Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: 0:00 - Intro 1. 0:04 {Which Denomination is True?} Why are there over 30,000 Christian denominations all claiming to be the “true Christians”? Which one should I follow, and why? 2. 25:17 {Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?} I often hear people saying that Jesus was speaking to and condemning the religious only, not speaking to the world. How would you respond to this sentiment? 3. 28:41 {Punished for Adam’s Sin?} Are we guilty of the sin of Adam and Eve? If so, isn’t it unjust for God hold us accountable for something we had no part of (Ezekiel 18, Romans 5: 12)? 4. 31:46 {Worship Only Services?} When it comes to a church service, would it be appropriate on occasion to just have worship instead of both worship and the Word preached? Should it always be both? 5. 34:16 {Three Dippings during Baptism?} What are your thoughts on “Trine Immersion” during baptism, specifically three dippings? Is it justified in Matthew 28: 19? 6. 37:02 {Repentant but Still Rejected} I was rejected by my church because of my behavior, PTSD & my mouth. They didn’t excommunicate me but stopped talking to me/started ignoring me. I’ve repented, apologized, and begged but they still ignore me. It has left me feeling flawed & unloved. What would Scripture tell me about my situation? 7. 40:22 {Is God Deterministic?} If Jesus in the Old Testament was intentional by God, does that mean that God is sometimes deterministic? For example, did God orchestrate Joseph’s life? 8. 42:22 {How to “Build Up” One Another} What does “building others up” with your words really mean? Does it mean that you should compliment people and just say nice things to them? Does it mean more, or something entirely different? 9. 44:16 {Why Ask for Forgiveness?} If we are saved by faith alone, why are there so many prayers asking that our sins be forgiven, when by faith we know that they have been? Thank You 10. 45:09 {Should We Limit our Fun?} I read my Bible every day and pray, but I feel guilty when I engage in a hobby or have “fun.” Is there a limit to the amount of fun one can have in a day? 11. 45:42 {Jesus Just an Ordinary Prophet?} Why did Jesus refer to Himself as a prophet in Luke 13: 33 and not the Son of God? Wouldn't that be putting Himself on the same level as regular prophets when He was in fact elevated? 12. 48:51 {Life on Other Planets = Abiogenesis?} If basic organisms are discovered on other planets, would that prove abiogenesis and prove evolution? 13. 54:17 {Should we “Sin Boldly”?} Martin Luther has a quote that says “sin boldly.” I’ve heard he meant don’t be afraid of sinning and do so boldly knowing it has been paid for, but I feel that this is dangerous. Your thoughts? 14. 56:42 {Mortal & Venial Sins?} 1 John 5: 16-17 seems to support the Roman Catholic understanding of mortal and venial sins. Is that the proper interpretation of this verse, and if not, how should we understand sin and the death it causes? 15. 1:00:39 {Why Follow Any of the OT?} What would you say to the objection that “if we don't follow the old covenant anymore, why should we care about Leviticus 18”? 16. 1:05:32 {How to Rejoice and Weep With Others} Since both good and bad things happen in the body of Christ daily, how can we accurately practice Romans 12: 15? 17. 1:08:22 {Has the HS Been Left Out?} Why is the Holy Spirit not mentioned in the greetings of Paul, and why He is left out in such statements like 1 Corinthians 8:6? 18. 1:12:13 {The Granville Sharp’s Rule} How reliable is the Granville Sharp's rule? Is it implemented outside of New Testament writings? 19. 1:13:37 {The “Secret Sauce” to Fasting} Please help me with how to fast. I am praying for a friend’s salvation and protection from some dark things. I know that’s not a lot of info, but I want to know if there is a secret sauce to fasting. 20. 1:18:06 {The Heartache of an Unbelieving Family} I'm the only Christian in my whole biological family. How do I not despair at the fact that they're all headed to Hell as it stands? It’s leading me to doubt the goodness of God.
💕15) There were many laws outside of the mosaic law, all the moral laws still apply. Not being under the Old Covenant doesn’t mean we don’t obey the mosaic law. It means when we obey the TWO greatest commandment under the New Covenant to love God with all our heart and strength we automatically obey the mosaic law. When we seek Jesus for strength to live a good moral life, we’re honoring God the greatest commandment, the second love our neighbors as ourselves. Matthew 22:40💝 “On these (two commandments) hang all the law and the prophets.”
@@BrockJamesStory yeah, I felt the same way for years. Grew up in church attending regularly 5 years ago and I finally decided to do it. I felt convicted by God. It’s a personal relation that I felt. He’s worked in my life through many troubling moments.
Mike, I have been absolutely on fire for the Lord since finding your channel. I didn't even realize how luke warm I was before. You have helped me ne truly understand the Word so much better and it has made my love for the Lord flourish. Thank you so much for letting the Lord use you in such a profound way. Im so grateful for your ministry. In another note this has been one if the most trying years of my life and I pray that next year will be better for us both and for everyone else. God bless you 🙏✝️😊
You might also enjoy Justin Peters 'Clouds Without Water', Pastor Chris Rosborough 'Fighting for the Faith', John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham If you find no time for reading Scripture then listen to it. 🎧 🙂👍
Thank you so much for not being a "money-grubber" ! I am so turned off by "ministries" that beg for donations. I subscribed to your channel when you had about 3K. It has been a joy to see your ministry expand geometrically.
I prayed for you. You’re probably already doing this, but keep feeding on the Word every day. We can do NOTHING apart from Jesus and His Word. Abide in the Word. May God bless you and your loved ones powerfully and abundantly!
My wife and I didn’t just pick a church that had what we needed, we also wanted a church that needed what we had. There is a time to be fed, and a time to feed. And then of course we discovered in humility the depth of our need, and the power of Christ’s bride - seek not to be served, but to serve. But then with gratitude accept the service you need.
Thanks Pastor Mike for all you’ve done (and thank God got all He’s done through you!) I know everyone wishes you a happy 2024 and happy new year! (and thanks for answering Q16 😂 and the five-month-late birthday wish)
Great coverage of denominations & strategies for finding a good church! I think that, when church hunting, the denomination names are like the sections of a library: History, Romance, Adventure, Biography, etc. Big broad brushes that give a teeny tiny bit of insight into what they're about. It can also help you know generally how liturgical the church is, whether they use wine or juice in Communion, baptism practices, etc. Methodists, for example, will almost always have congregational responsive readings, so if those are uncomfortable to you, probably don't start by checking out the Methodist churches. So, for me, I usually look at the ones I'm most familiar with then move towards the less familiar. For me that would be Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Non-denominational, Lutheran, then everything else. Why is Non-denominational so low? It truly isn't because I think they're bad; they're just unknown & it feels deliberately unhelpful. They're the unshelved book on a random table in the library lobby - could be anything good or bad. But thankfully we can do a decent amount of research on the church website, online sermons, etc. I like to see how they describe themselves & what they're doing - are they self-focused? Christ-focused? Program focused? All these can be commendable or red flags. Then make a plan to visit the ones you think look good. Don't go many weeks in succession to begin, but get your first impression, then see another one. Then, after you've seen a few, go back to the ones you like. If one stands out, attend regularly. If they have a class for potential new members, go to that. It can really help you see the nuts & bolts of that particular church's workings & focus. And if you love the church & the people, even with the little quibbles you'll doubtless have, then join! Publicly associate with the church for accountability & discipleship! 🎉 Just as individuals have their own quirks & virtues, each church body has its own charms & challenges, regardless of their denominational title. As the only way to know a person is to meet them, so the only way to know a church is to meet with them in worship. Thank you for your insights and thank anyone who read this lengthy comment 😅 May you all grow continually in Christ.
My pastor (non-denominational, ordained Calvary Chapel) tells us frequently: "My job is to rightly-divide the word of truth. *YOUR* job is to fact check me, because I'm human too, and I. make mistakes." And people do fact check him - especially the board of Deacons he has around him who hold the power to push him out the door in a split second if he tries pushing anything weird. I like that.
@retrictumrectus1010. Good insight. Proper accountability in church is actually a complicated balance. You want a head pastor who listens and responds to correction, but not one who is easily moveable off of conviction. As much novelty comes into the church from the “board” and from the congregation as from the pastor. It’d be nice if each church could have a group with a role similar to the Supreme Court to adjudicate different interpretations of whichever catechism or confession or creed a church follows. Sometimes, a denomination can provide that kind of oversight, but seldom do they. In almost every Evangelical denomination, there are progressive and cultic outliers who ARE NOT purged.
I fact checked a Pastor at a church I used to attend and he told me.that I was legalistic and to not touch God's anointed. He was a prosperity preacher and him and the pastors he would backup.would take verses out of context all.the time.
@@goannacs6861 I was the only one too, I left and then he reached out and I told him the truth, he called me legalistic and to not touch the Lord's anointed. I still think and pray for him.
Well done sir. In our city here the Orthodox Church, during Lent, have services at each other’s churches every week. That is to show that it is one church. I always thought that was good. I’m actually at a Calvary church now. I usually attend a few services and see what they are teaching before I commit
Our are churches have service every morning of Holy Week together for similar reasons. It’s fantastic. I wish we had a Calvary Church in my area. The closest one is 1 hour 30 minutes from us.
@@bigtobacco1098 ....the issue is not where the truth was for 1800 years as we can offer suggestions - BUT where is it today and it is in the SDA church - I was not raised in the SDA church but my study proves them correct...we keep the true sabbath - we teach God annihilates the sinner rather than burn him forever which is demonic...check them out
Happy New Year. Great job as usual with your teachings. I've been a Christian 41 years now ,am an evangelist, missionary to Haiti and you're one of the few teachers I enjoy listening to and look forward to.
THANK YOU ! JUST FOUND THIS CHANNEL. I believe less than an hour ago but i cant really say since i got so immersed in watching the video i found. I am the newbie of the hour. Looking forward to learning more.
Make sure you conduct your own research. Mike did a great job highlighting the portions of the response he wanted to draw your attention to while ignoring the other information. It appeared he was attempting to imply that the number of denominations or what they considered denominations were a direct result of the faith being established in that country or land. However, the UNHIGHLIGHTED portion indicates that isn't the case and they have a higher bar or requirement when determining what constitutes a denomination. Do your own research!! 45000+ may not be accurate but according to the New Testament 2 denominations are one too many since all Christ followers should have NO DIVISIONS. NONE! Moreover, all the brothers should speak the same thing, they should all have the same mind and judgment. We know that doesn't exist today across denominations. *1 CORINTHIANS 1:10* - Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment. Also see PHILIPPIANS 2:2 You might be able to read this. Many of my comments are removed on this platform. I'm surprise he was able to highlight one of them at the outset of the video.
all churches mix false teachings with Jesus. This started with Constantine. You never were meant to form any CHURCH. the church is a spiritual entity, it cannot be touched. it assembles in heaven. there are no denominations in heaven. Only Christians. Believers in Christ. once you pass your authority over to another man? be it pope Francis. or Billy Graham, or even an angel? you have abandoned your calling. The Bible says you are a priest king. Not a parishioner. The angel said to John, we are fellow servants of God. do not bow to me. When you say a man is a bishop? a pastor. you give away your authority to him. you make him your priest? your pastor? so what are you? God says you are that priest and king. you gave away your authority. No wonder miracles are thin on the ground. yesterday i got a message from a satanist. I said to him all atheists are cowards running from God. He said, i do not run from God? i go to church, and i take bible study classes there.
Pastor Mike, thank you for taking the time to do this video when you were not feeling well. Through the years since I found your channel, you have continued to answer with honesty, knowledge, and sensitivity. May God bless you and your family throughout 2024. Thank you.
My mum was raised Baptist, and is now Methodist, I was raised Methodist and I now go to a Presbyterian church. The main difference I notice with the Presbyterian church is that you don't get a new minister every 5 to 7 years there.
