The Daily + Weekly by Vince Miller

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Doug Whiting from Alexandria, MN. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 1:4-5. And the Lord said to him, "Call his name Jezreel, for in just a little while I will punish the house of Jehu for the blood of Jezreel, and I will put an end to the kingdom of the house of Israel. And on that day I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." — Hosea 1:4-5 Have you ever noticed how people assume that if enough time passes, God must have forgotten? That's the moment Israel had reached. Hosea's first son is born, and God tells him to name the child Jezreel. To modern readers, the name may not sound significant, but to the people of Israel, it would have immediately stirred memories. Jezreel was the place where King Jehu carried out a violent purge decades earlier. In a dramatic political revolution, Jehu wiped out the ruling house of Ahab and slaughtered many of his rivals. While God had used Jehu to judge wicked leadership, the violence that followed went far beyond what God intended. Blood had soaked the valley. Years passed. Kings rose and fell. The nation moved on. But God had not forgotten. Through Hosea's son, God announces that the bloodshed at Jezreel will finally be addressed. The dynasty of Jehu will fall, and the military strength of Israel will be broken. "I will break the bow of Israel in the Valley of Jezreel." The bow was the symbol of military power. Israel trusted in its armies, its victories, and its national strength. But God was warning them that their security would soon collapse. History confirmed this warning. Within a generation, Israel's political stability would crumble, its kings would be assassinated, and eventually the Assyrian Empire would conquer the nation. The lesson is clear: time does not erase sin. A nation may bury its history. Leaders may ignore their past. Cultures may try to move forward without accountability. But God sees what people try to hide. And yet, this warning is also an act of mercy. God was giving Israel a chance to see what they had ignored. He was speaking before judgment came. The name Jezreel was not just a reminder of past violence—it was a warning that there was still time to turn back. That same principle applies to our lives. Sometimes we assume that past choices no longer matter. But God's warnings are not meant to crush us—they are meant to wake us up. So today, take a moment to ask God to search your heart. If there are areas of hidden compromise, unresolved sin, or patterns you have ignored, bring them honestly before him. Confession is not the end of the story. It is often the beginning of restoration. DO THIS: Ask God to search your heart today and reveal any unresolved sin you may have ignored—and bring it honestly before him in confession. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Father, search my heart and reveal anything I have tried to hide or ignore. Give me the humility to bring it before you and walk in truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The Good Confession"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Jeffrey Nelson from Mooresville, NC. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 1:3. So he went and took Gomer, the daughter of Diblaim, and she conceived and bore him a son. — Hosea 1:3 Hosea doesn't argue. He doesn't delay. He doesn't negotiate the terms. He simply obeys. "So he went and took Gomer…" That short phrase reveals something powerful about Hosea's character. When God spoke, Hosea acted. Even though the assignment was painful. Even though it would affect his reputation. Even though the cost would follow him for years. Hosea marries Gomer, the woman God told him to take as his wife. And just like that, the prophet's life becomes the message. The marriage itself would be difficult, but God was revealing something deeper through it. Hosea's faithful love for an unfaithful wife would mirror God's covenant love for a people who continually turned away from him. Throughout the Bible, marriage often reflects the covenant relationship between God and his people. The prophets described Israel as God's bride. Later, the New Testament describes the church as the bride of Christ. Marriage is meant to reflect covenant faithfulness. That's why Israel's idolatry was so serious. It wasn't just disobedience—it was betrayal. The people who belonged to God were giving their hearts to other gods. Hosea's obedience allowed the nation to see this truth in a way they could not ignore. Sometimes God asks his people to obey in ways that stretch their comfort and challenge their understanding. Obedience may cost time, reputation, relationships, or personal plans. But faithful obedience always begins the same way. God speaks. And we respond. So today, consider this: is there an area where God has already made his will clear, but hesitation or fear has kept you from acting? Faith grows when obedience moves from intention to action. Take one step today toward doing what you already know God has called you to do. DO THIS: Identify one clear step of obedience God has already placed in front of you—and take that step today without delay. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Father, give me the courage to obey you even when obedience feels costly or uncomfortable. Help my life reflect faithfulness to you. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Trust and Obey"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Gonzalo Mora from Dunedin, FL. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 1:2. When the Lord first spoke through Hosea, the Lord said to Hosea, "Go, take to yourself a wife of whoredom and have children of whoredom, for the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord." — Hosea 1:2 Have you ever wondered why God sometimes uses shocking illustrations to make a point? This verse is one of the most surprising commands in the entire Bible. God tells the prophet Hosea to marry a woman who will be unfaithful to him. At first glance, it seems confusing—even disturbing. Why would God ask one of his prophets to step into a marriage like this? The answer is found at the end of the verse. "For the land commits great whoredom by forsaking the Lord." God is not simply giving Hosea a difficult personal assignment. He is creating a living illustration. Hosea's marriage will become a picture of Israel's relationship with God. Throughout Scripture, God describes his covenant with his people using the language of marriage. When God rescued Israel from Egypt and brought them into a covenant with him, he bound himself to them in a relationship of love and faithfulness. But Israel had been chasing other gods. Instead of trusting the Lord who delivered them, the nation pursued Baal and the false promises of surrounding cultures. They looked to idols for security, prosperity, and blessing. In God's eyes, that spiritual betrayal looked exactly like marital unfaithfulness. So God tells Hosea to live out the message. The prophet's life would become the sermon. And this is part of the unique role prophets often played. Sometimes they didn't just speak God's word—they acted it out. Their lives became visible illustrations of the truth God wanted his people to see. Hosea's marriage would reveal something painful about the human heart. People who belong to God can still run after other loves. But the story of Hosea will also reveal something even greater. God's covenant love is far more faithful than ours. Before moving on today, take a moment to consider your own heart. Idolatry rarely looks like ancient statues or carved images anymore. It often shows up in quieter forms—anything we trust, pursue, or depend on more than God. Ask the Lord to reveal if anything in your life has quietly taken the place that only he should hold. DO THIS: Take a moment today to identify one thing in your life that may be competing with God for your trust or attention—and surrender it to him. ASK THIS: "modern idols" PRAY THIS: Father, reveal anything in my heart that has taken your rightful place. Help me trust you above every other love or pursuit. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Lord I Need You"

Hosea unfolds like a dramatic story—moving from shocking betrayal to devastating warning and finally to the hope of redemption. Summary The book of Hosea unfolds in four major movements that reveal the depth of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness and the persistence of God's covenant love. It begins with Hosea's marriage to Gomer, a living illustration of Israel's betrayal of God. The prophet then exposes the nation's corruption and warns of the consequences that follow when a people abandon the knowledge of God. Yet the book ultimately ends with an invitation to return, showing that God's final word is restoration for those who repent. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions Why do you think God used Hosea's personal life as a prophetic message to Israel? What does the story of Hosea and Gomer reveal about the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness? In Hosea 4–7, how does the rejection of truth affect an entire culture and its leadership? Why does Hosea repeatedly emphasize the "knowledge of God" as the key issue in Israel's downfall? What does the phrase "they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" teach about the consequences of sin? How can small spiritual compromises eventually lead to larger personal or cultural collapse? Why is it important that Hosea shows both God's judgment and his compassion? What does Hosea 14 teach us about repentance and God's willingness to restore? How might the four movements of Hosea apply to the spiritual condition of nations today? Which movement of Hosea—betrayal, accusation, consequence, or restoration—do you see most clearly in your own spiritual journey right now?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. Get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to Charles Donahue from Keene, NH. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is Hosea 1:1. The word of the Lord that came to Hosea, the son of Beeri, in the days of Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah, kings of Judah, and in the days of Jeroboam the son of Joash, king of Israel. — Hosea 1:1 How does a nation drift away from God? Not all at once. Not in one dramatic moment. It happens slowly. Quietly. Over time. One generation compromises. The next generation forgets. Eventually, a culture that once knew God barely remembers him at all. That's the moment Hosea steps into. This opening verse may read like a simple historical note, but it tells us something important. Hosea ministered during the reigns of several kings in Judah—Uzziah, Jotham, Ahaz, and Hezekiah—and during the reign of Jeroboam II in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. By this time, the nation had already been divided for nearly two hundred years. The Northern Kingdom kept the name Israel, while the Southern Kingdom became Judah. Hosea's message was directed mainly toward Israel. And at first glance, things looked strong. Under Jeroboam II the nation experienced economic growth and military success. Borders expanded. Trade increased. Life appeared stable. But spiritually, the nation was collapsing. Idolatry filled the land. Baal worship spread through the culture. Religious activity still existed, but true devotion to God had largely disappeared. In that moment, God raised up a prophet. In the Old Testament, prophets were not primarily predictors of the future. They were messengers sent by God to speak truth to God's people—confronting sin, warning of consequences, and calling the nation back to covenant faithfulness. Hosea was that voice. And history shows a pattern: when a nation begins drifting from God, God sends a warning before judgment comes. He sends truth before consequences. He sends a voice before collapse. So pause today and examine your own life. Spiritual drift rarely feels dramatic while it's happening—but small compromises can quietly move our hearts further from God than we realize. Take a moment today to ask God where drift may be happening in your life, and take one small step back toward him. DO THIS: Take five quiet minutes today and ask God to reveal one area where you may be drifting spiritually—and make one intentional step toward him. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Father, help me recognize the places where I may be drifting from you. Draw my heart back toward faithfulness and truth. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The King Is Coming"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study in 1 day. So get your Hosea Scripture Journal now. Also, if you have listened all the way through 1 Corinthians with me, write your first name, city, and state below. We would love to celebrate and pray with you today. Our shout-out today goes to Shane Powell from Bellevue, WA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:21-24. I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand. If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed. Our Lord, come! The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen. — 1 Corinthians 16:21-24 Paul takes the pen in his own hand and writes a few closing notes. "If anyone has no love for the Lord, let him be accursed." Sixteen chapters of correction come down to this: Do you love him? Not admire him. Not use him. Not align with him culturally. But truly love him. He is impling covenant love—all in allegiance of the heart. The dividing line in the church is not gifting, knowledge, or influence. It is devotion to and for Christ. You see, you can know doctrine. You can serve publicly. You can defend truth and still not love the Lord. Then he says, "Maranatha." Or "Our Lord, come." For those who love him, that is hope. For those who do not, it is exposure. So you can feel that Paul is still exposing them. And yet Paul ends with grace: "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you." Grace that forgives. Grace that awakens love. Resurrection truth demands affection. Folks, doctrine must produce devotion. So the final question of 1 Corinthians is the same as the first. It is not, "Were you right?" It is, "Did you love the Lord?" DO THIS: Ask the Lord to expose coldness in your heart. Then take one concrete step this week to cultivate real affection for Christ—through prayer, worship, repentance, or obedience. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord Jesus, guard me from cold orthodoxy. Let my doctrine fuel devotion and my service flow from love. Come, Lord Jesus. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing"

What happens when a nation blessed by God slowly drifts until it starts living like God no longer matters? Summary The book of Hosea reveals the heartbreaking story of a faithless people and a faithful God. Through the shocking command for the prophet Hosea to marry an unfaithful woman, God illustrates Israel's spiritual adultery and exposes the deeper problem of divided loyalty. Hosea shows how a nation's moral collapse begins when it forgets the God who formed it, replacing true relationship with empty religion. Yet even in the midst of judgment, the book reveals God's relentless covenant love and his promise to redeem those who return to him. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions 1. Why do you think God chose Hosea's marriage as a living illustration of Israel's spiritual condition? 2. How does the Bible's description of idolatry as "adultery" change how we understand sin? 3. What are some modern idols people trust for security, identity, or success instead of God? 4. Hosea connects spiritual decline with national collapse. Why do you think the two are related? 5. What is the difference between knowing about God and truly knowing God (Hosea 6:6)? 6. Why can religious activity continue even when a person's heart has drifted from God? 7. What does Hosea reveal about the tension between God's justice and his mercy? 8. Why is God's question in Hosea 11:8 such a powerful window into his heart? 9. How does Hosea and Gomer's story foreshadow God's plan of redemption through Christ? 