Colossians 1:1-6 RSV

Matthew 20:25-28 But Jesus called them to him and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great men exercise authority over them.

It shall not be so among you; but whoever would be great among you must be your servant,

and whoever would be first among you must be your slave;

even as the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Matthew 23:1-12 Then said Jesus to the crowds and to his disciples,

The scribes and the Phar'i-sees sit on Moses' seat;

so practice and observe whatever they tell you, but not what they do; for they preach, but do not practice.

They bind heave burdens, hard to bear,

and lay them on men's shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with their finger.

They do all their deeds to be seen by men; for they make their plylacteries broad and their fringes long,

and they love the place of honor at feasts and the best seats in the synagogues,

and salutations in the market places, and being called rabbi by men.

But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all brethren.

And call no man your father on earth, for you have one Father, who is in heaven.

Neither be called masters,  for you have one master, the Christ.

He who is greatest  among you shall be your servant;

whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

1 Peter 5:1-11 So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ as well as a partaker in the glory that is to be revealed.

Tend to the flock of God that is your charge, not by constraint but willingly, not for shameful gain but eagerly,

not as domineering over those in your charge but be examples to the flock.

And when the chief Shepherd is manifested you will obtain the unfading crown of glory.

Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.

Cast all your anxieties on him, for he cares about you.

Be sober, be watchful, Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking some one to devour.

Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experience of suffering is required of your brotherhood throughout the world.

And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, establish, and strengthen you.

To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

1 Peter 4:18-19 And "If the righteous man is scarcely saved, where will the impious and sinner appear?"

Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.

John 3:13-21 No one has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man.

And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man be lifted up,

that whoever believes in him may have eternal life."

For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.

He who believes in him is not condemned, he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.

And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

For every one who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed.

But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God.

Phillipians 1:6 And I am sure that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.