Living The Life

Teachings of Jesus

A categorized guide to the commands and teachings of Jesus, with practical explanations and Scripture references across the Gospels and Acts.

31 min read Updated Oct 3, 2026Source-preserved article

The Teachings and Commands of Jesus

Jesus taught by His words, by implication, and by the example of His life. He said, “Follow me,” and Scripture says that whoever claims to abide in Him ought to walk as He walked (1 John 2:6).

Matthew 7:24> “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”

Mark 9:7> “This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!”

Each teaching is intentionally brief; the sentence beneath it clarifies its practical meaning, and the references show every passage represented.

Following Jesus and Entering Life

The call to repent, believe, follow Jesus, and enter God’s Kingdom.

Follow Jesus above everything, deny yourself, carry your cross, and lose your life for Him
Matthew 4:19; Matthew 8:22; Matthew 10:38; Matthew 10:39; Matthew 13:44-46; Matthew 16:24; Matthew 16:25; Matthew 19:21-30; Mark 1:17; Mark 8:34; Mark 8:35; Mark 8:35-37; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 5:27-28; Luke 9:23; Luke 9:24-25; Luke 9:57-58; Luke 9:59-62; Luke 14:25-26; Luke 14:27; Luke 14:28-33; Luke 18:28-30; John 1:43; John 8:12; John 12:24-25; John 12:26; John 15:19; John 18:36
Count the full cost of discipleship and let no ambition, comfort, possession, relationship, suffering, or worldly identity outrank following Jesus.
Repent, receive God’s invitation, and enter His Kingdom through the narrow way
Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 22:2-14; Luke 5:32; Luke 13:22-24; Luke 14:15-24; Luke 15:1-24; Luke 15:25-32; Luke 19:5-7; Luke 19:9; Luke 23:42-43
Respond to Jesus with repentance and childlike faith, make every effort to enter, and welcome other repentant sinners with joy.
Come to Jesus for rest, nourishment, salvation, and abundant life
Matthew 11:28; Matthew 11:29-30; John 5:40; John 6:27; John 6:35; John 6:37; John 6:48-50; John 6:51-56; John 7:37; John 10:9; John 10:10
Receive from Jesus the life, rest, spiritual food, and lasting satisfaction that the world cannot provide.
Be fully instructed in the Kingdom of Heaven
Matthew 13:52
Fully understand the pure message of the Kingdom so you can share both old and new treasures with others.
Treat the unrepentant as pagans
Matthew 18:17
Do not greet or treat unrepentant sinners as brethren.
Remain unmarried for the Kingdom if you are able
Matthew 19:12
If you can receive this calling, remain unmarried so you can give undivided attention to God’s Kingdom.
Do not concern yourself with how God deals with other disciples
John 21:22-23
Put this teaching of Jesus into faithful practice.

Holiness, Obedience, and Fruit

Commands for a clean heart, righteous conduct, obedience, and lasting spiritual fruit.

Obey God completely and pursue His righteousness in everything
Matthew 3:15; Matthew 5:17; Matthew 5:17-19; Matthew 5:48; Matthew 7:21-23; Matthew 13:40-43; Matthew 16:27; Matthew 19:8-9; Mark 10:19; Luke 12:47-48; John 7:17; John 8:28-29; John 15:14
Do God’s known will, keep His commands without setting any aside, and let every part of life reflect His righteousness.
Repent and turn completely away from sin
Matthew 4:17; Luke 10:13; Luke 13:2-5
Respond to God’s truth and power with genuine repentance, stopping sinful ways rather than delaying.
Mourn over sin and its harm
Matthew 5:4
Mourn over both the abominations of the sinful and the results of that sin on people.
Cleanse your heart from lust and evil so that your life bears good fruit
Matthew 5:8; Matthew 5:28; Matthew 12:33-35; Matthew 23:26; Mark 7:20-23; Luke 6:43-45; Luke 21:34-35; John 8:45
Deal with inward corruption rather than merely outward appearance, storing up what is good so holy conduct and speech flow from the heart.
Remove anything that repeatedly leads you into temptation or sin
Matthew 5:30; Matthew 18:8-9; Mark 9:43-48
Take decisive action against habits, access, or attachments that cause you to stumble, even when the sacrifice feels severe.
Keep your spiritual vision clear and healthy
Matthew 6:22-23; Luke 11:34-36
Let righteous motives and clear spiritual perception fill your whole life with light rather than darkness.
Bear abundant fruit that shows you belong to Jesus and God’s Kingdom
Matthew 21:43; Luke 13:6-9; John 15:2; John 15:8
Let a fruitful life demonstrate true discipleship and produce what belongs to God’s Kingdom.
Do not hinder people who do good works in Jesus’ name
Mark 9:39-40; Luke 9:49-50
Do not oppose faithful work merely because the people doing it are outside your own group.
Do not cause children or other believers to stumble into sin
Mark 9:42; Luke 17:1-2
Protect vulnerable believers rather than becoming an influence or obstacle that leads them away from faithfulness.
Reject darkness, do what is good, and walk openly in the light
John 3:19-20; John 3:19-21; John 5:25-29; John 7:7
Love truth rather than darkness, practice what is good, and live where God’s light can expose and guide your works.
Do not blame all tragedy on personal sin
John 9:2
Do not assume every ailment or tragedy results from personal sin; some become occasions for God’s works to be displayed.
Do not call impure what God has made clean
Acts 10:15
Find out what God has made clean and do not go beyond what God is requiring or make things impure that He does not want to be impure.

