Amos 6:1-7 (New International Reader's Version)

1 How terrible it will be for you men
who are so contented on Mount Zion!
How terrible for you who feel secure
on the hill of Samaria!
You are famous men from the greatest nation.
The people of Israel come to you
for help and advice.

2 Go to the city of Calneh. Look at it.
Go from there to the great city of Hamath.
Then go down to Gath in Philistia.
Are those places better off than your two kingdoms?
Is their land larger than yours?

3 You are trying to avoid the time
when trouble will come.
But you are only bringing closer
the Assyrian rule of terror.

4 You lie down on beds
that are decorated with ivory.
You rest on your couches.
You eat the best lambs
and the fattest calves.

5 You pluck away on your harps as David did.
You play new songs on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful.
You use the finest lotions.
But Joseph's people will soon be destroyed.
And you aren't even sad about it.

7 So you will be among the first
to be taken away as prisoners.
You won't be able to enjoy good food.
You won't lie around on couches anymore.

Psalm 91:1-6; Psalm 91:14-16 (New International Reader's Version)

1 The person who rests in the shadow of the Most High God
will be kept safe by the Mighty One.

2 I will say about the Lord,
"He is my place of safety.
He is like a fort to me.
He is my God. I trust in him."

3 He will certainly save you from hidden traps
and from deadly sickness.

4 He will cover you with his wings.
Under the feathers of his wings you will find safety.
He is faithful. He will keep you safe like a shield or a tower.

5 You won't have to be afraid of the terrors that come during the night.
You won't have to fear the arrows that come at you during the day.

6 You won't have to be afraid of the sickness that attacks in the darkness.
You won't have to fear the plague that destroys at noon.


14 The Lord says, "I will save the one who loves me.
I will keep him safe, because he trusts in me.

15 He will call out to me, and I will answer him.
I will be with him in times of trouble.
I will save him and honor him.

16 I will give him a long and full life.
I will save him."

Luke 16:19-31 (New International Reader's Version)

19 "Once there was a rich man. He was dressed in purple cloth and fine linen. He lived an easy life every day. 20 A man named Lazarus was placed at his gate. Lazarus was a beggar. His body was covered with sores. 21 Even dogs came and licked his sores. All he wanted was to eat what fell from the rich man's table.

22 "The time came when the beggar died. The angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In hell, the rich man was suffering terribly. He looked up and saw Abraham far away. Lazarus was by his side. 24 So the rich man called out, 'Father Abraham! Have pity on me! Send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water. Then he can cool my tongue with it. I am in terrible pain in this fire.'

25 "But Abraham replied, 'Son, remember what happened in your lifetime. You received your good things. Lazarus received bad things. Now he is comforted here, and you are in terrible pain. 26 Besides, a wide space has been placed between us and you. So those who want to go from here to you can't go. And no one can cross over from there to us.'

27 "The rich man answered, 'Then I beg you, father. Send Lazarus to my family. 28 I have five brothers. Let Lazarus warn them. Then they will not come to this place of terrible suffering.'

29 "Abraham replied, 'They have the teachings of Moses and the Prophets. Let your brothers listen to them.'

30 " 'No, father Abraham,' he said. 'But if someone from the dead goes to them, they will turn away from their sins.'

31 "Abraham said to him, 'They do not listen to Moses and the Prophets. So they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.' "

1 Timothy 6:6-19 (New International Reader's Version)

6 You gain a lot when you live a godly life. But you must be happy with what you have. 7 We didn't bring anything into the world. We can't take anything out of it. 8 If we have food and clothing, we will be happy with that.

9 People who want to get rich are tempted. They fall into a trap. They are tripped up by wanting many foolish and harmful things. Those who live like that are dragged down by what they do. They are destroyed and die.

10 Love for money causes all kinds of evil. Some people want to get rich. They have wandered away from the faith. They have wounded themselves with many sorrows.

11 But you are a man of God. Run away from all of those things. Try hard to do what is right and godly. Have faith, love and gentleness. Hold on to what you believe. 12 Fight the good fight along with all other believers. Take hold of eternal life. You were chosen for it when you openly told others what you believe. Many witnesses heard you.

13 God gives life to everything. Christ Jesus told the truth when he gave witness to Pontius Pilate. In the sight of God and Christ, I give you a command. 14 Obey it until our Lord Jesus Christ appears. Obey it completely. Then no one can find fault with it or you.

15 God will bring Jesus back at a time that pleases him. God is the blessed and only Ruler. He is the greatest King of all. He is the most powerful Lord of all. 16 God is the only one who can't die. He lives in light that no one can get close to. No one has seen him. No one can see him.
Give honor and power to him forever. Amen.

17 Command people who are rich in this world not to be proud. Tell them not to put their hope in riches. Wealth is so uncertain. Command those who are rich to put their hope in God. He richly provides us with everything to enjoy.

18 Command the rich to do what is good. Tell them to be rich in doing good things. They must give freely. They must be willing to share. 19 In that way they will put riches away for themselves. It will provide a firm basis for the next life. Then they will take hold of the life that really is life.

