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:

1. Where do you most feel tempted to place hope in political outcomes rather than Christ?
2. How does Psalm 146:3 challenge modern political thinking among Christians?
3. Why do you think God allows leaders that reveal the limits of human authority?
4. Which biblical leader mentioned (Pilate, Judas, Herod, religious elites) feels most relevant today—and why?
5. How can misplaced trust in government create anxiety, anger, or division?
6. What is the difference between engaging politically and idolizing politics?
7. How should Christians balance Romans 13 with ultimate allegiance to Christ?
8. Where have you personally confused support with salvation?
9. What does faithful civic engagement look like at the local level?
10. 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:

1. What am I building that won't matter in eternity?
2. What part of my life needs stronger, costlier materials?
3. 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:

1. What part of your life is being built quickly instead of carefully?
2. Which habits reflect Christ—and which don't?
3. 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.

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:

1. Where are you carrying pressure God never asked you to carry?
2. Are you more focused on the results or your obedience?
3. 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.

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.

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.

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:

1. Where do jealousy or comparison show up in your relationships?
2. Do your reactions look fleshly or Spirit-led when tension rises?
3. 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:

1. What situation in your life needs Christ's perspective right now?
2. Where do you rely on your old patterns of thinking instead of the Spirit?
3. 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:

1. Where do you fear being misunderstood for obeying God?
2. What area of your life requires Spirit-led discernment right now?
3. 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:

1. Who in your life doesn't understand spiritual things — and needs patience instead of pressure from you?
2. What spiritual truth used to seem foolish before God opened your eyes?
3. 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)"