Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

15 Because I was confident of this, I planned to visit you first so that you might benefit twice. 16 I planned to visit you on my way to Macedonia and to come back to you from Macedonia, and then to have you send me on my way to Judea. 17 When I planned this, did I do it lightly? Or do I make my plans in a worldly manner so that in the same breath I say, “Yes, yes” and “No, no”? 18 But as surely as God is faithful, our message to you is not “Yes” and “No.” 19 For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who was preached among you by me and Silas[b] and Timothy, was not “Yes” and “No,” but in him it has always been “Yes.” 20 For no matter how many promises God has made, they are “Yes” in Christ. And so through him the “Amen” is spoken by us to the glory of God. 21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. What Does This Mean? The second letter Paul ...

Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 16 The Collection for God’s People 1 Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. 2 On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 3 Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem. 4 If it seems advisable for me to go also, they will accompany me. What Does This Mean? In this last chapter of 1 Corinthians, Paul turns to practical matters. One of his missions was to collect money from each of the churches that he had planted, in order to help the church in Jerusalem because they were struggling financially. This is where Paul calls to mind the principle of setting aside a certain amount of money in keeping with their income, on a weekly basis. You’ll notice he does not teach a strict “tithe”, as would be ...

Daily Bread 2011 The Resurrection of the Dead 12 But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 If there is no resurrection of the dead, then not even Christ has been raised. 14 And if Christ has not been raised, our preaching is useless and so is your faith. 15 More than that, we are then found to be false witnesses about God, for we have testified about God that he raised Christ from the dead. But he did not raise him if in fact the dead are not raised. 16 For if the dead are not raised, then Christ has not been raised either. 17 And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins. 18 Then those also who have fallen asleep in Christ are lost. 19 If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pitied more than all men. What Does This Mean? Apparently there were some in the church in Paul’s day that were saying Jesus wasn’t really raised from the dead. ...

Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 14 Gifts of Prophecy and Tongues 1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men but to God. Indeed, no one understands him; he utters mysteries with his spirit. 3 But everyone who prophesies speaks to men for their strengthening, encouragement and comfort. 4 He who speaks in a tongue edifies himself, but he who prophesies edifies the church. 5 I would like every one of you to speak in tongues, but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. What Does This Mean? In this last chapter on spiritual gifts, Paul clarifies the use of the gifts of “tongues” and “prophesy”. It seems in the Corinthian church there was a lot of energy around “speaking in tongues”, and it caused some confusion because some had the gift and some didn’t. Because the tong...

Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 13 1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappe...

Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 12 Spiritual Gifts 1 Now about spiritual gifts, brothers, I do not want you to be ignorant. 2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols. 3 Therefore I tell you that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6 There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. What Does This Mean? Paul begins in chapters 12-14, his teaching on spiritual gifts. The Corinthian Church was blessed with many spiritual gifts, like speaking in tongues, miracles and prophesies; but people were starting to rank the gifts in importance based on how supernatural they were. I.e. they were lifting up the extraordinary gifts like speaking in tongues over more ordinary gifts like teachi...

Daily Bread 2011 – 1 Corinthians 11 1 Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ. What Does This Mean? Though a short verse this verse says so much. Some might think is being arrogant to say “follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” At the heart of our calling as a church is to “make disciples that make disciples”. Being a disciple is following the example of Christ of course, and yet God gives us mentors/teachers whose examples are worthy of following. Paul is not by this saying I am Jesus, or have already been made perfect; but I am pressing on to become the disciples that God/Jesus have called me to be. I am in progress. I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling as he says in Ephesians. Paul strives to be a living example to His followers so that they can follow the way he lives and acts and become more like Christ. This is summed up by what he states at the end of chapter 10, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do; do it all for...