Psalm 146 (The Message)

1-2 Hallelujah! O my soul, praise God!
All my life long I'll praise God,
singing songs to my God as long as I live.

3-9 Don't put your life in the hands of experts
who know nothing of life, of salvation life.
Mere humans don't have what it takes;
when they die, their projects die with them.
Instead, get help from the God of Jacob,
put your hope in God and know real blessing!
God made sky and soil,
sea and all the fish in it.
He always does what he says—
he defends the wronged,
he feeds the hungry.
God frees prisoners—
he gives sight to the blind,
he lifts up the fallen.
God loves good people, protects strangers,
takes the side of orphans and widows,
but makes short work of the wicked.

10 God's in charge—always.
Zion's God is God for good!
Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 32:1-15 (New International Reader's Version)

1 A message came to me from the Lord. It came in the 10th year that Zedekiah was king of Judah. It was in the 18th year of the rule of Nebuchadnezzar. 2 The armies of the king of Babylonia were getting ready to attack Jerusalem. I, the prophet Jeremiah, was being held as a prisoner. I was kept in the courtyard of the guard. It was part of Judah's royal palace.

3 Zedekiah, the king of Judah, had made me a prisoner there. He had said to me, "Why do you prophesy as you do? You say, 'The Lord says, "I am about to hand this city over to the king of Babylonia. He will capture it.

4 " ' "Zedekiah, the king of Judah, will not escape from the powerful hands of the armies of Babylonia. He will certainly be handed over to the king of Babylonia. Zedekiah will speak with him face to face. He will see him with his own eyes. 5 Nebuchadnezzar will take Zedekiah to Babylon. Zedekiah will remain there until I deal with him," announces the Lord. "Suppose you fight against the armies of Babylonia. If you do, you will not succeed." ' "

6 I said, "A message came to me from the Lord. He said, 7 'Hanamel is going to come to you. He is the son of your uncle Shallum. Hanamel will say, "Buy my field at Anathoth. You are my closest relative. So it's your right and duty to buy it." '

8 "Then my cousin Hanamel came to me. I was in the courtyard of the guard. It happened just as the Lord had said it would. Hanamel said, 'Buy my field at Anathoth. It is in the territory of Benjamin. It is your right to buy it and own it. So buy it for yourself.'
"I knew that this was the Lord's message. 9 So I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel. I weighed out seven ounces of silver for him. 10 I signed and sealed the deed of purchase. I had some people witness everything. And I weighed out the silver on the scales.

11 "There were two copies of the deed. One was sealed and the other wasn't. The deed included the terms and conditions of the sale. 12 I gave Baruch the copies of the deed. My cousin Hanamel saw me do it. The witnesses who had signed the deed were there too. So were all of the Jews who were sitting in the courtyard of the guard. Baruch was the son of Neriah. Neriah was the son of Mahseiah.

13 "I gave Baruch directions in front of all of them. I said, 14 'The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "Take this deed of purchase. Take the sealed and unsealed copies. Put them in a clay jar. Then they will last a long time." 15 The Lord who rules over all is the God of Israel. He says, "Houses, fields and vineyards will again be bought in this land." '

christian parenting

www.billygraham.org/DMag_article.asp?ArticleID=872

psalm 79

1 God, an army from the nations has attacked your land.
They have polluted your holy temple.
They have completely destroyed Jerusalem.

2 They have given the dead bodies of your people
as food to the birds of the air.
They have given the bodies of your faithful people
to the animals of the earth.

3 They have poured out the blood of your people like water
all around Jerusalem.
No one is left to bury the dead.

4 We are something our neighbors joke about.
The nations around us laugh at us and make fun of us.

5 Lord, how long will you be angry with us? Will it be forever?
How long will your jealousy burn like fire?

6 Pour out your burning anger on the nations
that don't pay any attention to you.
Pour it out on the kingdoms
that don't worship you.

7 They have swallowed up the people of Jacob.
They have destroyed Israel's homeland.

8 Don't hold against us the sins of our people who lived before us.
May you be quick to show us your tender love.
We are in great need.

9 God our Savior, help us.
Then glory will come to you.
Be true to your name.
Save us and forgive our sins.

10 Why should the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
Show the nations that you punish those who kill your people.
We want to see it happen.

11 Listen to the groans of the prisoners.
Use your powerful arm
to save the lives of those who have been sentenced to death.

12 Lord, our neighbors have laughed at you.
Pay them back seven times for what they have done.

13 We are your people. We are your very own sheep.
We will praise you forever.
For all time to come
we will keep on praising you.

Amos 8:4-7 (The Message)

4-6 Listen to this, you who walk all over the weak, you who treat poor people as less than nothing, Who say, "When's my next paycheck coming so I can go out and live it up? How long till the weekend when I can go out and have a good time? "Who give little and take much, and never do an honest day's work.You exploit the poor, using them— and then, when they're used up, you discard them.

