The Daily Devotional by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:9-10. I wrote to you in my letter not to associate with sexually immoral people — not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. — 1 Corinthians 5:9–10 Paul clears up a massive misunderstanding. The Corinthians assumed he meant, "Cut off contact with sinful people entirely." But that was never God's strategy. We don't reach the world by abandoning it, avoiding it, or hiding from it. Paul's point is far sharper: Christians are not commanded to avoid the world. Christians are commanded to discern the church. Jesus Himself ate with sinners, welcomed sinners, and loved sinners. But Paul warns believers to be cautious around professing Christians who live openly in sin without repentance—those who claim Christ while rejecting His authority. That's where the real threat lies. Unbelievers acting like unbelievers doesn't corrupt the church. Believers acting like unbelievers without shame does. When the church begins to affirm what God condemns, the confusion spreads. The witness weakens. The church slowly becomes the very culture it's called to rescue. That's why Paul says you'd "have to leave the world" to avoid sinners outside the faith. The danger isn't out there. The danger is when what's out there walks into the church, refuses to repent, and finds applause instead of correction. Your mission is in the world—your discernment is in the church. So be wise about who shapes your spiritual life. Move toward unbelievers with compassion and conviction. But be cautious with believers who live in open rebellion while claiming the name of Christ. Discernment isn't harsh—it's holy. It protects your heart. It protects your relationships. And it protects the church you love. DO THIS: Evaluate your closest Christian relationships. Deepen connections with believers who strengthen your walk with Christ, and set boundaries with those who pull you away. ASK THIS: Who influences my spiritual life the most right now? Are they pushing me toward Christ or pulling me toward compromise? Where do I need to practice healthier discernment? PRAY THIS: Father, give me wisdom to love the world like Jesus did while discerning the church like Paul taught. Guard my heart, shape my relationships, and keep me faithful to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Build My Life"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:6-8. Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? Cleanse out the old leaven that you may be a new lump, as you really are unleavened. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Let us therefore celebrate the festival, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. — 1 Corinthians 5:6–8 Paul moves from confronting one man's sin to confronting the entire church's tolerance of it, and he does it with a picture everyone in Corinth understood: leaven. Leaven is quiet. Leaven is small. Leaven works invisibly. Yet once it's mixed in, it spreads through the whole batch of dough. It doesn't matter if it starts in a corner—it ends everywhere. That's Paul's point. Sin never stays personal. It always becomes communal. A private compromise eventually affects public integrity. A hidden lust eventually damages relationships. A tolerated sin eventually shapes a church's culture. Just like leaven, sin spreads beyond the person who commits it. That's exactly why Paul confronted Corinth so strongly in the previous passage. Discipline wasn't only about the man—it was about the whole church, because what one person hides, the whole body eventually breathes. This is why Paul commands them to "cleanse out the old leaven." He's pulling from Passover imagery. Every Jewish family searched their home by candlelight, removing every crumb of leaven so the new batch would remain pure. Even a pinch of the old dough could corrupt everything new. Paul is applying that same spiritual search to the church: Remove the old habits. Remove the excuses. Remove the tolerated sins. Remove the attitudes that spread like rot. If we want a healed church, we must remove what is poisoning both the individual and the body. This is not just about your life. This is about our life together. But Paul ends with a powerful statement: "As you really are unleavened…" In other words, you're already made new. So live like it. Your identity is clean. Your standing is pure. Your church has been washed. So stop kneading in old corruption. Stop letting sin expand. Stop pretending one compromise won't spread to others. Don't be leavened with evil—be unleavened with truth. This is Paul's call to you. This is Paul's call to your church. This is Paul's call to every fellowship that wants to remain spiritually healthy. Remove what spreads death. Keep what spreads life. DO THIS: Do a "Passover sweep" of both your personal life and your church involvement. Remove whatever small thing you've been tolerating before it grows and affects more than you realize. ASK THIS: Where have I underestimated the spread of a small sin? How might my compromise be shaping others around me? What leaven needs to be removed so my life—and my church—can stay healthy? PRAY THIS: Father, show me anything in my life that's quietly spreading and corrupting what You want to renew. Give me courage to remove it and help me strengthen the purity of my church as well. Make me unleavened with sincerity and truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Us Clean Hands"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:3-5. Few passages in Scripture hit as hard as this one. Paul doesn't soften his tone, negotiate with sin, or try to appease the emotions of the Corinthian church. He issues a clear and urgent verdict. For though absent in body, I am present in spirit; and as if present, I have already pronounced judgment on the one who did such a thing. When you are assembled in the name of