Faith, Trust, and Dependence

Trusting God for provision, wisdom, power, protection, and endurance.

Do not worry about daily needs or tomorrow; seek God’s Kingdom first
Matthew 6:25-32; Matthew 6:33; Matthew 6:34; Luke 12:22-30; Luke 12:31
Trust the Father with your life and necessities, refuse anxiety about the future, and make His Kingdom and righteousness your first pursuit.
Do not fear people, danger, disaster, or loss; trust God’s presence and power
Matthew 8:26; Matthew 10:26, 28-31; Matthew 14:27-33; Luke 8:25; Luke 12:4; Luke 12:6-7; Luke 24:38; John 14:1-4; John 14:27-28; John 16:32; John 20:29
Let faith in God’s care, authority, and presence overcome fear, troubled thoughts, and dependence on what can be seen.
Trust the Holy Spirit to speak through you under persecution
Matthew 10:18-19; Matthew 10:20; Mark 13:11; Luke 12:11-12; Luke 21:14-15; John 15:26-27
When accused or arrested for Jesus, do not prepare anxiously; rely on the Spirit of truth to give you faithful words.
Never blaspheme the Holy Spirit or call His work evil
Matthew 12:32; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10
Recognize and honor the Holy Spirit’s work rather than hardening yourself and speaking against it.
Do not demand signs before you believe, repent, or obey
Matthew 12:39; Matthew 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:29-32; Luke 16:27-31; Luke 23:8-9
Respond to the truth God has already given instead of using a demand for spectacular signs to excuse unbelief or disobedience.
Do not be discouraged or persist fruitlessly where people refuse to believe
Matthew 13:58; Mark 6:6; John 6:64-66; John 10:26
Recognize that some people will refuse faith or leave, and do not let their response defeat you or keep you laboring without purpose.
Believe God without doubt, because His power makes the impossible possible
Matthew 17:20; Matthew 21:21-22; Mark 9:19; Mark 9:23; Mark 11:23; Mark 11:24; Luke 17:6
Reject unbelief, grow in faith, and pray and act with confidence in God’s power rather than doubt.
Encourage those who have faith
Mark 2:5
When you see faith in others encourage them.
Be spiritually minded and do not be merely concerned with human concerns
Mark 8:33
Be mindful of God’s ultimate purposes and will and do not put human concerns before God’s concerns.
Receive trustworthy testimony that agrees with God’s truth
Mark 16:14; John 3:11-12
Do not insist on personal sight when faithful witnesses testify consistently with what God has revealed.
Believe and be baptized to be saved
Mark 16:15-16
Believe the gospel and be baptized into Jesus and you will be saved.
Fear God
Luke 12:5
Give God reverent fear because He holds final authority over judgment and life.
Be born again by water and the Spirit to enter God’s Kingdom
John 3:3-5; John 3:5-6; John 3:6
Receive the new life that comes from God’s Spirit rather than relying on natural birth or religious knowledge.
Believe in Jesus for eternal life and hold firmly to that faith
John 3:14-17; John 6:28; John 6:39; John 6:40; John 6:47; John 7:38-39; John 8:21-24; John 11:25-26; John 14:1-4; John 20:27
Trust Jesus as the Son sent by the Father, receive life through Him, and do not abandon or doubt that faith.
Have faith that God will cause others to come to Jesus
John 6:37
The Father will move those who know Him to come to Jesus.
Hold firmly to your confidence in your salvation and your purpose from God
John 13:3
Know your standing with God and the calling He has entrusted to you, as Jesus knew His identity and mission.
Do not be sorrowful that Jesus is gone but be glad to have the Spirit
John 16:6-7
Be joyful and recognize that having the Spirit of God with you is greater than having Jesus Himself physically with you.
Have faith that the Spirit of truth will teach other disciples all truth
John 16:13-15
Trust the Spirit of truth to keep guiding disciples rather than assuming you must teach everyone everything at once.
Trust Jesus to turn worldly sorrow into lasting joy
John 16:19-22
Trust that sorrow borne for Jesus will give way to joy in His presence.
Speak truth that gives peace and courage to overcome the world
John 16:33
Strengthen people with Jesus’ words so they can face trouble with peace and confidence in His victory.