7-8 God swears against the arrogance of Jacob: "I'm keeping track of their every last sin."God's oath will shake earth's foundations, dissolve the whole world into tears. God's oath will sweep in like a river that rises, flooding houses and lands, And then recedes, leaving behind a sea of mud.

Luke 16:1-13 (New International Reader's Version)

The Story of the Clever Manager

1 Jesus told his disciples another story. He said, "There was a rich man who had a manager. Some said that the manager was wasting what the rich man owned. 2 So the rich man told him to come in. He asked him, 'What is this I hear about you? Tell me exactly how you have handled what I own. You can't be my manager any longer.'

3 "The manager said to himself, 'What will I do now? My master is taking away my job. I'm not strong enough to dig. And I'm too ashamed to beg. 4 I know what I'm going to do. I'll do something so that when I lose my job here, people will welcome me into their houses.'

5 "So he called in each person who owed his master something. He asked the first one, 'How much do you owe my master?'

6 " 'I owe 800 gallons of olive oil,' he replied.
"The manager told him, 'Take your bill. Sit down quickly and change it to 400 gallons.'

7 "Then he asked the second one, 'And how much do you owe?'
" 'I owe 1,000 bushels of wheat,' he replied.
"The manager told him, 'Take your bill and change it to 800 bushels.'

8 "The manager had not been honest. But the master praised him for being clever. The people of this world are clever in dealing with those who are like themselves. They are more clever than God's people.

9 "I tell you, use the riches of this world to help others. In that way, you will make friends for yourselves. Then when your riches are gone, you will be welcomed into your eternal home in heaven.

10 "Suppose you can be trusted with very little. Then you can be trusted with a lot. But suppose you are not honest with very little. Then you will not be honest with a lot.

11 "Suppose you have not been worthy of trust in handling worldly wealth. Then who will trust you with true riches? 12 Suppose you have not been worthy of trust in handling someone else's property. Then who will give you property of your own?

13 "No servant can serve two masters at the same time. He will hate one of them and love the other. Or he will be faithful to one and dislike the other. You can't serve God and Money at the same time."

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (The Message)

1-3 The first thing I want you to do is pray. Pray every way you know how, for everyone you know. Pray especially for rulers and their governments to rule well so we can be quietly about our business of living simply, in humble contemplation. This is the way our Savior God wants us to live.

4-7 He wants not only us but everyone saved, you know, everyone to get to know the truth we've learned: that there's one God and only one, and one Priest-Mediator between God and us—Jesus, who offered himself in exchange for everyone held captive by sin, to set them all free. Eventually the news is going to get out. This and this only has been my appointed work: getting this news to those who have never heard of God, and explaining how it works by simple faith and plain truth.

Psalm 113 (The Message)

1-3 Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God!
Just to speak his name is praise!
Just to remember God is a blessing—
now and tomorrow and always.
From east to west, from dawn to dusk,
keep lifting all your praises to God!

4-9 God is higher than anything and anyone,
outshining everything you can see in the skies.
Who can compare with God, our God,
so majestically enthroned,
Surveying his magnificent
heavens and earth?
He picks up the poor from out of the dirt,
rescues the wretched who've been thrown out with the trash,
Seats them among the honored guests,
a place of honor among the brightest and best.
He gives childless couples a family,
gives them joy as the parents of children.
Hallelujah!

Jeremiah 8:18-9:1 (New International Reader's Version)

18 Lord, my heart is weak inside me.
You comfort me when I'm sad.

19 Listen to the cries of my people from a land far away.
They cry out, "Isn't the Lord in Zion?
Isn't its King there anymore?"
The Lord says, "Why have they made me so angry by worshiping their wooden gods?
Why have they made me angry with their worthless statues of gods from other lands?"

20 The people say, "The harvest is over.
The summer has ended.
And we still haven't been saved."

21 My people are crushed, so I am crushed.
I sob, and I am filled with horror.

22 Isn't there any healing lotion in Gilead?
Isn't there a doctor there?
Then why doesn't someone heal the wounds of my people?

1 I wish my head were a spring of water! I wish my eyes were a fountain of tears! I would sob day and night over my people who have been killed.

paul warns us about false teachers

1 Timothy 1 (New International Reader's Version)

1 I, Paul, am writing this letter. I am an apostle of Christ Jesus, just as God our Savior commanded. Christ Jesus also commanded it. We have put our hope in him.

2 Timothy, I am sending you this letter. You are my true son in the faith.
May God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord give you grace, mercy and peace.

3 Stay there in Ephesus. That is what I told you to do when I went into Macedonia. I want you to command certain people not to teach things that aren't true. 4 Command them not to spend their time on stories that aren't completely true. They must not waste time on family histories that never end. Things like that cause people to argue instead of doing God's work. His work is done by faith.

5 Love is the purpose of my command. Love comes from a pure heart. It comes from a good sense of what is right and wrong. It comes from faith that is honest and true.

6 Some have wandered away from those teachings. They would rather talk about things that have no meaning. 7 They want to be teachers of the law. And they are very sure about that law. But they don't know what they are talking about.

