Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson

Click Here to Read or Listen to 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 desires the Thessalonians to live in such a way as to please the Lord " more and more" . The fact that he is urging them to please the Lord assumes that we can also displease the Lord. Though God accepts us as we are, and we are seen as perfect through Christ, that doesn't mean we can't live a life that is pleasing to the Lord.  Is your life pleasing to the Lord? How would you know? Are you living according to the commands he has given us and following the example of Jesus. Jesus was completely human like we are and tempted in every way, yet without sin. He honored His Father in all he did and obeyed His will in every...

Click here to read or listen to 1 Thessalonians 3 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. Two times Paul says, " When I could stand it no more" . He is referring to the anxiety he was experiencing thinking about the church in Thessalonica. He knew they were undergoing some suffering, so he was concerned it might affect their faith. Paul deemed that it was...

Click Here to Read or Listen to 1 Thessalonians   Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica 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. 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 flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. 7 Instead, we were like young children among you. Paul reviews his visit to the church in Thessalonica and reminds them of some of the conditions that ac...

  1 Thessalonians 1 Background on the Book of 1 Thessalonians (From Insight for Living, Chuck Swindoll) Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church from the city of Corinth around AD 51, just a few months after having preached in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Upon leaving Thessalonica under duress, Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled to Athens by way of Berea. But after a short time in Athens, Paul felt the need to receive a report from the newborn church in Thessalonica, so he sent Timothy back to serve and minister to the new believers there. Paul wanted to check on the state of the Thessalonians’ faith, for fear that false teachers might have infiltrated their number. However, Timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting Paul to pen 1 Thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers. Everyone would like to have some insight into what their future holds. How much more so when it comes to the end of the whole world? First Thessalonia...

Colossians 4 4 Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.  2 Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful. 3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. 4 Pray that I may proclaim it clearly, as I should. 5 Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. We often mistakenly equate our 20th century view of slavery with slavery in biblical times. Whenever Paul talks about the relationships between a master and slave, he instructs the master to treat their slaves kindly and provide for them. He reminds them that their true Master, Jesus, is in heaven watching them. It is the Lord Jesus Christ they and we serve.  “More than half the people seen on the streets of t...

Click Here to Read or Listen Colossians 3 Living as Those Made Alive in Christ 3 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. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Though we still live in an earthly body and deal with the issues in this world, our position is in and with Christ. We are dead to sin and have been raised to new life in Christ. Therefore, Paul urges us to set our hearts on things above, where Jesus is.  We should also set our minds on things above where Jesus is seated. You might say our new life as a believer is about where we "set" our hearts and minds on. Where is your focus? What do you think about the most? What do you watch on TV, or look at on the internet? What books do you read? What do you do with your ...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 2 2 I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2 My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4 I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5 For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. Paul's heart was always for the whole church. In this case he points out the church at Colossae, who he is writing to, and also the church at Laodicea. You may remember in Revelation, where John says that believers in Laodicea were "lukewarm", and unless they were "hot or cold", Jesus would spit them out of h...

  Click Here to Read or Listen to Colossians 1 Introduction to Paul's letter to the Colossians Paul had never been to Colossae, so this is somewhat of his personal introduction to them. He wrote this letter around the time of 60-61 A.D., which is about 30 years from Jesus' death and resurrection. The purpose of the letter is what we call the doctrine of "Christology", which is the teaching the true nature of Christ.  The Colossians were dealing with false teachers who said Jesus was not really truly God. Jesus being God is the foundation what we believe as Christians. Why?  If Jesus is not God, he would have to die for his own sins, and we would still be accountable for ours. Paul points to the fact that Jesus with God in the beginning and part of the Creation process thus pointing to the fact that He is truly God. We need to keep the doctrine of Christology always before us. Every heresy in the past 2,000 years has had something to do with an incorrect doctrine of wh...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Philippians 4 Closing Appeal for Steadfastness and Unity 4 Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends!  2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, my true companion, help these women since they have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my co-workers, whose names are in the book of life. Paul reaffirms his love for the Philippians and calls them his joy and crown. Paul clearly considers this church as one of the best churches in the 1st century. This is why it is so good for us to memorize some of the verses in this short but prolific letter. He also urges Euodia and Syntyche to be of the same mind. Apparently they had a disagreement. They were both women, which affirms the role women played in the early church. Lydia was the key person who help start the...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Philippians 3 3 Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3 For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4 though I myself have reasons for such confidence. Again Paul tells the Philippians to "rejoice in the Lord" . There's that word "joy" again. Our joy is "in the Lord", or " from the Lord" . Jesus is the true source of joy.  Paul addresses what he calls " mutilators of the flesh ". These were Christians who were requiring male Gentile Christians to be circumcised, because they were not circumcised as a Jewish babies. We also call this "legalism", where after starting with the Gospel, Christians can tend to go back t...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Philippians 2 Imitating Christ’s Humility 2 Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. In this chapter Paul talks about the humility of Christ, and how we should become like-minded. Note our choice to be a humble person is based on the benefits we have already received by being united with Christ. Christ offers us encouragement, comfort, love, fellowship, and unity of our spirit and mind.  It is out of the deep sense of gratitude that Paul asks us to make his joy complete. Note, Paul is made complete by the growth of the Philippian...

Click Here to Read or Listen Book of Philippians - Introduction Paul's letter to the Church at Philippi is probably my favorite book of the bible, save John's gospel. The basic purpose of Paul's letter is to thank the Philippians for their gift that they gave to support the church in Jerusalem. There are many memorable verses in this book, which I will be highlighting as we go along. Paul gives us an insight into what motivates him to be " sold out " for the gospel. 1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,  To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons  2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Usually when I start my sermon out, I start with the greeting Paul uses for his letter to the Philippians, "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." This is a great greeting to give to anyone. Paul states that he is co-writing this letter with Timothy, ...