20 Questions with Pastor Mike (Episode 51) 

Question Time Stamps for Quick Reference: <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="0">0:00</a> - Introduction 1. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="17">0:17</a> {Can Megachurches be Effective?} From a biblical and practical standpoint, is there a maximum number of people that can or should make up a local church? Assuming their doctrine is biblical, can a megachurch with multiple satellite sites or campuses be an effective church? 2. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="832">13:52</a> {Was Mary Surprised about Jesus’ Deity?} If Mary was aware of the immaculate conception (visited by an angel, etc.), why in Mark 3: 21 does it seem she’s surprised about Jesus being the Messiah? Scripture says His "family" that goes to "take charge of Him" for being out of His mind are His mother & brothers. Why would Mary think He is out of His mind if she had been visited by an angel? 3. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1180">19:40</a> {About the Apostles’ Martyrdom} A big defense for Christianity is that the Apostles died & were tortured, never recanting Jesus. How are the Heavens Gate & Jonestown 1978 incidents any different? They all willingly died for a lie, too. 4. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1473">24:33</a> {Who are the Called & Chosen in Matt.?} Who are the called & chosen ones in Matthew 22: 14? Is it God who does both the calling & the choosing? 5. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1832">30:32</a> {Does Jesus Mean “Hail Zeus”?} What do you say to people who claim that the name Jesus really means “hail Zeus”? They say one is unknowingly doing witchcraft by using the name Jesus. Why didn’t His name just continue as Yeshua? 6. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2117">35:17</a> {Is John 15 Works-Based?} Is John 15 works-based? v.10 says, “IF you keep my commandments, THEN you will abide in my love.” That sounds like obedience earns God's love, contrary to the Gospel. What does a life of "abiding" look like daily? 7. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2545">42:25</a> {Ways to Grow in Christ} I've recently found a renewed desire to get closer with God and was just wondering if you have any advice about how to do so. 8. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2645">44:05</a> {Did God Ordain Animal Sacrifices?} Does Jeremiah 7: 22 & Matthew 9: 13 indicate God never ordained animal sacrifices? To me it seems God has gradually moved mankind away from sacrifices & idol worship and into His ideal form of religion. 9. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3245">54:05</a> {About Angels} I know that we are made in the image and likeness of God and are called God’s children, but what are angels to God? Are they made in the image and likeness of God? Are they God’s children? 10. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="3442">57:22</a> {Is there a Contradiction?} In Matthew 2: 19-22, was Joseph’s second dream (vs. 22) from God? God says all who mean to kill you are dead, but God warns him again. Some translations of vs. 22 leave out “God.” Is this a contradiction? 11. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="60">1:00</a>:40 {How Many People are in Heaven?} It's estimated that 60% of natural conceptions fail to implant in the uterus and that at least 50 billion people lived until now. Does that mean there are around 75 billion people in Heaven? 12. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="65">1:05</a>:32 {How to Recognize the Spirit vs. Enemy} How do we know when we feel the Holy Spirit that it isn't a trick from Satan making us think that it’s God? And how do you know Jesus’s resurrection wasn’t a false miracle/wonder by Satan? 13. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="69">1:09</a>:26 {How to Glorify God as an Artist} I like to draw and write fiction in my spare time, and I want to glorify God as best I can doing this. Is there anything I should do or avoid doing as a Christian artist? 14. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="71">1:11</a>:19 {Does Forgiveness Challenge Responsibility?} My grandma rejects Christianity because she claims relying on the forgiveness of a savior teaches us that we don’t have to be responsible for our own actions. How can I help her untangle that belief? 15. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="74">1:14</a>:35 {About the “Day of the Lord”} What must come first, per 2 Thessalonians <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="123">2:3</a>? Does “apostasia” mean a spiritual falling away/rebellion, or a physical departure, as in the rapture? 16. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="79">1:19</a>:03 {What does “Cowardly” Mean in Revelation?} Can you shed some light on what Revelation <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1268">21:8</a> really means by the cowardly or the fearful having a special place in the lake of fire? 17. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="81">1:21</a>:31 {About Liberal & Conservative Christians} It seems like conservative Christians are biblical with respect to personal morality, to the exclusion of societal justice - and liberal ones vice versa. Why? Is one more important? How do we reconcile the extremes? 18. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="86">1:26</a>:36 {Forming a Biblical Self-Image} How do I overcome self hate? Whenever I look at myself, I see a sinner and a failure and it's hard to see God as a loving Father when all I can see Him as is a judge, and I'm afraid of Him at times. 19. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="90">1:30</a>:46 {About the Marks of Stigmata} What do you think about the marks of the stigmata? Is there any way this could be biblical, even if someone isn't Catholic? 20. <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="93">1:33</a>:43 {About God Revealing Himself to Mankind} If God wants you to be saved more than you do, why doesn’t He reveal Himself to everyone like He did to Paul? Wouldn't more people be saved if they had the same “Road to Damascus” experience that Paul had?

