James 3:7-12

People can tame all sorts of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea, but no one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we praise our GOD and FATHER, and with it we curse people who have been made in the image of GOD. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. Dearly beloved, this ought not to be! Does fresh and salt water flow from the same spring? Dearly beloved, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? No, and you cannot get fresh water from a fountain of salt.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5

From Paul, Silas, and Timothy, to the church in Thessalonica, you who belong to GOD our FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. Grace and peace to you from GOD our FATHER and the LORD JESUS CHRIST. It is appropriate that we always thank GOD for you, dearly beloved, because your faith is flourishing, and the love each of you has for one another is increasing. Among the churches of GOD, therefore, we boast about your perseverance and faith in the midst of all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. And GOD will use all of this to show his justice as you are counted worthy of the kingdom of GOD, for which you are suffering.

Matthew 5:10

How blessed are those who are persecuted for being and doing what is right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Let us, therefore, since we are surrounded by such a large crowd of witnesses, lay aside everything that hinders us, as well as the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race set before us. Let us focus on JESUS, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, disdaining its shame, and is now seated at the right hand of the throne of GOD. Think about all he endured from sinful people who opposed him, and do not grow weary or lose heart.

1 Thessalonians 2:1-8

As you know, dearly beloved, our visit to you was not in vain. But after having suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you are aware, we grew bold in our GOD to tell you the good news of GOD in spite of strong opposition. For our preaching does not involve error, impure motives, or trickery. On the contrary, we have been approved by GOD to be entrusted with the good news. So we preach, not to please men, but GOD, who tests our hearts. Not once did we use words of flattery, as you know. And as GOD is our witness, we were not pretending so you would give us money. We do not seek praise from men - not from you, and not from anyone else either. Using our authority as apostles of CHRIST, we could have been a burden to you. But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her own children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you the gospel of GOD, and our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.

1 Peter 5:5b-7

Clothe yourselves with humble-mindedness, for GOD opposes the proud, but to the humble he gives grace. Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of GOD, that he may exalt you at the proper time. Throw all your worries on him, because he cares for you.

Matthew 5:9

How blessed are those who make peace, for they will be called children of GOD.

Colossians 2:16-19

Let no one judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to celebrating holy days. Those rules were only a shadow of things to come. Real substance is found in CHRIST. Let no one rob you of your prize with their false humility and angel worship. Such people dwell on things they have not really seen, and are motivated by pride. They have lost connection to CHRIST, the head from whom the whole body, knitted together by ligaments and joints, grows as GOD gives the increase.

Ephesians 3:20-21

To him who is able, by his power at work in us, to do infinitely more than we ask or even imagine - to him be the glory in the church and in CHRIST JESUS throughout every generation, for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Timothy 5:17-20

Let the church elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the WORD of GOD says, "Do not muzzle the ox while it treads out the grain." And, "The laborer is worthy of his wages." Never listen to accusations against a church elder unless it is brought by two or more witnesses. Publicly rebuke those who sin, so that the others will heed the warning.

2 Peter 3:10-13

The day of the LORD will come as unexpectedly as a thief. The heavens will disappear with a rushing noise, the elements will melt, and the earth and everything in it will be burned up. Since everything will be destroyed in this manner, what kind of person ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of GOD and hasten its coming. On that day he will set the heavens on fire, and the very elements will melt in the intense heat. But, in keeping with his promise, we look forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness lives.

Psalm 4

O my righteous GOD, please answer when I call to you, and give me relief from my distress. Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer. How long will men dishonor my GLORIOUS ONE? How long will they love vanity and pursue lies? You can be sure that the LORD has set apart the godly for himself. The LORD will hear when I call to him. In your anger do not sin, but search your own heart overnight and remain silent. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness. Put your trust in the LORD, while many ask to be shown better times. O LORD, let the light of your face shine on us. You have filled my heart with joy, more joy than when grain and wine abound. In peace I lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, will keep me safe.

1 John 2:24-27

See to it that what you have heard from the beginning remains in you. And if what you have heard from the beginning remains in you, then you will also remain in the SON, and in the FATHER. For this is the promise which he promised us: eternal life. I am writing these things to you concerning those who would lead you astray. As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need for anyone to teach you. For as his anointing teaches you about all things, and that anointing is true, not counterfeit - so just as it taught you - remain in him.

Colossians 2:13-15

You were dead through your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh. GOD made you alive together with CHRIST, having forgiven us all our sins. He canceled out the record of debt that stood against us. He took it away, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed powers and authorities, shaming them publicly, triumphing over them on the cross.

Matthew 5:8

How blessed are those whose hearts are pure, for they will see GOD.

James 3:3-6

We put bits into the mouths of horses so that they will obey us, and with it we can turn their whole body. Though ships are large and driven by strong winds, the pilot can turn the whole ship with a very small rudder. So it is with our tongue, itself a small part of our body, yet it boasts great things. Consider this: a small spark can spread to become a forest fire. And the tongue is a fire, full of unrighteousness, able to corrupt your whole life. It can set the course of your life on fire, set on fire by hell itself.

