20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 6)

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