Podcasts about proverbs

Proverbs 3

Fr. Mike reflects on how Isaiah's prophecies in chapters 49-50 point to the immediate reality of God's promise of redemption for Israel, as well as to the distant reality of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. In our reading of Ezekiel, we also learn how the glory of God departed from the temple, and how God's presence is often hidden from us as well. Today's readings are Isaiah 49-50, Ezekiel 10-11, and Proverbs 12:17-20. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Proverbs 3:1-6 The post Called To Be An Influencer appeared first on Calvary Chapel Chino Hills.

An Uber driver named Esbon Kamau picked up a sixteen-year-old rider who was on his way to purchase a motorcycle—a gift from his father. After Kamau dropped the passenger off, he noticed the teen had left a bag in the back seat. There was $8,000 inside—the cash needed for the purchase of the motorcycle. Kamau quickly contacted Uber to try and locate the passenger. Soon Kamau delivered the cash back to the grateful, relieved young man. “Do the right thing at the right time,” Kamau said, “and don’t let selfishness overpower [you]." Kamau displayed integrity. He resisted making a fast buck or taking advantage of someone’s mistake. Instead, he chose to simply do the right thing. “Whoever walks in integrity walks securely,” Proverbs says (10:9). When we practice integrity, we never have to worry about remembering what we said to whom, because truth is our only concern. When we practice integrity, we don’t have to fear for our reputation or that our schemes will catch up with us. We don’t have to be concerned about being a person whose “crooked paths will be found out” (v. 9). We simply live true—displaying wisdom (v. 13) that comes from God. We’re secure and free in Him. We face numerous temptations to lie or manipulate in life, but God calls us to walk with Him. And as we do, we can lead “blameless” (v. 29) lives of integrity.

Proverbs 2

It’s easy to think one big breakthrough will change everything. And it might…but in the meantime, the small decisions you make every day are already shaping your future. Are your choices taking you where you want to go?

Please visit https://www.biblestudyheadquarters.com/ for more tools and resources to help you grow in faith. You can also become a regular supporter of this podcast on the website. . If you enjoy the show and want to buy John a coffee, please click here: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/johnstange . The "Desire Jesus One Year Devotional" can be found here: https://amzn.to/41v1DKh . To email John Stange directly, please send your message to biblestudyheadquarters@gmail.com. Discover more Christian podcasts at lifeaudio.com and inquire about advertising opportunities at lifeaudio.com/contact-us.

2 CHRONICLES 32:1-33:13 | ROMANS 15:23-16:9 | PSALM 25:16-22 | PROVERBS 20:16-18Support the podcast here:

Job 3, 4; Psalm 32:1·12; Proverbs 6:20·25; Romans 4

NEW #BIYE w @OliveTreeBible DAY 214 - 2 Chronicles 32:1-33:13 Romans 15:23-16:9 Psalms 25:16-22 Proverbs 20:16-18

PROVERBS: DIRTY JOBS (mission in the marketplace) Proverbs 6:6-11 w/Darren Tyler

It’s easy to think one big breakthrough will change everything. And it might…but in the meantime, the small decisions you make every day are already shaping your future. Are your choices taking you where you want to go?

 August 3 | Joshua 16:1-17:18; Luke 18:31-43; Psalm 87:1-3; Proverbs 20:19 //  Needing more biblical wisdom? Subscribe and listen to the Wisdom Words podcast with Pastor Dale and Pastor Joel at lifereachresources.com/wisdomwords.   

August 2 | Joshua 15:13-63; Luke 18:18-30; Psalm 86:8-17; Proverbs 20:16-18 //  Needing more biblical wisdom? Subscribe and listen to the Wisdom Words podcast with Pastor Dale and Pastor Joel at lifereachresources.com/wisdomwords.   

Send us Fan Mail***Read the Bible in a Year with me in 2026 right here on the podcast!***Bible Verses of the Week: Week 32: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10Welcome to the podcast Move Forth With Grace!  We will be reading the entire Bible in a year.  This is such a perfect way to get into God's Word each day and to develop your own relationship with God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I am your host Angela and want to first of all say that I am not an expert in Theology or Church History or a Minister and I never will claim to be.  I am a  wife and mother who has been reborn and want to be of service to God in gratitude for calling me back home. Welcome to the Podcast! The Bible that I will be reading from is the McArthur Daily Bible.  It is a New American Standard Bible.Thank you for being here....thank you for becoming less like you and more like Jesus.May you Move Forth with Grace today!Love, Angela Connect with me on social media or send a prayer request to me on my website here:https://campsite.bio/moveforthBible Teachers that I recommend:Mike Winger on https://biblethinker.org/meet-mike/John McArthur on https://www.gty.orgDr. Chuck Missler on www.khouse.orgNancy Missler on www.kingshighway.orgDale Partridge on www.relearn.orgChuck Smith on http://www.pastorchuck.org/RC Sproul Eschatology Playlist:https://youtu.be/n22MRa0P6_I?si=Aw53nQLSteu6T3-ASupport the show

Scripture Reading from Proverbs 4: 23; Philippians 4: 4-7 (0:00)Sermon by Sam Haist (0:35)

Bucked off, breath knocked out, and trampled... when you did nothing wrong. A cowboy church sermon on how to get back on. Kevin Weatherby closes out the First Time? series with the first time life knocks you flat when you did everything right: the Big Lake barrel racing wreck, the world championship that got away, and the bronc riding that same day. Seven tips a cowboy uses to get back on. In this message: Getting bucked off when you did nothing wrong Seven tips to get back on, from "it'll quit hurting in a minute" to "show-ups, not show-offs" The wreck is never the end of the story Scripture: Psalm 34:18-19, Proverbs 24:16, 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Grab this week's free 5-day Bible study at savethecowboy.org. Watch the full message: vimeo.com/1213062706 Read the Bible in plain cowboy talk, the Simplified Cowboy Version: simplifiedcowboyversion.com Ride with the Long X Ranch Cowboys: lxranch.org Give to the ministry: savethecowboy.org A sick pen for sinners, not a show ring for saints.