I’m looking for a new church and this gave me so much relief!!!! I definitely was becoming a church critic among this search but now I’ll be less nit picky
I grew up in a very Catholic family. As an adult, I started having questions and reservations about certain doctrines (especially papal infallibility) and conduct of the earthly leadership of the church. I felt there was disconnection between what was actually in the Bible and what the Catholic Church taught. To me, it seemed that any church that wasn't a biblical teaching one wasn't a church I wanted part of. Jesus always was and always will be my lord and saviour. So I prayed, started to re-read my Bible, and started to look for a new church. It was a very difficult process. I live in an extremely liberal city (think worse than San Francisco), and many of 'churches' here reflect it in their words and deeds. As a Catholic, I didn't know much about the other half of Christianity, and the plethora of denominations didn't help ease my apprehensions. Eventually, I found a biblical centred/teaching/living church. It is an independent evangelical church that I later discovered had a sizable minority of Catholic and Anglican 'refugees' who, like me, wanted to be part of a Bible centred/teaching/living fellowship.
Bible doesn't cover all the situations in the world so I think we have to follow traditions and leadership and advices like disciples gave...thats why most churches come together, discuss and make solutions for each issue.If you believe Holy Spirit is real, then you have to invite Him and get solutions through Him.
Amen! Amazing testimony of finding the truth! Praise God! Many churches are soooo apostate and far from God. It's so sad but I'm happy Jesus pulled you away and put you into a good church.
When I was much younger I fasted for several weeks. During the first few days I felt hungry. After about a week I could sit at a table where others were eating a steak dinner and feel no hunger. That was a fast where I only consumed water. When you come off a long fast, it is important to reintroduce food slowly. First just consume soups and then, after a day or two, graduate add food's that are tougher to digest.
So blessed to have found your excellent, faithful and genuinely humble ministry, bro Mike and I can truly say that the Lord's abundant grace and favor rests upon you! Truly appreciate all that you do for the body of Christ😊 The joy of the Lord grant you great strength and may His peace abound in you and your family as you come into the new year🎉 Praise God for the ministry He entrusted to you!
I went from Catholic to Baptist...and it's like going from religion to Christianity. Our church has a pamphlet for new/perspective members that discloses its biblical beliefs, the church structure, member expectations, etc.
I also went from Catholicism to Baptist! Actually, being a Baptist isn’t necessarily how I identify. I do attend a baptist church . But I’m now a Bible believer. The Bible is what changed me and the Baptists seem love and honor the Bible like I do so I’ll stick with them. As long as they stay true to Gods Word.
@@midlander4You're ignorance is outstanding: the Flood of Noah wasn't global but only a Large Regional flood of Middle East and the Watchers corrupted only a small area around Mount Hermon that produced the Nephilim ( Giants) so everyone was infected even the children. It's this infection that was causing evil 24/7 nobody was innocent in that area. But God didn't wipe out all children on the Earth. The Global Flood is scientifically impossible so just STOP being a stupid troll.
Hello Pastor Mike. Im from the Philippines. Just want to express my thanks for your contents on YT. You really are a good brother. May the Lord continue to bless you and guide you. Make His Spirit continue to lead you in your studies/contents to come.
Thank you for your answer to the last question about unsaved loved ones. I'm the eldest in an extended family of about 20, with only 1 daughter saved. My closest sister died last year, and the last I knew, she wasn't saved. It is such a pain. But, your response was so comforting to me. Thank you. I am not done witnessing to all the others! But, the bottom line is, God is good. I learn a lot from you. Blessings!
Thank you, Mike for your hard work in teaching the Gospel. Blessings to you, your family and the team. May 2024 be another year with you helping us think biblically! ❤✝️
I don't agree with you on everything, but you're the guy I use when someone asks me how I define a "true" believer. Someone who I may disagree with on some things, but who ultimately puts the bible first as the authority, and who desires to serve God in all things, not man. I'm sure if we ever spoke we would have some spirited discussions, but you're someone who sets aside his ego and genuinely seeks out the truth when new information is brought forth. I really respect that.
1:22:31 when I worry about my unsaved loved ones, I always remind myself that God loves them even more than I do. If it's at all possible He will find a way to reach them. In the meantime, keep praying for them, pray for Him to show you when and how to reach out to them. And wait.
I thank God for me finding your channel Mike. You have helped me to understand God‘s word in ways that I never have before. I sometimes can be very skeptical about learning from people. I don’t want to follow a Wolf in sheep‘s clothing. But I haven’t found that to be the case with you. I’ve asked God to show me if I’m wrong, but God hasn’t shown me anything or given me any feelings that you are not genuine in anyway. Thank you and God bless you and your family. Duane.
I truly enjoy these sessions. i don't always get to join live, but i'm thankful these are recorded and i can view whenever. God bless you, your family, and your ministry.
Sorry to hear your year was not what you would have preferred. What you're doing is so valuable and so important though. For a few years now I've been wanting to find my next biblical mentor and teacher and, My Brother In Christ, (meme intended) that is now you. I greatly appreciate how thoroughly and sincerely you cover topics and am looking forward to going through every bit of your teachings over the next year. Really appreciate ya brotha, be strong in the Lord and may our God richly bless you for this work you're doing for the Kingdom
Please pray for me. I have been sick with a fever and sore throat since Tuesday, and I have been getting really discouraged because I did not anticipate being sick and out of work this long
Thank you Mike! I’ve just decided to go back to the Calvary church Cincinnati which happens to be about 10 minutes from our house (what a blessing). My husband’s hours are wonky and we just found out he’ll never have a Sunday off BUT he has Wednesdays off so we’ll just go in the evening! Thanks for helping to clear my mind on this!
I remember when Calvary Chapel members would try to stop us from preaching door to door or on the streets. They would follow and try to disrupt us as Jehovah’s Witnesses. They tired out and failed. We keep on preaching.
Mike love your channel and I subscribed the first time I watched you. I feel your teaching is really informative and we know the hearing and learning of the word is the most needed. Rom 10: 17 so thankyou for stepping out and teaching truth no matter what. Now I feel the true church of Jesus the Christ is the folks all around the world that believe and have been born again. So that would be the universal church which also means the Catholic church not Roman catholic no pope no confessional booths and Jesus doesn't turn into flat bread just represented by bread in remembrance. That's my take. Love ya brother I'll pray for your ministry..!!
Such a great teacher. Thank you Mike for your faithfulness and your genuine heart for Jesus. Praise God for your ministry. I learn SO much as a new believer and lover of Jesus. God Bless and Happy New Year!
Blessings on you and your work, Mike. I appreciate your humility and the thoroughness you attempt with your ministry. I lean toward Calvinism but only because I believe that's what the scriptures teach. I think you will search in vain to find the phrase (or the concept) of "choose to believe" in the Bible. When you are CHOOSING to believe something, the tacit implication is that you don't actually BELIEVE it; that you are, in fact, PRETENDING to believe in something you're not actually convinced of. Please think and comment.
You can choose to OBEY what you believe or not, but you can't choose to believe. You either believe or you don't. That's essentially the gift of faith, and that's the province of God.
Yea after I found faith I stopped worrying so much about this or that church. I listened to what you said and how you saw the bible. And I live in the UK. But I managed to find a decent abbey that gave us that community and gospel stories. And lessons from the gospels. It may not be up to American standards. But hey we are working within a mostly atheist country for generations. Plus not gonna lie the art work for 800 year old abbey. Is amazing. It's where I got a spiritual encounter with the spirit of god on a personal level that told me there to go there, and pray. And it was during the summer and the art work of Jesus on the cross. It was some sight. So I got you Mike and self reading of the bible. And my Church. What can go wrong?
My son and I just had discussions last night about question 1 and 4!!!! It’s was such good confirmation for everything we discussed to hear these! Thank you pastor Mike!
Glad I stumbled upon your videos this year. They are very encouraging and informative for the believers in Christ and for those with questions about Him. Keep up the good work and I pray your ministry continues and grows in this new year! And hopefully you can have a live Q&A abroad this year too 👀😏… England *cough cough*
Pastor Mike I love how thorough you are in everything, you have helped me want to be more thorough, can’t say I always am sometimes bias creeps in or I hear an answer that I sort of like and run with it. Of course I would never claim 100 percent something I have not dug deeply into!
Please pray for me - I have greatly sinned with my mouth in anger & unforgiveness & malice against a friend like the person in question #6. I understand that they can't reconcile & I apologized but I pray that one day they will forgive from afar & that I would feel the presence of God soon in my chastisement.
Mike I had been having so many questions about around the Leviticus verses. Thank you for giving me some answers and peace. Thank God for helping me and answering. God is awesome like that.
Please pray for me to break the chains of addiction once and for all. The Lord delivered me from years of suboxone and opiate abuse when I gave my life to him last October, but since then I’ve slowly backslid into relying on substances like kratom, and nicotine for energy and enjoyment (it’s nowhere near like it used to be, but still severely affecting my walk with God) and I keep trying to overcome completely but failing and falling into severe shame and guilt. Been being spiritually attacked throughout all of this lately so just please pray for me. My name is Calvin.
Dear Heavenly Father, We bring to you Calvin,help him to break the chains of addiction. Strengthen him,support him,give him courage and comfort him LORD. We know that when we fall you’re always there to pick us back up and that when we can’t walk any further you are there to carry us. Give him the full armour of God so that he can win the war against this affliction and take on any spiritual powers.We pray these things in Jesus name,Amen 🙏
My experience with addiction is that "I" cannot break those chains any more than I can change my sin-nature. The key for me is that I needed to surrender, admit my powerlessness over my desire for any mind-altering substance. My prayer was for God to remove my desire for that substance. In the meantime, I went to 12 Step meetings at least daily, I stayed out of slippery places, called others who needed encouragement & kept a list of others I could call when I got squirrely. I'm praying for you Calvin - that God removes all desire for mind-altering substances from you, completely. We all are tempted & taunted by the evil one. The practice of hearing the Holy Spirit and following His lead is a lifetime practice, daily, one day at a time.
@mikewinger: Your Q&As are so valuable to me. I always listen to them after the time stamps are provided. I never seem to be able to post my questions early enough to get them answered.
Hey there! Sometimes Qs are passed over due to already having been answered in the past. Be sure to check the "CLIP Search" on biblethinker.org to see if maybe that's the case.
Protestants throw spiritual rocks at Catholics but have never left their false teachings. They have retained Sunday replacement of the Sabbath and man's holidays that replace His Holy Appointed times. Neither denomination worships in Spirit nor Truth! John 4:24
This reminds me of the 2 churches my wife and I were torn between. We were torn between a Baptist and a nondenominational with some pentecostal influence. Agreed on tons of stuff, and they work together for things. Made me glad to see
I’m one of those weirdos who would completely go to the church because Winger goes there. But I’m in New England so there are limits even to my love of Winger 😂🤣
Hi Mike, I particularly loved your response to question 20! There is always more room in our hearts for humility. “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”💕🙏
Thank you Mike, truly you will be a servant Jesus speaks to when He says “Well done good and faithful servant”! But thank you, your ministry has helped me so much as a young man living for Christ.
We ended up at an Evangelical Free church as well. Their doctrinal statement is limited to the essentials, which was really appealing. It allows for folks to have different views of the non-essentials and still fellowship together.
@@MikeWinger Dear Mike, we agree JWs are not Christian because they do not worship Jesus, oue eternal great God (John 1). How is it remotely possible to include as Christians those who believe God created a whole bunch of humans that are predestined to eternal damnatio; that Jesus grace and sacrifice in no way applies to the whole world? They deny the very character of God. Jesus prayed to God, "forgive them, for they know not what they do", so we know his grace applies to them should they reach out in faith.
