Luke 15:8-10 - Jesus tells a story of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. She searches everywhere for it, and rejoices when she finally finds it. Likewise, there is rejoicing in heaven when one lost person comes back to God, because each of us is special and precious to God.

Matthew 7:13-14 - Jesus taught that there are two paths in life: a wide road that is easy to travel but leads to destruction, and a narrow road that is harder to follow but leads to life. The narrow path is walking in Jesus’ ways and teachings, which may be challenging but leads to true and lasting life.

Matthew 7:1-5 - Jesus taught his followers not to judge others or they would be judged by the same standard. They should focus on removing the plank in their own eyes before pointing out the speck of sawdust in someone else’s eyes, meaning that we should never judge others because we ourselves are not perfect. 

Matthew 6:25-34 - Jesus teaches his followers not to worry about daily needs like food or clothing, because life is more than these things and God knows what we need. He points to the birds, who do not plant or store food yet are fed by God, and to the flowers, which are beautifully clothed though they last only a short time. Instead of being anxious, we are to seek first God’s kingdom and righteousness, trusting that our needs will be provided for.

Matthew 6:19-24 - Jesus taught his followers to invest in treasures in heaven which last forever, rather than in earthly treasures which can be destroyed or lost. What we treasure shapes our heart. He also explained that healthy eyes (focused on the things of God) fill our lives with light, but eyes clouded by greed or worldly desires fill us with darkness. He concluded that we cannot serve both God and money.

Matthew 6:1-4 - Jesus taught his followers not to do good deeds just to be noticed by others. When giving to those in need, they shouldn’t show off what they’re doing or loudly announce it for everyone to see and hear. If they do this, then the praise of others will be their only reward. Instead, Jesus taught them to give quietly and privately, because God sees what is done in secret and will reward it.

Matthew 5:38-42 - Jesus taught that while the Law of Moses called for justice through the principle of “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth,” his followers are called to a higher standard of non-violence and radical grace. Instead of retaliating against those who wrong them, they should turn the other cheek, give more than what is asked, and go the extra mile when compelled to do so. He also urged his followers to be generous to those who ask and a willingness to lend without refusal.

Matthew 5:33-37 - Jesus taught that while the Law told people not to break their promises and to keep their oaths, he gave an even deeper teaching: don’t make oaths at all. Don’t swear by heaven, by earth, by Jerusalem, or even by your own head. Instead, Jesus says we should be people of honesty. If you say “yes,” mean yes. If you say “no,” mean no. We don’t need to make big promises—we just need to speak the truth.

Matthew 5:13-16 - During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that his followers are the salt of the earth, meant to preserve and enhance the world. He also said that they are the light of the world: a lamp is not hidden under a bowl but placed on a stand to give light to everyone in the house. In the same way, we are called to let our light shine, so that others may see our good works and be drawn to God’s goodness.

Micah 6:6-8 - The prophet Micah asks the question of what he should bring as an offering to please the Lord. He asks if he should bring burnt offerings, thousands of rams, or even his firstborn child. But he concludes that God does not desire any of those things. Rather, God calls people to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with the Lord. This passage reminds us that what truly matters to God is how we live and treat others, not religious rituals.

Amos 5:14-15, 24 - Amos urges the people to seek good and not evil so they may live, and so that the Lord will be with them. He calls them to hate evil, love good, and seek justice in their communities. He emphasizes that God desires justice and righteousness to flow continuously and abundantly, like a never-ending stream, more than religious rituals or outward displays.

Jonah 1-3 - The prophet Jonah is called by God to go to the city of Nineveh and tell the people to turn away from their wrongdoings. Instead of obeying, Jonah runs away and boards a ship, but God sends a storm. Jonah knows that the storm was because of him and he tells the sailors to throw him overboard to calm the sea. He is then swallowed by a giant fish, and after three days, the fish spits Jonah out and God gives him the command once more. This time, Jonah obeys and delivers God’s message to Nineveh and the people repent.

Isaiah 6:1-8 - This passage recounts the Prophet Isaiah’s vision of God in the temple. He sees the Lord seated on a high throne, surrounded by angels calling out, “Holy holy holy is the Lord God Almighty.” The temple shakes and smoke fills the space, overwhelming Isaiah with a sense of his unworthiness. One of the angels touches his lips with a burning coal from the altar, symbolically cleansing him. Then, God asks, “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah responds, saying, “Here I am, send me!” This marks Isaiah’s calling and commissioning as a prophet.

2 Samuel 5 - David is anointed king over all Israel after the tribes recognize his leadership and God’s calling on his life. He conquers Jerusalem and takes up residence in the fortress of Zion, which becomes known as the City of David. David continues to grow in strength and success because the Lord is with him. He builds a palace with the help of King Hiram of Tyre. When the Philistines attack, David seeks God’s guidance and defeats them twice.

1 Samuel 18 - After defeating Goliath, David becomes close friends with Jonathan, King Saul’s son. Jonathan makes a covenant with David and gives him his robe and weapons as a sign of loyalty. David gains popularity with the people and continued success in battle, which makes Saul increasingly jealous and fearful. In his envy, Sault attempts to kill David by sending him on dangerous military assignments and offering his daughter Michal in marriage in exchange for David fighting the Philistines. However, David continues to succeed, and both Jonathan and Michal remain loyal to him.

1 Samuel 16:1-11 - In this passage, God tells the prophet Samuel to stop mourning Saul’s rejection and to go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from among Jesse’s sons. Samuel is hesitant, fearing Saul’s reaction, but obeys after God provides a cover story. In Bethlehem, Samuel invites Jesse and his sons to a sacrifice. As Jesse’s older sons are presented, Samuel assumes that the eldest, Eliab, must be God’s chosen, but God tells him not to judge by appearance, for God looks at the heart. One by one, seven sons pass by, but none are chosen. Samuel then asks if there are any more sons, and Jesse mentions the youngest, David, who is tending sheep.