Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

1 Corinthians 5 Enduring Word Commentary "I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people— 10 not at all meaning the people of this world who are immoral, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters. In that case you would have to leave this world. 11 But now I am writing to you that you must not associate with anyone who claims to be a brother or sister but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or slanderer, a drunkard or swindler. Do not even eat with such people. 12 What business is it of mine to judge those outside the church? Are you not to judge those inside? 13 God will judge those outside. “Expel the wicked person from among you.” 1 Corinthians 5:9-13 Apparently sexual scandal in the church is nothing new in the church. Chapter 5 starts out an issue in which a man is sleeping with his father's wife. This would indicate that the woman was his stepmother. The fact that the verse (v.1) says " sleeping ", shows it is an ongoing relati...

1 Corinthians 4 - NIV Paul’s Appeal and Warning 14 I am writing this not to shame you but to warn you as my dear children. 15 Even if you had ten thousand guardians in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. 16 Therefore I urge you to imitate me. 17 For this reason I have sent to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church. Paul has a very sarcastic tone throughout chapter 4. He is confronting the pride in the Corinthian church as they regarded their leaders like Apollos, as better than for instance Paul or Peter.  By following Apollos they acted as if it made them more special. They also did not respect the fact that Peter and Paul were apostles, which gave them apostolic authority. Paul says,   Now, brothers and sisters, I have applied these things to myself and Apollos for your benef...

1 Corinthians 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 3 Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. 2 I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3 You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere humans? 4 For when one says, “I follow Paul,” and another, “I follow Apollos,” are you not mere human beings?  This passage is great help for us, as we think about Christian discipleship, and what it means to become spiritually mature in Christ. Two of most consistent metaphors when it comes to becoming a mature Christian is the one Paul is using here. I.e. A baby growing up to move from being given milk to being fed with meat. He also uses an agricultural one. I.e. A seed growing to bearing fruit. Biblical stories include: "Parable of the Mustard Seed" (Mark 4), ...

1 Corinthians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 2 And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. 2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. 3 I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. 4 My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, 5 so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power. This is a very important passage because Paul dispels any notion that the effectiveness of his preaching ia anything else but the Holy Spirit working through him. Athens in Greece was the intellectual captital of the world at that time. The orators and philosphers gathered on a weekly basis to talk about spiritual and philosophical matters.  But Paul kept his message simple. He gave his testimony about God, which was based on the facts. Pau...

1 Corinthians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Overview of Paul's 1st Letter to the Corinthians Paul wrote this letter to the Corinthians about 55 A.D., 32 years after Jesus' death and resurrection. Corinth was an "isthmus", which means an island with five sides. It was a cultural center for many activities.  In the mid-1st century, Corinth was a booming, cosmopolitan metropolis. As the capital of the Roman province of Achaia, it was a major wealthy hub of commerce and diverse cultures. However, the city was also notorious for rampant materialism, hedonism, and pagan worship. - Got Questions.org       3 . There was much division in the Corinthians church over different issues most significant they began to choose one leader over against the over. I.e. Paul, Apollos, or Peter.        4. Paul also addresses many other specific questions the Corinthians had like: marriage, single, food offered to idols, and what true love really looks like.  ...

Romans 16 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 16 I commend to you our sister Phoebe, a deacon[a][b] of the church in Cenchreae. 2 I ask you to receive her in the Lord in a way worthy of his people and to give her any help she may need from you, for she has been the benefactor of many people, including me.  3 Greet Priscilla[c] and Aquila, my co-workers in Christ Jesus. 4 They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them.  5 Greet also the church that meets at their house.  Greet my dear friend Epenetus, who was the first convert to Christ in the province of Asia.  6 Greet Mary, who worked very hard for you.  7 Greet Andronicus and Junia, my fellow Jews who have been in prison with me. They are outstanding among[d] the apostles, and they were in Christ before I was.  8 Greet Ampliatus, my dear friend in the Lord.  9 Greet Urbanus, our co-worker in Christ, and my dear friend Stachys.  10 Greet Apelles, w...

