Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Intro 1. 0:47 {About the Parable of the Prodigal Son} Can you please teach us about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, specifically focusing on the obedient son who stays in his father's house and ends up resenting his prodigal brother? It seems like there's no real benefit to being the obedient son in that situation. Am I missing cultural context that would enhance my understanding of this parable? 2. 13:44 {Did David Not Understand Heaven?} In Psalm 6:5 David asks God to spare his life because "For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?" Does David not have a belief or understanding of Heaven at this point in his life? 3. 17:32 {About “The Last Reformation”} Have you heard of a movement called The Last Reformation, started by Torben Sondergaard in Denmark? Now he’s based in the U.S., but it has grown worldwide. Would you consider it a cult? 4. 19:09 {About the Devil’s Disguise} The devil, according to 2 Corinthians 11: 14, disguises as angel of light, but can't fight against himself ( Mark 3: 24) or his kingdom won't stand. What if in disguising himself, he condemns himself? 5. 22:41 {Raising Children with an Unbelieving Spouse} My husband doesn't believe in God and our 6 year old has started to notice and is asking why daddy doesn't believe. How should I approach this in a way that's helpful and honors my husband and God? 6. 26:16 {Biblical or Unbiblical Use of a Verse?} Many Christians use "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away" from Job (1: 21) to explain difficult things such as the death of a loved one. Is this biblical, or is it a misinterpretation of Job? 7. 32:19 {Drawing Near to God on Spiritual Holidays} First Easter being saved! Do you have any suggestions for some God honoring ways to spend Good Friday and Holy Saturday? I’m so excited and want to do whatever is in my power to feel especially close to Christ. 8. 36:40 {Strengthening our Faith When Others are Doubting} I have been doubting lately because I know of so many people deconverting even after finding apologetics. It makes me question my reasoning at times. What are your thoughts on this? 9. 41:53 {Why Don’t We Have To Obey the Sabbath?} It seems the only commandment of the 10 that we don't still HAVE to follow is the Sabbath. If it was as important as the other 10, why are they all still upheld without exception and not that one? 10. 44:33 {Handling Local Church Concerns} I’m afraid our church is being unknowingly influenced by progressivism. Ex: People love the podcast “the bible for normal people” with Pete Enns. Should we be worried? How do I share my concerns? 11. 48:31 {When a Spouse Refuses to Follow Scripture} Can you help a brotha out on what to do if your wife says she will never be a biblical wife for her husband? She is a believer. 12. 51:33 {Should We Bring Back Crusades?} Do you think that churches should bring back Gospel crusades? As I was saved at one in the 70s. These days, no one wants to preach the Gospel, but rather, do community works. 13. 56:03 {Was Marriage Different in Biblical Times / Premarital Sex} Some say the biblical prohibition against premarital sex no longer applies since marriage then was so different. How was marriage different then, and how should that impact our view of sex now? 14. 1:02:09 {Does Scripture Teach Familial Marriage?} 1 Corinthians 7: 36-38 seems like Paul is saying someone can marry their own daughter. The translations usually say fiancée but when I looked at the Greek the word used means virgin daughter. 15. 1:05:08 {Does John 6 Teach Faith as a Work?} I recently watched your Calvinism series and you didn't address John 6: 28-29 where Jesus calls belief "work.” I don't think it defeats Romans 3: 27. What do you think? 16. 1:09:06 {About Freemasonry} Can you explain why Christians shouldn't be affiliated with Freemasonry? I have family members who are Freemasons and believe you can be a Christian AND be a member of a Masonic lodge. YIKES. 17. 1:11:30 {About Conditional Immortality} What are your thoughts on conditional immortality? 18. 1:13:47 {What is Biblical “Meekness”?} Do you believe the current oxford definition of meek or meekness is biblically correct? It's being quiet, gentle, and submissive - but I’ve heard it's being powerful under control. I’d Love to hear your thoughts! 19. 1:18:53 {Was the Manner of Jesus’ Death Significant?} Was there significance in the exact manner Jesus died, or was it just circumstantial because of the culture/location/era in which He lived? Are there other ways Jesus could have been killed? Would the Gospel be unchanged if perhaps Jesus was thrown off a mountain by the Pharisees or thrown in the Colosseum or something? 20. 1:23:06 {What Parts of God’s Image do Humans Share?} Regarding the Scripture "Let Us make man in Our image,” in what way(s) are we made in the image of God?
Another false understanding of David’s plainly stated admission. See, when you adhere to false doctrines and beliefs you are forced to corrupt the scriptures to align more closely to what you believe. David obviously believed the same thing his son Solomon believe about SHEOL. That once you’re dead, THAT’S IT. You don’t go on to exists someone where else. You cease to exist. There is no soul sleep. The Bible clearly says the SOUL DIES. (EZEKIEL 18:4) ECCLESIASTES 9:5, 10 For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten. Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in *Sheol, to which you* *are going.* You can’t work You can’t *think* or have thoughts You have no knowledge, without knowledge how can you be self-aware You have no wisdom David agrees with Solomon’s Holy Spirit INSPIRED words. Which is why he wrote something similar. PSALM 146:4 (David says about death) His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his *thoughts perish.* David didn’t believe in going to heaven since it wasn’t a promise made to him. He didn’t entertain the hope of eternal life in heaven because he couldn’t believe in Christ. The gift God gives is eternal life through Christ Jesus NOT a part from him. (ROMANS 6:23) David didn’t know nor could he believe in Christ Jesus which is why he could not be made perfect or receive the FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE as the apostle Paul stated. (HEBREWS 11:32, 39-40)
8) 36:40 Deconverts were never “converted” 1 John 2:19 “These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.”
10) 44:33 Cult of personality, it’s not the Gospel of Pete Enns, it’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they’re not teaching about Jesus Christ it’s another Gospel because it’s all about Jesus Christ. Matthew 24:24
Q8. My Feelings are always changing. Thats why I dont trust them, love The Word which is a firm place to stand- I can feel justified about whatever but if it conflicts with The Word, I place priority on that.
The other son: Growing up in a Christian home I never went away from God. However I saw people who came to God from a non Christian background or having walked away from God and later came back. They had more passion and recognition of how good a life with God really was. I asked God "do I need to try a life apart from you to appreciate a life with you." In a big youth meeting at a huge gathering of churches a leader asked people to come forward for prayer if they felt lukewarm and wanted the fire for God to be reignited. I went forward and prayed and the Holy Spirit hit me with a revelation of all the paths my life could take and the one with God and the one with God was clearly better. It was an intrinsic understanding. Now I know there is no difference between all the sons of the father. We can all rejoice in the receiving of the same inheritance and I am greatly blessed by what I get no matter how my life differs from other people's. May the Holy Spirit gift you with any peace and/or understanding you need to walk with him.
✝️ There’s a couple of verses that speak to life after one is saved… i.e. it’s perfectly OK to stay in the life you currently have’ In 1 Corinthians, Paul is discussing marriage Vs. being single, but there’s a few verses that speak to the topic of completely changing one’s life for Christ or their ‘calling’. In fact, Paul says it three times in a row. 17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches. 20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called. 24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
I too grew up in the church and needed to make faith my own. Read Tim Keller’s book The Prodigal God. It’s an easy read and demonstrates the other side of the parable in a way that highlights the Gospel!!!
I was thinking the exact same thing. At least twice Mike mentioned being busy. The Sabbath is a gift not a burden. Rest is good and necessary. Please, Mike, don't burn out for the Gospel's sake, your family's and ours!
I don't usually comment however I am deeply concerned about the advice you gave on freemasonry. I have had friends who were exfreemasons or they have had family members who were Freemasons. They have shared what actually goes on. It involves a lot of ancient pagan practices even at the lower levels. At the higher level it goes even deeper. This isn't conspiracy. I would strongly deter people from getting involved. I would consider it incompatible with being a Christian. It is a lot more than 'good works'.
Yes! My grandpa was very involved in the Freemasons and my mom grew up in Job’s daughters. God convicted him when I was little to get out of that organization. Absolutely not compatible with being a Christian.
I had it on my heart since yesterday that I need a curriculum to teach my children apologetics. Today I even prayed and asked God to help me find something. Little did I know you would be talking about a curriculum for children in this video! What’s even more amazing is I showed my children a video explaining what “worldview” meant tonight before bed and asked them questions about it. The fact that the curriculum you shared has “worldview” in the title makes me certain this would be a good fit for us. It’s not often things like this happen to me, so when it does, I feel excited to see God’s hand in our lives. All that to say, thank you SO MUCH for doing what you do!
@@mugglescakesniffer3943 How many people HAVE read the Bible cover to cover and STILL misinterpret it? Ask Joel Osteen or Kevin Copeland, for example. ;) Reading is not worth much if people can't understand what it actually means.