20 Proverbs 30-31; 26 Ezekiel 13-17; 19 Psalms 72-74; 40 Matthew 7-10

Spring Lake Church – Lawrence CampusSermon: DisciplinesTeacher: Jack GuerraPassages: Proverbs, Luke 14, 1 Corinthians 9, Galatians 5, and 2 TimothyIn “Disciplines,” we explore how biblical discipline and faithful stewardship shape every area of life. Through passages including Proverbs, Luke 14, 1 Corinthians 9, Galatians 5, and 2 Timothy, this message challenges us to cultivate self-control, accountability, and perseverance as we steward our time, talents, resources, and faith. Discover how the HABIT model and the seven pillars of stewardship can help you grow into a life that honors God and bears lasting fruit. Join us as we pursue spiritual maturity together.springlakechurch.org | springlakechurch.org/give | springlakechurch.org/prayer

July 8, 2026 - Wednesday Bible Class In this episode Caden walks through the life of Timothy in the New Testament, using his story as a roadmap for how families, mentors, and congregations can develop faithful, effective servants of Christ. Caden outlines four main points — Timothy's upbringing, personality, reputation, and defining traits — and draws connections between biblical examples and practical church life. The episode examines Timothy's spiritual foundation: the influence of his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, his early acquaintance with Scripture (Acts 16; 2 Timothy 1:5; 3:14–15), and a recent Pew Research study about how household religious practice affects retention. The host stresses the central role of the home in training young people and offers concrete ideas for building a child's faith (attendance, family Bible study, visible example, church involvement). Mentorship is a key theme. The speaker explores Paul's investment in Timothy (Titus 2; Philippians; 1 Corinthians) and the importance of both receiving and giving mentorship. Passages such as Proverbs 1 and 1 Timothy 4 are used to encourage younger and newer Christians to accept teaching, grow in knowledge, and set a godly example in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. Timothy's personality — commonly understood as timid or shy — is discussed candidly. The class reviews verses that show Paul encouraging Timothy (1 Corinthians 16; 1 Timothy 4; 2 Timothy 1:6–7) and highlights how Timothy overcame fear and insecurity through obedience, faithfulness, and willingness to step outside his comfort zone. Reputation and dependability are analyzed through examples in Acts and Paul's letters. Timothy was well spoken of in Lystra and Iconium, trusted to check on churches and to teach correctly (Acts 16; Philippians 2; 1 Thessalonians; 1 Timothy). The speaker emphasizes how consistent, humble choices build a reputation that opens doors for service. Concrete traits from Timothy's life — devotion to Scripture, faithfulness, selflessness (including his willingness to be circumcised to reach Jews), and sacrificial service — are highlighted as patterns worth imitating. The lesson closes with practical takeaways for listeners: invest in children's spiritual foundations, mentor the young and new, don't let personality or fear prevent service, guard your reputation, remain devoted to study and growth, and live selflessly as Jesus taught (Matthew 16:24). The episode is carried out as an interactive teaching session with audience participation and Q&A moments; there are no external guests. Listeners can expect Scripture-based exposition, real-life examples, statistics to frame the issue, and actionable steps for families and church members who want to raise and mentor the next generation of faithful Christians. Duration 44:46

July 12, 2026 - Sunday AM Sermon This episode is a sermon-length reflection on trusting God, using vivid real-world examples and biblical teaching to show how faith should shape every area of life. Hiram opens with familiar figures—Ben Carson, Chesley Sullenberger, Nick Saban and educator Jaime Escalante—to illustrate why experience earns trust, then challenges listeners to place the same confidence in God, who is eternal and never fails. The episode walks through seven specific areas where Christians should entrust themselves to God: 1) leave vengeance to God and trust Him to repay the wicked (Deuteronomy 32, Romans 12); 2) pray and rely on God for daily provision, illustrated by Exodus 16 and Matthew 6; 3) believe that God works all things together for good and adopt a "rearview" theology that sees God's purposes in hindsight (Romans 8:28, Joseph and David examples); 4) trust in God's full forgiveness through the New Covenant (Hebrews 8, Jeremiah 31, 1 John); 5) allow God to direct your path by trusting rather than leaning on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5–6); 6) have confidence that God will preserve the church (Daniel 2, Matthew 16); and 7) rest in God's promise to save you in the end (Isaiah, 1 John, 2 Timothy). Along the way the sermon emphasizes practical implications—stop seeking personal revenge, pray the Lord's Prayer for daily bread, give generously because God owns all, trade anxiety for peace by trusting God's providence, and respond in repentance and baptism if you haven't yet obeyed the gospel (Acts 2:38). Scriptural references are woven throughout to support each point, and the message closes with an invitation to respond and an encouragement that God's faithful, providential care allows believers to live a life of relief and assurance.   Duration 34:47

July 15, 2026 - Vacation Bible School Day 4 - Wednesday PM Bible Class In this episode of the Wednesday evening class Chris opens with community announcements then turns to a focused study of Mark 9 and the father's plea, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief." The session examines how that personal struggle with doubt connects to a larger defense of Scripture's authority. Topics covered include the inspiration and unity of the Bible, illustrated by key passages (Mark 9:24; 2 Peter 1:20–21; 2 Timothy 3:16) and practical apologetics. Chris reviews recent class presentations by Bill (archaeological consistency), Dale (fulfilled prophecy), and Joey (scientific consistencies), and draws on an Apologetics Press illustration (Eric Lyons) provided in the course guide from Neil to show how improbable it would be for many diverse human authors to produce a seamless, enduring book without divine guidance. Evidence for unity highlighted in the episode: the 1,600-year span and 40 authors behind 66 books, multiple languages and continents, diverse backgrounds (from Pharaoh's house to fishermen, physicians to statesmen), harmony of theme (Old Testament — Christ is coming; Gospels — Christ came; Acts–Revelation — Christ is coming back), and consistency of moral instruction and historical detail. Specific textual examples include the consistency on lying (Exodus 20, Proverbs, Ephesians) and Paul's and Peter's attestations to Scripture's divine origin and permanence. Chris draws one of the program's most vivid demonstrations by linking Genesis 2–3 with Revelation 21–22: the river and the tree of life, the presence and removal of the curse, and the promise that God will make all things new—showing how the end of human history echoes its beginning and reinforcing the claim that Scripture is unified and God-breathed. Takeaways and practical points: the Bible's unity and longevity point to divine authorship; Scripture is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction; believers are encouraged to keep the Word before them, study it closely, and use it as the "sword of the Spirit" in personal doubt and daily witness.   Duration 38:02

