Living Sacrifices (1 Corinthians 3:16–23; 1 Corinthians 6:18–20)
1 UST So then,{ considering everything that I have told you,} I exhort you fellow believers, based on how compassionate God is: Devote yourselves{ to God}, as if you were living animals someone offers to God. Be holy and please God. Doing so is the reasonable way for you to serve{ God}. BSB BSB: Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.
2 UST Do not change yourselves to be like the{ sinful people who live at} the current time. Rather, let God change the way you behave by changing the way you think in order that you can test and prove what God wants{ you to do}.{ God wants you to do} what is good, pleasing, and flawless. BSB BSB: Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what is the good, pleasing, and perfect will of God.
3 UST Indeed, based on{ how} God has kindly authorized me{ to represent him,} I am telling every one of you to not think you are better than you really are. Rather, think properly{ about yourselves}, according to the amount of trusting{ in God} that God has apportioned to each one{ of you}. BSB BSB: For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but think of yourself with sober judgment, according to the measure of faith God has given you.
4 UST { You must think properly about yourselves} because, in the same way that a{ human} body has many parts that all function for different purposes, BSB BSB: Just as each of us has one body with many members, and not all members have the same function,
5 UST so also, we many{ believers in the Messiah} are united to the Messiah as one group.{ Each one of us is united to each other like} the individual parts{ of a human body} are united. BSB BSB: so in Christ we who are many are one body, and each member belongs to one another.
6 UST Yet we{ believers in the Messiah} have received different spiritual abilities in accordance with what God has kindly given to us. If{ God has enabled you} to prophesy,{ then prophesy} in accordance with the amount of trusting{ in God} that God has apportioned to you. BSB BSB: We have different gifts according to the grace given us. If one’s gift is prophecy, let him use it in proportion to his faith;
7 UST If{ God has enabled you} to serve,{ then you should} serve{ others}.{ If God has enabled you} to teach{ others},{ then you should} teach{ others}. BSB BSB: if it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;
8 UST If{ God has enabled you} to encourage{ others},{ then} you should encourage{ others. If God has enabled you} to give{ what you have to others},{ then} you should generously give{ what you have to others}.{ If God has enabled you} to lead{ others},{ then} you should lead{ others} diligently.{ If God has enabled you} to be merciful,{ then} you should cheerfully be merciful. BSB BSB: if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is giving, let him give generously; if it is leading, let him lead with diligence; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
Love, Zeal, Hope, Hospitality (John 13:31–35; 1 John 3:11–24)
9 UST Love{ each other} genuinely. Detest what is wicked. Fervently retain what is good. BSB BSB: Love must be sincere. Detest what is evil; cling to what is good.
10 UST Be affectionate toward each other in regard to loving fellow believers. Be the first to honor other{ fellow believers}. BSB BSB: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Outdo yourselves in honoring one another.
11 UST Do not be lazy,{ but} be diligent. Be sincerely enthusiastic. Serve the Lord. BSB BSB: Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
12 UST Rejoice because you are confident{ in the Lord}. Be patient when you suffer. Pray persistently. BSB BSB: Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
13 UST Share{ what you have}{ to provide} what God’ s people need. Find opportunities to welcome{ others into your home}. BSB BSB: Share with the saints who are in need. Practice hospitality.
Forgiveness (Matthew 18:21–35)
15 UST Rejoice along with those people who are rejoicing. Cry along with those who are crying. BSB BSB: Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.
16 UST Be as concerned for each other as you are for yourselves. Do not think arrogantly{ about yourselves}. Rather, associate with humble people. Do not be arrogant. BSB BSB: Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but associate with the lowly. Do not be conceited.
18 UST Live peacefully with everyone whenever it is possible for you to do so. BSB BSB: If it is possible on your part, live at peace with everyone.
20 UST Rather{ than permitting us to retaliate, God instructed us in the Scriptures},“Feed your enemy if that person is hungry. Give your enemy something to drink if that person is thirsty.{ Do this} because when you do so,{ your enemy will feel ashamed, as if} you were piling up burning coals on top of that person’ s head.” BSB BSB: On the contrary, “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head.”
21 UST { In other words,} do not let what is evil defeat you{ by causing you to do what is evil}. Rather, defeat what is evil by{ doing} what is good. BSB BSB: Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Select verses for actions: Enter goes to them and Escape comes back.