Each of you has received a gift that you can use to serve others. You should use it as something that God has trusted you with. These gifts come in many forms.
Because a church leader takes care of God’s family, he must be blameless. He must not push people around, or get angry easily, or get drunk, or try to get money by cheating people.
My goal is that they will all be encouraged in their hearts and joined together in love. Then their understanding will be rich and complete, and they will know the mystery of God, which is Christ.
God is able to strengthen you through the good news, which is the message I preach about Jesus Christ. There was a mystery that had been kept hidden for a very long time.
Even if I did decide to brag, that wouldn’t make me a fool, because I’d be telling the truth. But I don’t brag, so that no one will think more of me than they should based on what I say and do.
Are they serving Christ? I’m serving him even more. (I’m out of my mind to talk like this!) I’ve worked much harder. I’ve been in prison more often. I’ve suffered terrible beatings. Again and again I’ve almost died.
The Lord answered, “Suppose a master gives one of his servants the job of giving the other servants their food at the right time, as a faithful and wise manager.
“Suppose a master puts one of his slaves in charge of the other slaves and tells him to give them their food at the right time. The master would want to choose a faithful and wise slave to do that.
Without question, true godliness comes from this great mystery: Jesus came as a human being, and he was declared right with God by the Holy Spirit. He was seen by angels, preached among the nations, believed on in the world, and taken up in glory.
No, we share God’s wisdom, which is a mystery that has been hidden until now. But before time began, God planned that this wisdom would bring us heavenly glory.
“You are being given the chance to understand the secrets of God’s kingdom. But to outsiders, I speak in stories. That way, “ ‘They’ll see, but they won’t know what they’re seeing; they’ll hear, but they won’t understand what they’re hearing.’
Brothers and sisters, here’s a mystery I want you to understand. It will keep you from being proud. Part of Israel has refused to obey God, and that will continue until the full number of Gentiles has entered God’s kingdom.