I had a Damascus Road experience. As an atheist. I'm here to tell you, it's not just Jesus speaking, audibly, There is an inner cleansing that tears you from limb to limb. Your feelings of guilt and Shame are mixed with profuse love and compassion all at the same time. I can't imaging anyone not stopping whatever they are doing and drop to their knees in worship when this happens.

In a mega church you don't have a relationship with your pastor. That's what I missed the most, to have a pastor that knows you and your family personally. It's a very impersonal experience.

I have no inherent problems with big or small churches. I have problems with unbiblical churches and those can have 10,000 people or 50. Size isn't the problem.

Please pray for me and my health. Lately ive been feeling weak and tired and my blood pressure has been extremely low and its been making me jittery which sends me into panic attacks. Ive been having panic attacks daily because of the jitteryness and chills and hotflashes i feel with my low blood pressure. Please pray that my heart is healed and that i have no more anxiousness. Thank you so much and God bless you all!❤️

The reason I don’t like bigger, youth oriented churches as much, is because (from my experience,) they tend to water down the message of the Gospel into a feel good, “Jesus loves you” type of message. They don’t want to offend people or push them away, and tend to focus on saving more people then discipling them after. There isn’t much follow up, especially with the sheer numbers of students involved. They become massive social gatherings with food and fun, drawing youth, and trying to get them saved, when mostly they don’t understand what that means. It is deeply frustrating. There are some amazing people in these churches, but the size complicates it and discipleship becomes much harder. Social hierarchy’s form, some people feel unwelcome and judged, ect. Becomes highschool away from highschool. I am much happier with me medium sized church:)

I was literally eating CHEEZ-ITS as you were discussing the Jesus/"Hail, Zeus!" question!!😆😆 I think you did a great job navigating the small church vs. megachurch question. There will inevitably be problems in either setting because --- wait for it --- fallen sinners are involved. Unfortunately as believers we too often have the mindset of discontented consumers as opposed to rejoicing in God in all circumstances and loving one another. Wherever we are we make it our aim to please Him.

My local megachurch (which I use to attend) has swallowed up so much of the community that there just aren't very many biblical churches around here. It grieves me because in the 4yrs I attended, there was no Gospel presented in the +200 sermons, scripture was often out of context, and the sermons were topical because they were meant to address felt needs. Controversial topics were avoided and offensive terms like sin, Hell, wrath etc were absent or euphemised. I didn't know better because it was my 1st church, but I wasn't being fed the word of God. Moreover, I recognize I was as much to blame because I wasn't committed to repentance, reading my bible, or praying. Eventually, all it took for me was hearing the Gospel once on RU-vid to completely change me and open my eyes to how off my megachurch was on many things especially the Gospel. Repentance, Bible reading and prayer confirmed it. I'm sure not all megachurches are like this but anyone else have a similar experience?

I went from a small hometown church of 60-90 people. I played drums on worship, led men’s groups of over 150 men, gave sermons at times. Jesus moved me to a “megachurch” of about 5,000 in our location who have 4 satellite churches. God reworked my theology, he opened my eyes to who Jesus really is, he softened my heart, he made a place for my children at this new place. Now this church is in every prison in California. God will use who he will use, they thrive for Jesus they breathe for Jesus, they exist for Jesus. I enjoy our “mega-church” and I’m growing in Christ weekly.

I like to follow you! You seem balanced and well rooted in the Bible. You can act in the world without being a part of it. Keep up the good work and I’ll spread your clips in Sweden. 🇸🇪🙏🏻

Hail cheeze-itz! 😂 That was funny. God bless you, Pastor Mike. Thank you for your teaching. You are the reason I bought a Bible and am now a Christian, so I owe ya!🙏✝️

I never thought I would end in a mega church! Calvary Chapel Chino Hills! One of their 4 services is as big a 4,000 people. But my husband I are meeting with people in small groups and we have some great friends. So it doesn’t feel so big. Pastor Jack is fearlessly speaking into the culture teaching verse by verse from the book of Romans. Recently tackled homosexuality and didn’t hold back. And we have a pro life conference coming up. But yes the community ad small groups are just as important as the great teaching. And my husband and I have been very diligent to make community happen for our family!

