So then, my friends, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer.

Their houses will be given to others, and so will their fields and their wives. I am going to punish the people of this land.

"Mortal man," he said, "I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You will pass on to them the warnings I give you.

If you do warn an evil man and he doesn't stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared.

If you do warn a good man not to sin and he listens to you and doesn't sin, he will stay alive, and your life will also be spared."

When he sees the enemy approaching, he sounds the alarm to warn everyone.

His death is his own fault, because he paid no attention to the warning. If he had paid attention, he could have escaped.

"Now, mortal man, I am making you a lookout for the nation of Israel. You must pass on to them the warnings I give you.

If you do warn an evil person and he doesn't stop sinning, he will die, still a sinner, but your life will be spared."

For I have not held back from announcing to you the whole purpose of God.

Watch, then, and remember that with many tears, day and night, I taught every one of you for three years.

I write this to you, not because I want to make you feel ashamed, but to instruct you as my own dear children.

So we preach Christ to everyone. With all possible wisdom we warn and teach them in order to bring each one into God's presence as a mature individual in union with Christ.

an elder must be without fault; he must have only one wife, and his children must be believers and not have the reputation of being wild or disobedient.

For there are many, especially the converts from Judaism, who rebel and deceive others with their nonsense.

We say this because we hear that there are some people among you who live lazy lives and who do nothing except meddle in other people's business.

But you, friends, must not become tired of doing good.

even though as apostles of Christ we could have made demands on you. But we were gentle when we were with you, like a mother taking care of her children.

Surely you remember, our friends, how we worked and toiled! We worked day and night so that we would not be any trouble to you as we preached to you the Good News from God.

You know that we treated each one of you just as parents treat their own children.

Give strength to hands that are tired and to knees that tremble with weakness.

Tell everyone who is discouraged, "Be strong and don't be afraid! God is coming to your rescue, coming to punish your enemies."

"Comfort my people," says our God. "Comfort them!

Encourage the people of Jerusalem. Tell them they have suffered long enough and their sins are now forgiven. I have punished them in full for all their sins."

He will take care of his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs together and carry them in his arms; he will gently lead their mothers.

"I will look for those that are lost, bring back those that wander off, bandage those that are hurt, and heal those that are sick; but those that are fat and strong I will destroy, because I am a shepherd who does what is right.

He will not break off a bent reed, nor put out a flickering lamp. He will persist until he causes justice to triumph,

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers."

After they had eaten, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these others do?" "Yes, Lord," he answered, "you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Take care of my lambs."

A third time Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter became sad because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" and so he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you!" Jesus said to him, "Take care of my sheep.

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but do not argue with them about their personal opinions.

We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves.

For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, "The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me."

My friends, if someone is caught in any kind of wrongdoing, those of you who are spiritual should set him right; but you must do it in a gentle way. And keep an eye on yourselves, so that you will not be tempted, too.

Help carry one another's burdens, and in this way you will obey the law of Christ.

Lift up your tired hands, then, and strengthen your trembling knees!

I have shown you in all things that by working hard in this way we must help the weak, remembering the words that the Lord Jesus himself said, 'There is more happiness in giving than in receiving.' "

from all their suffering. It was not an angel, but the LORD himself who saved them. In his love and compassion he rescued them. He had always taken care of them in the past,

Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or conceited or proud;

love is not ill-mannered or selfish or irritable; love does not keep a record of wrongs;

But the Spirit produces love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Be always humble, gentle, and patient. Show your love by being tolerant with one another.

Instead, be kind and tender-hearted to one another, and forgive one another, as God has forgiven you through Christ.

Since you are God's dear children, you must try to be like him.

Your life must be controlled by love, just as Christ loved us and gave his life for us as a sweet-smelling offering and sacrifice that pleases God.

You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you.

he must not be a drunkard or a violent man, but gentle and peaceful; he must not love money;

But you, man of God, avoid all these things. Strive for righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, and gentleness.

As the Lord's servant, you must not quarrel. You must be kind toward all, a good and patient teacher,

who is gentle as you correct your opponents, for it may be that God will give them the opportunity to repent and come to know the truth.

to preach the message, to insist upon proclaiming it (whether the time is right or not), to convince, reproach, and encourage, as you teach with all patience.

Since he himself is weak in many ways, he is able to be gentle with those who are ignorant and make mistakes.

And because he is himself weak, he must offer sacrifices not only for the sins of the people but also for his own sins.

Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them. Remember those who are suffering, as though you were suffering as they are.