biblical? 15. 42:53 I don't understand the biblical idea of "the elect"...Does that mean some people cannot be saved, no matter what? 16. 44:06 My husband grew up Catholic, and his family keeps telling us we "aren't really married" because we were not married by the Catholic Church. How can we lovingly respond to them with biblical truth? 17. 46:31 What if someone gets an unbiblical divorce, but their ex-spouse is already remarried, making reconciliation impossible? Are they free to remarry? 18. 47:41 I have a question about 1 Timothy 2: 12-15...Due to the text, does this make co-ed bible studies unbiblical? what about women's ministry? 19. 50:50 How do I address a lack of plurality in leadership? We have one pastor who teaches every sermon & every class, and no elders. How do I bring up this issue with the church, when we're relying too much on one person? 20. 53:11 Why do we, as Christians, not keep the Sabbath, even though it is part of the moral law? It is written by the finger of God in stone, not just spoken to Moses like the Mosaic Law. Shouldn't we keep it? 21. 1:01:05 In 1 Samuel 28, Saul talks to Samuel and asks for his help. I think it's sinful to pray to the dead, but am I right in thinking this? Catholics pray to Mary and other saints, too. Is that biblical? My website https://BibleThinker.org Here’s how you get your questions answered. 1) Please reread your question before you ask to ensure that it will make sense to me. Clarity is paramount. 2) Wait till we go live before asking. We don’t take questions until then. 3) Put a “Q” at the beginning of your question. 4) Please only ask once, our mods are checking the chat continually. 5) I’m truly sorry if I’m unable to get to your question. I know its a bummer, but I am doing my best. 6) If you arrive late we may have already gathered 20 questions. Please check the live chat to see if we are full on Qs. Thanks!

Expand for time stamps. I'm almost done with all my videos on this topic and boy is my brain tired! Seriously though, this study has been very rewarding personally and the feedback I have received from many of you, saying that this teaching series has really impacted your lives in positive ways, has been the absolute highlight. 0:00 quick stuff 0:48 Was Jesus really just talking about Herod when he mentioned divorce? 7:47 Does the OT prove that remarriage after divorce was normally allowed? 11:44 Does Deuteronomy 24 teach that 2nd marriages are invalid? 16:57 Deut 24 forbids remarrying a former spouse. Is that binding on us today? This is the playlist with all my videos on the topic of divorce and remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j

Some times we have been so indoctrinated into unbiblical ideas about faith, healing and prayer that we don't notice when the Bible is trying to correct us. As we study this passage I'm going to try and point out specifically how Jesus is not giving us the hyper-charismatic or new age views on prayer, healing and faith. But there is a risk that in refuting these false ideas we will miss out on the wonderful things God is trying to communicate. The Bible isn't just telling us what NOT to believe but also what TO believe. So, we are going to embrace what it says about faith, healing and prayer... all of it. Unlike the new age and hyper-charismatic tendency to ignore context and distort things to fit their movement and the "vibe" they are trying to create in their communities. Are you interested in the supposed contradiction regarding the healing of the blind man? Here's what I've got on that https://youtu.be/OA-4eQN16n0?t=791 See the WHOLE Gospel of Mark playlist here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

I honestly think that most pastoral abuse would stop if we would take seriously Jesus' teaching in this passage. We sometimes miss the forest through the trees when it comes to studying verse by verse. So, I'm going to start this study with a survey of how the Gospel of Mark repeatedly is contrasting the true mission of the Messiah with the false expectations of the disciples and the Jews of Jesus' day (and modern day Judaism as well). Then we will see how big of a deal it is when Jesus tries to correct our thinking on the topic of servanthood as greatness and leadership as servants. Do you want to go through the whole book of Mark with me vs by vs, covering theology and apologetics in detail? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction and a bit about the American Gospel movie 1. 5:15 Did Old Testament saints believe in "faith + works" for salvation? 2. 11:34 How familiar are you with Steven Furtick and Elevation Church? Is it wrong of me to be wary of mainstream churches that seem to be too "seeker-friendly"? 3. 15:22 How do you respond to Richard Carrier's argument that Jesus was in outer space and the Apostles where schizophrenic or schizotypal? 4. 18:33 In Romans 5: 12-21, does our nature inherit the guilt of Adam's sin, or are we only guilty of our own sin? In Hebrews 2: 17 and 4: 15, did Christ's human nature inherit Adam's sin, or just desire sin like us? 5. 27:19 How do you interpret the Beatitudes at the beginning of Matthew 5? 6. 30:57 What are your thoughts on the 2 trees in the Garden of Eden representing both the law and the Gospel in Genesis 3 (The Tree of Knowledge representing the law, and the Tree of life representing Christ)? 7. 32:13 Does it say in the Old Testament that Jesus will baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire? 8. 34:06 How would you biblically define our fallen state, and how would this compare to the Calvinistic view of "Total Depravity" and "Total Inability"? What are the key passages to help us understand our fallen state? 9. 38:45 How can we know that we're saved, when the heart is deceitful, since it's not biblical to believe that speaking in tongues is the indication of whether or not someone is saved? 10. 41:30 How often do you fast, and do you allow yourself coffee while fasting? 11. 42:51 I know that it's better than anything in this present Earth, but what does it mean to be "least in the Kingdom of Heaven"? 12. 45:01 What's wrong with "The Shack"? 13. 46:43 The book of James tells us that God will never tempt us, but in the Lord's Prayer, Jesus teaches us to ask the Father not to lead us into temptation. Why is this? 14. 51:24 Why didn't Jesus stone the adulteress, if it was written in the law to stone those found in that sin? Quick rules for the Q&A 1) Please wait to ask questions until the stream starts 2) Before you submit your question please reread it to make sure it's clear and that I will be able to figure out what you are asking. Thanks! 3) Do not ask your question multiple times because it confuses our mods when they are compiling the questions 4) I apologize ahead of time for those who ask important questions which I won't have time to answer. There's only one of me.

Here are 5 historical arguments for and responses to 3 arguments against Jesus actually predicting His own death and resurrection along. After that apologetic section, which will take a big chunk of today's teaching, I'll share some theological and pastoral insights from this passage in Mark 10:32-34. Do you want to go through the whole book of Mark with me vs by vs, covering theology and apologetics in detail? https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My website https://BibleThinker.org If you like podcasts you can get this content in that form. Search for "BibleThinker" podcast or for my name, which is Mike, not Mark :)

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction and Announcements 1. 12:15 How do you go about doing a systematic theology on any given subject, such as soteriology? 2. 14:46 I was taught that Christians don't sin. 1 John 3:9 says, "Whoever has been born of God does not sin", and Romans is littered with talk of us being "free from sin". So why is this teaching wrong? 3. 22:55 What are your thoughts on "corporate responsibility" for pas sins, and "individual responsibility"? Can both be true? I see both in the Bible. 4. 25:24 Can you explain the Parable of the Talents? In Matthew 25: 14, what are our "talents", and why do the two servants get different rewards, when they both increased the amount by 100%? 5. 33:55 What does God say about men who abuse their wives emotionally, physically, etc.? 6. 35:49 What are the biblical definitions of sin, transgression, and iniquity? How can I be certain that the sins I've committed, while knowing they were wrong, are forgiven? 7. 38:49 What are your thoughts on the "new perspective on Paul"? 8. 41:43 Why did God put the tree of the knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden just to test Adam & Eve? 9. 44:38 What advice would you give to a woman who is interested in doing ministry in apologetics? How can women pursue this calling while being careful to stay within the parameters set in Scripture? 10. 46:03 If the punishment for sin is eternal suffering, how was it sufficient for Jesus to suffer temporarily? 11. 48:02 Is there any evidence for the biblical Exodus? If so, will you be making a video on this topic? 12. 49:42 How strongly do we need to believe that Jesus is Lord in order to be saved? I know the Bible talks about just having a mustard seed of faith. Some days, I have a lot of faith, and other days, I still have doubts. My website https://BibleThinker.org Here are the new BibleThinker mug designs and products from Zockoll Pottery. I don't receive any financial benefit from this, it's just for fun. 4 styles here - https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug 2 styles here - https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-tumbler-short-style BibleThinker magnets here - https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-magnets

Jesus' interaction with the rich, young ruler has been used by some to promote socialism and others have approached it looking for an explanation of justification like what we find in Romans. After spending some time on this passage and in the Gospel of Mark as a whole I think both of these approaches are wrong. This will be a careful, vs by vs study of Jesus' interaction with the rich man in Mark 10. We'll look at some controversy about this passage but our main concern will be to hear Jesus' radical call to come to Him for salvation, which is impossible for us to obtain without Him, and to come fully invested in His kingdom. What Jesus teaches through this encounter gives us not only an offer of salvation but a call to discipleship, where Jesus is not only a source of forgiveness, He is the very purpose of our live's and choosing Him means choosing His kingdom over our own or the kingdom of this age. It's that last part that I think people overlook when teaching on the rich man and I hope that this study helps you to understand it well. For all the videos in the Mark click here - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list...

This is a common and terrible tactic in trying to get away from an interpretation you don't like. I'm not surprised to see this come up in the comments section of my video but I am surprised to see respectful and thoughtful men like Gordon Wenham using this sort of nonsense in print. The objection goes as follows; "When you say that adultery is justification for divorce you actually encourage people to go out and commit adultery so they can have a justified divorce". Here's the playlist with all my divorce and remarriage content https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My web site https://BibleThinker.org

Teaching that all babies who die go to heaven immediately brings up a number of important theological questions. Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Introduction 1. 5:10 How do we determine when a person is accountable? 2. 11:52 What role does sin nature have? 3. 19:00 What role does Jesus have in their salvation? 4. 20:53 What about free will? 5. 43:53 Does this give people an excuse to commit abortion? All this and more in today's follow-up study looking at the theological implications of saying that babies or anyone who is similarly handicapped in mental capacities are saved. Do you want to go through the whole book of Mark with me? Here's the playlist where we go verse by verse and tackle issues of theology, apologetics and the Christian life! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My website https://BibleThinker.org New videos every week, helping you learn how to think biblically about everything.

Any correct interpretation of Jesus' teaching on divorce needs to account for the fact that the disciples were so shocked by Jesus that they said it was better to just stay single. In this video I try to explain how I account for the shock of the disciples with my view of Jesus' teaching on divorce and remarriage. Here's the playlist of all my videos on the topic of divorce and remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My web site https://BibleThinker.org

This is a heavy issue and while many people think the Bible doesn't give us much to go on, I disagree. In this study I am going to examine a number of passages people use when trying to explain what the eternal fate of those who die in infancy is. It starts with a survey of Bible passages which don't seem to help us answer our question and then a survey of passages which do. This is part of the "Mark Series" where I am going vs by vs through the Gospel of Mark, covering theology, apologetics and the Christian life. Here's the whole series playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My web site https://BibleThinker.org

Some tough situations have us asking whether a divorce can be justified for things not clearly mentioned in scripture. Not only do I give my best answer to the question of divorce for a spouse habitually draining the bank account, I hope that this answer will help you work through other tough questions like this one. I think the principles here apply very broadly. Here's my playlist with ALL my teaching on divorce and remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My web site https://BibleThinker.org

People in Jesus' time had a bad attitude about marriage, just like today. They seemed to think it was a person's right to divorce whenever they decided they wanted to, just like today. But Jesus corrected this by pointing them toward the nature of marriage and showing that marriage it a holy and wonderful union that God Himself has created. Jesus takes away their excuses and calls them to get back to the heart of marriage rather than seeking excuses to divorce. It was a message people desperately needed to hear at the time, just like today. Here's my big video on divorce and remarriage and everything the Bible says about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2pC6ZikbYo&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j&index=2 Here's the entire Mark playlist where we are working through the whole book of Mark verse by verse. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

I went down a rabbit hole of research to find out how some people have taken Jesus' teaching on divorce to mean the opposite of what it seems like He was saying. The issue is whether there is a special definition of "put away" as compared to "writ of divorce". On this peculiar view "put away" is taken to mean "send away a spouse without a divorce certificate", which means that if you are "put away" you are still married. On the other hand, "writ of divorce" (or certificate of divorce) is taken to refer to an actual divorce with a divorce paper. Here's why this view is wrong. Here is the playlist to all my videos on divorce and remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My web site https://BibleThinker.org

What did Jesus mean by "because of your hardness of hearts Moses permitted you to divorce your wives"? Does this mean you can get a divorce if your heart is hard? Does it mean you can get a divorce if your spouse has a hard heart? Does it mean that divorce was regulated with protections for human rights because people's hearts are so hard they are going to divorce anyways? Yeah, it's the third one. If you have a bunch more questions on divorce and remarriage then you should start with my big and thorough teaching on the topic, linked here. https://youtu.be/N2pC6ZikbYo Here is a playlist of all my videos on Marriage, Divorce and Remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My website: https://BibleThinker.org

It may seem peculiar but I think that this solves a riddle about why scripture speaks the way it does on the topic of divorce. Jesus acknowledged divorce but taught that it didn't always free you from your moral obligation to your prior spouse. Paul, in 1 Cor 7, taught that a divorced couple was really divorced but still obliged to get back together or stay unmarried. In my view, this view comes naturally from taking the Bible at face value on it's teaching on divorce and remarriage. If you want to understand better what ends your moral obligation to a prior spouse then please watch the BIG video (the 1st one in the playlist below) which also has time stamps to help you find exactly what you are looking for. For all my videos on the topic of Divorce and Remarriage check out this playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j My web site https://BibleThinker.org

If sex doesn't equal marriage then what does? We will take a look at a number of biblical passages to find the answer to this question. The bottom line is that sex does join you to a person in a very intimate way, but that this alone does not constitute a marriage. Marriage is more than sex and it takes more to be truly married than to just start sleeping with someone. Here's the playlist for all the videos (as they come out) on marriage, divorce and remarriage. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j

I try to graciously, honestly and without misrepresentation, deal with a number of important issues related to Catholicism; the Pope, purgatory, Mary, the authority claims of Roman Catholicism, historical challenges to official teachings of the RC church, theological problems with the gospel as it is taught in the official councils of Catholicism (especially Trent) and the Catechism of the Catholic Church. The truth is that I wish I could say the disagreements I have with official Roman Catholic teaching were merely secondary issues. But, despite incredible agreement on many primary issues such as the inspiration and authority of scripture, the Trinity and the death and resurrection of Jesus, there remains the fact that Roman Catholicism teaches errors that seem to compromise the very gospel itself. I really wish I could affirm that the gospel is still in tact in the council of Trent or the Catechism of the Catholic Church, but I am honestly convinced it's not. So, with a heavy heart I think we need to talk about it. While the biggest issue here is the gospel I will still deal with a number of other connected topics and hope you'll find it helpful. Lisa Laizure's ministry - https://womensbiblestudy.com/ The playlist for this "Contending for the Faith" conference, which includes a teaching on Jehovah's Witnesses and on Mormonism. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsR0GrnMlICl0I17pXiIrx6 My website https://biblethinker.org

1. 0:00 Intro and explanation 2. 1:56 In Jeremiah, God divorced Israel but didn’t marry someone else - he offered them restoration! Doesn’t this undermine your case for remarriage? 3. 6:08 If a person who illegitimately divorced their spouse is unmarried and repentant and if their former spouse has remarried, may that person marry someone else? 4. 9:04 If the punishment for adultery was death under the law then how can adultery be a cause for divorce? 5. 19:49 Is addiction to porn considered sexual immorality and therefore, grounds for divorce? 6. 22:54 Does the requirement for leaders to be the “husband of one wife” mean that a divorced man can’t be a pastor? 7. 44:20 What do you do when a spouse wants to separate but not divorce, leaving you in limbo? 8. 50:33 What about domestic abuse such as verbal/spiritual abuses? 9. 55:42 If a person becomes a Christian after an invalid divorce, and reconciliation is not an option (former spouse is remarried), is that person free to remarry? 10. 57:42 Mike, you’re saying marriage isn’t really for life. Two don’t become one-flesh? 11. 1:00:06 If adultery justifies divorce and the man who divorces his wife commits adultery then why is the innocent woman in Luke 16 vs. 18 not allowed to get remarried? 12. 1:06:28 What’s with the jar of gummy bears in the background? 13. 1:07:14 What about the mass divorce that God commanded in Ezra and Nehemiah? ‬‬‬‬‬‬‬................................ Conclusion of Pt. 1 ................................ The questions below will be answered in future videos on this channel. Subscribe and click the "bell" icon to get notifications when those short videos come out! ~ 14. When are two people considered “married” in God’s eyes? Is living and sleeping together enough? 15. What if a polygamist gives his life to Christ? Do they stay married to all their wives? 16. Can you please elaborate on what is meant by "still being morally obligated" after a divorce? 17. Can you explain what Jesus meant by “because of the hardness of your hearts” and comment on Roman Catholic annulment? 18. Some teach that the key to understanding the Bible is knowing the difference between “putting away” and “writ of divorce”. What’s up with that? 19. Is not one of the highest laws to forgive? Doesn’t Jesus say to forgive 70 times 7? If Jesus forgives Israel (see Romans 11), shouldn’t we, in our marriages, be forgiving all the time and never divorce? 20. What about a spouse who keeps draining the bank account and refuses to stop? 21. You have said adultery, abandonment, and abuse (lots of ways out of a marriage) are exceptions to divorce and remarry---why would the disciples be shocked in Matthew 19 if that's what Jesus truly meant? 22. If you can justify divorce with adultery then why not just go commit adultery to get out of a marriage as some people have? 23. Is it possible that Jesus was just talking about king Herod and we’ve misunderstood? 24. Since priests are forbidden from marrying a divorced woman does this mean it was allowed for everyone else under the O.T. Law? 25. Could Deut. 24 really be showing us that second marriages are invalid and adulterous, which is why she can’t go back to her first husband? 26. Given Deut. 24, should we also say today that remarrying an ex-spouse who you filed a certificate of divorce for is also not allowed? 27. Can I tell you whether to divorce or not? 28. Why I’m concerned about saying “abuse” justifies divorce. 29. Should ANY second marriage be broken up? 30. Have I changed my mind on my teaching? Here's the playlist on divorce and remarriage which has my LONG video on the topic https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHtBvJzugPJp9P5X1T-hA91j On a biblical view of "interracial marriage" https://youtu.be/HEJKLvacY2I My web site https://BibleThinker.org

Some say the Bible forbids interracial marriage. Here's WHY they say it and WHY they are wrong. I'm still in the middle of making a series of videos on marriage, divorce and remarriage and since this particular question didn't really fit well into one of those videos I thought I'd make a stand alone video on it. I actually did some research to find out what passages of scripture people used to try to support a ban on interracial marriage (also called anti-miscegenation) and I'm responding to those particular passages and talking points in this video. Here's my full and in-depth teaching on divorce and remarriage in the Bible. https://youtu.be/N2pC6ZikbYo This is my teaching on a biblical understanding of wive's submitting to their husbands https://youtu.be/H8PFVZgIQ2w This is my teaching on how to be a husband according to the Bible. https://youtu.be/65eMggo_xKQ Subscribe to get new videos every week and learn to think biblically about everything. Here's my web site https://BibleThinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 Intro and announcements. 5:55 A Christian view of racism. 14:06 Is it biblical to believe that physical healing is equal to salvation in the atonement? 18:07 What is your advice for a new believer encountering militant anti-theists? 21:14 Is creation in Genesis 1 to be taken literally, as in 6 24-hour days, and why? 24:37 What is food offered to idols? In Acts 15: 20 and Revelation 2: 20, is there a law we have to keep? Is Halal food offered to idols? 31:14 Once someone is born again, can they lose their salvation due to bad behavior? 33:43 What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? 36:25 How can a person be sanctified? 40:46 What is your advice for a new Christian who is having trouble getting into the routine of studying Scripture and praying? 44:11 Should new Christians avoid watching non-Christian movies? 47:20 Is there such a thing as a non-Trinitarian Christian? 48:25 How can I gently correct a friend who thinks we can "speak things into existence"? 49:43 Is my pastor my "spiritual father"? 51:05 Is speaking in tongues required? 54:17 Is it biblical to have to do baptism classes and pass a test before being baptized, instead of being baptized right away? 56:29 Please explain "original sin"...Is it inherited, or something we commit? Are children born corrupted? 58:27 How can I help my little brother get closer to the Lord, in addition to Bible study and teaching him what's right and wrong? 59:47 Are the soul and the spirit two different things, and if so, what is the difference? 1:00:24 What law is in our hearts? 1:02:29 What are the "essentials" of the Christian faith? 1:04:04 What should I do if I've realized that my own church is taking after Bethel's "word-of-faith" model? My website https://BibleThinker.org Get your own BibleThinker mug here! https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

