Daily Bread Pastor Mike Anderson 2026

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 22 Paul addresses the Roman Council and then shares the story of how he was going up to Damascus to persecute Jewish Christians, when Jesus met him on the road to Damascus. This is one of the most famous conversion stories in the history of the bible. A lot of people will call their conversion, "a road to Damascus experience".  We all go down different roads and have different intentions for doing so. But at one time in our lives Jesus invites us down a different road. The one that follows him. He said he was the "Way". He is the way to the Father and the way to eternal life. The early church were called "followers of the Way".  Part of the beauty of Paul's conversion was that he was formerly killing Christians and now was preaching the gospel of Christ to all people. This gave him a lot more validity. Even his own people were persecuting him, because he was now preaching the same message of the kingdom that Jesus d...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 21 On to Jerusalem Paul now goes to Jerusalem, where he will be confronted by his most ardent of foes, the Jewish leaders. As usual, he met with disciples at different locations at various sea ports. At Tyre, the believers warned him not to go to Jerusalem through the Spirit's prompting. At the end of the seven days, they all walked him out of the city to say goodbye. They knelt to pray on the beach men, women, and children.  When he reached Caesarea, they met with Philip, one of the seven deacons appointed by the Church. He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. Once again this fulfills the prophecy in Joel 2:28 that the Holy Spirit would be poured out on all people, even sons and daughters. The idea that women should never teach men would seem to go against the fact that these daughters received the gift of prophecy. After all, the gift of prophecy is speaking forth the Word of God. Would that Word only have been for the women to hear? I...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 20 Through Macedonia and Greece Paul goes to back to strengthen churches in Greece and Philippi taking various men with him. We don't hear much about these men. This shows how many different people were part of the early  church. Importantly, we see the plural pronoun "we" indicating that Luke was with Paul and the others on this trip. It is important because he was reporting firsthand these events. Again, the New Testament is not a bunch of fairy tales but history. Anyone alive during this period could have swiftly diminished the authority and authenticity of the New Testament by proving these events to be false.  These traveling companions of Paul were probably representatives from other churches who had sent money with Paul to Jerusalem. They were also present as ambassadors from the churches Paul has founded among the Gentiles, and were there to vouch for Paul’s good stewardship in regard to the collection destined for Jerusalem. E...

Click Here To Read or Listen to Acts 19 Paul in Ephesus As Paul arrived in Ephesus, he comes to a startling realization when he asked the disciples there, " Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed? ' This question in itself raises a lot of theological eyebrows. But their answer is even more curious. They say, " We have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit! " Wow!  My worst fear as a pastor is that someone who is a part of our congregation would say, " We have not even heard there is a Holy Spirit? " Though sadly many Christians may have heard about the Holy Spirit, they have not been taught who the Holy Spirit is, or how they can be filled with the Holy Spirit. Finally, how can they live in the power of the Holy Spirit every day.  Paul then distinguishes between John's baptism, which was one of water for repentance, and the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Again this has caused quite a bit of confusion in the church. Someone said that the Holy Spi...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 18 In Corinth Paul left Athens and traveled to Corinth, a five-sided island, which is called an "isthmus". Corinth was an affluent area and immorality abounded as sailors stopped at its many ports to explore various vices.  It became known for its sexual immorality.   But since it was home to so many travelers and other merchants, it would become a very strategic place and beachhead for the gospel. Paul met Aquilla and Priscilla, who were Jewish tentmakers. He reasoned in the synagogues and though some opposed him, many came to faith and were baptized including, Crispus the synagogue leader.  This began one of the important friendships of the New Testament – Paul and Aquila and his wife Priscilla. Paul called them his fellow workers who had risked their own necks for my life (Romans 16:3-4) Paul stayed there for a year and a half amidst a great amount of persecution from the Jewish people in Corinth. Importantly, the Lord gave Pau...

Click Here to Read or Listen to Acts 17 In Thessalonica This was an important port city, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) and a three-day walk from Philippi. Modern Thessalonika is still a large, thriving city. - Guzik We see the familiar pattern of Paul going into the local synagogue to teach and preach that Jesus is the Messiah, who suffered, died, and rose from the dead. It is says Paul " reasoned with them from the scriptures ". The role of teachers in the church are to take the scriptures and explain them in a way that makes sense. Paul persuaded and proved to them that Jesus was the Messiah.  The teaching and preaching of scripture is persuasive and always proves to be true. The scripture is flawless and when interpreted rightly never fails to achieve what is intended for, the saving of souls. There were also God-fearing Gentiles, who were drawn to the truth in Jesus Christ.  But as before, others rounded up the mobs to find Paul and Silas and give them trouble. They th...

Click Here To Read or Listen to Acts 16 Timothy Joins Paul and Silas Paul and Silas added Timothy to their missionary team to replace John Mark. Timothy became Paul's protege. He was a like a son to Paul. Timothy's mom was a Jewish believer, but his father was Greek, so Paul asked him to be circumcised. He agreed, which was a pretty big sacrifice for to make. They also delivered the decision to the Gentiles in the other churches that the church in Jerusalem had voted to not make them get circumcised.  Paul’s Vision of the Man of Macedonia While traveling around Asia, Paul receives a vision from a man from Macedonia. The vision is so strong that Paul is prevented from going into one of the provinces. It is says the Spirit of Jesus would not let him go in. The phrase, "the Spirit of Jesus" reminds us that the Holy Spirit proceeds from the Father and the Son. The Father sent the Son to the earth, and the Son sent the Holy Spirit from heaven to be with us forever.  The Ma...