10. In what area of your life do you need to return to God with renewed loyalty and trust?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study in 2 days. So get your Scripture Journal now. Our shout-out today goes to David Blount IV from Cary, NC. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:19-20. The churches of Asia send you greetings. Aquila and Prisca, together with the church in their house, send you hearty greetings in the Lord. All the brothers send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss. — 1 Corinthians 16:19-20 Paul closes with what appear to be simple greetings. But this is not filler. There is some correction in here. Corinth had become spiritually myopic. They centered their religious experience around personalities. They divided the local church into factions. They treated their gathering like the epicenter of all Christianity. So Paul widens the lens by addressing some people. All the churches in Asia that know about the Corinthian church also pray for and support them. Then Aquila and Prisca (a.k.a. Priscilla)—who had been in Corinth before Paul arrived, worked alongside him in tentmaking, and grew so close that when he left for Syria, they traveled with him. And even brothers beyond your city. The point is: you are not the center. You are part of something far bigger. Modern Christians tend to shrink the church to a brand, a building, a livestream, a preferred preaching style. We talk about my church as if Christ belongs to us. But the church is not your bubble. It is Christ's body. Spanning nations. Crossing languages. Outlasting trends. The gospel does not create isolated spiritual consumers. It creates a global, visible people under one Lord. If your vision of the church fits neatly inside your comfort zone, it is too small. The risen Christ is gathering a people far beyond your preferences and far beyond your city. The resurrection is going to be different from what you think. DO THIS: Pray this week for two churches: one very different from yours, and one in another nation. Ask God to strengthen them and purify your love for his whole body. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, forgive me for shrinking your church to my preferences. Enlarge my heart for your global body. Teach me to love what you are building across cities and nations. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The Church's One Foundation"

Hosea contains some of the most shocking lines in the entire Bible—verses that expose the seriousness of sin and the relentless love of God. Summary The book of Hosea confronts readers with some of the most startling language in the Old Testament. Through powerful imagery and prophetic declarations, these verses expose the depth of Israel's spiritual adultery and the devastating consequences of abandoning God. Yet alongside the warnings of judgment, Hosea also reveals the astonishing compassion of a God who refuses to give up on his people. These seven verses capture the tension at the heart of the book: human unfaithfulness and God's relentless covenant love. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions Why do you think God uses such shocking imagery in the book of Hosea? What does Hosea's marriage reveal about the seriousness of spiritual unfaithfulness? How do the names of Hosea's children communicate God's message to Israel? Why is idolatry described as relational betrayal rather than just theological error? What does Hosea 4:6 teach about the responsibility of leaders to teach truth? How does the phrase "they sow the wind and reap the whirlwind" apply to personal and national choices today? Why is Hosea 11:8 such a powerful glimpse into the heart of God? How do these verses balance the themes of judgment and mercy? What modern forms of spiritual adultery can tempt believers today? What does Hosea teach us about God's willingness to restore those who return to him?

If the resurrection is real, it should show up in how you give, serve, stand firm, and build the church. Summary After fifteen chapters of correction, Paul ends 1 Corinthians with something surprisingly practical. Instead of more theology, he shows what resurrection faith looks like in everyday life—generosity, partnership, courage, and faithfulness. The resurrection is not just a doctrine to defend; it is a reality that reshapes how believers handle money, relationships, leadership, and service. If Christ truly rose from the dead, then our lives should visibly reflect it. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions Why does Paul begin the final chapter by addressing money and generosity? How does believing in the resurrection change the way we view money and possessions? What does Paul's list of ministry partners reveal about how the early church actually advanced? Why is partnership more important than personality in building the church? How can modern church culture drift toward spectatorship instead of participation? What does Paul mean when he commands believers to "be watchful" and "stand firm in the faith" (v.13)? How does the resurrection give believers courage in a culture that pressures compromise? Why does Paul intentionally honor ordinary, faithful servants at the end of the letter? In what ways can we better recognize and encourage faithful servants in our churches today? If someone looked at your life this week, what evidence would they see that you believe the resurrection happened?

