Humble Service in the Body of Christ

³ For by the grace given me^(A) I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

⁶ We have different gifts,^(A) according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying,^(B) then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith;^(C)

⁶ There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone^(A) it is the same God^(B) at work.

⁹ For I am the least of the apostles^(A) and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted^(B) the church of God.^{(C) 10} But by the grace^(D) of God I am what I am, and his grace to me^(E) was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them^(F)—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.^(G)

⁸ For it is by grace^(A) you have been saved,^(B) through faith^(C)—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works,^(D) so that no one can boast.^{(E) 10} For we are God’s handiwork,^(F) created^(G) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(H) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

¹¹ If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God.^(A) If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides,^(B) so that in all things God may be praised^(C) through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. Amen.^(D)

Suffering for Being a Christian

¹² Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you^(E) to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.