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NIV Email for May 28

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NEW TESTAMENT

1 Timothy 3:1 through 1 Timothy 3:16 (NIV)
1Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer, he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap.

8Deacons, likewise, are to be men worthy of respect, sincere, not indulging in much wine, and not pursuing dishonest gain. 9They must keep hold of the deep truths of the faith with a clear conscience. 10They must first be tested; and then if there is nothing against them, let them serve as deacons.

11In the same way, their wives are to be women worthy of respect, not malicious talkers but temperate and trustworthy in everything.

12A deacon must be the husband of but one wife and must manage his children and his household well. 13Those who have served well gain an excellent standing and great assurance in their faith in Christ Jesus.

14Although I hope to come to you soon, I am writing you these instructions so that, 15if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth. 16Beyond all question, the mystery of godliness is great:

He appeared in a body,

was vindicated by the Spirit,

was seen by angels,

was preached among the nations,

was believed on in the world,

was taken up in glory.

1 Timothy 4:1 through 1 Timothy 4:16 (NIV)
1The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. 2Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. 3They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. 4For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, 5because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

6If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. 7Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. 8For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

9This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance 10(and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

11Command and teach these things. 12Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 13Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. 14Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

15Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. 16Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

PSALMS OR PROVERBS

Psalm 147:1 through Psalm 147:20 (NIV)
1 Praise the LORD.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

2 The LORD builds up Jerusalem;

he gathers the exiles of Israel.

3 He heals the brokenhearted

and binds up their wounds.

4 He determines the number of the stars

and calls them each by name.

5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

his understanding has no limit.

6 The LORD sustains the humble

but casts the wicked to the ground.

7 Sing to the LORD with thanksgiving;

make music to our God on the harp.

8 He covers the sky with clouds;

he supplies the earth with rain

and makes grass grow on the hills.

9 He provides food for the cattle

and for the young ravens when they call.

10 His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

nor his delight in the legs of a man;

11 the LORD delights in those who fear him,

who put their hope in his unfailing love.

12 Extol the LORD, O Jerusalem;

praise your God, O Zion,

13 for he strengthens the bars of your gates

and blesses your people within you.

14 He grants peace to your borders

and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

15 He sends his command to the earth;

his word runs swiftly.

16 He spreads the snow like wool

and scatters the frost like ashes.

17 He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

Who can withstand his icy blast?

18 He sends his word and melts them;

he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

19 He has revealed his word to Jacob,

his laws and decrees to Israel.

20 He has done this for no other nation;

they do not know his laws.

Praise the LORD.

OLD TESTAMENT

2 Samuel 22:1 through 2 Samuel 22:51 (NIV)
1David sang to the LORD the words of this song when the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said:

"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

3 my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation.

He is my stronghold, my refuge and my savior-

from violent men you save me.

4 I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,

and I am saved from my enemies.

5 "The waves of death swirled about me;

the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.

6 The cords of the grave coiled around me;

the snares of death confronted me.

7 In my distress I called to the LORD;

I called out to my God.

From his temple he heard my voice;

my cry came to his ears.

8 "The earth trembled and quaked,

the foundations of the heavens shook;

they trembled because he was angry.

9 Smoke rose from his nostrils;

consuming fire came from his mouth,

burning coals blazed out of it.

10 He parted the heavens and came down;

dark clouds were under his feet.

11 He mounted the cherubim and flew;

he soared on the wings of the wind.

12 He made darkness his canopy around him-

the dark rain clouds of the sky.

13 Out of the brightness of his presence

bolts of lightning blazed forth.

14 The LORD thundered from heaven;

the voice of the Most High resounded.

15 He shot arrows and scattered the enemies,

bolts of lightning and routed them.

16 The valleys of the sea were exposed

and the foundations of the earth laid bare

at the rebuke of the LORD,

at the blast of breath from his nostrils.

17 "He reached down from on high and took hold of me;

he drew me out of deep waters.

18 He rescued me from my powerful enemy,

from my foes, who were too strong for me.

19 They confronted me in the day of my disaster,

but the LORD was my support.

20 He brought me out into a spacious place;

he rescued me because he delighted in me.

21 "The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;

according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.

22 For I have kept the ways of the LORD;

I have not done evil by turning from my God.

23 All his laws are before me;

I have not turned away from his decrees.

24 I have been blameless before him

and have kept myself from sin.

25 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,

according to my cleanness in his sight.

26 "To the faithful you show yourself faithful,

to the blameless you show yourself blameless,

27 to the pure you show yourself pure,

but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.

28 You save the humble,

but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them low.

29 You are my lamp, O LORD;

the LORD turns my darkness into light.

30 With your help I can advance against a troop;

with my God I can scale a wall.

31 "As for God, his way is perfect;

the word of the LORD is flawless.

He is a shield

for all who take refuge in him.

32 For who is God besides the LORD?

And who is the Rock except our God?

33 It is God who arms me with strength

and makes my way perfect.

34 He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;

he enables me to stand on the heights.

35 He trains my hands for battle;

my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

36 You give me your shield of victory;

you stoop down to make me great.

37 You broaden the path beneath me,

so that my ankles do not turn.

38 "I pursued my enemies and crushed them;

I did not turn back till they were destroyed.

39 I crushed them completely, and they could not rise;

they fell beneath my feet.

40 You armed me with strength for battle;

you made my adversaries bow at my feet.

41 You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,

and I destroyed my foes.

42 They cried for help, but there was no one to save them-

to the LORD, but he did not answer.

43 I beat them as fine as the dust of the earth;

I pounded and trampled them like mud in the streets.

44 "You have delivered me from the attacks of my people;

you have preserved me as the head of nations.

People I did not know are subject to me,

45 and foreigners come cringing to me;

as soon as they hear me, they obey me.

46 They all lose heart;

they come trembling from their strongholds.

47 "The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be God, the Rock, my Savior!

48 He is the God who avenges me,

who puts the nations under me,

49 who sets me free from my enemies.

You exalted me above my foes;

from violent men you rescued me.

50 Therefore I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations;

I will sing praises to your name.

51 He gives his king great victories;

he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,

to David and his descendants forever."