Capital City Church

Matthew 7:15-2015 “Beware of the false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves.16 “You will know them by their fruits. Grapes are not gathered from thorn bushes nor figs from thistles, are they?17 “So every good tree bears good fruit, but the bad tree bears bad fruit.18 “A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit.19 “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.20 “So then, you will know them by their fruits. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Hebrews 11:23-2723 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child; and they were not afraid of the king's command.24 By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, 26 esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward.27 By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them. The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Matthew 7:13-1413 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Matthew 6:25-3425 “For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?26 “Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they?27 “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?28 “And why are you worried about clothing? Observe how the lilies of the field grow; they do not toil nor do they spin,29 yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.30 “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, will He not much more clothe you? You of little faith!31 “Do not worry then, saying, ‘What will we eat?' or ‘What will we drink?' or ‘What will we wear for clothing?'32 “For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.33 “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.34 “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 6:19-2419 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.20 “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal;21 for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.22 “The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light.23 “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!24 “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 6:16-1816 “Whenever you fast, do not put on a gloomy face as the hypocrites do, for they neglect their appearance so that they will be noticed by men when they are fasting. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.17 “But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face18 so that your fasting will not be noticed by men, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

John 12:1-13        1      Jesus, therefore, six days before the Passover, came to Bethany where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.         2      So they made Him a supper there, and Martha was serving; but Lazarus was one of those reclining at the table with Him.         3      Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair; and the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.         4      But Judas Iscariot, one of His disciples, who was intending to betray Him, said,         5      “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and given to poor people?”         6      Now he said this, not because he was concerned about the poor, but because he was a thief, and as he had the money box, he used to pilfer what was put into it.         7      Therefore Jesus said, “Let her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of My burial.         8      “For you always have the poor with you, but you do not always have Me.”         9      The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus' sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead.         10      But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also;         11      because on account of him many of the Jews were going away and were believing in Jesus.Jesus Enters Jerusalem         12      On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,         13      took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! BLESSED IS HE WHO COMES IN THE NAME OF THE LORD, even the King of Israel.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 6:5-85 “When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners bso that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.6 “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.7 “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words.8 “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.

Matthew 6:1-41 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.2 “So when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be honored by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.3 “But when you give to the poor, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing,4 so that your giving will be in secret; and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 6:11 “Beware of practicing your righteousness before men to be noticed by them; otherwise you have no reward with your Father who is in heaven.New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Psalm 731 Truly God is good to Israel,To such as are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;My steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the boastful,When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4 For there are no pangs in their death,But their strength is firm.5 They are not in trouble as other men,Nor are they plagued like other men.6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;Violence covers them like a garment.7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;They have more than heart could wish.8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;They speak loftily.9 They set their mouth against the heavens,And their tongue walks through the earth.10 Therefore his people return here,And waters of a full cup are drained by them.11 And they say, “How does God know?And is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who are always at ease;They increase in riches.13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,And washed my hands in innocence.14 For all day long I have been plagued,And chastened every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.16 When I thought how to understand this,It was too painful for me—17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;Then I understood their end.18 Surely You set them in slippery places;You cast them down to destruction.19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!They are utterly consumed with terrors.20 As a dream when one awakes,So, Lord, when You awake,You shall despise their image.21 Thus my heart was grieved,And I was vexed in my mind.22 I was so foolish and ignorant;I was like a beast before You.23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;You hold me by my right hand.24 You will guide me with Your counsel,And afterward receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but You?And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.26 My flesh and my heart fail;But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;I have put my trust in the Lord God,That I may declare all Your works. The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Matthew 5:38-4238 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.'39 “But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also.40 “If anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, let him have your coat also.41 “Whoever forces you to go one mile, go with him two.42 “Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

