²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming^(A) when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.^{(B) 22} You Samaritans worship what you do not know;^(C) we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.^{(D) 23} Yet a time is coming and has now come^(E) when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit^(F) and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit,^(G) and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”

²⁵ The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ)^(H) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

A Living Sacrifice

12 Therefore, I urge you,^(A) brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice,^(B) holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. ² Do not conform^(C) to the pattern of this world,^(D) but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.^(E) Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is^(F)—his good, pleasing^(G) and perfect will.

¹⁰ For we are God’s handiwork,^(A) created^(B) in Christ Jesus to do good works,^(C) which God prepared in advance for us to do.

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’^[a](A)

²⁵ not giving up meeting together,^(A) as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another^(B)—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.^(C)