@@billyholly Reading implys comprehension. Skimming is what most people do. They skim the portion they read to get notches on their bible belt so they can tell people that they read through the bible that year. If you actually _read_ the bible you are more likely to have questions your Pastor or Minister cannot answer. Sometimes Pastors don't preach on a passage on purpose.
@@mugglescakesniffer3943 So what happened to Copeland and Osteen? I'm sure they didn't skim the Bible. Doesn't it have to do with softening one's heart or ??
The older brother reminds me of Jonah when he refused to go to Nineveh, possibly because they were "sinners" and he didn't think it good that God would even give them a chance to repent and welcome them to Himself. This reminds me of the commands to bless and pray for our enemies. Father, make us like you!
Wonderful explanation of the prodigal sons brother. I felt like the brother for a long time. I stayed and worked when my dad was sick and kept the family going. My brothers did not but mom and dad always gave them what they wanted. I was a single mom and I had a 12 year old. It always bothered me. I guess I understand better now. Thank you.
This has to be one of my very faves of all your Friday talks! My heart was truly touched with how you answered question #6 about Job's comment. Your understanding of grief is quite precious and as someone who has grieved the loss of a loved one, been broken hearted through a divorce, has a special needs child who is living in a group home far away from me, and has a daughter suffering with Lyme disease and is recently shattered from discovering her wonderful husband has been living a double life of lies and all manner of sin, I have heard many a trite comment. Your way of sharing how to mourn with those who mourn and not give a quick fix answer to someone in grief was deeply warming. Thank you for your sensitivity and your good counsel. I so enjoyed all your answers to each question! And wow people! Keep up with the great questions!! 😃
God bless you dear soul. As one who's experienced similar circumstances, i mourn with you in the Spirit. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy, (Psalm 126). One of the hardest things for me to accept was that God brings us through stuff to help others who are going through stuff. How on earth can i, a heaping mess, help anyone, right? God's Word tells us that Jesus wept, (John 11, i think). Yep, Mike's right; meme answers are just bad; and just listening is very good; but Jesus wept with empathy: Our Wonderful Counselor. 💖
I mourn for you as well. I too am going through a divorce after a 26 year marriage (not my choice) but is because of choice of sin and I have no control in my loss and am just heart broken. Please reach out (and your daughter) you are not alone.
I think we all do especially me. I have to know that it’s better to just be there for people and not try to fix them. Especially when it’s a loss of a loved on.
When King David was through mourning the death of his child he basically said "He can't come to me but one day I'll go to him" suggesting that he would see his dead child and be reunited with him at some point so I believe David had an idea of heaven.
I appreciated pastor Mike's thoughtful take on Question 19. I believe there's one further thing to add: Because God is omnicient, His ways and plans can't be alt-universed or retconned. The exact manner of Christ's death on the cross was appointed by God outside of time, prophecied within time, fulfilled on-time, and right "now is the accepted time" to believe it (2 Cor.6:2). Christ's death on the cross, and resurrection with those scars still visible in His body, has exactly the value and meaning that God planned and assigned to it. The scriptures presented were excellent for showing some of those things. It's easy to wander down a rabbit trail of "what if" thinking but that can become idle or even heretical if we entertain it long enough. Faith, put into practice, can accept and take comfort in the fact that there is no "if" or "alternate" when God makes definite plans. God had one and only one best way to reveal Himself as a redeeming God. It couldn't take place any other way.
I'm the one who asked the question, and I fully agree! Because of the character limit of the live chat I had to severely truncate my question to fit(and still had to split it in two). The goal of my question was specifically "was there THEOLOGICAL significance in how He died" and his answer was exactly what I was looking for, scripture detailing the why and how the Messiah would be killed. I am careful not to get lost in the weeds of "what-if" and am quite satisfied living with the world according to His plan. That part of the question was more to give context for PM to better understand what I was getting at in the first half of the question.(especially since I had to omit words that would have made it more clear)
The parable of the lost coin reminded me of what happened to me last week. I was at an office event and there were some prize draws. I won a $50 Amazon card. Once I got home, I couldn't find it. I went all over the house looking for it. It turned out that it was in my car between the door and the seat; it had fallen out of my pocket. That made my day.
Hi Mike, thank you for your teachings. My Son is a new Christian and benefits so much from your videos. Thank you so much! GOD bless you and your family.
Keep up the good work in the Lord they are steel sound Christian thinkers out here who goes by God to word I have been a Christian for almost 2 decades, and you have helped answer some things I have not know all of this time
I've heard more sermons about the brother than the Prodigal in the past decade or so. I think it's become more en vogue to look more closely at the obedient son because most of us can relate to him more. Most of us have never run off, but a lot of us have tried to do what was expected of us.
I think we all like to look at ourselves and in self righteousness say we have never run off. Same way Jesus encountered people all the time saying they have kept the law of Moses but then they reject Jesus a second later. By we, I mean our culture, not you personally. If you live in Sodom, running off is what should happen. But it's much easier for our culture to assume the context of the prodigal son to justify our inaction.
So amazing.. I had a energy drink today and it messed with me to the point I couldn't think and got totally nauseated. Someone said to me after I was feeling better count it all Joy! I live how God works! I explained how God revealed Job 1:21 to me today.. I am learning of how agape love looks. Thank you for this teaching!
Oh man, question #8 really hits me where I live. I’ve heard people really mock apologists and it has always bothered me because from the apologists I’ve listened to they’ve made sense. I love watching your videos Mike Winger.
Yes! Thanks Mike for adding in that our heart is involved in our logic when examining apologetics. This is the first time I've heard someone say this and have been waiting to have this idea confirmed.
Question #7 Green is great. Thank you for your question as this is my first Easter as a new believer. Your question helped me and thank you Mike for your answer
We do Messianic Passover seder dinner and watch The Passion and remind our kids about what Christ did for us! Our church does a sunrise service with breakfast and then Resurrection Sunday service! My church growing up did Thursday night communion with story of Last Supper and Jesus’ garden of Gethsemane prayer and feet washing and a Friday service where they handed out old Roman style nails and read the death of Jesus on the cross. We had sunrise service and sang resurrection hymns and went over story of His resurrection the had breakfast and service.
I thank God that Mike plans to study the issue of Conditional Immortality and then address it (even though this may occur, Lord willing, a couple of years from now). I pray that God will bless his study when the time comes. I have studied it in depth myself and I am convinced that the Bible does teach Conditional Immortality.
Hello Pastor! I would like to thank you for answering the first question. I've always focused on the older brother whenever I teach this verse to others, but somehow, unlike other passages, felt that I'm missing an awesome conclusion to the lesson. Thank you for providing that awesome conclusion.
Thank you, Pastor Mike, for being faithful and using your gift of teaching in such an easily accessible way. You bless me with every video. May God continue to bring His message to the world through your ministry!!
Hey sisters and brothers, reaching out hoping I can find some comfort amongst my Christian brothers and sisters, since I don’t have any close Christian friends in my life. My longest and closest friend (friends for 35 years) just told me that she does not want to have anything to do with me anymore, because I shared Jesus with her. I felt as though God had put her in my heart for days and I ended up writing a long letter, really sharing the gospel, the conviction of sin and his Grace. And now she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore, even considering our friendship ‘terminated’. I feel so sad by this.
I find myself talking to people about your teachings on the Bible and I need to tell more and more people about your website and your RUclips channel! I have never been so excited about listening to a Pastor teach the Bible! I am actually surprised that I understand the really deep answers you give to the 20 Questions and topics you teach on. Thank You Pastor Mike! I really appreciate you and the time you put into making sure that other Christian’s really understand life with The Lord and people that don’t know him! God is truly exciting and anyone who reads my comments, I want you to know that GOD LOVES YOU and he is patiently waiting for you! Knock and the door will be opened for you. If you haven’t done this already…Ask GOD with an HONEST, OPEN, LOVING heart to come into your life! I promise you that you won’t regret it! May God Bless You 💗
Excellent questions and answers, thank you so much for taking your time to do this. It is greatly appreciated and needed, I love seeing you thing through things and what you bring up...I learn a lot here
I just want to say thank you for all the videos and hard work…. You are among the few that I listen to… ( I agree with 98-99% of your answers) Thank you…. Thank you…. Thanks….
