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1 Corinthians 1 28
God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
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Hebrews 5:14
Solid food is for those who are mature, who through training have the skill to recognize the difference between right and wrong.
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1 Corinthians 1 18-1 Corinthians 1 20
The message of the cross is foolish to those who are headed for destruction! But we who are being saved know it is the very power of God.As the Scriptures say,“ I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and discard the intelligence of the intelligent.”So where does this leave the philosophers, the scholars, and the world’s brilliant debaters? God has made the wisdom of this world look foolish.
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2 Corinthians 4 4
Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God.
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1 Peter 5 10
In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.
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James 3:15
For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic.
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Philippians 3:12-15
I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead,I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you.
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Ephesians 4:11-13
Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers.Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ.This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ.
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Job 12:19
He leads priests away, stripped of status; he overthrows those with long years in power.
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Matthew 5:48
But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
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Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, a member of your own fellowship and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. He always prays earnestly for you, asking God to make you strong and perfect, fully confident that you are following the whole will of God.
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Ephesians 2:2
You used to live in sin, just like the rest of the world, obeying the devil— the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.
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Job 12:21
He pours disgrace upon princes and disarms the strong.
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Psalms 2:1-6
Why are the nations so angry? Why do they waste their time with futile plans?The kings of the earth prepare for battle; the rulers plot together against the Lord and against his anointed one.“ Let us break their chains,” they cry,“ and free ourselves from slavery to God.”But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them.Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury.For the Lord declares,“ I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
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1 Corinthians 2 8
But the rulers of this world have not understood it; if they had, they would not have crucified our glorious Lord.
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James 3:2
Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
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Psalms 33:10
The Lord frustrates the plans of the nations and thwarts all their schemes.
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Job 1:1
There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless— a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil.
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2 Corinthians 1 12
We can say with confidence and a clear conscience that we have lived with a God given holiness and sincerity in all our dealings. We have depended on God’s grace, not on our own human wisdom. That is how we have conducted ourselves before the world, and especially toward you.
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Isaiah 19:11-13
What fools are the officials of Zoan! Their best counsel to the king of Egypt is stupid and wrong. Will they still boast to Pharaoh of their wisdom? Will they dare brag about all their wise ancestors?Where are your wise counselors, Pharaoh? Let them tell you what God plans, what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies is going to do to Egypt.The officials of Zoan are fools, and the officials of Memphis are deluded. The leaders of the people have led Egypt astray.
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Luke 16:8
“ The rich man had to admire the dishonest rascal for being so shrewd. And it is true that the children of this world are more shrewd in dealing with the world around them than are the children of the light.
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1 Corinthians 2 1
When I first came to you, dear brothers and sisters, I didn’t use lofty words and impressive wisdom to tell you God’s secret plan.
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1 Corinthians 14 20
Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind.
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1 Corinthians 2 13
When we tell you these things, we do not use words that come from human wisdom. Instead, we speak words given to us by the Spirit, using the Spirit’s words to explain spiritual truths.
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Matthew 13:22
The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.
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2 Corinthians 13 11
Dear brothers and sisters, I close my letter with these last words: Be joyful. Grow to maturity. Encourage each other. Live in harmony and peace. Then the God of love and peace will be with you.
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Acts 4:25-28
you spoke long ago by the Holy Spirit through our ancestor David, your servant, saying,‘ Why were the nations so angry? Why did they waste their time with futile plans?The kings of the earth prepared for battle; the rulers gathered together against the Lord and against his Messiah.’“ In fact, this has happened here in this very city! For Herod Antipas, Pontius Pilate the governor, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel were all united against Jesus, your holy servant, whom you anointed.But everything they did was determined beforehand according to your will.
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Psalms 37:37
Look at those who are honest and good, for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
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Matthew 19:21
Jesus told him,“ If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”
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Isaiah 40:23
He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.