Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

Ephesians 3 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary "His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord." As I mentioned before, Ephesians focuses more than other New Testament on the Church. Paul describes how a healthy church functions to make known the mystery of Christ. The Church is the vehicle by which God's eternal salvation is made known to the world in the power of the Spirit. Paul's letter to the Ephesians will also say, " The Church is the bride of Christ!"   In today's passage Paul says something that I had not picked up on before. One of the advantages of reading the bible many times is that each time you pick up new things. In this case Paul says, " Through church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms....

Ephesians 2 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms. 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Usually I focus on verses 8 and 9 in Epheisans 2, which are two famous verses in the New Testament. But today I want to look at verses 4 through 6. I especially want to zero in on the three phrases: "made us alive in Christ", "raised us up in Christ", and "seated us with him".  Notice two things right away. Yesterday, the focus was what God had done for us, not what we did for God. The direction is always God coming down from heaven to earth. We see this in the three phrases above. It is God who did all these things " for us ...

Ephesians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Paul's letter to the Ephesians is one of the most important letters in the New Testament. The church in Ephesus was probably the most influential church in the early church due to its location and economic influence in the world. The first three chapters are theological in nature and contain many theologically important truths. The second, three chapters give a foundation of how we practice our faith in the church and in the world. More than any letter Ephesians gives the blueprint for how a healthy church operates.   Historical & Cultural Context (The Gospel Coalition) The Location: Ancient Ephesus was a major, wealthy Roman port city in modern-day Turkey, world-renowned for the Temple of Artemis. The Spiritual Landscape : The city was deeply entrenched in occult practices, magic, and superstitious fear of spiritual powers. Paul specifically emphasizes Christ’s supreme authority over all cosmic forces to reassure these believers...

Galatians 6 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 6 Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ. As Paul closes out his letter to the Galatians, he gives some practical instruction. Since he has just been talking about how to overcome the desires of the flesh by walking in the Spirit, he realizes that there will still be times when people fall into sin in the body of Christ. He describes this person as being "caught in sin".  Another translation uses the word "overtaken"  instead of " caught ". I think understanding this word Paul uses is key to interpreting this verse correctly.  Here's what one commentator says,  Paul’s wording here speaks not of a determined and hardened sinner. Instead, the idea is of someone who has fallen into sin, finding themselves trap...

Galatians 5 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. Paul starts out the chapter by telling the Galatians, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not be burdened by the yoke of slavery ."  But then Paul tells them not to use their newfound freedom to indulge the flesh. This is the opposite of the legalism Paul was describing in the first four chapters, which presented itself through the Jewish rite of circumcision. Though the Galatians were free from the law, they mustn't use their freedom to go back to living in slavery to their sinful desires.  Paul gives a laundry list of behaviors that accompany living in the flesh ...

Galatians 4 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you! We see again Paul's heart for the Galatians. Though Paul was one of the greatest missionaries and evangelists of all time, he had the heart of a pastor. The reason he was so upset the Galatians might return to the Law, after first receiving God's grace, was that he knew it was a " dead end street ". After having tasted the freedom of the gospel, these false teachers were trying to get them to return to the bondage of the Law. It really shocked Paul that they were even thinking this way.  In this chapter he points to the fact that these teachers wanted them to observe special days, months, and seasons.  The false teachers among the Galatians demanded the observance of days and months and seasons and years and other such legalistic matters ...