The Daily + Weekly 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 5:3-5. 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"

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"

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 3:18-20. 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"

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 3:1-4. You can know the verses. You can show up every Sunday. You can love the right teachers. And still act spiritually immature. That's the sting of Paul's words here. He doesn't confront their theology—He confronts their behavior. But I, brothers, could not address you as spiritual people, but as people of the flesh, as infants in Christ. I fed you with milk, not solid food, for you were not ready for it. And even now you are not yet ready, for you are still of the flesh. For while there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way? For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not being merely human? — 1 Corinthians 3:1–4 Paul calls them "infants in Christ," but not because they're new believers—because their actions don't match their knowledge. First | Spiritual immaturity always leaks into relationships. The evidence? Things like: Jealousy. Quarreling. Sides. Comparison. People pretending to be grown adults with playground reactions. Paul says their arguments proved they were being driven by the flesh—by insecurity, pride, and ego—not the Spirit. Second | You can be saved and still stay small. Their tribalism wasn't loyalty—it was immaturity wrapped in religious language. "Paul is my teacher." "No, Apollos is my teacher." We still do this today. Church Camps. Christian Labels. Believing Tribes. Spiritual Comparison. But spiritual maturity sounds different. Third | Mature believers stop asking, "Whose side am I on?" and start asking, "Where do I need to grow?" When you are actively growing in Christ, you stop fueling unneeded fights. You stop competing for the sake of competing. You stop needing validation for your position and side. You become the stable one—the person who brings peace into tension. That is what maturity and growth look like. Focus on how to strengthen your faith instead of creating unnecessary division. DO THIS: Think of a conflict you've been pulled toward. Step back today and choose unity over taking a side. ASK THIS: Where do jealousy or comparison show up in your relationships? Do your reactions look fleshly or Spirit-led when tension rises? What does maturity look like for you right now? PRAY THIS: Jesus, grow me into maturity. Silence pride, kill comparison, and help me choose unity wherever I go. 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 2:16. There are moments when you feel underqualified for the life God called you to live. Moments when you stare at a decision, a temptation, or a responsibility and think, "I don't know if I'm built for this." Paul ends Chapter 2 with a declaration that dismantles that fear. "For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ. — 1 Corinthians 2:16 Paul draws on Isaiah 40—a passage that highlights the gap between God's wisdom and ours. The implied answer is obvious: "No one understands God enough to coach Him." But then Paul says something shocking: "But we have the mind of Christ." Not just better thinking. Not self-improvement. Not upgraded intuition. A new mind — reshaped by His Spirit. This is why spiritual truth makes sense to you now. This is why conviction hits differently. This is why you see sin for what it really is. This is why obedience feels compelling instead of impossible. You're not operating from the old mind anymore. You're living with Christ's way of seeing, valuing, and discerning. You have His mind for whatever you're facing today. Not perfect insight. Not instant answers. But a real, Spirit-shaped capacity to understand truth and walk in it. And here's what that means in real life: When you face decisions, you're not alone. When you feel confused, clarity is coming. When you feel weak, wisdom is available. When you feel pressured by the world, you're not limited to the world's thinking. When temptation rises, you have the mind of the One who conquered every temptation. His mind. His wisdom. His perspective. Present in you — right now. So today, instead of spiraling into overthinking or panic, remind yourself: "I have the mind of Christ. I'm not doing this alone." Let that truth steady your heart as you step into what's ahead. DO THIS: Write one decision or worry on your phone today, then pray: "Jesus, give me Your mind for this." Return to it tonight and note anything the Spirit made clearer. ASK THIS: What situation in your life needs Christ's perspective right now? Where do you rely on your old patterns of thinking instead of the Spirit? How would your day change if you truly believed you have His mind? PRAY THIS: Jesus, thank You for giving me Your mind. Shape my thoughts, steady my emotions, and guide my decisions today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Be Thou My Vision"

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 2:15. Ever notice how following Jesus changes the way you see everything? Not overnight… but steadily. Quietly. Deeply. You start noticing things you'd never noticed before. You sense dangers you used to walk right into. You feel conviction where you once felt nothing. You recognize truth in places you once ignored. Paul captures that shift in a single verse: The spiritual person judges all things, but is himself to be judged by no one. — 1 Corinthians 2:15 This isn't about superiority. It's about spiritual awareness—the ability to discern what's really going on under the surface. Paul is saying: If you're walking by the Spirit, you're going to see things others can't evaluate. People who don't have the Spirit can't measure your decisions accurately. They can't fully understand your values. They can't interpret your motives. They can't perceive the spiritual reality behind your choices. To them, your obedience might look extreme. Your boundaries might look unnecessary. Your convictions might seem outdated. Your faithfulness might feel foolish. But it's simply because they're judging from the outside while you're walking with insight from the inside. And that should free you—you don't need applause, validation, or agreement from people who can't see what the Spirit has shown you. You're seeing more than they know—because God is shaping your vision. This also means something else: If the Spirit is helping you discern what's true, then you don't have to second-guess every step. You can walk with quiet confidence. Not arrogance—not "I know better." But a grounded assurance that the Spirit's wisdom is guiding you. What used to confuse you now has clarity. What used to tempt you now has weight. What used to distract you now looks empty. That's not pride. That's growth. DO THIS: Identify one decision you've hesitated on because you're worried about what others will think. Ask the Spirit for clarity—then act on what He shows you. ASK THIS: Where do you fear being misunderstood for obeying God? What area of your life requires Spirit-led discernment right now? How have you seen your spiritual "vision" grow in the past year? PRAY THIS: Spirit, thank You for opening my eyes. Give me compassion for those who can't yet see what You've shown me. Use my life as a gentle witness today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)"

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 2:14. You've probably felt this before—trying to share something God is doing in your life, only to be met with a blank stare. Maybe they look confused. Maybe uninterested. Maybe they just don't feel what you feel. Paul explains exactly why that happens. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. — 1 Corinthians 2:14 This verse is both clarifying and comforting. Clarifying because it explains the disconnect. Comforting because it reminds you the issue isn't you. Paul's point is simple: spiritual truth requires spiritual sight. Without the Spirit, the gospel sounds odd… Grace feels unnecessary… Obedience looks restrictive… Conviction feels offensive… And spiritual wisdom seems foolish. It's not that people are too smart for God. It's that without His Spirit, they simply can't see what you see. You can't expect natural eyes to recognize supernatural truth. And here's the part we often forget: The fact that you "get it" is evidence that God opened your eyes. You didn't figure out the gospel — the Spirit revealed it. You didn't create a hunger for truth — the Spirit stirred it. You didn't suddenly value holiness — the Spirit changed your heart. What feels obvious to you now was once impossible for you to understand. So instead of frustration with those who don't get it, let this verse shape you toward compassion. Toward patience. Toward prayer. Toward hope. God opened your eyes. And He can open theirs. And this truth also builds confidence in your own walk: You're not crazy for believing what you believe. You're awakened. Spiritual things make sense because the Spirit is at work in you. You see what you never used to see. You value what you never used to value. You understand what you never used to understand. That's not foolishness. That's transformation. DO THIS: Think of one person who doesn't "get" your faith. Pray, "Spirit, open their eyes the way You opened mine." Then show them patience today. ASK THIS: Who in your life doesn't understand spiritual things — and needs patience instead of pressure from you? What spiritual truth used to seem foolish before God opened your eyes? How does this verse grow compassion in you? PRAY THIS: Spirit, thank You for opening my eyes. Give me compassion for those who can't yet see what You've shown me. Use my life as a gentle witness today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone)"

SUMMARY: Everything feels unstable right now—and it's not just political. When authority is contested, truth is negotiable, and order fractures, fear fills the gap. This video exposes why human systems can't carry the weight of our peace—and why the church must return to bold submission to the unchanging authority of God's Word (Psalm 119:89). REFLECTION & SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. What makes instability feel more personal than political? 2. Why does contested authority produce fear—even for people who avoid politics? 3. Where do you most often look for peace when the world feels chaotic? 4. Why can't human systems carry the weight of ultimate hope? 5. How does Psalm 119:89 challenge our assumptions about truth and authority? 6. What happens to a nation when moral law becomes selective or negotiable? 7. In what ways has the church confused silence with faithfulness? 8. Why does avoiding conflict often lead to greater confusion? 9. What does it look like to stop outsourcing moral leadership? 10. Where is God calling you to live, speak, or stand more clearly right now?

