The Better Reading Plan

Changed: Next Steps for a Changed Life

Soul Detox

Holy Emotions - Biblical Responses to Every Challenge

A Jolt of Joy

Daily Devotions with Greg Laurie

Believing God Is Good No Matter What

Fruits of the Spirit in Everyday Life

Thanksgiving: A Weapon of War

Christmas: The Greatest Gift

The Listener’s Bible®: NIV Edition

New International Version™  (Anglicised), Audio Edition

Holy Bible, New International Version™ (Anglicised), South Asian Audio Edition

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 <div class="chapter ch9" data-usfm="MRK.9">
 <div class="label">9</div><div class="p"> 1And he said to them, &#8220;Truly I tell you, some who are standing here will not taste death before they see that the kingdom of God has come with power.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Transfiguration</div><div class="p"> 2After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. There he was transfigured before them. 3His clothes became dazzling white, whiter than anyone in the world could bleach them. 4And there appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 5Peter said to Jesus, &#8220;Rabbi, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters&#8212;one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.&#8221; 6(He did not know what to say, they were so frightened.)</div><div class="p"> 7Then a cloud appeared and covered them, and a voice came from the cloud: &#8220;This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 8Suddenly, when they looked around, they no longer saw anyone with them except Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 9As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus gave them orders not to tell anyone what they had seen until the Son of Man had risen from the dead. 10They kept the matter to themselves, discussing what &#8220;rising from the dead&#8221; meant.</div><div class="p"> 11And they asked him, &#8220;Why do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 12Jesus replied, &#8220;To be sure, Elijah does come first, and restores all things. Why then is it written that the Son of Man must suffer much and be rejected? 13But I tell you, Elijah has come, and they have done to him everything they wished, just as it is written about him.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Heals a Boy Possessed by an Impure Spirit</div><div class="p"> 14When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.</div><div class="p"> 16 &#8220;What are you arguing with them about?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p"> 17A man in the crowd answered, &#8220;Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 19 &#8220;You unbelieving generation,&#8221; Jesus replied, &#8220;how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth.</div><div class="p"> 21Jesus asked the boy&#8217;s father, &#8220;How long has he been like this?&#8221;</div><div class="p">&#8220;From childhood,&#8221; he answered. 22&#8220;It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 23 &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;If you can&#8217;?&#8221; said Jesus. &#8220;Everything is possible for one who believes.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24Immediately the boy&#8217;s father exclaimed, &#8220;I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 25When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. &#8220;You deaf and mute spirit,&#8221; he said, &#8220;I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, &#8220;He&#8217;s dead.&#8221; 27But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.</div><div class="p"> 28After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, &#8220;Why couldn&#8217;t we drive it out?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29He replied, &#8220;This kind can come out only by prayer.#9:29 Some manuscripts prayer and fasting&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death a Second Time</div><div class="p"> 30They left that place and passed through Galilee. Jesus did not want anyone to know where they were, 31because he was teaching his disciples. He said to them, &#8220;The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men. They will kill him, and after three days he will rise.&#8221; 32But they did not understand what he meant and were afraid to ask him about it.</div><div class="p"> 33They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, &#8220;What were you arguing about on the road?&#8221; 34But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest.</div><div class="p"> 35Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, &#8220;Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36He took a little child whom he placed among them. Taking the child in his arms, he said to them, 37&#8220;Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Whoever Is Not Against Us Is for Us</div><div class="p"> 38&#8220;Teacher,&#8221; said John, &#8220;we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39 &#8220;Do not stop him,&#8221; Jesus said. &#8220;For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40for whoever is not against us is for us. 41Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.</div><div class="s1">Causing to Stumble</div><div class="p"> 42 &#8220;If anyone causes one of these little ones&#8212;those who believe in me&#8212;to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. [44]#9:44 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. [46]#9:46 Some manuscripts include here the words of verse 48. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48where</div><div class="q1"> &#8220;&#8198;&#8216;the worms that eat them do not die,</div><div class="q2"> and the fire is not quenched.&#8217; # 9:48 
 Isaiah 66:24
 </div><div class="m"> 49 Everyone will be salted with fire.</div><div class="p"> 50 &#8220;Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.&#8221;</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
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 <div class="chapter ch10" data-usfm="MRK.10">
