the Week of Proper 28 / Ordinary 33
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Bible Reading Plan
Daily Bible Reading
December 18 - Straight Thru the Bible
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Titus 1-3
Chapter 1
Greeting
1 Paul,(a) a slave of God(b) and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to build up[a] the faith of God's elect(c) and their knowledge of the truth(d) that leads[b] to godliness,(e) 2 in the hope of eternal life(f) that God, who cannot lie,(g) promised before time began.(h) 3 In His own time He has revealed(i) His message(j) in the proclamation that I was entrusted(k) with by the command(l) of God our Savior:(m)
4 To Titus,(n) my true son(o) in our common faith.
Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.(p)
Titus's Ministry in Crete
5 The reason I left you in Crete(q) was to set right what was left undone and, as I directed you, to appoint elders(r) in every town: 6 one(s) who is blameless,(t) the husband of one wife, having faithful[c] children not accused of wildness or rebellion. 7 For an overseer,(u) as God's administrator, must be blameless, not arrogant, not hot-tempered, not addicted to wine, not a bully, not greedy for money, 8 but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, righteous, holy, self-controlled, 9 holding to the faithful message as taught,(v) so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching(w) and to refute those who contradict it.
10 For there are also many rebellious people, full of empty talk and deception, especially those from Judaism.[d] 11 It is necessary to silence them; they overthrow whole households by teaching what they shouldn't in order to get money dishonestly. 12 One of their very own prophets said,
Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, lazy gluttons.[e]
13 This testimony is true.(x) So, rebuke them sharply,(y) that they may be sound in the faith 14 and may not pay attention to Jewish myths(z) and the commands of men who reject the truth.(aa)
15 To the pure, everything is pure, but to those who are defiled and unbelieving nothing is pure; in fact, both their mind and conscience(ab) are defiled. 16 They profess to know God,(ac) but they deny Him by their works.(ad) They are detestable, disobedient, and disqualified for any good work.(ae)
Chapter 2
Sound Teaching and Christian Living
1 But you must say the things that are consistent with sound teaching.(a) 2 Older men(b) are to be level headed, worthy of respect, sensible, and sound in faith, love,(c) and endurance. 3 In the same way, older women(d) are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not addicted to much wine. They are to teach what is good, 4 so they may encourage the young women to love their husbands and to love their children, 5 to be self-controlled, pure, homemakers, kind, and submissive(e) to their husbands, so that God's message(f) will not be slandered.
6 In the same way, encourage the young men(g) to be self-controlled 7 in everything. Make yourself an example of good works with integrity and dignity[a] in your teaching. 8 Your message is to be sound beyond reproach,(h) so that the opponent will be ashamed, having nothing bad to say about us.
9 Slaves are to be submissive to their masters(i) in everything, and to be well-pleasing,(j) not talking back 10 or stealing, but demonstrating utter faithfulness, so that they may adorn the teaching of God our Savior(k) in everything.
11 For the grace of God has appeared with salvation[b] for all people,(l) 12 instructing us to deny godlessness(m) and worldly lusts(n) and to live in a sensible, righteous,(o) and godly(p) way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope(q) and appearing of the glory(r) of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave Himself for us(s) to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a people for His own possession,(t) eager to do good works.
15 Say these things, and encourage and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard[c] you.
Chapter 3
Christian Living among Outsiders
1 Remind them to be submissive(a) to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, 2 to slander no one, to avoid fighting, and to be kind, always showing gentleness(b) to all people. 3 For we too were once foolish, disobedient, deceived, enslaved by various passions(c) and pleasures,(d) living in malice and envy, hateful, detesting one another.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and His love
for mankind appeared,(e)
5 He saved us(f)—
not by works of righteousness that we had done,(g)
but according to His mercy,(h)
through the washing of regeneration(i)
and renewal by the Holy Spirit.(j)
6 He poured out this Spirit on us abundantly(k)
through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that having been justified by His grace,(l)
we may become heirs with the hope of eternal life.(m)
8 This saying is trustworthy.(n) I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed God might be careful to devote themselves to good works. These are good and profitable for everyone. 9 But avoid foolish debates,(o) genealogies,(p) quarrels,(q) and disputes about the law, for they are unprofitable and worthless. 10 Reject a divisive(r) person after a first and second warning,(s) 11 knowing that such a person is perverted and sins, being self-condemned.
Final Instructions and Closing
12 When I send Artemas or Tychicus to you,(t) make every effort to come to me(u) in Nicopolis, for I have decided to spend the winter there. 13 Diligently help Zenas the lawyer and Apollos(v) on their journey, so that they will lack(w) nothing.
