Sermon and Worship Resources

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1. Manual Labor Is Not the President of Mexico

Proverbs 6:6-8

Sermon

James Merritt

... looking for handouts, not because he had to, but because he chose to. Solomon's final warning to the sluggard is: "A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest; so your poverty will come like a prowler, and your want like an armed man." (Prov. 24:33-34) Can I tell you what made Abraham Lincoln such a great man? It was not that he was born in a log cabin, but that he got out of it! In 1758 these words were written in the Poor Richard's Almanac, "Laziness travels so slowly, that ...

2. Put Up and Shut Up

Proverbs 18:21

Sermon

James Merritt

... apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise reprover to an obedient ear." (Prov. 25:11-12) As we apply wisdom to the tongue, let me say that wisdom is the ability to say the right thing, in the ... understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive." (Prov. 17:27-28) It is better to keep your mouth shut and let people think you are a fool, than to open it and remove ...

3. Proverbs of Solomon

Proberbs 10:1--22:16

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... 5:20 and 1 Peter 4:8. One who hates foments discord, while one who loves overlooks offenses. The wise “store up” (cf. Prov. 2:1; 7:1) knowledge (10:14a) rather than relying on amassing wealth like the rich do (10:15a) and are assured that ... transitional: it is not fitting for fools to enjoy luxury, not because it is undeserved, but because they cannot use it well (cf. Prov. 26:1). Similarly, slaves are unsuited for leadership roles (also 30:22), especially if lacking wisdom (cf. 14:35; 17:2). In context ...

4. Tastes Great, Less Filling - Sounds Good, Not True

Proverbs 23:29-35

Sermon

James Merritt

... is now called liquor or strong drink (i.e. whiskey, gin, etc.) and the twenty percent fortified wines of today were unknown in Bible times.19 This sheds light on Solomon's admonition: "Do not look on the wine when it is red, when it sparkles in the cup..." (Prov. 23:31) He was referring to wine that was unmixed with water. Wine that we speak of today has a much higher level of alcohol than wine in Bible days. In fact, Dr. Stein notes that in New Testament times one would have to drink twenty-two glasses of ...

5. How to Deal with Friends, Foes, and Fools

Proverbs 27:6

Sermon

James Merritt

... nor be envious of the wicked; For there will be no prospect for the evil man; the lamp of the wicked will be put out." Prov. 24:17-20 The following statement will be bitter to the taste, hard to swallow, and difficult to digest, but better to take the medicine ... heard me. It is not enough just to leave your enemies alone. We must be pro-active and demonstrate love to them. Solomon said in Prov. 25: 21-22: "If your enemy is hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink; For so ...

6. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... only sin frequently but also sin in many ways. This truth is acknowledged throughout scripture: 2 Chron. 6:36; Job 4:17–19; Ps. 19:3; Prov. 20:9; Eccles. 7:20; Rom. 8:46; 1 John 1:8. With if anyone is never at fault in what he says James focuses in ... in it. 3:6 The likening of the tongue to fire has an Old Testament background: Pss. 10:7; 39:1–3; 83:14; 120:2–4; Prov. 16:27; 26:21; Isa. 30:27. Sirach, commenting in a long passage on slander, states, “[The tongue] will not be master over the godly, and ...

7. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

8. Let Me Tell You about the Birds and the Bees

Proverbs 5:15-23

Sermon

James Merritt

... possible, but probable. a. Foolish Exposure "For at the window of my house I looked through my lattice, and saw among the simple, I perceive among the youths, a young man devoid of understanding, passing along the street near her corner; and he took the path to her house." (Prov. 7:6-8) Right away, we see mistake number one, which is being in the wrong place, at the wrong time, with the wrong person. We can turn that around and make that a positive. You cannot make a wrong move if you're not in the wrong ...

9. Fiscal Fitness

Proverbs 3:9-10

Sermon

James Merritt

... for me; Lest I be full and deny You, and say, ‘Who is the Lord?' Or lest I be poor and steal, and profane the name of my God. (Prov. 30: 7-9) Agur did not want to be either wealthy or poor. He just wanted to be "middle classed." He didn't want to drive a rolls ... .)13 Debt is wrong if it is used to pay for the luxuries of life. Debt is wrong if it is generated by co-signing a note. (See Prov. 6:1-6; 11:15; 17:18; 22:26-27) As a rule of thumb, just keep this in mind. It is all right to borrow for necessities ...

10. How to Turn the Ballot into a Blessing Box

Proverbs 29:2

Sermon

James Merritt

... and cannot be believed, they are not fit to serve in public office. The next mark is compassion. "Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy." (Prov. 31:8-9) These were the words of a mother to a king. In no uncertain terms, we are told, that a person of power and authority should speak for the speechless, should defend the defenseless. May I just say to you, there is no one more defenseless ...

11. Job Hears the Whispers of God’s Works

Job 26:1--31:40

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... life under the sun (Eccles. 1:3). 28:15–19 It cannot be bought with the finest gold. In ancient times, as today, gold was highly valued, so several words for gold are used in verses 15–17 to indicate that no amount of human wealth can purchase wisdom (cf. Prov. 8:10–11). In contrast to so many areas of contemporary life in which money talks, wisdom is not for sale to the highest bidder; it has to be received as a gift from God. The wise teacher in Proverbs 4:5–7 urges the youth to get wisdom at ...

