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

And a big shout-out today to Michael Forte from Astoria, OR. Michael, thank you for being a part of this movement through Project23. You are making a difference for the Gospel. This one’s for you.

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:28-30:

“Truly, I say to you, all sins will be forgiven the children of man, and whatever blasphemies they utter, but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they were saying, “He has an unclean spirit.” — Mark 3:28-30

This text contains one of the most sobering statements Jesus ever made.

He begins with an incredible promise: “All sins will be forgiven… even blasphemies.” There’s real hope in that. No sin is too big for God to redeem. No past is too messy.

But it’s followed by a serious warning: “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness.”

So, what is this unforgivable sin?

Understanding the context is key. The religious leaders were witnessing Jesus perform undeniable works of God—and claiming they came from Satan. They weren’t confused. They were willfully rejecting the truth. They were crediting the Spirit’s power to the enemy himself.

That’s not simple disbelief—it’s deliberate rejection. Persistent hardness. A refusal to acknowledge the Spirit’s witness about Jesus.

This warning isn’t for the tender believer who fears they've lost salvation. It’s a line drawn for those whose hearts have completely closed themselves off to the truth—after seeing it clearly. The unforgivable sin isn’t a moment of doubt—it’s a life of denial. It’s not a stumble—it’s a hardened stand.

So if you’re worried you’ve committed the unforgivable sin—you haven’t. That concern is evidence the Spirit is still working on your heart. But this is a warning worth heeding. We need to stay soft to the Spirit at all times. When He convicts—listen. When He draws—respond. Because the longer we resist, the easier it is to grow calloused.

We all have the tendency to slide into judgmentalism and legalism—attitudes that resist the Spirit and reject the grace of the Father and the Son.

So listen when the Spirit calls today. Don’t harden your heart. Keep saying "yes" to the voice of God.

ASK THIS:

1. When has conviction prompted you to respond or resist?
2. What attitudes or beliefs tend to harden your heart against the Spirit?
3. How do you recognize the Spirit’s gentle voice in your daily life?
4. In what areas do you need to say yes to the Spirit’s prompting?

DO THIS:

When the Spirit convicts you today, repent immediately to keep your heart soft.

PRAY THIS:

Father, thank you for forgiving every sin through Jesus. Keep my heart soft to the Spirit and help me say yes when he convicts me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Softly and Tenderly.

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

And a big shout-out today to Jon David from Evansville, IN. Jon, thank you for being a part of this movement through Project23. You are making a difference for the Gospel. This one’s for you.

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:27:

But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man. Then indeed he may plunder his house. — Mark 3:27

Today’s verse comes right in the middle of a tense moment. Jesus is facing false accusations from the scribes that he’s casting out demons by the power of Satan. And Jesus, in calm authority, responds with a short parable—a one-sentence story packed with power:

“No one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man.”

Jesus isn’t just defending himself with a theoretical example. He’s describing what he came to do. What he is going to do—on the Cross.

In the imagery, the “strong man” represents Satan. The “house” represents this broken, sin-stained world. And the “plunder”? That’s people—souls held captive under the weight of sin and spiritual darkness.

What we discover in this bit of cryptic text is that Jesus didn’t just come to teach, inspire, or heal. He came to invade enemy territory.
To bind the "strong man." To rescue the "plunder" that had been stolen.

That is a bold declaration and a prophetic statement about his mission in one sentence. You see, Jesus doesn't negotiate with darkness as the scribes suggested—he overpowers it.

And he still does.

We don’t fight for victory—we fight from it.

Why? Because the strong man has been bound. Jesus tied him up at the cross and walked out of the tomb three days later with the keys in hand.

So why do you still live like you're a prisoner to sin?

So many believers are still walking around like they’re stuck in the strong man’s house—afraid, anxious, ashamed—when the one who broke in is already leading them out. You are not bound anymore. Sin doesn’t own you. Fear doesn’t rule you. The accuser has been silenced.

So, walk free today. The Stronger Man has come. Live in victory and fight from his victory.

