Colossians 1:15-20

CHRIST is the visible image of the invisible GOD, the firstborn over all creation, for by him all things were created, everything in heaven and everything on earth. He created the things we can see, and the things we cannot see, whether thrones or kingdoms or rulers or authorities. Everything was created by him and for him. He existed before anything else, and all things are held together in him. He is the head of the body, the church. He is the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have preeminence. For GOD was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile all things to himself, and through him to make peace through the blood of his cross, whether things on earth or things in heaven.

Ephesians 1:7-10

In JESUS we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of his grace, which he showered on us in abundance with all wisdom and understanding. He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in himself, to be administered in the fulness of time, under the authority of CHRIST - everything in heaven, and everything on earth.

1 Peter 1:8-12

You love JESUS having never seen him; and though you do not see him now, you believe in him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. You are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Prophets spoke about this salvation and the grace that was to come to you, intently seeking and searching, trying to find out the time and circumstances to which the SPIRIT of CHRIST within them was pointing when he testified concerning the future sufferings of CHRIST and the glory to follow. It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have since been proclaimed to you by those who preached the gospel by the HOLY SPIRIT sent from heaven. Even angels are eagerly paying attention.

Hebrews 13:20-21

The GOD of peace brought our LORD, JESUS, the GREAT SHEPHERD of the sheep, back from the dead. Through the blood of that eternal covenant, may GOD equip you with everything you need to do his will, working in you to do what pleases him through JESUS CHRIST, to whom belongs all glory forever and ever. Amen.

Psalm 85:7-13

Show us your unfailing love, O LORD, and grant us your salvation. Listen to what JEHOVAH GOD says: he promises peace to his people, the faithful; but let them not return to their foolish ways. Salvation is near those who fear him, that his glory may dwell in our land. Kindness and truth have met; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth springs up from the earth; righteousness looks down from heaven. Yes, the LORD will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield it's harvest. Righteousness goes before him, and prepares the way for his steps.

Psalm 19:14

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing before you, O LORD, my ROCK and my REDEEMER.

Mark 9:42, 43, 45, 47

If anyone causes a young person who believes in me to sin, it would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone attached to his neck.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter eternal life maimed than to go with both hands into the unquenchable fires of hell.
If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter eternal life crippled than to be thrown with both feet into the unquenchable fires of hell.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pull it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of GOD one-eyed than to be thrown with both eyes into hell.

1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

Furthermore, brothers and sisters, we exhort you in the name of the LORD JESUS, to follow the instructions we gave you on living to please GOD, and that you do so more and more. For you know the commandments we gave you through the LORD JESUS: that it is the will of GOD for you to be holy and to abstain from sexual immorality. Each one of you should know how to control his own body, with holiness and honor, and not in lustful desires like the Gentiles who do not know GOD. And no one is to take advantage of, or to otherwise cheat a brother or sister in this matter, because the LORD will punish those who do such things, just as we have already warned you and solemnly testified. For GOD did not call us to be unholy, but to be holy. Therefore, anyone who rejects this, is not rejecting man, but GOD: the same GOD who gave his HOLY SPIRIT to you.

Hebrews 12:7-11

It is for discipline that you endure; GOD is dealing with you as his own children. For what child is not disciplined by his father? If you have not been disciplined, as he disciplines all his children, then you are illegitimate and not his. Furthermore, since we respected our earthly fathers when they disciplined us, shouldn't we even more submit to the FATHER of our spirits and live? Our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years as they saw best, but GOD's discipline is good for us so we can partake in his holiness. All discipline seems unpleasant at the time and there's no joy in it. But afterwards there is a peaceful harvest of righteousness for those being trained.

Psalm 145:1-7

I will exalt you, my GOD, my KING, and praise your name forever and ever. Every day I will bless you and praise your name for ever and ever. Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise. His greatness is beyond measure. Let each generation tell of your mighty deeds; let them proclaim your power. I will speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty, and declare your wonders. They will tell of the power of your awesome works, and I will proclaim your great deeds. They will share the story of your wonderful goodness and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

Romans 6:15-18

So, what does this mean? May we sin now that we are under grace and no longer under the law? Absolutely not! Surely you know that you are slaves to whomever you offer yourselves in obedience. The one you obey is your master. And this is true whether you obey sin, which leads to death, or obey GOD, which leads to righteousness. But thanks be to our GOD that, even though we were once slaves to sin, we now obey from the heart the standard of teaching with which we were entrusted. And having been set free from sin, we have become bondservants of righteousness.