Proverbs 23 reminds us that wisdom is not merely about outward behavior. Wisdom begins in the heart and shapes our desires, choices, priorities, and direction. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains the importance of practicing self-control, guarding the heart from envy, pursuing truth, receiving discipline, and recognizing the destructive consequences of temptation and sinful indulgence. Sin may appear attractive and promise satisfaction, but it ultimately produces pain and bondage. Jesus Christ perfectly resisted temptation and walked in complete obedience. Through Him, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are renewed, and we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to walk wisely. The key verse is Proverbs 23:17: "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day." Learn more about Reading the Bible Daily with Dave: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Writings of Solomon - Proverbs 13: 24-25 Jeff Campbell Download

Proverbs 23 reminds us that wisdom is not merely about outward behavior. Wisdom begins in the heart and shapes our desires, choices, priorities, and direction. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains the importance of practicing self-control, guarding the heart from envy, pursuing truth, receiving discipline, and recognizing the destructive consequences of temptation and sinful indulgence. Sin may appear attractive and promise satisfaction, but it ultimately produces pain and bondage. Jesus Christ perfectly resisted temptation and walked in complete obedience. Through Him, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are renewed, and we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to walk wisely. The key verse is Proverbs 23:17: "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day." Learn more about Reading the Bible Daily with Dave: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

20 Proverbs 3-4; 23 Isaiah 52-60; 19 Psalms 5-10; 40 Matthew 22-25

As parents, what does biblical wisdom call us to?

Who are you when no one else is looking? In this powerful message, we explore the "secret place"—the hidden courtroom where only you and God see what happens. Jesus taught that our private lives reveal the true condition of our hearts, and that God doesn't just see what is done in secret—He rewards it. This sermon examines how our unseen choices shape our relationship with God, why secret faithfulness matters, and how God honors those who choose obedience, generosity, prayer, and worship when no one is watching.

