Romans 13:11-14:27
Besides this you know what hour it is, how it is full time now for you to wake from sleep. For salvation is
nearer to us now than when we first believed; the night is far gone, the day is at hand. Let us then cast
off the works of darkness and put on the armor of light; let us conduct ourselves becomingly as in the
day, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarreling and
jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Romans 14
As for the man who is weak in faith, welcome him, but not for disputes over opinions. One believes he
may eat anything, while the weak man eats only vegetables. Let not him who eats despise him who
abstains, and let not him who abstains pass judgment on him who eats; for God has welcomed him.
Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? It is before his own master that he stands or
falls. And he will be upheld, for the Master is able to make him stand. One man esteems one day as
better than another, while another man esteems all days alike. Let every one be fully convinced in his
own mind. He who observes the day, observes it in honor of the Lord. He also who eats, eats in honor of
the Lord, since he gives thanks to God; while he who abstains, abstains in honor of the Lord and gives
thanks to God. None of us lives to himself, and none of us dies to himself. If we live, we live to the
Lord, and if we die, we die to the Lord; so then, whether we live or whether we die, we are the Lord's.
For to this end Christ died and lived again, that he might be Lord both of the dead and of the living. Why
do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we shall all stand
before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, "As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me,
and every tongue shall give praise to God." So each of us shall give account of himself to God. Then let
us no more pass judgment on one another, but rather decide never to put a stumbling block or
hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am persuaded in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in
itself; but it is unclean for any one who thinks it unclean. If your brother is being injured by what you
eat, you are no longer walking in love. Do not let what you eat cause the ruin of one for whom Christ
died. So do not let your good be spoken of as evil. For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but
righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit; he who thus serves Christ is acceptable to God and
approved by men. Let us then pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding. Do not, for the
sake of food, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for any one to make
others fall by what he eats; it is right not to eat meat or drink wine or do anything that makes your
brother stumble. The faith that you have, keep between yourself and God; happy is he who has no
reason to judge himself for what he approves. But he who has doubts is condemned, if he eats,
because he does not act from faith; for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Now to him who is
able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the
revelation of the mystery which was kept secret for long ages but is now disclosed and through the
prophetic writings is made known to all nations, according to the command of the eternal God, to bring
about the obedience of faith-- to the only wise God be glory for evermore through Jesus Christ! Amen.
Matthew 6:1-21
Teaching about Giving Money to the Poor
"Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of people in order to be noticed by them. If you
do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. So whenever you give to the poor, don't blow
a trumpet before you like the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets so that they will be
praised by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward! But when you give to the poor, don't let
your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be done in secret. And your
Father who sees in secret will reward you."
Teaching about Prayer
"And whenever you pray, don't be like the hypocrites who love to stand in the synagogues and on the
street corners so that they will be seen by people. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward! But
whenever you pray, go into your room, close the door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And
your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
"When you are praying, don't say meaningless words like the Gentiles do, for they think they will be
heard because of their wordiness. Don't be like them, because your Father knows what you need
before you ask him.
"Therefore, this is how you should pray:
'Our Father in heaven,
may your name be kept holy.
May your kingdom come.
May your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us.
And never bring us into temptation,
but deliver us from the evil one.'
For if you forgive people their offenses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not
forgive people their offenses, your Father will not forgive your offenses."
Teaching about Fasting
"Whenever you fast, don't be gloomy like the hypocrites. For they put on sad faces to show others they
are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have their full reward! But when you fast, put oil on your head and
wash your face, so that your fasting will not be noticed by others but by your Father who sees in secret.
And your Father who is in secret will reward you."
Teaching about Treasures
"Stop storing up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moths and rust destroy and where thieves
break in and steal. But keep on storing up treasures for yourselves in heaven, where moths and rust do
not destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart
will be also."
The Original Armenian Cross