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 2:13. There's a kind of truth you can pick up in a classroom, and then there's the kind you can only receive from the Spirit Himself. Paul makes that distinction in one verse that's easy to skim past but huge in meaning. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. — 1 Corinthians 2:13 Paul is saying something simple and weighty: You can't learn spiritual truth without the Spirit who teaches it. Human wisdom can teach: strategies skills principles common sense logic reasoning But it can't teach spiritual reality. You can study Scripture academically and miss its power. You can memorize a verse and miss its voice. You can hear a sermon and miss the Spirit who's speaking. Why? Because what Paul taught wasn't merely information — it was revelation. It wasn't human insight dressed up in religious language. It was truth carried by the Spirit to people awakened by the Spirit. And that changes everything for you today: If the Spirit lives in you, you can understand what the Spirit wrote for you. This is why some verses suddenly come alive. Why conviction hits at the perfect moment. Why Scripture feels personal at times. Why you can sense when something is true—even before you can fully explain why. It's not vibes. It's not intuition. It's not "being deep." It's the Spirit doing what Jesus promised — leading you into truth. So the next time you open the Bible and something clicks. Or you hear teaching that hits differently. Or you sense clarity you didn't have a moment ago. Remember this: That's not you being smart. That's the Spirit being faithful. DO THIS: Before reading Scripture today, pray one sentence: "Spirit, teach me what I can't learn on my own." Then read slowly and notice what stands out. ASK THIS: Have you been trying to understand spiritual truth with human effort alone? What Scripture has the Spirit been highlighting in your life lately? How might your Bible reading change if you expected the Spirit to teach you? PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, You are the One who teaches truth. Open my mind, soften my heart, and help me understand what You've written for me today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Spirit of the Living God"

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 2:10-12. Many believers think they're supposed to have everything figured out. Like they should instantly know God's will, instantly understand Scripture, or instantly sense the "right" next step. But Paul is incredibly honest here: You can't figure out God on your own. And you're not expected to. These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person's thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. — 1 Corinthians 2:10–12 Here's what Paul is saying in everyday language: You don't have to guess your way through life because He's leading you. The Spirit understands the depths of God. The Spirit lives in you. And the Spirit reveals what you would never discover on your own. You're not trying to "crack the code" of God's will. You're doing life with the One who knows God's thoughts perfectly. That means… You're not abandoned. You're not stumbling in spiritual darkness. You're learning, listening, and being led. Sometimes it's conviction that won't let go. Sometimes it's clarity that cuts through confusion. Sometimes it's peace that makes no sense on paper. Sometimes it's Scripture lighting up right when you need it most. None of that is random. None of that is coincidence. None of that is guesswork. When the Spirit is leading, you don't have to guess—only follow. You may not always feel Him leading. But you'll always see the fruit of His leadership as you walk with Him. This is the quiet confidence Paul wants for you: Not certainty in yourself. But certainty in the One who guides you. DO THIS: Before your next decision—big or small—pause and pray: "Spirit, lead my thoughts right now." Watch the clarity or peace that follows. ASK THIS: Where do you tend to make decisions without inviting the Spirit in? What's one situation where you need His leadership today? How has God led you recently in ways you didn't notice at the time? PRAY THIS: Holy Spirit, thank You for leading me. Quiet the noise around me and help me hear Your voice today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Spirit Lead Me"

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 2:6-9. One of the hardest parts of following God isn't obedience. And it isn't sacrifice. It's the waiting in the dark—the moments when you can't see what God is doing, and it feels like nothing's happening. Paul speaks right into that tension. Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written, "What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him." — 1 Corinthians 2:6–9 Paul is pulling back the curtain a little: God wasn't just working in Jesus' crucifixion—He was working in a way no one could see, no one could predict, and no one could imagine. That's what makes this passage so powerful: God often does His greatest work in ways you can't see. While the rulers mocked Jesus… While the crowds jeered… While Rome felt victorious… God was quietly overturning death, sin, hell, and history. That's what Paul means by "hidden wisdom." God was doing more in that moment than anyone realized. And the same is true in your story. You might feel stuck. You might feel overlooked. You might feel like nothing is changing. You might feel like your prayers are bouncing off the ceiling. But God's wisdom doesn't operate on your visibility. His plan isn't powered by your ability to track it. He is working in places you can't yet see. When you can't see what God is doing, you can still trust what God is preparing. And what He's preparing is bigger, deeper, and more intentional than anything you could design. He's not late. He's not absent. He's not inactive. He's simply working in ways you can't see yet. DO THIS: Take two minutes today with your hands open—literally. Say, "God, I trust You even when I can't see what You're doing." Let the posture preach to your heart. ASK THIS: Where does it feel like God is doing "nothing" right now? How has God surprised you with unseen work in the past? What would trusting God's hidden wisdom look like today? PRAY THIS: Father, when I can't see what You're doing, steady my heart. Help me trust Your hidden wisdom and rest in what You're preparing. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Way Maker"

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 2:1-5. Ever feel like you're not impressive enough for God to use? Like your words aren't sharp enough… Your story isn't dramatic enough… Your personality isn't bold enough. Paul's right there with you. In fact, he leaned into it. And I, when I came to you, brothers, did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling, and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God. — 1 Corinthians 2:1–5 Paul didn't show up in Corinth polished. He showed up shaking. No stage presence. No masterful rhetoric. No powerful delivery. He chose unimpressive on purpose. Why? Because he wanted the Corinthians to see what happens when God takes something small, simple, ordinary—and turns it into something impossible to ignore. That's what God does: He takes the unimpressive and fills it with undeniable power. Paul stripped his message down to the center point of history: Jesus Christ and Him crucified. No clever tactics. No persuasive flair. Just the gospel in plain sight. And the Spirit lit it on fire. This is the part we forget: The power was never in Paul's performance. It was in Paul's dependence. Your weakness isn't the barrier—it's the invitation. When you step forward trembling, God steps forward strong. When you open your mouth with nothing fancy to say, the Spirit supplies the power. When you choose to be faithful instead of impressive, God makes your life impossible to ignore. Unimpressive people. Filled with an unstoppable God. That's how God has been changing the world since the beginning. DO THIS: Keep Jesus at the center of one conversation today. Don't try to sound impressive—aim to be faithful, clear, and surrendered. ASK THIS: Where do you feel pressure to "perform" spiritually? What does it look like for you to embrace weakness instead of hide it? How might God want to show His power through your simplicity? PRAY THIS: Jesus, take every unimpressive part of me and fill it with Your strength. Make my words and my life impossible to ignore because Your Spirit is at work through me. 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 1:30-31. There's a quiet pressure most people feel — the pressure to be enough. Strong enough. Wise enough. Disciplined enough. Spiritual enough. Successful enough. And when we're not? We hide it. Or we hustle to make up for it. Paul ends this opening chapter with a truth that cuts through all that pressure: And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord." — 1 Corinthians 1:30–31 Everything you're trying to be on your own? Christ already is for you. You don't become wise by trying harder — Christ is your wisdom. You don't become righteous by earning it — Christ is your righteousness. You don't become holy by sheer effort — Christ is your sanctification. You don't redeem your past with better days ahead — Christ is your redemption. He is everything you're not. And everything you can't be without Him. And Paul says this so you'll stop doing the one thing that ruins your joy: Stop boasting in yourself. Start boasting in Him. Because the gospel flips the script: Your weaknesses are not liabilities — they're invitations. Your limitations are not failures — they're reminders. Your shortcomings are not final — they're places Jesus fills. This whole chapter has been Paul saying, "Look at how God works… and look at how God chooses… and look at who God saves…" And now he says, "Look at why." So no one can boast. And no one can say, "Look what I did." It's all Christ. It's always been Christ. It will always be Christ. Christ is everything you're not —and everything you need. DO THIS: Take five minutes today and thank Jesus out loud for being each of these in your life: your wisdom your righteousness your sanctification your redemption Name them slowly. Let gratitude reset your heart. ASK THIS: Which of these four truths do you most need to rest in today? Where are you still trying to "boast" in your own strength? What changes when you truly see Christ as your righteousness? PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are everything I can't be without You. Be my wisdom, my righteousness, my sanctification, and my redemption today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Yet Not I But Through Christ in Me"