I found the parable of the prodigal son funny a few months ago i started a new job and they threw a thank you lunch for the end of the financial year to all, thanking them for their hard work for the year. I was there only a month, so I felt a bit like the prodigal son since I'd gotten the rewards I hadn't earned
That was a great explanation of the prodigal son. I've never heard it taught like that before. Also, I'd never been consciously aware that the older son didn't come in to celebrate and possibly stayed out (of Heaven) nor did I make that connection to the Pharisees. Thanks to the person who asked the question and to Mike for such a great answer 👍
And per #9: I think The Sabbath commandment is in the NT too, in Hebrews 10:25. Not as a yoke around one's neck to make us slaves, but as a calling from God to remind us that we all need one another and that we need to make time for other Christians when they need us (and especially when we need them). God knows I break this commandment a lot. I miss church a lot. Mike's response has helped drive this home for me. Thanks Mike.
You are so Awesome Mike! I love how you apply all of your life to the Bible! THE BEST BOOK ON EARTH…EVER! I hope one day that I will be a quarter as good as you are! When I watch your teachings I get excited! I get so eager to learn from you! I really like the 20 questions and your really deep answers.
I really appreciate the response to question 18. I've followed the explanation that meekness in the Bible is 'power under control.' But I kinda only held that view because it sounded better in my head rather than actually thinking Biblically about it. It's a humbling reminder that I need to actually read the Bible and apply what it says correctly rather than be content with "it sounds good." Gotta do the research! Thanks pastor Mike for your work! Your ministry does indeed make me want to read my Bible more, and I am very grateful for that. God bless!
Thanks for your counsel and helping me to reorient my thinking away from panic (it’s like you knew! 🙃). I signed up for Foundation Worldview and purchased some of the kid versions of the books by Lee Strobel and J. Warner Wallace. Foundation Worldview seems like a really good place to start to build a foundation for her learning how to think through these things. The Strobel/Wallace material is a bit advanced for her, but I think it’ll be really helpful for my daughter and I to begin to go through some of that together. One beautiful moment from her recent observations is that she prayed last night, completely unprompted, for God to bless her dad to know Him. ❤️ Thanks again for the advice and resources. I think I can start to look at this new season of learning for my daughter as something that has great potential to grow her faith, to grow mine, and maybe even to reach my husband.
I went to church with Edward Fudge, and was at the premiere for the movie that they made about his life and his studies. I look forward to your future study on this topic!
@@mo-215 Nope. No chaff or weeds. My comments, unless actually referencing non and anti Christians, is only to or about Christians. I value the pearl of great price. Per Jesus.
"Avoid the temptation to fix people in pain"- likely the wisest thing you said here. We pentecostals and charismatics in particular are very bad about wanting to dance with those who mourn and mourn with those who dance.
Maybe it doesn't mean much if nobody ever sees it, but thanks, Mike. I really, really appreciate this effort here. I look forward to shaking your hand someday (or whatever it is we have at that time).
Wow i love the way you broke down that first parable! Thanks pastor Mike! Your videos help so much God has gifted you to the church its instruction! Keep it up, thanks! PS i know maybe a debate wouldn’t be possible but have you ever considered a conversation with James White? Maybe going through your differences in understanding? I’m a reformed baptists myself but i think it would help everyone if ya’ll had a discussion. Idk lol you two are some of my favorite bible teachers (though your areas of focus are a little different) i just think it would be cool for ya’ll to talk about anything really, even progressive Christianity
John MacArthur's sermon on the Prodigal Son was probably the best message I've heard on it. His take on what happens after the father talks to the 'good son' was chilling.
You explanation of the obedient son is the best explanation I have heard thus far. We assume that once the disobedient son returns, the obedient son would “share” this portion of the inheritance with the disobedient son, BUT the parable doesn’t say that. The parable communicates that the broken relationship has been restored-and that is cause for celebration. How can we apply the obedient son lesson to our own lives?
But the father gave him celebration and the best cloak. The father is clearly showing his favor. If all that was the fathers is the loyal sons them him giving the glutton irresponsible son the cloak, the goat, and all the sides, is already giving away the loyal ones inheritance.....
Looking forward to hear more about Torben Sondergaard from Denmark 🇩🇰 I am danish and I wonder myself what that what he does and preach is true. Thank you Mike for your great effort to preach the truth always. God bless ❤️
Torben and his "Last Reformation" is not a cult. I'd recommend watching his first movie, "The Beginning", which you can find on his YT channel. It was this movie that woke me up to the power that we have in Jesus. I came out of a Baptist church that was dead and into a fellowship of believers who exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. My friends invited Torben out to have him host an event here (Sacramento area), and I volunteered to help out, which meant I got to spend three straight days with Torben and his crew, and I even gave him and his friends a ride to the airport after the event. My experience with him is that he's just a man who loves the Lord and preaches Jesus and the cross. He also instructs people in baptisms, the laying on of hands for healing, and in deliverance. Some people also receive the gift of tongues. I haven't followed his current activities, but unless he's gone sideways somewhere he's a solid teacher in my eyes, and he's a good brother in Christ. I think it's always great to get Mike's opinion because we all respect him, but it's also good to just watch some videos yourself and see what you think. I can tell you that because of what Torben showed me, I've been able to lay hands on people and pray for healing and I've actually seen people healed. I didn't know we could do that before. Torben isn't the only one teaching that, but he's one of the few I know of. Of course, it's not me doing the healing but God, but God does call us to step out in faith, and we see good things happen when we do. My group has also delivered several people from oppression, which has been awesome to see. Read the Book of Acts. Everything in there is real and is happening today, and I'm a first-hand witness to it. Praise God!
Esther 4:14 ..for such a time as this. Bless you and your online ministry. As this world divides before our eyes into worldly people and Christians, you are providing such a valuable service to people as they realize they need a good teacher. You sir, are feeding the sheep! I have been so blessed by your videos. They answer questions I have as I’m reading the Bible for the first time. They also relate to my life and it shows how the Bible is living. Thank you again. Meow Moxi
"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his span of life." Matthew 6:27 Worrying has no benefit to us. Praise God that because of who He is and what He did we have no reason to worry. Obviously worry isn't something we can just take off, but be reminded by this and the Bible that we don't have to. God loves you so much! And His love was shown perfect in Christ. Hopefully this helped you today. God bless you!
on Q 20, Mike touched on something I thought up a few years ago. God is 3 yet 1, which I couldn't comprehend until this came to mind. We humans are also 3 in 1. Ego, Super Ego & id A.K.A Concious, Subconscious & inner child. Contrast that with Father, Son, & Holy Ghost and you see one of the ways we are created in his image, after their likeness.
Hi Mike, Thanks so much for all your hard work and dedication. Your teaching is a source of invaluable blessing🤍 Regarding Q14: As a native speaker of both Romanian and Spanish, the passage in 1 Corinthians 7:36-38 has never been hard to understand for me - the Bible versions that I use in both languages talk about fathers that think it’s inappropriate for their virgin daughter to remain unmarried and so they decide to “give her in marriage” and fathers that think it’s okay for their virgin daughter to stay unmarried and so they “don’t give her in marriage” to anyone. I had never heard it translated as implying a father could somehow marry his own daughter.. this was a very odd question for me so I just thought I should mention this (potential) explanation. I don’t think you’ll see this comment, but I would sure like to know your thoughts on this. Anyway, may God bless us all with peace and wisdom to walk in His will.🙏🏼
Thanks for taking us back to the context in which Jesus spoke these parables. I think that if we keep the picture in our minds of Jesus speaking them to the Pharisees in order to condemn them, though, not just to give general good teaching, we see that the older brother is actually the point. They are the older brother who is missing what God’s heart actually is and Jesus is calling them out on it. We can glean a lot from any parable Jesus spoke, but sometimes in our pure-hearted efforts to see good words Jesus has for us we mistake condemnation for teaching. Many of Jesus’ words and parables are spoken, especially in Matthew, in order to contradict the religious leaders’ teaching (including the “Beatitudes”).
The problem is too many Christian parents and leaders think that getting a good education and getting savings and a down paymet for a house should precede marriage, rather than you can get education and save while married you can start marriage in a rented studio apartment in the poor neighbourhoods you can witness in a poor environment too, forcing people who are suitable to marry to wait another 3 years that is when temptation to pre marital sex arises. There is nothing wrong with christians marrying at 21
When you were talking about the inheritance and treasures in heaven: it made me think of how many people hope and pray that they will have their memories, their loved ones, and all their possessions with them in heaven, while others hope they forget everything and wholly experience God‘s love, redemption, and heavenly blessings once there. If we think about how different our life experiences are one from the other, I believe it’s perfectly fitting that God would remove our memories here on earth so that everyone can live in peace and harmony without the sadness of trauma, past experiences, sins, and regrets. Who at the end of their life recalls their memories with joy and contentment? Most likely those who have lived a Godly life. Who at the end of their life recalls their memories with regret and disappointment? Likely those who have squandered their inheritance and thrown away their lives on worldly treasures and vain passions. Yet here we see with the story of the prodigal son versus the righteous son… The father loves them both equally and blesses them beyond measure. Yet the righteous son is also not without sin, because he displays jealousy and unforgiveness. No sin is greater than the other in the eyes of God. They will both be welcomed into heaven and each will have a room in His house. This is the beauty of salvation and unconditional love.
