WHAT IS THE CHURCH?

God has put all things under Christ’s Power and has made Him to be The Head Leader over all things of the church.
Ephesians 1:22 (NLV)

The church is the Body of Christ. It is filled by Him who fills all things everywhere with Himself.
Ephesians 1:23 (NLV)

I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy. I write this letter to you, Philemon, my good friend and companion in this work, also to our sister Apphia, to Archippus, a real trooper, and to the church that meets in your house. God’s Best to you! Christ’s Blessings on you!
Philemon 1:1-3 (MSG)

“For where two or three gather together because they are Mine, I will be right there among them.”
Matthew 18:20 (TLB)

Our bodies have many parts, but the many parts make up only one body when they are all put together. So it is with The “Body” of Christ.
I Corinthians 12:12 (TLB)

In this new life, it doesn’t matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and He lives in all of us.
Colossians 3:11 (NLT)

That’s why whenever we can we should always be kind to everyone, and especially to our Christians brothers.
Galatians 6:10 (TLB)

For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the Head of The Church. He is The Savior of His Body, The church.
Ephesians 5:23 (NLT)

For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up His Life for her.
Ephesians 5:25 (NLT)

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of The Lamb is come, and His wife made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.
Revelation 19:7-8 (KJV)

WHERE IS GOD WHEN YOU NEED HIM?

The Lord isn’t slow about keeping His promises, as some people think He is. In fact, God is patient, because He wants everyone to turn from sin and no one to be lost.
II Peter 3:9 (CEV)

But those who trust in The Lord will become strong again. They will be like eagles that grow new feathers. They will run and not get weak. They will walk and not get tired.
Isaiah 40:31 (ERV)

And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose for them.
Romans 8:23 (NLT)

Be strong! Be fearless! Don’t be afraid and don’t be scared by your enemies, because The Lord your God is the One who marches with you. He won’t let you down, and He won’t abandon you.
Deuteronomy 31:6 (CEB)

HAPPY LABOR DAY!

On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it Holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.
Genesis 2:2-3 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and His apostles didn’t even have time to eat.
Mark 6:31 (NLT)

Then Jesus said, “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take My Yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I Am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my Yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30 (NLT)

The man who goes into God’s Rest, rests from his own work the same as God rested from His Work. Let us do our best to go into that rest or we will be like the people who did not go in.
Hebrews 4:10-11 (NLV)

BLOW THE TRUMPET IN ZION!

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed!
I Corinthians 15:51 (NLT)

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed.
I Corinthians 15:52 (NLT)

WANT SOME GOOD ADVICE?

Respect and obey The Lord! This is the beginning of knowledge. Only a fool rejects wisdom and good advice.
Proverbs 1:7 (CEV)

Get all the advice and instruction you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.
Proverbs 19:20 (NLT)

Battles are won by listening to advice and making a lot of plans.
Proverbs 24:6 (CEV)

Too much pride causes trouble. Be sensible and take advice.
Proverbs 13:10 (CEV)

You can trust what your friend says, even when it hurts. But your enemies want to hurt you, even when they act nice.
Proverbs 27:6 (ERV)

A fool thinks he needs no advice, but a wise man listens to others.
Proverbs 12:15 (TLB)

Do not be fooled: “Bad friends will ruin good habits.”
I Corinthians 15:33 (ICB)

DO YOU HAVE PROBLEMS WITH PREJUDICE AND DISCRIMINATION?

Peter said to the people, “You understand that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit anyone who is not a Jew. But God has shown me that I should not consider anyone unfit or say they are not pure. That’s why I didn’t argue when your men asked me to come here. Now, please tell me why you sent for me.”
Acts 10:28-29 (ERV)

Peter began to speak: “I really understand now that God does not consider some people to be better than others. He accepts anyone who worships Him and does what is right. It is not important what nation they come from.”
Acts 10:34-35 (ERV)

In this new life one’s nationality or race or education or social position is unimportant; such things mean nothing. Whether a person has Christ is what matters, and He is equally available to all.
Colossians 3:11 (TLB)

God judges everyone the same. It doesn’t matter who they are.
Romans 2:11 (ERV)

But The Lord said to Samuel, “Eliab is tall and handsome, but don’t judge by things like that. God doesn’t look at what people see. People judge by what is on the outside, but The Lord looks at the heart. Eliab is not the right man.”
I Samuel 16:7 (ERV)

In Christ’s family there can be no division into Jew and non-Jew, slave and free, male and female. Among us you are all equal. That is, we are all in a common relationship with Jesus Christ. Also, since you are Christ’s family, then you are Abraham’s famous “descendant,” heirs according to the covenant promises.
Galatians 3:28-29 (MSG)

For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor” well, doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
James 2:2-4 (NLT)

Work happily together. Don’t try to act big. Don’t try to get into the good graces of important people, but enjoy the company of ordinary folks. And don’t think you know it all!
Romans 12:16 (TLB)

Because of the Grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.
Romans 12:3 (CEB)

“Don’t judge, so that you won’t be judged. You’ll receive the same judgment, you give. Whatever you deal out, will be dealt out to you.”
Matthew 7:1-2 (CEB)

God began by making one man, and from him, He made all the different people who live everywhere in the world. He decided exactly when and where they would live.
Acts 17:26 (ERV)

The rich and poor have this in common: The Lord made them both.
Proverbs 22:2 (NLT)

CAN TRIALS BENEFIT US?

The righteous person faces many troubles, but The Lord comes to the rescue each time.
Psalm 34:19 (NLT)

Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.
I Peter 4:12 (NLT)

The seed that fell among rocks is like people who receive The Word with joy when they hear it. Their roots are not deep so they live only a short time. When sorrow and trouble come because of The Word, they give up and fall away.
Mark 4:16-17 (NLV)

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
James 1:2-3 (NLT)

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
James 1:4 (NLT)

Yes, you will suffer for a short time. But after that, God will make everything right. He will make you strong. He will support you and keep you from falling. He is The God who gives all Grace. He chose you to share in His Glory in Christ. That Glory will continue forever.
I Peter 5:10 (ERV)

Be glad for all God is planning for you. Be patient in trouble, and prayerful always.
Romans 12:12 (TLB)

Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will give us later.
Romans 8:18 (TLB)

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the Crown Of Life that God has promised to those who love Him.
James 1:12 (NLT)

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in Me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
John 16:33 (NLT)

IS YOUR NAME WRITTEN IN THE LAMB’S BOOK OF LIFE?

The Lord will write in the book of the people, “This one was born there.”
Psalm 87:6 (NLV)

And I ask you, my true teammate, to help these women, for they worked side by side with me in telling The Good News to others; and they worked with Clement, too, and the rest of my fellow workers whose names are written in The Book Of Life.
Philippians 4:3 (TLB)

And all the nations will bring their glory and honor into the city. Nothing evil will be allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty; but only those whose names are written in The Lamb’s Book Of Life.
Revelation 21:26-27 (NLT)

“Even so, you should not be happy because the demons obey you but be happy because your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10:20 (NLV)

“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from The Book Of Life, but I will announce before My Father and His angels that they are Mine.”
Revelation 3:5 (NLT)

And all the people who belong to this world worshiped the beast. They are the ones whose names were not written in The Book Of Life that belongs to The Lamb who was slaughtered before the world was made.
Revelation 13:8 (NLT)

I saw the dead, great and small, standing before God; and The Books were opened, including The Book Of Life. And the dead were judged according to the things written in The Books, each according to the deeds he had done.
Revelation 20:12 (TLB)

And if anyone’s names was not found recorded in The Book Of Life, he was thrown into the Lake of Fire.
Revelation 20:15 (TLB)

Pile their sins up high, and don’t let them go free. Erase their names from the Book Of Life; don’t let them be counted among the righteous.
Psalm 69:27-28 (NLT)

WHAT IS SIN ALL ABOUT?

When Adam sinned, sin entered the entire human race. His sin spread death throughout all the world, so everything began to grow old and die, for all sinned.
Romans 5:12 (TLB)

For I was born a sinner, yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
Psalm 51:5 (NLT)

But anyone who believes that something he wants to do is wrong shouldn’t do it. He sins if he does, for he thinks it is wrong, and so for him it is wrong. Anything that is done apart from what he feels is right is sin.
Romans 14:23 (TLB)

The person who keeps on sinning is guilty of not obeying The Law of God. For sin is breaking The Law of God.
I John 3:4 (NLV)

When people sin, they earn what sin pays, death. But God gives his people a free gift, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 6:23 (ERV)

But now God has shown us a way to be made right with Him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago.
Romans 3:21 (NLT)

We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are.
Romans 3:22 (NLT)

For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s Glorious Standard.
Romans 3:23 (NLT)

Christ has no sin. But God made Him become sin. God did this for us so that in Christ we could become right with God.
II Corinthians 5:21 (ICB)

Jesus died in our place to take away our sins. And Jesus is The Way that all people can have their sins taken away, too.
I John 2:2 (ICB)

If we say that we have not sinned, we are fooling ourselves, and the truth isn’t in our hearts.
I John 1:8 (CEV)

But is we confess our sins to God, He can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away.
I John 1:9 (CEV)