@@MikeWinger How is it possible that Calvinists who believe God literally refuses salvation to any created person on earth.. this lie is a grotesque portrayal of the Trinity - the God who has loved from all eternity, the God is Love God.
I can definetly relate to that position as well. One of the problems i have found with going to a denomational church is that it can change from we believe christ alone for salvation to we believe christ alone plus being our denomation and its incredibly subtle how that creeps in. at that point you have a responsibility to call it out and say this is not healthy or biblical and that can be very challenging. Thats not to say being no denomational isnt without its flaws as well. Its entirely possible to be proud and tribalistic being non denomational
Concerning Mike's last comment about not asking for more money for his ministry------I follow a different Pastor online who I really, really love. This man who is much older and has been ministering for decades truly teaches the word of God, righteousness and Grace, however, I was blown away to find out, by Googling, that my pastor's personal worth is somewhere between 30 and 50 MILLION dollars! How can a true man of God have such a personal worth or how can he justify having that much personal worth and still be a Christian??? Thank you for any thoughts on this. God bless.
Why I say non-denominational. I'm former Catholic. The label doesn't matter. Find a church regardless of denomination that actually aligns with the word in it's beliefs/practices/traditions. After that, make sure it's one with good leadership and organized teaching that backs up everything with bible references used in context. You may also consider their style of praise/worship to your personality (choir that sings hymns vs a few lead singers with a full band vs singing and dancing). Make sure there are opportunities for bible study, fellowship, and service. You should feel at home.
Hi Mike, since you go to church in La Mirada now, I strongly recommend that you go to Mike's (right next to your church), order a nacho supreme with carne asada and jalapeños. God bless.
I frequently hear from Roman Catholics the 45,000 denominations, and I always ask them which one of the 250+ Catholic denominations they are, since that is from the same study.
250 different Catholic denominations? Really? Please name me 5 different "Catholic Denominations" as in *Catholics* that teach "Different Catholic Doctrines." And by Catholic, I don't mean a group of independent organizations of individuals in the 1800's or 1900's that "claim to be Catholic".
@@PatrickInCayman You do not understand my argument. The study which produced the 45,000 denominations number had a funny definition of a denomination. Any sect with another branch in a different country is counted as a denomination. The exact same church with the exact same beliefs but in a different country is a new denomination. The Catholic church in Spain and the Catholic church in Portugal counts as two denominations according to the study. 250+ nations, therefore 250+ Catholic denominations. The point is that saying “45,000 protestant denominations” is either ignorant or intellectually dishonest. If you want to say there are 45,000 protestant denominations, you will have to accept there are 250+ catholic denominations.
Why there are numerous denominations? It is because, even though they say that they follow Our Lord with their lips, in truth they are against Him, as Our Lord said, "Whoever is not with Me is against Me and whoever does not gather with Me scatters (Matt 12:30)." Our Lord desires that All who believe in Him be One (John 17:20-21), and they ignore Our Lord's words for their own peril. And blinded as they are, they do not know that they are victims of Satan's 'divide and conquer' strategy, and are led to his place.
I remember one time in college when I invited some coworkers to attend our service several times and when they finally decided to go it was a “Fellowship service.” No Word, no message (except maybe “we didn’t feel like preparing this week”). They didn’t come back and I understood. I think a “worship only” service would be a little different, but not much. It would be very uncomfortable for guests, seekers, and those who invited them. Christians are weird when we worship and 90 minutes of that would be awkward.
Hi Mike my family also recently joined an Evangelical Free Church in our area. We too have something very special in our Pastor and congregation. My Catholic son looked at us horrified when we told him we didn't even know the denomination until we decided to officially join after going for a year. One good thing you can do these days since the pandemic is view most churches services online to check them out. I enjoy your channel God Bless you Mike.
Hi Mike, I've heard that Luther meant the quote "sin boldly" to be used as a commentary on how to be a Christian. He wanted people to "sin boldly" rather than "quietly", so that they would not keep their sins private. That way they could get actual help from the Church and be in a place to recognize the issues that are in their own lives. I think the whole quote goes "when you sin, sin boldly." I could be all wrong on that, but that's how my Bible prof at Northwestern-St. Paul explained it. Love your ministry!
I thought I was going to make it this time to your live stream. I missed it by a few I guess. I have watched all you have on RUclips and really appreciate it. Thanks for all you do. I'm in Vermont by the way.
I've been to an evangelical, Pentecostal, and now a liturgical church as I've moved locations over the last fifteen years. They all believe the necessary doctrine that Jesus is Lord as defined in the Apostle's Creed. Each denomination has its processes and practices. But the core belief is the same. Denominations are historical and cultural artifacts. They are the gift wrapping. Christ is the gift.
@@stephenbailey9969 Any religious organization that claims to be christian would say the exact same thing about their statement of faith. That's why It's important to be able to compare it. Where is the communion of saints in scripture? Since the term catholic Now refers to a particular denomination rather than the entirety of christian believers, Like it did when it was written, Why hold to that creed? Why make One of the standards to be in your christian club, A person HAS to believe in the catholic church?
@@MultipleGrievance The Apostles' Creed predates the division into various denominations. It's a summary of what is in scripture. You can pull the scriptures out and cite them. Same thing. Communion of saints (with saints being all believers): Romans 12:4-13; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27; Ephesians 2:19 and 6:18. One body in Christ, by the grace of God our Father, and the new birth by the Holy Spirit. Don't have to be 'Roman Catholic' to believe the simple phrases of this creedal summary.
For question 6- need to know if shunning is an official practice of the church. Could be that he's done something that he's now being officially shunned for and fixing that may not be possible for him. He needs to speak to the church leaders, if he can. Hard to know from an internet question what's going on.
Thank you for sharing honestly, since that’s how you do it. The church hunt is fraught. What a blessing you fit in and have an inspiring ministry with the new body. As a regular guy. 🤣. Mike, sweet man, you are never just a regular guy. But let me add, you do wear your love for Christ so well. I’m praying for you. Shalom from SoCal. I’m at home at Calvary Chino Hills. 🙏🏼🕊️😽
Love Q.1. I was raised in the RCC, did some spiritual side-trips before finding a welcoming Presbyterian Church and now belong to a non-denom church that follows SBC doctrines. What was most important along that journey was being challenged to read the Bible and truly think about The Word. My current church is an authentic body of Christ and encourages each of us in finding our ways to contribute. I don't despise the RCC, especially since it kept the Word alive for 1500 years before Martin Luther arrived, and has successfully spread the faith throughout the world. Having said that, it helped my growth as a believer to move to the Protestant side.
Now you know how Martin Luther felt. He wanted to know God but the church he never intended to leave kicked him out because he stood up to nonbiblical teachings. His mistake was honoring the Word the Catholic leadership kept safely away from the masses.
@@Butterfly-truth - you do me too much honor in comparing me to Martin Luther. Having said that, all believers seek growng closer to they Lord and Savior.
If you believe the RCC kept the Bible alive for 1500 yrs, then you're still a practicing Catholic. Only a Catholic would say something like that. The RCC made it illegal for anyone outside the elites to own a copy. They even went so far as to burn copies of the Bible and criminalize the ordinary person for owning a bible. Whatever "faith" you think was being spread was not true Christianity.
@@Butterfly-truth Martin Luther introduced his own heretical errors. Despite the Protestants' attempt to whitewash their history, Martin Luther was a rabid hater of Jews and anything that appeared to be Jewish. He famously wanted James and Revelation excluded from the Christian canon because they emphasize the obligation of living by God's laws. Even to this day, his false religion pretends that those books aren't canon.
... (continuing) that Jesus is our only path. You are so WELS Lutheran in your beliefs. We do not move with the times and modernize. We do not perform homosexual weddings. But we do welcome all to come hear the gospel and then eventuallly attend our 'Peace 101' so they truly understand our teachings and join because they believe all that we are and believe. The Elders are all men and I appreciate so much their guidance and protection. I would be so interested in what you think of the WELS denomination. The Pastor does not make up stuff that his interpretation . We stay with the Triune God. We feel unbelievably blessed that our friend who also was looking for her church in this new town invited us to the brand new Lutheran church. Been there from the first service and I hear the same message from our Pastor and all visiting Pastors. So blessed. So comforting. Luther is an interesting prescher/teacher/ translator, intensely desiring all to know the truth of God the Father, God the Son and god the Holy Spirit through the Word. We are a conservative, solidly Bible-based.
Charles Clark: 100% both significant AND true. We must constantly request the H.S guide us. Although I am a sincere believer, I remain human until the day I die.....and need God's guidance.
As long as you believe in Christ with all your heart and accept him as your savior I'm happy. Ideally you would commit yourself to diligent study of the scriptures. Then you can revisit this video when you're looking for your new Church that more closely follows the teachings of the Apostles.
@@colin1818how about the One True Church founded by Jesus Matt 16 18-19 that gave us the Bible in 382. Jesus instructs us to offer sacrificial worship in Jn 6 51-58 and to belief in His real presence in the Eucharist ie not symbolic. See also 1 Cor 10 16-17
Mike, I would love it if you could do a video session about the Jesus Words Only (Movement? Phenomenon? or whatever it is) belief. I've been running up against their materials quite a lot of late, and it seems kinda strange, heretical, pharisaical -- it's hard to describe, but it seems like they believe that we have to follow the Mosaic laws and traditions of Judaism. It reminds me of what Paul faced when he confronted the Judaizers from Jerusalem. IF you feel that this would make a good video, or series of videos, it would be helpful to a lot of people. Thank you. Praise God, and love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and soul! Amen! 🙏✝️👑🙏
bless you Pastor Mike, I have learned so much with this channel. I am the spiritual in our family at this time and I hope to soon take second hand to that but you have helped me so much with my walk with the lord and i am able to teach my family the things i have learned in your teachings and been able to relate more with the bible and to truth only what the bible says. Again, thank you very much for all that you do to help us. Blessing to you and your family.
The 30,000 bit comes primarily from Catholics. It's something they are trained to say. However, I've never come across a single Catholic who can tell you even 3 doctrinal differences between any 3 of them-of their choice. Not even when I tell them to Google it if they have to. Yeah...
Lies, we’re not trained to promote lies like Protestants eg that we worship Mary and statues. The stats come from 3rd parties and in fact are irrelevant as other than the CC and Orthodox, all Protestant churches are heretical because they disobey Jesus by not offering sacrificial worship Jn 6 52-58 so have no church
What is important to me as a "non denominational" Christian is to 1. Love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind. 2. Love my neighbor as thyself. 3. Worhip God through Spirit and Truth 4. To follow Jesus, learn from His teachings, follow His wisdom, and have empathy rather than judgment for my fellow man (mankind) I am Christian because I know that a) God created me on the same Earth where He had exiled Satan. God placed me here to "tend and take care of the Earth." I am on Earth to serve God. God does not serve me. However, since I share a planet with the darkest of evil angels, I have little mortal power to resist Satan's influence. God knows this and in order to repatriot my spirit into the eternity of God's kingdom I need to be pure and without sin. God sent Christ (His only begotten son) to be my earthly human template, to demonstrate what His expectation of me and to save me through His love and forgiveness. As a Christian I follow the word of God , I do not follow man's word explaining to me what God wants.
Do you believe in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for your sins? Do you acknowledge you will never be perfect here on earth and that’s why you must believe in the sacrifice of Christ for your sin? And this belief, faith, confession of sin is your key to eternal life? It is by grace you are saved, through faith, and not of your works you are saved? Your comment sounds much like the Mormon belief.