What if America's founders weren't trying to create freedom from religion—but freedom to live faithfully under God? Summary This interview with Andrew Linn digs into the historical and theological roots behind religious liberty, the separation of church and state, and America's Christian foundations through the lens of his documentary, Church and State: Roger Williams and the Founding of Freedom of Religion. The discussion explores how early colonies wrestled with religious authority, why Roger Williams championed freedom of conscience, and how modern culture has redefined freedom itself. Vince and Andrew confront current issues surrounding morality, secularism, cultural Marxism, and the growing silence of Christian voices in public life. Ultimately, the conversation challenges believers to recover courage, biblical conviction, and faithful engagement in both church and culture. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions 1. What is the difference between "freedom of religion" and "freedom from religion"? 2. Why did Roger Williams believe forced worship "rapes the soul of men"? 3. How did the early colonies misunderstand religious liberty? 4. Why is moral self-control necessary for true freedom to exist in a nation? 5. How does separating the church from government differ from silencing Christian influence in society? 6. In what ways has modern culture redefined freedom compared to the founders' understanding? 7. Why do you think many Christians hesitate to engage publicly with political and cultural issues today? 8. How can believers speak truth boldly without becoming harsh or self-righteous? 9. What role should pastors, teachers, and Christian leaders play in shaping the conscience of a nation? 10. What practical step can you take to become more courageous in living out your faith publicly?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study in 3 days. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea shows us that covenant faithfulness is proven over time, not declared in a moment. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you by mail. Our shout-out today goes to Rudolf De Jong from Hartford, MI. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:15-18. Now I urge you, brothers—you know that the household of Stephanas were the first converts in Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the service of the saints— be subject to such as these, and to every fellow worker and laborer. I rejoice at the coming of Stephanas and Fortunatus and Achaicus, because they have made up for your absence, for they refreshed my spirit as well as yours. Give recognition to such people. — 1 Corinthians 16:15-18 Who do you naturally respect? Is it those who "have devoted themselves to the service of the saints?" It is interesting here that Paul picks out this quality at the end. He spent the whole letter giving no reference to platformed leaders, even admonishes them, and then here at the end mentions by name those they would have missed. The contrast is pointed and powerful. The word "devoted" implies deliberate commitment. They appointed themselves to "serve." Not to the platform. Not to prominence. But to service. And Paul tells the church to do something counterintuitive to their culture: "Be subject to such as these." This flips worldly instincts. It turns to those who have wholeheartedly given themselves to the Lord and to serving him from the right motivation for the benefit of others. Most, even today, naturally honor charisma, confidence, and visibility. Paul honors devotion, consistency, and quiet service. Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus, who were not in the spotlight. They earned trust through faithfulness. And Paul adds: "They have refreshed my spirit as well as yours." Faithful servants strengthen the weary. They stabilize churches. They encourage leaders. They refresh the saints. Resurrection faith does not just produce bold courage (yesterday's daily). It produces durable service. And mature churches know how to recognize it. So tell a faithful servant thank you this week, and appreciate the ordinary, faithful men and women like Stephanas, Fortunatus, and Achaicus. DO THIS: Identify one steady, faithful servant in your church who rarely receives attention. Thank them personally this week. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, give me eyes to see faithful service. Keep me from chasing applause and teach me to honor those who quietly labor for your name. Make me a source of refreshment to your people. Amen. PLAY THIS:

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study in 4 days. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea reveals what happens when strength is disconnected from covenant loyalty. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you by mail. Our shout-out today goes to Matthew Meester from Pullman, WA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:13-14. Be watchful, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love. — 1 Corinthians 16:13-14 Paul fires off five rapid commands. Four of them build toward one that is often misunderstood — and often misapplied. "Act like men." Corinth lived in a culture obsessed with status, rhetoric, and public displays of power. Weakness was despised. Honor was everything. But courage in Paul's mind is not posturing. It is perseverance in truth. To "act like men" meant this: hold the line when false teaching pressures you. Endure when culture mocks you. Refuse to bend when doctrine becomes costly. In our time, courage is often redefined as self-expression or ideological conformity. But biblical courage is different. It is steady allegiance to Christ when the cultural winds shift. It is clarity without cruelty. It is conviction without compromise. At the same time, Paul does not let courage drift into harshness. "Let all that you do be done in love." Courage divorced from love becomes theological brutality. Love divorced from courage becomes woke empathy. Christian maturity refuses both extremes. Therefore, to "act like men," in Paul's sense, is to embody resurrection-shaped bravery—rooted in truth, restrained by love. This is what resurrection-shaped courage looks like: Not loud. Not reactive. Not intimidated. Instead steady. Alert. Anchored in Christ. And governed by love. DO THIS: Identify one area where you have softened biblical conviction to avoid tension. Take one concrete step this week to speak or act with clarity and love. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, teach me real courage. Make me steady in truth and gentle in love. Keep me from cowardice on one side and harshness on the other. Shape my bravery after Christ. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Courage"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study in 5 days. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea exposes what happens when leadership fails, and hearts drift from covenant loyalty. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you by mail. Our shout-out today goes to Doug & Jena Martin from East Earl, PA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:10-12. When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you, for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am. So let no one despise him. Help him on his way in peace, that he may return to me, for I am expecting him with the brothers. Now concerning our brother Apollos, I strongly urged him to visit you with the other brothers, but it was not at all his will to come now. He will come when he has opportunity. — 1 Corinthians 16:10-12 Paul closes his letter with another reminder: "When Timothy comes, see that you put him at ease among you… for he is doing the work of the Lord, as I am." Timothy was much younger. More timid than Paul. Not flashy, as educated, smooth, and a master of debate like Paul. And this is critical to note because Corinth loved impressive leaders. Knowing this, Paul commands something that goes against the culture of Corinth: Do not despise him. For "seasoned" believers, spiritual maturity shows up in how you treat those coming behind you—especially young, aspiring leaders who are still finding their footing. They may not be as charismatic. They may not yet carry influence. They may not speak with polished confidence. But if they are faithful, they need older believers who will steady them, defend them, and invest in them. Timothy was one of those younger workers who was "doing the work of the Lord." Not much is ever said about his style or the strength of his personality. But he was known for being faithful. Then Paul mentions Apollos. Apollos was different. Eloquent. Strong. Capable. And Paul leaned on him differently: "I strongly urged him… but it was not at all his will to come now." Notice Paul's strong will and humility combined as the "seasoned" leader. There is no rivalry. No insecurity. No control. Just mutual respect in the work of Christ, with the strong encouragement for him to return to Corinth. The Corinthians had a history of dividing over leaders because of their immaturity. Remember, this is one of the first issues Paul addressed in this letter. "Some follow Paul." "Some follow Apollos." But Paul ends the letter by modeling something better. Honor faithful servants. Refuse personality cults. Reject leader worship. Here's why. The church does not need more celebrity. It already has a risen Lord. What it needs are older believers who will refuse cynicism, reject comparison, and actively champion the next generation of faithful workers. DO THIS: Identify one younger believer or leader in your church and intentionally encourage them this week. Speak specific words of affirmation and, if appropriate, offer your guidance and support. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, guard my heart from cynicism and comparison. Teach me to champion younger leaders with wisdom and humility, strengthening those who are doing your work. Amen. PLAY THIS: "The Servant King"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study and move into the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea reveals what happens when a nation confuses comfort with covenant faithfulness. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to David Luna from Frisco, TX. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:5-9. I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits. But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. — 1 Corinthians 16:5-9 How do you know when God is opening a door? Paul says something about this that is pretty striking today: "A wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." We often assume God opens the door to ease. Paul assumes the opposite— opposition. This means a "wide-open door" does not always mean comfort. Wide-open opportunity in the kingdom often invites resistance. Notice the theology beneath this statement. The door has opened because God did it. But on the otherside the adversaries are real. Open doors, even wide open ones, do not remove enemies. They often reveal them. And Paul does not refuse the door because opposition appears. He walks through it because the opportunity is substantial. This is mature discernment. Providence is not measured by comfort. Faithfulness is not determined by the absence of difficulty. Sometimes the clearest sign you are in the will of God is that resistance increases. The Corinthians were tempted to chase two things: spectacle and status. Paul models two different things: endurance and obedience. He sees the mission clearly. He walks through the open door anyway. Because resurrection hope produces durable courage. If death is defeated, all adversaries are not ultimate. DO THIS: Identify one area where opposition has made you question obedience. Recommit to faithfulness there this week. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, give me discernment to recognize open doors even when adversaries appear. Make me courageous, steady, and faithful in the work you have set before me. Amen. PLAY THIS: "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study and move into the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea confronts divided hearts and exposes what we truly love. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to Edward Janowiak from Highland Ranch, CO. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 16:1-4. Now concerning the collection for the saints: as I directed the churches of Galatia, so you also are to do. On the first day of every week, each of you is to put something aside and store it up, as he may prosper, so that there will be no collecting when I come. And when I arrive, I will send those whom you accredit by letter to carry your gift to Jerusalem. If it seems advisable that I should go also, they will accompany me. — 1 Corinthians 16:1-4 What does resurrection faith look like? After fifty-seven verses on resurrection glory in Chapter 15, Paul talks about money. And that is not accidental. Resurrection hope does not make Christians abstract in their practice. It should make us practical. The Corinthians were instructed to give regularly. Systematically. Proportionally. "Each one as he may prosper." This is not emotional manipulation. It is disciplined stewardship. Notice who this giving supports. The saints. The church. It's a gospel partnership across the region. Paul is organizing a relief offering for believers in Jerusalem. The Gentile church supports the Jewish church. Theology becomes generosity. Doctrine becomes dollars. Unity becomes action. Resurrection people should never be close-fisted with the generous life and blessings that God has afforded them. If Christ is risen and eternity is secure, then natural resources (i.e., money) loses its ultimate grip. Believers never hoard what they cannot keep. Believers invest in what will outlast them. Giving to God's work is not a side note in Christian maturity. It is further evidence that you believe the kingdom is real. And Paul adds accountability to his command. Trusted men will carry the gift. Paul may go with them. Resurrection faith produces transparent generosity. DO THIS: Set aside a specific, intentional gift this week for the work of the Lord. Don't wait for emotion. Plan it. Pray over it. Give it. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, you gave your Son for me. Teach me to hold my resources loosely and invest in what advances your kingdom. Make my generosity a reflection of my hope in the risen Christ. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Take My Life and Let It Be"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study, and we are moving into the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea shows us a God who refuses to let his people go—even when they run from him. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to Kevin O'Neil from Prior Lake, MN. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 15:54-58. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written: "Death is swallowed up in victory." "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. — 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 Paul, still speaking about the critical nature of the resurrection, now narrows his focus to one unavoidable reality. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." This present body—weak, aging, perishable—cannot enter eternity as it is. Paul now brings the chapter to its triumphant close. "When the perishable puts on the imperishable... 'Death is swallowed up in victory.'" (This is from the book of Hosea, which is our next book of the Bible). This is prophetic fulfillment. Isaiah anticipated it. Hosea echoed it. Paul preached it. We need to remember it. In the resurrection of Jesus, our victory has already begun. Then Paul dares to taunt the grave: "O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?" Death may feel powerful. Funerals still bring emotional aches. Bodies still return to dust. But for those in Christ, stinger of the scorpion of sin is simply a reminder of the day the sting and death are gone. This is because sin incurs judgment defeated by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christ bore the penalty for sin and its sting. He fulfilled the law. He rose in triumph. So death no longer holds final authority over those who belong to him. "Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." And we are called to faithful obedience because of this hope. DO THIS: Choose one act of faithful obedience you have been postponing. Do it this week—not because you feel strong, but because Christ is risen. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, thank you for victory through Jesus Christ. Make me steadfast when I grow weary. Fix my eyes on the risen Christ so I labor with courage, knowing my work in you is not in vain. Amen. PLAY THIS: "Before the Throne of God Above"

If Jesus didn't physically walk out of that tomb, Christianity isn't mistaken — it's meaningless. Summary In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul stakes everything on one historical claim: Jesus Christ bodily rose from the dead. If the resurrection is metaphor, preaching is empty, faith is futile, sin still reigns, and the church is a fraud. But if Christ is raised, then death is defeated, the body matters, sin is judged, and obedience carries eternal weight. The resurrection is not inspirational symbolism — it is the foundation that makes holiness, courage, unity, and endurance rational. Reflection & Small Group Discussion Questions Why does Paul ground the resurrection in eyewitness testimony rather than personal experience? What collapses in Christian theology if the resurrection is only symbolic? How does treating the resurrection as metaphor subtly reshape views on sin and judgment? Why does Paul say that without resurrection we are "still in our sins" (v.17)? How does the resurrection affirm the goodness and future of the physical body? In what ways does resurrection theology confront modern ideas about identity and embodiment? How does believing in bodily resurrection shape how you endure suffering? Why does Paul connect resurrection to steadfast obedience in verse 58? Where are you tempted toward a "coping Christianity" instead of resurrection certainty? If Christ is truly raised, what area of your life must become more immovable?