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 1:26-29. Some of the most defining moments in life aren't victories. They're the moments you were overlooked. Not chosen. Not impressive enough. Not the one anyone expected to matter. Paul actually wants you to remember those moments — because they're the key to seeing how God works. For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. — 1 Corinthians 1:26–29 God doesn't choose people the way the world does. He's not scanning for the polished, the pedigreed, or the popular. He looks for the humble. The ones without a platform. The ones without the résumé. The ones the world doesn't even see. Why? Because God loves turning the unpicked into the proven. God picks the ones nobody picks to prove what only He can do. That's the gospel pattern: The weak shame the strong. The foolish confront the wise. The overlooked carry the truth. The small things become his strategy. You weren't chosen because you were qualified. You were chosen because Christ was qualified. And in Christ, your story becomes his showcase. Your weakness becomes his window. Your life becomes his evidence. So don't resent the places where you feel overlooked. Those are often the very places where God grips your life the tightest and displays his strength the loudest. DO THIS: Write down one weakness you usually hide — then ask God to use that exact weakness as a platform for His strength today. ASK THIS: Where do you feel overlooked — and how might God use that? What weakness in your life might actually be a doorway for God's power? Are you comparing yourself to others instead of trusting God's calling? PRAY THIS: Jesus, thank You for choosing what the world overlooks. Turn my weakness into a platform for Your strength. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Grace to Grace"

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 1:22-25. Some people miss God's answer because it doesn't look like the answer they wanted. The Jews wanted signs — power on full display. The Greeks wanted wisdom — arguments polished like marble. Everyone wanted something impressive. But God didn't send a performer or a philosopher. He sent a crucified Savior. Not what they asked for… but God gave something better. For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and folly to Gentiles, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. — 1 Corinthians 1:22–25 The cross offended the Jews because it looked too weak. It confused the Greeks because it sounded too foolish. But God wasn't trying to meet their expectations. He was trying to save their souls. What the world thought was weak was actually the strongest thing God ever did. What the world thought was nonsense was actually the smartest plan ever made. And that's the point Paul is driving home: When people demand what they want, God often gives what they need. And what He gives is always better. You don't always get the miracle you ask for. You don't always get the explanation you crave. You don't always get the clarity you think would settle your heart. But God is not short-changing you. God gave something better — and He still does. He gives a Savior who breaks sin, not just symptoms. A cross that delivers, not just dazzles. A gospel that transforms, not just entertains. What people expected would've helped for a moment. What God provided changes eternity. DO THIS: Say this today: "Christ is the power and wisdom I need." ASK THIS: Where have you wanted God to work your way instead of His way? What expectations of God do you need to surrender today? When has God given you something better than what you asked for? PRAY THIS: Jesus, You are the wisdom and power of God. Help me trust Your plan even when it doesn't match my expectations. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Jesus Paid It All"

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 1:18-21. Some things only make sense after they save your life. Before that? They sound like nonsense. That's how Paul describes the cross. To one group, the message of Jesus crucified is the power of God. To another, it's foolishness — a ridiculous idea wrapped in impossible claims. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart." Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe. — 1 Corinthians 1:18–21 Paul is drawing out a tension we still feel today: The cross sounds like nonsense… until it saves you. The world hears weakness. You hear rescue. The world sees defeat. You see freedom. The world mocks the message. You're living proof of its power. And that's the point Paul is making: God didn't design salvation to impress the world. He designed it to expose the emptiness of human wisdom and highlight the strength of divine grace. Sometimes following Jesus is going to feel like stepping into "a sense of nonsense." Not because the cross is foolish — but because the world around you is blind to its beauty. So don't be surprised when obedience looks odd. When forgiveness feels unreasonable. When holiness makes you stand out. When trust seems unexplainable. When truth gets labeled as narrow or outdated. You're not walking in nonsense. You're walking in God's wisdom, even if the world can't see it yet. What looks like nonsense to the world is the very thing God uses to save it. So stay steady. Stay centered. And let the message of the cross shape your courage today. DO THIS: Say this today: "The cross is God's power at work in me." Let this declaration reset your confidence when doubt creeps in. ASK THIS: Where do you feel pressured to make your faith look more "reasonable" to the world? How has God used the message of the cross to rewrite your life? What part of following Jesus feels most like "nonsense" to outsiders? PRAY THIS: Jesus, give me the courage to trust the power of Your cross even when it looks foolish to others. Help me walk in Your wisdom with boldness and joy. 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 1:10-17. The argument started small. They always do. A comparison here. A subtle jab there. Then suddenly the whole church in Corinth was splintering into camps — Paul's camp, Apollos' camp, Peter's camp, even a "we only follow Christ" camp said with a smug twist. Division never screams at first. It whispers. Then it fractures. I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there is quarreling among you, my brothers. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I follow Paul," or "I follow Apollos," or "I follow Cephas," or "I follow Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, so that no one may say that you were baptized in my name. I did baptize also the household of Stephanas. Beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else. For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. — 1 Corinthians 1:10–17 Paul doesn't tiptoe around the problem. He hits the heart of the issue. Because when people start attaching their identity to personalities rather than to Christ, unity dies. And Paul slices through the noise with one sharp question: "Is Christ divided?" Of course not. But when Christ isn't at the center, people start choosing sides. Here's the truth Corinth needed — and we need: When Christ is at the center, we won't take sides. Pastors don't unite the church. Preferences don't unite the church. Personalities don't unite the church. Only Jesus does that. So why are the names of your pastor, your preferences, and your personalities so important to you? But when Christ becomes the main thing again. The sides disappear. Comparison fades. Pride quiets. Unity rises. So let this settle deep today: If Christ stays at the center, division loses its power. And said another way — because we need the reminder — When Christ is truly at the center, we refuse to take sides. DO THIS: Reach out to one believer today — someone outside your usual circle. Send encouragement. Build a bridge where a wall once stood. ASK THIS: Where have preferences quietly replaced Christ as the center? Who do you tend to "follow" more closely than Jesus? Is there a person you need to reconcile with for the sake of unity? PRAY THIS: Jesus, keep me centered on You alone. Quiet my pride, crush my comparisons, and make You the center of everything I follow and everything I love. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Make Room"

