MYSTERIES OF GOD
Luke 8:10
10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is in parables, in order that seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand.
Colossians 1:24-29
24 Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I do my share on behalf of His body (which is the church) in filling up that which is lacking in Christ’s afflictions.25 Of this church I was made a minister according to the stewardship from God bestowed on me for your benefit, that I might fully carry out the preaching of the word of God,26 that is, the mystery which has been hidden from the past ages and generations; but has now been manifested to His saints,27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.28 And we proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, that we may present every man complete in Christ.29 And for this purpose also I labor, striving according to His power, which mightily works within me.
Colossians 2:1-4
1 For I want you to know how great a struggle I have on your behalf, and for those who are at Laodicea, and for all those who have not personally seen my face,2 that their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ Himself,3 in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.4 I say this in order that no one may delude you with persuasive argument.
STEWARDSHIP
Luke 12:35-48
35 “Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps alight.36 “And be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.37 “Blessed are those slaves whom the master shall find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.38 “Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.39 “And be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.40 “You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.”
41 And Peter said, “Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?”42 And the Lord said, “Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?43 “Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.44 “Truly I say to you, that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.45 “But if that slave says in his heart, ‘My master will be a long time in coming,’ and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him, and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.47 “And that slave who knew his master’s will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, shall receive many lashes,48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. And from everyone who has been given much shall much be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.
Titus 1:7
7 For the overseer must be above reproach as God’s steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain,
TRUST OF THE GOSPEL
1 Thessalonians 2:4
4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not as pleasing men but God, who examines our hearts.
1 Timothy 6:20
20 O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge”—
2 Timothy 2:2
2 And the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, these entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.
MENTORING
Philippians 3:17-20; 4:9
17 Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ,19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things.20 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ;
9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things; and the God of peace shall be with you.
1 Thessalonians 1:6
6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you,8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we might not be a burden to any of you;9 not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, that you might follow our example.