8 We know that the law is good if it is used properly. 9 We also know that the law isn't made for godly people. It is made for those who break the law. It is for those who refuse to obey. It is for ungodly and sinful people. It is for those who aren't holy and who don't believe. It is for those who kill their fathers or mothers. It is for murderers.

10 It is for those who commit adultery. It is for those who have a twisted view of sex. It is for people who buy and sell slaves. It is for liars. It is for those who give witness to things that aren't true. And it is for anything else that is the opposite of true teaching.

11 True teaching agrees with the glorious good news of the blessed God. He trusted me with that good news.

12 I am thankful to Christ Jesus our Lord. He has given me strength. I thank him that he considered me faithful. And I thank him for appointing me to serve him.

13 I used to speak evil things against Jesus. I tried to hurt his followers. I really pushed them around. But God showed me mercy anyway. I did those things without knowing any better. I wasn't a believer.

14 Our Lord poured out more and more of his grace on me. Along with it came faith and love from Christ Jesus.

15 Here is a saying that you can trust. It should be accepted completely. Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners.
And I am the worst sinner of all. 16 But for that very reason, God showed me mercy. And I am the worst of sinners. He showed me mercy so that Christ Jesus could show that he is very patient. I was an example for those who would come to believe in him. Then they would receive eternal life.

17 The eternal King will never die. He can't be seen. He is the only God. Give him honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.

18 My son Timothy, I give you these teachings. They are in keeping with the prophecies that were once made about you. By following them, you can fight the good fight. 19 Then you will hold on to faith. You will hold on to a good sense of what is right and wrong. Some have not accepted these teachings. By doing that, they have destroyed their faith. They are like a ship that has sunk. 20 Hymenaeus and Alexander are among them. I have handed them over to Satan. That will teach them not to speak evil things against God.

more words that we the people of the united states should heed

Psalm 1 (New International Reader's Version)

1 Blessed is the one who obeys the law of the Lord. He doesn't follow the advice of evil people. He doesn't make a habit of doing what sinners do. He doesn't join those who make fun of the Lord and his law.

2 Instead, he takes delight in the law of the Lord. He thinks about his law day and night. 3 He is like a tree that is planted near a stream of water. It always bears its fruit at the right time. Its leaves don't dry up. Everything godly people do turns out well. 4 Sinful people are not like that at all. They are like straw that the wind blows away. 5 When the Lord judges them, their life will come to an end. Sinners won't have any place among those who are godly.

6 The Lord watches over the lives of those who are godly. But the lives of sinful people will lead to their death.

these are words that america needs to pay attention to

Jeremiah 4 (New International Reader's Version)

1 "If you will return, Israel, return to me,"
announces the Lord. "Put the statues of your gods out of my sight. I hate them. Stop going down the wrong path. 2 Take all of your oaths in my name. Say, 'You can be sure that the Lord is alive.' Let all of your promises be truthful, fair and honest. Then I will bless the nations. And they will take delight in me."

3 Here is what the Lord is telling the people of Judah and Jerusalem. He says, "Your hearts are as hard as a field that has not been plowed. So change your ways and produce good crops. Do not plant seeds among thorns. 4 People of Judah and Jerusalem, obey me. Do not let your hearts be stubborn. If you do, my anger will blaze out against you. It will burn like fire because of the evil things you have done. No one will be able to put it out.

5 "Announce my message in Judah. Tell it in Jerusalem. Say, 'Blow trumpets all through the land!' Give a loud shout and say, 'Gather together! Let's run to cities that have high walls around them!' 6 Warn everyone to go to Zion! Run for safety! Do not wait! I am bringing trouble from the north. Everything will be totally destroyed." 7 Lions have come out of their den. Those who destroy nations have begun to march out. They have left their place to destroy your land completely. Your towns will be broken to pieces. No one will live in them. 8 So put on black clothes. Sob and cry over what has happened. The Lord hasn't turned his burning anger away from us. 9 "A dark day is coming," announces the Lord. "The king and his officials will lose hope. The priests will be shocked. And the prophets will be terrified."

10 Then I said, "You are my Lord and King. You have completely tricked the people of Judah and Jerusalem. You have told them, 'You will have peace and rest.' But swords are pointed at our throats."

11 At that time the people of Judah and Jerusalem will be warned. They will be told, "A hot and dry wind is coming, my people. It is blowing toward you from the bare hilltops in the desert. But it does not separate straw from grain. 12 It is much too strong for that. The wind is coming from me. I am making my decision against you." 13 Look! Our enemies are approaching like the clouds. Their chariots are coming like a strong wind. Their horses are faster than eagles. How terrible it will be for us! We'll be destroyed! 14 People of Jerusalem, wash your sins from your hearts and be saved. How long will you hold on to your evil thoughts? 15 A voice is speaking all the way from the city of Dan. From the hills of Ephraim it announces that trouble is coming.