I've listened to a message from Vlad Savchuk on an Orphan Spirit the used the parable of the Prodigal. Helped me understand this better. Taking the parables as a string of teaching on the same subject helps increasemy understanding. I don't think I'd connected them in my mind before.
If I had the chance for a do-over, I would encourage my believing child to pray with me for his father's salvation, never undermining his father's intelligence, position & love as a father or as head-of-household. Just confirming & encouraging my child's belief in love. ❤
I have always thought that about the Prodigal brother but I think it also says to us not to be jealous not to be put out be totally forgiven there is no reward until we get to be with him to save us
A great holy Saturday activity for us is burying sins/temptations that were nailed to the cross on Friday. It really hits us with the finality of sin being put to death. Also reading the harrowing of hell which is a medieval drama but has so much encouragement of Christ conquering and freeing the righteous from Death and hell.
I can understand the older sons position, I think we all can. These are the stories that teach us and guide us to the correct attitude. If not educated by God I would be just like this. I understand what the father is saying now and why that is right, its easy to fall into the trap of how the older son felt.
God is good - with #1 was thinking how where we put our treasure, there our heart goes, and the father put all his treasure into his sons, and his heart was with them.
I have read The Last Reformation and I found it to support and quote Ellen g White movement of SDAs. That was just the way I found it, I'm not saying it was only that ❤GOD BLESS EVERYONE 🙏♥️
Q19 - This was actually the answer I was hoping for! I wasn't concerned specifically about the what-if (of course God "could" do anything in any different way if he so chose), I just included that in my question to clarify/direct the answer and give context to the first half of my question so that it would be better understood. I mainly just wanted to better understand why Jesus died the way he did, since I was somewhat ignorant on that particular subject. Thank you Pastor Mike for directing me to some scripture that explains each element of His sacrifice!
I think the whole story is mostly about the other brother. He was doing what lots of us fall into and have to recalibrate daily to not live by works based righteousness and re-remember the gospel of grace daily. The prodigal came back to the Father knowing He would welcome him back.
Because I know how the parable of the prodigal son can be misused: You still have every right to protect yourself from toxic family that hurt you. If they are still toxic... Then they never "returned" and should not be accepted back. My father would refer to my brother as "the prodigal son" and used to desperately hang onto him, even at the cost of his other children. I was never allowed to feel like I could protect myself. Now I have completely removed my brother from my life because I have the right to protect myself.
I'm mainly commenting just so your comment gets some more attention, because you made a very good point. We should absolutely protect ourselves when we need to. I had to do something similar with one of my brothers. In the parable, the father accepted the son only when he came back genuinely repentant. He was evidently watching for him to return, since it says he saw him a long way away, but he didn't go after him. He let him go.
Mike Thanks bro. I appreciate your vids. I “discovered” your content after hearing you speak at the Desert Apologetics Conference and have been enjoying many of your vids. I’ve also shared your vids with many friends. Thanks again for what you do. *youre like that guy at seminary that always went above and beyond...& I always asked for his notes. lol Seriously though each of your series seems like it could be a thesis or dissertation. Be blessed, I hope to meet you again.
Q#5 - to add to what Mike has said, I would explain that not everybody believes in Jesus, but that you hope daddy will change his mind. And you can also pray together with him/her for daddy to come to Jesus I have a similar situation, except my hubby is in a cult. I waited as long as I could before telling my son that his dad believes different things to us, he was probably around 5 or 6 when I told him. But I taught him as much Biblical truth as possible over the years before that.. And since then, when differences have come up, I've shown him verses in the Bible so he can see for himself, it's not just my word against dad's word..(this done in an honouring way obviously, not mom Vs dad 😅). And we often pray together for dad to come out of the deception & come back to Jesus 🙏🙏 Hope this helps 🤗
The Father has so much it's always enough for all of His children. Each one of us owns all things at the same time. It is tied into God's infinite perspective concerning wealth. Those who store up treasures in heaven, the greatest wealth they will have are the ties with others who are there because God used them to help save their eternal souls. They are the jewels in their crowns.
Meek sounds like it hinges on the application of self-control (a fruit of the spirit!) Gentleness is, in many ways, a form of self-control visited on others. Keep your voice under control, your anger, your physical strength.
You do on Good Friday what I do for Christmas. I think about His birth and all the heavens are bowing down to him in this reverent silence and just how awing that must’ve have been. It just sings to my epic fantasy loving heart but it’s actually REAL!! So cool.
The first born son (in ancient Jewish tradition) was given a double portion of the inheritance and this was because he had responsibility to the whole family with that inheritance, it wasn’t all his to squander. So the elder brother would have also had a responsibility for his younger brother on his fathers demise, so another point is to the Pharisees and teachers that they had responsibility for the rest of the nation even those they deemed sinners. The Lord as the true older brother is actually demonstrating that he is fulfilling the wishes of his father in caring for the least in the family.
About the question 9, the Sabbath. If Sabbath was not as *important* , it would have not been changed by deception throughout the years, it has been and is still being slowly but surely changed from Saturday to Sunday. It is very important and the scripture does say, that in the times of antichrist they will "change times"
That's why Sunday, the day the Lord rose from the dead and the day we gather to speak of His teachings and worship Him, is the Lord's day, not Sabbath. And remember, sabbath was made for man, not man for sabbath. There is also something to consider in that Jesus told us to take our rest in Him. Some draw the parallel to say He is the sabbath. I am not educated enough to approve or oppose that teaching. A good starting place for me to consider which laws we are bound to and which laws were fulfilled is 1, did Jesus reiterate it clearly as a command command; 2, was the original law in question ceremonial or moral? Sabbath was ceremonial, it set apart the people born of Israel as God's people, and gave them rest in the Lord ❤
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro
1. 0:47 {About the Parable of the Prodigal Son} Can you please teach us about the Parable of the Prodigal Son, specifically focusing on the obedient son who stays in his father's house and ends up resenting his prodigal brother? It seems like there's no real benefit to being the obedient son in that situation. Am I missing cultural context that would enhance my understanding of this parable?
2. 13:44 {Did David Not Understand Heaven?} In Psalm 6:5 David asks God to spare his life because "For in death there is no remembrance of you; in Sheol who will give you praise?" Does David not have a belief or understanding of Heaven at this point in his life?
3. 17:32 {About “The Last Reformation”} Have you heard of a movement called The Last Reformation, started by Torben Sondergaard in Denmark? Now he’s based in the U.S., but it has grown worldwide. Would you consider it a cult?
4. 19:09 {About the Devil’s Disguise} The devil, according to 2 Corinthians 11: 14, disguises as angel of light, but can't fight against himself ( Mark 3: 24) or his kingdom won't stand. What if in disguising himself, he condemns himself?
5. 22:41 {Raising Children with an Unbelieving Spouse} My husband doesn't believe in God and our 6 year old has started to notice and is asking why daddy doesn't believe. How should I approach this in a way that's helpful and honors my husband and God?
6. 26:16 {Biblical or Unbiblical Use of a Verse?} Many Christians use "The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away" from Job (1: 21) to explain difficult things such as the death of a loved one. Is this biblical, or is it a misinterpretation of Job?
7. 32:19 {Drawing Near to God on Spiritual Holidays} First Easter being saved! Do you have any suggestions for some God honoring ways to spend Good Friday and Holy Saturday? I’m so excited and want to do whatever is in my power to feel especially close to Christ.
8. 36:40 {Strengthening our Faith When Others are Doubting} I have been doubting lately because I know of so many people deconverting even after finding apologetics. It makes me question my reasoning at times. What are your thoughts on this?
9. 41:53 {Why Don’t We Have To Obey the Sabbath?} It seems the only commandment of the 10 that we don't still HAVE to follow is the Sabbath. If it was as important as the other 10, why are they all still upheld without exception and not that one?
10. 44:33 {Handling Local Church Concerns} I’m afraid our church is being unknowingly influenced by progressivism. Ex: People love the podcast “the bible for normal people” with Pete Enns. Should we be worried? How do I share my concerns?
11. 48:31 {When a Spouse Refuses to Follow Scripture} Can you help a brotha out on what to do if your wife says she will never be a biblical wife for her husband? She is a believer.
12. 51:33 {Should We Bring Back Crusades?} Do you think that churches should bring back Gospel crusades? As I was saved at one in the 70s. These days, no one wants to preach the Gospel, but rather, do community works.
13. 56:03 {Was Marriage Different in Biblical Times / Premarital Sex} Some say the biblical prohibition against premarital sex no longer applies since marriage then was so different. How was marriage different then, and how should that impact our view of sex now?
