Individual questions and answers from Ask Pastor Mike Live episodes.
Evangelism must present the real God and the real Jesus, not a figure created by someone’s imagination. The amount of explanation needed will vary with the audience because different people bring different errors and assumptions to the conversation. A new believer will not understand every detail of theology. Saving faith does not require the ability …
The clearest moral boundary is the protection of human life from conception. At conception a distinct human life exists, so embryos must not be destroyed, discarded, or treated merely as biological material. Other proposed lines—viability, brain activity, pain, or heartbeat—are arbitrary compared with conception. From the beginning, the embryo possesses the complete human genetic identity …
After completing the verse-by-verse studies of Luke and Hebrews, I recommend studying Romans. The Romans series contains about one hundred sermons and works carefully through one of the most important books of the New Testament. It is a natural and valuable study to undertake after Hebrews. Do not stop after Romans 1–8, where many readers …
Christians believe God created everything because that is what he has revealed, and because the biblical worldview provides the most coherent explanation of reality. This includes the earth, living things, space, and every object in space. The biblical words translated “heaven” or “heavens” can refer to the atmosphere, outer space, or God’s throne room. Context …
Christians should ordinarily vote when they have the opportunity. A vote gives each citizen a small but real influence on public decisions, and refusing to participate does not necessarily remove responsibility for the outcome. Voting for a candidate does not mean declaring that person morally perfect. Every candidate is a sinner, just as every pastor, …
A teenager’s pain, including feelings of abandonment after a parent leaves, deserves compassion and patient attention. That hurt may help explain angry behavior, but it does not excuse disrespect, abusive speech, or refusal to accept responsibility. Children should learn obedience and honor from an early age. When that foundation is weak and serious rebellion appears …
In the New Testament, pastor, elder, and overseer describe the same church office. Churches should not create a biblical distinction between these terms. Every man serving in that office should meet the qualifications given in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1. Pastors or elders should appoint other pastors or elders. Existing qualified leaders are responsible …
Hyper-dispensationalism draws too sharp a line between Paul’s ministry and the teaching of Christ, Peter, the Gospels, and the earlier chapters of Acts. It correctly recognizes important distinctions in God’s program, but it creates a wall of discontinuity that Scripture does not support. The church does not replace Israel, and God still has a future …
Compass Bible Church was not started because every other church had abandoned God or become corrupt. That conclusion would be both inaccurate and arrogant. There were—and still are—many faithful churches where Christians can attend, serve, and grow. When I left my previous church, I had conversations about serving with several churches that I respected. No …
Revelation 12 describes a real restriction and judgment of Satan during the Tribulation. The language of being thrown down is literal in what it communicates, but Satan is a spiritual being rather than a physical body that falls and is injured. The passage concerns Satan’s location, access, and sphere of activity. Unlike God, Satan is …
Saying “As God is my witness” is not automatically sinful. In this situation, the phrase simply expressed, “God knows that I did not say what I am being accused of saying.” It need not be treated as a forbidden oath. Anger itself is also not always sinful. Scripture says to be angry and not sin, …
Romans 8:28 is meant to encourage Christians, but the “good” God promises is the good of his purpose—not necessarily immediate comfort, prosperity, or an explanation we can easily recognize. A painful trial may produce perseverance and maturity, as James 1 teaches. God may use today’s unavoidable hardship to prepare a Christian to remain faithful in …
Wealth is not inherently evil, and being rich is not itself a sin. Scripture sometimes presents material abundance as God’s blessing. The danger is the desire to be rich, the love of money, and the temptation to trust wealth instead of God. First Timothy 6 warns that those who desire to be rich fall into …
Christians do not have to embrace the dark, macabre, or worldly elements associated with Halloween. But a church can intentionally redeem an evening that the surrounding culture already observes. That is why our church offers a wholesome alternative. Children can dress up, receive candy, hear worship music, enjoy activities, and spend the evening in Christian …
The world is deeply sinful, but it is not yet as universally corrupt as it was immediately before the flood. Genesis 6:5 says that every intention of the human heart was only evil continually. Today we still see unbelievers doing acts of kindness, loving their families, and showing traces of conscience because humanity retains the …