Truth, Scripture, and Discernment

Receiving truth, understanding Scripture, rejecting deception, and judging by righteous fruit.

Hear, understand, hold to, and obey God’s Word and Jesus’ teaching
Matthew 4:4; Matthew 7:24-27; Matthew 13:18-23; Matthew 22:29; Mark 8:14-21; Mark 12:24; Luke 4:4; Luke 6:46-49; Luke 8:11-15; Luke 8:18; Luke 10:16; Luke 10:38-42; Luke 11:28; Luke 24:25; John 5:24; John 5:37; John 5:38; John 5:45-47; John 6:66-70; John 8:31; John 8:32; John 8:34-36; John 8:47; John 8:51; John 8:55; John 10:4, 27; John 12:47-50; John 15:4-5; John 15:7; John 15:9-10; John 17:17
Give God’s Word first place, understand and retain it, continue in Jesus’ teaching, and put what you hear into practice.
Correct yourself first, then judge righteously rather than by appearances
Matthew 7:1-4; Matthew 7:5; Matthew 7:16-20; Luke 6:39-42; John 7:24; John 8:7; John 8:15-16
Remove hypocrisy and sin from your own life before evaluating others, and judge by truth and fruit rather than outward appearance or worldly standards.
Do not give sacred truth to people who only attack it
Matthew 7:6; Matthew 15:12-14
Use discernment when hearers reject truth maliciously; sometimes the faithful response is to disengage and leave blind guides alone.
Guard against false messiahs, prophets, shepherds, and hypocritical teachers
Matthew 7:15; Matthew 24:4-11; Matthew 24:24-28; Mark 13:5-6; Mark 13:21-23; Luke 17:22-24; Luke 21:8; John 10:5-8; John 10:8-10
Test religious claims and leaders by God’s Word and their fruit, and do not be deceived by status, tradition, or impressive signs.
Teach God’s truth with wisdom, authority, clarity, and love
Matthew 7:28-29; Matthew 13:54; Mark 1:22; Mark 2:10; Luke 24:27; Luke 24:45; John 5:33-34; John 7:16; John 14:10-11; John 15:11; John 15:15; John 15:21; John 17:13
Teach from God rather than self, use Scripture to open understanding, and speak words that bring truth, life, conviction, and joy.
Use discernment about when, where, and how openly to minister
Matthew 15:24-26; John 7:10
Be purposeful and wise about timing, danger, hostile hearers, and how much truth people are ready to receive.
Expose error and sin with truthful questions and spiritual reasoning
Matthew 16:22-23; Matthew 22:41-46; Mark 3:2-4; Luke 11:17-20; John 7:19; John 7:19-24; John 7:28-29; John 8:39-41; John 8:42-44; John 8:49-50; John 9:41; John 10:32; John 10:34-38; John 16:8-11
Confront false beliefs, inconsistent lives, persecution, and Satan’s work with truth that calls people to reconsider and repent.
Know the one true God through Jesus, the way to the Father
Mark 12:29; John 1:18; John 5:37; John 8:19; John 14:6; John 14:7-9; John 14:10-11; John 17:3; John 17:6
Know the Father by knowing Jesus, recognize God’s unique authority, and come to the Father through His Son.
Grow strong in wisdom and grace
Luke 2:40
Continue growing in wisdom, spiritual strength, and favor with God as Jesus did.
Do not take away the key of knowledge
Luke 11:52
Do not make knowledge hard for people to obtain.
Be wise to understand the new birth
John 3:10
Understand the new birth and its necessity for salvation.

Watchfulness, Judgment, and Christ’s Return

Living ready for judgment, resurrection, and the return of Jesus.

Flee promptly when God’s announced judgment overtakes a place
Matthew 24:15-20; Matthew 24:20; Mark 13:13-19; Mark 13:18; Luke 17:31-32; Luke 21:20-24
When the appointed warning signs appear, do not remain for possessions or false security; leave and pray that escape is not hindered.
Recognize the signs of Jesus’ return and remain watchful, ready, and faithful
Matthew 24:42-44; Matthew 24:45-51; Matthew 25:1-13; Mark 13:28-31; Mark 13:32-35; Mark 13:36-37; Luke 12:35-43; Luke 12:54-56; Luke 21:27-28; Luke 21:29-31; Luke 21:36; Acts 1:7
Stay spiritually awake and active in God’s work, understand the times without speculating about dates, and be ready to stand before Jesus.
Do not be alarmed by wars, uprisings, or disasters
Mark 13:7-8; Luke 21:9
Recognize that terrifying events do not remove God’s control or justify panic and deception.
Mourn and warn people about the judgment that disobedience brings
Luke 19:41-44; Luke 23:28-31
Let coming judgment move you to grief, repentance, and concern for others rather than indifference.