Group Guide Use this guide to help your group discussion as you meet this week. Acts 1:1-5 Spencer Carey Download TranscriptGood morning. My name is Spencer. I am one of the pastors here. We did it you guys. We made it through 2 Samuel. 1 and 2 Samuel.And now we're in the book of Acts. So if you're new to our church, we typically, not exclusively, but the majority of what we do is we walk through books of the Bible. And we're gonna go verse by verse, passage by passage. And we're in Acts chapter 1 today. As we begin the book of Acts, we'll be in this for the next season. We're in the first five verses of the book of Acts.That is on page 1053, 1053 in your black Bibles. The main text will be coming from the Bible. So we will hold a Bible and read that with this. There'll be other texts. They'll be on the screen. But we're gonna introduce the book of Acts because it is wise when you jump into a book to have some context for what you're actually studying.So I want to point out three things as we begin to introduce us, I think, well to understanding the book of Acts. If you grab a study Bible, like the ESV study Bible, you open it up before we start reading a book. If you're gonna study it, you're gonna see different introductory elements. And I'm gonna give you three that kind of help us frame our time together in the book of Acts. Genre, author, and purpose. So let me hit those very quickly.It's important to first know the genre because not all scripture is the same. You don't read Proverbs like you read the Psalms, like you read Genesis, like you read the Gospels, like you read the epistles, the letters in the New Testament. They are all, they come from different genres. So it's important to understand what you're reading before you jump in. The book of Acts is historical narrative. Functions like the Gospels in that way.It's historical narrative. It's a bunch of stories that tell the story of how the church began starting in the first three decades of the church is what the book of Acts and 28 chapters covers. So from around 33 AD to around 60 to 65 AD, we're gonna read a bunch of stories and teachings that shaped the church early on and that we get to be shaped by as well. So it's one of the longest books in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke is the only book that's longer and we'll be in it for a bit. So the second thing that is helpful to know is the author.And the author is Luke. So Luke was inspired by God to write this. So let's introduce ourselves to Luke. We don't know a ton. Here's what we do know. Luke was likely Greek.Okay. He may have been Jewish, it's debated, but if he's Jewish, he's very what you would call Hellenistic, meaning he's very Greek influenced. So he's Greek. What we also can see from the letters of the New Testament is he's likely a doctor. So likely a physician like Mike Goble who was just standing here leading us in prayer.He's a doctor. It's also clear that he's an historian. He was tasked with the job of both telling an orderly account of the Gospel in Luke of Jesus Christ and his life, his ministry, his death, his resurrection and the book of Acts, which tells the story of the early church. So some will say that Paul wrote most of the New Testament. It's actually not true. When you go by word count, Luke actually was inspired to write most of the New Testament because Luke and Acts is longer than all Paul's 13 letters combined.Fun fact. Three, purpose. Okay. Why is the book of Acts and our Bibles? Why did God inspire it? Why was it so important that it became an essential part of what's called the New Testament canon?What is the official books of the New Testament? Why do we have this? That's what we get to look at today. One of the things that's clear when you read the book of Luke is that there's this foreshadowing of the inclusion of the Gentiles. So that's basically, I would assume everybody in this room that comes from a non-Jewish background.There's this foreshadowing that the Gospel is going to go to the nations and that we're going to be included. And the book of Acts is going to show us how. How we are brought into the household of faith. So we're going to see this. We're going to look at the values and the witness and the Gospel that spread all that comes out of this. We're going to look at key figures like Philip and Peter and James, the brother of Jesus Christ, and Paul.We're going to look at all of this. And when you actually, if you look at a Bible and you go to Acts, oftentimes they're going to have the subscript that we have from the earliest manuscripts that says Acts of the Apostles. And if you read that, it may lead you to believe that this book is primarily about the work of the apostles. But what we're going to see is this book is primarily about a God rescuing his people and his rescue plan for the nations. And then even more of the point, one of the things that makes Acts so unique and so essential is it gives us the most comprehensive window into the third member of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit.We're going to read a lot about the Holy Spirit. No book in the Bible mentions the Holy Spirit more than the book of Acts. It would be wrong to say that this book is only about the work of the Holy Spirit, because God the Father and Jesus Christ the Son are both present and loom large in this book. But there's no other book in the Bible that gives us a more upfront window to the work of the Holy Spirit than the book of Acts, which makes this very helpful for us as we want to be a Spirit empowered people and the season that we're in trying to be missional and planting a church. So we're very excited to be able to walk this book together.And what we're going to see today and these first few verses and what we're going to see throughout this series can be summarized in this sentence, the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. That what we're going to see is the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. So let me pray and then we'll walk through this introduction together. Heavenly Father, we thank you for the good news of the gospel that we just sang about, that we just prayed for, that we just recited from the Scriptures. God, I pray that you would help us be, have open eyes to see how you started your church and what it's built upon.And we ask this in Jesus' name. Amen. All right, go to verse one. In the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach. So let's pause there.Out the gate, there should be some questions that jump off the page. Who's Theophilus? When did you do all this, where you dealt with all the things that Jesus began and taught? And that is why understanding Acts, it's very helpful to have a working general knowledge of the book of Luke. The gospel of Luke helps us understand the book of Acts. Luke functions very much like a part one and Acts functions very much like a part two.So what I want to do a little bit today is to go to the book of Luke and to help us see a little bit of how this helps us understand Acts. I want to go to Luke chapter one. This will be on the screen. You can look up here and hold that place in Acts because we'll come back to it. Luke chapter one says, many have undertaken to draw up an account of these things that have been fulfilled among us just as they were handed down to us by those who were, who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the Word. With this in mind, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, I too decided to write an orderly account for you most excellent Theophilus so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.So this is very similar to the introduction to the book of Acts. Who is Theophilus? We don't know for sure. We know that his name means lover of God. Theo and Phyllis, those are two different Greek words to come together, lover of God. It is very likely that he was a wealthy Christian who put the money forward for Luke to do the work of gathering all these reports.It takes time and energy and effort and money to go and travel throughout all of the New Testament world and to put together what is the gospel of Luke? What is these stories that tell us about the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ? And we should be familiar with that concept because we know today they are investigative reporters, that they make their living, they get paid to go out and do investigative work and put together reports from Bob Woodward and his work all the way to reporters like Christopher Rufo today. They are all types of different people that get paid to put together reports.And that is what Luke was. He was an historian who got paid and traveled to go and put together this gospel of Luke that tells us about Jesus Christ. And what I appreciate about Luke is that he's not only just giving us a bunch of facts about Jesus, he does the work of organizing it into a story. So when you read it, like the other gospels, it has story arc. So most stories, the gospels, stories in the Bible and stories that you go and you watch in the movie theaters, most stories have a general story arc.There's an introduction, there's rising tension, so there's going to be some different plot things that happen. There's rising tension, there's a climax, and then there's resolution. That's the majority of stories. And when you read the gospel of Luke, there's an introduction to who Jesus Christ is. He was born. And then all of a sudden, very early, you see the rising tension as he's ministering and establishing and teaching the kingdom of God.He's got the tension with the Pharisees and the religious leaders. And there's this tension that builds all the way towards Jerusalem where Jesus Christ is crucified, where he is resurrected. And then there's this resulting action, which is the commissioning of the