Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

2 Corinthians 13 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary 5 Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? 6 And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test. 7 Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong—not so that people will see that we have stood the test but so that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. 9 We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is that you may be fully restored. 10 This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down. As Paul concludes his second letter to the Corinthians, he asks them a very important question. He says to them, "Examine yourselves to see if you a...

  2 Corinthians 12 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Paul’s Vision and His Thorn 12 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know—God knows. 3 And I know that this man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, but God knows— 4 was caught up to paradise and heard inexpressible things, things that no one is permitted to tell. 5 I will boast about a man like that, but I will not boast about myself, except about my weaknesses. 6 Even if I should choose to boast, I would not be a fool, because I would be speaking the truth. But I refrain, so no one will think more of me than is warranted by what I do or say, 7 or because of these surpassingly great revelations. Therefore, in order to keep me from becoming conceited, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of...

2 Corinthians 11 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Paul and the False Apostles 11 I hope you will put up with me in a little foolishness. Yes, please put up with me! 2 I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. 3 But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent’s cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 4 For if someone comes to you and preaches a Jesus other than the Jesus we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the Spirit you received, or a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it easily enough. One of the major issues Paul addresses in this letter to the Corinthians was that he was a true apostle . Some "bad apples" slipped into the Corinthian church and were talking behind his back.  They created doubts about Paul's integrity, by saying he didn't keep His word when he said ...

2 Corinthians 10 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary Paul’s Defense of His Ministry 10 By the humility and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am “timid” when face to face with you, but “bold” toward you when away! 2 I beg you that when I come I may not have to be as bold as I expect to be toward some people who think that we live by the standards of this world. 3 For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. 4 The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. 6 And we will be ready to punish every act of disobedience, once your obedience is complete. The context of this passage was that the Corinthians were being swayed by those who were talking behind Paul's back and making disparaging comments about him. They we...

2 Corinthians 9 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Generosity Encouraged 6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. 7 Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 9 As it is written:  “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;  their righteousness endures forever.”  10 Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. 11 You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This is the second chapter in a row, where Paul is admonishing the Corinthians to complet...

2 Corinthians 8 - NIV What Does Equality Look Like? The Best Solution for True Economic Equality Today, Paul teaches the church on the "grace of giving". It is the best chapter on the reason, motivation, and way by which one should give generously to those in need, in response to all God has given us in Christ. It not only has relevance for the church 2,000 years ago but is equally true today.  Churches often have Stewardship Sunday, which usually caps off a month of emphasis on where the church is at financially and what it needs to do the things it wants to do the next year. Stewardship Sunday is when everyone puts their pledge commitments in the offering plates and the church gets an idea of the budget can sustain for the following year.  What some members of the church sometimes don't know is that most churches give outside their four walls to help the needs of the wider church and/or other Christian or charitable organizations. The churches I have pastored have alway...