@bsouth7944 Of course, I am a sinner who works daily to emulate my mentor Jesus. My Savior is Christ. Only through Him can my spirit be repatriated into God (the Father's) kingdom. We mortals occupy Earth, the same planet where God had cast Satan. Our caporeal exustance can not in itself be shielded against such a powerful evil spirit. God has provided us with a roadmap to repatriation back into His Kingdom through Scripture. God had warned us of Satan's deceptions and tactics to tempt our flesh as we execute God's will while on earth. Our "free will" is the ultimate test of our compliance with God's guidance or Satan's influences. Jesus is our human example of God's perfection. I understand your reply, and in all but one aspect, I see myself in your comments. I DO NOT need faith or need to believe in my Savior, Jesus Christ. In the same way, I do not require faith or need to believe that I was born. These things I KNOW and I KNOW That Jesus has saved me. For me, being Christian is NOT being a member of a "Tribe", being Christian is Not following some person who claimes the he/she can tell me what God expects of me, Being Christian is not a denomination or even "a Religion. " I don't confess my sin to man. Man is not my Savior and has no power to give me absolution. I am, however, repentant for my sins (my transgressions). repentance for my sins is lifelong, and although forgiven through God's grace, it can never be forgotten or disregarded Being Christian is "the Way", A "way" of life.. For me, being Christian is serving God by His example Jesus Christ
Here is the rub: if all of those "Christian" denominations were truly following Christ's teachings, none of them would exist. 1 Corinthians start with Paul preaching against sectarianism, and yet all of traditional Christianity reasons that it's ok as long as they simply believe Jesus exists. That doesn't sound or look like biblical Christianity, now does it?
I was baptised in a Grace Brethren church....three times forward. From my understanding they only "count" tri emersion baptism and if you were baptised through one emersion you have to be rebaptised. I no longer attend a grace brethren church, but Baptist, and I didn't have to be rebaptised to join.
I'm sure there are alot of prayer warriors here. Come Jan 1, if got some additions that need to be removed from my mind, soul, body, and my will. Appreciate all prayers in Jesus amen...in agreement 🙏🙏 Thanks. I see a mountain that only God can get me over!!
these are all questions with answers.... tell me if you have different answers about the real and existing battle on planet Earth - Atheism and Religious Fanaticism VS. the Creator and Jesus Christ, all here - Why did the Creator send Jesus Christ to planet Earth? ANSWER - The Creator authorized and sent Jesus Christ from heaven to earth thousands of years ago to preach and teach the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" to imperfect, suffering, and dying human beings as written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26 What do Atheists need and want from the Creator? ANSWER - Nothing, Atheists, Evolutionists, and Satanists mock and degrade the Creator as worthless, useless, lower, lesser, and far inferior than they are and trick and deceive their own families and neighbors to hate the Creator and believe their LIE and FALSE CLAIM that the Creator doesn't exist and even if existing is still cruel, merciless, unworthy and undeserving to be honored and respected as the Only True and Sovereign GOD What do fanatic members of all Christian and non-Christian Religions need and want from Jesus Christ? ANSWER - Nothing, Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and fanatics of all kinds of Religions in the world mock and degrade Jesus Christ as worthless, useless, lower, lesser, and far inferior than they are and trick and deceive their own families and neighbors to reject the authority and teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" and believe instead their LIES and FALSE TEACHINGS about "Armageddon", "Trinity", "rapture", "immortality of the souls or the heaven and hellfire doctrine", and "reincarnation" Do the Creator and Jesus Christ respect and value the lives, dignities, and existence on earth of imperfect, suffering, and dying human beings? ANSWER - Yes, Jesus Christ KNOWS that all persons on earth who willingly submit to his authority and put their faith and hope in his teachings about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" as written in Matthew 28: 18, Luke 4: 43, and John 11: 25, 26 will definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death on a safe and peaceful earth without liars, slanderers, perverts, traitors, and murderers as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4, 8. How will worshippers of the Creator and followers of Jesus Christ live and exist on earth forever if they just die and become worthless and useless dusts on earth? ANSWER - The Creator KNOWS that all human beings will just become worthless and useless dusts on earth after their deaths just like the animals as written in Ecclesiastes 3: 19, 20 ; 9: 5, 6 but he also knows that he will not let his loving, kind, and respectful worshippers who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Moses, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Daniel, Jesus Christ's followers, and many others to remain as worthless and useless dusts on earth forever, instead, in the right and proper time and as written in John 11: 25, 26, he will let Jesus Christ RESURRECT them back to life so they can all happily and abundantly live and exist on earth forever and fully enjoy his and his Christ's eternal love, kindness, goodness, generosities, compassions, favors, and blessings for eternity as submissive and obedient subjects of the "KINGDOM of GOD" or His Kingdom under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as his Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
I’ve had conversations with people from the Orthodox Church and it’s crazy how much they change the gospel, don’t believe in the sufficiency of scripture, hold their traditions as equal to scripture, teach works and practices. It’s basically Catholicism which is a cult 😬 While there are many denominations that are brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s also important to call out the ones that change the gospel and operate like a cult.
The Orthodox and the Catholics created the gospels. They are their books. You are just borrowing them. Christ started a Church. He did not start a library. He told his Apostles to spread his word. And they did so, through the Church he founded for many decades before they started writing down the gospels. The Church predates the gospels, not the other way around. Further, there is no rational definition of “cult” which would include Catholicism and not include all other mainline Christians. You simply can’t make one. If anything, Catholics and Orthodox are substantially less cult like than Protestant churches as they have practices specifically in place to safeguard against their churches becoming cults of personality. Many Protestant denominations do not have that.
Find out the church's main focus is. If it is on prepentence saving souls and most importantly preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! This should be the message because this is the power! I used to believe In some teachings of the word of faith doctrine and prosperity gospel. I always felt it didn't really line up with my spirit, so I didn't fall for it hook and sinker like most have because it tickles their ears.
Yes there is at least one denomination that triple dips. Grace Brethren. They came out of the Anabaptist tradition. I was OK with it, grew up in it. After being away from it for awhile, and getting married we thought about attending one. But they had this "rule" that even if you were baptized as an adult in another Christian church you had to be rebaptized their way to become a member! Nowhere is that in the Bible! I don't know if they still call for that.
Orthodox Church has numerous worship only services in addition to holy prayers Monday through Saturday. The homily is always in the Sunday Divine liturgy. Having said this all services contain the teachings of the Church , of our Lord , of God the Father and scripture. Holy prayer hours and time for confession is all included with in a week.
Why do they kiss pictures of the saints? Why do they believe the 7 Sacraments and Traditions? They may not approve of the Pope or the perpetual virgin Mary theology but I don't see any reason I would even entertain their belief system.
My church does three dippings for baptism (no infant baptisms).The idea comes from the wording of the passage. “In the name of the father AND of the son AND of the Holy Spirit”. I think as long as you’re following general guidelines of water baptism, it’s still just symbolism for being washed clean by Jesus and the details should not define the purpose. I would be fine with either method🙂
Hey! I would love to see a video about why there are a googolplex of Christian denominations? I could really use an answer and I don’t think you gotten this question before.
The number is higher than the doctrinal divisions because of 2 factors. 1) one denomination that is present in more than one country is more than one denomination. As a result there are hundreds of roman Catholic and EO "denominations" even though everyone agrees that the Roman Catholic Church is only one denomination. 2) many denominations in the same tradition are separate for political reasons. E.g. churches that split between slave states and free states. Another factor whose influence I'm unsure of are non-denominational churches. I don't know whether the study lumps all nondenoms together or counts each as their own denomination. On the doctrinal front, non-Christian movements like Mormans and many cults are included. Additionally where theological liberalism has so seeped into a church's hierarchy, conservative Christians may found a new church to get back to true teachings. Overall, if one wants to claim that protestantism is too divisive, I would suggest looking at different traditions rather than denominations as such. For example, count Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed Baptist, Fundamental Baptist, Anabaptists etc.
Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference:
0:00 - Intro
1. 0:04 {Which Denomination is True?} Why are there over 30,000 Christian denominations all claiming to be the “true Christians”? Which one should I follow, and why?
2. 25:17 {Was Jesus Only Condemning the Religious?} I often hear people saying that Jesus was speaking to and condemning the religious only, not speaking to the world. How would you respond to this sentiment?
3. 28:41 {Punished for Adam’s Sin?} Are we guilty of the sin of Adam and Eve? If so, isn’t it unjust for God hold us accountable for something we had no part of (Ezekiel 18, Romans 5: 12)?
4. 31:46 {Worship Only Services?} When it comes to a church service, would it be appropriate on occasion to just have worship instead of both worship and the Word preached? Should it always be both?
5. 34:16 {Three Dippings during Baptism?} What are your thoughts on “Trine Immersion” during baptism, specifically three dippings? Is it justified in Matthew 28: 19?
6. 37:02 {Repentant but Still Rejected} I was rejected by my church because of my behavior, PTSD & my mouth. They didn’t excommunicate me but stopped talking to me/started ignoring me. I’ve repented, apologized, and begged but they still ignore me. It has left me feeling flawed & unloved. What would Scripture tell me about my situation?
7. 40:22 {Is God Deterministic?} If Jesus in the Old Testament was intentional by God, does that mean that God is sometimes deterministic? For example, did God orchestrate Joseph’s life?
8. 42:22 {How to “Build Up” One Another} What does “building others up” with your words really mean? Does it mean that you should compliment people and just say nice things to them? Does it mean more, or something entirely different?
9. 44:16 {Why Ask for Forgiveness?} If we are saved by faith alone, why are there so many prayers asking that our sins be forgiven, when by faith we know that they have been? Thank You
10. 45:09 {Should We Limit our Fun?} I read my Bible every day and pray, but I feel guilty when I engage in a hobby or have “fun.” Is there a limit to the amount of fun one can have in a day?
11. 45:42 {Jesus Just an Ordinary Prophet?} Why did Jesus refer to Himself as a prophet in Luke 13: 33 and not the Son of God? Wouldn't that be putting Himself on the same level as regular prophets when He was in fact elevated?
12. 48:51 {Life on Other Planets = Abiogenesis?} If basic organisms are discovered on other planets, would that prove abiogenesis and prove evolution?
13. 54:17 {Should we “Sin Boldly”?} Martin Luther has a quote that says “sin boldly.” I’ve heard he meant don’t be afraid of sinning and do so boldly knowing it has been paid for, but I feel that this is dangerous. Your thoughts?
14. 56:42 {Mortal & Venial Sins?} 1 John 5: 16-17 seems to support the Roman Catholic understanding of mortal and venial sins. Is that the proper interpretation of this verse, and if not, how should we understand sin and the death it causes?
15. 1:00:39 {Why Follow Any of the OT?} What would you say to the objection that “if we don't follow the old covenant anymore, why should we care about Leviticus 18”?
16. 1:05:32 {How to Rejoice and Weep With Others} Since both good and bad things happen in the body of Christ daily, how can we accurately practice Romans 12: 15?
17. 1:08:22 {Has the HS Been Left Out?} Why is the Holy Spirit not mentioned in the greetings of Paul, and why He is left out in such statements like 1 Corinthians 8:6?
18. 1:12:13 {The Granville Sharp’s Rule} How reliable is the Granville Sharp's rule? Is it implemented outside of New Testament writings?
19. 1:13:37 {The “Secret Sauce” to Fasting} Please help me with how to fast. I am praying for a friend’s salvation and protection from some dark things. I know that’s not a lot of info, but I want to know if there is a secret sauce to fasting.
20. 1:18:06 {The Heartache of an Unbelieving Family} I'm the only Christian in my whole biological family. How do I not despair at the fact that they're all headed to Hell as it stands? It’s leading me to doubt the goodness of God.
@@Acts16-31 lol! Is that because I’m the only employee? 🤠
@@Acts16-31 I’m blessed to serve & well taken care of. 🙏
💕15) There were many laws outside of the mosaic law, all the moral laws still apply. Not being under the Old Covenant doesn’t mean we don’t obey the mosaic law. It means when we obey the TWO greatest commandment under the New Covenant to love God with all our heart and strength we automatically obey the mosaic law.
