Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Timothy 3 Qualifications for Overseers and Deacons 3 Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. 2 Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3 not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4 He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full[a] respect. 5 (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?) 6 He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7 He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil’s trap. The word "overseer" is the same word for "bishop' or "presbyter" or "elder". Note it says, " if someone...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Timothy 2 Instructions on Worship 2 I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people— 2 for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3 This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time. 7 And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a true and faithful teacher of the Gentiles. Paul urges Timothy to use all the different kinds of prayer which are available to us as well. Petition is also translated " supplication ", which has the idea of God supplying us with every need. Though God has given us all we need in Christ, ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Timothy 1 1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope, 2 To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. Timothy was a disciple of Paul. Paul had mentored him, shared his life with him, and Paul had appointed him to be a pastor over the church at Ephesus.  Paul could consider Timothy a true son in the faith because he probably led him and his mother to faith in Jesus on Paul’s first missionary journey (Acts 14:8-20 and 16:1). This also expressed Paul’s confidence in Timothy’s integrity and faithfulness to the truth. Timothy Charged to Oppose False Teachers 3 As I urged you when I went into Macedonia, stay there in Ephesus so that you may command certain people not to teach false doctrines any longer 4 or to devote themselves to myths and endless genealogies. Such things promote controversial speculations rather than advancing God’s work—...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Thessalonians 3 Request for Prayer 3 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. 2 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. 4 We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. 5 May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance. As we close out Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians, he requests prayer and also gives them some encouragement. Paul's greatest desire for prayer is always related to the spreading of the gospel. He realizes that for people to come to faith it needs to undergirded in prayer. As they seek to spread the gospel they will meet wicked and evil people the devil will try to use to dissuade, distract, and discourage...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 2 Thessalonians 2 The Man of Lawlessness 2 Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, 2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. 3 Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. 4 He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. One of the misconceptions floating around in the church at Thessalonica was that Jesus had already returned. Paul teaches them that Jesus will not come until there is an unprecedented time of rebellion on earth orchestrated by a person he calls the "man of lawlessness".  Though thi...

1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,  To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  2 Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is Paul's second letter to the Thessalonians. Paul founded this church on his second missionary journey in Acts 17. Silas (also called Silvanus) and Timothy were his trusted companions. It reminds as we said yesterday, "Christianity is not a solo sport". Jesus never sent any out alone and neither should we. Do you have a partner in ministry? Even a simple as leading a small group together is a good example of this.  Thanksgiving and Prayer 3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. As Paul mentioned in the last letter, the c...

  Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Thessalonians 5 The Day of the Lord 5  Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you,   2  for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.   3  While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape . One of the concerns of the believers in Thessalonica was that Jesus was going to return soon. They developed a mentality that they should stay safe and set apart from the world.  Like today a lot of people were trying to predict the exact day or hour Jesus was going to return.  Paul basically says none of us should try to “time Jesus’ return”  He is going to come like a thief in the night.  What this means is we should be ready at any time.  To be ready just means doing the things he told us to do  We all remember as...

Click Here to Listen to or Play 1 Thessalonians 4 Living to Please God 4 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Paul congratulates the Thessalonians that they are living in order to please God. Some people have an Achilles' heal of being a "people pleaser". Paul urges them and us to be a "God pleaser". If we can please God that means we can also displease him. A question we might want to continually ask ourselves, " Is my life pleasing to God ?" Paul tells them to do it more and more. This means that we grow in our ability and commitment to please the Lord.  3 It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that...

3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.  Yesterday we learned how tight Paul's relationship was with the church in Thessalonica. He knew they were hurting, so he sent his trusted confidante Timothy to strengthen and encourage them. Paul points out that as believers we are not immune from trials and tribulations. In fact, he says we are " destined for them ...

Click Here to Listen to or Read 1 Thessalonians 2 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 2:1-3 Paul starts by stating that his ministry among them was sincere and not the work of a charlatan. This was not as much in response to the believers there, but those on the outside who were trying to discredit his ministry. The fact that Paul and his men preached amidst persecution shows the sacrifices they made for the gospel. Most importantly, Paul did not want to tarnish the gospel in any way.  4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used fl...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Thessalonians 1 Today we start Paul's first letter to the church at Thessalonica. Here are some of the unique features of this letter.  “This letter is full of interest because it is certainly among the first of those which have been preserved for us from the pen of Paul. It was the first he wrote to European Christians, and in it the fundamental things of the Christian life are very clearly set forth.” (G. Campbell Morgan) "Paul himself founded the church in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-9). He was only in the city a short time because he was forced out by enemies of the Gospel. Yet the church of the Thessalonians continued alive and active. Though Paul had to suddenly leave this young church, his deep concern for them prompted this letter." - Guzik On Paul’s second missionary journey, he was imprisoned in Philippi and then miraculously freed from jail – only to be kicked out of the city. Then he came to Thessa...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 4 Paul concludes his letter to the Colossians with these final words.  2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.  A better translation to the word "devoted" would "be fervent" or "continue earnestly".  This sort of earnest prayer is important, but does not come easy. Earnestly in prayer speaks of great effort steadily applied. “Heaven’s gate is not to be stormed by one weapon but by many. Spare no arrows, Christian. Watch and see that none of the arms in thy armoury are rusty. Besiege the throne of God with a hundred hands, and look at the promise with a hundred eyes. (Charles Spurgeon) We don't always link prayer to being watchful. But we pray and then watch for what God is doing in and through our prayer. Prayer is not our working but watching God work. Sometimes God may work in ways that we don't expect or understand, but we know he always hears and answers our prayers. The word is als...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 3 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things . Colossians 3:1-2 Paul is speaking metaphorically when he says we have been " raised with Christ" . We sometimes call this " our position in Christ" . Though we live on earth, we are to be " heavenly minded ". This is why Paul says, " Set your minds on things above ." Throughout Paul's letters we see the importance our minds play in our spiritual transformation.  For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:3-4 What does it mean that we have died and our life is now hidden with Christ?    We don’t have to know what’s going on. Your life is hid with Christ in God. ...