BibleThinker

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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