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 1:4-9. What do you do when you feel like you're slipping spiritually? When your habits wobble… your prayer life dips… or your confidence takes a hit… and you wonder, "Is God tired of me yet?" Paul answers that fear before the Corinthians even think to ask it. He starts with gratitude. I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge— even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you— so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. — 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 Paul sees their future before he addresses their failures. He knows what's coming in this letter: division, immorality, lawsuits, confusion, and spiritual immaturity. But he doesn't start with their mess. He starts with grace—the grip of His grace that won't let go. God's grace started this. God's grace sustains this. God's grace will finish this. You're enriched. You're gifted. You're sustained. You're kept guiltless. And none of this hangs on your performance. It hangs on God's faithfulness. When you feel shaky… His grip stands steady. When you feel weak… the grip of His grace that won't let go holds you tight. If you belong to Jesus, He's not letting go—ever. DO THIS: Say this out loud today: "God will sustain me to the end." Repeat it until it sinks deeper than your doubt. ASK THIS: Where do you feel spiritually "weak" right now? How does knowing God will sustain you change your confidence today? What gift or grace has God given you that you've forgotten to use? PRAY THIS: Jesus, thank You for holding me with a grace that refuses to let go. Give me strength, confidence, and faith for today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "He Will Hold Me Fast"

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 1:1-3. Have you ever forgotten who you are? Not your name. Your identity. The core of who God says you are. Because life has a way of chipping at that, doesn't it? One comment from someone who doesn't really know you… One failure you can't stop replaying… One season where you feel more worn out than useful… And suddenly you're questioning everything. That's exactly why Paul opens this letter the way he does. He doesn't start with correction. He starts with identity. Paul, called by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus, and our brother Sosthenes, To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints together with all those who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. — 1 Corinthians 1:1–3 Corinth was a moral circus. A city where everything was loud, proud, fast, and compromised. But Paul looks straight at this messy church and says, You're God's people. You're sanctified. You're called saints. Not because they earned it. Not because their behavior proved it. Because Jesus did the work and placed His name on them. And here's the takeaway for you today: Culture doesn't get to name you. Christ already did. You are: Sanctified — set apart by God. Called — chosen for His purposes. Blessed — grace and peace belong to you. Paul says all that before addressing a single issue… because identity always comes before behavior. When you remember who you are, you start living like who you are. DO THIS: Speak your identity out loud today. "I am sanctified in Christ and called by God." Say it before you walk into work… before you see your family… before you face that thing that makes you doubt yourself. ASK THIS: Where have you let the culture tell you who you are instead of Christ? What false label do you need to lay down today? How would your decisions change if you fully lived like a "called saint"? PRAY THIS: Jesus, remind me today who I am in You. Strip away every false label and anchor my heart in Your grace. 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 Judges 21:24-25. And the people of Israel departed from there at that time, every man to his tribe and family, and they went out from there every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes. — Judges 21:24-25 We've reached the final words of the Book of Judges, and they sting with truth: "Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." It's a haunting refrain that sums up an entire generation that forgot God. They had the covenant, the law, and the land—but they abandoned the Lord who gave it all. This wasn't just a national problem—it was a personal one. Each man, each family, each leader turned inward and made his own truth. They didn't reject God outright—they simply replaced Him with self-rule. And that is the ultimate definition of rebellion. We see the same story unfolding today. People still do what is right in their own eyes. We redefine truth, rebuild idols, and rewrite morality—and then dance in the streets celebrating that we have "No King." We glorify rebellion as freedom, and self-rule as enlightenment, forgetting that the absence of God's authority always ends in moral collapse. But the story doesn't have to end this way. Judges ends in darkness—but it points to the dawn. From this chaos would come a King—first Saul, then David, then Solomon, and finally Jesus—the true King who reigns in righteousness. He doesn't just judge the world; He redeems it. So as we close this book, let's not repeat Israel's mistake. Let's remember the Lord—His Word, His ways, His works. Let's be people who live by conviction, not convenience; who follow truth, not trends; who walk by faith, not sight. To everyone who's walked through Judges with us—thank you. You've faced hard truths and found God's mercy in the middle of them. My prayer is that this journey has stirred your faith and strengthened your resolve to follow Him. Take this truth into your homes, churches, workplaces, and nation. Don't live as if there is no King—live as if your King is coming soon. If you've been part of this series, leave your first and last name, city, and state in the comments below. Let's celebrate what God has done and commit together to live differently. ASK THIS: How has the Book of Judges challenged my view of faith and obedience? In what ways have I done what is right in my own eyes? How can I help my family remember the Lord in daily life? What does living under the reign of King Jesus look like for me this week? DO THIS: Take time to reflect on what God taught you through Judges. Write one takeaway you want to carry into the next season of life. Share this series with a friend who needs to rediscover God's truth. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for the lessons of Judges. Help me remember You when the world forgets. Keep me from doing what is right in my own eyes and lead me to walk faithfully in Yours. You are my King, my Judge, and my Redeemer. Amen. PLAY THIS: "King of My Heart."

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 Judges 21:21-23. If the daughters of Shiloh come out to dance in the dances, then come out of the vineyards and snatch each man his wife from the daughters of Shiloh, and go to the land of Benjamin. And when their fathers or their brothers come to complain to us, we will say to them, 'Grant them graciously to us, because we did not take for each man of them his wife in battle, neither did you give them to them, else you would now be guilty.'" And the people of Benjamin did so and took their wives, according to their number, from the dancers whom they carried off. Then they went and returned to their inheritance and rebuilt the towns and lived in them. — Judges 21:21-23 Israel found a way to move on—but not to make it right. They buried the mess instead of confessing it. What started as a battle for justice ends in a festival of deception and abduction. It's a tragic cover-up wrapped in religious ceremony. They thought the problem was solved, but nothing was healed. They won the battle, but lost thousands of brothers. Their sin was buried—but not gone. When we bury sin, it doesn't disappear; it festers. We might hide it beneath success, busyness, or excuses, but buried sin always resurfaces. It's like sweeping dirt under the carpet—sooner or later, someone lifts the rug, and everything hidden spills out. We do this all the time. We ignore the conflict instead of confronting it. We hide our struggles instead of confessing them. We mask pain with performance, hoping time will heal what only repentance can restore. But here's the truth: you can't bury what God wants to heal. Israel needed confession, not cover-up. They needed repentance, not rationalization. And so do we. If you've been burying something—anger, bitterness, guilt, or sin—it's time to uncover it before God. Confession doesn't expose you to shame; it opens you to grace. God can only heal what you bring into the light. So lift the rug. Let God sweep the room clean. Don't live with lumps under your life—bring them to the One who can make all things new. ASK THIS: What sin or issue have I been hiding instead of confessing? Have I mistaken covering up sin for moving on? What "carpets" in my life need to be lifted before God? How can I create space for honesty and healing this week? DO THIS: Ask God to reveal anything you've been burying in your heart. Stop sweeping things under the rug—let grace do the cleaning. PRAY THIS: Lord, I've hidden what You want to heal. Expose my heart with Your light. Help me confess what I've buried and receive Your grace instead of guilt. Don't let me live with sin under the carpet—cleanse me completely. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come to the Altar."