1 Cor. 11:17-2917 Now in giving these instructions I do not praise you, since you come together not for the better but for the worse. 18 For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. 19 For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you. 20 Therefore when you come together in one place, it is not to eat the Lord's Supper. 21 For in eating, each one takes his own supper ahead of others; and one is hungry and another is drunk. 22 What! Do you not have houses to eat and drink in? Or do you despise the church of God and shame those who have nothing? What shall I say to you? Shall I praise you in this? I do not praise you.23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.27 Therefore whoever eats this bread or drinks this cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. 28 But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Daniel 1:1-81 In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. 2 And the Lord gave Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hand, with some of the articles of the house of God, which he carried into the land of Shinar to the house of his god; and he brought the articles into the treasure house of his god.3 Then the king instructed Ashpenaz, the master of his eunuchs, to bring some of the children of Israel and some of the king's descendants and some of the nobles, 4 young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans. 5 And the king appointed for them a daily provision of the king's delicacies and of the wine which he drank, and three years of training for them, so that at the end of that time they might serve before the king. 6 Now from among those of the sons of Judah were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. 7 To them the chief of the eunuchs gave names: he gave Daniel the name Belteshazzar; to Hananiah, Shadrach; to Mishael, Meshach; and to Azariah, Abed-Nego.8 But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine which he drank; therefore he requested of the chief of the eunuchs that he might not defile himself.The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Matthew 5:3131 “It was said, ‘Whoever sends his wife away, let him give her a certificate of divorce';32 but I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except for the reason of unchastity, makes her commit adultery; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

1 Samuel 7:3-12          3      Then Samuel spoke to all the house of Israel, saying, “If you return to the LORD with all your heart, remove the foreign gods and the Ashtaroth from among you and direct your hearts to the LORD and serve Him alone; and He will deliver you from the hand of the Philistines.”         4      So the sons of Israel removed the Baals and the Ashtaroth and served the LORD alone.         5      Then Samuel said, “Gather all Israel to Mizpah and I will pray to the LORD for you.”         6      They gathered to Mizpah, and drew water and poured it out before the LORD, and fasted on that day and said there, “We have sinned against the LORD.” And Samuel judged the sons of Israel at Mizpah.         7      Now when the Philistines heard that the sons of Israel had gathered to Mizpah, the lords of the Philistines went up against Israel. And when the sons of Israel heard it, they were afraid of the Philistines.         8      Then the sons of Israel said to Samuel, “Do not cease to cry to the LORD our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.”         9      Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it for a whole burnt offering to the LORD; and Samuel cried to the LORD for Israel and the LORD answered him.         10      Now Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, and the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day against the Philistines and confused them, so that they were routed before Israel.         11      The men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, and struck them down as far as below Beth-car.         12      Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 28:18-2018 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:21-2621 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder' and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.'22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:20; 48“For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven."“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Psalm 100A Psalm of Thanksgiving.1 Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!2 Serve the Lord with gladness;Come before His presence with singing.3 Know that the Lord, He is God;It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,And into His courts with praise.Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.5For the Lord is good;His mercy is everlasting,And His truth endures to all generations.The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Philippians 4:6-76 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:13-1613 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.14 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden;15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house.16 “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Matthew 5:1-12         1      When Jesus saw the crowds, He went up on the mountain; and after He sat down, His disciples came to Him.         2      He opened His mouth and began to teach them, saying,         3      “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.         4      “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.         5      “Blessed are the gentle, for they shall inherit the earth.         6      “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.         7      “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.         8      “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.         9      “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.         10      “Blessed are those who have been persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.         11      “Blessed are you when people insult you and persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.         12      “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward in heaven is great; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Ephesians 5:1-21 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; 2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

    17      Jesus came down with them and stood on a level place; and there was a large crowd of His disciples, and a great throng of people from all Judea and Jerusalem and the coastal region of Tyre and Sidon,         18      who had come to hear Him and to be healed of their diseases; and those who were troubled with unclean spirits were being cured.         19      And all the people were trying to touch Him, for power was coming from Him and healing them all.         20      And turning His gaze toward His disciples, He began to say...

