Book of Common Prayer

Yearn For His Word So That You May Grow

2 Having then laid-aside all badness^[a], and all deceit and hypocrisies and jealousies, and all slanders— ² yearn like newborn babies for the deceitless^[b] milk of-the-Word^[c] in order that by it you may grow in^[d] [your] salvation, ³ if ^[e] you tasted that the Lord is good—

For You Are Being Built Upon The Living Cornerstone As a Holy Priesthood

⁴ ... coming to Whom as the living Stone having been rejected by people, but chosen, precious with God, ⁵ you yourselves also as living stones are being built^[f] as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ⁶ Because it is contained in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying a Stone in Zion— a chosen, precious Cornerstone. And the one putting-faith upon Him will never be put-to-shame” [Isa 28:16]. ⁷ The precious-value then is for you, the ones believing. But for ones not-believing: “The Stone which the ones building rejected, this became the head^[g] of the corner” [Ps 118:22] ⁸ and “a Stone of stumbling and a Rock of ^[h] falling” [Isa 8:14]— who stumble while^[i] disobeying the word, to which indeed they were appointed^[j].

And You Are Chosen By God To Report His Virtues To The World

⁹ And you are a chosen family^[k], a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His possession, so that you may report the virtues^[l] of the One having called you out of darkness into His marvelous light— ¹⁰ who once were not a people, but now are the people of God; the ones not having received-mercy, but now having received-mercy.

15 ¹ I am the true grapevine, and My Father is the farmer. ² Every branch in Me not bearing fruit— He takes it away^[a]. And every branch bearing fruit— He cleans^[b] it in order that it may bear more fruit. ³ You are already clean, because of the word which I have spoken to you. ⁴ Abide^[c] in Me, and I in you. Just as the branch is not able to bear fruit from itself unless it is abiding in the grapevine, so neither are you able unless you are abiding in Me. ⁵ I am the grapevine, you are the branches. The one abiding^[d] in Me and I in him— this one bears much fruit. Because apart from Me, you can do nothing. ⁶ If anyone is not abiding in Me— he was thrown^[e] outside like the branch, and was dried-up. And they gather them together, and throw them into the fire. And they are burned. ⁷ If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. ⁸ By this My Father is glorified— that you be bearing much fruit, and be^[f] disciples to Me. ⁹ Just as the Father loved Me, I also loved you. Abide^[g] in My love. ¹⁰ If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love— just as I have kept the commandments of My Father and am abiding in His love.

You Are My Friends. I Chose You And Appointed You To Bear Much Fruit

¹¹ “I have spoken these things to you in order that My joy may be in you, and your joy may be made full.