Love, Mercy, and Relationships

How disciples love, forgive, reconcile, and treat neighbors, enemies, and one another.

Love, bless, pray for, and show mercy to your enemies
Matthew 5:7; Matthew 5:44-47; Matthew 12:3-8; Mark 5:12-13; Luke 6:27-28; Luke 6:32-35; Luke 6:35-36; Luke 23:34
Answer hostility with active goodness, prayer, generosity, mercy, and a willingness to ask God to forgive those who harm you.
Refuse anger and retaliation; pursue peace and reconciliation
Matthew 5:9; Matthew 5:21-22; Matthew 5:23-24; Matthew 5:25; Matthew 5:39-40; Matthew 17:24-27; Mark 9:49-50; Luke 6:29-30; Luke 12:57-59; Luke 22:49-51
Settle conflict quickly, do not answer evil with violence or revenge, and choose peace even when you have the right or power to resist.
Correct sin when necessary and forgive everyone who repents
Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:15-16; Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 6:37; Luke 17:3; Luke 17:3-4; John 4:16-18
Address a brother’s sin honestly, but refuse condemnation and forgive repeatedly as you depend on God’s forgiveness.
Show compassionate care for people’s spiritual, physical, and emotional needs
Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14; Matthew 15:32; Mark 5:43; Mark 6:34; Mark 7:29; Mark 8:2-3; Luke 8:55; Luke 9:11; Luke 9:12-17; Luke 10:29-37; John 5:6; John 11:35, 38
Notice suffering, welcome people, provide practical help such as food and healing, and share their sorrow with genuine compassion.
Welcome, receive, and do good to Jesus’ disciples and messengers
Matthew 10:12; Matthew 10:40-42; Mark 9:41; Luke 9:47-48; Luke 13:35; John 5:43; John 13:20
Receive those Jesus sends, including those the world considers least, and support them as an act of receiving Jesus Himself.
Love God with your whole being and show it by obeying Jesus
Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Mark 12:31-33; Luke 7:40-47; Luke 10:27-28; Luke 11:42; John 5:42; John 14:15, 21-24
Give God your heart, soul, mind, and strength, valuing love and obedience above outward religious performance.
Love every neighbor as yourself, including those unlike you
Matthew 22:39; Mark 12:31; Luke 10:27-28; Luke 10:29-37
Treat every person within your reach as a neighbor, seeking their good as seriously as your own.
Do not neglect justice, mercy, and faithfulness
Matthew 23:23
Do not let detailed religious observance cause you to miss the weightier duties of justice, mercy, and faithfulness.
Greet others with a sincere message of peace
Luke 10:5; Luke 24:36; John 20:19, 21, 26
Let peace be the spirit and opening message with which you receive and approach other people.
Do not think that Jesus came to bring peace on earth
Luke 12:51-53
Do not be derailed from your faith when you see that it brings division in your life even with those closest to you.
Love, strengthen, bless, and remain united with other disciples
Luke 22:28-30; Luke 22:32; Luke 24:50; John 11:5-8; John 13:1; John 13:34-35; John 15:12; John 15:13-14; John 15:17; John 17:12; John 17:20-23
Love fellow disciples as Jesus loved you, stand with them in trials, strengthen their faith, seek their unity, and be willing to lay down your life for them.
Share your feelings with your close brothers when you are troubled
John 13:21
Let trusted fellow disciples know when you are deeply troubled rather than carrying the burden in isolation.
Share with people in love the weakness you see in them
John 13:38
Lovingly help fellow disciples recognize weaknesses that could cause them to fall so they can grow stronger in Christ.
Tell others to receive the Spirit and share the message of reconciliation
John 20:22-23
Send others in the Spirit’s power to announce the forgiveness and reconciliation offered through Jesus.

Prayer and Communion with God

Seeking God faithfully through prayer, worship, thanksgiving, and communion with Him.