ASK THIS:

1. What does the image of the “strong man” reveal about spiritual conflict?
2. How has Jesus already overcome this enemy?
3. Are there areas where you still feel bound by something Jesus already defeated?
4. What would it look like to walk in freedom this week?

DO THIS:

Name one area where you’ve been living like a prisoner. Declare today that Jesus has already broken that chain—and ask Him for the faith to walk free.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, you are the Stronger One. Thank you for rescuing me from the enemy’s grip. Help me live today like someone who’s truly free. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Rescue Story.

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

And a big shout-out today to Jeffrey Brewer from Festus, MO. William, thank you for being a part of this movement through Project23. You are making a difference. This one’s for you.

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:13-19:

And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons. He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter); James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. — Mark 3:13-19

Jesus went up a mountain, away from the crowds, and called a group of disciples to himself. Not to witness his miracles—but to be with him. That’s where all true Christian mission begins: with presence, not performance. After all, Christian mission has Christ in the name.

Jesus calls them in before he sends them out. Don't miss that basis. Before they ever preached a sermon or cast out a demon. Before they healed. Before they traveled. Before they led. Before they were sent. Jesus called them in to be with him.

It’s easy to miss that in a world that celebrates productivity. We often think God is most pleased when we’re doing something for him. But Jesus modeled that relationship with him always comes before responsibility for him. We must experience his transformation from within to accomplish his duty without.

Jesus’s mission always starts with this: sit with him—then step out for him. Our mission is rooted in presence, not performance.
It’s about being formed by the one we follow—not just doing ministry in his name, or worse, doing it in our own strength and slapping his name on top.

For example, consider the men mentioned in this text today. They were ordinary disciples, like you and me. There was nothing extraordinary about them. Except for the fact that they had been with Jesus and he empowered them to extraordinary things because of him. They were not impressive men. Not one of them. But they did extraordinary things.

Take John Mark, for example. There was nothing extraordinary about him. He bailed on Paul, and then Paul refused to take him on another mission trip. In this Gospel, he writes down the story of Jesus told by Peter, who was very impulsive and even denied Jesus. Today, we hold an extraordinary book in our hands because men like the ones listed here have been with Jesus.

Today, focus more on being with Jesus than doing for him. Let that time fuel the work he wants to do with you—and through you—tomorrow.

ASK THIS:

1. How has your busyness overshadowed your time with Jesus?
2. What keeps you from simply being with Jesus before serving?
3. In what ways do you rely on your strength instead of his?
4. Who are you seeking to impress—Jesus or others—and why?

DO THIS:

Sit quietly with Jesus for ten minutes today before doing any task for him.

PRAY THIS:

Lord Jesus, thank you for calling me into your presence before sending me out. Help me rest in your nearness so I can serve from your strength. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Abide.

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

And a big shout-out today to William Beaumont from Hampton, FL. William, thank you for being a part of this movement through Project23. You are making a difference. This one’s for you.

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:7-12:

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” And he strictly ordered them not to make him known. — Mark 3:7-12

Jesus withdraws from the synagogue in our last text, but he doesn't withdraw from the growing mission.

Word has spread. People are coming from every direction. Not just from one region (Galilee) but from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, Tyre, and Sidon. These were regions far and wide, Jewish and Gentile alike.

And the scene gets chaotic. Mark describes it as "crushing." It was "mob-like." The crowd is so massive and enthusiastic that Jesus tells his disciples to keep water transport ready—just in case things they need to make a quick escape. Thus, Mark reveals that following Jesus wasn’t always safe at times. It wasn’t always peaceful. But it was always revealing.

Why were they coming?

Well, one part of the crowd came because they had heard what Jesus was doing. The healings. The power. The miracles. And they came—not necessarily because they understood who Jesus was—but because they wanted something from Jesus. They wanted relief, not necessarily repentance. They wanted his power but not necessarily his presence.

But notice how those possessed by unclean spirits respond. The demons in them recognized Jesus. They fell before him and declared, “You are the Son of God.” They, unlike others, understood his identity, power, and authority, and they submitted to him.

One group of people seeks what Jesus can do. The other group of people surrenders to who Jesus is.