16 "Tell the nations. Warn Jerusalem. Say, 'An army will attack you. It is coming from a land far away. It will shout a war cry against the cities of Judah. 17 It will surround them like people who guard a field. Judah has refused to obey me,' " announces the Lord. 18 "The army will attack you because of your conduct and actions. That is how you will be punished. It will be so bitter! It will cut deep down into your hearts!" 19 I'm suffering! I'm really suffering! I'm hurting badly. My heart is suffering so much! It's pounding inside me. I can't keep silent. I've heard the sound of trumpets. I've heard the battle cry. 20 One trouble follows another. The whole land is destroyed. In an instant my tents are gone. My home disappears in a moment. 21 How long must I look at our enemy's battle flag? How long must I hear the sound of the trumpets?
22 The Lord says, "My people are foolish. They do not know me. They are children who do not have any sense. They have no understanding at all. They are skilled in doing what is evil. They do not know how to do what is good." 23 I looked at the earth. It didn't have any shape. And it was empty. I looked at the sky. Its light was gone. 24 I looked at the mountains. They were shaking. All of the hills were swaying. 25 I looked. And there weren't any people. Every bird in the sky had flown away. 26 I looked. And the fruitful land had become a desert. All of its towns were destroyed. The Lord had done all of that because of his burning anger.

27 The Lord says, "The whole land will be destroyed. But I will not destroy it completely. 28 So the earth will be filled with sadness. The sky above will grow dark. I have spoken, and I will not take pity on them. I have made my decision, and I will not change my mind." 29 People can hear the sound of horsemen. Men who are armed with bows are coming. The people in every town run away. Some of them go into the bushes. Others climb up among the rocks. All of the towns are deserted. No one is living in them. 30 What are you doing, you who are destroyed? Why do you dress yourself in bright red clothes? Why do you put on jewels of gold? Why do you put makeup on your eyes? You make yourself beautiful for no reason at all. Your lovers hate you. They are trying to kill you. 31 I hear a cry like the cry of a woman having a baby. I hear a groan like someone having her first child. It's the cry of the people of Zion struggling to breathe. They reach out their hands and say, "Help us! We're fainting! Murderers are about to kill us!"

struggling with sin

Romans 7 (New International Reader's Version)

1 Brothers and sisters, I am speaking to you who know the law. Don't you know that the law has authority over us only as long as we are alive? 2 For example, by law a married woman is joined to her husband as long as he is living. But suppose her husband dies. Then the marriage law no longer applies to her. 3 But suppose that married woman gets married again while her husband is still alive. Then she is called a woman who commits adultery. But suppose her husband dies. Then she is free from that law. She is not guilty of adultery even if she marries another man.

4 My brothers and sisters, when Christ died you also died as far as the law is concerned. Then it became possible for you to belong to him. He was raised from the dead. Now our lives can be useful to God. 5 Our sinful nature used to control us. The law stirred up sinful longings in our bodies. So the things we did resulted in death.

6 But now we have died to what used to control us. We have been set free from the law. Now we serve in the new way of the Holy Spirit. We no longer serve in the old way of the written law.

7 What should we say then? That the law is sin? Not at all! I wouldn't have known what sin was unless the law had told me. The law said, "Do not want what belongs to other people."—(Exodus 20:17; Deuteronomy 5:21) If the law hadn't said that, I would not have known what it was like to want what belonged to others. 8 But the commandment gave sin an opportunity. Sin caused me to want all kinds of things that belonged to others. No one can break a law that doesn't exist.

9 Before I knew about the law, I was alive. But then the commandment came. Sin came to life, and I died. 10 I found that the commandment that was supposed to bring life actually brought death. 11 When the commandment gave sin the opportunity, sin tricked me. It used the commandment to put me to death. 12 So the law is holy. The commandment also is holy and right and good.

13 Did what is good cause me to die? Not at all! Sin had to be recognized for what it really is. So it produced death in me through what was good. Because of the commandment, sin became totally sinful.

14 We know that the law is holy. But I am not. I have been sold to be a slave of sin. 15 I don't understand what I do. I don't do what I want to do. Instead, I do what I hate to do. 16 I do what I don't want to do. So I agree that the law is good. 17 As it is, I am no longer the one who does these things. It is sin living in me that does them.

18 I know there is nothing good in my sinful nature. I want to do what is good, but I can't. 19 I don't do the good things I want to do. I keep on doing the evil things I don't want to do. 20 I do what I don't want to do. But I am not really the one who is doing it. It is sin living in me.

21 Here is the law I find working in me. When I want to do good, evil is right there with me.

22 Deep inside me I find joy in God's law. 23 But I see another law working in the parts of my body. It fights against the law of my mind. It makes me a prisoner of the law of sin. That law controls the parts of my body.

24 What a terrible failure I am! Who will save me from this sin that brings death to my body? 25 I give thanks to God. He will do it through Jesus Christ our Lord. So in my mind I am a slave to God's law. But in my sinful nature I am a slave to the law of sin.

paul teaches about living a new life in Jesus

Romans 6 (New International Reader's Version)

1 What should we say then? Should we keep on sinning so that God's grace can increase? 2 Not at all! As far as sin is concerned, we are dead. So how can we keep on sinning? 3 All of us were baptized into Christ Jesus. Don't you know that we were baptized into his death? 4 By being baptized, we were buried with Christ into his death. Christ has been raised from the dead by the Father's glory. And like Christ we also can live a new life.