13 And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot;19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him.14 And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach,15 and to have authority to cast out the demons.16 And He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom He gave the name Peter),17 and James, the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James (to them He gave the name Boanerges, which means, “Sons of Thunder”);18 and Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot;19 and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Him. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Mark 3:7-127 Jesus withdrew to the sea with His disciples; and a great multitude from Galilee followed; and also from Judea,8 and from Jerusalem, and from Idumea, and beyond the Jordan, and the vicinity of Tyre and Sidon, a great number of people heard of all that He was doing and came to Him.9 And He told His disciples that a boat should stand ready for Him because of the crowd, so that they would not crowd Him;10 for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him.11 Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!”12 And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Luke 6:1-11Now it happened that He was passing through some grainfields on a Sabbath; and His disciples were picking the heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands, and eating the grain.2 But some of the Pharisees said, “Why do you do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”3 And Jesus answering them said, “Have you not even read what David did when he was hungry, he and those who were with him,4 how he entered the house of God, and took and ate the consecrated bread which is not lawful for any to eat except the priests alone, and gave it to his companions?”5 And He was saying to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”6 On another Sabbath He entered the synagogue and was teaching; and there was a man there whose right hand was withered.7 The scribes and the Pharisees were watching Him closely to see if He healed on the Sabbath, so that they might find reason to accuse Him.8 But He knew what they were thinking, and He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And he got up and came forward.9 And Jesus said to them, “I ask you, is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to destroy it?”10 After looking around at them all, He said to him, “Stretch out your hand!” And he did so; and his hand was restored.11 But they themselves were filled with rage, and discussed together what they might do to Jesus. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

John 5:19-4719 Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner.20 “For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel.21 “For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes.22 “For not even the Father judges anyone, but He has given all judgment to the Son,23 so that all will honor the Son even as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.24 “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.Two Resurrections25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.26 “For just as the Father has life in Himself, even so He gave to the Son also to have life in Himself;27 and He gave Him authority to execute judgment, because He is the Son of Man.28 “Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice,29 and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment.30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.31 “If I alone testify about Myself, My testimony is not true.32 “There is another who testifies of Me, and I know that the testimony which He gives about Me is true.Witness of John33 “You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth.34 “But the testimony which I receive is not from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.35 “He was the lamp that was burning and was shining and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.Witness of Works36 “But the testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish—the very works that I do—testify about Me, that the Father has sent Me.Witness of the Father37 “And the Father who sent Me, He has testified of Me. You have neither heard His voice at any time nor seen His form.38 “You do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe Him whom He sent.Witness of the Scripture39 “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; it is these that testify about Me;40 and you are unwilling to come to Me so that you may have life.41 “I do not receive glory from men;42 but I know you, that you do not have the love of God in yourselves.43 “I have come in My Father's name, and you do not receive Me; if another comes in his own name, you will receive him.44 “How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and you do not seek the glory that is from the one and only God?45 “Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; the one who accuses you is Moses, in whom you have set your hope.46 “For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me, for he wrote about Me.47 “But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words?” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes.3 In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, [waiting for the moving of the waters;4 for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.]5 A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.”9 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk.Now it was the Sabbath on that day.10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.”11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.' ”12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk'?”13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.17 But He answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I Myself am working.”18 For this reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because He not only was breaking the Sabbath, but also was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