VIDEO MAP/TIME STAMPS 0:00 Intro to topic #1 10:07 What you need to know about the Jewish backdrop of Jesus’ teaching on divorce. #2 25:53 Why you should be open to exceptions to Jesus’ rule about not divorcing. #3 37:15 What all four Gospels have in common on this topic. #4 39:00 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Mark 10. #5 46:54 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Luke 16. #6 48:42 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 5. #7 50:16 I’ve been taught that marriage is literally unbreakable; that it is ontologically impossible to end unless your spouse dies. What about that? #8 54:26 What did Jesus mean by “sexual immorality”. #9 1:11:00 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 19. #10 1:21:22 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Romans 7. #11 1:28:17 Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 10-16. #12 1:37:54 Does “not enslaved” allow remarriage after divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 15? #13 1:51:19 When can a Christian spouse be treated like a non-Christian? #14 2:00:49 What about abuse or extreme situations? #15 2:08:25 If you divorce for abuse or extreme situations can you get remarried? #16 2:10:51 Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 17-40. #17 2:19:05 Who are we to disagree with the church fathers? #18 2:31:46 God said, “I hate divorce”, doesn’t that mean you can’t get divorced? #19 2:33:53 What about those who will abuse the exceptions and wrongly divorce? #20 2:36:28 What about alcoholism, gambling, drug use, etc.? #21 2:37:29 What about a marriage that was entered sinfully? Should it be broken up? #22 2:44:05 What about David Instone-Brewer? #23 2:57:06 Should a pastor marry someone who is wrongly divorced? #24 2:58:53 Summary of all 16 biblical principles. #25 3:02:45 What are bad reasons for getting a divorce? #26 3:03:16 Final thoughts. RESOURCE LIST My teaching for husbands. https://youtu.be/65eMggo_xKQ My teaching for wives. https://youtu.be/H8PFVZgIQ2w Know that I don’t endorse these different works. They are resources showing a wide variety of interpretations from the most strict to relatively lenient. If you want to go deep on this topic then I recommend reading several authors, especially those you disagree with. ARTICLES: John Piper, “Divorce and Remarriage: A Position Paper” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/divorce-and-remarriage-a-position-paper Raymond Westbrook, “The Prohibition on Restoration of Marriage in Deuteronomy 24:1-4” https://www.wisereaction.org/ebooks/westbrook.pdf this is where he gives his case for the first marriage involving a man keeping the ketubah and the second marriage involving the woman getting it. Wayne Grudem, “Grounds for Divorce: Why I Believe There Are More Than Two” (the infamous paper delivered at last year’s ETS) http://www.waynegrudem.com/grounds-for-divorce-why-i-now-believe-there-are-more-than-two/ David Instone-Brewer’s article on ancient marriage and divorce papyri. http://www.tyndalearchive.com/Brewer/MarriagePapyri/1Cor_7a.htm The Damascus Document https://www.academia.edu/28913750/The_Damascus_Document_CD_2005_ Carol Osburn article refuting David Pawson’s view that the Greek shows second marriages are continual adultery. “The Present Indicative in Matthew 19:9” https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1029&context=restorationquarterly BOOKS: David Pawson - “Remarriage is Adultery Unless…” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00564TNV2/ Gordon Wenham, “Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage: In Their Historical Setting” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083ZN5ZQ3/ Wenham, Heth & Keener, “Remarriage after Divorce in Today’s Church: 3 Views” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050O6P1O/ David Instone-Brewer, “Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q3L4VY/ See reviews of Instone-Brewer’s work here (Gagnon’s negative review and I-B’s response are particularly interesting) https://www.divorce-remarriage.com/ Craig Keener, “…And Marries Another: Divorce and Remarriage in the Teaching of the New Testament” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801046742/ Jay E. Adams, “Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible” probably the single book I’d recommend if you were only going to read one book and wanted extended advice for pastoral ministry along with simple but thoughtful treatment of the Bible passages in question. https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Divorce-Remarriage-Bible-Adams/dp/0310511119 D.A. Carson’s commentary on Matthew https://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Expositors-Bible-Commentary-Carson-ebook/dp/B01N2BKWIG There are a number of commentaries and quite a few other scholarly articles I used in my prep that I’m not including here. But if you pay attention to the footnotes in these sources I’m sure you will have more than enough content to look into.

VIDEO MAP/TIME STAMPS 0:00 Intro to topic #1 10:07 What you need to know about the Jewish backdrop of Jesus’ teaching on divorce. #2 25:53 Why you should be open to exceptions to Jesus’ rule about not divorcing. #3 37:15 What all four Gospels have in common on this topic. #4 39:00 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Mark 10. #5 46:54 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Luke 16. #6 48:42 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 5. #7 50:16 I’ve been taught that marriage is literally unbreakable; that it is ontologically impossible to end unless your spouse dies. What about that? #8 54:26 What did Jesus mean by “sexual immorality”. #9 1:11:00 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Matthew 19. #10 1:21:22 Jesus’ teaching on divorce in Romans 7. #11 1:28:17 Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 10-16. #12 1:37:54 Does “not enslaved” allow remarriage after divorce in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 15? #13 1:51:19 When can a Christian spouse be treated like a non-Christian? #14 2:00:49 What about abuse or extreme situations? #15 2:08:25 If you divorce for abuse or extreme situations can you get remarried? #16 2:10:51 Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 7 vs. 17-40. #17 2:19:05 Who are we to disagree with the church fathers? #18 2:31:46 God said, “I hate divorce”, doesn’t that mean you can’t get divorced? #19 2:33:53 What about those who will abuse the exceptions and wrongly divorce? #20 2:36:28 What about alcoholism, gambling, drug use, etc.? #21 2:37:29 What about a marriage that was entered sinfully? Should it be broken up? #22 2:44:05 What about David Instone-Brewer? #23 2:57:06 Should a pastor marry someone who is wrongly divorced? #24 2:58:53 Summary of all 16 biblical principles. #25 3:02:45 What are bad reasons for getting a divorce? #26 3:03:16 Final thoughts. RESOURCE LIST My teaching for husbands. https://youtu.be/65eMggo_xKQ My teaching for wives. https://youtu.be/H8PFVZgIQ2w Know that I don’t endorse these different works. They are resources showing a wide variety of interpretations from the most strict to relatively lenient. If you want to go deep on this topic then I recommend reading several authors, especially those you disagree with. ARTICLES: John Piper, “Divorce and Remarriage: A Position Paper” https://www.desiringgod.org/articles/divorce-and-remarriage-a-position-paper Raymond Westbrook, “The Prohibition on Restoration of Marriage in Deuteronomy 24:1-4” https://www.wisereaction.org/ebooks/westbrook.pdf this is where he gives his case for the first marriage involving a man keeping the ketubah and the second marriage involving the woman getting it. Wayne Grudem, “Grounds for Divorce: Why I Believe There Are More Than Two” (the infamous paper delivered at last year’s ETS) http://www.waynegrudem.com/grounds-for-divorce-why-i-now-believe-there-are-more-than-two/ David Instone-Brewer’s article on ancient marriage and divorce papyri. http://www.tyndalearchive.com/Brewer/MarriagePapyri/1Cor_7a.htm The Damascus Document https://www.academia.edu/28913750/The_Damascus_Document_CD_2005_ Carol Osburn article refuting David Pawson’s view that the Greek shows second marriages are continual adultery. “The Present Indicative in Matthew 19:9” https://digitalcommons.acu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1029&context=restorationquarterly BOOKS: David Pawson - “Remarriage is Adultery Unless…” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00564TNV2/ Gordon Wenham, “Jesus, Divorce, and Remarriage: In Their Historical Setting” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B083ZN5ZQ3/ Wenham, Heth & Keener, “Remarriage after Divorce in Today’s Church: 3 Views” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0050O6P1O/ David Instone-Brewer, “Divorce and Remarriage in the Bible: The Social and Literary Context” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001Q3L4VY/ See reviews of Instone-Brewer’s work here (Gagnon’s negative review and I-B’s response are particularly interesting) https://www.divorce-remarriage.com/ Craig Keener, “…And Marries Another: Divorce and Remarriage in the Teaching of the New Testament” https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0801046742/ Jay E. Adams, “Marriage, Divorce, and Remarriage in the Bible” probably the single book I’d recommend if you were only going to read one book and wanted extended advice for pastoral ministry along with simple but thoughtful treatment of the Bible passages in question. https://www.amazon.com/Marriage-Divorce-Remarriage-Bible-Adams/dp/0310511119 D.A. Carson’s commentary on Matthew https://www.amazon.com/Matthew-Expositors-Bible-Commentary-Carson-ebook/dp/B01N2BKWIG There are a number of commentaries and quite a few other scholarly articles I used in my prep that I’m not including here. But if you pay attention to the footnotes in these sources I’m sure you will have more than enough content to look into.

Want to skip right to the meat? 7:52 Thank you to Lisa Laizure and Women's Bible Study ministry for inviting me to do this and letting me upload it on to my YouTube channel! Here's a link to their web site https://womensbiblestudy.com/ and if you are reading this before June 25th you still have time to sign up for free and join us for the live web conference on Catholicism. This video is about Mormonism and it is done with a heart of love for them and a desire for them to know the true peace that comes through the true Jesus. I've got two more videos that will be in this series eventually. One on Jehovah's Witnesses and one on Catholicism. Here is the link for the playlist of all these "Contending for the Faith Conference" videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsR0GrnMlICl0I17pXiIrx6 The final video on Catholicism will be uploaded in late June. My website https://BibleThinker.org

Thank you to Lisa Laizure and Women's Bible Study ministry for letting me upload this on to my YouTube channel! Here's a link to their web site https://womensbiblestudy.com/ and if you are reading this before June 25th you still have time to sign up for free and join us for the live web conference on Catholicism. This video is about Jehovah's Witnesses and it is done with a heart of love for them and a desire for them to know the true peace that comes through the true Jesus. Here is the link for the playlist of all these "Contending for the Faith Conference" videos https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsR0GrnMlICl0I17pXiIrx6 The final video on Catholicism will be uploaded in late June. My website https://BibleThinker.org

Her book says that persecution of early Christians wasn't really a thing. This is actually a very important issue when it comes to the evidence for the resurrection of Christ. If the apostles experienced persecution then we have reason to think that they were sincere in their claims that Jesus had risen from the dead. In this video you'll hear several of Dr. Candida Moss' reasons for thinking their is a "Myth of Persecution" and you'll get thoughtful responses from Dr. Sean McDowell who has specialized in researching and writing on this topic. You'll get a balanced and thoughtful view of this topic today. Dr. Sean McDowell on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/user/Seanmcdowell76 Dr. Sean McDowell's book "The Fate of the Apostles:Examining the Martyrdom Accounts of the Closest Followers of Jesus" https://www.amazon.com/Fate-Apostles-Examining-Martyrdom-Followers-ebook/dp/B01CR69L18/ Dr. Candida Moss's book "The Myth of Persecution" https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Persecution-Christians-Invented-Martyrdom-ebook/dp/B0089LOOF4/ My website https://BibleThinker.org

*Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:* ~ 1. 15:02 What is your view on the death penalty? Is "capital punishment" still valid today? ~ 2. 20:29 How many times was Jesus anointed during the week of the 3rd Passover? There seems to be a difference with the anointing at Bethany, when comparing the Synoptic Gospels with John's Gospel. ~ 3. 21:03 Looking at Colossians 3: 25 and 2 Corinthians 5: 10, will saved Christians who endure to the end be punished on judgment day? ~ 4. 28:35 As a young Christian, how do I deal with worrying about death? ~ 5. 31:12 Have you watched David Pawson on the subject of marriage and divorce? ~ 6. 31:43 How would you handle a conversation with someone who believes to hear directly from God, but is saying unbiblical things, and won't listen to biblical correction? ~ 7. 33:35 Can you do a "new-believer Q&A" again soon? ~ 8. 33:52 Do you disregard self-professing prophets/prophetesses if they give one prophecy which doesn't come to pass, like in O.T. times? Or is it different now? Also, are unfaithful prophets of the O.T. the same as "new-agers" now? ~ 9. 38:10 What are some good books or resources to use for historical, cultural, and social contexts when studying the Bible? ~ 10. 39:13 Do you think there are gaps in the genealogies in Genesis 5 and Genesis 11? ~ 11. 42:34 If a recently elected pastor's unwed and under-aged daughter is pregnant and he hid it prior to his election, how should this be addressed? ~ 12. 43:49 What are your thoughts on "Dominion Theology"? ~ 13. 44:36 Is the staff and rod in Psalm 23 a sign pointing to the cross? ~ 14. 46:08 What is your advice on getting a breakthrough from God, when dealing with habitual sin? ~ 15. 48:18 When using hermeneutics for interpreting texts, is the literal historical grammatical hermeneutic the preferred option? Or was the Canonical Principle used by the early church fathers? I've got a few things going on that I'd like to update you on. The first is a project where I'm working with a number of highly respected biblical scholars to provide scholarly reviews of The Passion Translation which will be understandable to the lay person. The second is a quick update on my study on marriage, divorce and remarriage. After that I will take some questions from the live chat. My web site https://biblethinker.org

We will go through 24 different ways in which Jesus fulfilled the Jewish Feast of Passover. Passover was given by God in the Old Testament and fulfilled by Jesus in the New. I hope this teaching stirs your heart with appreciation for the brilliance of the Bible as well as the incredible, loving self-sacrifice of Christ for our sins. He is our Passover and we are forgiven because of His offering. The full Jesus in the Old Testament Playlist (this is my absolute favorite series) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO My web site - https://BibleThinker.org Check out the FREE BibleThinker app in your app store.

***Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference*** ~1. 8:05 Since 1 Timothy 2: 12 is still applicable today, what does that mean for 1 Timothy 2: 15 and 1 Corinthians 11:6? What would the modern application be? Also, are you still selling BibleThinker mugs? ~2. 12:31 What did Jesus mean in Matthew 27: 46 when He says, "Why have You forsaken Me"? ~3. 23:55 What would be your advice to a husband whose wife has not been intimate with him for over 10 years, if she refuses counseling? ~4. 25:59 What is your view on the letters to the churches in Revelation being prophesy? ~5. 28:37 What are your thoughts about Christians marrying people outside of the Church, and sex before marriage? ~6. 33:23 How do we distinguish between feeling guilt vs. feeling shame after we sin? ~7. 35:12 When Jesus became incarnate, did He temporarily cease to be omniscient while on Earth, and then become omniscient/omnipresent once again after His resurrection/ascension? ~8. 38:31 What are your thoughts on the opinion that we only have to forgive someone if they repent? Should we forgive someone even if they don't repent? ~9. 40:13 How does God respond to the prayers of/for an unbeliever? ~10. 42:37 Can you please research the doctrines of the Mosaic Church (a popular church in L.A.) and their teaching? ~11. 43:11 Since, as Christians, our sin is paid for, why do some people believe you can lose your salvation? Can the "payment" for our sins become "unpaid"? ~12. 44:52 How would you describe the sovereignty of God to a new believer, or someone who doesn't fully understand that concept? ~13. 48:02 What is God's will? ~14. 49:42 Is church attendance biblically required? Are you a member of your church? ~15. 52:41 How do we know that the Gospels were written by the authors Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? ~16. 56:01 Have you ever had a former LDS member say that only the FLDS members believe in things like "God was once a man and became God" or "All good Mormons can become a god one day"? ~17. 58:13 Please expound the biblical practice of worship described in Romans 12:1. How do we yield our bodies to God? ~18. 1:00:51 What are your thoughts on Judges 19? Why isn't the story of the Levite and the concubine commonly mentioned in sermons? Do you think the sin in this chapter is adultery, or idolatry? ~19. 1:05:29 Many of the faith's forefathers in the Old Testament had multiple wives. Was this wrong at the time, or is this something that was o.k. then, but not o.k. now? I want everything I do to be FREE and with NO obligation for you to give money. It's my delight to do it this way! If you do choose to support this ministry you can do so at my web site. https://BibleThinker.org

Talking to your kids about Jesus is a powerful resource for giving your kids the theological and apologetics training that they probably won't get from church. I'm joined today by Natasha Crain, who has spent years helping parents do a good job training their kids to be able to have a confident and well-informed faith. She has three books that all follow the format of unpacking important questions about God, Jesus and Christianity with the help of short chapters that answer those questions quickly and thoughtfully. My favorite part of her books is the conversation guides which help parents to talk to their kids about those questions in a healthy, educational and interactive way. Her blog and resources can be found here. https://natashacrain.com The book is "Talking to Your Kids about Jesus", I HIGHLY recommend it and it's available here. https://www.amazon.com/Talking-Your-Kids-about-Jesus-ebook/dp/B07VLC3MQY/ My web site is here. https://biblethinker.org

There is a big step between knowing Jesus rose from the dead and actually being saved by Jesus. This video is meant for those who want to understand, in really practical ways, how to be forgiven of sin and obtain eternal life. I'm going to do my best to explain the gospel message in a way that is accessible to those who haven't spent a lot of time in church but also in a way that gives you an awareness of the grandeur of what God has done for us through Christ. The gospel in about 1 minute https://youtu.be/V9fW6ud0qiU Do you want to know the Bible better? Here are some videos that can get you started with the Bible and take you really deep in understanding it better. I suggest you watch this first. "The Bible for Beginners" is a teaching where you will get an overview of the Bible which will equip you to understand what you are reading much more easily. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJG-AjxNiF8 The book of Romans is a really good thing to study for new believers. Here is a verse by verse Bible study series through the whole book. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRwWLeKhViQ&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvQ9G4NCvuiN4Evbp13uQa1 As I type this I am in an ongoing study through the Gospel of Mark. Here is the playlist where I will upload regular videos until the whole series is done. Join me! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7jWg60N_0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My web site - https://Biblethinker.org