Withdraw regularly for focused prayer, alone or with trusted disciples
Matthew 6:5-6; Matthew 14:13; Matthew 14:23; Matthew 17:1-3; Mark 1:35; Mark 6:46; Luke 5:16; Luke 6:12; Luke 9:28; John 18:1-2
Make sustained, undistracted communion with God a regular practice, including solitary prayer and prayer with close fellow disciples.
Do not pray long prayers to be heard
Matthew 6:7-8
Pray simple prayers of faith; Do not be long winded thinking many words will make you heard.
Pray for God’s name, Kingdom, will, provision, forgiveness, and protection
Matthew 6:9-15; Matthew 6:9; Matthew 6:10; Matthew 6:11; Matthew 6:12; Matthew 6:13; Matthew 26:39, 42; Mark 14:36; Luke 11:2; Luke 11:3; Luke 11:4; Luke 22:42; John 5:30; John 17:1; John 17:11
Use Jesus’ model to seek God’s glory and will first, then ask for daily needs, forgiveness, freedom from temptation, and protection from evil.
Ask, seek, and persist in prayer in Jesus’ name
Matthew 7:7; Luke 11:5-13; Luke 18:1-8; John 4:10; John 4:14; John 14:13-14; John 16:23-24
Bring your needs to the Father through Jesus with faith and persistence, seeking the life and help that only God can give.
Share with and bless all who ask in faith
Matthew 15:26-28
Respond mercifully when someone approaches in genuine faith, even when that person was outside your original focus.
Pray with and for believers’ faith, protection, and unity
Matthew 18:18-20; Luke 22:32
Agree in prayer, intercede for disciples who are weak or falling, and ask God to keep His people faithful and united.
Pray earnestly in anguish and entrust yourself to the Father
Matthew 26:37; Mark 14:32-34; Luke 22:41; Luke 22:44; Luke 23:46
When deeply troubled or facing death, draw near to God in earnest prayer and commit yourself fully into His hands.
Stay awake, watch, and pray against temptation and coming trials
Matthew 26:41; Matthew 26:40, 45; Mark 14:37-38; Luke 22:40, 46; Luke 22:46
Remain spiritually alert and pray so that temptation, weariness, or approaching judgment does not overcome you.
Give thanks to God before eating
Mark 8:6-7; John 6:23
Receive food with gratitude and openly thank God as its giver.
Seek God’s glory rather than your own
John 7:18; John 12:28
Let your words, prayers, and life direct honor to God and Jesus instead of drawing attention to yourself.
Pray out loud at times for the benefit of the hearers
John 11:41-42
At appropriate times, pray openly so hearers understand that the work comes from God and give Him glory.
Do not seek to leave the world but only to be kept from the evil of it
John 17:14-15
Remain present as a light in the world while asking God to protect you from its evil.

Worship and Religious Integrity

Honoring God in worship while rejecting religious corruption and empty display.

Worship and serve God alone, in Spirit and truth
Matthew 4:10; Luke 4:8; John 4:20-22; John 4:23-24
Give worship only to God and let it be sincere, Spirit-led, truthful, and unrestricted by merely religious places or customs.
Reject religious hypocrisy, human tradition, and the pursuit of honor
Matthew 5:20; Matthew 16:5-11; Matthew 23:2-3; Mark 7:1-13; Mark 7:8-9; Mark 12:38-40; Luke 12:1-3; Luke 20:46-47; John 2:14-17; John 12:3-8
Keep worship pure by testing religious leaders and practices, refusing hypocrisy, and never placing tradition or status above God’s commands.
Do not look somber as you fast
Matthew 6:18
Fast for God rather than public recognition, without displaying your devotion for others to praise.
Put mercy and doing good above legalistic religious rules
Matthew 9:17; Matthew 12:11-12; Matthew 15:3-6; Matthew 23:4; Mark 2:18-22; Mark 2:23-28; Luke 5:35-39; Luke 6:1-15; Luke 6:6-11; Luke 11:46; Luke 14:1-6
Do not use lesser rules, old forms, or burdensome interpretations to block love, mercy, healing, and the good God desires.
Share the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Jesus
Matthew 26:26-29; Mark 14:22-25; Luke 22:15-16; Luke 22:17-20
Eat the bread and drink the cup with other disciples, remembering Jesus and eagerly valuing the fellowship He established.
Sing worship songs together
Matthew 26:30; Mark 14:26
Join other disciples in singing hymns and spiritual songs as part of shared worship.
Do not use religion for personal or worldly gain
Mark 11:15-17; Luke 19:45-46
Keep worship and ministry free from exploitation, greed, and the pursuit of material advantage.

Persecution, Sacrifice, and Endurance

Faithfulness through rejection, suffering, persecution, sacrifice, and loss.

Stand firm, rejoice, and do not stumble under hatred or persecution
Matthew 5:10; Matthew 10:21-22; Matthew 11:6; Matthew 24:12-13; Mark 13:12-13; Luke 6:21; Luke 6:22; Luke 6:23; Luke 9:41; Luke 21:16-19; John 15:20; John 16:1-4
Expect opposition for Jesus, endure faithfully to the end, and let the hope of God’s reward overcome shame and discouragement.
Avoid needless danger and leave when persecution requires it
Matthew 10:23; Matthew 12:14-15; John 7:1; John 8:59; John 11:53-54, 57
Courage does not require preventable harm; withdraw or minister elsewhere when hostile people seek to kill you and the mission can continue.
Never deny, abandon, or betray Jesus
Matthew 26:24; Mark 8:38; Mark 14:21; Luke 12:9; Luke 22:22
Remain loyal to Jesus when fear, shame, advantage, or pressure tempts you to turn against Him.
Know when to answer accusations with silence
Matthew 27:11-14
Do not feel compelled to answer every accusation, especially when hostile questioners are not seeking truth.
Accept the suffering God permits and follow Jesus even to death
John 12:27; John 18:11; John 19:11; John 21:18-19
Do not run from trials that belong to your calling; trust God’s authority over life and death and follow Jesus through suffering.
Do not persecute Jesus’ followers, because you persecute Him
Acts 9:4-5
Jesus receives harm done to His people as harm done against Himself.