 <div class="label">10</div><div class="s1">Divorce</div><div class="p"> 1Jesus then left that place and went into the region of Judea and across the Jordan. Again crowds of people came to him, and as was his custom, he taught them.</div><div class="p"> 2Some Pharisees came and tested him by asking, &#8220;Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 3 &#8220;What did Moses command you?&#8221; he replied.</div><div class="p"> 4They said, &#8220;Moses permitted a man to write a certificate of divorce and send her away.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 5 &#8220;It was because your hearts were hard that Moses wrote you this law,&#8221; Jesus replied. 6&#8220;But at the beginning of creation God &#8216;made them male and female.&#8217;#10:6 Gen. 1:27 7&#8216;For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,#10:7 Some early manuscripts do not have and be united to his wife. 8and the two will become one flesh.&#8217;#10:8 Gen. 2:24 So they are no longer two, but one flesh. 9Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 10When they were in the house again, the disciples asked Jesus about this. 11He answered, &#8220;Anyone who divorces his wife and marries another woman commits adultery against her. 12And if she divorces her husband and marries another man, she commits adultery.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Little Children and Jesus</div><div class="p"> 13People were bringing little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them, but the disciples rebuked them. 14When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, &#8220;Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. 15Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.&#8221; 16And he took the children in his arms, placed his hands on them and blessed them.</div><div class="s1">The Rich and the Kingdom of God</div><div class="p"> 17As Jesus started on his way, a man ran up to him and fell on his knees before him. &#8220;Good teacher,&#8221; he asked, &#8220;what must I do to inherit eternal life?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 18 &#8220;Why do you call me good?&#8221; Jesus answered. &#8220;No one is good&#8212;except God alone. 19You know the commandments: &#8216;You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, you shall not defraud, honor your father and mother.&#8217;#10:19 Exodus 20:12-16; Deut. 5:16-20&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 20&#8220;Teacher,&#8221; he declared, &#8220;all these I have kept since I was a boy.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 21Jesus looked at him and loved him. &#8220;One thing you lack,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Go, sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 22At this the man&#8217;s face fell. He went away sad, because he had great wealth.</div><div class="p"> 23Jesus looked around and said to his disciples, &#8220;How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 24The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, &#8220;Children, how hard it is#10:24 Some manuscripts is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! 25It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 26The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, &#8220;Who then can be saved?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 27Jesus looked at them and said, &#8220;With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 28Then Peter spoke up, &#8220;We have left everything to follow you!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 29 &#8220;Truly I tell you,&#8221; Jesus replied, &#8220;no one who has left home or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or fields for me and the gospel 30will fail to receive a hundred times as much in this present age: homes, brothers, sisters, mothers, children and fields&#8212;along with persecutions&#8212;and in the age to come eternal life. 31But many who are first will be last, and the last first.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Jesus Predicts His Death a Third Time</div><div class="p"> 32They were on their way up to Jerusalem, with Jesus leading the way, and the disciples were astonished, while those who followed were afraid. Again he took the Twelve aside and told them what was going to happen to him. 33&#8220;We are going up to Jerusalem,&#8221; he said, &#8220;and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34who will mock him and spit on him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">The Request of James and John</div><div class="p"> 35Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. &#8220;Teacher,&#8221; they said, &#8220;we want you to do for us whatever we ask.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 36 &#8220;What do you want me to do for you?&#8221; he asked.</div><div class="p"> 37They replied, &#8220;Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 38 &#8220;You don&#8217;t know what you are asking,&#8221; Jesus said. &#8220;Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 39&#8220;We can,&#8221; they answered.</div><div class="p">Jesus said to them, &#8220;You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 41When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John. 42Jesus called them together and said, &#8220;You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 43Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, 44and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. 45For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.&#8221;</div><div class="s1">Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight</div><div class="p"> 46Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means &#8220;son of Timaeus&#8221;), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, &#8220;Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 48Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, &#8220;Son of David, have mercy on me!&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 49Jesus stopped and said, &#8220;Call him.&#8221;</div><div class="p">So they called to the blind man, &#8220;Cheer up! On your feet! He&#8217;s calling you.&#8221; 50Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.</div><div class="p"> 51 &#8220;What do you want me to do for you?&#8221; Jesus asked him.</div><div class="p">The blind man said, &#8220;Rabbi, I want to see.&#8221;</div><div class="p"> 52 &#8220;Go,&#8221; said Jesus, &#8220;your faith has healed you.&#8221; Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkCOL">