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: ~~~1:13 Pastor Mike's thoughts on the book "Like Clay Under the Seal" by Pastor Dean Odle (who teaches that the Bible supports a "flat Earth" perspective)~~~ 1. 12:14 What does the Bible say about taking communion at home? Can we do it, and if so, how? What do we need to be aware of? 2. 14:43 In 1 Corinthians 15: 2, what does Paul mean when he says, "...unless you believed in vain"? 3. 17:48 Since you say that Ephesians 2: 8 does not teach that faith is the "gift of God", does it originate with us then? How does that square with 1 Corinthians 2: 14, since the "natural man" cannot receive the things of the Spirit of God? 4. 25:36 To what extent is Satan involved in the sins of mankind? Some believe that he has little to do with the current sins of man, but others believe he is at the heart of every temptation. 5. 28:47 In your opinion, who is the "he" referring to, in 2 Thessalonians 2: 7? Do you think this verse pertains to the rapture? 6. 32:48 What do you believe about "Mystery Babylon"? 7. 34:21 What are some practical things I can do to help further God's Kingdom through apologetics? 8. 37:13 What would you say to an atheist who agrees with Christian values but can't get around the idea of the existence of a "higher being"? 9. 39:20 What do I say to someone who says they can't believe that the Bible is the Word of God because it's "been tampered with" by many people? 10. 41:07 Can you please do a study on 1 John? 1 John makes it seem like we have to be perfect (literally), which seems works-based. 11. 45:16 What does 1 John 5: 16 mean? What are some responses to "future judgment" verses and verses about future temple sacrifice being used to get believers to observe the Torah? 12. 47:37 Question about divorce & an announcement about upcoming content 13. 48:43 Is baptism required for salvation? 14. 50:20 My current church is unsteady and I've found a new church that I love. How can I leave my current church in a loving manner without causing hurt? 15. 51:53 Sometimes I feel intimidated by the Catholic Church's claim of authority and the claim that non-Catholics are damned. Do you recommend any verses for me, and may I have your advice? 16. 55:04 How do I explain to a 17 year old that we have "free will" when God knows the outcome? If God knows what I'm going to do, did I really have the choice to do it? 17. 56:34 Is it a good analogy to think of the Trinity like the "body, soul, and spirit" that we have? 18. 57:56 What are we to make of the name Jehovah? My web site is https://Biblethinker.org My original flat earth video showing that the Bible does not teach the earth is flat. https://youtu.be/qePiXK_8Agc My long debate with my friend Dean Meadows on baptism and whether or not it saves https://youtu.be/x2TfBVNuuY8

The next live stream is planned for Tuesday at 5pm PST. Hope to see you there! Some people have sadly misunderstood the words of Jesus here and cut off parts of their bodies as a way of avoiding sin. Not only does this fail to keep you from sinning, it isn't what Jesus wants. Today I'll be teaching on what Jesus meant by "cut off your hand", "cut off your foot" and "gouge out your eye". His words, when understood rightly, are still extreme, they just aren't about causing physical harm. Another HUGE issue in this passage is Jesus trying to wake us up as to the eternal consequences of choosing sin over God. May we be woken up and may we follow his commands to be salt in this world. Here's the whole Gospel of Mark playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF

Tech issues with a planned interview resulted in an impromptu live Q&A. Video on the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit https://youtu.be/KmCHX8-2Smo Here's a link where you can support my ministry. You are under NO obligation to support what I do, I'm perfectly happy and thankful to God to be able to give this content out for free. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Dispelling popular myths about Mary Magdalene and giving you an actual survey into the historical data about her. The stuff you see about Mary Magdalene in movies, plays and even in news articles is so bad it hurts my brain. And after this, it may hurt your brain too. If you want the lowdown on the "true Jesus", the "authentic Jesus", the "real Jesus" then you're going to have to face the fact that our best information about Jesus is found in the documents of the New Testament. The "itch" that many people have to find a Jesus different than that which we read about in the Bible has lead them to embrace a lot of weird, unsubstantiated and just plain dumb ideas. My guest is Wesley Huff and you can find his teaching on how we got the canon of the New Testament here (link to be added later) Wes' web site is here https://www.wesleyhuff.com/ My ministry is supported by donations and if you want to help enable me to continue please click the following link. But, I have a concern right now due to the economic hardships caused by coronavirus. If you are making hard choices between which ministries to continue to support, I ask that you stop supporting me for the time being and continue to support those which are under threat of closing. If my own budget starts to get dangerously tight then I will let you know. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

For the first time I'm going to be streaming my Sunday evening Bible study from home. Jesus' teaching in this passage, Mark 9:33-42, is meant to stop abuses in leadership, unnecessary division and competitive self-seeking in Christians. These issues are so relevant to us today that we need to take Jesus' words to heart. It may require that we change some things about ourselves or our ministries. Subscribe and make sure to click the bell icon if you want notifications when I go live. Keep your eyes on Jesus. This is part 32 in the ongoing series through the Gospel of Mark. You can catch the whole series here (and perhaps now is a good time to start a series!) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to support this ministry please click here. But, if you are deciding between helping my ministry and another one which may be at great financial risk during this crisis I ask that you support the other ministry as I am not currently at risk of shutting down like they might be. Thank you. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I will be joined by Dr. Michael Brown has spent a large part of his life finding evidence that Jesus is the Messiah and he is one of my favorite go-to sources for answering objections to Jesus as the Messiah. In this interview we will cover not only a number of scriptures that show Jesus is the Messiah but we will answer objections from skeptics and Jewish anti-missionaries like Tovia Singer. Dr. Brown's YouTube channel is here (and it has tons of content) https://www.youtube.com/user/AskDrBrownVideos Dr. Brown's twitter profile - https://twitter.com/DrMichaelLBrown My twitter profile - https://twitter.com/MikeWingerii March apologetics tournament on Twitter https://twitter.com/AApologetics Your votes will help increase the reach of the ministries you vote for If you want to help me continue to make free online content click here. But I sincerely want you to know that this ministry is meant to be free to you. We only need a small number of supporters for us to keep doing what we are doing so enjoy the content with no obligation! https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I'll give you the summary in the first minute of this video and you can get the full download if you stick around for the whole talk. I'ts a lot of interesting stuff and some fun with weird comments on Twitter. We will show exactly what was forged, what it means for Christianity, what it means for the Museum of the Bible, and what it means for the Dead Sea Scrolls as a whole. I think it's important to realize that news outlets, in an effort to get more views on their articles, have given people a false impression about this discovery. Wesley Huff has his own web site here https://www.wesleyhuff.com/ More resources if you're interested in knowing more about the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lay-Level Christian Beginnings and the Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.amazon.com/Christian-Beginnings-Scrolls-Studies-Theology/dp/080102837X/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Christian+beginnings+and+the+dead+sea+scrolls&qid=1584370753&s=books&sr=1-1 Intermediate: The Bible and the Dead Sea Scrolls (3 vol.) https://www.amazon.com/Bible-Dead-Sea-Scrolls-set/dp/1932792341 Advanced: The Encyclopedia of the Dead Sea Scrolls https://www.amazon.com/Encyclopedia-Dead-Sea-Scrolls-set/dp/0195084500/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+encyclopedia+of+the+dead+sea+scrolls&qid=1584370840&s=books&sr=1-1���DSS Translations�The Dead Sea Scrolls Study Edition Vol. 1 https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Scrolls-Study-vol-1Q1-4Q273/dp/0802877524/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=The+dead+sea+scrolls+study+edition&qid=1584370923&s=books&sr=1-1 Vol. 2 https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Scrolls-Study-vol-4Q273-11Q31/dp/0802877532/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=The+dead+sea+scrolls+study+edition&qid=1584371001&s=books&sr=1-2 The Dead Sea Scrolls: A New Translation https://www.amazon.com/Dead-Sea-Scrolls-New-Translation/dp/006076662X/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=The+dead+sea+scrolls+study+edition&qid=1584371016&s=books&sr=1-3

Question Timestamps for Quick Reference: 1. 1:36 How do you reconcile Luke 9: 50 and Luke 11: 23? How do we understand them in their proper context, and how can we apply them in our lives today? 2. 5:15 Regarding your recent "flat Earth" video, what does the Bible say about other planets and their purpose for being created? 3. 8:08 Is it possible that Christians made up martyrs' claims to make their claims about Christianity hold more value and truth to the people in later centuries? 4. 11:55 What is the biblical way to proceed when a member of your church shares a clearly "new age" message, believing it to be a "call to prayer"? 5. 14:20 How do I fire people at work and still show grace and be a godly leader? 6. 15:48 Have you had the opportunity yet to study deeper about whether or not we can lose our salvation? 7. 17:08 Matthew 6: 25-34 talks about not worrying, and that God knows what we need and will provide. But how can that be true when there are Christians who suffer without "the essentials"? 8. 24:10 Why circumcision? Of all things, why did God choose that as the sign of the covenant? What is the history/meaning behind it? 9. 26:12 Can you please teach on remarriage after a divorce of 2 Christians? Is it sinful for one spouse to remarry if the other person is not willing to reconcile? 10. 26:58 How would you suggest I help other believers understand that Christians are not immune to the troubles of daily life in a way that will not cause them to be fearful/anxious? 11. 29:39 I have an unbelieving sister & niece in homosexual relationships. We have a good/loving relationship with them, but have not allowed their partners into our home. Should we reconsider this approach? 12. 30:53 What would you say to someone who is trying to compare mythology to Christianity? 13. 33:08 I was recently asked, "How can I trust your (or any other person's) interpretation of a Bible verse?" and "If the Holy Spirit is helping both you and I interpret, then why might we disagree?" Thoughts? 14. 36:04 Is the rapture "pre-tribulation", "post-tribulation", or "pre-wrath", and where does the Bible say? 15. 39:38 Do you think Jeremiah 17: 13 is a prophecy of John 8: 1-11? 16. 41:50 I would like to serve the body by making videos, but I'm afraid my sin is too great to be any sort of teacher. Should I deal with my sin first, or am I still able to be a teacher in spite of it? 17. 43:48 What does it mean to "boast in the Lord", and how should we do it? 18. 44:37 Did Jesus cause or permit drunkenness by providing more wine to (assumably) drunk guests? What is drunkenness? 19. 48:19 Do you have any advice for starting a Christian YouTube channel? 20. 49:18 What is your view on Christians writing fiction and fantasy books? 21. 50:13 In Genesis 4: 13-17, how was Cain afraid of someone finding and killing him, and how did he get a wife if he, Adam, and Eve were the only people on Earth at this point? 22. 53:38 If we are all happy in Heaven/Paradise, will we not be sad/mourning for those in Hell/Sheol? 23. 57:20 Is there hope for Christians struggling with continuous sin like pornography? Or is repentance/struggling through it sufficient? 24. 58:03 Who is the word "Lord" referring to in 2 Corinthians 3: 17? Is it implying that Jesus is the Holy Spirit? 25. 1:00:56 In the Genesis 6 reference to the "sons of God", who is that referring to? 26. 1:02:34 How do I know if I have blasphemed the Holy Spirit? 27. 1:03:04 Question about Mark/Olivet Discourse 28. 1:03:33 Can a Christian read Greek philosophers like Plato and Aristotle? 29. 1:04:44 Is there good evidence for the Exodus? 30. 1:05:31 How would you answer a Christian who claims (using 1 Jn. 2: 1) that believers don't have a "sinful flesh" after being born again, ignoring other verses? 31. 1:07:12 How is annihilationism not the obvious teaching of Scripture, when eternal life is dependent upon salvation and substitutionary atonement requires that the proper punishment be served? 32. 1:09:08 Does every sin you've committed have to be confessed, or does faith in Jesus cover all past and future sins? 33. 1:09:57 Can you explain a biblical argument for or against infant baptism? 34. 1:11:17 Do you think the Sabbath was a picture of the Gospel (resting from works, Hebrews 4)? 35. 1:12:02 Is the Apologeticon event still happening? What happens if I already bought a ticket? 36. 1:12:40 Should we do baptisms for the dead? 37. 1:12:55 What are your thoughts about those who argue that Paul was actually a false apostle? (Specifically, the "Jesus Words Only" group, and the claim that John was talking of Paul in Revelation 2: 2) If you love this ministry and want to help support my work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Should churches close? Should I change my lifestyle? How does faith impact a choice to put myself or others at risk? How do I respond if government overreaches? I don't pretend to have answers to all my own questions about coronavirus or pandemics but I think we have a lot of scripture that does give us some relevant guidance. If we will remember biblical wisdom we'll be in a much better place to make good choices. ANNOUNCEMENT - I'm going to try to do more videos while so many people are "social distancing" so make sure to subscribe AND click the bell if you want to know when I'm going live or uploading something new. That bell icon is the only way you can know you'll get a notification. If you love this ministry and want to help me continue to make free content please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

At first it seems like this story is dropped awkwardly into Mark 9 with no apparent reason. But studying the passage more carefully shows that it may well be a deliberate act on the part of God to illustrate the need for faith in the death and resurrection of Jesus. This poor boy, afflicted by a demon for years, seems to be a representation of Jesus on the cross and how challenging it would be for the disciples to trust in a Messiah who would die. This passage also has something that is hugely important to me personally; the father of the child crying out, “I believe, help my unbelief!” The fact that Jesus received the conflicted faith of this man shows me that He receives us when our faith is equally conflicted. Thank God for His patience. This is part 31 in the ongoing Mark series, here’s the whole thing! https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to help me keep making free content, please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Here's how this video is going to be different than what some people would expect. 1- If you are a flat-earther you are welcome here. I'm not here to mock anyone. I respect people on both sides of the issue. 2- I'm not going to get side-tracked on questions about geocentricity, the firmament, or ANE views outside the Bible. I'm just focusing on the flat earth question. 3- I'm going to methodically handle the proof-texts used by flat earth proponents to support their views. I only want to ask "do these verses support a conclusion that the Bible teaches a flat earth?" 4- I'm not interested, in this teaching, about what "science says" or questions of conspiracies. I'm only asking about the Bible. The simple method here is to have a sober look at the passages used to support a flat earth theory and show what they are really saying, in context. This video is meant to be a helpful resource for those who sincerely want to ask whether or not the Bible, on it's own, is teaching a flat earth. Links you may be interested in. The full Dean Odle video I played clips of (really bad exegesis) https://youtu.be/hIMIAdyWEIg Strong's concordance for "platus" https://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/greek/kjv/platus.html Want a BibleThinker mug? https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug Thanks to supporters I can study all day and make completely free videos teaching theology and apologetics. If you want to support this work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

We can easily read through this passage without having a clue as to how much deep and thoughtful material it contains. We learn stuff about the relationship between Jesus, Moses and Elijah, the difference between the first and second coming, why Peter wanted to build tabernacles for them, how Jesus' glory shows He is greater than Moses and much more. On a personal note, I have been thoroughly enjoying this methodical study through the Gospel of Mark and I'm grateful that you can join me as we mine the depths of scripture for it's treasures! Here's the whole Mark series playlist covering both theology and apologetics in Mark. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to help support my continued creation of free content helping people learn to think biblically about everything, click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Here are all the questions and time stamps to them. Thanks to Sarah Zimmerman for providing them! 1. 2:48 Do you think the flood in Genesis was local or global? Do you think it matters a great deal either way/affects the intention/theology of the event? 2. 6:41 Have you ever heard of John G. Lake Ministries, or Curry Blake? If yes, what are your thoughts on their theology? If no, can I pay you to research them? 3. 7:35 Can you explain the reason Jesus cursed the fig tree in Mark 11? 4. 11:27 What does it mean to be “born of water” in John 3: 5? 5. 15:13 Is Romans 1: 20 a good verse to help refute the doctrine of “Total Depravity”? 6. 16:59 How do you love God more? 7. 18:28 I feel the Enemy attacking me as if he’s trying to make me fall. Please help me. What can I do, or what verses should I read? 8. 20:22 How should we reconcile the baptism verses in the book of Acts (Acts 2: 38, 19: 5-6, 10: 48, 8: 16) with Matthew 28: 19? 9. 27:29 Why can’t we be forgiven after death if God’s mercy is forever? 10. 28:24 Do you believe we can lose our salvation? 11. 29:22 Why did God permit the serpent to deceive Adam and Eve? 12. 31:21 I’m starting Bible college in August. Any advice for me? 13. 32:00 Why do we translate Yeshua into Jesus and not Joshua? 14. 33:19 Do women need to wear head coverings when praying or prophesying? 15. 33:35 In 1 Corinthians 3: 15, it seems to mention that even “carnal Christians” can be saved. Does this mean Heaven will have some form of hierarchy among Christians? 16. 39:08 What is the best way to use apologetics to witness to your family? 17. 40:02 Can you explain “saved by faith alone”? Does that mean even if you go on sinning you still have salvation just because you believe? 18. 42:37 What is the difference between a false teacher and someone whose interpretation you simply don’t agree with? 19. 43:42 What is your opinion on nudity in art? 20. 46:03 I know the evidence for Jesus’ resurrection is very strong, but what about the evidence for His virgin birth? 21. 47:49 What is your take on Acts 4: 32-37? Why don’t we see this practice more in congregations today? 22. 51:25 What powers or abilities do demons have? 23. 55:27 Why can an atheist appear to be a better person than a Christian? 24. 56:44 Why would God ever order someone to be killed (ex: in the Old Testament)? 25. 1:00:57 Speaking in tongues is something that really confuses me. Is it real? 26. 1:02:32 How does one make sure that he does not elevate Christian thought and scholarship above God, especially in disciplines like apologetics? How do you avoid making intellect an idol? 27. 1:05:11 Who is the Bride of Christ and the 144,000 in the book of Revelation? 28. 1:06:01 Do you think people should go to college to become a pastor? 29. 1:07:06 I left a church because they taught KJV onlyism and only sang hymns. They thought that contemporary worship music was worldly and not pleasing to God but I really liked the warm, loving people. 30. 1:09:24 What good apologetic books do you recommend? 31. 1:10:27 My Christian friend says we should not offend people while sharing the Gospel. My understanding was that they must get offended in order to be convicted of their sin and see their need for Jesus. What are your thoughts? 32. 1:11:40 What can you share about the “old Earth/young Earth” topic of discussion? 33. 1:13:37 What is your opinion on Christians doing yoga? 34. 1:13:54 How do we know if Joseph Smith was wrong theologically but the Book of Mormon is right? I see more contradictions within the D&C and not really in the Book of Mormon. 35. 1:15:53 Where is your church located? If you want to support the work I do with this ministry then click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This is the "big reveal" moment in the Gospel of Mark. It turns out that Jesus was highly anticipated and largely misunderstood. What Jesus does in Mark 8 is to keep us from misunderstanding who He is or what He has come to do. It's really remarkable! Come and see how the cross is at the center of the purposes of Christ and how Jesus wanted to make sure that nobody interpreted Him apart from His death and resurrection. This is part 29 in the Mark series, here's a link to the whole playlist https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to support this ministry then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I asked real people why they became pro-life. Here's what they said. What changed their minds should probably change yours too. I posted this question on Twitter the other day. "For those who went from pro-choice to pro-life I’m really interested to know what it was that changed your mind. Among all the possible reasons to change your mind, what was it that changed yours personally? I thought the answers were awesome! Here's a link to that thread on Twitter https://twitter.com/MikeWingerii/status/1229562258478391296?s=20 Here's the paper about a consensus of biologists saying human life begins at conception. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3211703 I try to make everything I produce free so it can reach and minister to the largest number of people. If you want to help me in this mission please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