14 And our people must also learn to devote themselves to good works for cases of urgent need, so that they will not be unfruitful.(x) 15 All those who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with all of you.(y)
Philemon 1
Chapter 1
Greeting
Paul,(a) a prisoner(b) of Christ Jesus,(c) and Timothy(d) our brother:
To Philemon our dear friend and coworker, 2 to Apphia our sister,[a] to Archippus(e) our fellow soldier,(f) and to the church that meets in your home.(g)
3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philemon's Love and Faith
4 I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love(h) and faith toward[b] the Lord Jesus and for all the saints. 6 I pray that your participation in the faith may become effective(i) through knowing every good thing(j) that is in us[c] for the glory of Christ. 7 For I have great joy and encouragement from your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed(k) through you, brother.
An Appeal for Onesimus
8 For this reason, although I have great boldness in Christ to command you to do what is right, 9 I appeal to you, instead, on the basis of love. I, Paul, as an elderly man[d] and now also as a prisoner(l) of Christ Jesus, 10 appeal to you for my son,(m) Onesimus.[e](n) I fathered[f](o) him while I was in chains. 11 Once he was useless to you, but now he is useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back to you as a part of myself.[g][h] 13 I wanted to keep him with me, so that in my imprisonment for the gospel he might serve me in your place. 14 But I didn't want to do anything without your consent, so that your good deed might not be out of obligation, but of your own free will. 15 For perhaps this is why he was separated from you for a brief time, so that you might get him back permanently, 16 no longer as a slave, but more than a slave—as a dearly loved brother. He is especially so to me, but even more to you, both in the flesh(p) and in the Lord.[i](q)
17 So if you consider me a partner, accept(r) him as you would me. 18 And if he has wronged you in any way, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.(s) 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand:(t) I will repay it—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, may I have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Since I am confident of your obedience, I am writing to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I hope that through your prayers I will be restored to you.
Final Greetings
23 Epaphras,(u) my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, and so do 24 Mark,(v) Aristarchus,(w) Demas, and Luke,(x) my coworkers.
25 The grace of the Lord[j](y) Jesus Christ be with your spirit.(z)
Hebrews 1:1-2:10
Chapter 1
The Nature of the Son
1 Long ago God spoke(a) to the fathers by the prophets(b) at different times and in different ways.(c) 2 In these last days,(d) He has spoken to us by His Son. God has appointed Him heir of all things and made the universe[a](e) through Him. 3 The Son is the radiance[b] of God's glory and the exact expression[c] of His nature, sustaining all things by His powerful word. After making purification for sins,[d] He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.[e](f) 4 So He became higher in rank than the angels, just as the name He inherited is superior to theirs.(g)
The Son Superior to Angels
5 For to which of the angels did He ever say, You are My Son; today I have become Your Father, [f][g] or again, I will be His Father, and He will be My Son ?(h)[h] 6 When He again[i] brings His firstborn into the world,(i) He says, And all God's angels must worship Him. (j)[j] 7 And about the angels He says:
He makes His angels winds,
[k]
and His servants
[l]
a fiery flame,
(k)[m]
8 but to[n] the Son:
Your throne, God,
is forever and ever,
and the scepter of Your kingdom
is a scepter of justice.
(l)
9
You have loved righteousness
and hated lawlessness;
this is why God, Your God,
has anointed You
with the oil of joy
(m)
rather than Your companions.
[o][p]
10 And:
In the beginning, Lord,
You established the earth,
and the heavens are the works of Your hands;
(n)
11
they will perish, but You remain.
They will all wear out like clothing;
(o)
12
You will roll them up like a cloak,
[q]
and they will be changed like a robe.
But You are the same,
and Your years will never end.
(p)[r]
13 Now to which of the angels has He ever said:
Sit at My right hand
until I make Your enemies Your footstool
?[s](q)[t]
14 Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to serve those who are going to inherit salvation?(r)
Chapter 2
Warning against Neglect
1 We must, therefore, pay even more attention to what we have heard, so that we will not drift away. 2 For if the message spoken through angels was legally binding[a](a) and every transgression and disobedience received a just punishment,(b) 3 how will we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was first spoken by the Lord and was confirmed to us by those who heard Him.(c) 4 At the same time, God also testified by signs and wonders, various miracles, and distributions of gifts from the Holy Spirit according to His will.(d)
Jesus and Humanity
5 For He has not subjected to angels the world to come that we are talking about. 6 But one has somewhere testified:
What is man that You remember him,
or the son of man that You care for him?
7
You made him lower than the angels
for a short time;
You crowned him with glory and honor
[b]
8
and subjected everything under his feet.
[c]
For in subjecting everything to him, He left nothing that is not subject to him. As it is, we do not yet see everything subjected to him.(e) 9 But we do see Jesus— made lower than the angels for a short time so that by God's grace He might taste death for everyone—crowned with glory and honor(f) because of His suffering in death.(g)
10 For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source[d] of their salvation perfect through sufferings.(h)
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