English Worship Sermons @ Sekwang Korean Presbyterian Church

Luke 9:59-62

1 Kings 12:25-33

1 Chronicles 21:1-14

1 Samuel 17:32-40

Hebrews 12:14-17

Romans 3:22-24

John 20:24-31

1 Peter 1:3-7

Matthew 21:8-15

Is. 1:11-17, Zc. 7:1-10

Exodus 23:1-9

Ezekiel 36:24-32

Judges 2:6-11

Exodus 6:6-12

Exodus 6:6-12

Joshua 1:5-7; 24:14-15

Exod. 3:11-12, Josh.1:5-6

Luke 5

[Luke 15:17-24] 17. "When he came to his senses, he said, 'How many of my father's hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18. I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.' 20. So he got up and went to his father. "But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21. "The son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' 22. "But the father said to his servants, 'Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let's have a feast and celebrate. 24. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

[Romans 12:9-13] 9. Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good. 10. Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12. Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

[Jeremiah 7:1-11] 1. This is the word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD : 2. "Stand at the gate of the LORD's house and there proclaim this message: " 'Hear the word of the LORD, all you people of Judah who come through these gates to worship the LORD. 3. This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Reform your ways and your actions, and I will let you live in this place. 4. Do not trust in deceptive words and say, "This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD!" 5. If you really change your ways and your actions and deal with each other justly, 6. if you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, and if you do not follow other gods to your own harm, 7. then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever. 8. But look, you are trusting in deceptive words that are worthless. 9. " 'Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury, burn incense to Baal and follow other gods you have not known, 10. and then come and stand before me in this house, which bears my Name, and say, "We are safe"-safe to do all these detestable things? 11. Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the LORD.

[Hosea 11: 1-4] 1. "When Israel was a child, I loved him, and out of Egypt I called my son. 2. But the more I called Israel, the further they went from me. They sacrificed to the Baals and they burned incense to images. 3. It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. 4. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love; I lifted the yoke from their neck and bent down to feed them.

[Romans 8:12-17] 12. Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation--but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13. For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, 14. because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 15. For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." 16. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children. 17. Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

[Luke 23:34, John 14:1-3, John 17:20-23, John 19: 25-27] 34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. (Luke 23:34) “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. (John 14:1-3) 20 “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. (John 17: 20-23) 25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. (John 19:25-27)

[1 John 1:5-7; 1 John 2:9-11] 1:5. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 1:6. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. 1:7. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 2:9. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 2:10. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 2:11. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

[Matthew 5:13-16] 13. "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. 14. "You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

[Joshua 1:1-10] 1. After the death of Moses the servant of the LORD, the LORD said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses' aide: 2. "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites. 3. I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses. 4. Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates--all the Hittite country--to the Great Sea on the west. 5. No one will be able to stand up against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6. "Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. 7. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8. Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go." 10. So Joshua ordered the officers of the people:

[Ruth 4:13-17; Romans 5:6-8] Ruth 4:13. So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. Then he went to her, and the LORD enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. Ruth 4:14. The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! Ruth 4:15. He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth." Ruth 4:16. Then Naomi took the child, laid him in her lap and cared for him. Ruth 4:17. The women living there said, "Naomi has a son." And they named him Obed. He was the father of Jesse, the father of David. Romans 5:6. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Romans 5:7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. Romans 5:8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

[Galatians 6:9,10] 9. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. 10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers.

[Psalm 119:105-106; Proverbs 6:23] 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. 119:106 I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws. 6:23 For these commands are a lamp, this teaching is a light, and the corrections of discipline are the way to life,

[Ruth 1:11-13; 4:14-15] 1:11 But Naomi said, "Return home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? 1:12 Return home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me--even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- 1:13 would you wait until they grew up? Would you remain unmarried for them? No, my daughters. It is more bitter for me than for you, because the LORD's hand has gone out against me!" 4:14 The women said to Naomi: "Praise be to the LORD, who this day has not left you without a kinsman-redeemer. May he become famous throughout Israel! 4:15 He will renew your life and sustain you in your old age. For your daughter-in-law, who loves you and who is better to you than seven sons, has given him birth."

[Psalm 40:1-2] 1. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

[Psalm 40:1-5] 1. I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. 2. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. 3. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD. 4. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods. 5. Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.

[John 15:9-11] 9. "As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10. If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. 11. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

[Romans 5:1-8] 1. Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2. through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4. perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. 6. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. 8. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

[1 Corinthians 12:12-31] 12. The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. 13. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink. 14. Now the body is not made up of one part but of many. 15. If the foot should say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 16. And if the ear should say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body," it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 17. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18. But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. 19. If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20. As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I don't need you!" And the head cannot say to the feet, "I don't need you!" 22. On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23. and the parts that we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are unpresentable are treated with special modesty, 24. while our presentable parts need no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25. so that there should be no division in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. 26. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it. 28. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration, and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30. Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31. But eagerly desire the greater gifts. And now I will show you the most excellent way.