Humility, Leadership, and Service

Leading as a servant without pride, status-seeking, hypocrisy, or domination.

Be humble, take the lowest place, and serve others as Jesus did
Matthew 5:3; Matthew 5:5; Matthew 6:1-4; Matthew 10:24-25; Matthew 11:29; Matthew 18:3-4; Matthew 20:25-28; Matthew 21:5-6; Matthew 23:5-7; Matthew 23:8-12; Mark 9:35; Mark 10:31; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 6:24-26; Luke 10:20; Luke 11:43; Luke 13:30; Luke 14:7-11; Luke 17:7-10; Luke 18:9-14; Luke 22:25-27; John 5:41; John 5:44; John 6:15; John 8:54; John 13:4-8; John 13:12-15; John 13:16
Reject status, titles, self-glory, and worldly power; become gentle, childlike, and willing to serve, receive service, and put yourself last.
Work faithfully and multiply everything God has entrusted to you
Matthew 25:14-30; Mark 12:1-11; Luke 12:45-46; Luke 16:10-11; Luke 19:12-27; John 14:11-13
Use your time, abilities, opportunities, and possessions diligently for God, finishing His work and producing more good from what He gives.

Daily Wisdom and Conduct

Practical wisdom for choices, work, safety, hospitality, and everyday faithfulness.

Do not put God to the test or demand signs before obeying
Matthew 4:7; Luke 4:12
Trust and obey what God has said instead of forcing Him to prove Himself on your terms.
Treat others as you would want them to treat you
Matthew 7:12; Luke 6:31
Use the good you desire for yourself as the practical measure for how you act toward other people.
Be innocent yet wise about people, traps, and whom you trust
Matthew 10:16; Matthew 10:17; Matthew 22:18; John 2:23-25
Keep a pure heart without being naive about danger, manipulation, or people who would misuse your confidence and plans.
Make doing God’s will and work your daily purpose
Matthew 12:30; Luke 11:23; John 4:34; John 5:17; John 5:19; John 9:4; John 17:4
Find your true nourishment in pleasing the Father, work while opportunity remains, and finish the assignment He gives you.
Go to quiet places and get rest
Mark 6:31
Step away to rest when needed rather than exhausting yourself through continual ministry.
Reserve perfect goodness as an attribute of God alone
Mark 10:18; Luke 18:19
Recognize God as the ultimate source and standard of goodness rather than flattering people with what belongs supremely to Him.
Do not reject God’s messengers because they are familiar to you
Luke 4:23-27
Do not miss what God is saying because you know the person through whom the message comes.
Do not value what people value but value what God values
Luke 16:15
Value the eternal things that God values and put little value on what this world values.
Do not grumble about people with others
John 6:43
Do not talk negatively about people with others.
Be filled with the glory of Jesus
John 17:22
Jesus has shared His glory with his brethren.

Speech and Communication

Using words truthfully, wisely, graciously, and with fitting restraint.

Speak truthful, life-giving words without empty talk or manipulative oaths
Matthew 5:34; Matthew 12:36-37; John 6:63
Let your speech be honest and spiritually useful, avoiding careless words and attempts to make false or uncertain speech sound trustworthy.
Use questions, parables, and discretion to communicate truth wisely
Matthew 13:10-17; Matthew 15:1-9; Matthew 21:24-25; Matthew 16:20; Mark 4:1-2; Mark 11:29-33; Luke 20:1-7; Luke 20:21-40; Luke 20:41-44; Luke 22:67-68; John 6:5-6; John 6:53, 60-62; John 7:33-36; John 16:12; John 16:25
Adapt how directly you speak to the hearers, using questions or figurative teaching when that best reveals truth without feeding hostility.

Family, Marriage, and Community

Faithfulness in marriage, family duties, fellowship, hospitality, and care for children.