14. 1:02:09 {Does Scripture Teach Familial Marriage?} 1 Corinthians 7: 36-38 seems like Paul is saying someone can marry their own daughter. The translations usually say fiancée but when I looked at the Greek the word used means virgin daughter.
15. 1:05:08 {Does John 6 Teach Faith as a Work?} I recently watched your Calvinism series and you didn't address John 6: 28-29 where Jesus calls belief "work.” I don't think it defeats Romans 3: 27. What do you think?
16. 1:09:06 {About Freemasonry} Can you explain why Christians shouldn't be affiliated with Freemasonry? I have family members who are Freemasons and believe you can be a Christian AND be a member of a Masonic lodge. YIKES.
17. 1:11:30 {About Conditional Immortality} What are your thoughts on conditional immortality?
18. 1:13:47 {What is Biblical “Meekness”?} Do you believe the current oxford definition of meek or meekness is biblically correct? It's being quiet, gentle, and submissive - but I’ve heard it's being powerful under control. I’d Love to hear your thoughts!
19. 1:18:53 {Was the Manner of Jesus’ Death Significant?} Was there significance in the exact manner Jesus died, or was it just circumstantial because of the culture/location/era in which He lived? Are there other ways Jesus could have been killed? Would the Gospel be unchanged if perhaps Jesus was thrown off a mountain by the Pharisees or thrown in the Colosseum or something?
20. 1:23:06 {What Parts of God’s Image do Humans Share?} Regarding the Scripture "Let Us make man in Our image,” in what way(s) are we made in the image of God?
Another false understanding of David’s plainly stated admission.
See, when you adhere to false doctrines and beliefs you are forced to corrupt the scriptures to align more closely to what you believe.
David obviously believed the same thing his son Solomon believe about SHEOL.
That once you’re dead, THAT’S IT. You don’t go on to exists someone where else. You cease to exist. There is no soul sleep. The Bible clearly says the SOUL DIES. (EZEKIEL 18:4)
ECCLESIASTES 9:5, 10
For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing, and they have no more reward, for the memory of them is forgotten.
Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might, for there is no work or thought or knowledge or wisdom in *Sheol, to which you* *are going.*
You can’t work
You can’t *think* or have thoughts
You have no knowledge, without knowledge how can you be self-aware
You have no wisdom
David agrees with Solomon’s Holy Spirit INSPIRED words. Which is why he wrote something similar.
PSALM 146:4 (David says about death)
His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his *thoughts perish.*
David didn’t believe in going to heaven since it wasn’t a promise made to him. He didn’t entertain the hope of eternal life in heaven because he couldn’t believe in Christ. The gift God gives is eternal life through Christ Jesus NOT a part from him. (ROMANS 6:23) David didn’t know nor could he believe in Christ Jesus which is why he could not be made perfect or receive the FULFILLMENT OF THE PROMISE as the apostle Paul stated.
(HEBREWS 11:32, 39-40)
8) 36:40 Deconverts were never “converted”
1 John 2:19
“These people left our churches, but they never really belonged with us; otherwise they would have stayed with us. When they left, it proved that they did not belong with us.”
10) 44:33 Cult of personality, it’s not the Gospel of Pete Enns, it’s the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If they’re not teaching about Jesus Christ it’s another Gospel because it’s all about Jesus Christ.
Matthew 24:24
Q7. Col 2 freedom regarding holydays, sabboths and meat/drink
Q8. My Feelings are always changing. Thats why I dont trust them, love The Word which is a firm place to stand- I can feel justified about whatever but if it conflicts with The Word, I place priority on that.
The other son:
Growing up in a Christian home I never went away from God. However I saw people who came to God from a non Christian background or having walked away from God and later came back. They had more passion and recognition of how good a life with God really was. I asked God "do I need to try a life apart from you to appreciate a life with you."
In a big youth meeting at a huge gathering of churches a leader asked people to come forward for prayer if they felt lukewarm and wanted the fire for God to be reignited. I went forward and prayed and the Holy Spirit hit me with a revelation of all the paths my life could take and the one with God and the one with God was clearly better. It was an intrinsic understanding.
Now I know there is no difference between all the sons of the father. We can all rejoice in the receiving of the same inheritance and I am greatly blessed by what I get no matter how my life differs from other people's.
May the Holy Spirit gift you with any peace and/or understanding you need to walk with him.
✝️ There’s a couple of verses that speak to life after one is saved… i.e. it’s perfectly OK to stay in the life you currently have’
In 1 Corinthians, Paul is discussing marriage Vs. being single, but there’s a few verses that speak to the topic of completely changing one’s life for Christ or their ‘calling’. In fact, Paul says it three times in a row.
17 Only, as the Lord has assigned to each one, as God has called each, in this manner let him walk. And so I direct in all the churches.
20 Each man must remain in that condition in which he was called.
24 Brethren, each one is to remain with God in that condition in which he was called.
I love that God answered your heartfelt prayer! Never underestimate the testimony of a life lived faithfully walking with Christ from childhood.💗
I too grew up in the church and needed to make faith my own. Read Tim Keller’s book The Prodigal God. It’s an easy read and demonstrates the other side of the parable in a way that highlights the Gospel!!!
Thank you for adding even more clarity to this issue. Bless you 🙏🏻
God bless you for this grace. May the Father show you all his mercy and grace this day.
Mike, I get the feeling you need a sabbath yourself! Thanks for what you do for God and us, and I pray you get to rest a bit
I need to pray for pastor Mike so he can have a sabbath day and keep preaching 🥰
I was thinking the exact same thing. At least twice Mike mentioned being busy. The Sabbath is a gift not a burden. Rest is good and necessary.
Please, Mike, don't burn out for the Gospel's sake, your family's and ours!
Indeed. You are so precious to us God bless and keep you
I don't usually comment however I am deeply concerned about the advice you gave on freemasonry. I have had friends who were exfreemasons or they have had family members who were Freemasons. They have shared what actually goes on. It involves a lot of ancient pagan practices even at the lower levels. At the higher level it goes even deeper. This isn't conspiracy. I would strongly deter people from getting involved. I would consider it incompatible with being a Christian. It is a lot more than 'good works'.
This comment should be seen by Mike. Freemasonry = idolatry.
Yesss I’m glad someone said it
I hope he reads your comment. There are a lot of awful things about it. I think Melissa Dougherty has more info on it
THIS. I have a relative who was in this for many years and I can tell you he does not know Jesus. There's a lot of evil there not to be trifled with.
Yes! My grandpa was very involved in the Freemasons and my mom grew up in Job’s daughters. God convicted him when I was little to get out of that organization. Absolutely not compatible with being a Christian.
I had it on my heart since yesterday that I need a curriculum to teach my children apologetics. Today I even prayed and asked God to help me find something. Little did I know you would be talking about a curriculum for children in this video! What’s even more amazing is I showed my children a video explaining what “worldview” meant tonight before bed and asked them questions about it. The fact that the curriculum you shared has “worldview” in the title makes me certain this would be a good fit for us. It’s not often things like this happen to me, so when it does, I feel excited to see God’s hand in our lives.
All that to say, thank you SO MUCH for doing what you do!
The best way to teach is to have them read the whole bible cover to cover. If you don't read it you don't know what is in it and what is not in it. 📖
@Lauren Damaso Ruiz right on!
@@mugglescakesniffer3943 How many people HAVE read the Bible cover to cover and STILL misinterpret it? Ask Joel Osteen or Kevin Copeland, for example. ;) Reading is not worth much if people can't understand what it actually means.
@@billyholly Reading implys comprehension. Skimming is what most people do. They skim the portion they read to get notches on their bible belt so they can tell people that they read through the bible that year. If you actually _read_ the bible you are more likely to have questions your Pastor or Minister cannot answer. Sometimes Pastors don't preach on a passage on purpose.
@@mugglescakesniffer3943 So what happened to Copeland and Osteen? I'm sure they didn't skim the Bible. Doesn't it have to do with softening one's heart or ??
The older brother reminds me of Jonah when he refused to go to Nineveh, possibly because they were "sinners" and he didn't think it good that God would even give them a chance to repent and welcome them to Himself. This reminds me of the commands to bless and pray for our enemies. Father, make us like you!
Wonderful explanation of the prodigal sons brother. I felt like the brother for a long time. I stayed and worked when my dad was sick and kept the family going. My brothers did not but mom and dad always gave them what they wanted. I was a single mom and I had a 12 year old. It always bothered me. I guess I understand better now. Thank you.
