Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

2 Corinthians 4 Enduring Word Commentary Present Weakness and Resurrection Life 4 Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. 2 Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. Unlike some of the other preachers who peddled God's word for a ...

2 Corinthians 3 3 Are we beginning to commend ourselves again? Or do we need, like some people, letters of recommendation to you or from you? 2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. 3 You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. Paul made it clear that he would not try to justify his status or position as an apostle. He let the results speak for themselves. The results were the fruits of changed lives among the Corinthians. Paul likened it to a letter that was written on their hearts. Paul showed that the changes among them were written on their hearts and therefore known by everyone. It reminds us that the greatest witness for Christ is a changed life. The proof is in the pudding.  And Paul says the letter is from Christ. What does that mean?   Such letters were common and necessary in t...

2 Corinthians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 2 1 So I made up my mind that I would not make another painful visit to you. 2 For if I grieve you, who is left to make me glad but you whom I have grieved? 3 I wrote as I did, so that when I came I would not be distressed by those who should have made me rejoice. I had confidence in all of you, that you would all share my joy. 4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you. Paul wants to soften the blow by using a letter to express his concerns and convictions versus meeting face to face. The norm is that Christians should be excited to see each other and share stories about what God is doing in their midst. But Paul's heart is anguished because he sees things happening that are a threat to integrity of the gospel. He can't just sit back and watch it happen.  Paul wisely understood that considering all the circumstances, a letter ...

2 Corinthians 1 Overview of 2 Corinthians - Charles Swindoll Insight for Living Paul wrote 2 Corinthians at a vulnerable time in his life. He had learned that the church at Corinth was struggling, and he sought to take action to preserve the unity of that local body of believers. The letter is riddled with personal comments as Paul revealed details about the persecution he had suffered for the sake of Christ as well as about a mysterious thorn in the flesh that kept him reliant on God. Enduring Word Commentary 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,  To the church of God in Corinth, together with all his holy people throughout Achaia:  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul gives his standard greeting and adds that this letter also comes from Timothy. This is not written just to the church in Corinth but to all in Achaia, the province where the church was located. Other churches in this area include ...

1 Corinthians 16 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary The Collection for the Lord’s People 16 Now about the collection for the Lord’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. The Lord's people were those in the church in Jerusalem. Paul was collecting money to help the church help out the poor among them. They had a large number of poor widows in their congregation. The first day of the week is Sunday. Paul gives guidelines for how much they should give. He coaches them to give weekly based on their income.  The Old Testament law was giving a tithe to the temple, but the New Testament writings of Paul a...

1 Corinthians 15 Enduring Word Commentary The Resurrection of Christ 15 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. Paul frequently uses the word " gospel " in his letters. The word means " good news ". Paul says it is "by the gospel" they received, taken their stand on, and are saved by. Obviously the "gospel" is at the heart of the Christian faith, and by believing in it we are saved.  So what is the gospel? The gospel is the Good News about Jesus, who came from heaven to earth to show us the way back to the Father. The gospel is the Good News that if we believe in Jesus, we will be forgiven of all of our sins. The gospel is the Good News that if we believe in Jesus, when we die we will be raised to eternal life. So often people fa...