The problem here is that Jesus’ warning is a puzzle. But, looking at the passage in context it’s not that hard to see what it’s about. We’ll cover the meaning of “the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod”. We’ll also find out why Jesus healed a blind man in two stages and how it relates to the disciples understanding of Jesus. This is a verse by verse study of Mark 8:13-26 and it is part of a larger verse by verse study through Mark, available here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to (and can afford to) help support my continued production of free content then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This video is all you need to know about The Passion Translation of the Bible. I summarize many hours of research in this one interview and I hope this becomes a resource for pastors, churches and anyone who has run into The Passion Translation and wants to know more about it or its chief architect, Brian Simmons. You’ll hear about several issues with the translation, with example passages, you’ll find out about Brian’s supposed visions and how his credentials aren’t what he has claimed. We’ll compare TPT to other translations, show how it unjustifiably changes God’s word, reveal the truth about Brian’s so-called training and experience, and hear what actual scholars have said about TPT. Melissa Dougherty interviewed me, this is her YouTube channel – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyKgD0DLtBN21gfThSalyUQ My other videos on The Passion Translation, which offer a more in depth analysis. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvXha4rjCj1Po0WLQc_jGGW Video Where Brian Simmons is Talking About His 'Linguistic Training': https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBmS5ywXtkY Brian Simmons on Sid Roth explaining His Revelation of The Passion Translation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vMTufSKaY8 Andrew Shead’s article against The Passion Translation https://themelios.thegospelcoalition.org/article/burning-scripture-with-passion-a-review-of-the-psalms-passion-translation/

Find out what I said to her in a private message that got her to block me on Twitter. And see how this art perfectly represents the propaganda of the pro-choice movement. We can actually learn a TON from how this artist is abusing the words of Jesus to support abortion. See the art, understand what it means, and learn how it totally distorts the teachings of Jesus. This is that artist whose work I am critiquing. I want to make sure to give her full credit. If you want to check out her work this is her Twitter page (although I can no longer see what's on it) https://twitter.com/tatsgill Some of the issues that will come up in today's live stream. Does Jesus saying "With you always" mean that He supports abortion? Why does this art ignore the issue of the baby? Which side of the abortion line would Jesus actually be on, based on HIS OWN words? Why don't pro-choice people want a calm, rational conversation? Here's a short video explaining what happens in a pill abortion. https://youtu.be/k9Vl-RFdsWc The video in this link does have drawn images but no actual photos. We really need to know what this is since people think it's not a big deal to take pills that cause abortions. Published paper on consensus of Biologists saying human life begins at conception https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3211703 If you love this teaching and want to support it please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

When people ask for evidence for God are they putting up a smokescreen? Is there such a thing as "blind unbelief"? It's remarkable to me, how much the Pharisees in this story are like many today who reject the evidence for Jesus while asking for evidence for Jesus. Now, please listen carefully to this message because I am NOT trying to say that everyone who doesn't believe is the same as these Pharisees. I am saying that a lot of people are, and while I know that some will find this offensive I ask that they be open-minded enough to consider the possibility that what happened to Hume, Atkins, Dillahunty, and Flew could be happening to them as well. This is part 27 in the ongoing series through the whole Gospel of Mark. Here's the whole playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF Here's the link I mentioned where Atkins admits to his atheism that not even evidence can refute. https://youtu.be/dRWIsuEL0Ac If you want to support this ministry and my continued production of free content please click here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

You're about to get a crash course on evidence for God! And we will deal with a bunch of objections to it as well. I'm joined today by Braxton Hunter from Trinity Radio (his channel here https://www.youtube.com/user/braxhunt ) and we are teaching you the Kalam Cosmological Argument for God's existence. This is supported by philosophical and scientific arguments and evidence. In this video we intend to give you a simple version of the argument as well as a more careful and complex explanation of it. Then we will interact with objections that you can expect to come across when you are using this to show people God exists. Here's one video from Braxton that I thought you might want to check out! "A Christian Response to 15 Atheist YouTubers" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGdoPvtAUzo I mentioned my videos on understanding variants in the New Testament (in response to a question on John 8) here's a link to those three videos. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

12 Apologetics YouTube channels join forces for an epic live stream. Here's everyone's info. Capturing Christianity https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCux-_Fze30tFuI_5CArwSmg Whaddo You Meme?? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1okSIA8UEY8OqvtjGHFvzA Believing Thinkers https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqyAliYCIcGZMoJkzVBiZmQ One Minute Apologist https://www.youtube.com/user/oneminuteapologist Acts 17 Apologetics https://www.youtube.com/user/Acts17Apologetics Inspiring Philosophy https://www.youtube.com/user/InspiringPhilosophy Maven https://www.youtube.com/user/BrettKunkleSTR Tru-ID Apologetics https://www.youtube.com/user/scottlane7 Cross Examined https://www.youtube.com/user/TurekVideo Vocab Malone https://www.youtube.com/user/vocabmalone What Would You Say? https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCA7Gikp1j0uAIrcEJDTriyQ I hope that you find some great resources in these channels and that at least one or two of them really helps you!

Having recently done a debate against a Presuppositionalist, on the topic of "What Apologetic Methodology is Biblical?", I think it would be good to have a video online simply and thoughtfully explaining what I take to be the biblical view on this topic. This is going to be my understanding of a biblical approach to apologetics answering many of the following questions. What role does evidence play in evangelism? What about Christians who live in circumstances where they can not find the arguments and evidence that supports their faith? Should they still believe? If so, based on what? Do we need to offer arguments for God before offering the evidence for the resurrection? What is the difference between "knowing" Christianity is true and "showing" that it's true? Is the witness of the Holy Spirit evidence? How is that different than a what a Mormon claims? My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

The majority of scholars think that Mark has unintentionally reduplicated the story of Jesus multiplying the loaves and fishes. It turns out that they are wrong for a number of reasons. In this study through Mark 8:1-10 we will try to understand the deep theological meaning of the passage as well as answer scholarship which has been unable to see the forest through the trees. One of the major issues with scholarship when it comes to the gospels is an unwise assumption that Mark is based on a bunch of stories about Jesus floating around a community of people, changing over time, and finally being written down after the fact. The evidence shows that Mark is not the result of a community who changed stories over time. It's from eye witness testimony! If you want more on this please listen to the first video in the Mark series where I go through "Who Wrote Mark" and discuss evidence of it's eye witness sources. Seriously, it's really neat stuff. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7jWg60N_0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF&index=2&t=0s Here is the whole Mark playlist - https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to support this ministry you can do so here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Any one of these verses can change your life. Store up this wisdom and look for ways to apply it. To study proverbs is to methodically gather wisdom much like the way a farmer gathers in his crop, knowing that it will be essential for the future. I'm hoping this little tour through Proverbs 27 will ignite in you an appreciation for the book and renew your own hunger for wisdom. Let's honor God's name by being a wise people in the midst of a foolish world. If you love this ministry and want to help support my continued production of free content please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Jesus put His fingers in a man’s ears and His spit in the man’s mouth. Do you know what it means? We will cover the deep theological meaning behind this act and also deal with some critical objections to the reliability of Mark. Critics say that Mark doesn’t understand the geography of Israel because of Mark 7:31. Some will even say that Jesus is copying pagan rituals when He heals this way. Well, that’s silly and I’d like to share why. Mark 7:31–37 (NASB95)Again He went out from the region of Tyre, and came through Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, within the region of Decapolis. They brought to Him one who was deaf and spoke with difficulty, and they implored Him to lay His hand on him. Jesus took him aside from the crowd, by himself, and put His fingers into his ears, and after spitting, He touched his tongue with the saliva; and looking up to heaven with a deep sigh, He said to him, “Ephphatha!” that is, “Be opened!” And his ears were opened, and the impediment of his tongue was removed, and he began speaking plainly. And He gave them orders not to tell anyone; but the more He ordered them, the more widely they continued to proclaim it. They were utterly astonished, saying, “He has done all things well; He makes even the deaf to hear and the mute to speak.” This is the article comparing Epidaurus with the Gospels, in which the author says, "An influence of Epidaurus on the Gospels is not possible to trace." https://www.academia.edu/29349556/The_differences_between_the_healing_stories_from_Epidaurus_and_from_the_Gospels._R%C3%B3%C5%BCnice_mi%C4%99dzy_opisami_uzdrowie%C5%84_z_Epidauru_i_z_Ewangelii Here's the whole Mark series https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to support the free content I produce please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Drew (Genetically Modified Skeptic) offered his "4 Weird Questions That Might Make You an Atheist" we've heard him out and thought it through and want to explain how these 4 questions shouldn't make you an atheist. In fact, if you work through them carefully you'll see that they actually give us more reason to believe in God. Here is Braxton Hunter's channel "Trinity Radio" https://www.youtube.com/user/braxhunt Here is Jon McCray's channel "Whaddo You Meme??" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1okSIA8UEY8OqvtjGHFvzA Here is Cameron Bertuzzi's channel "Capturing Christianity" https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCux-_Fze30tFuI_5CArwSmg Here's Drew's original video which we are responding to https://youtu.be/JE-P6mw60-A Info on Pascal's Wager: This is a playlist from Crash Course Apologetics on Pascal's Wager. VERY well done and extremely thorough. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U9ejUnGl4MY&list=PLlVH-ThCazKlqtTVa-3hvKfBXy5LajVsw Here's an interview with Dr. Liz Jackson on her case for Pascal's Wager. It's very accessible and she answers a ton of objections to it as well. https://youtu.be/e6qHRLkFhCM My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Modern people sometimes flip out because of misunderstanding what Jesus said to this woman. On the other hand, this passage does have something that is offensive to those who are blinded by entitlement and think that the grace of God is something they deserve. I ask that you suspend forming an immediate opinion about why Jesus referred to this woman (and Gentiles in general) as "dogs" and you take the time to really understand what Jesus was saying because it has important application into our relationship with God and our theology of the Old Testament. This is part 24 in a series going through the gospel of Mark, here is the whole playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to (and can afford to) help support my continued production of free content then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

There are some serious objections to Penal Substitution when it comes to the morality of punishing the innocent, the idea of forgiveness being accomplished through punishment and several other moral, philosophical and legal concerns. In this video I'm going to systematically deal with these straightforward objections to the logic of Penal Substitution. Check out the whole series on Penal Substitution to see the historical case for the church fathers holding to elements of penalty and substitution in the cross, the case for the OId Testament teaching PSA through typology, the Book of Romans and PSA, and how to unravel and disarm the constant rhetorical deceptions of that are most commonly labeled against the cross. Here's my whole series on Penal Substitution https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp Here's that video on Limited Atonement https://youtu.be/shpZMRhr4uM My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This stuff is in scripture for a reason folks. The issues Jesus had with the Pharisees are the same issues we deal with today. This is how the Pharisees used tradition as a way of missing out on the heart of God and neglecting to obey scripture. There's some really interesting parallels between the Pharisees and Catholicism. The Pharisees had the "Oral Torah" and Catholicism has "Sacred Tradition". This is a verse by verse Bible study through the whole gospel of Mark. Here is the whole playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My video on "Is Christmas Pagan" (I hope all will be openminded and consider it) https://youtu.be/ugxJBb0lPXQ A Biblical Look at Tattoos https://youtu.be/D_z5_pXDnTk Everything Scripture Says About Alcohol https://youtu.be/MRpA4njHF64

Critics of Penal Substitutionary Atonement will often misrepresent it as "cosmic child abuse" or a slew of other straw men. This teaching is meant to showcase how many of the people who publicly criticize penal substitution do so by ignoring the core teaching and focusing on making a ridiculous and monstrous fake version of penal substitution which is designed to be so disgusting that you will reject it. The result of all this is that you reject the biblical teaching about Jesus' death on the cross because you've been misinformed about what it actually teaches. In today's live stream I'm tackling these representations and hope to offer some sober clarity on what Penal Substitution really is as well as to disarm the rhetoric of so many today who aren't dealing with it accurately. Here's my whole series on Penal Substitution (dealing with church history, scripture, rhetoric, philosophy and morality related to it) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

One of the most important things in the Gospel of Mark is the identity of Jesus. But many people don't realize that Mark is telling who Jesus is through the stories about what Jesus did. When we look at the text carefully we can see one amazing revelation after another revealing the "high Christology" of the gospel of Mark. In other words, the skeptics who sometimes claim Mark has a low view of the person of Christ are completely mistaken. In the passage we are in today (6:45-56) we will see that Jesus' walking on water has an interesting connection to the book of Job and, once again, is best explained by connecting the person of Christ to God Himself. I'll also tackle some challenges to the accuracy of the Gospel of Mark when he talks about the journey's of the disciples across the Sea of Galilee. The whole Mark series playlist is here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF Here are the links I mentioned in the video. My video on "Biggest Bible Contradictions" where I unpack today's issue (and more) with maps on screen. https://youtu.be/7zS4VgFDf8s?t=2719 Richard Bauckham's lecture on the accuracy of Mark's geography https://youtu.be/F4THNI0CxbE Steve Hays' article on today's apologetics topic. https://triablogue.blogspot.com/2016/08/was-mark-confused.html Lydia McGrew's article on the same http://lydiaswebpage.blogspot.com/2016/08/but-wait-theres-more-refuting-claim-of.html Jonathan McLatchie's article on the same. http://www.answeringmuslims.com/2016/08/is-mark-confused-about-location-of.html I've shared all three so you can see how different people handle it. If you have the funds and want to help me continue doing this ministry and producing all my content for free then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: **QUESTIONS FROM NON-CHRISTIANS** (thanks to Sarah Zimmerman for making these) 1. 3:37 How do you explain to non-Christians that Jesus indeed was a real person? 2. 8:30 Do you struggle to accept the teaching in 1 Timothy regarding women's roles in the Church? Do you ever find it hard to reconcile your human sense of justice with what the Bible says? 3. 11:32 If it's so obvious that Christianity is true, why do the overwhelming majority of scientists and people with high IQs not believe in God? (Not just 1 or 2, but the majority.) 4. 14:52 What do you say to what seems as sexism in 1 Corinthians 11 and 1 Timothy and the Old Testament, how women are treated as ''second class''? 5. 17:43 We have a will, but we cannot choose our will. If we can't be perfect on our own, why are we deserving of punishment for being imperfect? 6. 21:04 Why is theism a better view than atheism and agnosticism? 7. 26:52 What would you say to an Egyptology expert who comes to believe that Jesus existed, died, rose, and reigns but refuses to give Jesus allegiance because of His belief in the historical Exodus? 8. 30:14 In Genesis 3, the serpent tells Eve that the fruit would not kill her, but would open her eyes - and that's what the fruit did. So why do Christians call this interaction a deception or a lie? 9. 33:24 My brother doesn't believe the Bible, arguing that there are much older religions that Christianity copies (ex: the Virgin Birth and other aspects that are the same). How would you respond? 10. 36:10 How do you reconcile the disputed letters of Paul? Do you believe translations like the NLT, ESV, etc. are still infallible, compared to the original Greek manuscripts? 11. 38:34 Jesus says about false prophets, "By their fruit you will recognize them." (Matthew 7 :16). We can see "fruit" in the lives of many Mormons, Bahais, etc. How do you explain that? 12. 41:21 How does secular marriage between 2 people of the same gender affect Christianity? Why do Christians spend so much time advocating against something that isn't relevant to them? 13. 44:36 Why is the doctrine of inerrancy so important? Why believe it, if prophesies don't indicate inerrancy? 14. 46:14 What is your response to the claim that Ephesians is a forgery due to having longer sentences than Paul's other epistles? 15. 47:44 I sometimes call myself an "agnostic Calvinist". If God is real, He hasn't "selected" me. If He wants me to be saved and I desire to understand Him, but I am unconvinced by the Bible, where do I stand? 16. 51:13 What is your advice for someone who finds the arguments for Christianity someone persuasive, but always seems to fall short of having actual faith? (Still having severe doubts/reservations.) 17. 52:58 Don't the first 11 chapters of the Bible seem ridiculous? (Ex: Spiritual beings having sex with women and producing giants, and humans living nearly a thousand years old.) 18. 56:09 Is it forbidden for Christians to have more than 1 wife? In my country (South Africa), it is legal in some parts to have more than 1 wife, and this is a question I get from my people. 19. 58:36 There is good evidence that an all-powerful being exists. What is the evidence for the nature of this all-powerful being? An all-powerful being would have absolute power to deceive. **QUESTIONS FROM CHRISTIANS** 20. 1:01:25 If your pastor's total focus is on divine healing and wants to call his church a "healing center" for the purpose of bringing in the lost, should I stay, or find a different church? 21. 1:02:15 Do "once saved, always saved" people and "lordship salvation" people agree with one another, and only argue over semantics? 22. 1:03:24 Are you going to make any more worship songs? 23. 1:04:11 How would you explain to non-Christians that it's not unfair or inconsistent that we, as humans, are represented by Adam, thus inheriting Adam's sinful nature? 24. 1:06:18 How do I explain to deists the divinity of the Scriptures? Most reject the Scriptures because "men wrote them". How do I refute this? 25. 1:09:04 If certain cessationists believe that God doesn't speak anymore, is this blasphemy? Are they saved? How can one serve God and not hear from Him, when Scripture suggests that God does speak? 26. 1:10:52 Isn't it unfair to be born predisposed to Adam and Eve's sin? (The curse of being born sinners.) ~ CAT CAM ~ 1:11:37 27. 1:12:16 How do you read Romans 1: 16? Is it that the "power of God" is what saves those who believe, or that the Gospel IS the power of God AND what saves those who believe? Or both? 28. 1:13:52 If God is not the author of confusion, then why are there so many different interpretations of Scripture? My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This stuff should be obvious to all Christians but sadly, progressives have a way of making obvious things very confusing. Here's a look at what the book of Romans teaches about Christ's penal substitution. It gives us clear support for the idea that Jesus died in our place, suffering the penalty we deserved because of sin and thereby provided a way for us to be forgiven so that God could forgive us of our sins without violating His own righteousness and justice by failing to punish sin. This is a beautiful and biblical truth that is being fought against by an increasing number of those who call themselves Bible believing followers of Jesus. Well, I'm not here to rip on them, I'm here to help those who want to see for themselves how the scripture teaches this wonderful truth about the cross. Here's the whole playlist on Penal Substitutionary Atonement (or how Jesus saves us through the cross) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

When Jesus fed the 5,000 it was meant to teach them something really significant about who Jesus is. This meaning was largely lost on the people at the time and people in our time have much the same problem. In this passage we see Jesus as The Prophet like Moses. We also will get a taste of some "undesigned coincidences" which help confirm that the gospels are accurate accounts of actual history rather than the radically evolved oral traditions that some scholars suggest they are. There's also a wonderful lesson for those who are overworked in ministry and seeking to figure out how to balance their own needs and the needs of serving others. I hope the balance in this passage helps you balance your own life and to know how to take care of yourself, take appropriate breaks and remain unselfish while doing so. The miracle of the feeding of the 5,000 is pretty amazing and there's a lot we have to learn from it, but nothing is so wonderful as the light it sheds on the identity of Jesus. If you want to help support this ministry so that I can continue to make free theology and apologetics content then please click here to visit my web site. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I'm hoping to some more content on violence in the Old Testament as well as a much more detailed and thoughtful response to Greg Boyd's "Cruciform Hermeneutic" in the future. Until then, here is a video getting started on those topics and hopefully offering some help on topics like "How could God kill people?", "What about the Amalekites?", "How literal are the 'destroy them all' passages?", "Is it reasonable to just say that those passages don't really reflect God's commands?" Here's a link to Paul Copan's book "Is God a Moral Monster?" https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004EPYPY4/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 Here's a link to the YouTube channel for The Remnant Radio https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC31RZ-b3D1w452JLuzLVl4Q Here are my three videos on whether the Bible has been changed or not and it includes my full explanation of what’s going on with the passage in John about the woman caught in adultery. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW If you want to help me continue making free content then you can do so through my website at this link https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