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study, and we are moving into the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea confronts comfortable religion and exposes what spiritual betrayal really looks like. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to Kevin Hayes from Alva, FL. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 15:50-53. I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Behold! I tell you a mystery. We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality.— 1 Corinthians 15:50-53 Paul, still speaking about the critical nature of the resurrection, now narrows his focus to one unavoidable reality. "Flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God." This present body—weak, aging, perishable—cannot enter eternity as it is. What decomposes and decays cannot inherit eternity. But we are not discarded. There is something about us that will be changed. It's mysterious, but at the time of death, time will pass quickly, and we will be transformed. A twinkle then a trumpet. The mortal puts on immortality. Notice. Not replaced. Not erased. But clothed. This is covenant continuity fulfilled in glory. This means the mortality you feel is not permanent—it is preparatory. The resurrection of Jesus was not the abandonment of creation. It is the consummation of believers. The God who created all matter will redeem all matter. And he will do it suddenly, decisively, completely. Death and taxes are not the only guarantees of this life. According to God's Word, it's death, taxes, and the resurrection from this body into new bodies and a new kingdom. DO THIS: When you feel the limits of your body this week—fatigue, pain, weakness—remember: a twinkle, a trumpet, a new body. Let present weakness train your hope for promised transformation. ASK THIS: PRAY THIS: Lord, thank you that this perishable body will be clothed with immortality. Anchor my hope in the coming transformation and steady my heart as I wait for that trumpet sound. Amen. PLAY THIS: "In Christ Alone"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day. We are about to begin our next study, and we are moving to the Old Testament. We will begin with the book of Hosea. Hosea stretches our understanding of judgment and relentless covenant love. This means it is time to get your next Scripture Journal from our website for this study. If you are a Project23 partner giving $35/month or more, we have already sent this to you in the mail. Our shout-out today goes to Richard Byrd from Triangle, VA. Thanks for your partnership in Project23. Our text today is 1 Corinthians 15:35-49. But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?" You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. For not all flesh is the same, but there is one kind for humans, another for animals, another for birds, and another for fish. There are heavenly bodies and earthly bodies, but the glory of the heavenly is of one kind, and the glory of the earthly is of another. There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for star differs from star in glory. So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable. It is sown in dishonor; it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. Thus it is written, "The first man Adam became a living being"; the last Adam became a life-giving spirit. But it is not the spiritual that is first but the natural, and then the spiritual. The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven. As was the man of dust, so also are those who are of the dust, and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. Just as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the man of heaven. — 1 Corinthians 15:35-49 Paul anticipates the question of the Corinthians: "How are the dead raised and with what kind of body?" His answer centers on one massive theological truth: God does not replace what he creates—he redeems and transforms it. He uses the image of a seed. Like a sown seed is perishable. What is raised is changed and transformed into something more. It must die to come to new life The seed and the plant are truly connected. There is continuity. But there is also glory. This is not a replacement. It is a transformation of divine proportions. Then Paul reaches back to first Adam and then Christ. "The first man was from the earth, a man of dust; the second man is from heaven." Adam was a real man formed from dust, and in him we inherited corruption and death. Christ is the last Adam—the life-giving man—who, through his resurrection, inaugurates a transformation of man. You are either in Adam or in Christ. A dead man dying. Or a dying man living. Therefore, surrender to Christ is more than forgiveness for this time—it results in future bodily glory. And who does not want that? Christian hope is not disembodied eternity floating somewhere distant. It is embodied restoration under the reign of the risen Christ. The same sovereign God who formed Adam from dust will refashion those united to his Son into incorruptible life. So your body matters. Not one moment of suffering is wasted in your present body. Decay, aching backs, suffering joints, and fading sight are not the end of your story. You are not drifting toward abstraction. You are moving toward resurrection glory and an eternal family. So live like it, even though your present body is wearing down, your future and its body will not. DO THIS: Reflect on how you view your body. Do you treat it as...