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 Judges 21:16-20. Then the elders of the congregation said, "What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since the women are destroyed out of Benjamin?" And they said, "There must be an inheritance for the survivors of Benjamin, that a tribe not be blotted out from Israel. Yet we cannot give them wives from our daughters." For the people of Israel had sworn, "Cursed be he who gives a wife to Benjamin." So they said, "Behold, there is the yearly feast of the Lord at Shiloh, which is north of Bethel, on the east of the highway that goes up from Bethel to Shechem, and south of Lebonah." And they commanded the people of Benjamin, saying, "Go and lie in ambush in the vineyards and watch. — Judges 21:16-20 Israel is trapped in a cycle of compromise. They made one foolish vow, then another plan to fix the fallout, and now they're crafting another workaround to solve the mess they created. They're solving a spiritual problem with sinful logic. It's a dangerous pattern: one bad decision leads to another. And instead of repenting, Israel rationalizes. They think their cleverness will fix what only God's grace can heal. We've all done this. Maybe it's a bad business decision that we try to cover with another risky one—hoping to fix our losses instead of facing our mistakes. Or maybe it's a spiritual shortcut: compromising truth to keep peace, lying to protect reputation, or bending God's Word to justify our behavior. The deeper we dig, the more we sink. This is the danger of human reasoning apart from divine guidance. When we try to solve sin with sin, we multiply destruction. The Israelites thought they were preserving the nation, but they were only proving how far they'd drifted from God. This passage reminds us why we need a Righteous Judge. Because left to ourselves, we'll always judge wrongly. We justify what God condemns and condemn what God forgives. But there is One who judges rightly—Jesus Christ. He alone can make sense of our chaos and turn our regret into redemption. You can face His judgment now—through repentance and faith—or later—by your own unrighteousness. The choice is yours. Today, if you've been living on your own logic, lay it down. Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. Let His righteousness cover your wrongs and guide your next decision. ASK THIS: Where have I tried to fix a spiritual problem with human reasoning? What's one area where I need to stop rationalizing and start repenting? How can I invite Jesus into my decision-making today? Do I trust His righteousness more than my logic? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've been solving problems without God's guidance. If you've never surrendered your life to Jesus, do it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for trying to fix spiritual problems with sinful logic. Help me to stop leaning on my understanding and start trusting Your wisdom. I surrender to Your righteous judgment and receive the grace You offer through Jesus Christ. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Jesus, Have It All."

After 1960, America didn't just experience cultural drift—it experienced legal formation. SUMMARY: Over the last sixty years, a series of landmark legal decisions quietly reshaped America's moral framework—moving the nation away from historic Christian convictions on life, marriage, sexuality, and authority. These shifts didn't just change laws; they retrained conscience. And if the law has been forming minds, the church can no longer afford to stay silent.

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 Judges 21:13-15. Then the whole congregation sent word to the people of Benjamin who were at the rock of Rimmon and proclaimed peace to them. And Benjamin returned at that time. And they gave them the women whom they had saved alive of the women of Jabesh-gilead, but they were not enough for them. And the people had compassion on Benjamin because the Lord had made a breach in the tribes of Israel. — Judges 21:13-15 Israel finally shows compassion—but it's a compassion built on tolerance, not truth. They pity the Benjamites, the very tribe they destroyed, but their compassion leads to compromise. They offer peace while perpetuating the very rebellion that tore the nation apart. This is tolerant compassion—a mercy that ignores righteousness. It feels good in the moment, but erodes conviction over time. It's a love that refuses to speak the truth, fearing rejection more than rebellion. We see this same pattern today. Our culture preaches compassion without boundaries. We're told to affirm rather than confront, to love without leading, to sympathize without speaking truth. And too often, the Church imitates it. Take one example: modern parenting. Out of love, some parents avoid disciplining their kids, afraid of hurting their feelings or damaging the relationship. They mistake permissiveness for grace. But in doing so, they create confusion instead of character. Compassion without correction always leads to collapse. The same is true in our faith. When we tolerate what God calls sin, we're not showing love—we're abandoning it. True compassion tells the truth even when it costs us something. Real love doesn't lower the standard; it leads others toward it. God's compassion never compromises His holiness, and neither should ours. The most loving thing we can do is to speak truth with grace, extend mercy with conviction, and love others enough to call them toward repentance. Don't settle for tolerant compassion. Be the kind of believer who loves with both courage and clarity. ASK THIS: Have I mistaken tolerance for compassion in my relationships? What's one area where I've avoided truth to keep peace? How can I show compassion without compromising conviction? Who needs to experience both grace and truth from me today? DO THIS: Identify one area where you've tolerated sin instead of confronting it. Pray for courage to speak truth in love this week. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me to love like You—full of grace and truth. Give me compassion that doesn't compromise and courage that doesn't condemn. Let my mercy lead others to Your righteousness. 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 Judges 21:8-12. And they said, "What one is there of the tribes of Israel that did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah?" And behold, no one had come to the camp from Jabesh-gilead, to the assembly. For when the people were mustered, behold, not one of the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead was there. So the congregation sent 12,000 of their bravest men there and commanded them, "Go and strike the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead with the edge of the sword; also the women and the little ones. This is what you shall do: every male and every woman that has lain with a male you shall devote to destruction." And they found among the inhabitants of Jabesh-gilead 400 young virgins who had not known a man by lying with him, and they brought them to the camp at Shiloh, which is in the land of Canaan. — Judges 21:8-12 Israel acts again—but this time, their "solution" becomes another sin. They justify violence against Jabesh-gilead in the name of the Lord. They think they're defending God's honor, but they're only protecting their pride. They're fighting in God's name, but not His way. This is what happens when holy causes lack holy character. When our zeal for righteousness outweighs our humility before God, we end up doing more harm than good. We can fall into the same trap. We correct our kids, our spouse, our coworkers—even fellow believers—with truth, but without grace. We demand compliance, not conviction. Take parenting, for example. We may demand respect but do it with the wrong tone and from the wrong heart. We call it discipline, but sometimes it's really control. We want peace in the home, but we're seeking comfort, not character. We want change, but not through compassion. When we correct without compassion, we create scars instead of growth. The words may be true, but they wound because they weren't spoken from love. The Israelites thought they were defending holiness, but they were only displaying hypocrisy. They were right about God's standards—but wrong about His heart. God doesn't just care about what we do; He cares about how we do it. If truth is our sword, then love must be our handle—or else we cut people we were meant to heal. So check your tone. Examine your heart. The goal isn't compliance—it's Christlike character. Don't fight in God's name without living in His way. ASK THIS: When have I fought for a good cause but in the wrong way? How does my tone reveal my heart in conflict or correction? Where might I be seeking compliance instead of compassion? How can I reflect both truth and love in my leadership or parenting? DO THIS: Ask a loved one how your tone impacts them—then listen with humility. When you feel righteous anger, slow down and seek God's heart before reacting. PRAY THIS: Lord, help me fight for truth without losing Your heart. Teach me to correct with compassion, to lead with humility, and to love like You. When I'm tempted to fight in Your name, remind me to walk in Your way. Amen. PLAY THIS: "God, Turn It Around."