 <div class="chapter ch1" data-usfm="COL.1">
 <div class="label">1</div><div class="p"> 1Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p"> 2To God&#8217;s holy people in Colossae, the faithful brothers and sisters#1:2 The Greek word for brothers and sisters (adelphoi) refers here to believers, both men and women, as part of God&#8217;s family; also in 4:15. in Christ:</div><div class="b"></div><div class="p">Grace and peace to you from God our Father.#1:2 Some manuscripts Father and the Lord Jesus Christ</div><div class="s1">Thanksgiving and Prayer</div><div class="p"> 3We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God&#8217;s people&#8212; 5the faith and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven and about which you have already heard in the true message of the gospel 6that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world&#8212;just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly understood God&#8217;s grace. 7You learned it from Epaphras, our dear fellow servant,#1:7 Or slave who is a faithful minister of Christ on our#1:7 Some manuscripts your behalf, 8and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.</div><div class="p"> 9For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,#1:9 Or all spiritual wisdom and understanding 10so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, 12and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you#1:12 Some manuscripts us to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. 13For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, 14in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.</div><div class="s1">The Supremacy of the Son of God</div><div class="p"> 15The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. 16For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. 17He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.</div><div class="p"> 21Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of#1:21 Or minds, as shown by your evil behavior. 22But now he has reconciled you by Christ&#8217;s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation&#8212; 23if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.</div><div class="s1">Paul&#8217;s Labor for the Church</div><div class="p"> 24Now I rejoice in what I am suffering for you, and I fill up in my flesh what is still lacking in regard to Christ&#8217;s afflictions, for the sake of his body, which is the church. 25I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness&#8212; 26the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord&#8217;s people. 27To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.</div><div class="p"> 28He is the one we proclaim, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone fully mature in Christ. 29To this end I strenuously contend with all the energy Christ so powerfully works in me.</div>
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<div class="version vid111 iso6393eng" data-vid="111" data-iso6393="eng">
 <div class="book bkCOL">
 <div class="chapter ch2" data-usfm="COL.2">
 <div class="label">2</div><div class="p"> 1I want you to know how hard I am contending for you and for those at Laodicea, and for all who have not met me personally. 2My goal is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. 4I tell you this so that no one may deceive you by fine-sounding arguments. 5For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how disciplined you are and how firm your faith in Christ is.</div><div class="s1">Spiritual Fullness in Christ</div><div class="p"> 6So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him, 7rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.</div><div class="p"> 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces#2:8 Or the basic principles; also in verse 20 of this world rather than on Christ.</div><div class="p"> 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. 11In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh#2:11 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit; also in verse 13. was put off when you were circumcised by#2:11 Or put off in the circumcision of Christ, 12having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead.</div><div class="p"> 13When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you#2:13 Some manuscripts us alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14having canceled the charge of our legal indebtedness, which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. 15And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.#2:15 Or them in him</div><div class="s1">Freedom From Human Rules</div><div class="p"> 16Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. 17These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ. 18Do not let anyone who delights in false humility and the worship of angels disqualify you. Such a person also goes into great detail about what they have seen; they are puffed up with idle notions by their unspiritual mind. 19They have lost connection with the head, from whom the whole body, supported and held together by its ligaments and sinews, grows as God causes it to grow.</div><div class="p"> 20Since you died with Christ to the elemental spiritual forces of this world, why, as though you still belonged to the world, do you submit to its rules: 21&#8220;Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!&#8221;? 22These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. 23Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.</div>
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