My goal here is to give you a set of tools, some of which you may find truly helpful. While I have very little to say about medication I think that scripture does offer us some guidance to really help us with the sadness of our souls and looking at several biblical passages that give examples of dealing with and processing depression can help us to better deal with our own. I don't want you to think I'm fully answering the problem of depression or sadness here, just that I'm trying to help us all have more help with it and to let the Bible speak more fully to this issue. May God give you an increase of His joy even in the midst of sorrow and may the patience and hope of Christ be yours. My work in this ministry is fully supported by donations and I intend to keep it that way so that everything I produce can be offered for free. If you want to help make this possible here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate Here's the link to the 1st Peter series, I think it will bless you. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PoZf07Tj5T0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHs4JVWfSPM5ygzyLMTASL0h

A study on the tragic end of John the Baptist. This is the only passage in Mark that isn't directly about Jesus and it records the sad reality of how pride, corruption and lust lead to the murder of John the Baptist. In addition to the discussion on what lead to John's murder under the orders of Herod we will also get into some apologetics issues surrounding the death of John that skeptics bring up, which actually give us more reason to trust what Mark says. Here's the video I mentioned from Inspiring Philosophy on the topic of supposed contradictions in the death of John the Baptist. https://youtu.be/FZpEnHtO7b4 Here's a link to the full Mark playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and want to support my continued work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This is the Old Testament Passage that most clearly shows that Jesus died in our place as a substitutionary sacrifice for us because of our sins. It shows that Christ was our sin bearer and our sin offering and that His sacrifice justifies us. It's also the passage most often ignored by those who deny Penal Substitutionary Atonement. In other words, it's important. We will look at how this passage, with the relevant background understanding of the Levitical sacrifices undeniably teaches that Jesus justifies us with a substitutionary sacrifice according to the will of God. I will cover the debate on this passage as well and even get into why the Septuagint (LXX) translation of Isaiah 53 doesn't give us good reason to reject what we read in the Hebrew text. This is part 3 in a series on Penal Substitutionary Atonement. Check out the whole series here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp If you want to help support the continued work of my ministry then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

In an attempt to help you learn how to better analyze and apply commands to the 12 apostles we look at when Jesus sent the Twelve out two by two, telling them to take no money and no extra supplies. We'll see that this command does not apply directly to us but we'll also see that there is still a simply and biblical way to apply it into our lives, a way that I think the Holy Spirit intended for us to find. In this study we'll also look at the use of oil in healing. I hope this helps equip you to better evaluate and apply passages of Scripture which may not directly be about you but are indirectly teaching you truths about following Jesus. The whole Mark Series is right here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7c7jWg60N_0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and would like to help support my work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Sola Scriptura is the idea that the Bible is the final authority on what Christians believe and how we live. In this video I’ll explain it simply, give some biblical reasons to support Sola Scriptura and deal with some Catholic rebuttals to it. I’m hoping this is a charitable and gracious experience for everyone even though I know it will be hard stuff for some people to hear. I am convinced this is a huge issue because so many of the teachings of Roman Catholicism are not found in Scripture but in selected traditions. Some points from the video are. 1- Sola Scriptura is a natural understanding of what it means to have inspired Scripture. 2- In Old Testament times they were to test future teachers and teachings by the Scripture they had received. 3- in the New Testament the gospel, once communicated, was to be held to no matter who came to teach otherwise. This absolutely requires individual understanding of the gospel (which is in the New Testament) and the ability to tell any potential “authority” to take a hike. 4- challenges about denominations or the origin of the canon are not defectors for Sola Scriptura. 5- Striking Parallels between Catholicism and Pharisaism seem to demonstrate precedence for how to deal with supposed church authority when it ads tradition to the commands of God. If you want to support this ministry please click here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Was Nazareth fake? Was Mary a perpetual virgin? And what can we learn from Jesus being rejected in His hometown of Nazareth? I admit that today's study may seem a bit random but I think you will find it interesting and have some insights that will bless you. Rene Salm wrote a book suggesting that Nazareth was a myth and even though it has been debunked it still shows up on popular atheist web sties today. We'll also deal with the Roman Catholic claim that Mary remained a virgin her whole life and never had children after Jesus. This claim is made even stronger when we realize that the Roman Catholic Church says anyone who says Mary did have other children has committed a mortal sin and will be condemned. Scripture, on the other hand, says that Jesus had brothers and sisters. All of this is in context of our continued series through the gospel of Mark. We will continue this study weekly until I've taught through the whole book verse by verse, tackling issues of theology and apologetics. Here's the whole Mark series playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to support this ministry you can click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

The idea that Jesus died in our place, suffering the penalty for our sins, is under serious attack. We need to understand where we can find Penal Substitutionary Atonement ideas in the Bible, starting with the Old Testament. This is part of a series explaining and defending Penal Substitutionary Atonement. I'll cover biblical data, historical data, moral objections and more so that you will understand the doctrine, how to defend it and what's really wrong with this modern move against the biblical teaching on Jesus' sacrificial death. Today we are looking at the idea of sacrifice and atonement in the OT, the Day of Atonement, the Passover sacrifice, and (if we have time) Isaiah 53 and penal substitution. Here's the whole playlist on PSA https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp More amazing connections between Jesus and Passover https://youtu.be/A-_6rpQ4zLg How the 5 main sacrifices in Leviticus point to Jesus https://youtu.be/_GOvVSZJxCU This ministry content is all presented free to you and that's the way I want to keep it. This is made possible by those few who have the ability and desire to partner with me through donations. I deeply appreciate those who have made this possible through their support and love the fact that it's free to everyone as a result. If you want to partner with me here's the link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want a BibleThinker coffee mug they are available for purchase here. Read carefully the shipping details and discount details on that page and contact them if you are outside the USA and need shipping costs/info. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

In the best example of a "Markan sandwich" we see two remarkable healings which are meant to teach us some remarkable and needful lessons. Jesus meets our deepest fear with a call to faith that calms our hearts and changes the way we see death forever. I hope and pray that the beautiful truths of this passage of Scripture will get stuck in your head and heart. Here's a link to the whole series through the Gospel of Mark https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF I'm dedicated to making FREE content helping people learn to think biblically about everything. If you love this ministry and want to support it please click here but please feel NO obligation or compulsion to give. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

A lot of leaders who reject Penal Substitution will say that it was invented by Calvin or Anselm and that the early church held to Christus Victor or Ransom theories of the atonement. This turns out to be a painful distortion of history. I mean, this is pure historical revisionism in the name of teaching bad theology! I was shocked to find out how badly church history has been twisted by progressive leaders who, whether they realize it or not, are teaching unbiblical views of how we are saved. In this video you'll hear quotes from many church fathers on the topic of whether the cross included a penal and substitutionary aspect. You'll get needed clarity to help you see through the historical revisionism of guys like Greg Boyd, Steve Chalke and others. And you'll be equipped to head into the next video in this series on Penal Substitutionary Atonement. Which will probably be on the topic of "Does the Bible Teach Penal Substitution?" As I add more videos to this PSA playlist I will put them HERE https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHttVR0rkvhBfA-IKrg5SGcp Here's an article on this topic from The Masters Seminary Journal https://www.tms.edu/m/tmsj20i.pdf Here is Gary Williams' defense of his own work on PSA in the early church fathers https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/2011-3_195.pdf Here's Joseph Mitros' content on how people misrepresent the church fathers on this https://www.pdcnet.org/thought/content/thought_1967_0042_0003_0415_0447 If you love this ministry and want to support my ongoing work producing free content to help people learn to think biblically about everything then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/~biblethinker/index.php/donate

Expand this for time stamps (also in the first comment for mobile users) Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 1. 1:04 Can a wife or mom have a job outside of the house? 2. 4:43 Is profanity ever acceptable? E.g. "I _-ing love you, man!" (not in anger) 3. 8:21 Can you talk about the relationship between obedience and faith? 4. 9:28 What purpose does prayer serve for an all-powerful God? How do we affect anyone/anything with prayer? 5. 13:36 Why do you think God created us if He knew it would result in the fall of man and He would have to save us through such an extreme act of love? 6. 16:45 How do you know that you're REALLY saved? 7. 20:28 What do you think about the idea that it's the worship leader's job to "create an atmosphere for people to encounter God"? 8. 23:15 What are your thoughts on the belief that the Church is "spiritual" Israel which seems to lead to observing Torah? Is the Body of Christ separate from Israel? 9. 24:41 If Jesus, being God, knew He would defeat death, what is the significance of His sacrifice? I understand His resurrection is a pillar of the faith, but how can Jesus being dead for only a few days 'count'? 10. 27:16 What is meant by the phrase "sharing the Gospel"? How do we share the Gospel, and what part of the Gospel do we include? 11. 29:35 I'm writing a paper on limited atonement for class. Any ideas on books to get/passages to cover? 12. 30:17 Any advice on how to "put sin to death"? 13: 35:45 Should all Christians follow the Old Testament Law, considering that Jesus didn't come to change the Law? 14. 38:01 Do you have to speak in tongues to be saved? 15. 39:30 Where is the best place for teens who are new believers to start in the Bible? 16. 41:17 Is the doctrine of "soul sleep" biblical? 17. 42:47 Do you believe seminary is needed to be a minister of God's Word? 18. 43:50 Is the Body of Christ separate from Israel? 19. 45:12 If the New Testament was implemented when Jesus died & rose again, is it fair to say that Matthew, Mark, Luke, & John should be considered part of the Old Testament, since Jesus hadn't died yet? 20. 46:27 Does Lucifer's fall (and ours) mean that God made a mistake? Or does it mean that He planned on sin and the fall happening? 21. 47:49 Do you have any tips for a new believer who wants to begin looking into theology and researching topics in the Bible? 22. 48:30 Is it ok to listen to music that is not classified as "Christian" but has no bad words/profanity? 23. 50:55 Should we go to church at all if we've been watching Bart Ehrman videos and we're not sure? 24. 54:30 Do 12-step programs reconcile with being a Christian? 25. 55:40 Why are there so many denominations and only one true God? 26. 56:54 When we die, will we go to Heaven, or are we all dead until Jesus comes back? 27. 57:19 Some Christians who claim to not believe in sinless perfectionism say if we can go without sinning for minutes or hours, we can go without sinning for days, weeks, or months. Is this biblical? 28. 58:43 Do I have to be baptized when I decide to become a Christian? 29. 59:38 How much do you think aesthetics affects ethics? Do you think wearing worn-out/torn/ragged clothing is a means for the culture of death and destruction? 30. 1:00:19 If I read the Bible and pray, and still doubt & struggle with my faith, what can I do? It's difficult to fight it. 31. 1:01:09 Is lust as simple as looking at a woman and thinking "Wow, nice!" or is it's original meaning something much more, like, "I need to sleep with her. I want to make her mine."? 32. 1:02:44 What do you think about 1 Tim. 2: 11-12 on women's roles in the Church? 33. 1:03:39 Is Halloween Satan's holiday? 34. 1:03:58 When should you stop asking for something in prayer, and start trying to transition your thinking into accepting "no" as God's answer? I highly recommend "The Bible for Beginners" if you haven't heard it yet. https://youtu.be/SJG-AjxNiF8 The Romans series will ground you in solid theology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRwWLeKhViQ&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHvQ9G4NCvuiN4Evbp13uQa1 The Jesus in the Old Testament Series will show you how to see Jesus throughout the Bible https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO The Evidence for the Bible series will show you that the Bible is truly inspired by God and answer complex objections to scripture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjnwldgqN8c&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuhA0RPKZFHVcjIMN_-F596 How to understand the Old Testament Law (this will really help) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGKJEENngc&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuBirH5Rw3IhJinWrcTufY6 All this teaching is presented for free due to the occasional person who wants to donate and support this ministry. If you want to support this ongoing work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate A potter who partnered with this ministry has made some "BibleThinker" coffee mugs that you can get here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Get insights about demonology, the identity of Christ, the hope Jesus gives to even the most broken life, and some apologetics about a geography issue in Mark 5 related to the location of the region of the Gerasenes. I got a questions after this study about why Matthew says "Gadarenes" instead of Gerasenes. I forgot to mention it during the study but Gadara was a well known city about 6 miles from Galilee with some territory reaching all the way to Galilee. Matthew seems to be using a different way of referring a region toward the south/east of the Sea of Galilee. When it comes to the issue of demons I hope to provide a needed balance where we embrace the biblical worldview and reality of demons while being able to acknowledge other possible causes of illness. It can be harmful to land on either extreme of denying the spiritual realm or acting as if every ailment is caused by demons. Here's the playlist for the whole gospel of Mark series. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My goal is to provide all my teaching for free and that nobody will ever be forced to pay for it in order to be blessed by it. If you want to support this ministry so others can be blessed then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

It's worse than nonsense. It's destructive. I think this is one of the most common bad ideas people have about God and religion. Let's thoughtfully analyze the idea that all roads lead to God and see why this incredibly common viewpoint couldn't possibly be true. Here's a list of other slogans we'll deal with today. "All roads lead to God" "How can you say that Jesus is the only way? How rude! How arrogant! How judgy!" "All religions teach basically the same thing." "All religions have a different piece of the truth." "I think that sincere people will be OK." "I just think that God knows our hearts and that good people will be OK." Because I suspect someone will ask about it. Here's what the Bible says about those who die without hearing the gospel -https://youtu.be/IiyxpE5UBz4 I've devoted this ministry to producing free content meant to bring people to Christ and help them learn to think biblically about everything. I never want anyone to feel obligated but if you would like to support this work then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker coffee mugs are being made by a potter who is a fan of this ministry and they can be purchased here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Let's get a handle on the various passages where the Bible says that God repents, relents or changes His mind. Personally, I found this study very rewarding and I hope it blesses you as well. Someone came up after I taught this study and shared something with me that I think might add to the content in this message. They said something like, "God is jealous, but not like man's jealousy. God has wrath, but not like man's wrath. And in a similar way God repents but not in the same way or with the same meaning as when man does it." I thought this was worth adding here for you. If you love this ministry and want to help support the creation of more free content then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker mugs are available here (created by a potter who is a friend of the ministry) https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug Here's an affiliate link to the Bible software I've been using for the past 13 years; Logos. This link get's you 10% off if you use the code "BIBLETHINKER8" at checkout. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

Tips on how to prepare a message, how to maximize your gifting, good software to use to make your study time more efficient, how to think about failures, how to stay true to the Bible, how to process insecurities and nervousness, how to avoid pitfalls of pride, and much more. Free, and very useful, Bible study resources - NetBible has good insights into textual issues and some stuff commentaries often skip. https://netbible.org - BlueLetterBible has tons of free commentaries and helps. I wish it had been around when I first started teaching. https://www.blueletterbible.org Paid Bible software. - Here's the link for a discount on Logos software. Make sure to use the coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 at checkout. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner This ministry is supported by donations. I don't ever want you to feel pressured to give or to give more than is wise for them. The point here is that those who can joyfully support this ministry are making it possible for everyone else to be blessed with free content. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker coffee mugs are available here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

I've heard whole Bible studies through the passage where Jesus calms the storm where the teacher fails to identify a key point in it. When Jesus commanded the storm to cease it revealed something of the divinity of Jesus that had the apostles in awe and reverence for Jesus in a whole new way. Even though they had previously seen Jesus cast out demons and heal the sick, this act of commanding a storm to stop meant something to these first century Jews which is often overlooked by people today. This is part 15 in the Mark series covering theology and apologetics through a verse by verse study of the Gospel of Mark. Here is the whole playlist (new vids added weekly) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to help support this ministry and the free content I make every week then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker coffee mugs are available here. Made by a potter who is a fan of this ministry. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug I have use Logos Bible software for many years and have recently partnered with them to get you a 10% discount and some free books if you use this affiliate link and the code BIBLETHINKER8. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

Suicide is a big issue that most of us haven't thought about very carefully. I'm not going to pretend to have all the answers, or easy answers. But what I can do is analyze some of the issues related to suicide from a biblical worldview and try to point you toward biblical help. I need to offer a disclaimer though. Some of what I share here is going to be based not just on the plain teaching of scripture but on my own experience as a counselor, friend and human being. I want you to consider and weigh what I share rather than thinking everything out of my mouth is clearly taught in scripture. My goal isn't to say that I have figured it all out but to offer some clarity and some help to those who deal with their own suicidal thoughts or the life-devastating impact of the suicide of a loved one. I hope and PRAY this is useful for you and brings blessings into your life. Find a suicide hotline for your own country and language. http://www.suicide.org/international-suicide-hotlines.html Be sure to subscribe if you want to learn to think biblically about everything. And check out the hundreds of videos on my channel! My video on the unforgivable sin https://youtu.be/KmCHX8-2Smo Everything I do is made available for free. If you love this ministry and want to help support it click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want a BibleThinker coffee mug they are here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug If you're interested in what Bible software I have been using for the past 13 years here it is. I've recently partnered with Logos to give you 10% off and some free books if you use the code BIBLETHINKER8 and this affiliate link. At no cost to you a commission will also come to me to help me continue doing this work. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

I hope this helps you understand the parables better than ever before. These four parables are found in Mark 4:21-34 and they include the parable of the lamp on a stand, the parable of the measuring scales, the parable of growing seed, and the parable of the mustard seed. Unlocking the parables of Jesus depends simply on learning the pattern of interpretation Jesus established when he explained the parable of the soils and that of the tares. In this study we will give special attention to the meaning of the birds in the parable of the mustard seed because this is not only debated, it's also really interesting. If you love this ministry and want to support its mission please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want a BibleThinker coffee mug you can order one here. They are made by a potter who loves the BibleThinker ministry. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug I have used Logos Bible Software for the past 13 years and you can check it out and get 10% off of it if you use this affiliate link. Be sure to use the code BIBLETHINKER8 to get your discount. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

A detailed description of the crucifixion of Jesus was written hundreds of years before it happened! Let's analyze this Old Testament passage and respond to objections from an atheist and a Jewish Rabbi. Does Psalm 22 really support the idea that God inspired the Bible and planned ahead of time for Jesus to die for us? Can it stand under careful examination and scrutiny from contrary sources? I think the answer is yes. Allow me to make my case. Here's that REALLY good video I mentioned where Dr. Michael Brown goes into even more detail on the "pierced" controversy. https://youtu.be/LsFvNLf7Iv0 If you love this ministry and would like to help support this work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want a BibleThinker coffee mug they are available here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug The Bible software I use is called Logos. Logos has given me this link where you can get a discount on it and some free books as well. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner The BibleThinker app is now available in your App Store. Just search BibleThinker or Mike Winger. We are currently working on updating and improving this app.