Romans 15 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 15 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.  5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, 6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As Paul moves toward the end of his letter to the Romans, he gives more guidance on how those in the church should treat each other. There are two directions in our relationship to God. One is vertical. This is our personal relationship with God. Paul taug...

Romans 14 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary 13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister. 14 I am convinced, being fully persuaded in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is unclean in itself. But if anyone regards something as unclean, then for that person it is unclean. 15 If your brother or sister is distressed because of what you eat, you are no longer acting in love. Do not by your eating destroy someone for whom Christ died. 16 Therefore do not let what you know is good be spoken of as evil. 17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, 18 because anyone who serves Christ in this way is pleasing to God and receives human approval. 19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification. 20 Do not destroy the work of God for the sake of food. All food is clean, b...

Romans 13 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Submission to Governing Authorities 13 Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. 3 For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. 4 For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. 5 Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience.  6 This is also why you pay taxes, for the aut...

Romans 12 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary A Living Sacrifice 12 Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. 2 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2 is a life verse for me. In 1987, when I recommitted my life to Christ, these were the verses the Lord gave me as a guide for my life.  When Paul starts with the word, " therefore ", he is transitioning from something he has just taught to it's application for daily living. He is saying, "In light of everything I have just written, this is what it means for your life."   We have to pay attention to the " therefores " because we mustn't be just readers of God's Word but doers of it. (James 1:22-25)\ When we ...

Romans 11 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary All Israel Will Be Saved 25 I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in, 26 and in this way all Israel will be saved. As it is written:  “The deliverer will come from Zion;  he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.  27 And this is my covenant with them  when I take away their sins.”  28 As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies for your sake; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, 29 for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. 30 Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, 31 so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. 32 For God has bound everyone over to disobedience so th...

Romans 10 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart,” that is, the message concerning faith that we proclaim: 9 If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11 As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” 12 For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13 for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13 Paul verses here are of " penultimate importance " for many reasons. In a lot of ways it is a summary of what it means to put your faith in Christ and what that looks like. It is also very important for our evangelism efforts that we get the theology behind these verses, as they a...

Romans 9 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 9 I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— 2 I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. 3 For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, 4 the people of Israel. Theirs is the adoption to sonship; theirs the divine glory, the covenants, the receiving of the law, the temple worship and the promises. 5 Theirs are the patriarchs, and from them is traced the human ancestry of the Messiah, who is God over all, forever praised! Amen. God’s Sovereign Choice 6 It is not as though God’s word had failed. For not all who are descended from Israel are Israel. 7 Nor because they are his descendants are they all Abraham’s children. On the contrary, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” 8 In other words, it is not the children by physical descent who are God’s children, but it is the children of the promise ...

Romans 8 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Present Suffering and Future Glory 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. 19 For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. 20 For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God. 22 We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. 23 Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. ...

Romans 7 - NIV Enduring Word Commnetary  And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. 18 For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature.[c] For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19 For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. 20 Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.21 So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 22 For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; 23 but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. 24 What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? 25 Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! Paul has been ...

Romans 6 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. 5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with,[a] that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin. In chapter 6, Paul moves from teaching how we are justified by faith in Christ and have received his righteousness, which we could never achieve on our own. Put in another way...

Romans 5 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Peace and Hope 5 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God." There is so much "meat" in all of these verses of Romans 5, it hard to summarize. So I will to focus on just these first two verses. Anytime Paul uses the term " therefore" , he is saying, " In light of all I have just taught here are the practical applications to life ". Paul reviews the important concept he taught that we are justified by faith and not by works, which he spent all of chapter 4 explaining. Importantly as a result of being justified by faith, " we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. " We often experience a lack of peace, better known as anxiety, when the circumstances of our lives turn for the worse. A similar word f...