So today, ask yourself: Do you only come to Jesus when you seek something or to fully surrender to the King?

ASK THIS:

1. Why do I approach Jesus—seeking relief or fully surrendering to his lordship?
2. Have I valued what Jesus does more than who he is?
3. In which areas of my life am I holding back submission to Jesus?
4. How can I shift from using Jesus to genuinely following him?

DO THIS:

Do this: Before you reach for Jesus’ help again, pause and offer him not just your needs but your full submission.

PRAY THIS:

Lord Jesus, I come to you both for healing and for heart‑change. Teach me to lay down my agenda and fully submit to your authority. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Need A Favor.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. We are working our way through the entire Bible in what we call Project23. If you want to read more about this or get behind it, you can read about Project23 at the link in the description today.

I would love to give a shout-out today to David Weiss from Stillwell, KS. Thanks for being a partner with the ministry. We cannot do what we do without the faithful support of families like yours. This is for you today!

Today, we’re looking at Mark 3:1-6:

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. — Mark 3:1-6

Jesus walked into the synagogue, but not everyone came to worship. Imagine that worshippers came to test the teacher. They weren't there to be taught—but to trap the teacher. They also weren’t concerned with the disabled man standing nearby. They were there looking for a reason to accuse Jesus.

But Jesus didn’t back down, and he did not change course. In fact, it did not seem to affect his presence or approach.

Jesus calls the disabled man forward—right through the cold stares of the religious elite. And what could’ve been a moment of confrontation becomes a moment of clarity and compassion. Calling the man to him, Jesus asks one probing question:

“Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm?”

Then silence.
No one said a word.
And that silence broke Jesus’s heart.

Jesus looked at them—not with fear (as we might) but with disappointment and grief because their hearts had grown so hard. They had become so obsessed with rules they’d forgotten how to be merciful, compassionate, and loving.

Then Jesus turned to the man and said, “Stretch out your hand.” And the man did. He didn’t argue or hide. He simply obeyed. And in that moment, what was physically broken was made whole.

Jesus didn’t just heal a hand—He exposed every heart.

You see, Jesus didn’t just restore one man's hand. He revealed the hearts of every man in the room. One man was open to healing—and let himself be changed. The others, especially the religious elite, resisted any change at all. Their minds and hearts were darkened. Therefore, one man was left healed. The others left plotting a scandalous murder.

But here's the issue: It is easy to spot legalism in others, and it's harder to see where that legalism lives in us until we are "plotting" to murder others with our attitude and actions.

So here’s my question to you today: Do you have a hard heart to the healing that Jesus wants to provide? Jesus is here, and he's inviting you to lay down your hard heart and receive deep healing. He’s still saying: “Stretch out your hand and be made new.”

ASK THIS:

1. What stands out most to you in Jesus’ question to the crowd?
2. Why do you think silence grieved Him more than words?
3. Where do you see the difference between a hard heart and a humble one?
4. What’s one thing Jesus may be asking you to stretch out in trust today?

DO THIS:

Bring one part of your life that feels weak or hidden into the light. Name it. And offer it to Jesus today in prayer.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, I don’t want to live with a hard heart. Soften me. Heal what’s broken. Give me the courage to stretch out my weakness in faith. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Healer.

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every single day. Don't forget today we drop a chapter review of Mark 2 on The Weekly Vince Miller Show; check that out. It will add some perspective on Jesus by looking at Chapter 2 from a slightly higher level.

I would love to give a shout-out today to Joseph Myall from Klamath Falls, OR. Thanks for being a partner with the ministry. We cannot do what we do without the faithful support of families like yours. This is for you, Joseph!

Today, we’re looking at Mark 2:23-28:

One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.” — Mark 2:23-28

Jesus and his disciples were walking through a field on the Sabbath, and they casually picked grain to eat. It was a simple, innocent act. An everyday moment. However, the religious leaders turned it into a legal trap and dispute.

To them, the issue was not their present physical hunger but religious rebellion. The religious leaders had built layers of tradition over centuries around God’s commands—so many that they’d lost sight of the heart behind the law.