The Parable of the Sower helps us understand all parables from Jesus. Learn it's meaning and some principles for interpreting the parables of Jesus from this study in Mark 4:1-20. I also encourage you to really consider how to apply this passage to your own life. This is part 13 in the Mark series. Here's the whole paylist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and would like to help support it please click here (but feel no obligation as my intention is for all the content to be and remain free). https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If your interested in a BibleThinker coffee mug they can be found here. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

I've compiled historical evidence to respond to Jehovah's Witness claims that Jesus died on a "torture stake". We will look at the Greek word "stauros" and it's meaning, ancient images of the cross, historical documentation about the shape of Jesus' cross and give some time to examine how the Watchtower abuses sources to teach false things. Christianity does not stand or fall on the shape of the cross but it seems to me that the Watchtower does, and in this case, it falls. We only need a fraction of people to actually offer any financial support for this ministry. Please enjoy this content with NO obligation to ever give! If you are one of the few who has the ability and desire to partner in giving then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate You can order your own BibleThinker coffee mug here if you like. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

The blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is probably not what you're thinking of. This is a careful study of the unforgivable sin and it will seek to answer a bunch of specific questions about the topic. What is it? Have you committed it? Is it possible for a believer to commit it? Can someone repent after they have done it? Should Christians try to label people with this sin? I hope that this study will not only give you good information but also give you good counsel on how to deal with this difficult and important issue. This ministry is made possible by those who support online. If you want to partner with me in supporting the continued word of this ministry then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker mugs are available here (made by Brent Zockoll, a friend of the ministry). https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

I've never done this before. Here's my conversation with a former New Age/New Thought woman. We talk about specific Bible verses that are often used to support New Age as well as Word of Faith teaching and I do my best to respond with a careful explanation of each of those verses. If you are New Age, New Thought or Word of Faith then I'm hoping this video will bless you and change your life. If you aren't then I'm hoping it will equip you to be ready to help someone who is. Melissa Doughtery's channel is here check out her testimony of going from New Age to genuine Christianity! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyKgD0DLtBN21gfThSalyUQ If you love this ministry and want to help support me continuing to make more free content then please click below. But don't do it out of obligation or guilt, only give if you can AND if you specifically desire to partner with what I'm doing here. God bless you. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you'd like to order a special BibleThinker mug the link is here. Make sure to read the ordering details so you can get the shipping discount. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Here’s how Psalm 16 predicts Jesus’ resurrection… and more. This Psalm was quoted by both Peter and Paul in the New Testament as speaking prophetically of the resurrection of Christ. It turns out that there is some support for this sort of view in ancient rabbinic writings as well! Here’s the whole “Jesus in the Old Testament” playlist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO All the teaching content in this ministry is provided for free. If you love this ministry and would like to help support, you can do so through my web site here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate A potter partnered with BibleThinker to provide one-of-a-kind mugs you can get here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Time Stamps Here (and in 1st comment for mobile users) Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: ~ 1. 3:26 A lot of people think the Bible is not clear about divorce and remarriage. Are there some “gray areas”? ~ 2. 6:20 My fellowship did a salvation prayer which didn’t involve any confessing or repenting, just believing. Does this mean those who prayed the prayer were not really saved? ~ 3. 11:21 Can you explain your non-Calvinist interpretation of Isaiah 63: 17? ~ 4. 15:07 What does it mean to “pray in the Spirit”? My pastor said it means praying in tongues, and he said we can all pray in tongues. Thoughts? ~ 5. 17:47 Does Hebrews 12: 2 teach “irresistible grace”? ~ 6. 20:53 What is your opinion on birth control used within a marriage relationship? ~ 7. 23:08 In Matthew 25, concerning the 10 virgins, my teachers have said the oil represents the Holy Spirit – but how can you run out or get more of the Holy Spirit (especially if you’re not saved)? ~ 8. 24:12 I work with a non-profit whose core value is hearing God’s voice, and everything we do must be based on a specific “word from the Lord”. I’m struggling with understanding how God speaks to us, and whether or not this practice is biblical. ~ 9. 28:48 Do you have any opinions on Preterism, and will you ever do a study on eschatology? ~ 10. 29:51 If our life is in our breath, can’t we justify abortion, since babies in the womb don’t breathe air? ~ 11. 33:20 Where was Jesus seated before He was at the right hand of the Father? I’m trying to envision this in my head. I'll be doing a shorter than normal live stream today and taking some of your questions from the live chat. Also, there will be no live stream on 8/20 and 8/27 (the next two weeks). Other than that I have many wonderful and important topics coming up and I hope you find them really helpful in your walk and your witnessing. If you love this ministry and want to help support it you can do so at the following link to my web site. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate Would you like a BibleThinker mug? A potter has partnered with me and made them available here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Why did Jesus have 12 apostles? Why did Jesus sometimes ignore crowds or even purposely diminish them? What is it that these "seekers" didn't understand? We'll cover this as well as a survey of each of the 12 apostles trying to see what we can learn from them individually. Oh yeah, and some great apologetics stuff too! Don't forget to check out the brand new BibleThinker app! Search "Mike Winger" in your app store. If you love this ministry and want to help support it please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker mugs are available here! https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

We are going to have a decent amount of Q&A today but I'm starting us off by talking a bit about God's wrath. I hope to help us think about it more clearly and more biblically. If you don’t see the BibleThinker app in the App Store yet then try again tomorrow. It has been submitted and we are just waiting on approval. If you love this ministry and want to support it you can do so through my web site support https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Two controversies reveal what was wrong with the Pharisees' and what might be wrong with us. Covering Mark 2:23-3:6 Jesus corrects the Pharisees for adding their traditions to God's commands as well as for missing out on the heart of God's commands. We'll look at how Jesus' claim that "the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath" is both a claim to deity and a claim to have the right to explain the meaning of the Old Testament law. There's also an apologetics moment today where we deal with a supposed Bible contradiction where some say Jesus was simply wrong about the Old Testament. Here is the playlist to the whole Mark series (updated weekly until it is finished) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF Just a quick note related to the Sabbath. I do not think Christians are called to be under the Law and we do not have the same obligation to observe the Sabbath that they did at the time of the events of Mark chapter 2. I have teaching content on how to view the Law and how we can read and learn from it in the light of Christ here. (2 video playlist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGKJEENngc&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuBirH5Rw3IhJinWrcTufY6 I also have a series dealing with the Hebrew Roots Movement (who teach that we should all obey the Law of Moses today) here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuOD_BytSxbejzCnGPOcgFw (4 video playlist) If you love this ministry and want to partner with me in support please click here (though all my content is free and you are under NO obligation to give). https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want to get your own BibleThinker mug, you can click here to go to a web site owned by a potter who is a fan of the ministry and has made special mugs available. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

What can we say about infant baptism based just on the Bible? This video is a survey through a bunch of key passages that relate to the topic. I present it as an issue that we should not divide over but an issue that is worth examining biblically and talking about. We will be looking at the "household" baptisms in Acts, and the idea that a parallel between circumcision and baptism means we should baptize infants. We'll also examine the New Testament nature of baptism since this relates to the idea of baptizing infants. Here's the link to my very long debate on whether baptism saves or not. Time stamps on this video will help you navigate it. https://youtu.be/x2TfBVNuuY8 If you love this ministry and would like to partner by supporting it please click below. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker mugs are available here. Made by Brent Zockoll, a potter who is a fan of this ministry. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug I'm often asked about the Bible software I use. It's called Logos and I find it really helpful in my studies. If you order it through this affiliate link you get a discount and some free books. Use coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

In this video I will be handling the following Calvinist objections to the idea that Jesus died for all people. 1) Trinitarian Harmony in the Atonement. This involves the idea that there is conflict between the intention of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit if Jesus meant to die for all people. 2) The idea that if Jesus tried to save all people but didn't then He failed. Therefore Jesus didn't try to save all and didn't die for all people. 3) The idea that Jesus' atonement and intercession are the same in extent and application. 4) Dilemmas Calvinists sometimes present as logically forcing you to affirm limited atonement. In particular we will look at John Owen's dilemma/trilemma 5) The double-payment or double-jeopardy argument. This says that if Jesus died for all then to punish anyone in the future would be to punish sin twice and would threaten God's justice. I'm actually covering more than this but this is the main focus. Here is my original video making a case for unlimited atonement https://youtu.be/DAKyQrAO3ps Here is Dr. White's video in response to my video (most of what I'm reacting to today was found in his response) https://youtu.be/BruZNUk2ltA Here is a playlist of all my videos related to the topic of Calvinism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxakEl8BYBE&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHu8PlY0J-G2B9Pyp59S0pLZ Finally, this is an in house discussion and I affirm Calvinists as my beloved brothers and sisters and would welcome them in full fellowship (and so should you). If you love this ministry and want to partner in supporting it please click below to go to my web site. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker mugs are available here https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

In today’s study of Mark 2:13-22 we cover some often misused passages in Mark, we test our Christian worldview, ask if Jesus really "partied with sinners", we examine some parables of Jesus and note how the beautiful message of the gospel also includes the sober reality of man’s sinfulness. The parables we are covering (though they are more like illustrations really) are the bride groom, the old and new wine/wineskins and the Here’s a link to the whole Mark playlist (new videos added as I make them). https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you ever want to come to this Sunday evening service for a visit, here are the details. 16523 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower CA 90706 The service starts at 5pm. Park in the rear and look for the dove, then head upstairs. NOTICE: we will not be meeting next week 7/28/2019 If you want to support this ministry, please click here. Although it is truly my goal to present all this content for free so please enjoy, be blessed and feel absolutely no obligation! https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I've been meaning to give a full update on what's going on with this online ministry for a while now. Today's the day! Question Time-Stamps for Quick Reference: 1. 28:51 How can we justify God wiping out the Canaanites in the Old Testament? A lot of skeptics would say that it was genocidal. 2. 32:18 I’ve been taking courses on proper hermeneutics, and I feel ready to study God’s Word, but I’m intimidated by the fear of misinterpretation/not knowing where to start. Suggestions? 3. 33:52 Why does the NIV call Jesus Satan? (Isaiah 14: 12 and Revelation 22: 16) 4. 36:00 How do I approach a family member who may be dying soon and thinks they are saved, when in my gut I truly question their salvation? 5. 37:08 Why don’t you see Luke 21 (at least the beginning) as fulfilled prophecy? 6. 39:25 What is the difference between godly grief and worldly grief, and how can I repent better, specifically when dealing with lust (2 Cor. 7: 10)? 7. 44:33 Can you explain what the sevenfold spirit is, in Revelation 1: 4? 8. 48:40 What are your views on Complementarianism/Egalitarianism? 9. 52:36 Are you going to release any new worship music? 10. 53:05 Would you be able to discuss Lutheran theology sometime?/Also, would you be able to teach about eschatology and Heaven? 11. 53:58 Why has God stopped performing “big signs” like in the Old Testament? (ex: burning bush, parting the Red Sea, fire from Heaven…etc.) 12. 55:21 How can we differentiate between someone claiming new revelation from God above the Bible, and revelation as in a word or prophecy, such as 1 Corinthians 14: 30? 13. 57:53 Do you have any suggestions for a devotional that would grab my attention but be exegetical in its content? I teach a Sunday evening Bible study at Hosanna Christian Fellowship, here's the info if you want to come for a visit. Be mindful that we have two buildings and this is the correct address for my study. 16523 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower CA, 90706 - Starts at 5pm. Park in the rear. Look for the dove. Head upstairs. My desire is for this ministry to be freely available to all so please enjoy and be blessed by it without ever feeling any obligation to give. If you are among the few that do want to partner in supporting this work then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate People often as about what Bible software I use. It's called Logos and you can get a copy, some free books and a 10% discount at this affiliate link if you use the code BIBLETHINKER8 at checkout. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner A potter, who is a fan of the ministry, has made some BibleThinker mugs. Here's his web site. Be sure to read the shipping details info if you order one. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

This is part 8 in the ongoing series through the Gospel of Mark covering theology, apologetics, historical/cultural insights and life application through a verse by verse study of the Gospel of Mark with pastor Mike Winger. Today's study covers Mark 2:1-12 and will deal with a supposed "Bible contradiction", why Jesus was accused of blasphemy, how to interpret and apply the miracles of Jesus, a short survey of how Jesus used the title "Son of Man" in Mark, and some beautiful truths about prayer and forgiveness. Here's the link to the whole Mark playlist (new videos added weekly) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF My ministry work is made possible by supporters like you. If you love this ministry and want to partner with me through offering support then please click below. Just know that I don't want anyone feeling pressured to give! Please freely enjoy and be blessed by my teaching without feeling any obligation to ever give! I mean that. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate I use Logos Bible software. If you're interested in getting your own copy you can use the following affiliate link and coupon code for 10% off. BIBLETHINKER8 https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner BibleThinker mugs are available here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Examining the idea that God created evil and looking at Isaiah 45:7 where God says, in the KJV, "I create evil". We'll examine the passage in context, looking at the Hebrew word for "evil" and then tackle some common problems/misconceptions people have on the topic of the existence of evil. Here's a wonderfully helpful video on the problem of evil from Inspiring Philosophy https://youtu.be/Ei0gPoqx_bQ I'm Mike Winger and this ministry is dedicated to teaching and defending biblical truth. My intention is to continue producing free material that is easily accessible to help bring people to Christ, build up Christians and equip people to minister to others. If you want to support this ministry (though I don't want anyone to feel obligated) please visit my web site here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate I'm often asked what Bible software I use. It's called "Logos" and I've been happily using it for a number of years. You can check it out at the link below. This is an affiliate link and will get you some free resources as well as a 10% discount on any package you purchase but be sure to use the coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner Brent Zockoll, a potter who is a fan of this ministry, has made some special BibleThinker mugs which you can purchase at the link below if you like. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Covering a lot of interesting stuff in today's study of Mark. What is the "Messianic Secret" and does it mean that Mark made stuff up about Jesus? Catholicism and the implications of Peter having a wife. Why Jesus healed the way He did and how it is like a living parable of the gospel. Answering Brian Zahnd's claim that the Jesus contradicts the Old Testament. The difference between sickness and demonic possession. The importance of personal solitude in prayer, and more. In this verse by verse study through the Gospel of Mark I will take advantage of opportunities to cover relevant theological and apologetic issues and I hope it's a blessing to you. Here's the whole Mark playlist (new videos added as I teach them weekly) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you ever want to come visit, I teach on Sunday evenings at 5pm at 16523 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower CA 90706 Parking is in the rear and the entrance is upstairs (look for the dove). If you love this ministry and are interested in supporting it please click here. Just a few months ago I went full time with online ministry so I appreciate your help but don't feel obligated. My real goal is to continue making free content that helps people so if you don't support financially just thank God and be blessed! https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate The Bible software I use (which people ask me about frequently) is Logos. It's available at this affiliate link and if you use the coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 you can get 10% off. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner If you are interested in getting a BibleThinker coffee mug, they are hand made and available here. Read the instructions for shipping details, especially if you are outside the continental US. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug

Some cessationists (those who believe that the gifts of the Spirit are not for today) will say that 1 Corinthians 13:10-12 teaches that after the Bible was fully delivered to the church we no longer expect to see the gifts of the Spirit operating. While I think cessationists can give us valuable insights I think this particular passage is used wrongly when they use it to support cessationism. I'll be giving an analysis of 1 Cor 13:10-12 and interacting with the views of some cessationists. I want to point out that there are plenty of cessationists who are with me on this passage and say not to use it in support of their position. So don't consider this a debunking of all cessationism but merely a refutation of a misuse of 1 Cor 13. Here's the article I referenced from the Master's Seminary https://www.tms.edu/m/tmsj14g.pdf If you love this ministry and want to help support me continuing to make free content then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want your own "BibleThinker" coffee mug then click here (and be sure to read the page for instructions of shipping discounts and details) https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug I often get asked about what Bible software I use. It's called Logos and you can get it at the link below. There is a free version which you will find helpful. The nicer versions are a serious investment but I've found it to be really integral in my own Bible studies. I also have a 10% discount for you if you use the coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 when you make your purchase. This is an affiliate link but I only recommend it because it really is an incredibly useful software I have used for 13 years and because I can get you a discount with this link. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

The internet is a breeding ground for the claim that Jesus never existed. Historical Jesus scholar, Mike Licona takes on these claims and will be responding to mythicist questions in the Q&A at the end of the video. Mike Licona's web site https://www.risenjesus.com/ If you love this ministry and want to help support me continuing to make free content then please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want your own "BibleThinker" coffee mug then click here (and be sure to read the page for instructions of shipping discounts and details) https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug I often get asked about what Bible software I use. It's called Logos and you can get it at the link below. There is a free version which you will find helpful. The nicer versions are a serious investment but I've found it to be really integral in my own Bible studies. I also have a 10% discount for you if you use the coupon code BIBLETHINKER8 when you make your purchase. This is an affiliate link but I only recommend it because it really is an incredibly useful software I have used for 13 years and because I can get you a discount with this link. https://www.logos.com/partner/biblethinker?utm_source=biblethinker&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=promo-partner

This video refutes, with scripture, the teaching of Steven Anderson. I focus on the gospel and a biblical analysis of his teaching as well as trying to offer real clarity on the topic of homosexuality. I hope that this video helps Christians and non-Christians to better understand the biblical view of these issues. Even if we don't agree, it is good to get clarity and to show that Steven Anderson's doctrine is not biblical. Links: Video evaluating different Bible translations https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCPoKIE5y1U Playlist for understanding textual issues and how we know what the New Testament originally said https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW My recent video on whether repentance is part of gospel preaching (and what it means) https://youtu.be/U_Iz1UYqCfA To support this ministry please click here. Thank you, your support literally makes it possible for me to do ministry (and eat food). https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate Live Streams every Tuesday at 5pm PT

There are some deep and simple truths we learn from Jesus calling His first disciples (and how that applies to Jesus calling you). We'll see Jesus teach with authority and then confirm that authority through His interaction with a demon. This is part 6 in the Mark series, here's a link to the whole playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF I am full time with this online ministry now and if you want to support me continuing to create free content please click here. Partners like you make BibleThinker possible. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

How we understand the repeated teaching that we are not "under the Law" is really important. I'll look at one example of how some in the Hebrew Roots movement interpret this phrase and then we will compare that with what the Bible says to see if it's viable. This is part 4 in my series on the Hebrew Roots movement. Here is the link to the whole playlist. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuOD_BytSxbejzCnGPOcgFw Here's the original video from 119 ministries - https://youtu.be/CWWg9ZKOc6g I produce free teaching content helping people learn to think biblically about everything and by God's grace it really is having an impact in people's lives around the world! If you want to partner with me and help me keep producing this content you can do so at this link. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want to get your own "BibleThinker" coffee mug then click here. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug?fbclid=IwAR2g_3IXu2mc-PeTi_7MHEulBvJ28fMzH-s3ZqzYX2aFALCAeCaaSwcpxKg

The first public message of Jesus is a condensed gospel message. I think that it boils down the gospel to certain essential truths that we need to be sharing when we evangelize. In particular we will look at the concept of repentance and how pervasive it is in gospel preaching in the New Testament. We'll answer some of the following questions. 1. Is calling people to repentance a normal part of gospel preaching? 2. Is repentance a work? 3. What is the biblical definition of the word "repent"? 4. Can Christians repent multiple times? Today's study covers Mark 1:14-15 and you can find the whole Mark playlist right here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF I (Mike Winger) make free videos helping people learn to think biblically about everything. If you want to support this effort please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Does 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 teach Limited Atonement? Does it teach Universalism? Does 1 John 2:2 present a challenge to Limited Atonement? Disclaimer - This is not a comprehensive discussion of these topics but I have gathered some questions I have been sent about a few specific passages of scripture dealing with limited atonement (the L in the Calvinist TULIP) and universalism (the idea that all people will be saved). I expect many of my brethren who are Calvinists to disagree with a lot of what I say in this video. You are more than welcome to share your disagreement in the comments and I appreciate you doing so in a manner representing our common faith in Christ. If you love this ministry and want to help me continue to produce free content teaching people to think biblically about everything then click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you want one of the new BibleThinker coffee mugs they are avaiable here (be sure to read the info at that link for instructions on shipping discounts and how to ship outside the continental US). https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug?fbclid=IwAR2g_3IXu2mc-PeTi_7MHEulBvJ28fMzH-s3ZqzYX2aFALCAeCaaSwcpxKg

Many mysterious things happen in this passage. Jesus' temptation brings up the issue of how God could be tempted. It also raises the question of whether Jesus could sin or not. We also have some neat typology related to Moses, Adam, Israel and Jesus. And we will look at some information on Satan and how to pay attention to the spiritual battle you are in every day. This is part 4 in the my series through the Gospel of Mark click here for the whole playlist (new videos added weekly) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you love this ministry and would like to support my continued creation of free content please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

There is a growing movement of people teaching that followers of Jesus/Yeshua ought to be followers of the Old Testament Law. If we pay close attention to the book of Acts we will see that this is not the case. In this video we are surveying the book of Acts to answer some of the following questions. 1- When someone who already followed the Law of Moses believed in Jesus did they continue to follow it? 2- When someone who did not follow the Law of Moses believed in Jesus did they start following it? 3- What direct teachings do we have from the book of Acts related to obeying the Law of Moses. Here's the PLAYLIST where I will put all the videos I do that relate to the Hebrew Roots Movement or specifically the idea that all followers of Jesus should obey the Law of Moses. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuOD_BytSxbejzCnGPOcgFw My goal in this ministry is to help people learn to think biblically about everything. I do this by spending my time studying and creating free content meant to teach and defend biblical truth. If you love this ministry and want to partner with me through financial support click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate BibleThinker coffee mugs are now available. Order your own right here. Make sure to read what's on that page so you can get the discount code! https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug?fbclid=IwAR2g_3IXu2mc-PeTi_7MHEulBvJ28fMzH-s3ZqzYX2aFALCAeCaaSwcpxKg

Most of us are naturally curious as to why Jesus underwent baptism. Especially since John baptized Jesus after saying the Bible says John preached a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins! In this video I'll explain why Jesus was baptized and what deep theological truths we learn from it. I'll also tackle some of the false teaching of Bart Ehrman about the gospel of Mark. Here's the playlist for the whole Mark series (videos added weekly) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to help support the free content I produce with this ministry then please click here (but know first that I don't want anyone to feel any pressure to give, I only need a minority of people to support in order to sustain this work) https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate Go to my channel to see hundreds of free videos all meant to help you think biblically about everything.

