The Church in Transformation- Scriptures to study from

Romans 11:33-36
33 0 how deep are the treasures of both the wisdom and knowledge held by the Great Mystery! His decisions go far beyond our weak ways of thinking! 34 For who has understood the thoughts of the Great Spirit? Who has given him counsel?35 Who could give him a gift that would require a gift in return?" 36 For from him all things come, by him all things exist, and in him all things find their true meaning and purpose. All honor belongs to him, both now and in the world to come, to the time beyond the end of all days. Aho! May it be so!

Romans 12:1-21

1 So then, my sacred family members, because the Creator has shown us such mercy and kindness, I now call on you to offer your whole beings, heart, mind, and strength, to the great spirit as a living sacrifice. Do this in a sacred and spiritual manner that will make his heart glad. 2 Do not permit the ways of this world to mold and shape you. Instead, let the Creator change you from the inside out, in the way a caterpillar becomes a butterfly. He will do this by giving you a new way of thinking, seeing, and walking. Then you will know for sure what the great spirit wants for you, things that are good, that makes the heart glad, and help you walk a path of becoming a mature and true human being.

3 Because the Creator, and His great kindness has made me a message bearer, I give this message to each of you. Do not think too highly of yourself. Instead, understand the great spirit calls us to different purposes and hand it to our trust in him. 4 For just as our bodies have many members and each member has a different purpose, 5 it is the same with the body of the chosen one. We are members of his body, and each member belongs to all the others.

6 Creator's gift of great kindness has been poured out on us in many ways, giving us different kinds of gifts. If your gift is to speak the heart and mind of the Great Spirit in a prophecy, then let trust guide your words. 7 If your gift is helping others, then give yourself to help others. If teaching is your gift, teach well. 8 If your gift is to speak courage and strengthen the hearts of others, then speak bravely. The one whose gift is giving should not hold back. If your gift is leading, lead with honor. And the one whose gift is showing mercy and kindness to others should do so freely, with a glad heart!


9 Love with a true heart. Hate what is evil and hold on tight to what is good. 10 Love like family and honor others by putting them first. 11 Be a good fire keeper, and never let your spiritual fire go out as you serve our Honored Chief. 12 Let hope make your heart glad. Keep sending your voice to the Great Spirit, even when the road gets hard to walk. 13 Give what you can to help the sacred family members who are in need. Open your homes and hearts to others. 14 Bless the ones who seek to harm you. Bless and do not curse! 15 Dance with the ones who dance for joy and shed tears with the ones whose hearts have fallen to the ground.16 Seek to live in harmony with all. Do not think you are better than others. Walk the road of life with the humble of heart, and do not be wise in your own eyes. 17 No one should pay back evil with evil. Do what you know to be honorable in the eyes of another. 18 If it is within your power, walk the road of peace with everyone.


19 My much-loved family members, do not take the punishment of others into your own hands. Instead, turn all anger and wrath over to the Great Spirit. For the Sacred Teachings tell us, “Punishment for wrongs belongs to me,” says the Great Spirit Chief. “I will make sure that wrongs are made right again.” 20 You should do the opposite. “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If your enemy thirsts, give him a drink. Your kindness will be like burning coals poured on his head, as his shame for the way he has treated you bursts into flame.” 21 Do not let evil take over in your heart but overcome evil with good.

From the First Nations Version: An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament.