Spiritual Leadership

But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellence of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

Jesus summoned them, and said to them, “You know that they who are recognized as rulers over the nations lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. — read the full passage →

but Christ is faithful as a Son over his house; whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the glorying of our hope firm to the end.

subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ. — read the full passage →

Give diligence to present yourself approved by God, a workman who doesn’t need to be ashamed, properly handling the Word of Truth.

In the same way, wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; so that, even if any don’t obey the Word, they may be won by the behavior of their wives without a word; — read the full passage →

The overseer therefore must be without reproach, the husband of one wife, temperate, sensible, modest, hospitable, good at teaching;

But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God. — read the full passage →

It is the spirit who gives life. The flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and are life.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.

Fathers, don’t provoke your children, so that they won’t be discouraged.

Wives, be in subjection to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.

But I would have you know that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is the man, and the head of Christ is God.

Take heed, therefore, to yourselves, and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.

For you are all children of God, through faith in Christ Jesus. — read the full passage →

“If your brother sins against you, go, show him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother. — read the full passage →

You husbands, in the same way, live with your wives according to knowledge, giving honor to the woman, as to the weaker vessel, as being also joint heirs of the grace of life; that your prayers may not be hindered.

if anyone is blameless, the husband of one wife, having children who believe, who are not accused of loose or unruly behavior.

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching.

whose end is destruction, whose god is the belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who think about earthly things.

Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of the mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.

For the husband is the head of the wife, and Christ also is the head of the assembly, being himself the savior of the body.

but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, Christ; — read the full passage →

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

The elder to Gaius the beloved, whom I love in truth. — read the full passage →

Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind; for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin; — read the full passage →

Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they watch on behalf of your souls, as those who will give account, that they may do this with joy, and not with groaning, for that would be unprofitable for you.

For many walk, of whom I told you often, and now tell you even weeping, as the enemies of the cross of Christ,

for I know your readiness, of which I boast on your behalf to them of Macedonia, that Achaia has been prepared for a year past. Your zeal has stirred up very many of them.

Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? — read the full passage →

As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one. — read the full passage →

Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.

They will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him; for they don’t know the voice of strangers.”

Remember your leaders, men who spoke to you the word of God, and considering the results of their conduct, imitate their faith.

Be careful that you don’t let anyone rob you through his philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the elements of the world, and not after Christ.

You fathers, don’t provoke your children to wrath, but nurture them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.

Wives, be subject to your own husbands, as to the Lord. — read the full passage →

Dare any of you, having a matter against his neighbor, go to law before the unrighteous, and not before the saints? — read the full passage →

But not so with you. But one who is the greater among you, let him become as the younger, and one who is governing, as one who serves.

He called to himself his twelve disciples, and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and every sickness.

“Also when a woman vows a vow to Yahweh, and binds herself by a bond, being in her father’s house, in her youth, — read the full passage →

“Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and tell them, ‘You shall be holy; for I, Yahweh your God, am holy.

God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the birds of the sky, and over the livestock, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” — read the full passage →

This is the Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things which must happen soon, which he sent and made known by his angel to his servant, John, — read the full passage →

You also, as living stones, are built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.

Greet all of your leaders and all the saints. The Italians greet you.

For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you,

and not holding firmly to the Head, from whom all the body, being supplied and knit together through the joints and ligaments, grows with God’s growth.

Now the promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. He doesn’t say, “To seeds”, as of many, but as of one, “To your seed”, which is Christ.

Therefore it is already altogether a defect in you, that you have lawsuits one with another. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be defrauded?

If then, you have to judge things pertaining to this life, do you set them to judge who are of no account in the assembly?

Which things also we speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual things.

Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.

When they had appointed elders for them in every assembly, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they had believed.

Whenever he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life. — read the full passage →

neither will they say, ‘Look, here!’ or, ‘Look, there!’ for behold, the Kingdom of God is within you.”

It shall not be so among you, but whoever desires to become great among you shall beyour servant.

Yahweh said to Moses, “Take Joshua the son of Nun, a man in whom is the Spirit, and lay your hand on him. — read the full passage →

Then you shall kill the ram, and take some of its blood, and put it on the tip of the right ear of Aaron, and on the tip of the right ear of his sons, and on the thumb of their right hand, and on the big toe of their right foot, and sprinkle the blood around on the altar.

I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth have passed away, and the sea is no more. — read the full passage →

I wrote to the assembly, but Diotrephes, who loves to be first among them, doesn’t accept what we say. — read the full passage →

Let no man despise your youth; but be an example to those who believe, in word, in your way of life, in love, in spirit, in faith, and in purity.

This is a faithful saying: if a man seeks the office of an overseer, he desires a good work. — read the full passage →

I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.

doing nothing through rivalry or through conceit, but in humility, each counting others better than himself;

that he might sanctify it, having cleansed it by the washing of water with the word, — read the full passage →

Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up.

or he who exhorts, to his exhorting: he who gives, let him do it with liberality; he who rules, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to his purpose.

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the Good News of God,

From Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called to himself the elders of the assembly.

He must increase, but I must decrease.

Therefore whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.

Seeing the multitudes, he went up onto the mountain. When he had sat down, his disciples came to him. — read the full passage →

“Before I formed you in the belly, I knew you. Before you came out of the womb, I sanctified you. I have appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.

I have no greater joy than this, to hear about my children walking in truth.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Blessed is the man who endures temptation, for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life, which the Lord promised to those who love him.

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are in the Dispersion: Greetings.

holding to the faithful word which is according to the teaching, that he may be able to exhort in the sound doctrine, and to convict those who contradict him.

For the overseer must be blameless, as God’s steward; not self-pleasing, not easily angered, not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for dishonest gain;

I left you in Crete for this reason, that you would set in order the things that were lacking, and appoint elders in every city, as I directed you;

Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, — read the full passage →

Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and in teaching. — read the full passage →

Pay attention to yourself, and to your teaching. Continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.

But I don’t permit a woman to teach, nor to exercise authority over a man, but to be in quietness.

I exhort therefore, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and givings of thanks, be made for all men: — read the full passage →

subjecting yourselves one to another in the fear of Christ.

He gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, shepherds and teachers; — read the full passage →

Did you suffer so many things in vain, if it is indeed in vain?

Doesn’t even nature itself teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a dishonor to him?

Be imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ. — read the full passage →

They continued steadfastly in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and prayer.

They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other languages, as the Spirit gave them the ability to speak.