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:

1. Where am I confusing wise judgment with eternal judgment?
2. Whose opinion has too much influence over my confidence?
3. What would change if I lived for God's verdict instead of people's reactions?

PRAY THIS:

Lord, help me judge wisely but never assume Your role. Teach me to live for Your approval, trust Your timing, and surrender every final judgment to You. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Only Jesus"

Are you growing or staying stuck?

SUMMARY
1 Corinthians 3 is Paul's wake-up call to every believer: put down the bottle and pick up a brick.
God's building His church—and He wants you building with Him. Watch the full breakdown now.

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

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:21-23.

We all wrestle with insecurity — in relationships, in calling, and in the unknown future. It creeps in quietly and convinces us we're missing something, behind on something, or not enough for something. But Paul gives a truth big enough to shut insecurity down at its roots.

So let no one boast in men. For all things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas or the world or life or death or the present or the future—all are yours, and you are Christ's, and Christ is God's. — 1 Corinthians 3:21–23

The Corinthians were comparing, competing, and craving affirmation — classic insecurity on display. Paul cuts through it with one reality: you're not missing out. You already belong to Christ, and in Him, you have more than you think.

Look again at what Paul says belongs to you:

• The world — God works within it for your good.
• Life — every moment comes with a God-given purpose.
• Death — even your greatest fear has been turned into a doorway to Him.
• The present — God's presence is here, now.
• The future — God owns it, secures it, and guides you into it.

Paul intentionally stacks these truths to remind believers that insecurity is built on forgetting, while confidence is built on belonging.

Security forms with belonging — insecurity forms with forgetting.

When you remember who you belong to, insecurity begins to break apart. Fear quiets down. Comparison loses its pull. Anxiety loosens its grip. Because Christ doesn't just hand out spiritual gifts — He gives Himself.

And if you have Him, you're not lacking anything. Not now. Not ever.

DO THIS:

Name one insecurity you battle. Then say aloud: "I am Christ's — and Christ is enough."

ASK THIS:

1. What insecurity shapes my decisions more than God's truth?
2. How would I live if I really believed "all things are mine in Christ"?
3. What part of my identity in Christ do I forget most?

PRAY THIS:

Father, thank You that I belong to Christ. Help me release insecurity and rest in the security You've already given me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Who You Say I Am"

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is 1 Corinthians 3:18-20.

We like to think we're pretty wise. We read. We listen. We follow people who sound smart. We post things that feel deep.

But Paul says: Be careful, the moment you think you're wise, you might already be a fool.

Let no one deceive himself. If anyone among you thinks that he is wise in this age, let him become a fool that he may become wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly with God. For it is written, "He catches the wise in their craftiness," and again, "The Lord knows the thoughts of the wise, that they are futile." — 1 Corinthians 3:18–20

Paul's point? Human "wisdom" without God isn't just wrong — it's laughable.

We act like the world is full of genius thinkers.
God looks at our best ideas and raises an eyebrow.

We build systems to "fix ourselves."
We redefine truth to fit our preferences.
We elevate experts who sound impressive but haven't solved a single heart-level problem.

And God calls all of it futile.

Paul uses sarcasm to land the punch.

He's basically saying: "Do you want to see how brilliant humanity is? They crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:8)

If human wisdom were truly that great, the smartest leaders of the age wouldn't have handed over the Messiah they were supposedly waiting for or crucified him, because that played right into God's plan.

That's how "wise" we are. We crucified the only One who could save us. And by crucifying him He saved us.

That's Paul's whole point in this section: Human brilliance is no substitute for divine truth.

God is so much wiser, so much higher, so far beyond our thought processes that even His "foolishness" (if such a thing existed) would outsmart the brightest minds on earth.

This is why Paul says, "If you think you're wise, try again."
Not by becoming anti-intellectual, but by trading the world's angle for God's mind.

Because the wisdom of this age is just recycled folly with better marketing.

And the wisdom of God is the kind that saves, restores, convicts, heals, guides, humbles, and transforms.

Humans guess. God knows.
Humans posture. God reveals.
Humans killed Jesus. God raises Jesus from the dead.

That is the difference. And that is why trusting God's wisdom will always be smarter than trusting your own.

DO THIS:

Write down one place where you've been relying on your own "wisdom." Pray: "God, replace my thinking with Yours."

ASK THIS:

1. Where have I trusted cultural wisdom more than God's truth?
2. What "smart" ideas in my life are actually foolish in God's eyes?
3. 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:

1. Have my words weakened the church or strengthened it?
2. Who do I need to forgive or approach with humility?
3. 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:

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)"