Honor marriage and do not separate what God has joined
Matthew 5:32; Matthew 19:5-6; Matthew 19:9; Mark 10:2-9; Mark 10:11-12; Luke 16:18
Treat marriage as God’s covenant and do not use divorce and remarriage as a path into adultery.
Put Jesus and God’s Kingdom above home and family ties
Matthew 8:20; Matthew 10:37; Luke 2:49
Do not let family loyalty, home, or comfort outrank obedience to Jesus and the work God gives you.
Make those who hear and obey God’s Word your true spiritual family
Matthew 12:48-50; Matthew 23:37; Mark 3:31-35; Luke 8:21; John 11:52
Recognize, gather, and live in fellowship with God’s children as a family formed by obedience to Him.
Welcome, bless, protect, and learn from little children
Matthew 18:5-7; Matthew 18:10; Matthew 18:11-14; Matthew 19:13-15; Mark 9:37; Mark 10:14-15; Mark 10:16; Luke 13:34; Luke 18:15-16; Luke 18:17
Receive children without despising or hindering them, seek those who are lost, and receive God’s Kingdom with a child’s humility and trust.
Honor, obey, and care for your father and mother
Luke 2:51; Luke 18:20; John 19:26
Respect your parents and make sure their needs are cared for rather than neglecting them.
Do not murder, commit adultery, steal, or give false testimony
Luke 18:20
Keep God’s commands in your conduct toward other people as you seek eternal life.

Money, Possessions, and Generosity

Using possessions faithfully while rejecting greed, anxiety, and service to money.

Rejoice and be glad in God’s rewards
Matthew 5:12
Rejoice in the lasting reward God gives rather than seeking what people can offer.
Give generously, sacrificially, and especially to people in need
Matthew 5:42; Matthew 10:8; Matthew 23:23; Matthew 25:31-46; Matthew 26:13; Mark 10:20; Mark 12:41-44; Mark 14:6-9; Luke 6:30; Luke 6:38; Luke 11:39-40; Luke 11:42; Luke 12:16-21; Luke 12:33-34; Luke 14:12-14; Luke 18:22; Luke 21:1-4; John 11:51; Acts 20:35
Share what God has given you, care for the poor and afflicted, and measure giving by love and sacrifice rather than by the amount alone.
Reject greed and earthly riches; store your treasure in heaven
Matthew 6:19; Matthew 6:20; Matthew 6:21; Matthew 6:24; Luke 6:20; Luke 12:13-15; Luke 16:13; Luke 16:19-26; Luke 18:24-25; John 6:27
Do not make wealth, luxury, or material security your master; devote your heart and labor to God and eternal treasure.
Use possessions faithfully for God’s purposes and eternal good
Matthew 20:1-16; Luke 16:1-9; John 17:10
Treat resources as God’s property, use worldly wealth to serve lasting purposes, and be content with the reward He assigns.
Give civil authorities what is due and give God what belongs to Him
Matthew 22:21; Mark 12:15-17
Meet legitimate earthly obligations without withholding the worship, loyalty, and life that belong to God.

Mission, Witness, and Disciple-Making

Taking the gospel to others and training faithful disciples to continue Jesus’ work.