Jesus answers with an account they’d all remember: David, while running for his life, was also hungry and desperate and ate not merely grain in a field but the sacred bread from within the Temple. It wasn’t sanctioned, yet God didn’t condemn him. Because sometimes, mercy takes precedence.

Then Jesus offers a correction they didn’t expect: “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” In other words, the Sabbath isn’t a burden—it’s a blessing. A time for rest, renewal, and remembering who provides everything we need.

Then, Jesus takes his point to a whole new level. He claims authority not just to interpret the Sabbath but to own it: “The Son of Man [Jesus] is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

This wasn’t about rules—it was about who rules. Jesus was declaring that true spiritual rest isn’t found in rules. Rest is found in Him. and of course, they missed the point he was making.

Just like they did, we miss the point:

We still fall into the same trap.
We turn faith into performance.
We hustle for approval.
We keep spiritual scorecards.

But Jesus invites us to something entirely different—not a religion to prove, rules to follow, but a relationship to enjoy. Spiritual rest isn’t earned. It’s received. And real rest begins when we trust that his work—not ours—is what makes us right with God.

#LordOfTheSabbath, #SabbathRest, #MercyNotRules

ASK THIS:

1. Why do you think the Pharisees had such a hard time letting go of their rules?
2. In what ways do you find your worth in performance instead of God’s presence?
3. What would it look like for you to receive Sabbath as a gift, not a burden?
4. Where is Jesus inviting you to stop striving and simply rest?

DO THIS:

Set aside 10 minutes today to stop and rest in God's presence. No agenda, no noise. Just be still and let Jesus remind you that you're not defined by what you do—but by who He is.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, thank you for being my rest. Teach me to slow down, to trust your provision, and to find peace in your presence—not my performance. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

Run To The Father.

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

We are in the Gospel of Mark. Visit the website and purchase the Scripture Journal for this study so that you can follow along with us.

I would love to give a shout-out today to Shawn Ryan from Currituck, NC. Thanks for being a partner with the ministry. We cannot do what we do without the support of faithful individuals like you. This is for you, Shawn!

Today, we’re looking at Mark 2:21-22:

No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.” — Mark 2:21-22

Today, Jesus continues teaching about the new life that he brings with him using two pictures that would’ve been familiar to everyone listening: cloth and wineskins.

He makes two points:

1. You can’t sew new cloth onto old cloth without creating a larger tear.
2. You can’t pour new wine into brittle old wineskins without making a bigger mess.

The reasoning and application won't work in natural life, and it especially won't work in the spiritual life. This is because a little bit of something new in your spiritual life will not improve your old spiritual life. It may worsen the situation. What you need is not a spiritual touch-up. You need a whole new Spirit. This is what Jesus came to reveal. And that is what he is teasing out here, which eventually will be revealed after his death, resurrection, and ascension.

You can't fit the life Jesus offers into any of the old frameworks you used to live by. If you try to do this, it will tear and burst. What you need is a whole new way of life. You need a new mind. A new heart. A new spirit. Which will change how you think, feel, and act.

If you’ve been trying to squeeze a little bit of Jesus into an old way of thinking, feeling, and acting, you need to know it's not going to work. Eventually, your spiritual life will tear and burst. You cannot treat Jesus like an accessory or add-on. You must let him build something new in you from the ground up.

Because Jesus is not interested in patch jobs.
Jesus offers total transformations.

So, what "old wineskin" (hurt, habit, hangup) are you still trying to use in Jesus' "new wine" life?

#newwinenewlife, #spiritualtransformation, #mark2

ASK THIS:

1. What old patterns in your life don’t fit with the new life Jesus offers?
2. Why do you think it's so tempting to cling to "old wineskins"?
   
3. Where do you need fresh vision, fresh trust, or fresh obedience today?
   
4. How can you live more fully in the new life Jesus offers?

DO THIS:

Identify one old habit, mindset, or attitude you know Jesus is calling you to leave behind. Write it down—and pray for the courage to release it today.

PRAY THIS:

Jesus, you came to make me new, not just better. Give me the courage to release the old ways that can’t contain the life you want to pour into me. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

New Wine.