This has to be one of my very faves of all your Friday talks! My heart was truly touched with how you answered question #6 about Job's comment. Your understanding of grief is quite precious and as someone who has grieved the loss of a loved one, been broken hearted through a divorce, has a special needs child who is living in a group home far away from me, and has a daughter suffering with Lyme disease and is recently shattered from discovering her wonderful husband has been living a double life of lies and all manner of sin, I have heard many a trite comment. Your way of sharing how to mourn with those who mourn and not give a quick fix answer to someone in grief was deeply warming. Thank you for your sensitivity and your good counsel. I so enjoyed all your answers to each question! And wow people! Keep up with the great questions!! 😃
Thank you for answering this question it helped me respond to a friend who just lost her dad😢
God bless you dear soul. As one who's experienced similar circumstances, i mourn with you in the Spirit. Those who sow in tears will reap in joy, (Psalm 126). One of the hardest things for me to accept was that God brings us through stuff to help others who are going through stuff. How on earth can i, a heaping mess, help anyone, right? God's Word tells us that Jesus wept, (John 11, i think). Yep, Mike's right; meme answers are just bad; and just listening is very good; but Jesus wept with empathy: Our Wonderful Counselor. 💖
I mourn for you as well. I too am going through a divorce after a 26 year marriage (not my choice) but is because of choice of sin and I have no control in my loss and am just heart broken. Please reach out (and your daughter) you are not alone.
Will say a prayer for you, your children and husband .thats alot y'all are going through .
@@savannah138 thank you. It’s honestly the worst pain that one shouldn’t have to go through.
Pastor Mike, your answer to the "God gives and God gives away" thing was excellent! I needed that today. 💕🙏🏼
I think we all do especially me. I have to know that it’s better to just be there for people and not try to fix them. Especially when it’s a loss of a loved on.
When King David was through mourning the death of his child he basically said "He can't come to me but one day I'll go to him" suggesting that he would see his dead child and be reunited with him at some point so I believe David had an idea of heaven.
That's a good point - it could still be referring to Sheol though couldn't it?
Which psalm?
I saw it in 2Sam 12:23
>go to him
It could mean several things, given the ambiguity.
Heaven
The grave
Return to dust
Join him in death
Sheol
Afterlife
I appreciated pastor Mike's thoughtful take on Question 19. I believe there's one further thing to add: Because God is omnicient, His ways and plans can't be alt-universed or retconned. The exact manner of Christ's death on the cross was appointed by God outside of time, prophecied within time, fulfilled on-time, and right "now is the accepted time" to believe it (2 Cor.6:2). Christ's death on the cross, and resurrection with those scars still visible in His body, has exactly the value and meaning that God planned and assigned to it. The scriptures presented were excellent for showing some of those things. It's easy to wander down a rabbit trail of "what if" thinking but that can become idle or even heretical if we entertain it long enough. Faith, put into practice, can accept and take comfort in the fact that there is no "if" or "alternate" when God makes definite plans. God had one and only one best way to reveal Himself as a redeeming God. It couldn't take place any other way.
I'm the one who asked the question, and I fully agree! Because of the character limit of the live chat I had to severely truncate my question to fit(and still had to split it in two). The goal of my question was specifically "was there THEOLOGICAL significance in how He died" and his answer was exactly what I was looking for, scripture detailing the why and how the Messiah would be killed. I am careful not to get lost in the weeds of "what-if" and am quite satisfied living with the world according to His plan. That part of the question was more to give context for PM to better understand what I was getting at in the first half of the question.(especially since I had to omit words that would have made it more clear)
Wow!! Thanks for that I couldn't agree more !!
The parable of the lost coin reminded me of what happened to me last week.
I was at an office event and there were some prize draws. I won a $50 Amazon card.
Once I got home, I couldn't find it. I went all over the house looking for it. It turned out that it was in my car between the door and the seat; it had fallen out of my pocket. That made my day.
Hi Mike, thank you for your teachings. My Son is a new Christian and benefits so much from your videos. Thank you so much! GOD bless you and your family.
Keep up the good work in the Lord they are steel sound Christian thinkers out here who goes by God to word I have been a Christian for almost 2 decades, and you have helped answer some things I have not know all of this time
I've heard more sermons about the brother than the Prodigal in the past decade or so. I think it's become more en vogue to look more closely at the obedient son because most of us can relate to him more. Most of us have never run off, but a lot of us have tried to do what was expected of us.
I think we all like to look at ourselves and in self righteousness say we have never run off. Same way Jesus encountered people all the time saying they have kept the law of Moses but then they reject Jesus a second later.
By we, I mean our culture, not you personally. If you live in Sodom, running off is what should happen. But it's much easier for our culture to assume the context of the prodigal son to justify our inaction.
So amazing.. I had a energy drink today and it messed with me to the point I couldn't think and got totally nauseated. Someone said to me after I was feeling better count it all Joy! I live how God works! I explained how God revealed Job 1:21 to me today.. I am learning of how agape love looks. Thank you for this teaching!
Count it joy and then stay away from energy drinks. Those things kill people!
Very enlightening to hear your analysis of heart issues in deconstruction. Excellent. I also like the description of the Job passage.
Question 20: I have always considered creativity as one of our closest images of God.
I love your programme Mike, thank you so much for helping to understand more in the Bible❤❤
Oh man, question #8 really hits me where I live. I’ve heard people really mock apologists and it has always bothered me because from the apologists I’ve listened to they’ve made sense. I love watching your videos Mike Winger.
Yes! Thanks Mike for adding in that our heart is involved in our logic when examining apologetics. This is the first time I've heard someone say this and have been waiting to have this idea confirmed.
Thanks for your Biblical wisdom God bless you and your ministry.
Thank you, Mike for serving the body of Christ through your ministry!
Question #7 Green is great. Thank you for your question as this is my first Easter as a new believer. Your question helped me and thank you Mike for your answer
We do Messianic Passover seder dinner and watch The Passion and remind our kids about what Christ did for us!
Our church does a sunrise service with breakfast and then Resurrection Sunday service!
My church growing up did Thursday night communion with story of Last Supper and Jesus’ garden of Gethsemane prayer and feet washing and a Friday service where they handed out old Roman style nails and read the death of Jesus on the cross.
We had sunrise service and sang resurrection hymns and went over story of His resurrection the had breakfast and service.
You are such a blessing! Love you dearly in Christ Jesus our Lord. May you and yours be blessed & protected in Jesus… ❤️
I love how you handled the question about Job.
I thank God that Mike plans to study the issue of Conditional Immortality and then address it (even though this may occur, Lord willing, a couple of years from now). I pray that God will bless his study when the time comes. I have studied it in depth myself and I am convinced that the Bible does teach Conditional Immortality.
Hello Pastor! I would like to thank you for answering the first question. I've always focused on the older brother whenever I teach this verse to others, but somehow, unlike other passages, felt that I'm missing an awesome conclusion to the lesson. Thank you for providing that awesome conclusion.
Thank you, Pastor Mike, for being faithful and using your gift of teaching in such an easily accessible way. You bless me with every video. May God continue to bring His message to the world through your ministry!!
Mike 🙏
You enlightened me to a burning question of mine. The Prodicals brother. Thank you for being our Lord's vessel 😁
Truly blessed by this episode. Eyes were open to new things!! Thanks Pastor Mike!
Thank you Pastor Mike for the wonderful job you do ...May God bless you and your family
Love you brother Mike. Love your teaching style, keep up the good work
Mike, I LOVE the way you teach. I’m really enjoying this instruction!
Hey sisters and brothers, reaching out hoping I can find some comfort amongst my Christian brothers and sisters, since I don’t have any close Christian friends in my life.
My longest and closest friend (friends for 35 years) just told me that she does not want to have anything to do with me anymore, because I shared Jesus with her. I felt as though God had put her in my heart for days and I ended up writing a long letter, really sharing the gospel, the conviction of sin and his Grace. And now she doesn’t want to be my friend anymore, even considering our friendship ‘terminated’. I feel so sad by this.
I find myself talking to people about your teachings on the Bible and I need to tell more and more people about your website and your RUclips channel! I have never been so excited about listening to a Pastor teach the Bible! I am actually surprised that I understand the really deep answers you give to the 20 Questions and topics you teach on.
Thank You Pastor Mike! I really appreciate you and the time you put into making sure that other Christian’s really understand life with The Lord and people that don’t know him! God is truly exciting and anyone who reads my comments, I want you to know that GOD LOVES YOU and he is patiently waiting for you! Knock and the door will be opened for you. If you haven’t done this already…Ask GOD with an HONEST, OPEN, LOVING heart to come into your life! I promise you that you won’t regret it! May God
Bless You 💗
Excellent questions and answers, thank you so much for taking your time to do this. It is greatly appreciated and needed, I love seeing you thing through things and what you bring up...I learn a lot here
I just want to say thank you for all the videos and hard work…. You are among the few that I listen to… ( I agree with 98-99% of your answers)
Thank you….