12. How to Lower Your Temper (-ature)

Proverbs 16:32

Sermon

James Merritt

... t say anything." Keep your hand on the throttle "A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control." (Prov. 29:11, NIV) Anger is to be a servant, not a master. Either you control your temper, or your temper controls you. Don't ... . Look up and over "The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and it is to his glory to overlook a transgression." (Prov. 19:11) Never kill a fly with a sledgehammer. When you are wronged, the question is not are you big enough to do something ...

13. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... , but if one looks at them from God’s perspective, one sees that the impressiveness is that of a soap bubble. Death is coming and the wealth will disappear and the rich will descend stripped naked to the depths of Hades (as shown by Job 15:30 and Prov. 2:8, in the Old Testament; in the Apocrypha, Sirach 14:11–19; 2 Baruch 82:3–9; or in the New Testament, Matt. 6:19–21). Again the proper perspective is critical. Only with God’s perspective, the perspective of the coming age, can one recognize this ...

14. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... 15:17–18). 5:6 The concept of judicial condemnation (condemned and murdered) is frequent in the Old Testament: Pss. 10:8–9; 37:14, 32; Prov. 1:11–14; Isa. 3:13–15; 57:1; Amos 2:6; 5:12. Wisdom 2:20, “Let us condemn [the righteous] to a shameful death ... The idea of death as the penalty for sin is usually that of eternal judgment: Deut. 30:19; Job 8:13; Pss. 1:6; 2:12; Prov. 2:18; 14:12; Jer. 23:12. The soul is not a part of the person, but the whole person, physical and spiritual. See further C. ...

15. Elihu Makes His Appearance

Job 32:1--37:24

Teach the Text

Daniel J. Estes

... be seen as an ironic figure. In his passionate and ornate words he at times says what he does not intend (32:18–20). He is repeatedly described by the narrator as angry (32:2–5), which in the wisdom tradition is a trait of a fool (Prov. 29:22). In his evaluation of Job, Elihu is ignorant of Yahweh’s assessment of him as righteous (1:8; 2:3). Theological Insights Interpreters have viewed Elihu in a wide variety of ways, with some evaluating him positively as speaking for Yahweh and others dismissing ...

16. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

17. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

18. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

19. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

20. Modern Proverbs

Illustration

M.R. De Haan II

... needs to be would do well to go to the school of Solomon. The man who finds a good woman should show his son how to avoid a bad one (Prov 2,5,6,7,9). What a father knows about sex might help his children as much as surprise them (Prov 23:26-8). A wise son makes a glad dad as much as a foolish one makes a glum mum (Prov 10:1). Thank God for Fathers who not only gave us life but taught us what to do with it. If you're amazed at how hard your dad can ...

21. One Should Embrace Wisdom and Avoid Folly

Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:20

One Volume

Gary M. Burge

... : verses 4–7 begin with an admonition directed to the wise (10:4), while verses 16–20 end with one (10:20). If a ruler is angry with you, do not act rashly (10:4; cf. 8:2), for your calmness may help him to avoid committing great sins (as Prov. 29:22 also acknowledges). The NIV, in translating the Hebrew root hata (cf. 9:18) as “errors” rather than “sins” (only here of almost six hundred Old Testament occurrences), takes this word as referring instead to the cause of the ruler’s anger (as in ...

22. Job's Third Reply to Bildad

Job 26:1--31:40

Understanding Series

Gerald H. Wilson

... word is a “lamp” to the psalmist’s feet “and a light for [his] path.” Elsewhere, however, God’s “lamp” is a means of scrutinizing the inner recesses of humans: “The lamp of the LORD searches the spirit of a man; it searches out his inmost being” (Prov. 20:27). In his righteousness, Job has nothing to fear from such scrutiny. Indeed, he longs for the time when God’s light drove away the darkness that now threatens to engulf him. 29:4–6 The Hebrew for when I was in my prime is obscure ...

23. Friends

Proverbs 27:6, 9, 17

Sermon

James Merritt

... to do it—just make a mistake. Somebody has said, "In prosperity our friends know us, but in adversity we know our friends." But finally, a true friendship is a loving relationship. You see, a real friend is not only someone who likes you, it's someone who loves you. Prov. 17:17 says, "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity." A real friend is someone who wants to be a friend to you, not because of what you can do for them, but for what they can do for you. There are some people ...

24. Body / Ambassador

2 Corinthians 5:11--6:2

Understanding Series

James M. Scott

... “according to the heart,” as Paul has been urging the Corinthians (cf. v. 12). Ultimately, of course, only the Lord really knows the hearts of people and rewards each person according to his or her works (cf. vv. 10, 11; Rom. 8:27; 1 Kgs. 8:39; Prov. 24:12). In contrast to Paul’s present practice of refusing to know anyone according to the flesh, he admits that in the past he did so with regard to Christ: Though we once regarded [lit., “knew”] Christ in this way [lit., “according to the flesh ...

25. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... follows that his true followers should copy him. “He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God” (Micah 6:8, cf. Hos. 4:1; 6:6; 12:6; Prov. 14:21; Dan. 4:27). Or again, “This is what the Lord Almighty says: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another.’ ” (Zech. 7:9). Not to show mercy is to step outside of God’s covenant and to invite God in return to judge by the same ...

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