the Lord Jesus and my spirit is present, with the power of our Lord Jesus, you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord. — 1 Corinthians 5:3–5 Paul knows that this situation isn't just unhealthy—it's spiritually destructive. The sin is so entrenched, and the man so unrepentant, that drastic action is required. This is immediate and urgent spiritual surgery. What does "deliver this man to Satan" actually mean? Paul isn't calling for torture or physical harm. He isn't asking the church to ruin this man's life. He's calling for something far more purposeful: removal from the protection and fellowship of the church so he experiences the full weight of his sin. Inside the church, the man enjoys spiritual covering, truth, prayer, and community. Outside the church, he feels the consequences of his rebellion without the shelter he had taken for granted. "The destruction of the flesh" refers to breaking down his sinful nature—not destroying his soul. Paul's goal is restoration, not ruin. The goal is always redemption: "that his spirit may be saved." Sometimes, the only path to saving a person is allowing them to feel the emptiness and pain of life apart from God. It's the same pattern we see in the prodigal son: consequences awaken repentance and a "coming to his senses." So why don't churches discipline like this anymore? Two reasons: 1. Fear of "church hurt." Pastors are often afraid to confront sin out of fear they'll be labeled harsh, judgmental, or unloving. But avoiding discipline doesn't protect anyone. It leaves people stuck. 2. Cultural understanding of love (compassion). Our culture equates love with affirmation. Many Christians have embraced this belief, assuming that confronting another's sin is unloving and judgmental. But Scripture teaches the opposite. Love tells the truth. Love corrects. Love rescues. In many churches today, the real scandal isn't that sin exists—it's that believers lack the courage to call sin what God has already called it. Removing discipline removes one of God's strongest tools for spiritual rescue. Discipline isn't rejection—it's rescue. God's discipline is not punishment; it's protection. Scripture also tells us: "The Lord disciplines the one he loves." (Hebrews 12:6) Discipline is never God turning His back on you. It's God refusing to let you destroy yourself. Church discipline, when done biblically, cuts in order to heal. It exposes in order to restore. It protects the body and saves the sinner. Don't despise discipline. Don't reject it. Receive it as grace. Because the only thing worse than being disciplined by God is being left alone in your sin. DO THIS: Ask God to reveal one area where you've resisted discipline or correction. Submit it to Him. Invite a trusted believer to help you walk toward healing. ASK THIS: Why do I avoid correction even when I know it protects me? Where have I confused love with affirmation? How can I receive discipline as a blessing instead of a burden? PRAY THIS: Father, thank You for loving me enough to discipline me. Cut away what corrupts me. Remove what destroys me. Give me a humble heart that welcomes Your correction so I can be healed and restored. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Even When It Hurts"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 5:1-2. The sin in Corinth wasn't subtle, hidden, or debatable. It was so scandalous that even the surrounding pagan culture was shocked by it. Paul writes: It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and of a kind that is not tolerated even among pagans, for a man has his father's wife. And you are arrogant! Ought you not rather to mourn? Let him who has done this be removed from among you. — 1 Corinthians 5:1–2 Paul cannot believe what he's hearing. A man in the church is committing sexual sin that even unbelievers reject, and instead of grieving over it, the church is arrogant about its tolerance. This is not just a Corinth problem—it's a problem in today's church as well. Sexual sin is no longer shocking in the culture, but the deeper issue is that it's no longer shocking in the church. Porn has become normalized. Cohabitation is assumed. Adultery is reframed as emotional escape. Lust is dismissed as human nature. Same‑sex behavior is being affirmed rather than confronted by churches that are more focused on appearing compassionate than being holy. We are treating as normal what God calls destructive. This is where Paul's words cut through our excuses. The church is never more vulnerable than when it stops being distinct. And if we lose our distinction, we lose our witness. We cannot rescue a world we're trying to resemble. Believers today must reclaim what Corinth forgot: holiness isn't harsh—holiness is healing. Calling sin what it is doesn't crush people; it frees them. Truth is not the enemy of compassion; truth is what makes compassion meaningful. Love doesn't celebrate what destroys people; love confronts what destroys people so they can be restored. If we stay silent, people stay trapped. If we stay passive, people stay wounded. If we tolerate what God calls sin, we slowly become a church shaped by culture instead of by Scripture. This moment demands courage. Courage to grieve what God grieves. Courage to stand for truth when it's unpopular. Courage to gently persuade others toward the life God blesses. Courage to be different in a world that demands sameness. We cannot change hearts, but we can point to the One who does. We cannot force holiness, but we can model it with conviction and compassion. You don't persuade people by blending in; you persuade them by living what they desperately need. This is why Paul urges the church to mourn rather than shrug, to confront rather than ignore, and to lead rather than imitate. The church must be the place where truth restores—not where sin hides. DO THIS: Ask God to reveal any area of sexual compromise or complacency in your life. Confess it honestly, and commit to helping others walk in truth with humility and courage. ASK THIS: Have I become numb to sexual sin—in myself or in the church? Where have I stayed silent when I should have stood for truth? How can I lovingly help someone move toward holiness? PRAY THIS: Father, open my eyes to anything that mirrors the world instead of Christ. Give me courage to stand for truth—even when it's costly—and compassion to help others walk in it. Make me a voice of clarity and a vessel of restoration. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Refiner"