Large churches which have existed for hundreds of years, think the great cathedrals of Europe. The difference I see in the megachurch movement today is that megachurches very often created by a strong leader who operates as a law unto themselves with no real oversight. This contributes to the strong cult of personality one so often finds in such institutions. Add to this the vast sums of money the megachurches are able to generate and it should come as no surprise that things so often go off the rails.

Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="252">4:12</a>

Thank you Pastor Mike for your ministry, and gracing us with the cutest, fluffiest kitty on the internet 😆🙏🏻❤️

One of the best churches I've attended was a "mega church." This church with the same pastor started in a house... they literally could not afford anything else but to rent a house to meet in. Then they got a bigger facility, then a bigger facility to that, now they have a "campus" as well as satellite churches... still with the same pastor, with the same Biblical accuracy and quality as when it started. However I did notice a change in fellowship, rather than meeting after service for coffee and visit, there were coffee shops and bookstores. So most people would just flock to the doors and leave. So size has it's benefits as well as downfalls, but churches like Joel Osteen's I think deceive more people and cause more harm being such a big church.

Thanks for clearing up the gummy bear mystery, Mike.

You are such a blessing to me pastor Mike!! Thank you for leading me more to Christ

Question 20, In the parable of Lazarus And The Rich Man, the rich man ask Father Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his Brothers about hell, Abraham said they have Moses and the Prophet's, and not even a man that has risen from the dead will convince them, There was a man that has risen from the dead and gave us the warning and the way to everlasting life, and still some people do not believe.

Whole lot of respect for plugging in Ray Comfort, it’s good to see warriors helping each other

Mike, you need to do an introductory video for your channel that stays at the top of your front page, and describes yourself and your past, your conversion, your denomination, vocation, and beliefs. I believe that would answer a lot of questions in many people's minds. 😁

Moxie, winning souls to Christ one Friday at a time.😆 But seriously Mike, I remember when you made these Q and A's a regular thing and here we are at 51?! I look forward all week to these, you're doing a great job.

The idea of dying for a lie is knowing you are dying for a lie versus sincerely believing in something and dying for it. Totally agree with you Mike.

That last question 🤌🏽 *chefs kiss* 🤌🏽wonderful answer, Pastor Mike!

Loved this. I thank God for you. You bolster my faith so much.

This one is particularly edifying, thank you

God bless you all thank you for the stream 😊 really enjoy your input. All glory to God 🙏🏼

I really appreciate what you do. God bless you and all here.

Thank you again, Mike. I am always impatient for your next video, regardless of its content. God bless from Canada 🇨🇦

Wow Mike, I am grateful for the wisdom that comes down from above and manifests in this session! I especially like your balance.

Thank you so much for another thought provoking video!! I pray God blesses you Pastor Mike, and your mentors, as you have blessed us!!!

Thank for this video Mike, and for your your answer to #18.

Thank you Pastor!

Great content as usual Mike!

Thanks for this!

Speaking to the first question from a pastoral standpoint: the teaching or head pastor is also woefully cut off from the flock by virtue of the sheer size of the church in a megachurch. Other pastors take on those responsibilities, and you don't get to be that for them. I had a friend who did it for about five years, and he left because he felt like he was running a company, not a church.

Go forth and preach freely what has been give you freely. Take no purses and ask for no money. You will be sustained by the faithful.

Thanks for your channel Mike! Love it! I came out of New Age beliefs and occult 12 years ago and I think it is so important to study the word of God! That's why I made my channel too so that I can teach people the true gospel of Christ. I do in depth verse by verse Bible studies, scripture proofs for topics and explanations, prayers, and personal testimonials. It's such a blessing to be born again and doing the work of the Lord! Love your teaching style and your an inspiration of mine😀

Moxie is so precious..thanks for your ministry 🥰

Moxy is such a cute and sweet fur ball, cats are so fun.💞😺

😢You are so on point with small churches!

I've been to a lot of really messed up home churches. It's not about the church, it's about the message being taught at the church.

Thank you for the reference to the Vine being Christ instead of Israel. That passage always was confusing to me, because I thought it was directly applied to believers. Although it has a General application to Believers, it was specifically given to the Jewish people to help them realize that they need to be connected to Christ as the true source of life and not so much their religious Traditions or culture.