Matthew 4:23-25; Mark 3:7-12

The news about JESUS went all over the land of Syria. And as he was going all around Galilee, he taught the Good News of the kingdom in their houses of worship. He was also healing people of all types of diseases and sicknesses, and they brought him all the people who were sick. These people had all kinds of diseases, and they were suffering with much pain. Some of them had demons inside of them. Some were epileptics, and some were paralyzed. JESUS healed them all. He and his disciples went down to the Sea of Galilee, and a multitude of people followed him from Galilee and from the region of Judea, from Jerusalem, from the land of Idumea, from the area across the Jordan River, and from the cities of Tyre and Sidon. They had heard about the things JESUS was doing; so they came to him. To keep the crowd from pressing in on him, he told his students to get a boat ready. The people were trying to get as close to JESUS as they could because he had healed so many people. People with diseases wanted to touch him. But when people with evil spirits saw JESUS, they fell down in front of him and shouted, "You are the SON of GOD!" But JESUS warned them not to tell who he was.

Galatians 2:17-21

If while seeking to be justified in CHRIST it becomes evident that we ourselves are sinners, does that make CHRIST a minister of sin? Absolutely not! If I rebuild what I tore down, I prove myself to be a lawbreaker. For through the law I died to the law, that I may live for GOD. I am crucified with CHRIST, so it is no longer I that live, but CHRIST that lives in me. For the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the SON of GOD, who loved me, and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of GOD; for if righteousness is through law, then CHRIST died in vain.

1 Corinthians 1:18-25

The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of GOD. For it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and set aside the understanding of the intelligent." So what about the philosophers, the scholars, and the critics of the world? GOD has made their wisdom look foolish. In the wisdom of GOD, the world in it's wisdom did not know him, and he was pleased to save those who believed through 'foolish' preaching. The Jews ask for miracles, and the Gentiles look for wisdom; but all we preach is CHRIST crucified - a stumbling block to the Jews, and sheer nonsense to the Gentiles. For to those who are called, both Jew and Gentile, CHRIST is the power of GOD and the wisdom of GOD; because the 'foolishness' of GOD is wiser than man's wisdom, and the 'weakness' of GOD is stronger than any human strength.

Matthew 4:1-11; Mark 1:12-13; Luke 4:1-13

Then JESUS, full of the HOLY SPIRIT, returned from the Jordan River and was immediately sent by the SPIRIT into the wilderness, with the wild animals, to be tempted by the devil for forty days and forty nights, during which JESUS ate nothing. When those days were over he was very hungry. The tempter came and said to him, "If you are the SON of GOD, command these rocks to become food." JESUS answered him, "It is written, 'A person does not live on food alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" Then the devil takes him into the holy city of Jerusalem, to the pinnacle of the temple, and said to him, "If you are the SON of GOD, throw yourself down from here, for it is written that GOD will command his angels in charge of you to protect you, that they will catch you with their own hands, lest you strike your foot against a stone." JESUS answered, "Again, it is written, "You must not test the LORD your GOD.'" Then the devil takes him onto a very high mountain, and shows him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time. And the devil says to him, "I have been given the authority to give to whomever I want all of these kingdoms and all of the power and glory which is in them. I will give all of these things to you if you will bow down and worship me." JESUS answered him and said, "Get away from me, satan! For it is written, 'You must worship the LORD your GOD and him only shall you serve.'" The devil ended his temptations and departed from him for a while. And behold, angels came and ministered to him.

Psalm 17

Hear, O LORD, my just cause. Listen to my prayer that does not come from deceitful lips. Let my justice come from you. Your eyes can see the truth. You know my heart. Even in the night you have inspected me. You have tried me and found me innocent. I have resolved to not sin in what I say. Concerning the deeds of man, by the very words from your lips, I have avoided the path of violence. I have followed your path without slipping. I have called on you, O GOD, for you will answer me. Turn your ear to me and hear my speech. Show your marvelous, loving kindness. You save those who come to you for safety from their enemies. Keep me as the apple of your eye. Hide me under the shadow of your wings and keep me from the wicked who oppress me: the enemies of my soul who surround me. Their hearts are callous. With their mouths the speak with pride. They have now surrounded me and watch for a chance to throw me down. They are like hungry lions eager to pounce on me; like young lions ready to ambush. Arise, O LORD, and confront them. Stop them. Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, and from men by our hand, O LORD, from men who see the world as their reward. But you satisfy the hunger of your cherished ones. And their children have plenty, even enough to store up wealth for their children. As for me, I will see your face because I am innocent. When I awake, all I want is to see you.

James 5:16b-18

The insistent prayer of a righteous person is powerfully effective. Elijah was a person with a nature like ours. He prayed with earnest that it would not rain, and for three and one-half years it did not. Elijah prayed again - this time that it would rain. And it did - and the earth produced its fruit.

Hebrews 13:17

Obey your leaders and put yourself under their authority, for they watch over your lives, and they must answer to GOD. Let it be a joyful task for them, not a burden, for that would be of no benefit to you.

Romans 6:8-14

Since we died with CHRIST, we believe that we will also live with him. And we know that CHRIST, having been raised from the dead, will never die again because death has no power over him. For in his death, he died for sin once for all; but in his life, he lives to God. In the same way, think of yourselves as being dead to sin, but alive to GOD in CHRIST JESUS, our LORD. Therefore, do not let sin rule over your mortal body, that you should obey its desires. And do not allow your body parts to be used as instruments of sin. Instead, give yourself to GOD, as people who have been risen from the dead. Use the parts of your body as instruments of righteousness for GOD. For sin will not rule over you because you are not under the law - you are under the grace of GOD.

