20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 82)

My goal is to help you on the road to thinking biblically about everything.

LINKS I MENTIONED

0:00 - Intro
1. 0:30 {Are Retirement Savings Sinful?} Based off of the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12: 16-21) and the story in Matthew 19: 21, do you think it is sinful to save up for retirement?
2. 14:59 {Communion Elements/Did Jesus Drink Wine?} My family and I attend a church that is in fellowship with an organization that uses water during communion instead of wine or grape juice. They attempt to use John 19: 34 to justify this, and they also believe Jesus never consumed wine. Is this biblical?
3. 21:10 {Does Jesus Live in Us?} Would it be accurate after reading 1 Corinthians 6: 19 & 2 Corinthians 13:5 to state that both the Holy Spirit and Jesus live in the believer?
4. 26:40 {Are “God-Given Rights” Biblical?} Does the Bible say anything about "God Given Rights,” at least the way many Americans use the phrase?
5. 33:20 {When & How to Evangelize} I want everyone to be saved & I feel guilty if I don't share the Gospel with every person I see. How do I know when I should share the Gospel & how do I start the conversation?
6. 38:08 {Is the Curse of the Ground Still Active?} In what way did Noah bring relief from the curse of the ground (Genesis 5: 28-29)? Am I mistaken in thinking the curse still seems active today (Genesis 3: 17-19; 8: 21)?
7. 43:47 {What is a False Teacher?} What do you think is the biblical definition of a false teacher? People's interpretations of this vary widely. I’d just like to have a fresh pair of eyes on it.
8. 47:58 {About Fantasy Entertainment} What is your stance on fantasy entertainment which utilizes pagan/made up religions such as GoT, Lotr, Zelda, Hercules, or Valheim? Isn’t it promoting Idolatry?
9. 52:05 {Safeguarding Ourselves While Witnessing} I have felt God call me to minister to the JWs, and He has opened doors for me to do so. What should I do to make sure my faith is not endangered when I am doing ministry? I meet with them tonight.
10. 56:21 {How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?} In Genesis 20:4-6, Abimelech seems to think he didn’t touch Sarah out of his own will, but God says HE didn’t allow it. Any insight on the intersection between our will and God’s hand making stuff happen?
11. 1:01:29 {How did Jesus Pay in Advance for our Sin?} I'm not sure about penal substitution. How can it be that my sins, which were not yet committed at the time of the crucifixion, could have been imputed to Christ on the cross?
12. 1:06:43 {Discerning God’s Calling from Our Feelings?} How can I tell the difference between when God is truly calling me to something or if I am just searching for signs?
13. 1:11:44 {Is Being Baptized in a Special Location More “Spiritual”?} Is it wrong to think being baptized in the Jordan River could be special?
14. 1:14:23 {What does it Look Like to “Renounce All” for God?} How should we live out Luke 14: 33?
15. 1:20:26 {Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?} I've been told that when witnessing to groups such as the LDS (Mormons), a rebuke is better than a conversation because of Acts 13:8-10. Should false teachers be shown less grace than non-believers?
16. 1:23:56 {Will Sin Send Some Believers to Hell?} Is Matthew 5: 30 referring to believers? How do we reconcile this with "There is no condemnation in Christ"?
17. 1:25:18 {Are the Ceremonial Laws Gone?} Where do we see in Scripture that the old ceremonial laws are gone?
18. 1:26:50 {How Important are Legal Marriage Papers?} Help, Mike. I need a Bible verse to help a Christian couple who are cohabitating and have 4 kids, but don’t want to marry. They say faithfulness is more important than marriage papers.
19. 1:29:07 {Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?} I just lost a friend to an overdose. I don't think she was a believer. Should I pray for her mercy or is there no point after death?
20. 1:30:56 {Does God Tempt?} God tests/tempts Israel and Abraham. But James says God doesn't test/tempt. How can we make sense of this?
21. 1:33:45 {Health/Prayer Update} Pastor Mike, can you give us an update on your personal health and sleep troubles?

[sarahfaith]

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:

0:00 - Intro
1. 0:30 {Are Retirement Savings Sinful?} Based off of the Parable of the Rich Fool (Luke 12: 16-21) and the story in Matthew 19: 21, do you think it is sinful to save up for retirement?
2. 14:59 {Communion Elements/Did Jesus Drink Wine?} My family and I attend a church that is in fellowship with an organization that uses water during communion instead of wine or grape juice. They attempt to use John 19: 34 to justify this, and they also believe Jesus never consumed wine. Is this biblical?
3. 21:10 {Does Jesus Live in Us?} Would it be accurate after reading 1 Corinthians 6: 19 & 2 Corinthians 13:5 to state that both the Holy Spirit and Jesus live in the believer?
4. 26:40 {Are “God-Given Rights” Biblical?} Does the Bible say anything about "God Given Rights, ” at least the way many Americans use the phrase?
5. 33:20 {When & How to Evangelize} I want everyone to be saved & I feel guilty if I don't share the Gospel with every person I see. How do I know when I should share the Gospel & how do I start the conversation?
6. 38:08 {Is the Curse of the Ground Still Active?} In what way did Noah bring relief from the curse of the ground (Genesis 5: 28-29)? Am I mistaken in thinking the curse still seems active today (Genesis 3: 17-19; 8: 21)?
7. 43:47 {What is a False Teacher?} What do you think is the biblical definition of a false teacher? People's interpretations of this vary widely. I’d just like to have a fresh pair of eyes on it.
8. 47:58 {About Fantasy Entertainment} What is your stance on fantasy entertainment which utilizes pagan/made up religions such as GoT, Lotr, Zelda, Hercules, or Valheim? Isn’t it promoting Idolatry?
9. 52:05 {Safeguarding Ourselves While Witnessing} I have felt God call me to minister to the JWs, and He has opened doors for me to do so. What should I do to make sure my faith is not endangered when I am doing ministry? I meet with them tonight.
10. 56:21 {How does Our Will Intertwine with God’s?} In Genesis 20:4-6, Abimelech seems to think he didn’t touch Sarah out of his own will, but God says HE didn’t allow it. Any insight on the intersection between our will and God’s hand making stuff happen?
11. 1:01:29 {How did Jesus Pay in Advance for our Sin?} I'm not sure about penal substitution. How can it be that my sins, which were not yet committed at the time of the crucifixion, could have been imputed to Christ on the cross?
12. 1:06:43 {Discerning God’s Calling from Our Feelings?} How can I tell the difference between when God is truly calling me to something or if I am just searching for signs?
13. 1:11:44 {Is Being Baptized in a Special Location More “Spiritual”?} Is it wrong to think being baptized in the Jordan River could be special?
14. 1:14:23 {What does it Look Like to “Renounce All” for God?} How should we live out Luke 14: 33?
15. 1:20:26 {Should False Teachers be Shown Less Grace?} I've been told that when witnessing to groups such as the LDS (Mormons), a rebuke is better than a conversation because of Acts 13:8-10. Should false teachers be shown less grace than non-believers?
16. 1:23:56 {Will Sin Send Some Believers to Hell?} Is Matthew 5: 30 referring to believers? How do we reconcile this with "There is no condemnation in Christ"?
17. 1:25:18 {Are the Ceremonial Laws Gone?} Where do we see in Scripture that the old ceremonial laws are gone?
18. 1:26:50 {How Important are Legal Marriage Papers?} Help, Mike. I need a Bible verse to help a Christian couple who are cohabitating and have 4 kids, but don’t want to marry. They say faithfulness is more important than marriage papers.
19. 1:29:07 {Should we Pray for those who Pass Away?} I just lost a friend to an overdose. I don't think she was a believer. Should I pray for her mercy or is there no point after death?
20. 1:30:56 {Does God Tempt?} God tests/tempts Israel and Abraham. But James says God doesn't test/tempt. How can we make sense of this?
21. 1:33:45 {Health/Prayer Update} Pastor Mike, can you give us an update on your personal health and sleep troubles?

[nicholaspaz]

Mike has made a bible thinker out of me.

[dreamgaze]

Mike, I listen to you basically every day, and I can’t thank you enough for your ministry. It has literally changed my life and brought me back to where I belong with God.

[blakeallen]

Shortly after being saved (a couple months) my pastor asked me to be a leader of the youth groups. And my thought was I wasn’t ready nor good enough but I wanted to have faith over fear and trust Jesus so I agreed. I learned a lot during that. And now I’m about to start my second year as a leader and I’m currently doing a Bible study with the boys from youth and plan on doing one every summer. And I couldn’t be happier. Being a youth leader has been the greatest experience of my life. And wanting to be a good leader for these kids has caused me to grow more in the word. They have been such a blessing. Youth ministry is how I hope to serve Christ for the rest of my life.

[TsunamiFlipFlop]

This is one of the best 20 questions you've done yet.

[sharondekker]

Mike, I am so sorry to hear of your health and sleep problems. I am 76 years old and have a suffered from these things most of my life. I know what it is like to try so many things to try to find some to get through the day. I taught school for forty years and just want to let you know that I think you are approaching it in the right way. I have to take many medicines to deal with my pain. I have had three hip replacements on the same hip and I have hardware in my back. But, for many years I was told they couldn’t see what was wrong, too. Hang in there, eat healthy, do the best you can to stay strong, and I will pray for you. You have been a blessing to me. I listen to you daily and that in itself helps me with my pain. I an fairly handicapped at the time and I stay positive by counting my blessings and I consider your ministry to be one of them. God bless you. Sharon

[anniemitchell]

I’m so thankful for these 20 question videos, surely the Lord is using you to make wise Bible thinkers ❤️

[Gazwalli]

Thank God you listened to your online calling.
As an Australian I love that I get to listen to you. You've me helped so much on my own journey.
Thank you. God bless.

