In our message today, I want to focus on four encouragements and one admonition from Proverbs 17. When we speak of encouragement, we have all experienced the afterglow of receiving an encouraging word or text. And sometimes we are on the giving side of it and we’re able to watch as a person’s expression changes from that of defeat to the face of strength. What a blessing it is to both give and receive encouragement! Now when we speak of admonitions—or admonishing someone—we may or may not have a clear understanding of this term. To admonish means “to caution, advise, or counsel against something; to reprove or scold, especially in a mil and good-willed manner.” The Apostle Paul uses this word to describe the work of God’s Word in our lives. He wrote, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom” (Colossians 3:16a).
Our sermon this morning highlights the five keystones for becoming wise men and women of God. “The sort of people that we become is, in large part, determined by the voices that we choose to listen to.” (Adam McHugh) The first voice we must choose to listen to is the voice of Jesus, the Word in flesh. God has given us His Word so that we may know how to live—it is our guidebook for life. But there are innumerable voices that are competing for our attention and many of those voices are trying to seduce us to find fulfillment outside the bounds of Scripture. What voices are we listening to?
When it comes to relationships, there are times in our lives when we can let our anger get the better of us. Something happens that causes us to become angry and before we know it, we have lost control and are doing and saying things that we would never do and say if we were thinking clearly. Thankfully, the Bible makes it clear that there is a better way and provides us with five key truths to teach us how to respond to the situations of life with self-control rather than reacting in anger.
Why do some people respond to situations while others react? when a person responds, he takes into consideration the desired outcome—he thinks first. No thought is given to the outcome when a person is reacting. Reacting is emotional—responding is emotional intelligence. If we want our lives to be characterized by emotional intelligence, then there are six things that we must consider every time we communicate with others.
Continuing on in our sermon series “it’s complicated – Navigating Life’s Relationships”, this week we are diving into Proverbs 31:10-31, Six Virtues of a Woman. There is no relationship more important to growth in the home and intimacy, than that with a mother and a wife. There are two sides to this coin, the importance on how we treat and value them, as well as, a wife and a mother treats others and values herself. “…But a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”
So for the next ten weeks, we’re going to be focusing on what it looks like to build successful relationships and what skills are needed to build them. Asking: Where do I struggle relationally? What attitudes do I need to change? How can I be more patient with those people who annoy me? What things do I do that annoy those around me? Essentially… how can I be a better_________? For God’s answers to these questions, we’re going to look to some ancient wisdom in the Proverbs.
As Jesus was concluding the Sermon on the Plain, He asked, “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I tell you?” (Luke 6:46) It’s a question that should challenge us to think deeply about what it means to follow Jesus. Can you simply claim to follow Jesus but not do what He says? Or is there more to it? As we consider this question, examine your life to ensure you are building your life on the right foundation.
We are here today to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Most of us know the details of these events. We know the “what” of this story, but do we know the “why”? As we seek to answer the question “why?” I want to focus more on why it matters to me and you. Is the biblical story of Easter still relevant in the twenty-first century? Do the events that happened so many years ago really have an impact on my life in the here and now?
Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world” (John 18:36). If Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world, then why would we—as citizens of His kingdom—live according to the principles of this world? Should we not live according to His kingdom principles? So as we continue our study in the Gospel of Luke this morning, I want us to pause and notice five principles for life in the kingdom of God.
It isn’t difficult to love someone who already loves us. In the same vein, it isn’t hard to do something nice to someone who has already done something nice for us. In this sermon, we are looking at the passage from Luke 6:27-36 where Jesus calls us to love our enemies. The world still adheres to the thought “eye for an eye”. Jesus is calling us to show an Uncommon Love towards those who hate us in return.