church. And I appreciate that because it makes reading the gospels a lot of fun. It helps us see that he's a good storyteller in pulling all these stories together for us to see. But buried in the end of the gospel of Luke, in what we just read a few minutes ago, is a bit of a cliffhanger.And I also appreciate the art of a cliffhanger. My oldest recently has gotten really into books. She loves reading. And what happens sometimes is that she'll come down tired. And she's like, I'm so frustrated because I just want to go to sleep. But every chapter, there's just this cliffhanger.And I just have to keep reading. And it's like, I love that you love reading. We're going to have to learn to live with a cliffhanger for a bit because you actually need to go to sleep. But cliffhangers do that. They kind of leave something lingering that draw you into the next part. And that's what's the genius of the end of the gospel of Luke.And I want to go back to what we read just a few minutes ago so that we can see that. You get the very end of Luke, chapter 24, verses 44 through 49. This is how the gospel of Luke ends. Then he said to them, this is on the screen, these are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and the prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled. Okay. That's what we call biblical theology.That's the reality that the entire Old Testament, all of it points to Jesus Christ. And he sang it. Listen, law, the prophets, Psalms, all of it points to me. Verse 45. Then he opened their minds to the scriptures, which is Jesus Christ, opening their minds to understand.46, And said to them, thus it is written that the Christ should suffer, and on the third day rise from the dead. 47, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed and is named to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things, and behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you, but stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. So Jesus points to the climactic work, his death, his resurrection. And then he tells them in verse 47, really a preview of what is ahead. He nods to, you're going to go and preach.It's going to be the message of this gospel of his life, death, and resurrection. You go preach that there's going to be a call for repentance of sins. They're going to experience forgiveness that washes and covers us. This is what you're going to proclaim, and that message is going to the nations. You are going to be witnesses of this. But first, you're going to go to Jerusalem, and you're going to wait, because power is going to come from on high.Wait for the promise of the Father. It's coming, but you go into Jerusalem first, and that's like the cliff thing. Oh, wait, what? And it's like, oh, I want to know more about that. And here's the good news. You don't have to wait a year for part two of the movie to come out.You can just flip over the book of Acts, which is what we're in. So go back to verse one. Now, we have a good working knowledge of what Luke is doing in the gospel of Luke. Pick up in verse one, the first book, O Theophilus, I have dealt with all that Jesus began to do and teach, verse two, until the day when he was taken up after he had given commands through the Holy Spirit to the apostles whom he had chosen. Which just for a moment, I appreciate that what is clear is that when Jesus is teaching his disciples throughout his ministry, the Holy Spirit is present with him, teaching his followers.Verse three, he presented himself alive to them after his suffering by many proofs, appearing to them during 40 days and speaking about the kingdom of God. Okay, so there's a period of time between Christ's resurrection and his ascension, which is what we're going to look at next week is when he ascended to the right hand of God the Father. That period of time is 40 days. So in that 40 days, when you look and read the end of the gospels and you pick up in this part of the book of Acts, we don't get all likely of what Jesus did during that period. We can tell that he appears to them at various times.He's not with them every second, but he appears to them and what he's doing is he's preparing them. He's teaching them the kingdom of God and he's preparing them for what awaits them. He appears to them in Jerusalem. He appears to them on a mountain in Galilee. He appears to them on a lake in Galilee and he's doing the work of preparing them for what's next for the unfolding plan to reach the nation. So he's preparing them, but also what I like in this passage is it points out that he's also establishing that he is alive, that there are witnesses who have seen Christ.That's why Paul in 1 Corinthians, he points out that there are 500 people at one point that saw Jesus in the flesh. So Jesus is both preparing his church for what is ahead and establishing I am alive through all types of eyewitness accounts that we read in the scriptures. So he's in the period of preparation preparing them for what's next over that 40 days and now he's here verse 4. And while staying with them, he ordered them not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father, which he said, you heard from me for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.So Jesus is getting ready to ascend, but he tells them you're going to wait. You're going to wait in Jerusalem. You're gonna wait for the promise of the Father and that's foreshadowing what we're going to see the coming of the Holy Spirit upon the church. You're gonna wait for the Holy Spirit to come upon you. Now at this point, it's very likely Jesus has taught them all about water baptism from the moment that he's baptized until now.And they should have the understanding at this point that baptism is the new covenant sign that you belong to God. But what they're going to learn is that faith does not begin with water baptism. It doesn't begin with water that faith begins with fire. That faith begins with fire that comes upon you when the Holy Spirit changes you into a new creation in Christ Jesus. When you believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, the baptism of the Holy Spirit overtakes you and changes you into someone who is new that you belong to Jesus Christ. And then you enter the waters of baptism to declare that you belong to him, which is why we as good Baptists baptize after someone is converted to Jesus Christ.That's what he's giving a nod to here at the end of this verse five. So he's telling them they need to wait. You're gonna go to Jerusalem and you're gonna wait for the Spirit to come upon you. And then you're going to begin to see this wonderful redemption plan that's going to unfold. And the rest of the book of Acts is how that plan unfolds. God in his people with them, bringing them into his mission to reach the nations.And I personally am very thankful that God brings us out of the stands and into the game so that we get to participate with our God in doing the most important eternal work there is. Around this time every year, I get excited because football is not far away. Okay. I love football. It's my favorite sport. I like other sports.Football is my favorite. I like how in August as the first game approaches, how delusional I get into thinking I will convince myself by the end of August that Lenora Sellers may be a Heisman candidate for the University of South Carolina. It's going to happen. I can convince myself of that delusion while also know I can't wait for the disappointment. It's going to be so exciting. I hold those two intention simultaneously and I get excited because I love watching the Gamecocks.I love watching us take on like blue blooded SEC programs like Kentucky and Mississippi State on the SEC Plus Network where we usually play. I just I look forward to it. I like pro football. I like watching. I'm a huge Indianapolis Colts fan. I love watching every season.I was like one time we won the Super Bowl in my entire life and I enjoy doing it. I love watching it. But let me tell you something. When I play football, I had way more fun. When I got to play football growing up, I mean Friday nights were way better than Saturday mornings in the stands. Friday nights in the field were far superior to ever watching something on TV or being there in person to watch it.No, it was a lot more rewarding, a lot more fun to be in the game playing. And what I appreciate about our God is that this wonderful redemption plan that He has given us, that He's unfolding for us, we get to participate in. That we get to wait for the power of God to come upon us and we get to be obedient to where He calls us to go. We get to see the spirit change people's lives. Guys, there's nothing more wonderful in this world than declaring the good news of Jesus Christ to someone who does not believe. And then God goes to work in their heart, brings them to faith in Jesus Christ.And then 10,000 years from now, you are standing in the presence of Christ with that brother's sister because you leveraged your life now for eternity. There is nothing more important. There's nothing more glorious. There's nothing more wonderful. And none of that happens unless the Holy Spirit is present. None of that happens unless the Spirit goes to work.We're like little kids that just want to get in the game and we're like three feet tall and we want to dunk a basketball and we can jump two inches off the ground and we're dreaming up just I want to dunk it and then we get picked up and we get to participate. And that's what the spirit does in us. He works in us in a way where we get to be a part of this, the Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world. That's what all of this is about. And that's what we're gonna see throughout the book of Acts. The Holy Spirit in God's church taking Jesus to the world.I just want to give you a preview of what's ahead. I want us to see how this this theme of the Holy Spirit and God's church taking Jesus to the world, how it shows up all over the place. Because we'll work through Acts 1, then we'll get to Acts 2. And in Acts 2 we're gonna see at the festival of Pentecost where all the Jews are coming in to celebrate that at the right time the Holy Spirit will descend upon the church. And then Peter who, think about this, just six weeks before that was denying Jesus Christ repeatedly, stands up what we'll see at Pentecost and preaches a sermon where 3,000 plus people, their eternity has changed and the church begins.And then we're gonna watch from Acts 3 to Acts 6 as the church explodes in Jerusalem. The Spirit working in profoundly wonderful ways as people are being changed. And with that comes what Jesus promised. That if you declare the good news of Jesus Christ, you will be persecuted. You will suffer and they do. And as the church begins to declare the good news of Jesus Christ and powerful, wonderful things begin to happen, the church begins to be persecuted.And that comes to the head in Acts 7 when Stephen, a servant of Jesus Christ, is declaring the gospel and he's murdered and martyred for his faith. And then we'll see how the Spirit uses that. Because the Spirit uses that to expand the church further. When we get to Acts 8 we'll see how this plan is unfolding because they're gonna spread when they're being persecuted into Samaria, into Syria. And now the gospel is spreading. And then we'll follow this as Acts 10 to Acts 12 we'll see the finally how the Gentiles are included and how God works in that.We'll see in Acts 13 at Antioch when the church is commissioned and Paul and Barnabas are sent to go and take the gospel to Asia Minor into Europe and the gospel begins to spread from Acts 13 to Acts 20 all over from Turkey to Greece. The gospel begins to go everywhere. And then as we finish the book of Acts we're gonna see in Acts 21 to 26 when Paul is giving a defense for the gospel as being persecuted, being imprisoned, and that he uses his imprisonment for the gospel to go forward. He uses imprisonment to get the gospel to Rome. He's like I want to get to Rome. So I'm gonna be in prison and that's where I'm going.And then Acts 27 there's a shipwreck and then Acts 28 he finally gets there. And what I love about Acts 28 is when he gets there guess what there are any Christians there. That's what God does. He keeps working in lots of different people. But you keep reading this the Holy Spirit and God's church taking Jesus to the world.You keep following chapter after chapter after chapter and then all of a sudden you get to 28 you get done reading it and it just ends. It's like Luke just dropped the pen and said I'm done. It's the wildest thing. Go read through the book of Acts. I encourage you guys as we start this series go read through the whole book. And you get to the end and it's just like this isn't complete.And we know that Luke knows how to write a story because you can read the gospel of Luke and you can see such compelling story arc and how it and it just that's not we just have this rising tension and it just stops. He just quits writing and it's clearly so incomplete. It's not like any other book in the Bible just stops. And the question that should linger is why. Why? Why is it just that?And the answer is because the story isn't finished. Acts continues. The story isn't finished. The gospel is still trying. We're still taking the gospel to every tribe nation and tongue. The story isn't over.The church keeps going. Years ago there were some clever Christians that came up with a church network name called Acts 29. Which was brilliant. But it was a statement on it keeps going. That we are living and Acts continues. That the story continues.And it does. It continued in the first century as the gospel spread from North Africa to as far as Spain over to India and to Asia. The gospel spread as of the next few centuries as the church began to be further established as they were once a persecuted minority. Faith becomes a majority faith in the Roman empire. And the church begins to grow and to expand and that eventually you follow the centuries and centuries later that there were some Christians who were being persecuted for their faith by the established church of England. And they say we want to go to this new place called America.And they travel to America and that kind of starts a big wave of Christians moving and pastors moving and missionaries moving to America. And eventually you saw land in this state where they start churches from the coast up to the upstate. And eventually at around the early 1900s people came to this part of the river and they began a new church. First Baptist Church of Casey. And this church ministered for a century and then all of a sudden another church started up in the area of Mill City Church. And then a few years later we merged together as one church, Mill City Church.And the spirit is still at work taking Jesus to the world. And what I love is that if you've ever read a book, you ever watched a movie that leaves the ending ambiguous? That leaves a cliffhanger? Instead of getting frustrated, what I like to do is I like to dream a bit. I like to imagine what actually is going on and what could be. Like if you watch the movie Inception, you get to imagine does the top fall or does it keep spinning?And you get to dream a bit about what that can be. If you read a book like The Giver, you get to imagine does he make it? Did he die in the snow or did he make it to experience reality? Whatever story has this ambiguous ending that is unclear, you get to dream a little bit about what that gets to be. And when you read the book of Acts, what I want us to do is I want us to dream a little bit. When we walk through this series, I want to dream about what can be.That if the Holy Spirit is at work in the church to take Jesus to the world, then let's dream a little bit. Because I'll tell you something, we dreamed for years about doing what we just prayed about earlier. For years we dreamed about planting a church. We want to multiply this church. We want to expand to a different part of the city. And then finally God put the pieces together.And if you've been here the last six months, you remember to hear this story. And I'm excited about sending out Oak Ridge. I'm excited about our little small version of Acts continued that we get to do. I'm excited that Mike who is just standing up here and that Isaac get to head out with right now it seems like 60 of y'all counting to go and take the gospel to a very strategic place on exit 51 to reach that part of Lexington that expands all the way into Gilbert and as far as Leesville. Like I'm pumped about that. But if we do that and we go, yes, we did it.We nailed it. We accomplished it. Then we missed it. If we think we've arrived at this, if we think that Jesus Christ's blood was poured out and wrath came upon him, that he conquered death at the resurrection, that he ascended to the right hand of God the Father to be king over all of creation, that the Holy Spirit descended upon the church for just Mill City in Oak Ridge. We missed it. So we need to dream a little bit.We need to dream about what can be. Dream about how God can continue to work because we got work to do. I'm gonna put up a timeline that'll hopefully help visualize this. You can go to that slide. Christ ascended almost 2,000 years ago. Like literally we're getting close to almost literally 2,000 years ago.Okay. At some point he's promised he's going to come back. He's going to return. Now you go to the next slide. I don't know where we are in this timeline. Don't get hung up on this.If you were in the book of Revelation, it's clear that you know we don't know where we are in this timeline, but we're somewhere in the middle of this. Now this expands for thousands of years. We've got a small place in that timeline where we have work to do until he comes back. And we should dream about what that gets to be. Because here's the deal. We've talked about this and we'll keep saying this, that once we set out Oak Ridge, everyone has work to do.There's no neutrality in how this is going down in January. Oak Ridge is going out and they've got work to do. And everyone who's staying here, we have work to do. So I want you to dream. How are we going to be obedient to the call to go and make disciples? How are we going to do that in our version of the Acts-continued story?What are we going to do? I want to give you some considerations for how you should think of this. Some of you need to start taking your faith more seriously. Some of you come on Sundays and you go to a group and or hopefully both. But what it has largely been is a time for you to be filled up.And don't miss something. We want we want you to be filled up. We want you to grow in maturity. But maturity in Christ is not just consuming and being filled up. It's pouring out. That God fills us so that we might multiply ourselves into others.That we might make disciples. The great commission is to make disciples. And some of you need to press into maturity. You get the wonderful opportunity to do that. You get to go deeper into the Bible, deeper into the discipline of prayer. You get to help you have a zeal for evangelizing, for sharing the gospel with your friends, your neighbors, your co-workers.And then I hope you get people that are coming around that don't know Jesus or just new to Jesus and you get to sit with them and point them to who Jesus Christ is and say, come follow me as I follow Christ. There's no better way to use your life than for the sake of helping others know Christ. And you get to. And this next season, you get to be a disciple maker. Some of you will have the opportunity to become a leader in