Fame is loud. Faithfulness is quiet. God only measures one. Summary: What does real leadership look like when you strip away applause, opinions, and platforms? In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul confronts a culture obsessed with evaluation and reminds the church that God isn't looking for celebrities—he's looking for faithful stewards. This chapter calls us to stop chasing approval, stop sitting in the judge's seat, and start living for the only commendation that lasts. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions: When you think about leadership, what metrics tend to matter most to you—and why? Where do you feel the pressure to seek approval instead of obedience? How does Paul's description of leaders as "servants and stewards" challenge modern leadership culture? What's the difference between being successful and being faithful in God's eyes? Why do you think Paul says it's a "small thing" to be judged by others—or even by himself? In what ways do we unintentionally play the judge with people's motives or ministries? How does the phrase "You receive, not achieve" confront pride in your life? Why is it tempting to expect comfort, recognition, or applause in ministry or service? What does fatherly leadership look like in real life—at home, church, or work? If God evaluated your life today, where would faithfulness be clearly visible?  

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:21. Paul ends the chapter with a question that sounds like a loving father sitting down after a long, difficult day: What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness? — 1 Corinthians 4:21 This isn't a threat. It's an invitation. Paul isn't eager to discipline them; he's eager to restore them. His heart is essentially saying, "Don't make this harder than it has to be." And isn't that exactly how so many of us relate to God? We resist. We push back. We defend ourselves. We dig in our heels. Instead of confessing, we explain. Instead of yielding, we argue. And eventually, God has to use the "rod"—that loving, corrective pressure that wakes us up. Not because He's angry, but because He refuses to let us drift into destruction. But Paul is showing us a better path—the path of restoration. Humility invites gentleness. Repentance invites tenderness. A softened heart invites God's nearness. We often assume God is eager to be harsh, but Scripture tells a different story: God would rather restore you than correct you. He would rather embrace you than discipline you. He would rather speak softly than press firmly. Paul's question becomes God's question for you: "How do you want me to come to you?" If you respond with a humble, teachable heart, He comes with love. If you respond with pride and resistance, He comes with correction. Not because He wants to, but because sometimes correction is the only thing that shakes us awake. Don't make God use the rod when He's offering restoration. If you feel conviction today, that is God's kindness. If you feel warned, that is His mercy. If you feel nudged toward obedience, that is His love. Paul pleads with the Corinthians—and God pleads with us—to choose the path that invites gentleness. Choose restoration. DO THIS: Humble yourself before God today. Ask Him, "Is there anything I'm resisting that You're trying to restore?" ASK THIS: What area of my life would cause God to approach me with correction rather than gentleness? Have I misunderstood God's discipline as His anger? What step of repentance could open the door to restoration? PRAY THIS: Father, soften my heart before You. Don't let me push things to the point of the rod. Help me choose humility so I can experience Your restoration instead of Your correction. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come Thou Fount"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:18-20. Some in Corinth were puffed up—loud, confident, full of opinions. They acted as if Paul would never return, and even if he did, they imagined they could stand toe-to-toe with him. Paul answers with calm clarity: Some are arrogant, as though I were not coming to you. But I will come to you soon, if the Lord wills, and I will find out not the talk of these arrogant people but their power. For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power. — 1 Corinthians 4:18–20 Paul is done with the noise. He's not coming to evaluate their words—he's coming to see their lives. Big talk is cheap. Real power isn't. We live in a world drowning in words—content, opinions, debates, arguments, and theological posturing. The Corinthians did too. But Paul reminds them that the kingdom of God doesn't advance through intellect that merely informs or through language that elevates the ego. It advances through power—the kind that transforms. God isn't impressed by vocabulary, clever arguments, or spiritual branding. Those things often feed pride more than faith. What He looks for is the unmistakable evidence of the Spirit—a power that softens hard hearts, produces repentance, crucifies ego, heals broken places, strengthens the weary, and transforms character from the inside out. You can imitate style, tone, or theological vocabulary. But you cannot imitate the power of God flowing through a surrendered life. What we're after isn't