Bible passages
(in alphabetical order) - click here to suggest that we add a resource to this list
1 Corinthians 12
Added: 06/15/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
This powerful passage describes how all Christians are interconnected and interdependent – just like the parts of a body. A body is one of many metaphors that the Bible uses…
1 Corinthians 13
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
Before reading this passage, I recommend that you read 1 Corinthians 12 which is all about gifts and unity in the Body of Christ.
This amazing passage needs no introduction…
1 Corinthians 1:1-17
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 9: The Greek word translated “fellowship” in this verse is koinonia. In this context it refers to our relationship with Christ – which shows the deep and powerful intimacy…
1 John 1
Added: 06/16/08“We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ. We write this to make our joy complete. This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”
1 Peter 2:4-10
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
The Bible is filled with many metaphors for the church (or community of Christians) In this short passage alone we can find at least five (maybe more) – living stones,…
Acts 13:1-3
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
These few verses describe the events that took place leading up to Barnabas and Saul being sent on their first missionary journey – one of the most significant events in…
Acts 2
Added: 06/10/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 5: The Greek phrase translated “every nation” in this verse is pas ethnos.
verses 5-11: God chose to start the church as a community of Jews from “every nation…
Acts 4:32-37
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verses 32: The unity in the early church was not superficial! They cared enough for each other that they were willing to share their possessions in common.
verses 34-35: They…
Acts 6:1-7
Added: 03/10/09“This proposal pleased the whole group. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit; also Philip, Procorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolas from Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them. So the word of God spread. The number of disciples in Jerusalem increased rapidly, and a large number of priests became obedient to the faith.”
Acts 8:1-25
Added: 07/01/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
This passage follows the stoning of Stephen (Acts 7) – the first martyr in the new Christian church. His death sparks a great persecution against the church and results in…
Colossians 3:1-17
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 9-11: Paul stresses how our new identity in Christ supersedes all of our earthly “labels” – including our ethnicity.
verse 12-17: This is a beautiful, clear descriptions of how…
Ephesians 2
Added: 06/15/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
I recommend that you read chapter 1 of Ephesians before reading this chapter.
In verses 1-10 Paul gives a clear, concise, and beautiful description of the Gospel. This section includes…
Ephesians 4
Added: 06/15/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
I recommend that you read chapters 1, 2, and 3 of Ephesians before reading this chapter.
verse 3: Note that we are called to “make every effort” – this is…
Galatians 2
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage:
verse 9: “Fellowship” in this verse is a translation of the Greek term koinonia
verses 11-20: Peter was withdrawing from his non-Jewish (Gentile) friends when certain Jewish leaders were around. Paul saw this as…
James 2
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verses 1-12: Christians are not to show favoritism.
verses 15-16: We are called to put our faith in to action – in practical ways that help our brothers and sisters.…
James 3
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verses 1-11: The tongue is such a powerful force in our lives – our words have the power to heal or do great damage.
verses 17-18: God’s wisdom is pure,…
John 10:1-18
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 16: This is obviously a reference to “pas ethnos” (all nations) who would come to know Christ and join in the “one flock”.
Click here to learn the author,…
John 13:1-17
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
During the time of Christ, washing the feet of the house guests was a task that was usually reserved for those in the lowest position (house servants, etc) — it…
John 17
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
Jesus prays this prayer just hours before he is arrested and crucified. He is well aware that his time with his disciples is coming to an end. It is important…
John 3:1-21
Added: 08/08/08“This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but men loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that his deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what he has done has been done through God.”
John 4
Added: 06/16/08It is helpful to know some historical background regarding Sychar (the location of this conversation)…
There is some debate about the location of the Samaritan city of Sychar which Jesus and the disciples were traveling near when they stopped at…
Luke 10:25-37
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
For important historical context on this passage, I recommend that you first read: Jewish and Samaritan Relations During the Time of Christ
Jesus’ counter-cultural approach to Samaritans (see all…
Luke 17:11-22
Added: 06/30/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
For important historical context on this passage, I recommend that you first read: Jewish and Samaritan Relations During the Time of Christ
Jesus’ counter-cultural approach to Samaritans (see all also…
Matthew 24:1-35
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 14: The Greek phrase translated “all nations” in this verse is pas ethnos. Jesus said that before the end of the age the gospel of the kingdom would be…
Matthew 28:18-20
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
Click here to learn the author, date, theme, etc. of the Book of Matthew.
Matthew 28:18-20
(Some sections which are especially significant when discussing biblical, multi-ethnic community have been highlighted…
Philippians 2:1-18
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verses 1-11: This is truly one of the “crown jewels” in Scripture in regard to biblical, multi-ethnic community. The key to being “one in spirit and purpose” is to imitate…
Psalm 133:1-3
Added: 06/17/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
verse 1: In the original Hebrew we can see that David uses the word “how” twice in this verse — it is better translated “How good! How pleasant!” He is…
Recommended Resources for Studying the Book of Acts
Added: 12/11/09Luke packed Acts with essential stories, lessons, and principles for sorting through multi-ethnic issues–it is one of our greatest resources for promoting ethnic unity in the church. In the winter of 2009 I enjoyed taking a seminary course on Acts by Dr. Eckhard Schnabel, a top expert on the early church and the book of Acts. This is a list of commentaries, studies, atlases, etc. that he recommended to our class.
Revelation 7:9-17
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
In this passage we see a beautiful picture of how Heaven will be filled with people “from every nation, tribe, people and language”. Heaven is going to be a biblical,…
Romans 12
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
Click here to learn the author, date, theme, etc. of the Book of Romans.
Romans 12
(Some sections which are especially significant when discussing biblical, multi-ethnic community have been highlighted…
Romans 16
Added: 06/16/08Things to note in this passage regarding biblical, multi-ethnic community:
This part of Romans is often “passed over” since it contains mostly personal greetings from Paul to the Christians in Rome. But, this is a mistake because it contains a…