5 By being baptized, we have been joined with him in his death. We will certainly also be joined with him in his resurrection. 6 We know that what we used to be was nailed to the cross with him. That happened so our sinful bodies would lose their power. We are no longer slaves of sin. 7 Those who have died have been set free from sin.

8 We died with Christ. So we believe that we will also live with him. 9 We know that Christ was raised from the dead and will never die again. Death doesn't control him anymore. 10 When he died, he died once and for all time as far as sin is concerned. Now that he lives, he lives as far as God is concerned.

11 In the same way, consider yourselves to be dead as far as sin is concerned. Now that you believe in Christ Jesus, consider yourselves to be alive as far as God is concerned.

12 So don't let sin rule your body, which is going to die. Don't obey its evil longings. 13 Don't give the parts of your body to serve sin. Don't let them be used to do evil. Instead, give yourselves to God. You have been brought from death to life. Give the parts of your body to him to do what is right.

14 Sin will not be your master. Law does not rule you. God's grace has set you free.

15 What should we say then? Should we sin because we are not ruled by law but by God's grace? Not at all!

16 Don't you know that when you give yourselves to obey someone you become that person's slave? You can be slaves of sin. Then you will die. Or you can be slaves who obey God. Then you will live a godly life. 17 You used to be slaves of sin. But thank God that with your whole heart you obeyed the teachings you were given! 18 You have been set free from sin. You have become slaves to right living.

19 Because you are human, you find this hard to understand. So I have said it in a way that will help you understand it. You used to give the parts of your body to be slaves to unclean living. You were becoming more and more evil. Now give your bodies to be slaves to right living. Then you will become holy.

20 Once you were slaves of sin. At that time right living did not control you. 21 What benefit did you gain from doing the things you are now ashamed of? Those things lead to death!

22 You have been set free from sin. God has made you his slaves. The benefit you gain leads to holy living. And the end result is eternal life. 23 When you sin, the pay you get is death. But God gives you the gift of eternal life because of what Christ Jesus our Lord has done.

the importance of finding a church

www.iamchap.org/church.pdf

learnthebible.org/q_a_the_importance_of_attending_church.htm

www.victorious.org/whygo.htm

These are excellent resources dealing with the importance of finding a church that teaches the Bible.

the truth found in God's Holy Word

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57521 Jesus--King of Hate, or Prince of Peace?

http://worldnetdaily.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=57510 God's Challenge to the Skeptics

These are links to two excellent columns which show how provably accurate the Bible is about these troubled times in which we live. The authors of the two columns quote Scripture to prove their points. Even though we live in a broken world, we can live with the hope that our faith in God, and His Son Jesus Christ, will bring us eternal life in paradise.

paul teaches about the peace that comes from life through Christ

Romans 5 (New International Reader's Version)

1 We have been made right with God because of our faith. Now we have peace with him because of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through faith in Jesus we have received God's grace. In that grace we stand. We are full of joy because we expect to share in God's glory.

3 And that's not all. We are full of joy even when we suffer. We know that our suffering gives us the strength to go on. 4 The strength to go on produces character. Character produces hope. 5 And hope will never let us down. God has poured his love into our hearts. He did it through the Holy Spirit, whom he has given to us.

6 At just the right time Christ died for ungodly people. He died for us when we had no power of our own. 7 It is unusual for anyone to die for a godly person. Maybe someone would be willing to die for a good person. 8 But here is how God has shown his love for us. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

9 The blood of Christ has made us right with God. So we are even more sure that Jesus will save us from God's anger. 10 Once we were God's enemies. But we have been brought back to him because his Son has died for us. Now that God has brought us back, we are even more secure. We know that we will be saved because Christ lives.

11 And that is not all. We are full of joy in God because of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of him, God has brought us back to himself.

12 Sin entered the world because one man sinned. And death came because of sin. Everyone sinned, so death came to all people.

13 Before the law was given, sin was in the world. But sin is not judged when there is no law. 14 Death ruled from the time of Adam to the time of Moses. Death ruled even over those who did not sin as Adam did. He broke God's command. But he also became a pattern of the One who was going to come.

15 God's gift is different from Adam's sin. Many people died because of the sin of that one man. But it was even more sure that God's grace would also come through one man. That man is Jesus Christ. God's gift of grace was more than enough for the whole world.

16 The result of God's gift is different from the result of Adam's sin. God judged one sin. That brought guilt. But after many sins, God's gift made people right with him.

17 One man sinned, and death ruled because of his sin. But we are even more sure of what will happen because of what the one man, Jesus Christ, has done. Those who receive the rich supply of God's grace will rule with Christ in his kingdom. They have received God's gift and have been made right with him.

18 One man's sin brought guilt to all people. So also one right act made all people right with God. And all who are right with God will live. 19 Many people were made sinners because one man did not obey. But one man did obey. That is why many people will be made right with God.

