Thematic Bible: Works


Thematic Bible



Whatever is used by those who build upon this foundation, whether gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay, or straw, The quality of each man's work will become known, for the Day will make it plain; because that Day is to be ushered in with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of every man's work. If any man's work, which he has built upon that foundation, still remains, he will gain a reward. read more.
If any man's work is burnt up, he will suffer loss; though he himself will escape, but only as one who has passed through fire.



For, where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions. Verse ConceptsConfusion, Nature OfdisagreementsPersecution, Forms OfDisorder In The ChurchSelfishnessSelf CenterednessGreedCompetitionwitchesego

You are doing what your own father does." "We are not bastards," they said, "we have one Father--God himself." Verse ConceptsImitating Wicked PeopleAvoid Immorality

for, seeing and hearing what he did, as he lived his righteous life among them, day after day, Lot's righteous soul was tortured by their wicked doings. Verse ConceptsLawlessnessPainUnceasingContinual Hardship














Now King Herod heard of Jesus; for his name had become well known. People were saying--"John the Baptizer must have risen from the dead, and that is why these miraculous powers are active in him." Verse ConceptsPower, God's SavingSuperstitionTetrarchWho He Might BeWhy It Happened

Now John had heard in prison what the Christ was doing, and he sent a message by his disciples, Verse ConceptsPrisonersHearing About ChristDisciples Of John The BaptistChrist's WorkDiscipleshipjail

Then Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had been done, because they had not repented: Verse ConceptsRepentance, Importance Of

Going to his own part of the country, he taught the people in their Synagogue in such a manner that they were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this wisdom?" they said, "and the miracles? Verse ConceptsPower, God's SavingSabbath, In NtTownAmazement, Of Jesus ChristTeaching WisdomChrist's WisdomChrist TeachingWhere From?

When the Sabbath came, he began to teach in the Synagogue; and the people, as they listened, were deeply impressed. "Where did he get this?" they said, "and what is this wisdom that has been given him? and these miracles which he is doing? Verse ConceptsAbility, Of ChristSabbath, In NtSynagogueAmazement, Of Jesus ChristChrist's WisdomChrist TeachingOn The SabbathWhere From?Teaching Wisdom

When he had almost reached the place where the road led down the Mount of Olives, every one of the many disciples began in their joy to praise God loudly for all the miracles that they had seen: Verse ConceptsMiracles, Responses ToPraise, Examples OfThe Disciples ReactionsSpecific Praising Of God

But the testimony which I have is of greater weight than John's; for the work that the Father has given me to carry out-- the work that I am doing--is in itself proof that the Father has sent me as his Messenger. Verse ConceptsThe Completion Of RedemptionCompletionWitnesses, To Jesus ChristDoing God's WorksGod Giving To The SonInteraction Of Father And Son

"I have told you so," replied Jesus, "and you do not believe me. The work that I am doing in my Father's name bears testimony to me. Verse ConceptsAffirmative ActionWitnesses, To Jesus ChristSkepticismNot Believing The GospelRelationship Of Father And SonIn God's NameBelieving In Yourself




For, where envy and rivalry exist, there you will also find disorder and all kinds of base actions. Verse ConceptsConfusion, Nature OfdisagreementsPersecution, Forms OfDisorder In The ChurchSelfishnessSelf CenterednessGreedCompetitionwitchesego

You are doing what your own father does." "We are not bastards," they said, "we have one Father--God himself." Verse ConceptsImitating Wicked PeopleAvoid Immorality

for, seeing and hearing what he did, as he lived his righteous life among them, day after day, Lot's righteous soul was tortured by their wicked doings. Verse ConceptsLawlessnessPainUnceasingContinual Hardship

Then the King will say to those on his right 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, enter upon possession of the Kingdom prepared for you ever since the beginning of the world. For, when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was a stranger, you took me to your homes; When I was naked, you clothed me; when I fell ill, you visited me; and when I was in prison, you came to me.' read more.
Then the Righteous will answer 'Lord, when did we see you hungry, and feed you? Or thirsty, and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger, and take you to our homes? Or naked, and clothe you? When did we see you ill, or in prison, and come to you?' And the King will reply 'I tell you, as often as you did it to one of these my Brothers, however lowly, you did it to me.'

My Brothers, what is the good of a man's saying that he has faith, if he does not prove it by actions? Can such faith save him? Suppose some Brother or Sister should be in want of clothes and of daily bread, And one of you were to say to them--"Go, and peace be with you; find warmth and food for yourselves," and yet you were not to give them the necessaries of life, what good would it be to them? read more.
In just the same way faith, if not followed by actions, is, by itself, a lifeless thing. Some one, indeed, may say--"You are a man of faith, and I am a man of action." "Then show me your faith," I reply, "apart from any actions, and I will show you my faith by my actions." It is a part of your Faith, is it not, that there is one God? Good; yet even the demons have that faith, and tremble at the thought. Now do you really want to understand, you foolish man, how it is that faith without actions leads to nothing?

How true that saying is! And it is on these subjects that I desire you to lay especial stress, so that those who have learned to trust in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing good. Such subjects are excellent in themselves, and of real use to mankind. Verse ConceptseagernessProfitsWork, And RedemptionProfitable ThingsFaithful SayingsBelief In GodDo Good!Useful ThingsWorks Of FaithAnxiety And StressWork Ethic


Urge upon those who are wealthy in this life not to pride themselves, or fix their hopes, on so uncertain a thing as wealth, but on God, who gives us a wealth of enjoyment on every side. Urge upon them to show kindness, to exhibit a wealth of good actions, to be open-handed and generous,



But about you, dear friends, even though we speak in this way, we are confident of better things--of things that point to your Salvation. For God is not unjust; he will not forget the work that you did, and the love that you showed for his Name, in sending help to your fellow Christians--as you are still doing.