When we seek Jesus for strength to live a good moral life, we’re honoring God the greatest commandment, the second love our neighbors as ourselves.
Matthew 22:40💝
“On these (two commandments) hang all the law and the prophets.”
@@Acts16-31 thank you so much! ♥️ Amen!
This post needs to be pinned to the top of the comments list.
I got baptized yesterday! 😊
Can I ask why? Just curious because I have not been convinced yet
3 weeks later, is your life any better?
@@BrockJamesStory yeah, I felt the same way for years. Grew up in church attending regularly 5 years ago and I finally decided to do it. I felt convicted by God. It’s a personal relation that I felt. He’s worked in my life through many troubling moments.
@@evangelicalsnever-lie9792 my life has always been good so it’s the same. I’m just a follower of Christ now.
That's amazing news, super super happy for you! God bless :)
Mike, I have been absolutely on fire for the Lord since finding your channel. I didn't even realize how luke warm I was before. You have helped me ne truly understand the Word so much better and it has made my love for the Lord flourish. Thank you so much for letting the Lord use you in such a profound way. Im so grateful for your ministry. In another note this has been one if the most trying years of my life and I pray that next year will be better for us both and for everyone else. God bless you 🙏✝️😊
do you keep the 7th day Sabbath or do you keep Sunday as the lord's day
You might also enjoy Justin Peters 'Clouds Without Water', Pastor Chris Rosborough 'Fighting for the Faith', John MacArthur, Voddie Baucham
If you find no time for reading Scripture then listen to it. 🎧 🙂👍
@@DavidKing-qd3sp Bro what? chill lol thats so random
Yup and someone is not reading their Bible, Lol.
@@Rachel_D03 there is no sabbath now
Thank you so much for not being a "money-grubber" ! I am so turned off by "ministries" that beg for donations. I subscribed to your channel when you had about 3K. It has been a joy to see your ministry expand geometrically.
He will take your money too
@@ronnieturner1356 he hasn't yet, unless you mean the monetary benefit of making the video.
@@biddiemutter3481 If he knew the whole truth he would not dare monetize it!!
Please pray for me.
Of course 🤍
Absolutely! God bless you and I pray whatever it is you are going through, that the Lord will give you the strength to persevere.
I prayed for you. You’re probably already doing this, but keep feeding on the Word every day. We can do NOTHING apart from Jesus and His Word. Abide in the Word.
May God bless you and your loved ones powerfully and abundantly!
Why
🙏
My wife and I didn’t just pick a church that had what we needed, we also wanted a church that needed what we had. There is a time to be fed, and a time to feed.
And then of course we discovered in humility the depth of our need, and the power of Christ’s bride - seek not to be served, but to serve. But then with gratitude accept the service you need.
Thanks Pastor Mike for all you’ve done (and thank God got all He’s done through you!) I know everyone wishes you a happy 2024 and happy new year!
(and thanks for answering Q16 😂 and the five-month-late birthday wish)
Thank you Mike, you bless me tremendously and help me live biblically praise Jesus!!
there is only one true church not many thousands , Protestantism is a heresy. all have a different dogmas which is insane.
@@joehun1 Protestantism doesn't claim that there are thousands of different churches.
Great coverage of denominations & strategies for finding a good church!
I think that, when church hunting, the denomination names are like the sections of a library: History, Romance, Adventure, Biography, etc. Big broad brushes that give a teeny tiny bit of insight into what they're about. It can also help you know generally how liturgical the church is, whether they use wine or juice in Communion, baptism practices, etc. Methodists, for example, will almost always have congregational responsive readings, so if those are uncomfortable to you, probably don't start by checking out the Methodist churches.
So, for me, I usually look at the ones I'm most familiar with then move towards the less familiar. For me that would be Baptist, Presbyterian, Methodist, Non-denominational, Lutheran, then everything else. Why is Non-denominational so low? It truly isn't because I think they're bad; they're just unknown & it feels deliberately unhelpful. They're the unshelved book on a random table in the library lobby - could be anything good or bad.
But thankfully we can do a decent amount of research on the church website, online sermons, etc. I like to see how they describe themselves & what they're doing - are they self-focused? Christ-focused? Program focused? All these can be commendable or red flags.
Then make a plan to visit the ones you think look good. Don't go many weeks in succession to begin, but get your first impression, then see another one. Then, after you've seen a few, go back to the ones you like. If one stands out, attend regularly. If they have a class for potential new members, go to that. It can really help you see the nuts & bolts of that particular church's workings & focus.
And if you love the church & the people, even with the little quibbles you'll doubtless have, then join! Publicly associate with the church for accountability & discipleship! 🎉
Just as individuals have their own quirks & virtues, each church body has its own charms & challenges, regardless of their denominational title. As the only way to know a person is to meet them, so the only way to know a church is to meet with them in worship.
Thank you for your insights and thank anyone who read this lengthy comment 😅
May you all grow continually in Christ.
My pastor (non-denominational, ordained Calvary Chapel) tells us frequently: "My job is to rightly-divide the word of truth. *YOUR* job is to fact check me, because I'm human too, and I. make mistakes." And people do fact check him - especially the board of Deacons he has around him who hold the power to push him out the door in a split second if he tries pushing anything weird. I like that.
The board of deacons better have their own system of accountability if they are too powerful.
@retrictumrectus1010.
Good insight. Proper accountability in church is actually a complicated balance. You want a head pastor who listens and responds to correction, but not one who is easily moveable off of conviction. As much novelty comes into the church from the “board” and from the congregation as from the pastor.
It’d be nice if each church could have a group with a role similar to the Supreme Court to adjudicate different interpretations of whichever catechism or confession or creed a church follows. Sometimes, a denomination can provide that kind of oversight, but seldom do they. In almost every Evangelical denomination, there are progressive and cultic outliers who ARE NOT purged.
I fact checked a Pastor at a church I used to attend and he told me.that I was legalistic and to not touch God's anointed. He was a prosperity preacher and him and the pastors he would backup.would take verses out of context all.the time.
My pastor constantly says wrong things and I am scared to point it out. I'm also the only one checking what he's saying 😐
@@goannacs6861 I was the only one too, I left and then he reached out and I told him the truth, he called me legalistic and to not touch the Lord's anointed. I still think and pray for him.
Well done sir. In our city here the Orthodox Church, during Lent, have services at each other’s churches every week. That is to show that it is one church. I always thought that was good. I’m actually at a Calvary church now. I usually attend a few services and see what they are teaching before I commit
Our are churches have service every morning of Holy Week together for similar reasons. It’s fantastic. I wish we had a Calvary Church in my area. The closest one is 1 hour 30 minutes from us.
the true church keeps the 7th day Sabbath - not Sunday which was created by the PApacy
@DavidKing
>>> Israel is not the Church
@@DavidKing-qd3spthen where was the true church for 1800 years ??
@@bigtobacco1098 ....the issue is not where the truth was for 1800 years as we can offer suggestions - BUT where is it today and it is in the SDA church - I was not raised in the SDA church but my study proves them correct...we keep the true sabbath - we teach God annihilates the sinner rather than burn him forever which is demonic...check them out
Happy New Year. Great job as usual with your teachings. I've been a Christian 41 years now ,am an evangelist, missionary to Haiti and you're one of the few teachers I enjoy listening to and look forward to.
THANK YOU ! JUST FOUND THIS CHANNEL. I believe less than an hour ago but i cant really say since i got so immersed in watching the video i found. I am the newbie of the hour. Looking forward to learning more.
Thank you for your explanation on denominations Pastor Mike. I've always been puzzled to some extent about denominations. This has helped clear it up.
Make sure you conduct your own research. Mike did a great job highlighting the portions of the response he wanted to draw your attention to while ignoring the other information. It appeared he was attempting to imply that the number of denominations or what they considered denominations were a direct result of the faith being established in that country or land. However, the UNHIGHLIGHTED portion indicates that isn't the case and they have a higher bar or requirement when determining what constitutes a denomination.
Do your own research!!
45000+ may not be accurate but according to the New Testament 2 denominations are one too many since all Christ followers should have NO DIVISIONS. NONE! Moreover, all the brothers should speak the same thing, they should all have the same mind and judgment. We know that doesn't exist today across denominations.
*1 CORINTHIANS 1:10* - Now I exhort you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be made complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.
Also see PHILIPPIANS 2:2
You might be able to read this. Many of my comments are removed on this platform. I'm surprise he was able to highlight one of them at the outset of the video.
all churches mix false teachings with Jesus. This started with Constantine. You never were meant to form any CHURCH. the church is a spiritual entity, it cannot be touched. it assembles in heaven. there are no denominations in heaven. Only Christians. Believers in Christ. once you pass your authority over to another man? be it pope Francis. or Billy Graham, or even an angel? you have abandoned your calling. The Bible says you are a priest king. Not a parishioner. The angel said to John, we are fellow servants of God. do not bow to me. When you say a man is a bishop? a pastor. you give away your authority to him. you make him your priest? your pastor? so what are you? God says you are that priest and king. you gave away your authority. No wonder miracles are thin on the ground.
yesterday i got a message from a satanist. I said to him all atheists are cowards running from God. He said, i do not run from God? i go to church, and i take bible study classes there.
Pastor Mike, thank you for taking the time to do this video when you were not feeling well. Through the years since I found your channel, you have continued to answer with honesty, knowledge, and sensitivity. May God bless you and your family throughout 2024. Thank you.
My mum was raised Baptist, and is now Methodist, I was raised Methodist and I now go to a Presbyterian church. The main difference I notice with the Presbyterian church is that you don't get a new minister every 5 to 7 years there.
May God bless you and your family in 2024 Mike.
Thanks Mike, love your ministry and heart for God's people 💗
I’m looking for a new church and this gave me so much relief!!!! I definitely was becoming a church critic among this search but now I’ll be less nit picky
I grew up in a very Catholic family. As an adult, I started having questions and reservations about certain doctrines (especially papal infallibility) and conduct of the earthly leadership of the church. I felt there was disconnection between what was actually in the Bible and what the Catholic Church taught. To me, it seemed that any church that wasn't a biblical teaching one wasn't a church I wanted part of. Jesus always was and always will be my lord and saviour. So I prayed, started to re-read my Bible, and started to look for a new church.
It was a very difficult process. I live in an extremely liberal city (think worse than San Francisco), and many of 'churches' here reflect it in their words and deeds. As a Catholic, I didn't know much about the other half of Christianity, and the plethora of denominations didn't help ease my apprehensions.
Eventually, I found a biblical centred/teaching/living church. It is an independent evangelical church that I later discovered had a sizable minority of Catholic and Anglican 'refugees' who, like me, wanted to be part of a Bible centred/teaching/living fellowship.
Bible doesn't cover all the situations in the world so I think we have to follow traditions and leadership and advices like disciples gave...thats why most churches come together, discuss and make solutions for each issue.If you believe Holy Spirit is real, then you have to invite Him and get solutions through Him.
You have chosen the right church
Amen! Amazing testimony of finding the truth! Praise God! Many churches are soooo apostate and far from God. It's so sad but I'm happy Jesus pulled you away and put you into a good church.
@@rajwinchandy The word of God is all we need.
@@rajwinchandytradition and ritual is HATED by God because it breeds routine rather than relationship.
I thought u were pastor of a church. U are 1 person I can trust. U are honest n very knowledgeable n without malice towards all others.
When I was much younger I fasted for several weeks. During the first few days I felt hungry. After about a week I could sit at a table where others were eating a steak dinner and feel no hunger. That was a fast where I only consumed water.
When you come off a long fast, it is important to reintroduce food slowly. First just consume soups and then, after a day or two, graduate add food's that are tougher to digest.