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 Judges 21:4-7. And the next day the people rose early and built there an altar and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. And the people of Israel said, "Which of all the tribes of Israel did not come up in the assembly to the Lord?" For they had taken a great oath concerning him who did not come up to the Lord to Mizpah, saying, "He shall surely be put to death." And the people of Israel had compassion for Benjamin their brother and said, "One tribe is cut off from Israel this day. What shall we do for wives for those who are left, since we have sworn by the Lord that we will not give them any of our daughters for wives?" — Judges 21:4-7 Israel's problem deepens. They made a vow in anger, and now they're bound by it. They're trying to clean up their mess while making it worse. Their words sounded spiritual—"We've sworn by the Lord"—but they were driven by emotion, not discernment. This is what happens when Passion Proceeds Prayer. Their zeal outpaced their wisdom. They acted out of impulse instead of insight, and the result was pain. Passion Proceeds Prayer when we react instead of reflect, when we speak instead of seek, and when we move before we meditate on God's Word. They vowed something God never asked of them, and now they're trapped by their own words. How often do we do the same? We make promises in the heat of emotion—swearing we'll never speak to someone again, or vowing to fix something in our own strength—without first consulting God. We act out of guilt, fear, or pride and call it conviction. Here's the danger: a vow made in haste can become a chain that binds us for years. God calls us to wisdom, not impulse. Proverbs 19:2 reminds us, "Desire without knowledge is not good, and whoever makes haste with his feet misses his way." We rush into commitments—relationships, ministries, purchases, or words—because it feels right in the moment. But faith isn't about feeling; it's about following. God's Spirit leads through patience and prayer, not panic and pride. If you've made promises without wisdom, you don't have to stay trapped by them. Bring them to God. He's not waiting to condemn you—He's ready to redeem your mistakes. The cross of Christ covers not only our sins, but also our rash decisions. Today, slow down. Seek His will. Let your next vow be this: "Lord, I will wait for Your wisdom before I move." ASK THIS: When was the last time I made a decision without praying first? What promises or commitments might God be asking me to revisit? Do I trust God's timing enough to wait for His direction? How can I grow in patience before I act or speak? DO THIS: Take five minutes before every major decision this week to pause and pray for wisdom. Write out one hasty vow or promise you've made and surrender it to God. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for the promises I made without Your wisdom. Teach me to pause, pray, and wait for Your leading. Give me patience that listens and faith that follows Your timing, not my emotion. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Wait On 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 Judges 21:1-3. Now the men of Israel had sworn at Mizpah, "No one of us shall give his daughter in marriage to Benjamin." And the people came to Bethel and sat there till evening before God, and they lifted up their voices and wept bitterly. And they said, "O Lord, the God of Israel, why has this happened in Israel, that today there should be one tribe lacking in Israel?" — Judges 21:1-3 Israel weeps. They mourn the destruction they caused, but their tears are not repentance—they're regret. They're not asking, "What did we do wrong?" but "How did this happen?" The difference may seem small, but it's everything. Regret is sorrow over consequences. Repentance is sorrow over sin. Israel doesn't confess their rebellion or seek God's direction. They simply grieve what they've lost, not what they've done. We do the same thing. We cry over the fallout but ignore the cause. We mourn broken marriages, fractured friendships, or spiritual dryness—but we rarely look inward at the pride, anger, or idolatry that caused it. Here are a few reasons why we avoid dealing with the heart of our sin: Pride. We don't want to admit we were wrong. Shame. We believe our sin defines us. Fear. We're scared of what repentance might cost. Control. We still want to manage the situation instead of surrendering it. Comfort. We prefer the illusion of peace over the pain of change. But regret doesn't bring freedom—repentance does. Regret keeps you chained to the past, while repentance opens the door to grace. The only way out is through confession, humility, and faith in Jesus. So say it with me: I'm done with regret. I'm done living in sorrow that never changes me. I'm done replaying my mistakes while ignoring the Savior who redeems them. Jesus didn't just die for your sin—He died for your shame, your guilt, and every ounce of regret you still carry. If you're tired of replaying the pain and ready to be renewed, it's time to stop asking "why" and start asking "what now, Lord?" In the comments below, share your step toward repentance—your decision to confess, turn from sin, and trust in the grace of Jesus. He's not done with you yet. And if today you're ready to move beyond regret, I want to invite you to take a simple step of faith—type "I'm done with regret" in the comments below as a public declaration. Let that phrase be your line in the sand, your confession that you're turning from sin and coming home to the grace of Jesus, who died for both your sin and your shame. ASK THIS: Am I more upset about the consequences of sin or the sin itself? What has regret kept me from fully surrendering to God? Which of the five reasons above do I relate to most? What would real repentance look like for me today? DO THIS: Write down one area where regret has replaced repentance—and confess it to God. Say it out loud: I'm done with regret. Then walk in that truth today. PRAY THIS: Lord, I've spent too long living in regret instead of repentance. Search my heart, expose my sin, and lead me to the freedom that only comes through Jesus. Today I declare, I'm done with regret. Thank You for dying for both my sin and my shame. I surrender it all to You. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Because He Lives."

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 Judges 20:45-48. And they turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon. Five thousand men of them were cut down in the highways. And they were pursued hard to Gidom, and 2,000 men of them were struck down. So all who fell that day of Benjamin were 25,000 men who drew the sword, all of them men of valor. But 600 men turned and fled toward the wilderness to the rock of Rimmon and remained at the rock of Rimmon four months. And the men of Israel turned back against the people of Benjamin and struck them with the edge of the sword, the city, men and beasts and all that they found. And all the towns that they found they set on fire. — Judges 20:45-48 The last verses of Judges 20 are heartbreaking. Israel wins the battle—but loses its brother. Towns are burned. Families destroyed. A tribe nearly erased. What began as justice ends in devastation. When believers battle believers, no one wins. The body of Christ turns on itself, and the mission suffers. What remains are ashes, regret, and a broken witness to a watching world. This is the cost of church hurt and hypocrisy. When pride replaces grace and division replaces love, we scorch the very ground we were called to cultivate. The fire spreads—from one wound to another—until the family of faith looks no different from the world. But this isn't where God's story ends. Jesus came to heal what sin burned down. Through his cross, he made peace between us and God—and between each other. Where the sword once divided, his blood now unites. The gospel restores what pride destroys. If you've been hurt by the church or by another believer, Jesus invites you to come home. He knows your pain. He was betrayed, abandoned, and denied by those closest to him—and still he forgave. Healing starts when we stop swinging and start surrendering. Lay down your sword. Stop fighting other believers and start following Jesus. He is the only one who can turn ashes into beauty, division into unity, and hurt into healing. ASK THIS: Have I been part of a conflict that hurt another believer? How has church hurt or hypocrisy affected my faith or witness? What relationships need reconciliation in my life today? Have I brought my wounds to Jesus for healing—or just carried them? DO THIS: Reach out to someone you've been divided from and start the conversation toward peace. Pray for those who've hurt you instead of rehearsing the pain. PRAY THIS: Jesus, heal the wounds we've caused and the ones we carry. Forgive us for fighting our brothers and sisters when we should have fought for unity. Restore Your Church, beginning with me. Make me an instrument of peace and healing today. Amen. PLAY THIS: "O Come To The Altar."

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 Judges 20:29-44. So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. And the people of Benjamin said, "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the people of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways." And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba. And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them. And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword. So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle." But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven. Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst. Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east. Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor. — Judges 20:29-44 After fasting and prayer, Israel finally wins. The Lord gives them victory. But something tragic happens—they can't stop fighting. What began as justice turns into vengeance. Their zeal for righteousness becomes a weapon of destruction. In this moment, we see the warning that convictions become cruelty when they're not guided by compassion. They were right to battle sin—but wrong to lose self-control. In their fury, they slaughter not just the guilty but entire towns. Passion without restraint turns purity into pride, and conviction without compassion becomes cruelty. We can do the same thing. We can fight for truth so hard that we forget to love people. We can defend doctrine but destroy relationships. We can win the argument but lose the soul. Zeal for God is beautiful—but when it's unrestrained by the Spirit, it becomes dangerous. Paul himself once persecuted believers in the name of zeal before God transformed his heart (Phil. 3:6). Even righteous causes can become unrighteous if they're not led by humility. Think of it like conflict in your relationships—you might be right, but if you fight to win instead of fighting to love, everyone loses. The goal isn't victory—it's reconciliation. The same is true in faith, leadership, and culture. This story is a warning: God wants warriors who fight with conviction, not cruelty. His people must learn restraint in victory as well as perseverance in defeat. Because sometimes, the hardest test of faith isn't how you handle loss—it's how you handle winning. ASK THIS: When have I let zeal turn into harshness? How can I fight for truth without becoming self-righteous? Do I celebrate victories with humility or pride? How can I show mercy while standing firm in conviction? DO THIS: Ask God to show you one area where conviction has turned into cruelty. Before engaging in a heated issue—pause, pray, and ask: "Am I fighting to prove a point or to reflect Christ?" PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for teaching me that conviction without compassion becomes cruelty. Help me fight with conviction but finish with love. Give me zeal that burns for Your glory, not my pride. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Same God."