20 The law was given so that sin would increase. But where sin increased, God's grace increased even more. 21 Sin ruled because of death. So also grace rules in the lives of those who are right with God. The grace of God brings eternal life because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done.


Before Jesus died on the cross, and then was resurrected on the third day, man was enslaved by sin. The inevitable result of sin is death, or eternal separation from God. Man attempted to overcome sin and death through laws, but was unsuccessful. In fact, sin increased. The only solution was a new covenant, brought forth through the body and the blood of Jesus Christ.

The lesson here is that we are all sinners and completely incapable of saving ourselves. We cannot "earn" salvation. Only by accepting God's gift to us, through faith in Jesus Christ, are we able to enjoy eternal life.

paul talks about abraham's faith

Romans 4 (New International Reader's Version)

1 What should we say about those things? What did our father Abraham discover about being right with God? 2 Did he become right with God because of something he did? If so, he could brag about it. But he couldn't brag to God. 3 What do we find in Scripture? It says, "Abraham believed God. God accepted Abraham's faith, and so his faith made him right with God."—(Genesis 15:6)

4 When a man works, his pay is not considered a gift. It is owed to him. 5 But things are different with God. He makes evil people right with himself. If people trust in him, their faith is accepted even though they do not work. Their faith makes them right with God.

6 King David says the same thing. He tells us how blessed some people are. God makes those people right with himself. But they don't have to do anything in return. David says,

7 "Blessed are those whose lawless acts are forgiven. Blessed are those whose sins are taken away.
8 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord never counts against him." —(Psalm 32:1,2)

9 Is that blessing only for those who are circumcised? Or is it also for those who are not circumcised? We have been saying that God accepted Abraham's faith, and so his faith made him right with God. 10 When did it happen? Was it after Abraham was circumcised, or before? It was before he was circumcised, not after! 11 He was circumcised as a sign of the covenant God had made with him. It showed that his faith had made him right with God before he was circumcised. So Abraham is the father of all believers who have not been circumcised. God accepts their faith. So their faith makes them right with him. 12 Abraham is also the father of the circumcised who believe. So just being circumcised is not enough. Those who are circumcised must also follow the steps of our father Abraham. He had faith before he was circumcised.

13 Abraham and his family received a promise. God promised that Abraham would receive the world. It would not come to him because he obeyed the law. It would come because of his faith, which made him right with God.

14 Do those who obey the law receive the promise? If they do, faith would have no value. God's promise would be worthless. 15 The law brings God's anger. Where there is no law, the law can't be broken.

16 The promise is based on God's grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham's children will certainly receive the promise. And it is not only for those who are ruled by the law. Those who have the same faith that Abraham had are also included. He is the father of us all.

17 It is written, "I have made you a father of many nations."—(Genesis 17:5) God considers Abraham to be our father. The God that Abraham believed in gives life to the dead. Abraham's God also speaks of things that do not exist as if they do exist.

18 When there was no reason for hope, Abraham believed because he had hope. He became the father of many nations, exactly as God had promised. God said, "That is how many children you will have."—(Genesis 15:5)

19 Without becoming weak in his faith, Abraham accepted the fact that he was past the time when he could have children. At that time he was about 100 years old. He also realized that Sarah was too old to have children.

20 But he kept believing in God's promise. He became strong in his faith. He gave glory to God. 21 He was absolutely sure that God had the power to do what he had promised. 22 That's why "God accepted Abraham because he believed. So his faith made him right with God."

23 The words "God accepted Abraham's faith" were written not only for Abraham. 24 They were written also for us. We believe in the God who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. So God will accept our faith and make us right with himself.

25 Jesus was handed over to die for our sins. He was raised to life in order to make us right with God.

paul teaches the truth about sin

Romans 3 (New International Reader's Version)

1 Is there any advantage in being a Jew? Is there any value in being circumcised?
2 There is great value in every way! First of all, the Jews have been given the very words of God.

3 What if some Jews did not believe? Will the fact that they don't have faith keep God from being faithful? 4 Not at all! God is true, even though every human being is a liar. It is written, "You are right when you sentence me. You are fair when you judge me." —(Psalm 51:4)

5 Doesn't the fact that we are wrong prove more clearly that God is right? Then what can we say? Can we say that God is not fair when he brings his anger down on us? As you can tell, I am just using human ways of thinking. 6 God is certainly fair! If he weren't, how could he judge the world?

7 Someone might argue, "When I lie, it becomes clearer that God is truthful. It makes his glory shine more brightly. Why then does he find me guilty of sin?"

8 Why not say, "Let's do evil things so that good things will happen"? Some people actually lie by reporting that this is what we say. They are the ones who should be found guilty.

9 What should we say then? Are we Jews any better? Not at all! We have already claimed that Jews are sinners. The same is true of those who aren't Jews.