27 After that He went out and noticed a tax collector named Levi sitting in the tax booth, and He said to him, “Follow Me.”28 And he left everything behind, and got up and began to follow Him.29 And Levi gave a big reception for Him in his house; and there was a great crowd of tax collectors and other people who were reclining at the table with them.30 The Pharisees and their scribes began grumbling at His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with the tax collectors and sinners?”31 And Jesus answered and said to them, “It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick.32 “I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Psalm 731 Truly God is good to Israel,To such as are pure in heart.2 But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled;My steps had nearly slipped.3 For I was envious of the boastful,When I saw the prosperity of the wicked.4 For there are no pangs in their death,But their strength is firm.5 They are not in trouble as other men,Nor are they plagued like other men.6 Therefore pride serves as their necklace;Violence covers them like a garment.7 Their eyes bulge with abundance;They have more than heart could wish.8 They scoff and speak wickedly concerning oppression;They speak loftily.9 They set their mouth against the heavens,And their tongue walks through the earth.10 Therefore his people return here,And waters of a full cup are drained by them.11 And they say, “How does God know?And is there knowledge in the Most High?”12 Behold, these are the ungodly,Who are always at ease;They increase in riches.13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain,And washed my hands in innocence.14 For all day long I have been plagued,And chastened every morning.15 If I had said, “I will speak thus,”Behold, I would have been untrue to the generation of Your children.16 When I thought how to understand this,It was too painful for me—17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God;Then I understood their end.18 Surely You set them in slippery places;You cast them down to destruction.19 Oh, how they are brought to desolation, as in a moment!They are utterly consumed with terrors.20 As a dream when one awakes,So, Lord, when You awake,You shall despise their image.21 Thus my heart was grieved,And I was vexed in my mind.22 I was so foolish and ignorant;I was like a beast before You.23 Nevertheless I am continually with You;You hold me by my right hand.24 You will guide me with Your counsel,And afterward receive me to glory.25 Whom have I in heaven but You?And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You.26 My flesh and my heart fail;But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.27 For indeed, those who are far from You shall perish;You have destroyed all those who desert You for harlotry.28 But it is good for me to draw near to God;I have put my trust in the Lord God,That I may declare all Your works. The New King James Version. 1982. Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Psalm 51Have mercy on me, O God,according to your steadfast love;according to your abundant mercyblot out my transgressions.Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity,and cleanse me from my sin!For I know my transgressions,and my sin is ever before me.Against you, you only, have I sinnedand done what is evil in your sight,so that you may be justified in your wordsand blameless in your judgment.Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity,and in sin did my mother conceive me.Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being,and you teach me wisdom in the secret heart.Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.Let me hear joy and gladness;let the bones that you have broken rejoice.Hide your face from my sins,and blot out all my iniquities.Create in me a clean heart, O God,and renew a right spirit within me.Cast me not away from your presence,and take not your Holy Spirit from me.Restore to me the joy of your salvation,and uphold me with a willing spirit.Then I will teach transgressors your ways,and sinners will return to you.Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God,O God of my salvation,and my tongue will sing aloud of your righteousness.O Lord, open my lips,and my mouth will declare your praise.For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it;you will not be pleased with a burnt offering.The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit;a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.Do good to Zion in your good pleasure;build up the walls of Jerusalem;then will you delight in right sacrifices,in burnt offerings and whole burnt offerings;then bulls will be offered on your altar. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. 2016. Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

Luke 5:17-2617One day He was teaching; and there were some Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem; and the power of the Lord was present for Him to perform healing.18And some men were carrying on a bed a man who was paralyzed; and they were trying to bring him in and to set him down in front of Him.19But not finding any way to bring him in because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and let him down through the tiles with his stretcher, into the middle of the crowd, in front of Jesus.20Seeing their faith, He said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven you.”21The scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, “Who is this man who speaks blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone?”22But Jesus, aware of their reasonings, answered and said to them, “Why are you reasoning in your hearts?23“Which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins have been forgiven you,' or to say, ‘Get up and walk'?24“But, so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,”—He said to the paralytic—“I say to you, get up, and pick up your stretcher and go home.”25Immediately he got up before them, and picked up what he had been lying on, and went home glorifying God.26They were all struck with astonishment and began glorifying God; and they were filled with fear, saying, “We have seen remarkable things today.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Luke 5:12-1612While He was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man covered with leprosy; and when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”13And He stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.” And immediately the leprosy left him.14And He ordered him to tell no one, “But go and show yourself to the priest and make an offering for your cleansing, just as Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”15But the news about Him was spreading even farther, and large crowds were gathering to hear Him and to be healed of their sicknesses.16But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.