Thank you….
Thanks….
I found the parable of the prodigal son funny a few months ago i started a new job and they threw a thank you lunch for the end of the financial year to all, thanking them for their hard work for the year.
I was there only a month, so I felt a bit like the prodigal son since I'd gotten the rewards I hadn't earned
I have The Fire That Consumes on my to-read list and I'm glad you held that brick up so that I can prepare myself mentally first. lol
That was a great explanation of the prodigal son. I've never heard it taught like that before. Also, I'd never been consciously aware that the older son didn't come in to celebrate and possibly stayed out (of Heaven) nor did I make that connection to the Pharisees.
Thanks to the person who asked the question and to Mike for such a great answer 👍
And per #9: I think The Sabbath commandment is in the NT too, in Hebrews 10:25. Not as a yoke around one's neck to make us slaves, but as a calling from God to remind us that we all need one another and that we need to make time for other Christians when they need us (and especially when we need them).
God knows I break this commandment a lot. I miss church a lot. Mike's response has helped drive this home for me. Thanks Mike.
You are so Awesome Mike! I love how you apply all of your life to the Bible! THE BEST BOOK ON EARTH…EVER! I hope one day that I will be a quarter as good as you are! When I watch your teachings I get excited! I get so eager to learn from you! I really like the 20 questions and your really deep answers.
Thank You for your time Pastor Mike
I really appreciate the response to question 18. I've followed the explanation that meekness in the Bible is 'power under control.' But I kinda only held that view because it sounded better in my head rather than actually thinking Biblically about it. It's a humbling reminder that I need to actually read the Bible and apply what it says correctly rather than be content with "it sounds good." Gotta do the research!
Thanks pastor Mike for your work! Your ministry does indeed make me want to read my Bible more, and I am very grateful for that.
God bless!
“It sounds good” is literally why theres so many different churches teaching different things.
Thanks for your counsel and helping me to reorient my thinking away from panic (it’s like you knew! 🙃). I signed up for Foundation Worldview and purchased some of the kid versions of the books by Lee Strobel and J. Warner Wallace. Foundation Worldview seems like a really good place to start to build a foundation for her learning how to think through these things. The Strobel/Wallace material is a bit advanced for her, but I think it’ll be really helpful for my daughter and I to begin to go through some of that together.
One beautiful moment from her recent observations is that she prayed last night, completely unprompted, for God to bless her dad to know Him. ❤️
Thanks again for the advice and resources. I think I can start to look at this new season of learning for my daughter as something that has great potential to grow her faith, to grow mine, and maybe even to reach my husband.
I went to church with Edward Fudge, and was at the premiere for the movie that they made about his life and his studies. I look forward to your future study on this topic!
I recently wrote a song about the jealous son! He’s the huge part of the story that people usually miss! Great job 👏
Most people feel they ARE the Prodigals brother.
@@correctchristian4255 most people or most Christians?
@@mo-215 Nope. No chaff or weeds. My comments, unless actually referencing non and anti Christians, is only to or about Christians. I value the pearl of great price. Per Jesus.
@@mo-215 "Christians" - - - - - - - I rarely write anything to describe non and anti Christians. Their story has already been written.
"Avoid the temptation to fix people in pain"- likely the wisest thing you said here. We pentecostals and charismatics in particular are very bad about wanting to dance with those who mourn and mourn with those who dance.
Thank you, Mike! Always learn a plentitude from your vids. Blessings to you and yours. ✝️
All good questions, some of which I have probably thought at one point or another. Thanks Pastor Mike for answering these, it's really helpful!
Maybe it doesn't mean much if nobody ever sees it, but thanks, Mike. I really, really appreciate this effort here. I look forward to shaking your hand someday (or whatever it is we have at that time).
Wow i love the way you broke down that first parable!
Thanks pastor Mike! Your videos help so much God has gifted you to the church its instruction! Keep it up, thanks!
PS i know maybe a debate wouldn’t be possible but have you ever considered a conversation with James White? Maybe going through your differences in understanding? I’m a reformed baptists myself but i think it would help everyone if ya’ll had a discussion.
Idk lol you two are some of my favorite bible teachers (though your areas of focus are a little different) i just think it would be cool for ya’ll to talk about anything really, even progressive Christianity
The answer to celebrating Good Friday and Easter was very helpful to me!
Thank you Pastor Mike!!
God bless you brother
Enjoyed today's episode Pastor Mike!!!!
John MacArthur's sermon on the Prodigal Son was probably the best message I've heard on it. His take on what happens after the father talks to the 'good son' was chilling.
You explanation of the obedient son is the best explanation I have heard thus far. We assume that once the disobedient son returns, the obedient son would “share” this portion of the inheritance with the disobedient son, BUT the parable doesn’t say that. The parable communicates that the broken relationship has been restored-and that is cause for celebration.
How can we apply the obedient son lesson to our own lives?
But the father gave him celebration and the best cloak. The father is clearly showing his favor. If all that was the fathers is the loyal sons them him giving the glutton irresponsible son the cloak, the goat, and all the sides, is already giving away the loyal ones inheritance.....
Peace and Grace to you Pastor Mike 🙏
I love this question about the older brother because that is EXACTLY how I feel
When I was young my church would have strawberry shortcake and coffee after the sunrise service, which was conducted as a short community pageant.
Looking forward to hear more about Torben Sondergaard from Denmark 🇩🇰 I am danish and I wonder myself what that what he does and preach is true. Thank you Mike for your great effort to preach the truth always. God bless ❤️
Torben and his "Last Reformation" is not a cult. I'd recommend watching his first movie, "The Beginning", which you can find on his YT channel. It was this movie that woke me up to the power that we have in Jesus. I came out of a Baptist church that was dead and into a fellowship of believers who exercise the gifts of the Holy Spirit. My friends invited Torben out to have him host an event here (Sacramento area), and I volunteered to help out, which meant I got to spend three straight days with Torben and his crew, and I even gave him and his friends a ride to the airport after the event.
My experience with him is that he's just a man who loves the Lord and preaches Jesus and the cross. He also instructs people in baptisms, the laying on of hands for healing, and in deliverance. Some people also receive the gift of tongues. I haven't followed his current activities, but unless he's gone sideways somewhere he's a solid teacher in my eyes, and he's a good brother in Christ. I think it's always great to get Mike's opinion because we all respect him, but it's also good to just watch some videos yourself and see what you think.
I can tell you that because of what Torben showed me, I've been able to lay hands on people and pray for healing and I've actually seen people healed. I didn't know we could do that before. Torben isn't the only one teaching that, but he's one of the few I know of. Of course, it's not me doing the healing but God, but God does call us to step out in faith, and we see good things happen when we do. My group has also delivered several people from oppression, which has been awesome to see. Read the Book of Acts. Everything in there is real and is happening today, and I'm a first-hand witness to it. Praise God!
Esther 4:14 ..for such a time as this.
Bless you and your online ministry. As this world divides before our eyes into worldly people and Christians, you are providing such a valuable service to people as they realize they need a good teacher. You sir, are feeding the sheep! I have been so blessed by your videos. They answer questions I have as I’m reading the Bible for the first time. They also relate to my life and it shows how the Bible is living. Thank you again. Meow Moxi
"And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his span of life." Matthew 6:27
Worrying has no benefit to us. Praise God that because of who He is and what He did we have no reason to worry. Obviously worry isn't something we can just take off, but be reminded by this and the Bible that we don't have to. God loves you so much! And His love was shown perfect in Christ. Hopefully this helped you today. God bless you!
on Q 20, Mike touched on something I thought up a few years ago. God is 3 yet 1, which I couldn't comprehend until this came to mind. We humans are also 3 in 1. Ego, Super Ego & id A.K.A Concious, Subconscious & inner child. Contrast that with Father, Son, & Holy Ghost and you see one of the ways we are created in his image, after their likeness.
Thanks for this, I always empathized with the older son.
Mike your answer to question 6 is Gold ! Thanks I needed to hear this 🙏
Hi Mike,
Thanks so much for all your hard work and dedication. Your teaching is a source of invaluable blessing🤍
Regarding Q14: As a native speaker of both Romanian and Spanish, the passage in 1 Corinthians 7:36-38 has never been hard to understand for me - the Bible versions that I use in both languages talk about fathers that think it’s inappropriate for their virgin daughter to remain unmarried and so they decide to “give her in marriage” and fathers that think it’s okay for their virgin daughter to stay unmarried and so they “don’t give her in marriage” to anyone.
I had never heard it translated as implying a father could somehow marry his own daughter.. this was a very odd question for me so I just thought I should mention this (potential) explanation.