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 Judges 20:29-44. So Israel set men in ambush around Gibeah. And the people of Israel went up against the people of Benjamin on the third day and set themselves in array against Gibeah, as at other times. And the people of Benjamin went out against the people and were drawn away from the city. And as at other times they began to strike and kill some of the people in the highways, one of which goes up to Bethel and the other to Gibeah, and in the open country, about thirty men of Israel. And the people of Benjamin said, "They are routed before us, as at the first." But the people of Israel said, "Let us flee and draw them away from the city to the highways." And all the men of Israel rose up out of their place and set themselves in array at Baal-tamar, and the men of Israel who were in ambush rushed out of their place from Maareh-geba. And there came against Gibeah 10,000 chosen men out of all Israel, and the battle was hard, but the Benjaminites did not know that disaster was close upon them. And the Lord defeated Benjamin before Israel, and the people of Israel destroyed 25,100 men of Benjamin that day. All these were men who drew the sword. So the people of Benjamin saw that they were defeated. The men of Israel gave ground to Benjamin, because they trusted the men in ambush whom they had set against Gibeah. Then the men in ambush hurried and rushed against Gibeah; the men in ambush moved out and struck all the city with the edge of the sword. Now the appointed signal between the men of Israel and the men in the main ambush was that when they made a great cloud of smoke rise up out of the city the men of Israel should turn in battle. Now Benjamin had begun to strike and kill about thirty men of Israel. They said, "Surely they are defeated before us, as in the first battle." But when the signal began to rise out of the city in a column of smoke, the Benjaminites looked behind them, and behold, the whole of the city went up in smoke to heaven. Then the men of Israel turned, and the men of Benjamin were dismayed, for they saw that disaster was close upon them. Therefore they turned their backs before the men of Israel in the direction of the wilderness, but the battle overtook them. And those who came out of the cities were destroying them in their midst. Surrounding the Benjaminites, they pursued them and trod them down from Nohah as far as opposite Gibeah on the east. Eighteen thousand men of Benjamin fell, all of them men of valor. — Judges 20:29-44 After fasting and prayer, Israel finally wins. The Lord gives them victory. But something tragic happens—they can't stop fighting. What began as justice turns into vengeance. Their zeal for righteousness becomes a weapon of destruction. In this moment, we see the warning that convictions become cruelty when they're not guided by compassion. They were right to battle sin—but wrong to lose self-control. In their fury, they slaughter not just the guilty but entire towns. Passion without restraint turns purity into pride, and conviction without compassion becomes cruelty. We can do the same thing. We can fight for truth so hard that we forget to love people. We can defend doctrine but destroy relationships. We can win the argument but lose the soul. Zeal for God is beautiful—but when it's unrestrained by the Spirit, it becomes dangerous. Paul himself once persecuted believers in the name of zeal before God transformed his heart (Phil. 3:6). Even righteous causes can become unrighteous if they're not led by humility. Think of it like conflict in your relationships—you might be right, but if you fight to win instead of fighting to love, everyone loses. The goal isn't victory—it's reconciliation. The same is true in faith, leadership, and culture. This story is a warning: God wants warriors who fight with conviction, not cruelty. His people must learn restraint in victory as well as perseverance in defeat. Because sometimes, the hardest test of faith isn't how you handle loss—it's how you handle winning. ASK THIS: When have I let zeal turn into harshness? How can I fight for truth without becoming self-righteous? Do I celebrate victories with humility or pride? How can I show mercy while standing firm in conviction? DO THIS: Ask God to show you one area where conviction has turned into cruelty. Before engaging in a heated issue—pause, pray, and ask: "Am I fighting to prove a point or to reflect Christ?" PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for teaching me that conviction without compassion becomes cruelty. Help me fight with conviction but finish with love. Give me zeal that burns for Your glory, not my pride. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Same God."

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 Judges 20:26-28. Then all the people of Israel, the whole army, went up and came to Bethel and wept. They sat there before the Lord and fasted that day until evening, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord. And the people of Israel inquired of the Lord (for the ark of the covenant of God was there in those days, and Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron, ministered before it in those days), saying, "Shall we go out once more to battle against our brothers, the people of Benjamin, or shall we cease?" And the Lord said, "Go up, for tomorrow I will give them into your hand." — Judges 20:26-28 Something changes here. After two crushing defeats, Israel finally hits bottom. This time they don't just cry—they fast. They don't just speak—they sacrifice. They don't just ask God for permission—they seek presence. This is the turning point of the entire chapter. Their breakdown becomes the moment of breakthrough. They finally humble themselves—not to win a war, but to be right with God. This is where we see the truth that brokenness leads to breakthrough in action—the moment hearts yield, heaven moves. Sometimes we want God to fix our circumstances without fixing our hearts. We want him to change our marriage, our finances, our friendships—but not our pride. We want peace without repentance and victory without surrender. But God's breakthrough always begins with breakdown. He doesn't bless arrogance; He honors humility. When we fast, pray, and repent, we realign our hearts to his will, not ours. Think of it like this: in a struggling marriage, both spouses may pray for change, but until one person decides to lay down pride—to listen, confess, and forgive—nothing changes. The same is true in our faith. God doesn't move through prideful hearts, but through broken ones. If you're longing for breakthrough today, stop fighting for control and start surrendering your heart. God isn't holding back your victory—He's waiting for your surrender. Breakdown leads to breakthrough every time. ASK THIS: What area of my life needs both repentance and renewal? Am I fasting or praying for results, or to be closer to God? Where have I been asking for breakthrough but resisting surrender? What would humility look like in my relationships today? DO THIS: Choose one day this week to fast and pray for humility before God. Write out a prayer of confession, asking God to reveal areas of pride or resistance. PRAY THIS: Lord, thank You for using my breakdowns to draw me closer to You. I surrender my pride, my plans, and my pace. Help me find breakthrough not by pushing harder but by bowing lower. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Broken Vessels (Amazing Grace)."

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 Judges 20:22-25. But the people, the men of Israel, took courage, and again formed the battle line in the same place where they had formed it on the first day. And the people of Israel went up and wept before the Lord until the evening. And they inquired of the Lord, "Shall we again draw near to fight against our brothers, the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Go up against them." So the people of Israel came near against the people of Benjamin the second day. And Benjamin went against them out of Gibeah the second day, and destroyed 18,000 men of the people of Israel. All these were men who drew the sword. — Judges 20:22-25 Israel tries again. They pray and weep. This time it looks more spiritual. But still, there's no real repentance. They ask, "Should we go again?"—not, "Lord, what have we done wrong?" They confuse emotion with surrender. Their tears are real, but their pride is intact. God isn't after their sadness—He's after their submission. The phrase "sorrow isn't surrender" sums up Israel's problem and often ours too—emotion without repentance never changes the outcome. And so they lose again. Another 18,000 die. Why? Because feeling bad isn't the same as turning back. God allows defeat until their hearts are truly humbled. This is how pride disguises itself in our lives. We tell God we're sorry for the consequences but hold on to control. We cry over the damage but won't lay down our will. We promise change but never surrender our way. It's like a marriage that keeps circling the same fights. One spouse says, "I'm sorry you feel that way," but never owns the hurt they caused. The words sound humble, but pride is still running the show. Until someone truly surrenders, healing never starts. Israel's story is our story. We mourn the results of sin—broken homes, fractured churches, divided nations—but we're not broken before God. And until we are, He will let us feel the weight of our own choices. The truth is, sorrow isn't always true surrender. Don't wait for another round of collateral damage to learn surrender. Lay down your pride now. Stop fighting your way and start trusting his. God will not give victory to the proud—but he will lift up the humble. ASK THIS: Am I more grieved by the consequences of sin or the cause of it? Where have I mistaken regret for repentance? How has pride kept me from true surrender in my relationships? What battle am I still fighting that God is waiting for me to release? DO THIS: Admit where pride still controls your responses—especially in your closest relationships. Write down one area you've been "sorry about" but haven't surrendered—and pray over it daily this week. PRAY THIS: Father, I'm tired of circling the same battles. Break the pride that blinds me and teach me to truly surrender. Help me move from tears of regret to the obedience of repentance. I don't want to just feel sorry—I want to be changed. Amen. PLAY THIS: "I Surrender."

