Encouraged by Timothy

^6 (A)But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, ^(B)as we also to see you— ⁷ therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress ^(C)we were comforted concerning you by your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you ^(D)stand fast in the Lord.

⁹ For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face ^(E)and perfect what is lacking in your faith?

Prayer for the Church

¹¹ Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, ^(F)direct our way to you. ¹² And may the Lord make you increase and ^(G)abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, ¹³ so that He may establish ^(H)your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

The True Vine

15 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. ^2 (A)Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He ^[a]takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear ^(B)more fruit. ^3 (C)You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. ^4 (D)Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

⁵ “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much ^(E)fruit; for without Me you can do ^(F)nothing. ⁶ If anyone does not abide in Me, ^(G)he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words ^(H)abide in you, ^(I)you^[b] will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. ^8 (J)By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; ^(K)so you will be My disciples.

^8 (A)But you shall receive power ^(B)when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and ^(C)you shall be ^[a]witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and ^(D)Samaria, and to the ^(E)end of the earth.”