I don’t think you’ll see this comment, but I would sure like to know your thoughts on this.
Anyway, may God bless us all with peace and wisdom to walk in His will.🙏🏼
Thanks for taking us back to the context in which Jesus spoke these parables. I think that if we keep the picture in our minds of Jesus speaking them to the Pharisees in order to condemn them, though, not just to give general good teaching, we see that the older brother is actually the point. They are the older brother who is missing what God’s heart actually is and Jesus is calling them out on it. We can glean a lot from any parable Jesus spoke, but sometimes in our pure-hearted efforts to see good words Jesus has for us we mistake condemnation for teaching. Many of Jesus’ words and parables are spoken, especially in Matthew, in order to contradict the religious leaders’ teaching (including the “Beatitudes”).
That was an excellent reponse to Joey's(8) question Pastor Mike! I never thought of it that way.
What a beautiful intro. Thank you
The problem is too many Christian parents and leaders think that getting a good education and getting savings and a down paymet for a house should precede marriage, rather than you can get education and save while married you can start marriage in a rented studio apartment in the poor neighbourhoods you can witness in a poor environment too, forcing people who are suitable to marry to wait another 3 years that is when temptation to pre marital sex arises. There is nothing wrong with christians marrying at 21
When you were talking about the inheritance and treasures in heaven: it made me think of how many people hope and pray that they will have their memories, their loved ones, and all their possessions with them in heaven, while others hope they forget everything and wholly experience God‘s love, redemption, and heavenly blessings once there. If we think about how different our life experiences are one from the other, I believe it’s perfectly fitting that God would remove our memories here on earth so that everyone can live in peace and harmony without the sadness of trauma, past experiences, sins, and regrets. Who at the end of their life recalls their memories with joy and contentment? Most likely those who have lived a Godly life. Who at the end of their life recalls their memories with regret and disappointment? Likely those who have squandered their inheritance and thrown away their lives on worldly treasures and vain passions. Yet here we see with the story of the prodigal son versus the righteous son… The father loves them both equally and blesses them beyond measure. Yet the righteous son is also not without sin, because he displays jealousy and unforgiveness. No sin is greater than the other in the eyes of God. They will both be welcomed into heaven and each will have a room in His house. This is the beauty of salvation and unconditional love.
I've listened to a message from Vlad Savchuk on an Orphan Spirit the used the parable of the Prodigal. Helped me understand this better.
Taking the parables as a string of teaching on the same subject helps increasemy understanding. I don't think I'd connected them in my mind before.
I always loved the obedient soon. He always seemed so significant to me, though I wasn't sure exactly why.
If I had the chance for a do-over, I would encourage my believing child to pray with me for his father's salvation, never undermining his father's intelligence, position & love as a father or as head-of-household. Just confirming & encouraging my child's belief in love. ❤
Me, reading the questions, "Should we bring back the crusades?"
😯.... oh.. Those crusades..
Given that answer, I gonna have to put down my chainmail and my knightly sword
I have always thought that about the Prodigal brother but I think it also says to us not to be jealous not to be put out be totally forgiven there is no reward until we get to be with him to save us
A great holy Saturday activity for us is burying sins/temptations that were nailed to the cross on Friday. It really hits us with the finality of sin being put to death. Also reading the harrowing of hell which is a medieval drama but has so much encouragement of Christ conquering and freeing the righteous from Death and hell.
I can understand the older sons position, I think we all can. These are the stories that teach us and guide us to the correct attitude. If not educated by God I would be just like this. I understand what the father is saying now and why that is right, its easy to fall into the trap of how the older son felt.
God is good - with #1 was thinking how where we put our treasure, there our heart goes, and the father put all his treasure into his sons, and his heart was with them.
1.3.25
Sharing 👍🏽 👍🏽
Many thanks brother Mike 🙏🏽
I have read The Last Reformation and I found it to support and quote Ellen g White movement of SDAs. That was just the way I found it, I'm not saying it was only that ❤GOD BLESS EVERYONE 🙏♥️
im lookimg forward to the 7000 videos. that comes out to about 1 video released every other day. Awesome!😊
Looking forward to the conditional immortality discussion. I’ve read that book you referenced by Fudge and I’m open to it.
Q19 - This was actually the answer I was hoping for! I wasn't concerned specifically about the what-if (of course God "could" do anything in any different way if he so chose), I just included that in my question to clarify/direct the answer and give context to the first half of my question so that it would be better understood. I mainly just wanted to better understand why Jesus died the way he did, since I was somewhat ignorant on that particular subject. Thank you Pastor Mike for directing me to some scripture that explains each element of His sacrifice!
Bravo! #1- very great! The robe is the covering.
I think the whole story is mostly about the other brother. He was doing what lots of us fall into and have to recalibrate daily to not live by works based righteousness and re-remember the gospel of grace daily. The prodigal came back to the Father knowing He would welcome him back.
Because I know how the parable of the prodigal son can be misused:
You still have every right to protect yourself from toxic family that hurt you.
If they are still toxic... Then they never "returned" and should not be accepted back.
My father would refer to my brother as "the prodigal son" and used to desperately hang onto him, even at the cost of his other children. I was never allowed to feel like I could protect myself. Now I have completely removed my brother from my life because I have the right to protect myself.
I'm mainly commenting just so your comment gets some more attention, because you made a very good point. We should absolutely protect ourselves when we need to. I had to do something similar with one of my brothers. In the parable, the father accepted the son only when he came back genuinely repentant. He was evidently watching for him to return, since it says he saw him a long way away, but he didn't go after him. He let him go.
Loving your videos. Learning so much. Keep it up 👍🏻
Love the long pause😁
Mike
Thanks bro. I appreciate your vids. I “discovered” your content after hearing you speak at the Desert Apologetics Conference and have been enjoying many of your vids. I’ve also shared your vids with many friends. Thanks again for what you do.
*youre like that guy at seminary that always went above and beyond...& I always asked for his notes. lol
Seriously though each of your series seems like it could be a thesis or dissertation.
Be blessed, I hope to meet you again.
Q#5 - to add to what Mike has said, I would explain that not everybody believes in Jesus, but that you hope daddy will change his mind. And you can also pray together with him/her for daddy to come to Jesus
I have a similar situation, except my hubby is in a cult. I waited as long as I could before telling my son that his dad believes different things to us, he was probably around 5 or 6 when I told him. But I taught him as much Biblical truth as possible over the years before that.. And since then, when differences have come up, I've shown him verses in the Bible so he can see for himself, it's not just my word against dad's word..(this done in an honouring way obviously, not mom Vs dad 😅). And we often pray together for dad to come out of the deception & come back to Jesus 🙏🙏
Hope this helps 🤗
The Father has so much it's always enough for all of His children.
Each one of us owns all things at the same time.
It is tied into God's infinite perspective concerning wealth.
Those who store up treasures in heaven, the greatest wealth they will have are the ties with others who are there because God used them to help save their eternal souls. They are the jewels in their crowns.
Meek sounds like it hinges on the application of self-control (a fruit of the spirit!) Gentleness is, in many ways, a form of self-control visited on others. Keep your voice under control, your anger, your physical strength.
I believe in conditional immortality 💯
You do on Good Friday what I do for Christmas. I think about His birth and all the heavens are bowing down to him in this reverent silence and just how awing that must’ve have been. It just sings to my epic fantasy loving heart but it’s actually REAL!! So cool.
The first born son (in ancient Jewish tradition) was given a double portion of the inheritance and this was because he had responsibility to the whole family with that inheritance, it wasn’t all his to squander. So the elder brother would have also had a responsibility for his younger brother on his fathers demise, so another point is to the Pharisees and teachers that they had responsibility for the rest of the nation even those they deemed sinners. The Lord as the true older brother is actually demonstrating that he is fulfilling the wishes of his father in caring for the least in the family.
About the question 9, the Sabbath. If Sabbath was not as *important* , it would have not been changed by deception throughout the years, it has been and is still being slowly but surely changed from Saturday to Sunday. It is very important and the scripture does say, that in the times of antichrist they will "change times"
That's why Sunday, the day the Lord rose from the dead and the day we gather to speak of His teachings and worship Him, is the Lord's day, not Sabbath.
And remember, sabbath was made for man, not man for sabbath.
There is also something to consider in that Jesus told us to take our rest in Him. Some draw the parallel to say He is the sabbath. I am not educated enough to approve or oppose that teaching.
A good starting place for me to consider which laws we are bound to and which laws were fulfilled is 1, did Jesus reiterate it clearly as a command command; 2, was the original law in question ceremonial or moral?
Sabbath was ceremonial, it set apart the people born of Israel as God's people, and gave them rest in the Lord ❤
Hebrews 4 is also a good text for understanding the Sabbath