training in your group. And you should take it and you should want this because community groups are the means by which we advance the mission in our city.Okay. Our groups are how we reach our city and our group leaders, you can talk to them. Leading a group is wonderful, but it's also quite difficult at times because the good work that God calls us to do is difficult. That's told to us. And what you get to be as a leader in training is not only grow in knowing more of Christ and maturity, but you get to be a helpful and healthy part of your group. You get to breathe life into your group that when everyone just opts out last minute and the person who was supposed to bring the meat just says, I got the sniffles and I'm out.But you're just like, I'm okay. Well, I'm jumping in. What do you need? That you're going to be a helpful part of your group. And some of you should aspire to them. You should want that.You should want to be a leader. You should want to say, hey, come follow me as I follow Christ. And I want to follow you as you're following Christ. We should want that. There's another thing I want to point out. And when I say this, this is autobiographical.When I led a group, it's reality in my group. Now, I already told my group leader, I'm like, this isn't, this is, this is not just us. This is widespread, but I want to put up group content for a moment. All right. This is last week's group content. This is second Samuel.We have five different versions of group content that show up. It's typically this format. If you're not in a group, you should be in a group and you'll see this and it's pretty great, but there's a gospel centered section. There's a community section. There's on mission section. Something that I've noticed that happens in not just my group, but in a lot of groups is that we will love discussing the Bible.We will love getting deep. We'll get the community and everyone has updates and we'll share and we'll talk. And then all of a sudden it's like time to leave and kids are going crazy and someone hurt themselves. And, and, and, you know, because they ran into the wall or something downstairs, not a, not an adult, but a child. And then it's on mission and it's like, ah, we should do it, right? Yeah.Cool. All right. Let's go home. I'm not going to ask you to show your hands, but how many times does that get buried? That's an afterthought. And it's like that, that needs to come to the foreground.There might be weeks where it's just like, ah, you know what? I love, but let's, we're eating a meal. Let's, let's, let's share some life updates. Let's, let's have some time for this. Let's not miss this because we have friends and neighbors and coworkers who we need to understand the eternal situation that right now they are journeying towards an eternity under the wrath of God because of their sin.And the church is plan a for advancing. You are the person that God has put in their life to tell them Jesus is better, that, that eternity is real and God wants you and is for you and desires you. And it's you. And we need to remember that because what could happen when you get to a church of our size is that you can get comfortable and you can think there isn't a need, but there is. And we can't miss that for a moment. So some of you, some of us need to regain our missional hustle in this season as we dream about what we could be in this Acts continued story.Some of us, some of you need to step up and serve. We've run some Numbers that are out of retreat. We kind of looked at all this stuff. There are 58 members of our church who currently do not serve in any capacity. Now there are some folks who have very, very real legitimate excuses, members of our church who have legitimate excuses for why that cannot happen.But there's a lot that don't. And here's the problem. There's 58 members of our church right now who've set in their commitment. They're committed to serving the church, but they're not serving in any capacity. When we send out Oak Ridge, there's going to be that number drops to 54. Now that tells us a couple things.First Oak Ridge is about to go out with a bunch of people who've served for years. And what Mike and Isaac are going to tell you is guess what? There's more where that came from. You got more work to do there. But what that means for us is that we're losing a big part of our church that has served for years.Like if I put up a chart right now, which I don't have, but if I put up a chart of all the different areas that people serve in our church and I just put in bright colors all the different people who've committed to go to the Oak Ridge church plan and the next slide, after they're gone, it just gets real dark. And it's because we will have opportunities for everyone to pick up a shovel and go. And I'm excited about that. I think you should be too excited about the opportunity to step into Kid City and breathe life into it, to our kids excited to step into hospitality and into groups and a bunch of different ways and to serve and to hustle and to grind because Jesus Christ is worth it.He's worthy of our worship and our service that is worthy of the gospel going forward. We're going to have a variety of ways that we get to dream. And I want you to dream. I want you to have personal dreams where you pray about this. I hope the series of Acts opens that up for you. I've got some.I want to share one of just one that's personal to me. That I feel called to this land and in this area. All right. That wasn't always the case. At one point when I went to seminary, I was like, I'm never coming back. I said it out loud.I'm never coming back. And I came back. Let me tell you something. I love this people. I love this place. Okay.My family history, they came over like 300 years ago to Pelion and they like never left. Like Pillion, West Columbia, Casey Lexington, you draw a triangle and my people have posted up in that area for 300 years. And I personally, I want this part of the Midlands, I want the Midlands to see scores and hundreds and thousands of people come to Christ. Because there's so, I know you think there's, there's lots of people that are, there's lots of churches that there are thousands of people in and around you that do not know and are not following Jesus Christ. And what I'm also seeing is that there are a lot of churches in our area that are dying as a statistical fact.There are a lot of churches in our area that are running in the red financially, that if they lose a few members, they're losing a big part of their church. They're physically dying. They are like a roof replacement away from just, it just have to shut the doors. My personal dream right now is that I want to see men in this church aspire to the office of overseer elder pastor. I want to see men in this church who want to step up and become pastors and pastor churches in this area over the next 10 years that need to be replanted, that need to be revitalized, that need life again. And right now there's a massive pastor shortage across the country.There's a massive pastor shortage. There's a bunch of boomers who are retiring, who are dying, and it's not being filled with younger generations. So what I want to see is men in this church. I want you to pray some dangerous prayers and I want you to ask, do I need to be the kind of man of character that says, follow me as I follow Christ as I shepherd the people of God here or somewhere else? And that's my personal part of the dream. And for the next 10 years, I want to see that happen all over the city.I want 50 years from now the Midlands to look dramatically different in churches because for the next 10 years, we leveraged our time, our energy, our money, and our people to send out pastors and teams of people to go and make more disciples in this city. And I want it to go further because it's been a few years since we have sent a missionary to the foreign mission field. It's been a few years and there are unreached peoples that get the smallest amount of resources and people. And some of you need to go and you don't need to be here in five years. And some of you need to have a conversation with Ben Johnson at 1040 Hub with Tim.Where's he at? Tim Rice over there, who works with IMB. We got missions, opportunities, good Lord. I'd love to see someone go to the nations, but we're going to have to pray and we're going to have to dream and we're going to have to own our part of the Acts-continued story. So in this next season, let's dream a little bit.Let's pray some dangerous prayers. Let's let the Holy Spirit work in a way that gets us in the game. Let's be obedient even when it feels risky, even when it feels uncomfortable. Let's own our part of our very small part, but important part of the story of the Holy Spirit and His Church taking Jesus to this city and the world. Let's pray.Heavenly Father, I pray that You might work in us in this season to stir us towards faith and trusting You. And the fruit of that would show up in beautiful, eternal ways. God, that first means that in this season there are people that do not know You that need to. There are people in this room who do not know You, have not surrendered their life to You, do not see You as Lord, and they need to. And I pray that You open their eyes to who You are and a baptism of the Holy Spirit would take over their lives. God, there are folks in this room that are going, that are going with Oak Ridge, and I am so thankful for their obedience to go, to be uncomfortable, to take risks.Lord, may You bless their labor, and may there be people in the kingdom of God a thousand years from now because they were obedient to go. And God, may You stir in us. May You give us a hustle. May You empower us for the good work that You have right here and beyond for years to come. In Jesus' name, amen.Transcript