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 Judges 20:18-21. The people of Israel arose and went up to Bethel and inquired of God, "Who shall go up first for us to fight against the people of Benjamin?" And the Lord said, "Judah shall go up first." Then the people of Israel rose in the morning and encamped against Gibeah. And the men of Israel went out to fight against Benjamin, and the men of Israel drew up the battle line against them at Gibeah. The people of Benjamin came out of Gibeah and destroyed on that day 22,000 men of the Israelites. — Judges 20:18-21 Israel goes to Bethel. Finally—they pray! But look closely. They don't ask if they should go to war, only who should go first. Their minds are made up. They're not seeking God's direction; they only want God's endorsement. It's a subtle but dangerous difference. They don't want divine wisdom—they want divine approval. They're still fighting the wrong battle in the wrong way. And God allows them to go. He tells them, "Judah shall go up first." It sounds like victory—but it isn't. Israel loses 22,000 men that day. Their zeal was high, their numbers were strong, and their cause was just—but their hearts were wrong. They inquired of God, but they never repented to Him. Believers are guilty of doing this all the time. We ask God to bless our careers, our goals, our posts, our politics—without ever asking if they align with God's will. We quote Scripture but don't surrender to it. We wear God's name but pursue our own plans. Israel's defeat wasn't because God failed—it's because His people fought without surrender. And that's a battle you'll always lose. Maybe your defeats aren't setbacks; maybe they're invitations. God lets us lose when he wants to lead us back to him. He loves us way too much to let us keep winning our way. Before you go to battle, ask: Am I fighting God's enemy—or just my own? ASK THIS: Have I mistaken God's permission for His blessing? When was the last time I surrendered my agenda before seeking God's help? Where am I fighting a battle that God never called me to fight? What would it look like to let humility lead instead of pride? DO THIS: Before you act, pray: "Lord, am I fighting Your battle or mine?" Identify one area where you've asked for God's approval but not His direction. Surrender it today. PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for fighting battles You never called me to fight. Teach me to seek Your direction before demanding Your blessing. Lead me to surrender so that every victory brings You glory—not me. 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 Judges 20:8-17. And all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot, and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel." So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war. — Judges 20:8-17 Israel's outrage turns into organization. They swear an oath not to go home until justice is served. It sounds noble—but it's dangerous. What started as righteous anger now becomes collective vengeance. They are so convinced of their own version of justice that they can't see the injustice they are about to commit. The people unite around punishment, not repentance, blind to the fact that their zeal will make them guilty of the same sin they condemn. There is no Judge in this moment—no voice of God's appointed leadership. The nation acts without discernment, following a rogue man who looks like a spiritual leader but does not live like one. The Levite's story fuels their passion, but not their prayer. They rally around his words, not God's Word. The unity here is impressive but deceptive. They're "as one man," but not under God. They're driven by zeal and confuse justice with revenge. And Benjamin, the brother tribe, refuses to hand over the guilty men of Gibeah. Pride meets pride. The result? Civil war. Israel will soon destroy its own family in the name of righteousness. This is what happens when justice acts apart from God's Word and direction. We seek to destroy the guilty instead of restoring them. The line between moral conviction and moral arrogance gets blurry. We see this same division today. Churches split over politics, believers cancel one another online, and movements built on truth end up powered by hate. Somewhere along the way, we stopped asking, "How do we honor God?" and started devising, "How do we win?" Justice without God's truth and direction always ends in destruction. Because without grace, even the right cause becomes the wrong crusade. Jesus showed us the better way: He didn't excuse sin, but he didn't execute sinners either. He bore their punishment to redeem them. That's what real justice looks like. It's always the truth, but it's wrapped in love. ASK THIS: Is my passion for justice rooted in love or in pride? When I see sin, do I seek restoration or revenge? How do I respond when brothers and sisters in Christ disappoint me? Am I building unity under God or alliances around outrage? DO THIS: Before confronting someone's sin, pray for their restoration—not their ruin. Look for one relationship in your life that needs grace more than judgment. PRAY THIS: Lord, keep me from turning Your justice into my vengeance. Give me a heart that loves mercy, seeks unity, and fights for truth without losing grace. Teach me to stand firm and kneel low at the same time. Amen. PLAY THIS: "What Mercy Did for Me."

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 Judges 20:8-17. And all the people arose as one man, saying, "None of us will go to his tent, and none of us will return to his house. But now this is what we will do to Gibeah: we will go up against it by lot, and we will take ten men of a hundred throughout all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred of a thousand, and a thousand of ten thousand, to bring provisions for the people, that when they come they may repay Gibeah of Benjamin for all the outrage that they have committed in Israel." So all the men of Israel gathered against the city, united as one man. And the tribes of Israel sent men through all the tribe of Benjamin, saying, "What evil is this that has taken place among you? Now therefore give up the men, the worthless fellows in Gibeah, that we may put them to death and purge evil from Israel." But the Benjaminites would not listen to the voice of their brothers, the people of Israel. Then the people of Benjamin came together out of the cities to Gibeah to go out to battle against the people of Israel. And the people of Benjamin mustered out of their cities on that day 26,000 men who drew the sword, besides the inhabitants of Gibeah, who mustered 700 chosen men. Among all these were 700 chosen men who were left-handed; every one could sling a stone at a hair and not miss. And the men of Israel, apart from Benjamin, mustered 400,000 men who drew the sword; all these were men of war. — Judges 20:8-17 Israel's outrage turns into organization. They swear an oath not to go home until justice is served. It sounds noble—but it's dangerous. What started as righteous anger now becomes collective vengeance. They are so convinced of their own version of justice that they can't see the injustice they are about to commit. The people unite around punishment, not repentance, blind to the fact that their zeal will make them guilty of the same sin they condemn. There is no Judge in this moment—no voice of God's appointed leadership. The nation acts without discernment, following a rogue man who looks like a spiritual leader but does not live like one. The Levite's story fuels their passion, but not their prayer. They rally around his words, not God's Word. The unity here is impressive but deceptive. They're "as one man," but not under God. They're driven by zeal and confuse justice with revenge. And Benjamin, the brother tribe, refuses to hand over the guilty men of Gibeah. Pride meets pride. The result? Civil war. Israel will soon destroy its own family in the name of righteousness. This is what happens when justice acts apart from God's Word and direction. We seek to destroy the guilty instead of restoring them. The line between moral conviction and moral arrogance gets blurry. We see this same division today. Churches split over politics, believers cancel one another online, and movements built on truth end up powered by hate. Somewhere along the way, we stopped asking, "How do we honor God?" and started devising, "How do we win?" Justice without God's truth and direction always ends in destruction. Because without grace, even the right cause becomes the wrong crusade. Jesus showed us the better way: He didn't excuse sin, but he didn't execute sinners either. He bore their punishment to redeem them. That's what real justice looks like. It's always the truth, but it's wrapped in love. ASK THIS: Is my passion for justice rooted in love or in pride? When I see sin, do I seek restoration or revenge? How do I respond when brothers and sisters in Christ disappoint me? Am I building unity under God or alliances around outrage? DO THIS: Before confronting someone's sin, pray for their restoration—not their ruin. Look for one relationship in your life that needs grace more than judgment. PRAY THIS: Lord, keep me from turning Your justice into my vengeance. Give me a heart that loves mercy, seeks unity, and fights for truth without losing grace. Teach me to stand firm and kneel low at the same time. Amen. PLAY THIS: "What Mercy Did for Me."