Seek, gather, and make disciples of those who are lost
Matthew 4:19; Matthew 10:5-6; Matthew 13:37-38; Matthew 22:8-9; Mark 1:17; Mark 16:15; Luke 5:10; Luke 10:2; Luke 11:23; Luke 19:10; John 4:35; John 4:36-38; John 4:36; John 10:15; John 12:32
See people as a ready harvest, sow and reap faithfully, seek those who are lost, and bring them into God’s flock as disciples of Jesus.
Proclaim the good news of God’s Kingdom, repentance, and forgiveness to everyone
Matthew 4:23; Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:7; Matthew 11:5; Matthew 24:14; Mark 1:14; Mark 1:15; Mark 6:12; Mark 13:10; Luke 4:18; Luke 4:43-44; Luke 8:1; Luke 10:9; Luke 11:37-39; Luke 16:16; Luke 24:47-48; Acts 1:8
Carry the gospel to every kind of person, beginning where you are and extending to all nations, calling people to repent, believe, and receive forgiveness in Jesus’ name.
Live visibly as salt and light in a dark world
Matthew 5:13; Matthew 5:14; Matthew 5:15-16; Luke 8:16; Luke 11:33; Luke 14:34-35; John 5:35; John 9:5; John 9:39; John 12:35-36; John 12:46
Let a holy, truthful life shine openly so people can see God’s works, leave darkness, and glorify Him.
Spend time with sinners in order to call them to repentance
Matthew 9:10-13; Mark 2:15-17; Luke 5:30-32
Do not avoid sinners out of pride; meet them where they are so you can call them toward repentance and salvation.
Teach and preach the word publicly wherever people gather
Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:27; Matthew 11:1; Mark 1:38-39; Mark 2:2; Mark 6:2; John 7:14
Teach openly in public places, towns, villages, homes, and religious gatherings wherever people can hear the word.
Pray for God to send workers into His harvest
Matthew 9:37-38; Luke 10:2
Ask God to raise up and send more workers because many people are ready to hear and receive the gospel.
Depend on God rather than possessions or comfort while ministering
Matthew 10:9-10; Mark 6:8; Luke 9:3; Luke 10:4
Do not let money, supplies, lodging, or personal comfort keep you from going where Jesus sends you.
Stay with receptive hosts and work from their home
Matthew 10:11; Matthew 10:13; Mark 6:10; Luke 9:4; Luke 10:6-8; John 4:40-41
When worthy people welcome you, remain with them in peace and use that stable place to carry out the work of the gospel.
Leave those who reject the message and testify clearly to them
Matthew 10:14-15; Mark 5:17-18; Mark 6:11; Luke 8:37; Luke 9:5; Luke 10:10-12
When people refuse both you and the message, do not remain indefinitely; leave them with a clear testimony and warning.
Acknowledge Jesus boldly and bear witness even before authorities
Matthew 10:32-33; Mark 13:9; Luke 12:8; Luke 21:12-13; Acts 18:9-10
Do not hide or deny your allegiance to Jesus; speak boldly when your witness brings you before hostile people or rulers.
Call people to believe and confess that Jesus is the Messiah
Matthew 16:15-17; Mark 8:29; John 4:26; John 8:58; John 11:26
Explain who Jesus is, call people to believe in Him, and invite them to confess that faith plainly.
Make, baptize, train, and send disciples to continue Jesus’ work
Matthew 28:19; Matthew 28:20; Mark 3:13-15; Luke 6:13; Luke 10:1; John 3:22; John 15:16; John 17:18; John 20:21
Choose and train disciples, baptize them, teach them to obey Jesus, and send them to bear fruit and continue the mission.
Tell others what God has done and make Jesus known
Mark 5:19; Luke 8:39; John 8:38; John 17:26; John 20:17
Testify to God’s mercy and works, making clear that salvation, truth, and power come through Jesus.
Proclaim freedom, sight, deliverance, and the Lord’s favor
Luke 4:18
Announce the freedom, restoration, and mercy God offers to the poor, blind, captive, and oppressed through Jesus.
Proclaim the Kingdom of God and heal the sick
Luke 9:2
Tell people about the Kingdom of God and heal the sick in Jesus’ name.
During the day preach and teach the kingdom and at night spend time with God
Luke 21:37
Use the daylight to reach man and the evening time to reach out to God.
Turn ordinary conversations toward spiritual truth
John 4:7; John 4:10
Begin naturally with people, then guide the conversation toward their deeper need and the life God offers.
Do not let societal norms restrict you from speaking the gospel to everyone
John 4:27
Even though it was against social norms Jesus spoke with a woman, a woman widely regarded as immoral at that, in order to teach her of salvation.
Make it your sole cause in life to bear witness to the truth
John 18:37
Your main priority in life must be to be a witness of the truth to others.

Healing, Deliverance, and Ministry

Serving people through healing, deliverance, counsel, and Spirit-empowered ministry.

Heal the sick, cast out demons, and free people from Satan’s bondage
Matthew 4:23; Matthew 8:16; Matthew 12:25-29; Matthew 17:18; Mark 1:30-31; Mark 6:13; Mark 9:25; Luke 4:36; Luke 4:39; Luke 9:1; Luke 10:9; Luke 11:14; Luke 11:29; Luke 13:10-16; Luke 13:31-33
Minister in Jesus’ authority and the Spirit’s power to confront sickness, drive out evil spirits, and set oppressed people free.
Minister healing with persistent faith in God’s power
Matthew 9:22, 28-29; Matthew 16:8-10; Mark 5:29-30; Mark 5:34; Mark 5:36; Mark 6:37-44; Mark 8:22-25; Mark 10:51-52; Luke 6:19; Luke 8:46; Luke 8:48; Luke 8:50; Luke 17:13-18; Luke 18:41-43; John 9:35-38; John 11:4; John 11:11-15; John 11:40
Believe God for healing, persevere when help is not immediate, and direct people’s faith and gratitude toward Him.
After receiving deliverance or mercy, be filled with God and stop sinning
Matthew 12:43-45; Luke 11:24-26; John 5:14; John 8:11
Do not return to the life from which God freed you; receive His presence and turn decisively away from sin.
Feed, tend, teach, and protect Jesus’ sheep
Mark 6:34; John 10:15-17; John 10:12-13; John 21:15; John 21:16
Care faithfully for God’s people, teach those without guidance, meet their needs, and do not abandon them when care becomes costly.
Prepare for ministry and receive the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance
Mark 9:29; Mark 16:17-20; Luke 3:23; Luke 24:49; John 14:26; Acts 1:4-5; Acts 1:8
Do not begin spiritual work in self-reliance; prepare, pray, and receive the Spirit’s power, counsel, and teaching.
Take money and supplies with you as you go out to minister
Luke 22:35-36
There are times when you should bring provisions with you due to the territory and situations you are about to be entering.
Wait for the right time to minister
John 2:4
Remain sensitive to God’s timing rather than forcing ministry before the proper time.
Use prudent timing when ministering in dangerous places
John 11:8-10
Exercise practical wisdom about when and how openly to work where danger is present.