Sermon Central
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Studies In Proverbs
Contributed by Glenn Pease on Apr 2, 2021 (message contributor)
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1. A Word To The Wise
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
The truth is just as true when spoken by a sinner as by a saint. Never dismiss a truth because of its source. A tin cup carries water as well as a gold one, and you can be refreshed out of either vessel.
The legend is told of a flock of crows who had an awful battle with a farmer over a corn field. It came to the point when every time they returned he shot at them. They assembled on the edge of the woods and took council. One young an vigorous crow trust out his chest and said, "As far as I ...read more
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2. Old Dogs And New Tricks
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
Shallowness always leads to folly, but depth, when it is directed by wisdom, will lead to a life pleasing to God and appealing to man. Very seldom is a truly wise man proud. He is humbled because he knows so well how little he really knows.
Proverbs by their very nature are often paradoxical, and they often seem to contradict one another. They only do so, however, if we take them as absolutes which are true in every case. If we take them as stating a truth of a segment of reality, and not all of reality, we will see there are ...read more
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3. Where Knowledge Begins
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. We have made it clear that fear means reverence, and the Lord means Jehovah, but the hard part is still ahead. What does it mean that the attitude of reverence toward the one true God is the beginning of knowledge?
A millennium and a half ago Diogenes said, "The foundation of every state is the education of its youth." Both ancient and modern philosophers have recognized that education is basic to the making and keeping of any great and strong nation great and strong. Lowell said, "It is in ...read more
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4. How To Be An Attractive Youth
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
This proverb is worthless to the millions of teens whose parents are not giving them guidance and instruction. The best thing the church can do for the home is to seek to make it what the Bible assumes it will be and that is a place of learning.
Every young person wants to be attractive. Teens suddenly discover that they are drawn to each other because of their attractiveness, and they want to be attractive themselves. It is then that the mirror, mirror on the wall become the idol of them all. They become very sensitive about their body, ...read more
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5. How Not To Be A Juvenile Delinquent
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
Many atheistic professors are charming, witty and intelligent, and they influence many students to follow the path of unbelief. Atheism would never attract them, but the atheist can and does.
A father and his son were riding in a trolley car and the father decided to have fun with his boy. He lifted his cap off his head and pretended to throw it out of the window. The boy started to cry, but the father solved the problem by snapping his fingers and producing the cap before the boy. ...read more
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6. The Voice Of Wisdom
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
This is God's method. He makes the truth that people need to know available to all the people, and not just to the great and mighty. The voice of wisdom is shouting for all to hear. Whatever is wise is the voice of God.
"Integrity and wisdom are essential to success in this business," said the boss to the new employee. He said, "Integrity means that when you promise a customer something, you keep that promise, even if we loose money." "And what is wisdom," asked the employee? ...read more
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7. First Place Only
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
It is important to see that our part is to seek and exert the energy in diligent search. It is God's part to see that we find.
Gerald Kennedy in his book The Christian And His America tells of hearing the head of one of the largest airplane companies at a luncheon where he was reporting on the situation facing America in the field of air defense. He described the growth of our air force, and the probable growth of the ...read more
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8. God-Giver And Guard
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
The Lord gives wisdom, but we must never take that statement out of the context where the picture is so clear that it is given only to those who seek it as for hid treasure.
More than once has the story been told by missionaries of how quickly some pagans have responded to the Gospel. An old man in India once responded to the first sermon he ever heard and confessed Christ as Savior. When the missionary asked him why he said that it was really not a quick reception, ...read more
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9. The Paths Of Righteousness
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
In every issue of life the believer has only one question to answer to determine the will of God, and that is, what is right and just? Not, what is the majority for, or what is best for the majority, or what is best for me and my group, but what is just?
A study of God's nature as just and righteous leads to the conclusion that one of our popular explanations of things is not true. We have all heard the saying that God loves the sinner but hates the sin. It sounds good and seems to be a helpful way of explaining God's attitude to man. ...read more
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10. God's Use Of Means
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
The Old Testament saint could gain the same inner insurance and leading of God as those in the New Testament. The only difference being that God used different means. The New Testament saint is guided by the Holy Spirit, but the Old Testament saint is guided by wisdom.
Unlike many chapters of the Proverbs, chapter 2 is a complete unity. It is a chain of reasoning that follows a consistent pattern from start to finish. We have considered the foundation and several of the stories built on it, and now we have arrived at the top where we see the practical goal ...read more
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11. Do Not Forget
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
To build well in this life we must remember the past instructions and warnings. Memory is a must to men of maturity, for he who forgets is as bad off as he who never knew.
Virgil, the ancient poet, describes the river Lethe as flowing through a tranquil landscape, and on its banks wandered a countless multitude who drank of its waters which washed away all memory of the past. This would seem to be an ideal situation for sinful creatures like we are, for we are ...read more
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12. A Broken Crutch
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
You can't ask for a stronger statement on faith than this. Faith, when it is true faith, is identical with trust. Faith that stops short of trust is neither saving nor sanctifying faith.
A BROKEN CRUTCH Based on Prov. 3:5-6 A social science teacher once told my sister that faith in God was only a crutch. My sister asked me how to answer that, and my immediate response was to deny it and tell her she doesn't know what she is talking about. As I reflected more, however, I ...read more
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13. Bridging The Gap Or Christ In The Workplace
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
My struggle to bridge the gap between Sunday and Monday changed my whole perspective on life and made me a skeptical Christian. I mean this in a good sense. I became skeptical of easy and pat answers that Christians spout off that do not fit the reality of people's everyday lives.
I haven't always worn a suit to work. A couple of days after I married Lavonne I got my first job in working my way through college. It was at the John Morrell Meat Packing Plant In Sioux Falls, South Dakota. After a summer of that we went off to Bethel and I got a number of jobs. I worked in ...read more
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14. Drop Your Bucket Where You Are
Contributed on Apr 2, 2021
The point is, we must recognize that it is only as we take advantage of the opportunities before our eyes that we can arrive at the distant goal.
This text is saying that wisdom is right in front of the man with understanding, but the fool does not see it. He roams all over the world in search of what is right under his nose. The fool is like the proverbial cow who always thinks the grass is greener on the other side of the fence. The wise ...read more