Unity in the Body (Psalm 133:1–3; 1 Corinthians 1:10–17)
2 UDB Humbly and gently and patiently serve the needs of one another because you love each other. BSB BSB: with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
5 UDB There is only one Lord, Jesus Christ; and there is one faith, that is the trust we have in God; and there is only one true Christian baptism. BSB BSB: one Lord, one faith, one baptism;
6 UDB There is one God, the true Father of all. He rules over everyone, and he is working through all events, and he is working within everything that happens. BSB BSB: one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
7 UDB God has generously given to each believer spiritual gifts that Christ has measured out to us as he wishes. BSB BSB: Now to each one of us grace has been given according to the measure of the gift of Christ.
8 UDB This is similar to what the psalmist said about God receiving tribute money from those whom he had conquered: "When he ascended to his city at the top of the mountain, he led the captives into captivity and gave their gifts of tribute to his people." BSB BSB: This is why it says: “When He ascended on high, He led captives away, and gave gifts to men.”
9 UDB The words "he ascended" certainly make us know that Christ had also previously descended to the earth from heaven, like God's anointed king coming down from Jerusalem to fight. BSB BSB: What does “He ascended” mean, except that He also descended to the lower parts of the earth?
10 UDB Christ, who descended to earth to conquer evil, is also the one who was crucified for our sins, came back to life, and ascended to the most exalted position in heaven, so that he might control everything. BSB BSB: He who descended is the very One who ascended above all the heavens, in order to fill all things.
11 UDB He appointed some believers to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to lead and others to teach the groups of believers. BSB BSB: And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,
12 UDB This was to prepare God's people to do God's work and serve others, so that all the people who belong to Christ might become spiritually strong BSB BSB: to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ,
13 UDB He wants all of us believers to be united together as we all trust in him and grow to fully understand him. He wants us to become mature believers, together growing to become perfect, as he himself is perfect. BSB BSB: until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, as we mature to the full measure of the stature of Christ.
14 UDB Once we are mature, we will no longer be ignorant of what is true, like little children. We will no longer follow every new teaching, like a boat is blown around by the wind and waves. We will not allow people who teach what is false to trick us and deceive us. BSB BSB: Then we will no longer be infants, tossed about by the waves and carried around by every wind of teaching and by the clever cunning of men in their deceitful scheming.
15 UDB Instead, we will speak the truth to one another because we love each other. Then we will grow up in every way and we will become more like Christ, who is the Head of the Church. BSB BSB: Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Christ Himself, who is the head.
16 UDB He enables all believers everywhere to grow together and love each other, like a person's body fits together and holds together by the joints that connect the body together, which allows the body to grow and build itself up because the parts of body depend upon each other. BSB BSB: From Him the whole body, fitted and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love through the work of each individual part.
New Life in Christ (Colossians 3:1–17)
17 UDB By the authority of the Lord Jesus, I strongly affirm that you must no longer live like the unbelieving Gentiles do. The futile way they think directs them how to live. BSB BSB: So I tell you this, and insist on it in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their thinking.
18 UDB They are unable to think clearly about what is right or wrong. They cannot comprehend obeying God because they refuse to listen to his message, and so they do not have the eternal life that Jesus gives us. BSB BSB: They are darkened in their understanding and alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardness of their hearts.
19 UDB They have chosen to do—without stopping—shameful things their bodies desire. They commit all kinds of immoral acts and are obsessed with them more and more, and they are greedy for anything they desire. BSB BSB: Having lost all sense of shame, they have given themselves over to sensuality for the practice of every kind of impurity, with a craving for more.
20 UDB But when you learned about Christ, you did not learn to live like that. BSB BSB: But this is not the way you came to know Christ.
21 UDB Now that you have heard about Jesus and he has taught you, you know that his way is the true way to live. BSB BSB: Surely you heard of Him and were taught in Him—in keeping with the truth that is in Jesus—
22 UDB Jesus taught that you must stop living the way you used to live. You were like corpses that were decaying because you were deceiving yourselves with what you desired. BSB BSB: to put off your former way of life, your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires;
23 UDB You must let God change your spirits and how you think. BSB BSB: to be renewed in the spirit of your minds;
24 UDB You must start living like new persons. God has created you as new persons. You are set apart for him. He created you to live in the right way, to be truly dedicated to God. BSB BSB: and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
25 UDB Therefore, quit lying to one another. As the scripture says, "Speak truthfully to one another because we now are each other's fellow believers." We now belong to one another in God's family. BSB BSB: Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one another.
26 UDB If you get angry, do not let your anger become sin. Before the end of the day, stop being angry BSB BSB: “Be angry, yet do not sin.” Do not let the sun set upon your anger,
27 UDB so that you will not allow the devil to attack you. BSB BSB: and do not give the devil a foothold.
28 UDB Those who have been stealing must not steal any longer. Instead, they must work hard to earn their living by their own efforts, so that they may have something to give to those who are needy. BSB BSB: He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing good with his own hands, that he may have something to share with the one in need.
29 UDB Do not use foul language. Instead, say good things that will help people when they need help, things that help those who hear. BSB BSB: Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need and bringing grace to those who listen.
30 UDB Do not make the Holy Spirit of God sad by how you live. He has promised that God will one day rescue us from this world of evil. BSB BSB: And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 UDB Do not be resentful at all toward others. Do not become angry in any way or shout abusively at others. Never slander others. Never plan evil toward others. BSB BSB: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, outcry and slander, along with every form of malice.
32 UDB Be kind to one another. Act mercifully toward each other. Forgive each other, just like God forgave you because of what Christ has done. BSB BSB: Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.