Congratulations, you're now well on your way to an eating disorder
So blessed to have found your excellent, faithful and genuinely humble ministry, bro Mike and I can truly say that the Lord's abundant grace and favor rests upon you! Truly appreciate all that you do for the body of Christ😊 The joy of the Lord grant you great strength and may His peace abound in you and your family as you come into the new year🎉 Praise God for the ministry He entrusted to you!
I went from Catholic to Baptist...and it's like going from religion to Christianity. Our church has a pamphlet for new/perspective members that discloses its biblical beliefs, the church structure, member expectations, etc.
From one fiction to another. Do you not see the problem here?
I also went from Catholicism to Baptist! Actually, being a Baptist isn’t necessarily how I identify. I do attend a baptist church . But I’m now a Bible believer. The Bible is what changed me and the Baptists seem love and honor the Bible like I do so I’ll stick with them. As long as they stay true to Gods Word.
@oldyeller6518 especially Exodus 21, and the flood that killed every child and disabled person in the world by agonising drowning.
@@midlander4You're ignorance is outstanding: the Flood of Noah wasn't global but only a Large Regional flood of Middle East and the Watchers corrupted only a small area around Mount Hermon that produced the Nephilim ( Giants) so everyone was infected even the children.
It's this infection that was causing evil 24/7 nobody was innocent in that area.
But God didn't wipe out all children on the Earth.
The Global Flood is scientifically impossible so just STOP being a stupid troll.
@@midlander4it made me chuckle to see you emphasize disabled people.
Hello Pastor Mike. Im from the Philippines. Just want to express my thanks for your contents on YT. You really are a good brother. May the Lord continue to bless you and guide you. Make His Spirit continue to lead you in your studies/contents to come.
Thank you for your answer to the last question about unsaved loved ones. I'm the eldest in an extended family of about 20, with only 1 daughter saved. My closest sister died last year, and the last I knew, she wasn't saved. It is such a pain. But, your response was so comforting to me. Thank you. I am not done witnessing to all the others! But, the bottom line is, God is good. I learn a lot from you. Blessings!
Don’t despair as God is mercy and with Him all things are possible
Thank you, Mike for your hard work in teaching the Gospel.
Blessings to you, your family and the team.
May 2024 be another year with you helping us think biblically!
❤✝️
God bless Mike Winger!
I don't agree with you on everything, but you're the guy I use when someone asks me how I define a "true" believer. Someone who I may disagree with on some things, but who ultimately puts the bible first as the authority, and who desires to serve God in all things, not man. I'm sure if we ever spoke we would have some spirited discussions, but you're someone who sets aside his ego and genuinely seeks out the truth when new information is brought forth. I really respect that.
1:22:31 when I worry about my unsaved loved ones, I always remind myself that God loves them even more than I do. If it's at all possible He will find a way to reach them.
In the meantime, keep praying for them, pray for Him to show you when and how to reach out to them. And wait.
They need to be baptised Jn 3:5 and receive the Eucharist Jn 6 51-58
I thank God for me finding your channel Mike. You have helped me to understand God‘s word in ways that I never have before. I sometimes can be very skeptical about learning from people. I don’t want to follow a Wolf in sheep‘s clothing. But I haven’t found that to be the case with you. I’ve asked God to show me if I’m wrong, but God hasn’t shown me anything or given me any feelings that you are not genuine in anyway. Thank you and God bless you and your family. Duane.
Thank you for all you do. Your videos help strengthen my faith.
I truly enjoy these sessions. i don't always get to join live, but i'm thankful these are recorded and i can view whenever. God bless you, your family, and your ministry.
Thanks Pastor Mike for all that you do! You’ve been a big help to me on my walk with Jesus!
Sorry to hear your year was not what you would have preferred. What you're doing is so valuable and so important though. For a few years now I've been wanting to find my next biblical mentor and teacher and, My Brother In Christ, (meme intended) that is now you.
I greatly appreciate how thoroughly and sincerely you cover topics and am looking forward to going through every bit of your teachings over the next year.
Really appreciate ya brotha, be strong in the Lord and may our God richly bless you for this work you're doing for the Kingdom
Please pray for me. I have been sick with a fever and sore throat since Tuesday, and I have been getting really discouraged because I did not anticipate being sick and out of work this long
Praying for you!
Please heal this soul Father, I 🙏
Thank you brother Mike for your service to the Lord! ❤️
Thank you Mike! I’ve just decided to go back to the Calvary church Cincinnati which happens to be about 10 minutes from our house (what a blessing). My husband’s hours are wonky and we just found out he’ll never have a Sunday off BUT he has Wednesdays off so we’ll just go in the evening! Thanks for helping to clear my mind on this!
I remember when Calvary Chapel members would try to stop us from preaching door to door or on the streets. They would follow and try to disrupt us as Jehovah’s Witnesses. They tired out and failed. We keep on preaching.
Thanks pastor for coming back. Been missing your teaching. Peace and love in Jesus name!
Mike love your channel and I subscribed the first time I watched you. I feel your teaching is really informative and we know the hearing and learning of the word is the most needed. Rom 10: 17 so thankyou for stepping out and teaching truth no matter what. Now I feel the true church of Jesus the Christ is the folks all around the world that believe and have been born again. So that would be the universal church which also means the Catholic church not Roman catholic no pope no confessional booths and Jesus doesn't turn into flat bread just represented by bread in remembrance. That's my take. Love ya brother I'll pray for your ministry..!!
Mike, thank you so much for sharing your wisdom! God bless you, and may 2024 be filled with peace and joy for you and your family. 🙏
Such a great teacher. Thank you Mike for your faithfulness and your genuine heart for Jesus. Praise God for your ministry. I learn SO much as a new believer and lover of Jesus. God Bless and Happy New Year!
Blessings on you and your work, Mike. I appreciate your humility and the thoroughness you attempt with your ministry. I lean toward Calvinism but only because I believe that's what the scriptures teach. I think you will search in vain to find the phrase (or the concept) of "choose to believe" in the Bible. When you are CHOOSING to believe something, the tacit implication is that you don't actually BELIEVE it; that you are, in fact, PRETENDING to believe in something you're not actually convinced of. Please think and comment.
You can choose to OBEY what you believe or not, but you can't choose to believe. You either believe or you don't. That's essentially the gift of faith, and that's the province of God.
Yea after I found faith I stopped worrying so much about this or that church. I listened to what you said and how you saw the bible. And I live in the UK. But I managed to find a decent abbey that gave us that community and gospel stories. And lessons from the gospels. It may not be up to American standards. But hey we are working within a mostly atheist country for generations. Plus not gonna lie the art work for 800 year old abbey. Is amazing. It's where I got a spiritual encounter with the spirit of god on a personal level that told me there to go there, and pray. And it was during the summer and the art work of Jesus on the cross. It was some sight. So I got you Mike and self reading of the bible. And my Church. What can go wrong?
Don’t think too highly of the American standard. The struggle is real worldwide. lol. I often wish I could reach the third world standard on churches.
My son and I just had discussions last night about question 1 and 4!!!! It’s was such good confirmation for everything we discussed to hear these! Thank you pastor Mike!
Glad I stumbled upon your videos this year. They are very encouraging and informative for the believers in Christ and for those with questions about Him. Keep up the good work and I pray your ministry continues and grows in this new year! And hopefully you can have a live Q&A abroad this year too 👀😏… England *cough cough*
Pastor Mike I love how thorough you are in everything, you have helped me want to be more thorough, can’t say I always am sometimes bias creeps in or I hear an answer that I sort of like and run with it.
Of course I would never claim 100 percent something I have not dug deeply into!
Please pray for me - I have greatly sinned with my mouth in anger & unforgiveness & malice against a friend like the person in question #6. I understand that they can't reconcile & I apologized but I pray that one day they will forgive from afar & that I would feel the presence of God soon in my chastisement.
Tell it to the Church Jesus founded, Mat 16, 17-19.
Mike I had been having so many questions about around the Leviticus verses. Thank you for giving me some answers and peace. Thank God for helping me and answering. God is awesome like that.
Please pray for me to break the chains of addiction once and for all. The Lord delivered me from years of suboxone and opiate abuse when I gave my life to him last October, but since then I’ve slowly backslid into relying on substances like kratom, and nicotine for energy and enjoyment (it’s nowhere near like it used to be, but still severely affecting my walk with God) and I keep trying to overcome completely but failing and falling into severe shame and guilt. Been being spiritually attacked throughout all of this lately so just please pray for me. My name is Calvin.
Dear Heavenly Father,
We bring to you Calvin,help him to break the chains of addiction. Strengthen him,support him,give him courage and comfort him LORD. We know that when we fall you’re always there to pick us back up and that when we can’t walk any further you are there to carry us. Give him the full armour of God so that he can win the war against this affliction and take on any spiritual powers.We pray these things in Jesus name,Amen 🙏
My experience with addiction is that "I" cannot break those chains any more than I can change my sin-nature. The key for me is that I needed to surrender, admit my powerlessness over my desire for any mind-altering substance. My prayer was for God to remove my desire for that substance. In the meantime, I went to 12 Step meetings at least daily, I stayed out of slippery places, called others who needed encouragement & kept a list of others I could call when I got squirrely. I'm praying for you Calvin - that God removes all desire for mind-altering substances from you, completely. We all are tempted & taunted by the evil one. The practice of hearing the Holy Spirit and following His lead is a lifetime practice, daily, one day at a time.
@@scottie8365 thank you Scottie. Means a lot to me, I will overcome by the power of Christ. I appreciate you.
@mikewinger: Your Q&As are so valuable to me. I always listen to them after the time stamps are provided. I never seem to be able to post my questions early enough to get them answered.
Hey there! Sometimes Qs are passed over due to already having been answered in the past. Be sure to check the "CLIP Search" on biblethinker.org to see if maybe that's the case.
@@sarahfaith316 Thanks 😊
Love that you mention Gavin Ortland! He’s one of my favorite online Protestants Who deals heavily with the problems of Catholicism.
What's wrong with Catholicism?
I don't trust any Old Earth Evolutionists/Creationists.
@@UnderTheFloor79the CC was founded by Jesus Matt 16 18-19 which gave us the bible in 382
Protestants throw spiritual rocks at Catholics but have never left their false teachings. They have retained Sunday replacement of the Sabbath and man's holidays that replace His Holy Appointed times. Neither denomination worships in Spirit nor Truth! John 4:24
my bed time teaching tonight
A Good year is made up of doing the best we can Whatever happens we don't want it to be our fault if possible. thank you
This reminds me of the 2 churches my wife and I were torn between. We were torn between a Baptist and a nondenominational with some pentecostal influence. Agreed on tons of stuff, and they work together for things. Made me glad to see
Thank you for your stewardship of the gift and ministry God has given you, Mike!
I’m one of those weirdos who would completely go to the church because Winger goes there. But I’m in New England so there are limits even to my love of Winger 😂🤣
New England represent!
Maine here!
Same! Listening from New Hampshire.
Maine 🌲🦞🫐
Thank you Mike for your ministry. 💕🙏🏼. Blessed New Year🎉
Hi Mike, I particularly loved your response to question 20! There is always more room in our hearts for humility. “Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”💕🙏
Jesus is the answer!
Thank you Mike, truly you will be a servant Jesus speaks to when He says “Well done good and faithful servant”! But thank you, your ministry has helped me so much as a young man living for Christ.
We ended up at an Evangelical Free church as well. Their doctrinal statement is limited to the essentials, which was really appealing. It allows for folks to have different views of the non-essentials and still fellowship together.
I also found that appealing.
