Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

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 ...

  Galatians 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 26 So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. In Chapter 3, Paul continues to address the divide between the Jews and Gentiles. He teaches that the promise God made with Abraham could only be obtained through faith. In the famous passage from Genesis 15:6 it says, "Abram believed God and it was credited to him as righteousness."  We often thnk that the Old Testament is all about the law and God's wrath, but it started with a promise to Abraham, which he received by faith. It was only later that the Mosaic Law was introduced which was to set the Israelites apart from the pagan nations.   As part of this c...

Galatians 2 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary  20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!” This is one of the most famous passages in the bible. I would strongly recommend you put it to memory. These two verses sum up what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ. But we might misinterpret it if we don't remember the context of this chaper and the rest of the letter to the Galatians.  There were certain men of reputation who came from Jerusalem, who had infiltrated the church and presented a false gospel that newly converted Gentiles needed to be circumcised. So, when Paul was in Antioch, he had to confront Peter because he used to eat with Gentiles, but when these men came, he stopped. Basically he caved to peer press...

Galatians 1 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Today, we begin Paul's letter to the Galatians. The province of Galatia was in Asia Minor, which is in modern day "Turkey". Here are some other historical details about the book of Galatians. The Book of Galatians, often called the "Magna Carta of Christian Liberty," is a New Testament letter written by the Apostle Paul to a group of churches in the Roman province of Galatia (modern-day Turkey).Written around 48–49 AD, it is likely Paul's earliest surviving letter. The letter serves as a passionate defense of the gospel of salvation by grace alone through faith alone, directly countering false teachers who insisted that Gentile Christians must follow the Mosaic Law to be saved. (Fuller Seminary, Christopher Scott) No Other Gospel 6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidentl...

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...

2 Corinthians 7 Enduring Word Commentary 8 Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it—I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while— 9 yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. 10 Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. 11 See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. 12 So even though I wrote to you, it was neither on account of the one who did the wrong nor on account of the injured party, but rather that before God you could see for yourselves how devoted to us you are. 13 By all this we are encouraged. ...

2 Corinthians 6 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary Warning Against Idolatry 14 Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? 15 What harmony is there between Christ and Belial[b]? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement is there between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will live with them     and walk among them, and I will be their God     and they will be my people.” One of the problems of the Corinthians is that they were still "worldly". Though they were a "new creation in Christ", they were tempted to go back to their old habits from before they accepted Christ. Paul says to them,  "Do not be yoked together with unbelievers." Jesus used the term "yoke" to refer to his "easy yoke" he gave to his followers. The yoke was fixed to the oxen as the...

2 Corinthians 5 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 6 Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad. Paul describes our earthly body as an earthly tent. It is temporary. It provides a place of shelter. Like a regular tent it gets torn and tattered and eventually needs to be replaced. But our heavenly tent, which he also calls our "heavenly home", is our permanent and eternal dwelling place.  Though there are many great things about our earthly home, our heavenly home will be much better. Paul says that we groan now and desire to ...

2 Corinthians 4 - NIV   Enduring Word Commentary Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. Many times when I am going through a tough time or troubling trial, it seems like I am the only one who has ever gone through this. I might be tempted to become dramatic and lose perspective on what is really happening and its severity. While at the time, this suffering is real for me, it is only when I look back am I able to put it into perspective and see it for what it was.This is not to diminish anyone's suffering, but Paul's teaching here helps us to put our light and momentary afflictions into perspective.   David Guzik gives some really helpful commentary on what Paul sa...

2 Corinthians 3 - NIV Enduring Word Commentary 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold. 13 We are not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face to prevent the Israelites from seeing the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were made dull, for to this day the same veil remains when the old covenant is read. It has not been removed, because only in Christ is it taken away. 15 Even to this day when Moses is read, a veil covers their hearts. 16 But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[a] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. Paul spends time here comparing the Old Covenant God made with Moses to the New Covenant He has made in Christ. The Old Covenant was written on stone tablets, as summarized by the Ten Comm...