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the words of CHRIST abundantly live in you. Use all wisdom to teach and admonish one another with psalms, songs of praise, and spiritual songs; singing to GOD with grace in your hearts. And in everything you do, both in what you say and in how you act, do it in the NAME of the LORD, JESUS, giving thanks to GOD the FATHER through him.

James 5:13-16a

Is anyone among you suffering? Let them pray. Is anyone among you cheerful? Let them sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call for the elders of the church to pray over them, anointing them with oil in the NAME of the LORD. The prayer of faith will make a sick person well, and the LORD will raise them up. If this person has sinned, GOD will forgive them. Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other. GOD will heal you.

Luke 2:40-52

As JESUS was growing up, he became stronger and wiser, and the grace of GOD was upon him. Every year his parents went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover. When he was twelve years old, they went up to the feast, according to that custom. When the feast days were over, they were returning home, but his parents were unaware that the boy JESUS had stayed behind in Jerusalem. They had traveled for a whole day thinking he was with them in the caravan when they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. But when Joseph and Mary could not find him, they returned to Jerusalem to look for him. After three days, they found him. JESUS was sitting in the temple courtyard among the teachers, listening to them, and asking them questions. All who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. When his parents found him, they were very surprised. His mother said to him, "Son, why did you treat us like this? Your father and I were very worried about you, and we have been looking everywhere for you." JESUS asked them, "Why were you looking for me? You should know that I must be about my FATHER's business." But they did not understand the meaning of what he said to them. JESUS went with them to Nazareth and was obedient, and his mother kept these things in her heart. JESUS continued to grow taller and wiser and in favor with GOD and man.

Jude 1:17-23

Dear beloved, you must remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ said would happen. They said to you, that at the end of time there will be people who show contempt, following their own ungodly desires. These are they who set themselves apart, having only a natural heart, not the Spirit. But you, beloved, must build yoursellves up in your holy faith and pray in the Spirit. Keep yourselves in the love of God, and wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ who brings eternal life. Have compassion on those who doubt. Save others from the fire, showing mercy mixed with fear, hating even garments stained with sin.

Titus 2:11-14

The grace of God, which can save anyone, has now been revealed. It teaches us to reject ungodliness and the desires of this world, and to live godly lives in the here and now, while we wait for our blessed hope: the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. He gave himself for us to pay the ransom for our lawlessness, and to purify for himself a people of his very own that are eager to do what is good.

1 Thessalonians 2:14-20

Brothers, you became imitators of the churches of GOD in CHRIST JESUS in the land of Judea, for your own countrymen make you suffer in the same way that the Judeans make them suffer. They killed the LORD JESUS and the prophets. They drove us out. They are not pleasing GOD and they are contrary to everyone. They tried to stop us from talking to the Gentiles which would keep them from being saved. Their sins continue to pile up. But wrath has finally come upon them. But we, brothers and sisters, having been torn from you for a short time, in person, not in heart, endeavoured all the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face. We wanted to come to you, and I, Paul, more than once tried, but satan hindered us. What are we hoping for? What would make us rejoice? It is the crown of our rejoicing before the coming of the LORD JESUS. It is you. You are our glory. You are our joy.

Matthew 12:9-15; Mark 3:1-6; Luke 6:6-11

On a Sabbath day, JESUS went into the synagogue to teach the people. There was a man there with a crippled right hand. Jewish leaders were also there hoping to witness JESUS healing the man on the Sabbath so they could accuse him. JESUS knew what they were thinking, so he instructed the man to stand up in the middle of the room. When he had done so, JESUS addressed them, "Who among you would not rescue even one sheep if it fell into a pit on the Sabbath? A person is of far more value than a sheep, so is it lawful to good on the Sabbath, or to do harm? To save life, or to kill?" But they had nothing to say. Looking on them with anger, and being grieved at the callousness of their hearts, he said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." As the man did so, it was restored and just as healthy as the other hand. The Pharisees were furious, so they left and began to plot with the Herodians on how to destroy him. JESUS knew about this, so he withdrew and many people followed. He healed them all.

Matthew 5:27-28

JESUS said, "You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery;' but I am telling you that whoever looks at a woman in lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

James 5:12

More than anything else, dear brothers and sisters, do not swear.
Not by heaven, not by earth, and not by any other oath.
Let your "yes" mean "yes," and let your "no" mean "no." Swearing is hypocrisy.

2 Corinthians 6:1-2

Working together, we urge you not to receive the grace of GOD in vain. For the Scripture says, "At the right time I listened to you. On the day of salvation I helped you. Behold, now is the right time!
Now is the day of salvation!"

Hebrews 13:12-14

JESUS also, that he might sanctify the people by his own blood, suffered outside the gate. Therefore, let us go to him outside the camp, putting on his shame. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we seek the one which is to come.