@@MikeWinger Dear Mike, we agree JWs are not Christian because they do not worship Jesus, oue eternal great God (John 1). How is it remotely possible to include as Christians those who believe God created a whole bunch of humans that are predestined to eternal damnatio; that Jesus grace and sacrifice in no way applies to the whole world? They deny the very character of God. Jesus prayed to God, "forgive them, for they know not what they do", so we know his grace applies to them should they reach out in faith.
@@MikeWinger
How is it possible that Calvinists who believe God literally refuses salvation to any created person on earth.. this lie is a grotesque portrayal of the Trinity - the God who has loved from all eternity, the God is Love God.
What are the essentials? And what if people disagree about what the essentials are?
I can definetly relate to that position as well. One of the problems i have found with going to a denomational church is that it can change from we believe christ alone for salvation to we believe christ alone plus being our denomation and its incredibly subtle how that creeps in. at that point you have a responsibility to call it out and say this is not healthy or biblical and that can be very challenging. Thats not to say being no denomational isnt without its flaws as well. Its entirely possible to be proud and tribalistic being non denomational
Concerning Mike's last comment about not asking for more money for his ministry------I follow a different Pastor online who I really, really love. This man who is much older and has been ministering for decades truly teaches the word of God, righteousness and Grace, however, I was blown away to find out, by Googling, that my pastor's personal worth is somewhere between 30 and 50 MILLION dollars! How can a true man of God have such a personal worth or how can he justify having that much personal worth and still be a Christian??? Thank you for any thoughts on this. God bless.
Why I say non-denominational. I'm former Catholic. The label doesn't matter. Find a church regardless of denomination that actually aligns with the word in it's beliefs/practices/traditions. After that, make sure it's one with good leadership and organized teaching that backs up everything with bible references used in context. You may also consider their style of praise/worship to your personality (choir that sings hymns vs a few lead singers with a full band vs singing and dancing). Make sure there are opportunities for bible study, fellowship, and service. You should feel at home.
Hi Mike, since you go to church in La Mirada now, I strongly recommend that you go to Mike's (right next to your church), order a nacho supreme with carne asada and jalapeños. God bless.
Carne Asada nachos are lit there! 😋
I may just do that. Haha
I frequently hear from Roman Catholics the 45,000 denominations, and I always ask them which one of the 250+ Catholic denominations they are, since that is from the same study.
250 different Catholic denominations? Really? Please name me 5 different "Catholic Denominations" as in *Catholics* that teach "Different Catholic Doctrines." And by Catholic, I don't mean a group of independent organizations of individuals in the 1800's or 1900's that "claim to be Catholic".
@@PatrickInCayman You do not understand my argument. The study which produced the 45,000 denominations number had a funny definition of a denomination. Any sect with another branch in a different country is counted as a denomination. The exact same church with the exact same beliefs but in a different country is a new denomination. The Catholic church in Spain and the Catholic church in Portugal counts as two denominations according to the study. 250+ nations, therefore 250+ Catholic denominations.
The point is that saying “45,000 protestant denominations” is either ignorant or intellectually dishonest. If you want to say there are 45,000 protestant denominations, you will have to accept there are 250+ catholic denominations.
In realty there are about a dozen Catholic rites usually cultural, but all in communion with Rome
Why there are numerous denominations? It is because, even though they say that they follow Our Lord with their lips, in truth they are against Him, as Our Lord said, "Whoever is not with Me is against Me and whoever does not gather with Me scatters (Matt 12:30)." Our Lord desires that All who believe in Him be One (John 17:20-21), and they ignore Our Lord's words for their own peril. And blinded as they are, they do not know that they are victims of Satan's 'divide and conquer' strategy, and are led to his place.
@@hyeminkwun9523 You sound VERY judgmental.
Thank you Pastor Mike for answering my question! My question was number 4 and the answer definitely helped!
I remember one time in college when I invited some coworkers to attend our service several times and when they finally decided to go it was a “Fellowship service.” No Word, no message (except maybe “we didn’t feel like preparing this week”). They didn’t come back and I understood. I think a “worship only” service would be a little different, but not much. It would be very uncomfortable for guests, seekers, and those who invited them. Christians are weird when we worship and 90 minutes of that would be awkward.
@@bjbrandt2506what's a "fellowship service"? I don't think I've heard of that, or maybe I have and its called something else.
Hi Mike my family also recently joined an Evangelical Free Church in our area. We too have something very special in our Pastor and congregation. My Catholic son looked at us horrified when we told him we didn't even know the denomination until we decided to officially join after going for a year. One good thing you can do these days since the pandemic is view most churches services online to check them out. I enjoy your channel God Bless you Mike.
U made a good choice: I have attended an Evangelical Free church many times and two different ones Fullerton ca. and La Mirada ca.
Hi Mike, I've heard that Luther meant the quote "sin boldly" to be used as a commentary on how to be a Christian. He wanted people to "sin boldly" rather than "quietly", so that they would not keep their sins private. That way they could get actual help from the Church and be in a place to recognize the issues that are in their own lives. I think the whole quote goes "when you sin, sin boldly." I could be all wrong on that, but that's how my Bible prof at Northwestern-St. Paul explained it. Love your ministry!
I thought I was going to make it this time to your live stream. I missed it by a few I guess. I have watched all you have on RUclips and really appreciate it. Thanks for all you do. I'm in Vermont by the way.
I am NOT a Calvinist.
However, 1 Thessilonians 1:4 has absolutely stumped me.
For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,
I've been to an evangelical, Pentecostal, and now a liturgical church as I've moved locations over the last fifteen years. They all believe the necessary doctrine that Jesus is Lord as defined in the Apostle's Creed. Each denomination has its processes and practices. But the core belief is the same. Denominations are historical and cultural artifacts. They are the gift wrapping. Christ is the gift.
Where in the Bible does it say that the Apostles creed is necessary For anything at all?
@@MultipleGrievance The Apostle's Creed is a summary of the simple words of scripture, without all the speculation about the nature of God.
@@stephenbailey9969
Any religious organization that claims to be christian would say the exact same thing about their statement of faith.
That's why It's important to be able to compare it. Where is the communion of saints in scripture?
Since the term catholic Now refers to a particular denomination rather than the entirety of christian believers, Like it did when it was written, Why hold to that creed?
Why make One of the standards to be in your christian club, A person HAS to believe in the catholic church?
@@MultipleGrievance The Apostles' Creed predates the division into various denominations. It's a summary of what is in scripture. You can pull the scriptures out and cite them. Same thing.
Communion of saints (with saints being all believers): Romans 12:4-13; 1 Corinthians 12: 12-27; Ephesians 2:19 and 6:18. One body in Christ, by the grace of God our Father, and the new birth by the Holy Spirit.
Don't have to be 'Roman Catholic' to believe the simple phrases of this creedal summary.
@@stephenbailey9969
Interesting, You didn't answer my question.
What is the communion of saints?
The most faithful & obedient one to the New Covenant.
For question 6- need to know if shunning is an official practice of the church. Could be that he's done something that he's now being officially shunned for and fixing that may not be possible for him. He needs to speak to the church leaders, if he can. Hard to know from an internet question what's going on.
Thank you for sharing honestly, since that’s how you do it. The church hunt is fraught. What a blessing you fit in and have an inspiring ministry with the new body. As a regular guy. 🤣. Mike, sweet man, you are never just a regular guy. But let me add, you do wear your love for Christ so well. I’m praying for you. Shalom from SoCal. I’m at home at Calvary Chino Hills. 🙏🏼🕊️😽
Love Q.1. I was raised in the RCC, did some spiritual side-trips before finding a welcoming Presbyterian Church and now belong to a non-denom church that follows SBC doctrines. What was most important along that journey was being challenged to read the Bible and truly think about The Word. My current church is an authentic body of Christ and encourages each of us in finding our ways to contribute. I don't despise the RCC, especially since it kept the Word alive for 1500 years before Martin Luther arrived, and has successfully spread the faith throughout the world. Having said that, it helped my growth as a believer to move to the Protestant side.
Now you know how Martin Luther felt. He wanted to know God but the church he never intended to leave kicked him out because he stood up to nonbiblical teachings. His mistake was honoring the Word the Catholic leadership kept safely away from the masses.
@@Butterfly-truth - you do me too much honor in comparing me to Martin Luther. Having said that, all believers seek growng closer to they Lord and Savior.
I like your comment and that you don't despise the RCC, despite coming out of it. That's how I feel as a former Catholic.
If you believe the RCC kept the Bible alive for 1500 yrs, then you're still a practicing Catholic. Only a Catholic would say something like that. The RCC made it illegal for anyone outside the elites to own a copy. They even went so far as to burn copies of the Bible and criminalize the ordinary person for owning a bible. Whatever "faith" you think was being spread was not true Christianity.
@@Butterfly-truth Martin Luther introduced his own heretical errors. Despite the Protestants' attempt to whitewash their history, Martin Luther was a rabid hater of Jews and anything that appeared to be Jewish. He famously wanted James and Revelation excluded from the Christian canon because they emphasize the obligation of living by God's laws. Even to this day, his false religion pretends that those books aren't canon.
Pastor Mike wishing you and yours a wonderful, beautiful, fruitful 2024! 🎉 I am praying the same for mine!
Gotta say mike’s hoodie is looking good
... (continuing) that Jesus is our only path. You are so WELS Lutheran in your beliefs. We do not move with the times and modernize. We do not perform homosexual weddings. But we do welcome all to come hear the gospel and then eventuallly attend our 'Peace 101' so they truly understand our teachings and join because they believe all that we are and believe. The Elders are all men and I appreciate so much their guidance and protection. I would be so interested in what you think of the WELS denomination. The Pastor does not make up stuff that his interpretation . We stay with the Triune God. We feel unbelievably blessed that our friend who also was looking for her church in this new town invited us to the brand new Lutheran church. Been there from the first service and I hear the same message from our Pastor and all visiting Pastors. So blessed. So comforting. Luther is an interesting prescher/teacher/ translator, intensely desiring all to know the truth of God the Father, God the Son and god the Holy Spirit through the Word. We are a conservative, solidly Bible-based.
Follow Jesus, Holy Spirit is your teacher; the Bible is your plumbline. Let Him lead you where He wants you.
Charles Clark: 100% both significant AND true.
We must constantly request the H.S guide us.
Although I am a sincere believer, I remain human until the day I die.....and need God's guidance.
I feel like there is a huge pride behind these names outside of the true goal of Christ and His church
Thank you Mike, you help me to be a much stronger Catholic. Appreciate it.
Hilarious troll. Repent.
Giving the Muslim vibe😂😂🤣 .
You had to emulate the Muslims 😂
Whomp whomp
As long as you believe in Christ with all your heart and accept him as your savior I'm happy.
Ideally you would commit yourself to diligent study of the scriptures. Then you can revisit this video when you're looking for your new Church that more closely follows the teachings of the Apostles.
@@colin1818how about the One True Church founded by Jesus Matt 16 18-19 that gave us the Bible in 382. Jesus instructs us to offer sacrificial worship in Jn 6 51-58 and to belief in His real presence in the Eucharist ie not symbolic. See also 1 Cor 10 16-17
Happy Better New year Mike.
God bless you for your wonderful teaching and passion in your ministry.
Mike, I would love it if you could do a video session about the Jesus Words Only (Movement? Phenomenon? or whatever it is) belief. I've been running up against their materials quite a lot of late, and it seems kinda strange, heretical, pharisaical -- it's hard to describe, but it seems like they believe that we have to follow the Mosaic laws and traditions of Judaism. It reminds me of what Paul faced when he confronted the Judaizers from Jerusalem. IF you feel that this would make a good video, or series of videos, it would be helpful to a lot of people. Thank you.
Praise God, and love the Lord Jesus Christ with all your heart and soul! Amen! 🙏✝️👑🙏
bless you Pastor Mike, I have learned so much with this channel. I am the spiritual in our family at this time and I hope to soon take second hand to that but you have helped me so much with my walk with the lord and i am able to teach my family the things i have learned in your teachings and been able to relate more with the bible and to truth only what the bible says. Again, thank you very much for all that you do to help us. Blessing to you and your family.