I go to one of the largest churches in my city, but I like them because they have good theology and aren’t afraid of difficult topics. They also have a lot of capacity to fund charities so they’re providing a special needs kid with a scholarship to get the right education + missions and other stuff. They really emphasise the small groups for discipleship. It won’t happen without that. The great part about such a large community is that you can avoid some of the “extra” personalities if they become difficult to love up close.

Brilliant answer to question 19

Blessings and PRAISE THE LORD. Thanks for continuing to serve GOD and teach HIS children, and hopefully introducing many more to THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Amen. Blessings

haha this was delightful. Thank you!

I attended a mega church, and we connected with small groups, and through serving. We served our community, and tried to meet the needs of many. The church focused on Biblical teaching. I feel the reason the church grew was because of the foundational Biblical teaching.

@Kween - I don't know if you're still struggling, but during one of the lowest points in my life the band Casting Crowns really helped pull me up and recognize and believe the unshakable love God has for me. I listened to their songs repeatedly, and I started reading the books of Samuel because it was the most entertaining story. From there my love and belief continue to grow. The song "The Voice of Truth" is very powerful, and continues to be one of my favorites, along with "East to West" and "Praise You in this Storm." I still get very emotional when I hear them or play & sing them

I had been considering leaving my church because of feeling a lack of fellowship. I'm glad you touched on that. You handled it in a way that I expected, but hadn't been focusing on

I attend a multi-site mega church and have recently been listening to The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill podcast. All that is to say, the question about church numbers came at a perfect time for me and I couldn't agree more with the reply. God bless.

God bless you Mike. Glory to God for your ministry! Jesus is Lord.

Thanks for these QandAs, a real blessing! On question 3 I would add that in those two cult examples the "sincerity" led to suicide or murder, within the group. In the case of the apostles, and many other christians probably at the time and later, is that they suffered persecution and martyrdom without neither recanting nor armed resistance. God bless brethren!

I believe with my whole heart

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you." John <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="912">15:12</a> God loves you so much! If you ever need to be reminded of that than look to the cross where Jesus gave His life for you. And as you have been loved we are to love each other. Caring for another and sharing helpful truths when needed. Hopefully this helped and inspired you today. God bless you!!

wow mike you are blowing up with subs, congrats glory to God

The other thing about the disciples vs. Jonestown or Heavens Gate is that the disciples didn't commit suicide or kill others in Jesus name. The disciples also died after Jesus some long after Jesus left. These others all had everyone killed during one event. The disciples were targeted by others outside of the faith for continued belief and dedication to Jesus. HUGE difference

Good morning everyone god bless everyone !!!! Peace ✌️ and love ❤️

Loved the gummie bear explanation. Love your ministry.

I get so much out of these Q&A's - to your AND your audience's credit.

Mike thanks for you videos--I continue to learn a lot. Concerning the preborn and souls I find the answer in Ps139 This tells me that God knew me personally even before the foundations of creation were laid. It follows for me then that there are a finite number of souls created (as creation was finished on day 6). I think then the soul comes first and then it is joined to the body at conception.

Great answer to question 12

There was a lot of wisdom in what you said.

Glad to hear you are conservative. I see conservative views as generally trying to hold true to the Bible and keeping The Faith without changing it to fit our own desires. Thank you for your videos. I often watch them while practicing my archery and shooting

Your answer to Q17 hits at the heart of the problem with the tribal mentality pushed by so many people today.

Love it

Thanks so much to Mike and the team for all the work they put into these! Where can we submit the longer form questions that start the show? It's not always easy to fit a complex question into 200 characters...

Fabulous

1 Peter <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="195">3:15</a> “But in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord.c Always be prepared to give a defense to everyone who asks you the reason for the hope that is in you. But respond with gentleness and respect,”

I wanted to ask the same question as number four but remembered the livestream 9 minutes too late. I'm glad it was asked!

Excellent teaching Pastor Mike. I'm Armenian and am glad you're not completely decided on this issue. I'm a missionary to Haiti and have just discovered you June 2023. I'm telling many about you Messianic Jew evangelist Roger Mansour

Algo, come on, serve this more!

I listened to elevation, itown, other Mega church preaching and I've been listening to Paul washer and it's just a night and day difference of preaching the gospel!

I call Him Yeshua because 1. It is what his mom called Him, and I think that's sweet to think of, and 2. Yeshua means salvation, so it's a beautiful name to me. He doesn't care if you call him Jesus or Isa or Hayzus lol as long as you call Him

Regarding Q-11. Might this help: “As you do not know the way the spirit comes to the bones in the womb of a woman with child, so you do not know the work of God who makes everything" (Ecclesiastes <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="665">11:5</a> ESV).