[1 Corinthians 12:4-6] 4. There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. 6. There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men.

[1 Corinthians 11:23-29] 23. For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24. and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, "This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me." 25. In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, "This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me." 26. For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes. 27. Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. 28. A man ought to examine himself before he eats of the bread and drinks of the cup. 29. For anyone who eats and drinks without recognizing the body of the Lord eats and drinks judgment on himself.

[1 Corinthians 10:23-26, 31-33] 23. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"--but not everything is constructive. 24. Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others. 25. Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience, 26. for, "The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it." 31. So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32. Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God-- 33. even as I try to please everybody in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.

[2 Timothy 3:14-17] 14. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, 15. and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17. so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

[1 Corinthians 9:19-23] 19. Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21. To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God's law but am under Christ's law), so as to win those not having the law. 22. To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23. I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

[1 Corinthians 4:1-2] 1. So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted with the secret things of God. 2. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.

[1 Corinthians 3:1-9] 1. Brothers, I could not address you as spiritual but as worldly--mere infants in Christ. 2. I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. 3. You are still worldly. For since there is jealousy and quarreling among you, are you not worldly? Are you not acting like mere men? 4. For when one says, "I follow Paul," and another, "I follow Apollos," are you not mere men? 5. What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe--as the Lord has assigned to each his task. 6. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. 7. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. 8. The man who plants and the man who waters have one purpose, and each will be rewarded according to his own labor. 9. For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building.

[1 Corinthians 2:10-16] 10. but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12. We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. 14. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. 15. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: 16. "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

[1 Corinthians 1:20-31] 20. Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21. For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22. Jews demand miraculous signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23. but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24. but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. 26. Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things--and the things that are not--to nullify the things that are, 29. so that no one may boast before him. 30. It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31. Therefore, as it is written: "Let him who boasts boast in the Lord."

[Romans 3:21-24] 21. But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23. for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

[Romans 1:16-17] 16. I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith."

[Romans 1:8-12] 8. First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. 9. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you 10. in my prayers at all times; and I pray that now at last by God's will the way may be opened for me to come to you. 11. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong-- 12. that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith.

[Acts 28:23-24, 30-31] 23. They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. From morning till evening he explained and declared to them the kingdom of God and tried to convince them about Jesus from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24. Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 30. For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31. Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.

[Matthew 3:16-17] 16. As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him. 17. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

[Acts 20:22-24] 22. "And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23. I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24. However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me--the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace.

[Acts 18:9-17] 9. One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: "Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. 10. For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city." 11. So Paul stayed for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God. 12. While Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews made a united attack on Paul and brought him into court. 13. "This man," they charged, "is persuading the people to worship God in ways contrary to the law." 14. Just as Paul was about to speak, Gallio said to the Jews, "If you Jews were making a complaint about some misdemeanor or serious crime, it would be reasonable for me to listen to you. 15. But since it involves questions about words and names and your own law--settle the matter yourselves. I will not be a judge of such things." 16. So he had them ejected from the court. 17. Then they all turned on Sosthenes the synagogue ruler and beat him in front of the court. But Gallio showed no concern whatever.

[Rom. 1:1; Gal. 1:1; Eph. 1:1; Col. 1:1] Rom. 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God Gal. 1:1 Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead Eph. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus Gol. 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother

[Acts 16:6-10] 6. Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8. So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9. During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10. After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

[Acts 15:5-11] 1. Some men came down from Judea to Antioch and were teaching the brothers: "Unless you are circumcised, according to the custom taught by Moses, you cannot be saved." 2. This brought Paul and Barnabas into sharp dispute and debate with them. So Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question. 3. The church sent them on their way, and as they traveled through Phoenicia and Samaria, they told how the Gentiles had been converted. This news made all the brothers very glad. 4. When they came to Jerusalem, they were welcomed by the church and the apostles and elders, to whom they reported everything God had done through them. 5. Then some of the believers who belonged to the party of the Pharisees stood up and said, "The Gentiles must be circumcised and required to obey the law of Moses." 6. The apostles and elders met to consider this question. 7. After much discussion, Peter got up and addressed them: "Brothers, you know that some time ago God made a choice among you that the Gentiles might hear from my lips the message of the gospel and believe. 8. God, who knows the heart, showed that he accepted them by giving the Holy Spirit to them, just as he did to us. 9. He made no distinction between us and them, for he purified their hearts by faith. 10. Now then, why do you try to test God by putting on the necks of the disciples a yoke that neither we nor our fathers have been able to bear? 11. No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are."