God’s forgiveness means that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ. Believers will not stand before Christ to determine whether their forgiven sins send them to hell. They will, however, give an account of their Christian stewardship. Romans 14 reminds Christ’s servants that they answer to their Master for how they live …
A preacher cannot emphasize every observation in a passage. The first task is to identify the central proposition—the main subject and what the text says about it—and allow that idea to govern the lesson. In Psalm 89:30–37, the central emphasis is God’s steadfast, covenant-keeping love. The passage acknowledges the disobedience and discipline of God’s people …
Christians experience many desires that conflict with God’s word. The specific temptation may involve sexuality, anger, intoxication, dishonesty, or something else, but the basic response is the same: do not nurture a desire Scripture identifies as sinful. Confession should take place in a context that helps bring repentance and healing. Telling the person toward whom …
Call your friend now. Do not delay the conversation while searching for perfect words. Authenticity, honesty, and genuine love matter more than a polished presentation. Tell her that you care about her, that Christ has changed your life, and that you want her to know the hope that extends beyond this life. Acknowledge her illness, …
Ezekiel’s vision describes Israel restored, the tribes reunited, a vast temple established, and a functioning priesthood and sacrificial system. Those details were not fulfilled by the small temple built after the Babylonian exile. Scripture repeatedly says that God’s calling and promises to Israel are irrevocable. Revelation again names the twelve tribes and describes Christ reigning …
Some Old Testament books do not identify their human author, even though they were recognized and preserved as Scripture. That does not undermine their authority or the care with which Israel received them. From Moses onward, God’s prophets were publicly recognized as his spokesmen. Their messages were often marked by “Thus says the Lord,” and …
The references to a finger and tongue in Jesus’ account of the rich man and Lazarus can give the impression that people receive a temporary body immediately after death. Some interpreters hold that view, but I do not think those details are intended to establish an intermediate body. The main point of that description is …
A Bible study should have a prepared teacher who has done the work of interpreting the passage accurately. The group should not begin with everyone offering a different opinion about what the text means. There are three stages in handling Scripture: interpretation, forming timeless principles from the text, and application. The teacher should study the …
Christians should not be surprised when a culture that has departed from biblical truth elects leaders who reflect its values. Elections reveal something about the people doing the electing, and our society has increasingly chosen to define truth and morality for itself. God remains sovereign even when unrighteousness advances politically. Scripture shows God using pagan …
The prophetic descriptions of a future temple and its ceremonies can seem like a return to something Christ has already fulfilled. But Ezekiel, Daniel, Zechariah, and Revelation describe God completing promises to Israel that were never fully realized in history. Daniel’s seventieth week concerns Daniel’s people and holy city. Revelation likewise returns attention to Israel, …
Assurance begins with the right gospel, the right response to that gospel, and the right fruit following from it. We must understand the God of the Bible, the person and work of Christ, and our own problem of sin. The biblical response is repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin and self-rule; faith is …
Repentance and faith are distinguishable, but they are inseparable in the response God commands in the gospel. They are not synonyms, yet they belong together as two sides of one coin—a penitent faith. Some teachers associated with dispensationalism argued that repentance could be a condition of salvation only if it were defined as another word …
Pastor Mike explains why Christians still need the local church after experiencing repeated hurt from church leaders or members.
The command to honor your father and mother does not expire when you become an adult. In Exodus 20, that command was given to adults as well as children. Grown sons and daughters honor their parents by treating them with respect and, as their parents age, making sure they are cared for. Ephesians 6 addresses …
You should not expect a perfect church, but you do need a church where the Bible is faithfully taught and where the preaching builds you up. If a pastor repeatedly forces every passage through a peculiar theological framework instead of explaining the text itself, that is a legitimate concern. This is not an encouragement to …