the allure of power—it's the ability to see real power when we encounter it. You recognize it in people who spend time with God, who carry peace you can't manufacture, who walk in humility that confronts pride, who speak with quiet authority born from obedience, and who display fruit that only the Spirit can produce. You can sense it. You can't always explain it. But you know: this person walks with God in a way I need. That's what Paul is after. That's what the Corinthians were missing. You don't measure a life by what it says, but by what it carries. Talk says, "Look at me." Power says, "Look at Christ." Talk elevates self. Power reveals the Spirit. Talk feeds ego. Power grows humility. Paul isn't coming to hear speeches. He's coming to see surrender. That's what God desires from us, too. Let your life carry more weight than your words. DO THIS: Take five quiet minutes to ask God, "Where is talk overshadowing true spiritual power in my life?" Let Him highlight one place where surrender needs to deepen. ASK THIS: What talk have I trusted more than transformation? Do people experience Christ's power or just my opinions? Who in my life carries real spiritual power—and what can I learn from them? PRAY THIS: Father, free me from empty talk and spiritual performance. Fill me with Your power—the kind that transforms my character and carries Your presence into the world. Make me a vessel you can use. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Holy Spirit"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:17. Some people talk a good game. Timothy lived one. Paul had a big problem in Corinth—a proud, divided church drifting from the way of Christ. So he doesn't just write another paragraph. He doesn't send a rebuke. He sends a person. That is why I sent you Timothy, my beloved and faithful child in the Lord, to remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach them everywhere in every church. — 1 Corinthians 4:17 Timothy wasn't a random choice. He was the right man, in the right moment, with the right life. History of Timothy: Paul met him in Lystra as a young man known for sincere faith (Acts 16:1–2). He was raised by a godly mother and grandmother (2 Tim. 1:5). Paul invited him into ministry early (Acts 16:1–3). Timothy proved faithful through suffering, travel, pressure, and conflict (Phil. 2:19–22). Paul trusted him so deeply that he sent him to tough churches—Philippi, Thessalonica, Ephesus… and now Corinth (1 Thess. 3:1–2). So why send him? Because Timothy didn't just know Paul's teaching—he knew Paul's ways. He lived the gospel Paul preached. Timothy is who Paul would be if Paul were standing in the room. The Corinthians didn't need more clarity. They needed more example. A humble one. A faithful one. A consistent one. A fellow worth following. We all need examples like Timothy… and we're all called to become examples like Timothy. Not perfect. Just faithful. Steady. Growing. Becoming the kind of person who makes it easier for others to follow Jesus. Be a fellow worth following. And here's the truth: You can be. Not by being impressive. Not by being flawless. But by walking closely with Christ until your life naturally points others toward Him. God can shape you into the kind of person others look to for strength, courage, and clarity. The kind of person who lifts prayer burdens, speaks truth gently, and carries the presence of Christ into every space. You don't need a platform. You don't need a title. You just need a faithful life. Let God form you into a fellow worth following. DO THIS: Choose one area of your life where you want to grow into someone "worth following." Invite God to shape you—and someone you trust to sharpen you. ASK THIS: Why did Paul trust Timothy so deeply? What qualities in Timothy do I need to grow in? Does my life help others follow Christ more clearly? PRAY THIS: Lord, form in me the kind of life others can follow. Make me faithful, steady, humble, and true—like Timothy. Shape me into a fellow worth following. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lead Me to the Cross"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:14-16. No one enjoys being corrected. But deep down, we all know this: Sometimes the most loving thing someone can do is tell us the truth. Paul leans into that reality here. I do not write these things to make you ashamed, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For though you have countless guides in Christ, you do not have many fathers. For I became your father in Christ Jesus through the gospel. I urge you, then, be imitators of me. — 1 Corinthians 4:14–16 The Corinthians may have felt attacked, but Paul wants them to know the truth: he's not shaming them—he's loving them. Correction is restoration. Shame is destruction. Shame pushes you down. Correction pulls you back. Shame says, "You're done." Correction says, "You're drifting—come home." Paul speaks like a spiritual father. Not a critic. Not an enemy. A father. And here's the truth: We all need at least one person who loves us enough to tell us what we don't want to hear. Most of us are surrounded by "guides"—voices, content, encouragement. But guides speak to you. Fathers and mothers speak into you. Guides edify. Fathers rectify. Guides give information. Fathers give formation. Paul corrects because he cares. He warns because he wants to keep them from drifting. He speaks truth because silence would cost them. The people who love you most aren't the ones who flatter you—they're the ones who fight for your future. Paul ends with a courageous invitation: "Be imitators of me." Not because he's perfect, but because he's following Christ and wants them to follow faithfully. Correction isn't meant to crush you. It's meant to realign you. Restore you. Strengthen you. God corrects to restore, not to ruin. DO THIS: Identify one person who consistently tells you the truth. Thank them for loving you enough to correct you. ASK THIS: Why do I resist correction, even when I need it? Who are the true spiritual fathers/mothers in my life? What recent correction do I need to receive instead of resist? PRAY THIS: Father, thank You for loving me through correction. Help me receive truth as restoration, not shame. Surround me with people who speak honestly and help me follow You faithfully. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Gratitude"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:8-13. Paul pulls no punches in this section. He exposes the lie the Corinthians had embraced—the belief that the Christian life should look like success, strength, ease, and even royalty. They wanted to be kings. Paul wanted them to see the cross. Already you have all you want! Already you have become rich! Without us you have become kings! And would that you did reign, so that we might share the rule with you! For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men. We are fools for Christ's sake, but you are wise in Christ. We are weak, but you are strong. You are held in honor, but we in disrepute. To the present hour we hunger and thirst, we are poorly dressed and buffeted and homeless, and we labor, working with our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure; when slandered, we entreat. We have become, and are still, like the scum of the world, the refuse of all things. — 1 Corinthians 4:8–13 Paul uses biting sarcasm — "Already you have become rich! Already you've become kings!"—to expose their inflated view of themselves. They wanted the life of royalty. Paul lived the life of a servant. The gospel doesn't call us to upward mobility but downward humility. This is the heartbeat of Paul's contrast: They wanted honor; Paul embraced humiliation. They wanted ease; Paul accepted hardship. They wanted status; Paul lived as a servant. They wanted the crown; Paul carried the cross. It's the same lie still preached today—mainly by the health-and-wealth movement that elevates comfort, prosperity, and "blessing" as the measure of God's favor. But following Jesus is not about climbing up—it's about kneeling down. Paul shows what real ministry looks like: Hunger Thirst Poor clothing Hard labor Persecution Insults Being viewed as the "scum of the world" Not exactly the resume of upward mobility. And yet—Paul is content. Not because life is easy, but because it looks like Jesus. The way up is always down. This is the paradox of the Christian life: You descend before you rise. You humble yourself before you're exalted. You suffer before you reign. You serve before you lead. The Corinthians wanted to skip straight to the throne. Paul reminds them—and us—that the throne comes only through the cross. Downward humility, not upward mobility. That's the shape of the Christian life. That's the model of our Savior. That's the path to true greatness. DO THIS: Identify one area where you've expected ease, comfort, or recognition. Ask God to help you embrace a servant posture instead. ASK THIS: Where have I believed comfort should be part of the Christian life? Do I secretly want the crown without the cross? How can I practice "downward humility" today in a practical way? PRAY THIS: Lord, protect me from chasing upward mobility. Make me a servant like Your Son—humble, willing, and joyful in obedience. Help me embrace the cross before the crown. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Christ Be Magnified"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:6-7. Pride rarely shows up overnight. It inflates slowly—one comparison at a time. The Corinthians were comparing leaders, comparing gifts, comparing wins, and comparing influence. Every comparison pumped a little more air into the ego. So Paul says: I have applied all these things to myself and Apollos for your benefit, brothers, that you may learn by us not to go beyond what is written, that none of you may be puffed up in favor of one against another. For who sees anything different in you? What do you have that you did not receive? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it? — 1 Corinthians 4:6–7 There it is: "puffed up." Inflated. Air-filled. Hollow confidence built on comparing yourself to someone else. Comparison is spiritual bloat. It makes you look bigger, but it always makes you weaker. Paul doesn't just call it pride—he shows what fuels it: You compare your strengths to someone else's weakness. You compare your wins to someone else's struggles. You compare your gifting to someone else's calling. And suddenly, you're "puffed up in favor of one against another." Comparison always produces two outcomes: inflation or deflation. Neither leads to humility. So Paul places a pin in the ego with one question: "What do you have that you did not receive?" It's one of the most humbling sentences in the chapter. Your gifts? Received. Your opportunities? Received. Your abilities? Received. Your influence? Received. Your successes? Received. When you realize everything is a gift, boasting feels ridiculous. You didn't earn the breath you're breathing. You received it. When you remember everything comes from God, something beautiful happens: The bloating stops. The ego shrinks. The comparisons fade. Gratitude rises. Because you can't be "puffed up" when you know you're living on received grace. Therefore, puffed-up faith pops under pressure. So stay grounded. Stay grateful. Stay aware that everything you have comes from a generous God—not a comparison chart. DO THIS: Identify one area where comparison has inflated or deflated you. Then replace comparison with gratitude by thanking God for what you've received. ASK THIS: Where am I most tempted to compare myself with others? What gift from God have I been treating like something I earned? How would gratitude—not comparison—change my posture today? PRAY THIS: Father, expose the places where I've inflated myself through comparison. Remind me that everything I have is received from You. Make me humble, grounded, and grateful. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Give Me Jesus"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 4:1-5. We all make judgments every day. We should. Wise judgment is part of following Jesus—choosing what's right, resisting what's wrong, and evaluating what's healthy or harmful. But Paul is talking about something very different here: This is how one should regard us, as servants of Christ and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found faithful. But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by you or by any human court. In fact, I do not even judge myself. For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God. — 1 Corinthians 4:1–5 There's a difference between making wise judgments and pronouncing eternal judgment—and the Corinthians confused the two. They weren't just evaluating behavior. They were assigning motives, ranking leaders, critiquing hearts, and acting like they could see what only God sees. Paul says, "Your judgment—and even my own self‑evaluation—is too small to define me." Human judgment is horizontal. God's judgment is eternal. Paul isn't telling believers to stop using discernment. He's telling them to stop pretending they can see what only God sees. You can evaluate actions and doctrine. You should evaluate behavior. But you cannot evaluate a person's motives or eternal standing. That belongs to God alone. Live for God's approval, not human applause. People will misjudge you. You'll even misjudge yourself—thinking you're doing great when you're not, or failing when God says you're being faithful. But none of that settles anything. The final evaluation belongs to God. He will expose motives, reveal what's hidden, and reward faithfulness no one ever saw. And when He speaks, He will get it right. So live for that moment. Live for His verdict. DO THIS: Release one place where you've been overly self‑critical or overly concerned about someone else's opinion. Say: "Lord, I want to be faithful—You handle the final judgment." ASK THIS: Where am I confusing wise judgment with eternal judgment? Whose opinion has too much influence over my confidence? What would change if I lived for God's verdict instead of people's reactions? PRAY THIS: Lord, help me judge wisely but never assume Your role. Teach me to live for Your approval, trust Your timing, and surrender every final judgment to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Only Jesus"

Are you growing or staying stuck? SUMMARY 1 Corinthians 3 is Paul's wake-up call to every believer: put down the bottle and pick up a brick. God's building His church—and He wants you building with Him. Watch the full breakdown now. REFLECTION & SMALL GROUP QUESTIONS 1. Where do you see spiritual immaturity show up most clearly in your own life? 2. In what ways do jealousy or comparison hold you back spiritually? 3. How have you made Christian leaders into "instruments" instead of focusing on God's intent? 4. What unique role do you think God has given you in building His church? 5. Are you contributing to your church or mostly spectating? What needs to change? 6. What "building materials" are you using—gold or straw? What needs to be refined? 7. Where are you tempted to water down truth to fit culture? 8. How does remembering you are the temple of the Holy Spirit change how you live? 9. What recent situation exposed whether you were building unity or division? 10. What is one real step of maturity you can take this week?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:21-23. We all wrestle with insecurity — in relationships, in calling, and in the unknown future. It creeps in quietly and convinces us we're missing something, behind on something, or not enough for something. But Paul gives a truth big enough to shut insecurity down at its roots. So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. — 1 Corinthians 3:21–23 The Corinthians were comparing, competing, and craving affirmation — classic insecurity on display. Paul cuts through it with one reality: you're not missing out. You already belong to Christ, and in Him, you have more than you think. Look again at what Paul says belongs to you: The world — God works within it for your good. Life — every moment comes with a God-given purpose. Death — even your greatest fear has been turned into a doorway to Him. The present — God's presence is here, now. The future — God owns it, secures it, and guides you into it. Paul intentionally stacks these truths to remind believers that insecurity is built on forgetting, while confidence is built on belonging. Security forms with belonging — insecurity forms with forgetting. When you remember who you belong to, insecurity begins to break apart. Fear quiets down. Comparison loses its pull. Anxiety loosens its grip. Because Christ doesn't just hand out spiritual gifts — He gives Himself. And if you have Him, you're not lacking anything. Not now. Not ever. DO THIS: Name one insecurity you battle. Then say aloud: "I am Christ's — and Christ is enough." ASK THIS: What insecurity shapes my decisions more than God's truth? How would I live if I really believed "all things are mine in Christ"? What part of my identity in Christ do I forget most? PRAY THIS: Father, thank You that I belong to Christ. Help me release insecurity and rest in the security You've already given me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Who You Say I Am"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:18-20. We like to think we're pretty wise. We read. We listen. We follow people who sound smart. We post things that feel deep. But Paul says: Be careful, the moment you think you're wise, you might already be a fool. Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." — 1 Corinthians 3:18–20 Paul's point? Human "wisdom" without God isn't just wrong — it's laughable. We act like the world is full of genius thinkers. God looks at our best ideas and raises an eyebrow. We build systems to "fix ourselves." We redefine truth to fit our preferences. We elevate experts who sound impressive but haven't solved a single heart-level problem. And God calls all of it futile. Paul uses sarcasm to land the punch. He's basically saying: "Do you want to see how brilliant humanity is? They crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8) If human wisdom were truly that great, the smartest leaders of the age wouldn't have handed over the Messiah they were supposedly waiting for or crucified him, because that played right into God's plan. That's how "wise" we are. We crucified the only One who could save us. And by crucifying him He saved us. That's Paul's whole point in this section: Human brilliance is no substitute for divine truth. God is so much wiser, so much higher, so far beyond our thought processes that even His "foolishness" (if such a thing existed) would outsmart the brightest minds on earth. This is why Paul says, "If you think you're wise, try again." Not by becoming anti-intellectual, but by trading the world's angle for God's mind. Because the wisdom of this age is just recycled folly with better marketing. And the wisdom of God is the kind that saves, restores, convicts, heals, guides, humbles, and transforms. Humans guess. God knows. Humans posture. God reveals. Humans killed Jesus. God raises Jesus from the dead. That is the difference. And that is why trusting God's wisdom will always be smarter than trusting your own. DO THIS: Write down one place where you've been relying on your own "wisdom." Pray: "God, replace my thinking with Yours." ASK THIS: Where have I trusted cultural wisdom more than God's truth? What "smart" ideas in my life are actually foolish in God's eyes? How does remembering the cross humble my confidence in human wisdom? PRAY THIS: God, Your wisdom exposes my pride. Teach me to think with Your mind, trust Your truth, and reject the false wisdom of this age. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God I Look To You"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:16-17. Most people read this passage and think it's about personal holiness. But Paul isn't talking to you (singular). He's talking to you all — the church. Do you not know that you (plural) are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple. — 1 Corinthians 3:16–17 Paul delivers a sobering truth: The gathered community — not the building — is God's dwelling place. And the greatest threat isn't outside the church. It's inside. Division. Gossip. Pride. Competition. Criticism. These don't just hurt feelings — they damage God's temple. The church is rarely destroyed by the world. It's usually destroyed by believers acting worldly. Every jealous comparison, every harsh word, every split, every whispered complaint, Paul calls it temple vandalism. Because the Spirit dwells among His people, and whatever harms His people harms His dwelling. What God calls sacred, don't tear apart. But the opposite is also true: When you forgive quickly, speak gently, protect unity, and pursue peace — you strengthen what God lives in. Your words either build the temple or chip away at it. Choose to build the church and the community today. DO THIS: Pray for one person in your church you've been frustrated with. Then choose one act of peace-building toward them today. ASK THIS: Have my words weakened the church or strengthened it? Who do I need to forgive or approach with humility? How does seeing the church as God's temple change my posture? PRAY THIS: Father, forgive me for any way I've damaged Your church. Make me a builder, not a destroyer, and give me a heart that protects Your people. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Make Us One"

Government has a role, but it was never meant to redeem hearts, forgive sin, or secure eternity. SUMMARY: Every election cycle promises salvation—but Scripture says otherwise. Government has a role, but it was never meant to redeem hearts, forgive sin, or secure eternity. This teaching calls Christians to engage faithfully in civic life without confusing political power with spiritual hope. REFLECTION & SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: Where do you most feel tempted to place hope in political outcomes rather than Christ? How does Psalm 146:3 challenge modern political thinking among Christians? Why do you think God allows leaders that reveal the limits of human authority? Which biblical leader mentioned (Pilate, Judas, Herod, religious elites) feels most relevant today—and why? How can misplaced trust in government create anxiety, anger, or division? What is the difference between engaging politically and idolizing politics? How should Christians balance Romans 13 with ultimate allegiance to Christ? Where have you personally confused support with salvation? What does faithful civic engagement look like at the local level? How does Christ's authority in Matthew 28:18 reshape how you view elections and leaders?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:12-15. Every day, you're building something — habits, choices, reactions, priorities. You may not see it, but a structure is rising. And Paul says one day, God will test what you built. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. — 1 Corinthians 3:12–15 This is one of the most sobering texts in 1 Corinthians. Paul's not talking about salvation — that foundation is in place. He's talking about what you build on that foundation. And he says plainly: some things survive God's fire, and some things burn. Gold. Silver. Precious stones. Enduring items like these represent costly obedience, sacrificial love, perseverance, faithfulness, and holiness. Wood. Hay. Straw. These represent shortcuts, ego, comfort, laziness, worldliness, and half-hearted faith. And here's the truth most believers never think about: You can spend years building something that won't survive one second of the Refiner's Fire. Not because God is cruel — but because his fire reveals the truth. It reveals what was built for Him… and what was built for you. It exposes our motives, not to shame us, but to strengthen us. And Paul's point is simple: Build what lasts — because everything else will burn. Your energy, your time, your thoughts, your habits — they're either forming something eternal or something disposable. So today, ask yourself: Am I building with gold, or am I settling for straw? The good news? You can modify the materials today. You can start building with materials that last. DO THIS: Identify one "straw" habit today — something easy but empty. Replace it with a "gold" habit — something costly but eternal. ASK THIS: What am I building that won't matter in eternity? What part of my life needs stronger, costlier materials? What would building with "gold" look like this week? PRAY THIS: Father, teach me to build a life that lasts. Burn away what's worthless and strengthen what's eternal in me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Refiner"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:10-11. Everyone's building something— a career, a reputation, a family, a future, a legacy. But Paul reminds us that the foundation matters just as much as the construction. Actually—more. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 3:10–11 Paul is clear: There is only one true foundation—Jesus Christ. Everything else looks strong for a while, until life leans on it. Success, relationships, security, money, comfort, reputation— none of them can hold the weight of a real life. Only Jesus can. But Paul makes a second point we often miss: You don't choose the foundation, but you do choose how you build. Your habits, decisions, reactions, desires, disciplines— all of them are construction materials. They determine whether your life is: Sturdy or unstable. Aligned or crooked. Lasting or temporary. Paul says, "Let each one take care how he builds…" Because not all building is equal. You can build fast—but sloppy. You can build big—but weak. You can build impressively—but not wisely. The foundation is perfect—Christ Himself. But the structure you build on top of Him is being shaped every day. And here's the accurate truth: If your foundation is firm—and you build on it correctly—your life will stand firm. Not because you're strong but because Christ is solid and your building aligns with Him. Storms don't destroy what's built on Jesus with care. Pressure doesn't crack what's anchored in Him. Time doesn't weaken what's formed by His wisdom. So today isn't just about believing in the right foundation. It's about building on it with intention. DO THIS: Write this somewhere you'll see it today: "I'm building on Christ." Then identify one habit that needs to be rebuilt with Him at the center. ASK THIS: What part of your life is being built quickly instead of carefully? Which habits reflect Christ—and which don't? What will building "correctly" look like today? PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are the foundation of my life. Teach me to build with wisdom, humility, and strength that aligns with You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Firm Foundation (He Won't)"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:5-9. We live in a culture obsessed with taking credit. Who built this? Who made that? Who gets the recognition, the spotlight, the applause? Yet Paul cuts through all of it with one simple reminder: What then is Apollos? What is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, as the Lord assigned to each. I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the growth. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth. He who plants and he who waters are one, and each will receive his wages according to his labor. For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. — 1 Corinthians 3:5–9 Paul says the part we don't say out loud: Workers matter, but they're not the ones who make anything grow. Paul planted. Apollos watered. Both worked hard, served faithfully, and played their part. But only God made anything come alive. That's the point Paul wants the Corinthians to swallow: You're not as important as you think — and that's the good news. Because if you made the growth happen, then you must maintain it, sustain it, and defend it. And you cannot handle that. But if God gives the growth, then the pressure comes off your shoulders. You plant. You water. You obey. You show up. You serve faithfully. And God — not your skill, strategy, charisma, or talent — produces the fruit. You plant. You water. God grows. Let that truth unclench the pressure in your chest. Paul isn't minimizing your role. He's clarifying it. You're a servant, not the source. You're a worker in the field, not the one who makes the field fruitful. You're faithful in your assignment, but God alone creates life. And that truth should free you today. You don't have to impress anyone. You don't have to compete with anyone. You don't have to carry outcomes that belong to God. Your job is faithfulness. God's job is growth. And He has never failed at His job. DO THIS: Identify one place you feel pressure to "produce results." Then pray: "Father, I'll plant and water today. But only You can make this grow." ASK THIS: Where are you carrying pressure God never asked you to carry? Are you more focused on the results or your obedience? What "planting" or "watering" do you need to do today? PRAY THIS: Father, free me from the pressure to produce. Help me plant faithfully, water wisely, and trust You with the growth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Do It Again"