And seeing this, Jesus said: "I have done before your eyes many good actions, inspired by the Father; for which of them would you stone me?" Verse ConceptsKnowing God, Nature OfDoing God's WorksFear Of StoningThe Father



and be well spoken of for her kind actions. She should have brought up children, have shown hospitality to strangers, have washed the feet of her fellow Christians, have relieved those who were in distress, and devoted herself to every kind of good action. Verse ConceptsFoot washingFeet Washingethics, personalProperty, HousesReputationSaintsAfflicted, Duty To ThemHospitalityWives, DressTravellersLoving ForeignersClean FeetCare Of FeetDoing GoodRaising ChildrenHelping Those In NeedPetsGrandmothers


He said: "A nobleman once went to a distant country to receive his appointment to a Kingdom and then return. He called ten of his servants and gave them ten pounds each, and told them to trade with them during his absence. But his subjects hated him and sent envoys after him to say 'We will not have this man as our King.' read more.
On his return, after having been appointed King, he directed that the servants to whom he had given his money should be summoned, so that he might learn what amount of trade they had done. The first came up, and said 'Sir, your ten pounds have made a hundred.' 'Well done, good servant!' exclaimed the master. 'As you have proved trustworthy in a very small matter, I appoint you governor over ten towns.' When the second came, he said 'Your ten pounds, Sir, have produced fifty.' So the master said to him 'And you I appoint over five towns.' Another servant also came and said 'Sir, here are your ten pounds; I have kept them put away in a handkerchief. For I was afraid of you, because you are a stern man. You take what you have not planted, and reap what you have not sown.' The master answered 'Out of your own mouth I judge you, you worthless servant. You knew that I am a stern man, that I take what I have not planted, and reap what I have not sown? Then why did not you put my money into a bank? And I, on my return, could have claimed it with interest. Take away from him the ten pounds,' he said to those standing by, 'and give them to the one who has the hundred.' 'But, Sir,' they interposed, 'he has a hundred pounds already!' 'I tell you,' he answered, 'that, to him who has, more will be given, but, from him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away. But as for my enemies, these men who would not have me as their King, bring them here and put them to death in my presence.'"

On which they began to grumble at their employer. 'These last,' they said, 'have done only one hour's work, and yet you have put them on the same footing with us, who have borne the brunt of the day's work, and the heat.' 'My friend,' was his reply to one of them, 'I am not treating you unfairly. Did not you agree with me for two shillings? read more.
Take what belongs to you, and go. I choose to give to this last man the same as to you. Have not I the right to do as I choose with what is mine? Are you envious because I am liberal?'

What do you think of this? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the elder and said 'Go and work in the vineyard to-day my son.' 'Yes, sir,' he answered; but he did not go. Then the father went to the second son, and said the same. 'I will not,' he answered; but afterwards he was sorry and went. read more.
Which of the two sons did as his father wished?" " The second," they said. "I tell you," added Jesus, "that tax-gatherers and prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God before you.

For it is as though a man, going on his travels, called his servants, and gave his property into their charge. He gave three thousand pounds to one, twelve hundred to another, and six hundred to a third, in proportion to the ability of each. Then he set out on his travels. The man who had received the three thousand pounds went at once and traded with it, and made another three thousand. read more.
So, too, the man who had received the twelve hundred pounds made another twelve hundred. But the man who had received the six hundred went and dug a hole in the ground, and hid his master's money. After a long time the master of those servants returned, and settled accounts with them. The man who had received the three thousand pounds came up and brought three thousand more. 'Sir,' he said, 'you entrusted me with three thousand pounds; look, I have made another three thousand!' 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!' Then the one who had received the twelve hundred pounds came up and said 'Sir, you entrusted me with twelve hundred pounds; look, I have made another twelve hundred!' 'Well done, good, trustworthy servant!' said his master. 'You have been trustworthy with a small sum; now I will place a large one in your hands; come and share your master's joy!' The man who had received the six hundred pounds came up, too, and said 'Sir, I knew that you were a hard man; you reap where you have not sown, and gather up where you have not winnowed; And, in my fear, I went and hid your money in the ground; look, here is what belongs to you!' 'You lazy, worthless servant!' was his master's reply. 'You knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather up where I have not winnowed? Then you ought to have placed my money in the hands of bankers, and I, on my return, should have received my money, with interest. 'Therefore,' he continued, 'take away from him the six hundred pounds, and give it to the one who has the six thousand. For, to him who has, more will be given, and he shall have abundance; but, as for him who has nothing, even what he has will be taken away from him.

And Jesus told them this parable-- "A man, who had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, came to look for fruit on it, but could not find any. So he said to his gardener 'Three years now I have come to look for fruit on this fig tree, without finding any! Cut it down. Why should it rob the soil?' 'Leave it this one year more, Sir,' the man answered, 'till I have dug round it and manured it. read more.
Then, if it bears in future, well and good; but if not, you can have it cut down.'"

In the same way noble deeds become conspicuous, and those which are otherwise cannot be concealed. Verse ConceptsThings Manifestdeeds


But he who looks carefully into the perfect Law, the Law of Freedom, and continues to do so, not listening to it and then forgetting it, but putting it into practice--that man will be blessed in what he does. Verse ConceptsBeing A BlessingBeing Blesseddiscipleship, benefits ofPerfection, DivineReward, DivineSanctification, Means And ResultsScripture, Sufficiency OfHearing God's WordForgetting ThingsGod Will BlessThe Law Of ChristOne's DeedsChristian LibertyFreedom