"Woe unto you if they shall speak well of you for so did they to the false prophets" - Jesus. The Word of God has never been popular even when spoken and taught in truth by the Source.

Question 20. Some people have had such an experience. But it doesn't always end well. On the other hand, others have done research in books etc and come to faith. IE. Lee Strobel, J W Wallace, Josh McDowell. On Quora, I learned that a Ph.D. in Christian Theology called it quits and left the faith.

Life begins at conception, if God created us in his image we have a soul from the moment life begins.

I agree with you about little churches but there is more accountable treatment.

Hey Mike...have been a long time listener. I appreciate your approach to your channel. It is very important in the the Body of Christ. I think it would be great for you to do a collaboration with the Smart Christian channel and discuss why it is important to take the approach that you both take. He has a similar perspective. I believe you both show how Christians can have different perspectives and still love one another.

What really matters is whether the church is making quality disciples and serving the community. Some small churches do it well and some large churches do it well. It’s not about size. It’s about our spiritual formation for the sake of our neighbors/communities.

18, well said Perfect

Q6 brilliant question

Having attended many churches, varying in size from a dozen people to over 2,000, I would say that each size of church has its own pluses and minuses. The big problems with larger churches are that individual people tend to disappear into the crowd, limiting the ability of the church to meet their individual spiritual needs, having a "one size fits all" approach that actually fits most only in the most superficial sense, and an emphasis on a few individuals (Pastor, worship team, and so on) performing for a crowd, rather than participation by the congregation. The strengths of larger churches are that they tend to have a large base of talent to draw from, and can afford more of the material needs of the church. The main weaknesses I've observed in smaller churches are that they tend to be a lot more clannish and less accepting of outsiders. Smaller churches are often better at meeting the needs of individual members, though, as one member out of 30 is proportionally much more significant than one member out of a thousand.

I went from an in-my-home church to a church of 300 people to 5 thousand. Small church and 300 had less bible ground covered and met less frequently. All of bible covered in the 5000 church and meets more frequently over the Word.

Never mind a ‘mega church’. I can’t find a small or midsized Church in my area that is Biblical.

Yes

Promises of prosperity seemed bunk to me from the beginning. I have to work on Sundays, anyway.

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2648">44:08</a> 2Timothy <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="66">1:6</a>, 7 Stir up the flame of the power within you so that you will have love power and a sound mind

#20: Scripture clearly and plainly states that if people will not believe the available evidence (specifically “Moses and the Prophets”) then they would not believe even with extraordinary signs and wonders (specifically “if a man was raised from the dead”). I refer, of course, to the story of the rich man and Lazarus. Sometimes we think people would, but actually God is the only one who actually does know.

Wow HAPPY ANNIVERSARY 💕😇💕

Regarding that last question. I think with greater Revelation comes a greater expectation.. as in to whom much is given, much is required. Look at Paul's life it wasn't easy.. stoned, imprisoned, whipped, ultimately killed for the Lord. At least that's what comes to my mind

The only thing I would come back with, regarding the sincerely of belief, is that it was true for the disciples and one or two hundred other people, that they believed they saw Jesus resurrected, but the vast majority of early Christians, who were being persecuted and killed by the Roman authorities, didn't see Jesus alive. Some probably heard of him or even saw him pre-death, but many didn't because they weren't local, since Christianity, after the Pentecost, spread pretty quickly to other Roman provinces. So for those christians dying for the sake of Jesus, all they had was sincere belief of what they heard from the alleged eye witnesses and even non-eye witnesses.

The first church I became a member of on my own as an adult was a small church compared to the bigger churches.... They started trying to follow the mega church blueprint such as Elevations methods and it seemed to go down hill from there... There were some other factors that contributed as well I think, but when that shift happened it changed for the worse...

Moxie is not interested. Thanks Mark. I appreciate these q & a shows

@<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="99">1:39</a>:19 “It’s a bit of a two-edged sword” Nice :)

Aww so cute cat love ❤️

No way.. thanks for the push back. Calvary Chapel Chino Hills w/ Jack Hibbs! Amazing !

All the large churches i have attended seem to be working hard to get bigger..and not offend people... "sugar coated gospel is dangerous"

Q2: "IMMACULATE CONCEPTION" is a term that means something other than the VIRGIN BIRTH. "The Immaculate Conception is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that Mary, mother of Jesus has been free of original sin from the moment of her conception." - Britannica YW.