10 It is written, "No one is right with God, no one at all. 11 No one understands. No one trusts in God. 12 All of them have turned away. They have all become worthless. No one does anything good, no one at all." —(Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Ecclesiastes 7:20) 13 "Their throats are like open graves. With their tongues they tell lies." —(Psalm 5:9) "The words from their lips are like the poison of a snake." —(Psalm 140:3) 14 "Their mouths are full of curses and bitterness." —(Psalm 10:7) 15 "They run quickly to commit murder. 16 They leave a trail of failure and pain. 17 They do not know the way of peace." —(Isaiah 59:7,8) 18 "They don't have any respect for God." —(Psalm 36:1)

19 What the law says, it says to those who are ruled by the law. Its purpose is to shut every mouth and make the whole world accountable to God. 20 So it can't be said that anyone will be made right with God by obeying the law. Not at all! The law makes us more aware of our sin.

21 But now God has shown us how to become right with him. The Law and the Prophets give witness to this. It has nothing to do with obeying the law. 22 We are made right with God by putting our faith in Jesus Christ. That happens to all who believe. It is no different for the Jews than for anyone else. 23 Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory. 24 The free gift of God's grace makes all of us right with him. Christ Jesus paid the price to set us free. 25 God gave him as a sacrifice to pay for sins. So he forgives the sins of those who have faith in his blood. God did all of that to prove that he is fair. Because of his mercy he did not punish people for the sins they had committed before Jesus died for them. 26 God did that to prove in our own time that he is fair. He proved that he is right. He also made right with himself those who believe in Jesus.

27 So who can brag? No one! Are people saved by obeying the law? Not at all! They are saved because of their faith. 28 We firmly believe that people are made right with God because of their faith. They are not saved by obeying the law.

29 Is God the God of Jews only? Isn't he also the God of those who aren't Jews? Yes, he is their God too. 30 There is only one God. When those who are circumcised believe in him, he makes them right with himself. When those who are not circumcised believe in him, he also makes them right with himself. 31 Does faith make the law useless? Not at all! We agree with the law.

paul arrives in rome

Acts 28 (New International Reader's Version)

1 When we were safe on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The people of the island were unusually kind. It was raining and cold. So they built a fire and welcomed all of us.

3 Paul gathered some sticks and put them on the fire. A poisonous snake was driven out by the heat. It fastened itself on Paul's hand. 4 The people of the island saw the snake hanging from his hand. They said to each other, "This man must be a murderer. He escaped from the sea. But Justice won't let him live." Justice was the name of a goddess.

5 Paul shook the snake off into the fire. He was not harmed. 6 The people expected him to swell up. They thought he would suddenly fall dead. They waited for a long time. But they didn't see anything unusual happen to him. So they changed their minds. They said he was a god.

7 Publius owned property nearby. He was the chief official on the island. He welcomed us to his home. For three days he took care of us. He treated us with kindness. 8 His father was sick in bed. The man suffered from fever and dysentery. So Paul went in to see him. Paul prayed for him. He placed his hands on him and healed him.

9 Then the rest of the sick people on the island came. They too were healed. 10 The people of the island honored us in many ways. When we were ready to sail, they gave us the supplies we needed.

11 After three months we headed out to sea. We sailed in a ship that had stayed at the island during the winter. It was a ship from Alexandria. On the front of it the figures of twin gods were carved. Their names were Castor and Pollux. 12 We landed at Syracuse and stayed there for three days.

13 From there we sailed to Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up. The day after that, we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some believers. They invited us to spend a week with them. At last we came to Rome.
15 The brothers and sisters there had heard we were coming. They traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. When Paul saw these people, he thanked God and was cheered up. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself. But a soldier guarded him.

17 Three days later Paul called a meeting of the Jewish leaders. So they came. Paul said to them, "My brothers, I have done nothing against our people. I have also done nothing against what our people of long ago practiced. But I was arrested in Jerusalem. I was handed over to the Romans.

18 "They questioned me. And they wanted to let me go. They saw I wasn't guilty of any crime worthy of death. 19 But the Jews objected. So I had to make an appeal to Caesar.
"It wasn't that I had anything against my own people. 20 I share Israel's hope. That is why I am held with this chain. So I have asked to see you and talk with you."

21 They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea about you. None of our companions who came from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your ideas are. We know that people everywhere are talking against those who believe as you do."

23 They decided to meet Paul on a certain day. At that time even more people came to the place where he was staying. From morning until evening, he told them about God's kingdom and explained it to them. Using the Law of Moses and the Prophets, he tried to get them to believe in Jesus.

24 Some believed what he said. Others did not. 25 They didn't agree with each other. They began to leave after Paul had made a final statement. He said, "The Holy Spirit was right when he spoke to your people long ago. Through Isaiah the prophet the Spirit said, 26 " 'Go to your people. Say to them, "You will hear but never understand. You will see but never know what you are seeing." 27 These people's hearts have become stubborn. They can barely hear with their ears. They have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes. They might hear with their ears. They might understand with their hearts. They might turn, and then I would heal them.' —(Isaiah 6:9,10)

28-29"Here is what I want you to know. God has sent his salvation to people who are not Jews. And they will listen!"

30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in a house he rented. He welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He preached boldly about God's kingdom. No one could keep him from teaching people about the Lord Jesus Christ.