Luke 5:1-111Now it happened that while the crowd was pressing around Him and listening to the word of God, He was standing by the lake of Gennesaret;2and He saw two boats lying at the edge of the lake; but the fishermen had gotten out of them and were washing their nets.3And He got into one of the boats, which was Simon's, and asked him to put out a little way from the land. And He sat down and began teaching the people from the boat.4When He had finished speaking, He said to Simon, “Put out into the deep water and let down your nets for a catch.”5Simon answered and said, “Master, we worked hard all night and caught nothing, but I will do as You say and let down the nets.”6When they had done this, they enclosed a great quantity of fish, and their nets began to break;7so they signaled to their partners in the other boat for them to come and help them. And they came and filled both of the boats, so that they began to sink.8But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, “Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man!”9For amazement had seized him and all his companions because of the catch of fish which they had taken;10and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not fear, from now on you will be catching men.”11When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 5:1–11.

Psalm 1391  O Lord, you have searched me and known me!2  You know when I sit down and when I rise up;you discern my thoughts from afar.3  You search out my path and my lying downand are acquainted with all my ways.4  Even before a word is on my tongue,behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.5  You hem me in, behind and before,and lay your hand upon me.6  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;it is high; I cannot attain it.7  Where shall I go from your Spirit?Or where shall I flee from your presence?8  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!9  If I take the wings of the morningand dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,10  even there your hand shall lead me,and your right hand shall hold me.11  If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me,and the light about me be night,”12  even the darkness is not dark to you;the night is bright as the day,for darkness is as light with you.13  For you formed my inward parts;you knitted me together in my mother's womb.14  I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.Wonderful are your works;my soul knows it very well.15  My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,intricately woven in the depths of the earth.16  Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them,the days that were formed for me,when as yet there was none of them.17  How precious to me are your thoughts, O God!How vast is the sum of them!18  If I would count them, they are more than the sand.I awake, and I am still with you.19  Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God!O men of blood, depart from me!20  They speak against you with malicious intent;your enemies take your name in vain.21  Do I not hate those who hate you, O Lord?And do I not loathe those who rise up against you?22  I hate them with complete hatred;I count them my enemies.23  Search me, O God, and know my heart!Try me and know my thoughts!24  And see if there be any grievous way in me,and lead me in the way everlasting! The Holy Bible: English Standard Version, (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Ps 139:1–24.

1 “Come, everyone who thirsts,come to the waters;and he who has no money,come, buy and eat!Come, buy wine and milkwithout money and without price.2 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bread,and your labor for that which does not satisfy?Listen diligently to me, and eat what is good,and delight yourselves in rich food.3 Incline your ear, and come to me;hear, that your soul may live;and I will make with you an everlasting covenant,my steadfast, sure love for David.4 Behold, I made him a witness to the peoples,a leader and commander for the peoples.5 Behold, you shall call a nation that you do not know,and a nation that did not know you shall run to you,because of the Lord your God, and of the Holy One of Israel,for he has glorified you.6 “Seek the Lord while he may be found;call upon him while he is near;7 let the wicked forsake his way,and the unrighteous man his thoughts;let him return to the Lord, that he may have compassion on him,and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Is 55:1–7.