Most people don't realize that there are lot of good reasons to think Christianity is true. This video is meant to introduce you to a bunch of them and to help you get thinking about something called "the cumulative case for Christianity". Check the rest of this description for links to further resources you can use to learn to better master these arguments. Jonathan McLatchie's links - YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCr6nvYFyoCk5DsRgYRrhC_g and his web site http://Apologetics-Academy.org More on PROPHECY in my "Evidence for the Bible" playlist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EjnwldgqN8c&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuhA0RPKZFHVcjIMN_-F596 The UNITY OF THE BIBLE is taught in depth in this series on "Jesus in the Old Testament" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO Learn about UNDESIGNED COINCIDENCES briefly in this YT video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ito1Xc6KxBM OR in detail in the wonderful book by Lydia McGrew https://amzn.to/2Q9iLRu (Amazon affiliate link) For a resource on the GENERAL RELIABILITY OF THE GOSPELS please see Peter Williams NEW book (I've read it and it is fantastic) https://amzn.to/2W6Y8KS (Amazon affiliate link) Also see a video lecture by him with less information than the book. https://youtu.be/wi2_VNz_pKw For the HISTORICITY OF THE BOOK OF ACTS check out this book. https://amzn.to/2Q3SfZs (Amazon affiliate link) it is quite pricey but thorough. Here is a short video by Dr. Craig Keener summarizing some of these points https://youtu.be/A_ZUGzPZwhk For NATURAL THEOLOGY (philosophical and science related arguments for God) see the following. -- William Lane Craig's books - "On Guard" is a more pop-level work https://amzn.to/30oeoX7 (affiliate) whereas "Reasonable Faith" is much more in challenging and equally rewarding. https://amzn.to/2VHcXEN (affiliate) Here are links to specific videos related to Natural Theology arguments. -- Kalam Cosmological. Short clip https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CulBuMCLg0 the same but in greater detail https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ58aloF7Bc -- The Leibnizian Cosmological Argument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2ULF5WixMM -- The Ontological Argument briefly explained https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmAKCvWl74 and here given in great detail with objections answered. https://youtu.be/2t8xFlRM0vY -- Fine Tuning in Biology https://evolutionnews.org/2011/11/the_finely_tuned_genetic_code/?fbclid=IwAR3lkFxXROqPKYaan-5683LQuNpfrVj41A61qqq2R2BcfQMgFJmtff9686Y -- Fine Tuning of Our Universe. Short video explanation https://youtu.be/EE76nwimuT0 Long video defending this in detail. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fMn0RvVq4oY Argument from philosophy for the Trinity. Short clip here https://youtu.be/qtl2dvgGDxk In greater detail here https://amzn.to/2HkNp7o (affiliate) -- Argument from the Resurrection of Jesus. Lecture by Dr. William Lane Craig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_NAOc6ctw1s I hope these resources are of great use to you and that they lead you or help you lead others to Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except through Him. He is the central truth we need to know so that we can be forgiven by God and receive relationship with God and eternal life. Its simple, and its true. If you want to help me (Mike Winger) continue producing free ministry content online then consider clicking here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This may be the most important passage to those who say that all followers of Jesus should be obeying the Law of Moses (sometimes called the Hebrew Roots movement). To be honest, I really can understand why they interpret it that way, even though I disagree. This video will analyze Matthew 5:17-19 and Matthew 28:20 as they relate to the Hebrew Roots teaching as well as looking at some other often misunderstood things about the Law of Moses. Next week I will pick up where I've left off this week and cover more content from the New Testament on the topic of whether Christians are under the Law. Here’s the first video in this series on the Hebrew Roots movement. https://youtu.be/QR7xTYhXEbo My ministry is all about teaching and defending biblical truth in order to help people learn to think biblically about everything. If you want to support this ministry please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate If you are interested in the new BibleThinker mug here it is. Make sure to use promo code "THINKER" when checking out so your shipping charges will be voided. And message them for shipping outside the continental US. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug?fbclid=IwAR2g_3IXu2mc-PeTi_7MHEulBvJ28fMzH-s3ZqzYX2aFALCAeCaaSwcpxKg

I (Mike Winger) recently had the honor of teaching and leading communion in at my fellowship. As I prepared I thought that the Lord was leading me to teach on the topic of handling terrible stresses and heart breaking worries in a biblical way. This isn't just a self-help study for those who feel stressed by non-issues. This is biblical help for those who are worried to death or feeling totally overwhelmed by the anxieties and stresses they are facing in their lives. I pray that the truth of the Scripture comforts your heart as you put your hope in Christ and are reminded of how that hope impacts your troubled heart. This online ministry (BibleThinker) is made possible by the support of people like you. If you want to support my continued ministry of creating free resources that teach and defend biblical truth then visit my web site here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Open this description to see time stamps (or look at the first comment below). I'll get to as many of your questions as I can today. As always I won't pretend to have all the answers but will try to share what I can that may be helpful and will do so from a place of trusting Christ and letting the Bible be the authority that it is. Interested in ordering one of the new BibleThinker mugs? Here's the link (for shipping outside the continental US you can message them at this web site and work it out). The pricing of these mugs is partially because they are a fund raiser for me to continue doing this ministry. By having a product like this I can keep producing my teaching for free. https://www.zockollpottery.com/product-page/bible-thinker-mug?fbclid=IwAR3pFrzQUln1rATuC-jGe8b_vx4As1gTX-Bi_47x4F0lxY0SUsKHuptxMQk I am now doing this ministry full time I want to keep researching and producing tons of free content. I never want to require people to pay utilize my teaching. Those of you who have the ability and the desire to offer some support will enable me to keep pursuing that vision. BUT, while I am opening the door for donations I don't want anyone to feel compelled to give, only do so if you really want to partner with me and you see the same needs that I do. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate Question Time-Stamps for Quick Reference: 1. 3:43 Is it O.K. for churches to focus just on discipling their congregation vs. placing any emphasis on community outreach? 2. 6:33 Would you consider books such as “23 Minutes in Hell” or “90 Minutes in Heaven” to be theologically accurate? 3. 8:42 What are two of your favorite prophecies that even atheists might think “Whoa!” when they hear them? 4. 11:24 What do you believe about the soul? 5. 12:49 Will you ever do a video on confirmation bias? 6. 13:41 Regarding apologetics, how does one go about getting the primary source info? How do I find objective evidence in a sea of biased online content? 7. 14:52 Is the Kalam Cosmological Argument a bad argument that has been thoroughly debunked, as many atheists claim? 8. 21:02 Is the idea of there being modern-day apostles biblical? 9. 23:58 In 1 John 4: 2, can this test really be considered sufficient? What about those claiming to speak by the Spirit and readily confess Jesus Christ, but push false teaching? 10. 27:20 When are you going to write a book? 11. 27:50 Does God change with culture? As time passes in the Scriptures, it seems as though God’s punishments for sin lessen in severity. He kills many in the O.T. but not very many in the N.T. 12. 30:52 Is the Sabbath Saturday or Sunday, and does it matter for Gentiles? 13. 32:23 Did Jesus have a human body before He came into the world 2,000 years ago? 14. 35:40 Atheists bring up the Hebraic cosmology now with the rise of “flat Earth”. What is your view on how we interpret the Bible scientifically? 15. 38:41 If there is a song with questionable lyrics or meaning, is it O.K. to sing it with different, more godly lyrics? 16. 40:15 Can you do a biblical look at Arminianism? 17. 40:32 How can we currently pray for Pastor Mike? 18. 41:24 What do I tell Christians who tell me I don’t have to keep the Sabbath, or that I can change it to any day I want? 19. 42:57 What are your thoughts on “eternal security” and Hebrews 6 and 10? 20. 44:02 Why do some people say that the woman caught in adultery in John 8 is Mary Magdalene? And why did they stone her and not the man who was with her? 21. 45:25 What are your thoughts on the Orthodox church? 22. 45:41 How should Christians deal with the issue of immigration, and what about the issue of criminals entering the U.S.? 23. 47:10 Question about future punishment, holidays, and the Mosaic law. 24. 48:19 In John 20: 17, why did Jesus not want Mary Magdalene to touch Him? 25. 51:43 What is your opinion of N.T. Wright’s view on Paul and his epistles? 26. 52:09 How should Christians apply Matthew 6: 14-15 to life situations? 27. 54:56 Is the idea that “God doesn’t give anyone more than they can bear” a biblical idea? (Especially concerning suicide) 28. 56:54 Is it a biblically defensible position to say that God the Father NEEDED Jesus’ sacrifice in order to cleanse us for the purpose of indwelling us with the Holy Spirit? 29. 58:23 Do you think you would believe in the resurrection of Jesus, were it not for the testimony of God? 30. 59:32 How can I biblically deal with my struggle with lust? I pray every day about it and I repent, but I still feel enslaved.

Have you ever really thought about John the Baptist? This is part 2 in the Mark series covering Mark 1:1-8. This 4 dimensional study through the Gospel of Mark is looking for 1- contextual/historical analysis 2- theological insights 3- genuine application of biblical truth 4- apologetics related insights Check out the whole Mark playlist (new videos weekly) here https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF If you want to support my work and help me continue making free resources that teach and defend biblical truth then please click here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Examining the slogan "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". It may seem simple and true when you first hear it but when you really think it through it's full of problems. In reality this slogan is often used to keep people from following evidence to things they simply don't want to believe in or things that they don't already believe in. This video will be an attempt to thoughtfully work through this issue in the hopes that it will help people to avoid the subjective confirmation bias that tends to come with the slogan, "Extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence." I mentioned an upcoming interview with Dr. Tim McGrew on the topic of Extraordinary Events Require Extraordinary Evidence?" on Capturing Christianity's YT channel. I highly recommend you check it out, Dr. McGrew is knowledgeable and explains things well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvAA-ypUQnw If you want to partner with me by supporting this ministry please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This is part 1 of a new series in the gospel of Mark. Today we look at evidence that Mark really is the author of the Gospel of Mark and that Peter and other named eyewitnesses were sources of the information in it. I'll generally be uploading one new video each week. Special thanks to Richard Bauckham and Tim McGrew whose work was really helpful in preparing for this teaching. HERE is the playlist for every video in the series (new ones added as they come out) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuGenHwUdeiQ5M-uj5XW4sF You may want to click on my channel page and see some other playlists and videos. I have many hours of bingeable Bible-Thinking. If you want to support my ministry work please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

At the end of a long day when I was abnormally busy, and cutting back on my coffee intake, I did a 2 hour debate review video. Haha. I may be a bit tired but I think the content here is valuable and I'm looking forward to getting some feedback on it. Here are the timestamps (though I strongly recommend you watch this whole video) 8:00 Matt's flawed treatment of history 8:55 "Claims not evidence" 17:43 How history actually works 21:01 How a cumulative case works 25:48 Matt vs history and historians 57:20 Double standards which avoid the evidence 1:13:59 Elvis sightings and testing miracle claims 1:25:26 Summary of historical problems in Matt's criticism of the case for the resurrection. 1:27:55 BIGGEST ISSUE IN THE DEBATE: Philosophy 1:50:55 When I offended Matt. Dr. Craig Blomberg's article on the potential ages of the gospel writers. https://ntscholarship.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/did-none-of-jesus-disciples-live-long-enough-to-write-a-gospel/ How we really got the books of the New Testament (watch 4 consecutive videos in this playlist) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5hItK8IY-Us&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuhA0RPKZFHVcjIMN_-F596&index=12 Journal of the American Medical Association article "On The Physical Death of Jesus Christ" https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/403315 Inspiring Philosophy's video "Matt Dillahunty vs Science" https://youtu.be/2TfLsHl2INE Dr. Tim McGrew "How to Think About Miracles" https://youtu.be/l3PW-2X-9bA Matt implied that we didn't really know what the New Testament originally said. Here's 3 videos about textual critcism https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW How "inference the best explanation" (my method for concluding that Jesus rose from the dead and God did it) is solid epistemology https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/abduction/ Great video from Acts17Apologetics called "Scooby Doo and the Silly Skeptic", which helps explain the problem of special pleading https://youtu.be/YrGVeB_SPJg Lastly, for those who want more info on why "inherent improbability" of a miracle is not a good reason to reject one outright check out these two podcast episodes from Capturing Christianity. Calum Miller walks through the problems this philosophical position which is called "frequentism". https://capturingchristianity.com/tag/calum-miller/ If you would like to support this ministry please click here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Special Guest Dr. Sean McDowell gives us help on reaching youth. The book is called "So The Next Generation Will Know" and can ordered here https://amzn.to/2Uvl0Pn (May 1st 2019 is the release date and this is an affiliate link) These tips should help parents, educators and ministers in effectively discipling youth so that they can have and hold a strong Christian faith.

Based on results from a recent poll on the definition of faith we can see that Christians and non-Christians seem to have opposing views of the word "faith". Here's what I think has caused this divide and what I think we can learn from it. Here's the original poll on Twitter https://twitter.com/MikeWingerii/status/1111422821396156418 Here are the graphs developed from the poll https://twitter.com/MikeWingerii/status/1111857443980500992 Here’s my debate with Matt Dillahunty https://youtu.be/Z2FGgkubhZM To support this ministry go to https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

If we show that the eye-witnesses to the resurrection also endured great suffering as a result of their claims then we have good reason to think that they were being sincere. They really did believe they saw Jesus after He had risen from the grave and this made them willing to suffer and even die for Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96Nl_XJhQEgRshQs5R8PikeRX3andH2K In this playlist, three Christian YouTubers (Cameron Bertuzzi of Capturing Christianity, Mike Winger, and Jon McCray of Whaddo You Meme) respond to the "Atheist Voice" and his "20 Short Arguments Against God."

The book "A Manual for Creating Atheists" has sparked an entire movement of atheists with a special set of tools which are supposed to help people restore their "sense of wonder". But I'm wondering if this continual misrepresentation of facts and reason is actually brainwashing the very people it purports to help. If you are into "Street Epistemology" then I hope you will watch and consider the following. I've spent many hours interacting with people who use some form of Street Epistemology (Pine Creek, Paulogia, etc.) and I have some things I'd like to share about it. Here's the link for the live stream on Capturing Christianity (Jon, Cam and I talk about our series on 20 arguments against God). https://youtu.be/5HNj7C1mRA4 My video on how faith is not belief without evidence https://youtu.be/SIJORjiOWeI My special guests, in the order they appeared Tim Barnett https://www.youtube.com/user/clearthinking4Christ Jon McCray https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1okSIA8UEY8OqvtjGHFvzA Cameron Bertuzzi https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCux-_Fze30tFuI_5CArwSmg Greg Koukl https://www.youtube.com/user/STRvideos

The 1 chapter book of Philemon is about a runaway slave (Onesimus) being sent back to his master by the suggestion of Paul the Apostle. While some would want to mine this little book for attacks on the Christian worldview it's actually very profound in what it teaches us about Christian brotherhood and loving others not by compulsion but from the inside out. This study will also get into how Paul's appeals on the behalf of Onesimus are much like Jesus' appeals on our behalf to love and forgive one another. May you be reminded of our calling in the letter to Philemon.