John 2:1-11

A wedding took place at Cana in Galilee, and the mother of JESUS was there, along with JESUS and his disciples. When the wine ran out, the mother of JESUS said to him, "They have no more wine." "Dear woman," JESUS replied, "What does that have to do with you and me? My time has not yet come." His mother said to the servants, "Do whatever he tells you to do." Nearby there were six stone water pots, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial purposes, each holding twenty to thirty gallons. JESUS told the servants to fill the water pots with water. They did so, filling them up to the brim. Then he instructed the servants to draw some out, and to take it to the master of the banquet, and they did so. When the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine, not knowing where it came from, though the servants knew, he called the bridegroom over and said, "Everyone serves the good wine first, and then later the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best until now!" JESUS performed this, the first of his miraculous signs, in Cana of Galilee, revealing his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him.

Hebrews 12:16-17

See to it that no one among you is sexually immoral, or godless, like Esau, who sold his birthright for one meal. For afterwards, as you know, he wanted his inheritance, but was rejected. It was too late for repentance, even though he sought it diligently with tears.

Matthew 5:5

How blessed are the gentle, for they will inherit the earth.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

Anyone in CHRIST is a new creation; the old has passed away, a new life has begun. And all of this is from GOD, who reconciled us to himself through JESUS CHRIST, and gave us a ministry of reconciling people to him. For GOD was in CHRIST, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them. And he has entrusted us with this wonderful message of reconciliation.

Psalm 3

O LORD, how have my distresses multiplied! So many are against me. And many are claiming that GOD will not save me. But you, O LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, and the one who lifts my head up high. I cry out to the LORD and he answers me from his holy hill. I lie down, sleep, and wake, because the LORD sustains me. I will not be afraid if tens of thousands of people surround me. Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my GOD! Slap my enemies in the face; break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD. May your blessings be on your people.

1 John 4:16-18

We have come to know and believe the love which GOD has for us. GOD is love. Whoever lives in love, lives in GOD, and GOD lives in them. In this, love has been made complete among us, that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because as he is, so are we in this world. Such love has no fear, because perfect love drives out fear. Fear involves punishment, so those who fear are not made perfect in love.

Galatians 3:13-14

CHRIST redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming the curse for us. For it is written in the Scriptures, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree." He redeemed us so that the promised blessing of Abraham might also come to the Gentiles through CHRIST JESUS, and so that by faith we might receive the promised SPIRIT.

John 1:19-28

This is the testimony of John the Baptist. Jewish leaders sent priests and Levites to ask him who he was. He willingly confessed that he was not the MESSIAH. So they asked him, "Then who are you? Are you Elijah?" "I am not," he replied. "Are you the Prophet?" "No," answered John. "Then who are you?" they asked. "Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us. What do you have to say about yourself?" John replied, quoting Isaiah, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness. Prepare the way of the LORD." Those who had been sent were Pharisees, and asked him, "Why then do you baptize if you are neither the MESSIAH, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?" John answered them, "I baptize in water, but among you stands one you do not know. He is the one who comes after me, and I am not even worthy to untie his shoes." This encounter took place in Bethany, on the East side of the Jordan River, where John was baptizing.

James 3:2

We all stumble in many ways, but the one who can completely control their tongue - is perfect, able to control their whole body.

1 Corinthians 1:9-10

GOD is faithful, and it is he who has called you into fellowship with his SON, JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. And now I call upon you, dear brothers and sisters, in the name of our LORD, JESUS CHRIST, to speak with one voice in harmony, so there may be no divisions among you. Be of one mind, perfectly united in thought and purpose.

Acts 4:8-12

Then Peter, filled with the HOLY SPIRIT, said to them, "Rulers and elders of the people, if we are on trial today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, as to how he has been healed, then let it be known to all of you, and to all the people of Israel, that it is by the name of JESUS CHRIST of Nazareth, whom you crucified, but whom GOD raised from the dead, that this man now stands before you healed. He is 'the rejected stone which has become the CHIEF CORNER STONE.' Salvation is found in no one else! For there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."

1 John 3:16-20

JESUS CHRIST showed us what real love is when he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. How can the love of GOD be in a person with material possessions who closes their heart when they see a brother in need? Dear children, stop only loving with written or spoken words. Love with actions and in truth. By this we know that we are of the truth, and our hearts can rest assured, having condemned us. For GOD is greater than our hearts, and he knows everything.

Romans 4:13-17

The promise to Abraham and to his offspring that he would be heir of the world, was not through the law, but through the righteousness of faith. For if those who are of the law are heirs, faith has no value, and the promise is nullified, because the law brings wrath. Where there is no law, there is no disobedience. The promise comes by faith, that it may be of grace, and guaranteed to all of the seed - not only to those who are of the law, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. GOD said, "I have made you the father of many nations," because Abraham believed GOD - the GOD who gives life to the dead, and calls things into existence that never were before.

2 Corinthians 5:11-13

Knowing, therefore, what it is to fear the LORD, we persuade others. All the while, what we are is clearly revealed to GOD, and I hope also evident to your consciences. We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but giving you an opportunity to be proud of us, so you can have something to answer those who boast in what is apparent rather than what is in the heart. For if we are beside ourselves, it is for GOD; if we are in our right mind, it is for you.