1In Iconium they entered the synagogue of the Jews together, and spoke in such a manner that a large number of people believed, both of Jews and of Greeks.2But the Jews who disbelieved stirred up the minds of the Gentiles and embittered them against the brethren.3Therefore they spent a long time there speaking boldly with reliance upon the Lord, who was testifying to the word of His grace, granting that signs and wonders be done by their hands.4But the people of the city were divided; and some sided with the Jews, and some with the apostles.5And when an attempt was made by both the Gentiles and the Jews with their rulers, to mistreat and to stone them,6they became aware of it and fled to the cities of Lycaonia, Lystra and Derbe, and the surrounding region;7and there they continued to preach the gospel.8At Lystra a man was sitting who had no strength in his feet, lame from his mother's womb, who had never walked.9This man was listening to Paul as he spoke, who, when he had fixed his gaze on him and had seen that he had faith to be made well,10said with a loud voice, “Stand upright on your feet.” And he leaped up and began to walk.11When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.”12And they began calling Barnabas, Zeus, and Paul, Hermes, because he was the chief speaker.13The priest of Zeus, whose temple was just outside the city, brought oxen and garlands to the gates, and wanted to offer sacrifice with the crowds.14But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of it, they tore their robes and rushed out into the crowd, crying out15and saying, “Men, why are you doing these things? We are also men of the same nature as you, and preach the gospel to you that you should turn from these vain things to a living God, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and all that is in them.16“In the generations gone by He permitted all the nations to go their own ways;17and yet He did not leave Himself without witness, in that He did good and gave you rains from heaven and fruitful seasons, satisfying your hearts with food and gladness.”18Even saying these things, with difficulty they restrained the crowds from offering sacrifice to them.19But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead.20But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.21After they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,22strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying, “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.”23When they had appointed elders for them in every church, having prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed.24They passed through Pisidia and came into Pamphylia.25When they had spoken the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia.26From there they sailed to Antioch, from which they had been commended to the grace of God for the work that they had accomplished.27When they had arrived and gathered the church together, they began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.28And they spent a long time with the disciples. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Ac 14:1–28.

Mark 1:35-3835In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.36Simon and his companions searched for Him;37they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”38He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” Luke 4:42-4442When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them.43But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”44So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 4:42–44.

31And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath;32and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority.33In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,34“Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”35But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm.36And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.”37And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district. 38Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon's home. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her.39And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.40While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.41Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 4:31–41.

18Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen.19And He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.”20Immediately they left their nets and followed Him.21Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them.22Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Mt 4:18–22.

14And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about Him spread through all the surrounding district.15And He began teaching in their synagogues and was praised by all.16And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read.17And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written,18“The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me,Because He anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor.He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives,And recovery of sight to the blind,To set free those who are oppressed,19To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord.”20And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him.21And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”22And all were speaking well of Him, and wondering at the gracious words which were falling from His lips; and they were saying, “Is this not Joseph's son?”23And He said to them, “No doubt you will quote this proverb to Me, ‘Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we heard was done at Capernaum, do here in your hometown as well.' ”24And He said, “Truly I say to you, no prophet is welcome in his hometown.25“But I say to you in truth, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the sky was shut up for three years and six months, when a great famine came over all the land;26and yet Elijah was sent to none of them, but only to Zarephath, in the land of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow.27“And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, but only Naaman the Syrian.”28And all the people in the synagogue were filled with rage as they heard these things;29and they got up and drove Him out of the city, and led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city had been built, in order to throw Him down the cliff.30But passing through their midst, He went His way. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Lk 4:14–30

43After the two days He went forth from there into Galilee.44For Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country.45So when He came to Galilee, the Galileans received Him, having seen all the things that He did in Jerusalem at the feast; for they themselves also went to the feast. 46Therefore He came again to Cana of Galilee where He had made the water wine. And there was a royal official whose son was sick at Capernaum.47When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judea into Galilee, he went to Him and was imploring Him to come down and heal his son; for he was at the point of death.48So Jesus said to him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you simply will not believe.”49The royal official said to Him, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”50Jesus said to him, “Go; your son lives.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started off.51As he was now going down, his slaves met him, saying that his son was living.52So he inquired of them the hour when he began to get better. Then they said to him, “Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him.”53So the father knew that it was at that hour in which Jesus said to him, “Your son lives”; and he himself believed and his whole household.54This is again a second sign that Jesus performed when He had come out of Judea into Galilee. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 4:43–54.