The 30,000 bit comes primarily from Catholics. It's something they are trained to say. However, I've never come across a single Catholic who can tell you even 3 doctrinal differences between any 3 of them-of their choice. Not even when I tell them to Google it if they have to. Yeah...
Lies, we’re not trained to promote lies like Protestants eg that we worship Mary and statues. The stats come from 3rd parties and in fact are irrelevant as other than the CC and Orthodox, all Protestant churches are heretical because they disobey Jesus by not offering sacrificial worship Jn 6 52-58 so have no church
Although too late for notice, Mike you are a particularly amazing blessing to me in a sea of "not so much".
What is important to me as a "non denominational" Christian is to
1. Love the Lord my God with all my heart, and with all my soul, and with all my mind.
2. Love my neighbor as thyself.
3. Worhip God through Spirit and Truth
4. To follow Jesus, learn from His teachings, follow His wisdom, and have empathy rather than judgment for my fellow man (mankind)
I am Christian because I know that
a) God created me on the same Earth where He had exiled Satan. God placed me here to "tend and take care of the Earth." I am on Earth to serve God. God does not serve me. However, since I share a planet with the darkest of evil angels, I have little mortal power to resist Satan's influence. God knows this and in order to repatriot my spirit into the eternity of God's kingdom I need to be pure and without sin. God sent Christ (His only begotten son) to be my earthly human template, to demonstrate what His expectation of me and to save me through His love and forgiveness.
As a Christian I follow the word of God , I do not follow man's word explaining to me what God wants.
Do you believe in the substitutionary sacrifice of Christ for your sins? Do you acknowledge you will never be perfect here on earth and that’s why you must believe in the sacrifice of Christ for your sin? And this belief, faith, confession of sin is your key to eternal life? It is by grace you are saved, through faith, and not of your works you are saved? Your comment sounds much like the Mormon belief.
@bsouth7944 Of course, I am a sinner who works daily to emulate my mentor Jesus. My Savior is Christ. Only through Him can my spirit be repatriated into God (the Father's) kingdom.
We mortals occupy Earth, the same planet where God had cast Satan.
Our caporeal exustance can not in itself be shielded against such a powerful evil spirit. God has provided us with a roadmap to repatriation back into His Kingdom through Scripture. God had warned us of Satan's deceptions and tactics to tempt our flesh as we execute God's will while on earth. Our "free will" is the ultimate test of our compliance with God's guidance or Satan's influences. Jesus is our human example of God's perfection.
I understand your reply, and in all but one aspect, I see myself in your comments.
I DO NOT need faith or need to believe in my Savior, Jesus Christ. In the same way, I do not require faith or need to believe that I was born. These things I KNOW and I KNOW That Jesus has saved me.
For me, being Christian is NOT being a member of a "Tribe", being Christian is Not following some person who claimes the he/she can tell me what God expects of me, Being Christian is not a denomination or even "a Religion. "
I don't confess my sin to man. Man is not my Savior and has no power to give me absolution.
I am, however, repentant for my sins (my transgressions). repentance for my sins is lifelong, and although forgiven through God's grace, it can never be forgotten or disregarded
Being Christian is "the Way",
A "way" of life.. For me, being Christian is serving God by His example Jesus Christ
Here is the rub: if all of those "Christian" denominations were truly following Christ's teachings, none of them would exist. 1 Corinthians start with Paul preaching against sectarianism, and yet all of traditional Christianity reasons that it's ok as long as they simply believe Jesus exists. That doesn't sound or look like biblical Christianity, now does it?
@@theeternalsbeliever1779 I agree
.. I am a non-denominational Christian. I follow Christ. I do not subscribe to any religion.
Christianity is a religion
I was baptised in a Grace Brethren church....three times forward. From my understanding they only "count" tri emersion baptism and if you were baptised through one emersion you have to be rebaptised. I no longer attend a grace brethren church, but Baptist, and I didn't have to be rebaptised to join.
I'm sure there are alot of prayer warriors here. Come Jan 1, if got some additions that need to be removed from my mind, soul, body, and my will. Appreciate all prayers in Jesus amen...in agreement 🙏🙏 Thanks. I see a mountain that only God can get me over!!
these are all questions with answers....
tell me if you have different answers about the real and existing battle on planet Earth -
Atheism and Religious Fanaticism VS. the Creator and Jesus Christ,
all here -
Why did the Creator send Jesus Christ to planet Earth?
ANSWER -
The Creator authorized and sent Jesus Christ from heaven to earth thousands of years ago to preach and teach the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" to imperfect, suffering, and dying human beings
as written in Luke 4: 43 and John 11: 25, 26
What do Atheists need and want from the Creator?
ANSWER -
Nothing,
Atheists, Evolutionists, and Satanists
mock and degrade the Creator as worthless, useless, lower, lesser, and far inferior than they are
and
trick and deceive their own families and neighbors to hate the Creator and believe their LIE and FALSE CLAIM that the Creator doesn't exist and even if existing is still cruel, merciless, unworthy and undeserving to be honored and respected as the Only True and Sovereign GOD
What do fanatic members of all Christian and non-Christian Religions need and want from Jesus Christ?
ANSWER -
Nothing,
Jehovah's Witnesses, SDAs, Mormons, Catholics, Baptists, Methodists, Born Again Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and fanatics of all kinds of Religions in the world
mock and degrade Jesus Christ as worthless, useless, lower, lesser, and far inferior than they are
and
trick and deceive their own families and neighbors to reject the authority and teachings of Jesus Christ about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead"
and
believe instead their LIES and FALSE TEACHINGS about "Armageddon", "Trinity", "rapture", "immortality of the souls or the heaven and hellfire doctrine", and "reincarnation"
Do the Creator and Jesus Christ respect and value the lives, dignities, and existence on earth of imperfect, suffering, and dying human beings?
ANSWER -
Yes,
Jesus Christ KNOWS
that all persons on earth who willingly submit to his authority and put their faith and hope in his teachings about the "Kingdom of God" and "Resurrection of the Dead" as written in Matthew 28: 18, Luke 4: 43, and John 11: 25, 26
will
definitely be honored and rewarded by the loving, kind, and merciful Creator with ETERNAL LIFE and existence without sufferings, pains, griefs, sickness, and death on a safe and peaceful earth without liars, slanderers, perverts, traitors, and murderers as written in Revelation 21: 3, 4, 8.
How will worshippers of the Creator and followers of Jesus Christ live and exist on earth forever if they just die and become worthless and useless dusts on earth?
ANSWER -
The Creator KNOWS
that all human beings will just become worthless and useless dusts on earth after their deaths just like the animals as written in Ecclesiastes 3: 19, 20 ; 9: 5, 6
but
he also knows that he will not let his loving, kind, and respectful worshippers who died recently and thousands of years ago like Abel, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Job, Moses, Ruth, Naomi, King David, Daniel, Jesus Christ's followers, and many others to remain as worthless and useless dusts on earth forever,
instead,
in the right and proper time and as written in John 11: 25, 26,
he will let Jesus Christ RESURRECT them back to life so they can all happily and abundantly live and exist on earth forever
and fully enjoy his and his Christ's eternal love, kindness, goodness, generosities, compassions, favors, and blessings for eternity
as submissive and obedient subjects of the "KINGDOM of GOD" or His Kingdom under the loving and kind rulership, guidance, and protection of Jesus Christ as his Chosen King and Ruler of the heavens and the earth as written in Revelation 11: 15.
We can't remove our mountains sometimes, that's why we give it to God and trust Him to do it!
I’ve had conversations with people from the Orthodox Church and it’s crazy how much they change the gospel, don’t believe in the sufficiency of scripture, hold their traditions as equal to scripture, teach works and practices. It’s basically Catholicism which is a cult 😬
While there are many denominations that are brothers and sisters in Christ, it’s also important to call out the ones that change the gospel and operate like a cult.
The Orthodox and the Catholics created the gospels. They are their books. You are just borrowing them.
Christ started a Church. He did not start a library.
He told his Apostles to spread his word. And they did so, through the Church he founded for many decades before they started writing down the gospels.
The Church predates the gospels, not the other way around.
Further, there is no rational definition of “cult” which would include Catholicism and not include all other mainline Christians. You simply can’t make one.
If anything, Catholics and Orthodox are substantially less cult like than Protestant churches as they have practices specifically in place to safeguard against their churches becoming cults of personality.
Many Protestant denominations do not have that.
Find out the church's main focus is. If it is on prepentence saving souls and most importantly preaching Jesus Christ and Him Crucified! This should be the message because this is the power! I used to believe In some teachings of the word of faith doctrine and prosperity gospel. I always felt it didn't really line up with my spirit, so I didn't fall for it hook and sinker like most have because it tickles their ears.
Takes a strong person to be Catholic. 😇
Happy New Year brother Mike and family ! You've been a blessing to my life this past year! Love you in ❤Yeshua
Yes there is at least one denomination that triple dips. Grace Brethren. They came out of the Anabaptist tradition. I was OK with it, grew up in it. After being away from it for awhile, and getting married we thought about attending one. But they had this "rule" that even if you were baptized as an adult in another Christian church you had to be rebaptized their way to become a member! Nowhere is that in the Bible! I don't know if they still call for that.
Exactly you don't even have to be baptized by water once, so why ever would you need to be rebaptized! I agree
One can only be baptised once so subsequent rebaptism is meaningless and sinful because you are denying the work of the Holy Spirit the first time
@@geoffjs the holy spiritual didn’t do anything the first time when your water baptized. He does it when you believe
Orthodox Church has numerous worship only services in addition to holy prayers Monday through Saturday. The homily is always in the Sunday Divine liturgy. Having said this all services contain the teachings of the Church , of our Lord , of God the Father and scripture. Holy prayer hours and time for confession is all included with in a week.
Why do they kiss pictures of the saints? Why do they believe the 7 Sacraments and Traditions? They may not approve of the Pope or the perpetual virgin Mary theology but I don't see any reason I would even entertain their belief system.
Mike winglings unite
Wingling’s 😭 sounds like a fast food chicken chain
My church does three dippings for baptism (no infant baptisms).The idea comes from the wording of the passage. “In the name of the father AND of the son AND of the Holy Spirit”. I think as long as you’re following general guidelines of water baptism, it’s still just symbolism for being washed clean by Jesus and the details should not define the purpose. I would be fine with either method🙂
Catholics: We are the one true united church!
Pope Francis: Hold my wine.
Happy new years to you, Mike, and everyone at Bible Thinker! Love you, Brother!
Hey! I would love to see a video about why there are a googolplex of Christian denominations? I could really use an answer and I don’t think you gotten this question before.
😂
The one question that no Protestant in the world has ever tried to answer.
The number is higher than the doctrinal divisions because of 2 factors. 1) one denomination that is present in more than one country is more than one denomination. As a result there are hundreds of roman Catholic and EO "denominations" even though everyone agrees that the Roman Catholic Church is only one denomination. 2) many denominations in the same tradition are separate for political reasons. E.g. churches that split between slave states and free states. Another factor whose influence I'm unsure of are non-denominational churches. I don't know whether the study lumps all nondenoms together or counts each as their own denomination.
On the doctrinal front, non-Christian movements like Mormans and many cults are included. Additionally where theological liberalism has so seeped into a church's hierarchy, conservative Christians may found a new church to get back to true teachings.
Overall, if one wants to claim that protestantism is too divisive, I would suggest looking at different traditions rather than denominations as such. For example, count Presbyterians, Methodists, Anglicans, Lutherans, Reformed Baptist, Fundamental Baptist, Anabaptists etc.