Ephesians 4:7-16

7 Loving-favor has been given to each one of us. We can see how great it is by the gift of Christ. 8 The Holy Writings say, “When Christ went up to heaven, He took those who were held with Him. He gave gifts to men.” 9 When they say, “He went up,” what does it mean but that He had first gone down to the deep parts of the earth? 10 Christ Who went down into the deep also went up far above the heavens. He did this to fill all the world with Himself. 11 Christ gave gifts to men. He gave to some the gift to be missionaries, some to be preachers, others to be preachers who go from town to town. He gave others the gift to be church leaders and teachers. 12 These gifts help His people work well for Him. And then the church which is the body of Christ will be made strong. 13 All of us are to be as one in the faith and in knowing the Son of God. We are to be full-grown Christians standing as high and complete as Christ is Himself. 14 Then we will not be as children any longer. Children are like boats thrown up and down on big waves. They are blown with the wind. False teaching is like the wind. False teachers try everything possible to make people believe a lie, 15 but we are to hold to the truth with love in our hearts. We are to grow up and be more like Christ. He is the leader of the church. 16 Christ has put each part of the church in its right place. Each part helps other parts. This is what is needed to keep the whole body together. In this way, the whole body grows strong in love.

Hebrews 13:18

18 Pray for us. Our hearts tell us we are right. We want to do the right thing always.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

12 We ask you, Christian brothers, to respect those who work among you. The Lord has placed them over you and they are your teachers. 13 You must think much of them and love them because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Peter 5:1-3

I want to speak to the church leaders among you. I am a church leader also. I saw Christ suffer and die on a cross. I will also share His shining-greatness when He comes again. 2 Be good shepherds of the flock God has put in your care. Do not care for the flock as if you were made to. Do not care for the flock for money, but do it because you want to. 3 Do not be bosses over the people you lead. Live as you would like to have them live.

1 Timothy 4:9-16

9 These words are true and they can be trusted. 10 Because of this, we work hard and do our best because our hope is in the living God, the One Who would save all men. He saves those who believe in Him. 11 Tell people that this is what they must do. 12 Let no one show little respect for you because you are young. Show other Christians how to live by your life. They should be able to follow you in the way you talk and in what you do. Show them how to live in faith and in love and in holy living. 13 Until I come, read and preach and teach the Word of God to the church. 14 Be sure to use the gift God gave you. The leaders saw this in you when they laid their hands on you and said what you should do. 15 Think about all this. Work at it so everyone may see you are growing as a Christian. 16 Watch yourself how you act and what you teach. Stay true to what is right. If you do, you and those who hear you will be saved from the punishment of sin.

1 Timothy 3:1-7

It is true that if a man wants to be a church leader, he wants to do a good work. 2 A church leader must be a good man. His life must be so no one can say anything against him. He must have only one wife and must be respected for his good living. He must be willing to take people into his home. He must be willing to learn and able to teach the Word of God. 3 He must not get drunk or want to fight. Instead, he must be gentle. He must not have a love for money. 4 He should be a good leader in his own home. His children must obey and respect him. 5 If a man cannot be a good leader in his own home, how can he lead the church? 6 A church leader must not be a new Christian. A new Christian might become proud and fall into sin which is brought on by the devil. 7 A church leader must be respected by people who are not Christians so nothing can be said against him. In that way, he will not be trapped by the devil.

Philippians 1:21-26

21 To me, living means having Christ. To die means that I would have more of Him. 22 If I keep on living here in this body, it means that I can lead more people to Christ. I do not know which is better. 23 There is a strong pull from both sides. I have a desire to leave this world to be with Christ, which is much better. 24 But it is more important for you that I stay. 25 I am sure I will live to help you grow and be happy in your faith. 26 This will give you reason to give more thanks to Christ Jesus when I come to visit you again.

Acts 20:22-24

22 “As you see, I am on my way to Jerusalem. The Holy Spirit makes me go. I do not know what will happen to me there. 23 But in every city I have been, the Holy Spirit tells me that trouble and chains will be waiting for me there. 24 But I am not worried about this. I do not think of my life as worth much, but I do want to finish the work the Lord Jesus gave me to do. My work is to preach the Good News of God’s loving-favor.

1 Thessalonians 2:3-8

3 You remember what we said to you was true. We had no wrong desire in teaching you. We did not try to fool you. 4 God has allowed us to be trusted with the Good News. Because of this, we preach it to please God, not man. God tests and proves our hearts. 5 You know we never used smooth-sounding words. God knows we never tried to get money from you by preaching. 6 We never looked for thanks from men, not from you or from anyone else. But because we were missionaries of Christ, we could have asked you to do much for us. 7 Instead, we were gentle when we came to you. We were like a mother caring for her children. 8 We had such a strong desire to help you that we were happy to give you the Good News. Because we loved you so much, we were ready to give you our own lives also.

2 Corinthians 12:14-19

14 This is the third time I am ready to come to you. I want nothing from you. I want you, not your money. You are my children. Children should not have to help care for their parents. Parents should help their children. 15 I am glad to give anything I have, even myself, to help you. When I love you more, it looks as if you love me less. 16 It is true that I was not a heavy load to you. But some say I set a trap for you. 17 How could I have done that? Did I get anything from you through the men I sent to you? 18 I asked Titus and the other Christian brother to visit you. Did Titus get anything from you? Did we not do things that showed we had the same desires and followed the same plan? 19 It may look to you as if we had been trying to make everything look right for ourselves all this time. God knows and so does Christ that all this is done to help you.

Isaiah 6:8

8 Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom should I send? Who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!”

Mark 10:43-45

43 It must not be that way with you. Whoever wants to be great among you, let him care for you. 44 Whoever wants to be first among you, must be the one who is owned and cares for all. 45 For the Son of Man did not come to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and be made free from sin.”

Matthew 28:19-20

19 Go and make followers of all the nations. Baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach them to do all the things I have told you. And I am with you always, even to the end of the world.”

Roldan Ortiz Molinares