    1Therefore when the Lord knew that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John   2(although Jesus Himself was not baptizing, but His disciples were),   3He left Judea and went away again into Galilee.   4And He had to pass through Samaria.   5So He came to a city of Samaria called Sychar, near the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph;   6and Jacob's well was there. So Jesus, being wearied from His journey, was sitting thus by the well. It was about the sixth hour.   7There came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give Me a drink.”   8For His disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.   9Therefore the Samaritan woman said to Him, “How is it that You, being a Jew, ask me for a drink since I am a Samaritan woman?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)   10Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,' you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”   11She said to Him, “Sir, You have nothing to draw with and the well is deep; where then do You get that living water?   12“You are not greater than our father Jacob, are You, who gave us the well, and drank of it himself and his sons and his cattle?”   13Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again;   14but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”   15The woman said to Him, “Sir, give me this water, so I will not be thirsty nor come all the way here to draw.”   16He said to her, “Go, call your husband and come here.”   17The woman answered and said, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You have correctly said, ‘I have no husband';   18for you have had five husbands, and the one whom you now have is not your husband; this you have said truly.”   19The woman said to Him, “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet.   20“Our fathers worshiped in this mountain, and you people say that in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship.”   21Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father.   22“You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.   23“But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers.   24“God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”   25The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.”   26Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”   27At this point His disciples came, and they were amazed that He had been speaking with a woman, yet no one said, “What do You seek?” or, “Why do You speak with her?”   28 So the woman left her waterpot, and went into the city and said to the men,   29“Come, see a man who told me all the things that I have done; this is not the Christ, is it?”   30They went out of the city, and were coming to Him.   31Meanwhile the disciples were urging Him, saying, “Rabbi, eat.”   32But He said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”   33So the disciples were saying to one another, “No one brought Him anything to eat, did he?”   34Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me and to accomplish His work.   35“Do you not say, ‘There are yet four months, and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look on the fields, that they are white for harvest.   36“Already he who reaps is receiving wages and is gathering fruit for life eternal; so that he who sows and he who reaps may rejoice together.   37“For in this case the saying is true, ‘One sows and another reaps.'   38“I sent you to reap that for which you have not labored; others have labored and you have entered into their labor.”   39From that city many of the Samaritans believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, “He told me all the things that I have done.”   40So when the Samaritans came to Jesus, they were asking Him to stay with them; and He stayed there two days.   41Many more believed because of His word;   42and they were saying to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves and know that this One is indeed the Savior of the world.”  New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 4:1–42.

26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28 And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.The Holy Bible: King James Version, Electronic Edition of the 1900 Authorized Version., (Bellingham, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 2009), 1 Co 1:26–29.

22After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea, and there He was spending time with them and baptizing.23John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there; and people were coming and were being baptized—24for John had not yet been thrown into prison.25Therefore there arose a discussion on the part of John's disciples with a Jew about purification.26And they came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, He who was with you beyond the Jordan, to whom you have testified, behold, He is baptizing and all are coming to Him.”27John answered and said, “A man can receive nothing unless it has been given him from heaven.28“You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Christ,' but, ‘I have been sent ahead of Him.'29“He who has the bride is the bridegroom; but the friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly because of the bridegroom's voice. So this joy of mine has been made full.30“He must increase, but I must decrease.31“He who comes from above is above all, he who is of the earth is from the earth and speaks of the earth. He who comes from heaven is above all.32“What He has seen and heard, of that He testifies; and no one receives His testimony.33“He who has received His testimony has set his seal to this, that God is true.34“For He whom God has sent speaks the words of God; for He gives the Spirit without measure.35“The Father loves the Son and has given all things into His hand.36“He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.” New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:22–36.

16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.19“This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.20“For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.21“But he who practices the truth comes to the Light, so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.”New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:16–21.

1Now there was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews;2this man came to Jesus by night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that You have come from God as a teacher; for no one can do these signs that You do unless God is with him.”3Jesus answered and said to him, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God.”4Nicodemus said to Him, “How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother's womb and be born, can he?”5Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.6“That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.7“Do not be amazed that I said to you, ‘You must be born again.'8“The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.”9Nicodemus said to Him, “How can these things be?”10Jesus answered and said to him, “Are you the teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?11“Truly, truly, I say to you, we speak of what we know and testify of what we have seen, and you do not accept our testimony.12“If I told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?13“No one has ascended into heaven, but He who descended from heaven: the Son of Man.14“As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up;15so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update, (La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation, 1995), Jn 3:1–15.

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.24 But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men,25 and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man. New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.