[Future-zxts]

I am an awful sleeper, as well, Mike, so your comments resonated with me. I have been trying to live a more healthy lifestyle, as well. Your comments at the end of the video were encouraging not only for my situation, but it is also so wonderful to hear how prayers and your more healthy lifestyle have been working for you. Praise be to God!

[deebee]

The moment Pastor Mike said "Zacchaeus", I immediately started singing, lol. The full song (or at least the version I grew up with) is
Zacchaeus was a wee little man, and a wee little man was he
He climbed up in a Sycamore tree for the Lord he see
Then the Lord passed by and said, "Zacchaeus, you come down from there!
For I'm going to your house today. Yes, I'm going to your house today."

[sethbenge]

Good to hear that your back and health is better. I had back injections about seven years ago, but working out and movement was really the only thing that fixed it permanently. Now I use physical fitness and healthy eating to correct any other pains etc... Starting a healthy lifestyle really got me thinking about how neglected this is among Christians. Just like the rest of the U.S., Churches have no many overweight, obese, and generally physically unhealthy people. Shouldn't we be setting the example? Our bodies and lives are gifts from God. Christians are often willing to fight to protect themselves and others but won't make healthy choices that also protect their lives. I also consider it a form of selfishness, lack if exercise and unhealthy eating leads to physical problems later in life. Who has to care for unhealthy people when they're older? Their families and maybe even the government. I'm not saying Christians need to look like supermodels, just general care about their bodies and seek to maintain them as stewards of God's gift. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[elizabeths]

Mike, I know where you are with your back issues, so I've been praying. Been through all that you mentioned over 30 years, kept things manageable with "band-aid" treatments (opiods, steroids injections, seizure meds, massage, PT). Finally I was diagnosed with a form of arthritis of the large joints (neck, shoulders, back, hips), ankylosing spondylitis. My doctor put me on hydroxycloroquine, 200 mg, 2 x a day. No adverse effects. It took 3 months to "kick-in, " and now I've been pain free for 3 years! God is good.

[kristimartin]

My church has many retirees that volunteer and it’s such a wonderful blessing. I’m looking forward to my retirement to yes travel more but mainly to serve more in my church.

[julierobison]

Men like Mike Winger cause me to praise God who gave them their gift and is doing the workto sanctify them. I want to be a person that causes others to praise God! Thank you for all you have done for the Lord!

[shannagrubbs]

I have fell in love with your videos!!
I happened to click on one of your videos because I went to school with a Mike Winger!😉😁 You teaching is awesome!

[karricompton]

For those of us who are self employed and don’t have a pension or 401K, we absolutely have to save for the future because we can only work so long, and if we are physically disabled at some point, we don’t want to count on the government to take care of us. We store food for the future and for emergencies, too. If we end up not needing it, then our grown children will have it. I think this is just prudent and wise.

[samartinez]

Being given what you need is a blessing. Getting from 99 fold what you need to hundredfold is the issue. When Jesus told the young rich man to sell all he had and follow him, it's symbolism for living for spiritual riches, rather than Earthly ones. I ask God of only what I need, and thank him when I receive it. Of course, I don't actively ask God for what I think I need, I allow him to know better than I.

[danielteberian]

He pronounced my name correctly, and the answer he gave was so helpful! Pastor Mike FTW!

[b.tilson]

Dear Pastor MIke, thank you for your commitment to the Lord and to teaching His Word and making your teaching freely available! My life is forever changed because of God's goodness, Mercy, and Grace, and because of the work He has done through you. Several months ago as I was binge-watching your videos, I fell under deep conviction of a sin that I had not been able to overcome before when I finally saw the real sinfulness of that sin in contrast with the real love of God. Your teachings are clear yet filled with compassion, and I could hear your love for Jesus in every video in a way that moved me profoundly. The Lord has set me free; my heart is filled with love for Him, for His church, and for the lost in a way that it never has been before now. I give Him the Praise, but I do thank you for your service to the Lord! May God richly bless you and your family, and may He continue to reach hearts through your ministry. Love in Christ, Your Sister, Betty

[sugakillz]

Mike, I am so grateful for your ministry. Thank you for listening to the Lord and walking in obedience. You're are an excellent example to my entire family, myself included.