What Paul the Apostle knew about Jesus is important if for no other reason than the dismantle poor arguments against the resurrection of Christ. This is a systematic look at what historical details Paul had about Jesus so that we can rule out the idea that Paul didn't know of a historical Jesus or that Paul was merely making things up as he went along. Link to our playlist answering objections to God's existence. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL96Nl_XJhQEgRshQs5R8PikeRX3andH2K Evidence for the empty tomb - https://youtu.be/C8BU_R7QoYo

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 1. 2:16 If Jesus is not the Father, why did He say He was in John 14: 9? 2. 7:06 Does God, at times, want a believer to be wealthy, pursue wealth, have a big house, or buy an expensive car? Would you trust someone whose prophecy is weighted toward wealth and success? 3. 11:40 There’s a video going around by Creation Liberty Evangelism, that the word ‘repent’ (metanoia) means “godly grief and sorrow”. Is there any merit to this teaching? 4. 16:55 Do you have any study tips for someone starting to dig deeper into the Bible? (Note taking tips, how to determine whether a source is credible, questions to ask while studying…etc.) 5. 20:38 Matthew 27 mentions saints being raised from the dead. No one else mentions this, even in the other gospels. Why? 6. 25:05 What were your thoughts on the debate you moderated between Hovind and Garte? 7. 27:12 Do you believe that those who teach false doctrines (for ex., that homosexual relations are o.k.) are in a sense rejecting the true Jesus/true gospel since they preach something counter to the gospel? 8. 31:55 Is there any secular historical or archaeological evidence for the Exodus? 9. 33:29 Could you please comment on 1 Timothy 2: 11-15 about women being “silent” and not having authority in church, particularly about how they are “saved through childbirth” in verse 15? 10. 44:37 People claim that the idea of a pre-trib rapture was made up very recently and was not originally believed by the early church fathers. Is there any validity to this claim? 11. 45:16 Should I stay in a church where they use materials by false teachers, or are reluctant to address the issues of false teachings/teachers? 12. 47:43 What are your thoughts on being “slain in the Spirit/drunk in the Spirit”, and in regards to tongues, are the “unknown utterances” that Paul talked about the same as what people call “tongues” today? 13. 53:56 Are ghosts real, or are they evil spirits? 14. 55:03 Have you heard of the International Christian Church? They seem to have a legalistic doctrine that controls and manipulates their members. What do you think? 15. 56:27 I’ve heard different takes on the connection between the rapture and the 3rd temple. Some people say the temple has to be built prior to rapture, and others say it doesn’t. Where do you stand? 16. 57:25 What is the biblical view on women teaching men in a pastoral role or having a leadership position in church? 17. 59:09 How would you evangelize to a pantheist and prove pantheism false? And how would you evangelize to a polytheist (such as a Hindu) to prove their religion false? 18. 1:01:19 Does the baptism of the Holy Spirit happen at salvation, or after? 19. 1:02:30 Why does Jesus refer to Mary’s God as "His God" in John 17? 20. 1:04:03 What are your thoughts on preterism? 21. 1:05:49 Are Christian head coverings biblical? I just got back from vacation and I am unable to prepare content for tonight's live stream so I'm doing a Q&A instead. I hope this will be beneficial for you and that you will have some of your own questions answered. As always, the goal is to learn how to think biblically about everything and if I don't know the answer to a question I reserved the right (and have the responsibility) to just tell you I don't know. I try to make all my content free and available to everyone but if you love this ministry and want to support my continued work then please visit this link on my site. https://biblethinker.org/~biblethinker/index.php/donate

There are several reasons to believe that the empty tomb accounts in the Bible are historically true, even if you aren't a Christian. And if they are historically true, then perhaps you should become a Christian. In this video I will outline several specific lines of argument that build a cumulative case for the historicity of the empty tomb and support the resurrection of Christ. Join for the live stream (after this live stream) where me, Whaddo You Meme??, and Capturing Christianity reveal our 20 video secret project! https://youtu.be/0i19-5T9mfg After years of doing this online ministry I am now seeking to make it my full time job. This means I've added a donate option on my web site. While I'm honestly uncomfortable with the whole "money" thing I do want to keep doing this ministry and for this content to be totally free and available to all. But I still need to be a provider for my wife and I so this is our attempt to see if this is how God will provide. If you want to help support me continuing to produce regular videos on theology and apologetics then here's the link, and thank you. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

I LOVE this stuff! See how Jesus is pictured in the final feasts of Israel. The Feast of Trumpets, The Day of Atonement and The Feast of Booths/Tabernacles. This is just part of the extensive series on "How to Find Jesus In The Old Testament" - Find the whole series playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO If you love this teaching ministry and would like to support it please click here https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Sometimes complicated issues can be made very simple. Here are some good reasons to think the Gospels are the preserved testimony of eye-witnesses from the 1st century. We will talk about the early second century writings of Papias, the introduction to the gospel of Luke, the riddle of names in the gospels and the issue of genre. All these elements are like arrows pointing to one big fact; the gospels contain the record of eye-witness testimony and attempts to treat them as though they are a hodgepodge of rumor which are far removed from the original sources simply fail. Jesus and the Eyewitnesses - excellent book by Richard Bauckham https://amzn.to/2TWYuzz (this is an affiliate link) If you want to support my continued work on theology and apologetics click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

This study looks at the typology of the feasts of Passover, Unleavened Bread, First Fruits and Pentecost. You will see how they are actually a kind of prophecy about Christ which Jesus fulfilled at His first coming. The next study in this series will look at how the remaining feasts of Israel foreshadow Jesus. See the whole playlist here. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO If you would like to support this ministry and please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

Taking questions from the live chat here on YouTube on the topics of Apologetics, Theology and the Christian life. Question Time Stamps: 1. 2:06 How does a Christian not let the evil of abortion consume their mind? 2. 4:43 How can Jesus be God if in Mark 13: 32 it says only the Father knows the day or the hour? 3. 9:21 Can you explain what Job's friends are talking about in the beginning of the book of Job? 4. 11:05 Can you please differentiate between "the law" and "the commandments"? 5. 12:33 How do you defend the Trinity when encountering Jehovah's Witnesses? 6. 13:51 Can you give some examples of what it means that we're created in the image of God, and how do we reflect God's image? 7. 17:18 Where is the Trinity in the Gospel of Mark? 8. 18:53 How literally should we read the Bible, especially concerning Genesis and the Old Testament? 9. 21:13 How should I respond to someone who asks me why they should believe in Christianity and no other religion? 10: 23:27 What are your thoughts on the Nicene Creed and the Apostle's Creed? 11. 23:59 Shouldn't we obey Jesus' process of becoming a disciple, regarding baptism? 12. 25:27 What do you think of the interpretation of the governing body of Jehovah's Witnesses teaching that the King of the North in Daniel 11 represents the Russian government and its allies? 13. 27:15 Are we going to have free will in Heaven? 14. 30:06 Do you believe in "once saved, always saved"? 15. 31:22 How do you deal with heretics and cults who try to recruit people on your college campus? 16. 33:33 What do you think about Luis de Molina and Molinism? 17. 36:16 When finding a spouse, is there only "the one" person for us? How does this play in with free will, and does marriage have meaning in the afterlife? 18. 41:48 In 1 Corinthians 11: 16, was having a woman cover her head a law and a custom? Should women today be covering their hair? 19. 42:41 Can you clarify the topic of God's aseity (self-existence)? How can God be prior to all abstract objects? 20. 45:07 What is your view of Jesus' statement in John 3: 13 that no one has ascended if Elijah did? 21. 47:16 What would you say is the proper way to observe the Sabbath? 22. 48:16 Can you tell us how and when you knew you were saved? 23. 50:23 Is repentance a component of justification or sanctification? 24. 51:16 How can we know our authority as believers over evil spirits and sickness? 25. 51:59 Should a Christian get involved in politics/imposing injustice from the state? 26. 53:52 Did Jesus go to Hell when He died, before He was resurrected? 27. 54:46 Why are books like Job in the Bible if we don't know the author or have much detail about them? 28. 56:13 When are you doing your biblical flat earth video? 29. 56:54 Why do we just practice "giving" as opposed to "tithing", as non-jews? 30. 1:00:27 As a young new pastor, how should I go about prayerfully considering a position at a church of a different denomination with slight doctrinal differences? If you love this ministry and want to help support it please click here. https://biblethinker.org/index.php/donate

When Jesus called Himself "The Son of Man" it meant a lot more than most people realize. This will be a survey of the various "son of man" passages in the Old Testament to see what Jesus was saying about Himself and what He though about His own identity when He used the title. This is part 20 in the series "How to Find Jesus in The Old Testament", this is the playlist with the whole series. This may change the way you view the Old Testament (in a good way). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO

Your efforts have resulted in YouTube restoring my channel and the video about the Hebrew Roots Movement that was taken down has been reinstated as well. Here it is - https://youtu.be/QR7xTYhXEbo I don't even know how many of you tweeted, emailed, snail-mailed or faxed information to YouTube but I know it was a lot. Thank you so much, you made the difference here because I know that my own appeals didn't do anything. :) I'm grateful to YouTube employees who found out about this and went to bat for me. YT is a fantastic place to do ministry and I hope to continue doing it here for a long time. Here is the link if you want to support what I'm doing here online. Do not feel any obligation to give, I want my content to be as free as possible. https://give.cornerstone.cc/biblethinker

My channel may be at risk due to a recent video being deleted by YouTube. I explain in detail in this video. If anyone from YT is reading this please reach out and explain to me what I did wrong so I won't do it again and unwittingly get my channel deleted. The video that was deleted was titled, "I've Been Looking Into The Hebrew Roots Movement and Here's What I've Found So Far" Here is a sample message you can send to YT to help by asking them to address this issue. Make sure that whatever you send them is sent with honesty and respect. Thank you. Dear YouTube, please reconsider your removal of the video “I’ve Been Looking Into The Hebrew Roots Movement and Here’s What I’ve Found So Far” from the channel https://youtube.com/mikewinger. As a YouTube viewer I have watched the video and read the YT policies on “spam, deceptive practices or scams” and think that this video was falsely flagged. If you still deem his video a violation of YT policies then please let Mike know specifically what he did wrong so that he can comply with YT policies in the future and avoid further consequences. I love his content and don’t want it to be deleted because of a misunderstanding. Thank you for providing such a wonderful platform for content creation! If you haven't watched the original video then rewrite your message accordingly. Thank you, Mike

This teaching looks at Leviticus 8 and Exodus 28 to find out how the garments and the ordination of the high priest represent Christ. I turns out that there is some really neat typology of Christ in these chapters. Here's the link to the entire "How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament" playlist.

YouTube deleted this video but the audio is still available here on this web site and the video is available on the Mike Winger Facebook Page. facebook.com/MikeWingerBibleThinker Evaluating some of the teaching and rhetoric of a representative of the Hebrew Roots Movement, 119 Ministries. I applaud them that they are willing to go through passages verse by verse but I find their interpretations of the scripture to be problematic and their conclusions to be unbiblical. Here's the video I'm responding to from 119 Ministries https://youtu.be/c-jVXpFttuI?list=PLo5QtZ1bPyYbLdyw2AnVKX9tm-b2YJFhQ

When it comes to the topic of abortion there is usually a lot more heat than light. This video is meant to be an analysis of abortion for the sake of clarity. The central question of "what is this thing that we are aborting?" Once this is answered, the issue of abortion becomes crystal clear. The answer to this ONE question is also the answer to every pro-choice argument. It's simple. When we realize the nature of the thing being aborted we see that every pro-choice argument fails and this is why they work so hard avoiding the issue of what an abortion kills. Links you may like. Abort73 is a web site that gathers incredibly useful data for making the case for life. https://abort73.com Life Training Institute is a worthwhile organization that educates and debates on the topic of abortion to change minds and culture. They have speakers available to come to your events as well. https://prolifetraining.com/

Examining the 5 sacrifices in Leviticus 1-7 to find Typological significance as to how they relate to Christ. This study should encourage us to appreciate the book of Leviticus more. If you haven't seen the whole teaching series of "How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament" then I recommend checking it out here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO Disclaimer: There are actually more than 5 kinds of sacrifices in the book of Leviticus but these 5 are the main ones and this study focuses on just the first 7 chapters of the book.

I am very happy to report that the Christian definition of faith is NOT belief without evidence! I'll establish this by looking at specific passages of scripture which refute this definition. The problem is that by saying "faith is belief without evidence" we are no longer talking about the way we hold to a belief. We are saying something about the evidence for the Christian faith. Specifically we are saying there is no evidence. I have a problem with this... and so should you. This ministry exists to help people see the truth of Christianity and to think more deeply and biblically about it. Link to the video "Tough Bible Questions Atheists Ask Answered by Christian Mike Winger" https://youtu.be/omv0RwFlY8A Link to Amy Hall's article on Hebrews 11 and how it doesn't mean "faith is belief without evidence" https://www.str.org/blog/hebrews-doesnt-say-what-atheists-think-it-says-about-faith#.XD5s9VxKhhE

This teaching survey's the book of Hebrews gathering data about typology (foreshadowing) of Christ in the Old Testament. It turns out that the book of Hebrews is chock full of examples of types. Not only that, it gives us cause to look for very specific kinds of types when we are reading the Old Testament. This book unlocks the Old Testament in a wonderful way.

Every cult and false religion challenges the Trinity and a lot of Christians don't have answers. This will be a simple but detailed examination of how we support the Trinity with the Bible AND how to answer 7 of the typical questions that generally stumble Christians on the topic of the Trinity.

Pastor Mike Winger's survey through the entire book of Judges looking for pictures and types of Christ. This is part 16 in the series "How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament". Check out the whole series here. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO To learn to think biblically about everything please check out my youtube channel or my website https://biblethinker.org

In answering the question of tattoos it's important to not only consider Leviticus 19:28 but also what Romans 14 teaches us about handling potentially contentious issues of conscience. On one side we have those who can not distinguish the difference between following their own conscience and requiring that everyone else does. On the other side we have some who recognize a liberty to get a tattoo while forgetting to partner this liberty with wisdom and love. Both of these errors causes division in the body of Christ. I'm hoping this video helps. Here is the video from Graham Allen (Rant Nation) that I referenced https://youtu.be/HYODSbNeNkQ Here is my fuller teaching on How To Understand and Apply The Old Testament Law https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoGKJEENngc&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuBirH5Rw3IhJinWrcTufY6

This will be my last video for 2018 and I'm excited to dig into the incredibly profound lyrics of one of my favorite Christmas songs, "O Come O Come Emmanuel". This video will explain the meaning of the lyrics of this classic Christmas song.

When Robert Barron told Ben Shapiro how to get to heaven was he saying what Jesus or Paul would have said? What did he mean by "follow your conscience" and what would a biblical response to Ben's important question be? To hear everything Ben Shapiro and Robert Barron talked about click here - https://youtu.be/0oDt8wWQsiA or go to Dailywire.com Here are some related videos that may interest you What About the Sincere Jew - https://youtu.be/tZTEAiENTQc Witnessing to Jews - https://youtu.be/1Vg_Seybf9Q About People Who Never Hear the Gospel - https://youtu.be/IiyxpE5UBz4

When we read Jeremiah 10 in context it is obvious that it is not about Christmas trees or anything like it.

I recently read Brian Zahnd's book "Sinners in the Hands of a Loving God" and discovered one of the most blasphemous works I've ever read. This video is an analysis of some key issues relating to the false gospel and fake Jesus of Brian Zahnd. Please do not be dulled by his use of poetry or shamed by his constant misrepresentation of biblical Christianity. Brian Zahnd is a rhetorician and poet more than a theologian or pastor but I'm going to try and bring clarity to exactly where his gospel goes wrong and why his Jesus is really just a mirror image of Brian Zahnd rather than the true Jesus.

Disclaimer: I'm not here to mistreat Lauren but to try to help with this challenging and contentious issue. I think that Lauren's comments in a recent interview on the Domenick Nati show reflect the struggle that millions of people have on the topic of homosexuality and I hope this video helps. Why is it so hard for some people to openly speak about the issue homosexuality? What does the Bible say about homosexuality being a sin? Is it wise, or biblical to get on the fence on this topic? Here is the 4 part teaching on Homosexuality from scriptural, historical, medical and social concerns. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsp1qWCFFN2JPKd5b6_LPED

LOOK HERE! This is the list of questions with time stamps to each one! (for mobile users I will put this list as the first comment so you can click the time stamps) 0:33 Why does the Bible say to test God yet also tells us not to test God? 10:55 Is the seal on the foreheads of those in Revelation 7 a physical seal? 14:14 Why did God create all this? 17:04 Did God create all things in seven 24-hour days? 23:29 Are morals subjective or objective? 33:00 A question about Satan’s realm and Hell. 37:27 When was Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem? 38:09 Regarding Daniel 9, how does one get from 444BC to 30AD by adding 483 years? 41:04 Why do Christians celebrate Christmas on December 25th? 47:32 Who was Saint Nicholas? 49:21 What is “the time of the Gentiles” 52:39 Were people in the Old Testament times saved by works of the Law? 54:48 Are you still saved if you live after the flesh

Jim Majors is the CEO for the worldwide group Atheist Republic. He has a new book on the way, refuting Christianity and boy does he have a lot of influence! With over 2 million followers on facebook and a chapter in every state of the US I consider it a kindness to my atheist friends to deal with his claims. He's just not your source for truth guys. Links I mentioned: The NonSequitir Show video I am responding to https://youtu.be/62TWzba3u80 Dan Wallace's article on the dating of John's gospel https://bible.org/seriespage/gospel-john-introduction-argument-outline#_ftnref24 BBC article on the life-spans of ancient people http://www.bbc.com/future/story/20181002-how-long-did-ancient-people-live-life-span-versus-longevity Bible Archaeology article on Herod and how murderous he was http://www.biblearchaeology.org/post/2009/12/08/The-Slaughter-of-the-Innocents-Historical-Fact-or-Legendary-Fiction.aspx#Article University of Texas Austin article on Koine Greek https://lrc.la.utexas.edu/eieol/ntgol My three videos on supposed Bible contradictions  https://youtu.be/OA-4eQN16n0 https://youtu.be/uoLYyyqijfU https://youtu.be/7zS4VgFDf8s My videos explaining tough textual issues (like the ending of Mark) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WclIZwBFhq0&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHuzJhPtmrgqpVoXhjvqiIjW

I'll demonstrate how NOT to do typology by using examples of Catholic apologists twisting the Bible out of shape to squeeze the dogmas about Mary into the scripture. The types of Mary are supposedly the New Eve, the Ark of the New Covenant and the Queen Mother. But when we examine them we see that they not only aren't types, they don't give the dogmas that Catholic apologists pretend they do. From the "New Eve" they want to say that Mary was immaculately conceived (that she was born without sin and never sinned through her life). From the "Ark of the New Covenant" they want to say she was perpetually a virgin (even after Jesus' birth) and that she was taken bodily up into heaven at the end of her life. From the "Queen Mother" they want to say she is exalted to the right hand of Jesus and can intercede for us today. Here are the links to the Catholic sources I mentioned in this teaching. "Dr. Scott Hahn The Virgin Mary Revealed Through Scripture" https://youtu.be/o48-Jo2p9wM Article on The National Catholic Register titled "Amazing Parallels Between Mary and the Ark of the Covenant" http://www.ncregister.com/blog/darmstrong/amazing-parallels-between-mary-and-the-ark-of-the-covenant Article on the Catholic Answers web site called "Mary, the Ark of the New Covenant" https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/mary-the-ark-of-the-new-covenant Article from Catholic Answers called "Is Mary's Queenship Biblical?" https://www.catholic.com/magazine/print-edition/is-marys-queenship-biblical

Honestly, I think this is some pretty basic stuff that many believers have ignored. Surveying some Bible passages on the topic of anger and how we ought to handle it. Specifically, we are told not to bottle it up and not to let it out. But if that's the case, how are Christians supposed to deal with anger? The biblical answer is to "put it off". In other news, here is a link to my recent talk with atheist Skylar Fiction on moral issues and the Bible. https://youtu.be/1kXZSTGdfWw

A survey of examples of how Jesus is pictured in the Tabernacle of Moses. This is one of my favorite examples of typology! From the bronze altar to the ark of the covenant to the materials used in the coverings of the tabernacle we have wonderful illustrations of the person and work of Christ. Check out my channel for more videos and learn how to think biblically about everything.

Many skeptics respond to the evidence for the Bible by ignoring it and saying "You can't use the Bible to prove the Bible". I think there is a sense in which this is true, but there are several senses in which this is false. In this video I will explain 7 (and maybe 8) ways to use the Bible to prove the Bible. Links for you. My recent debate with an Atheist on the Evidence for the Resurrection - https://youtu.be/c5Hq5zyoezE My series on How to Find Jesus in the Old Testament - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WWlpQauXiTU&list=PLZ3iRMLYFlHsHyvMtfgOgSPU6zEnCvxUO

If we are going to keep the main thing the main thing in our lives then we need to apply what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33. It has special instructions that should affect every area of our lives. We will examine the meaning and application of, “Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.”

Is there sufficient evidence to believe in the resurrection?

Is there sufficient evidence to believe in the resurrection? Subscribe to Paulogia: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIS4cWaXgWpznjwovFYQBJQ Subscribe to Mike Winger: https://www.youtube.com/user/EkimRegniw

A quick open Q&A video for today. Open description for time stamps to questions (once I have them). I may also discuss some random stuff about the Reformation and Martin Luther.

In my opinion, people are often one-sided when dealing with the topic of Halloween (or holidays in general). I hope to add something worthwhile to the conversation as I bring up 7 different issues to consider related to Halloween.

Sometimes we hear that "all sin is the same" or that "no sin is worse than any other", but is this biblical? Is it true? We will survey the Bible verses that relate to this issue and try to get a thorough understanding of it. In my opinion, people usually form this opinion based on sound bites instead of on the clear teaching of the Bible. I also think that getting this issue wrong makes us vulnerable to manipulation. Let's get biblical on the topic of sin. Earlier today was interviewed on Doreen Virtue's YT channel. We talked about New Age beliefs and if all people go to heaven. Here's the link. https://youtu.be/y1Iqu915ZY0 Check out her stuff to see the transformation of a New Age teacher into a disciple of Christ.