[Acts 11:1-18] 1. The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. 2. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him 3. and said, "You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them." 4. Peter began and explained everything to them precisely as it had happened: 5. "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was. 6. I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7. Then I heard a voice telling me, 'Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.' 8. "I replied, 'Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' 9. "The voice spoke from heaven a second time, 'Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.' 10. This happened three times, and then it was all pulled up to heaven again. 11. "Right then three men who had been sent to me from Caesarea stopped at the house where I was staying. 12. The Spirit told me to have no hesitation about going with them. These six brothers also went with me, and we entered the man's house. 13. He told us how he had seen an angel appear in his house and say, 'Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. 14. He will bring you a message through which you and all your household will be saved.' 15. "As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit came on them as he had come on us at the beginning. 16. Then I remembered what the Lord had said: 'John baptized withwater, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' 17. So if God gave them the same gift as he gave us, who believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I to think that I could oppose God?" 18. When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life."

[Acts 9:1-20] 1. Meanwhile, Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2. and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3. As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5. "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7. The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. 10. In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. 11. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. 12. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." 13. "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. 14. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." 15. But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. 16. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." 17. Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." 18. Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, 19. and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. 20. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God.

[Acts 5:29-39] 29. Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than men! 30. The God of our fathers raised Jesus from the dead--whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. 31. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and forgiveness of sins to Israel. 32. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him." 33. When they heard this, they were furious and wanted to put them to death. 34. But a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, who was honored by all the people, stood up in the Sanhedrin and ordered that the men be put outside for a little while. 35. Then he addressed them: "Men of Israel, consider carefully what you intend to do to these men. 36. Some time ago Theudas appeared, claiming to be somebody, and about four hundred men rallied to him. He was killed, all his followers were dispersed, and it all came to nothing. 37. After him, Judas the Galilean appeared in the days of the census and led a band of people in revolt. He too was killed, and all his followers were scattered. 38. Therefore, in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone! Let them go! For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. 39. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God."

[Acts 4:5-22] 5. The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem. 6. Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family. 7. They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?" 8. Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people! 9. If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed, 10. then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed. 11. He is " 'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.' 12. Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved." 13. When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. 14. But since they could see the man who had been healed standing there with them, there was nothing they could say. 15. So they ordered them to withdraw from the Sanhedrin and then conferred together. 16. "What are we going to do with these men?" they asked. "Everybody living in Jerusalem knows they have done an outstanding miracle, and we cannot deny it. 17. But to stop this thing from spreading any further among the people, we must warn these men to speak no longer to anyone in this name." 18. Then they called them in again and commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. 19. But Peter and John replied, "Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to obey you rather than God. 20. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." 21. After further threats they let them go. They could not decide how to punish them, because all the people were praising God for what had happened. 22. For the man who was miraculously healed was over forty years old.

[Galatians 5:16-26] 16. So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. 18. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law. 19. The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20. idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21. and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23. gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.

[Acts 2:1-4, 14-21] 1. When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 14. Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15. These men are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16. No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17. " 'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19. I will show wonders in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20. The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21. And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.'

[Acts 1:4-8] 4. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit." 6. So when they met together, they asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" 7. He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."

[John 20:21-23] 20. Again Jesus said, "Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 21. And with that he breathed on them and said, "Receive the Holy Spirit. 23. If you forgive anyone his sins, they are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven."

[Matthew 21:6-11] 6. The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Hosanna in the highest!" 10. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?" 11. The crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee."

[Luke 15:1-10] 1. Now the tax collectors and "sinners" were all gathering around to hear him. 2. But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law muttered, "This man welcomes sinners and eats with them." 3. Then Jesus told them this parable: 4. "Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? 5. And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders 6. and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' 7. I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent. 8. "Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Does she not light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? 9. And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.' 10. In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents."

[Luke 19:1-10] 1. Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2. A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5. When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6. So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7. All the people saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.' " 8. But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord, "Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount." 9. Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10. For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."

[Colossians 4:5-6] 5. Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. 6. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

[Colossians 3:5-17] 5. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. 6. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. 7. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8. But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10. and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. 11. Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all. 12. Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. 16. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. 17. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

[2 Corinthians 12:9-10] 9. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. 10. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

[1 John 2:9-11] 9. Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. 10. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. 11. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him.

[Mark 12:41-44] 41. Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. 42. But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents. 43. Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. 44. They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything - all she had to live on.”

[John 21:15-19] 15. When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" "Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." 16. Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?" He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep." 17. The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you." 18. Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." 19. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!"

[John 13:12-15] 12. When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them. 13. "You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. 15. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

[2 Corinthians 5:16-21] 16. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. 17. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19. that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 20. We are therefore Christ's ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ's behalf: Be reconciled to God. 21. God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

[Matthew 16:13-16] 13. When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, "Who do people say the Son of Man is?" 14. They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets." 15. "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" 16. Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

[Psalm 34:8, 1 Peter 2:2-3] (Ps. 34:8) Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in him. (1 Pet. 2:2) Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, (1 Pet. 2:3) now that you have tasted that the Lord is good.