Proverbs 23 reminds us that wisdom is not merely about outward behavior. Wisdom begins in the heart and shapes our desires, choices, priorities, and direction. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains the importance of practicing self-control, guarding the heart from envy, pursuing truth, receiving discipline, and recognizing the destructive consequences of temptation and sinful indulgence. Sin may appear attractive and promise satisfaction, but it ultimately produces pain and bondage. Jesus Christ perfectly resisted temptation and walked in complete obedience. Through Him, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are renewed, and we are strengthened by the Holy Spirit to walk wisely. The key verse is Proverbs 23:17: "Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the LORD all the day." Learn more about Reading the Bible Daily with Dave: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Fr. Mike touches upon the prophecy of judgment against Babylon and Israel, and how God still promises to be Israel's redeemer despite their disobedience. We also read about Ezekiel's vision of the temple and how the markings on the foreheads of the Israelites symbolizes the mourning of true worship, and also foreshadows Jesus' death on the Cross. Today we read Isaiah 47-48, Ezekiel 8-9, and Proverbs 12:13-16. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.

Proverbs 1

2 CHRONICLES 30:1-31:21 | ROMANS 15:1-22 | PSALM 25:1-15 | PROVERBS 20:13-15Support the podcast here:

Job 1, 2; Psalm 31; Proverbs 6:17·19; Romans 3

NEW #BIYE w @OliveTreeBible DAY 213 - 2 Chronicles 30:1-31:21 Romans 15:1-22 Psalms 25:1-15 Proverbs 20:13-15

Many business schools are hurriedly designing and incorporating courses on ethics. Seminars and management training are focusing on integrity. There seems to be a sudden awareness of our need for integrity in the marketplace.    Employee theft is a problem of great magnitude, as well as lack of employee loyalty. But, after all, how can you motivate loyalty if you engage in shady business dealings or treat employees unfairly? And now corporate America says, “How can we put values and integrity back in our good ‘ole American system?”  Well, it will only happen as individuals put integrity back into their personal lives and make it a high priority. And it will only happen when we are motivated from within, not from without. All the training courses in the world cannot instill integrity into a person’s heart. That must come from a belief system which is committed to doing what’s right, regardless of the cost.  If we do what’s right only as a manipulative tool to get where we want to go, only because that’s the “in” thing to do, we’ll find ourselves waffling all over the place. Doing the right thing takes an internal belief and commitment and a standard by which we operate. It takes absolutes. And it takes an internal power which many seem to lack.  If I asked you what is the best book on business principles, customer service skills, how to succeed, how to get along with people, how to handle a difficult boss, and how to deal with decisions of integrity on your job, what book would you recommend? Not too many people would ever think of the Bible as relevant to those issues, but let me tell you, it’s the textbook and the authority which we need.  If you don’t have an authority and a standard by which actions and attitudes are judged, you will never have integrity—personal or corporate. Relative truth doesn’t work; it’s another name for compromise. A moving standard which changes based on how you feel versus how I feel or is contingent on circumstances is no standard at all.   The Bible is dogmatic. It gives us very strong guidelines in many areas, with no room for argument. That causes many people a lot of difficulty, because by nature we just don’t like to be told where the limits are. But the interesting thing is, Bible principles work, and they work in the marketplace equally as well as anywhere else.  The best customer service philosophy in the world is based on what we call the golden rule which Jesus set forth 2000 years ago: Treat other people the way you want to be treated. Now, when we base our business philosophy upon this principle, we find we design a dynamite system and way to deal with people, whether customers, employees, or vendors.   God’s principles, when practiced, will benefit anyone. That’s because he’s the Creator, he knows how things should work, he knows how people are motivated, he knows what makes us tick. His principles are based on long-term profit. God doesn’t go for the instant answers most of us look for. He has marvelous strategic insight, and when he sets forth a principle, it is always to our benefit to follow them. So, regardless of whether a person or an organization recognizes God or his principles, when those principles are followed, they bring success.  Proverbs 21:21 tells us, Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor.  Pursuing righteousness and love—there’s the secret to integrity. Don’t let the word righteousness throw you. It doesn’t mean perfection or weirdness. It simply means doing the right thing. If you and I are committed to doing the right thing in every situation and to act out of love for other people, we will be people of integrity. And integrity will bring us prosperity and honor.   But more importantly, as Christians in the workplace, it will open a door of witness to those around us that is stronger than any words we can ever say. A life of righteousness and love is a light which cannot be hidden; it is what I call a “question-generating” life, one which causes someone along the way to stop you and say, “Hey, what’s different about you?”  Now in part one and part two, I'd like to look at three case studies where integrity is at stake and ask ourselves what is the biblical way to deal with them. These are only three of many situations you may face, but hopefully they’ll give you some food for thought as to how you can apply biblical principles to your ethical dilemmas.  Case #1  Your departmental manager is not liked by any of the employees. She is very unfair, discourteous to everyone, and in addition, doesn’t perform her own duties well. Everyone in the department talks about her in derogatory ways. You’ve been a part of this malicious talk at times.  But you’ve decided you don’t want to be a part of this character assassination any longer. How will you keep from getting caught up in this office gossip?   First, let me ask a very basic question: Do you think this is a question of ethics and integrity? Is it unethical to gossip about someone, especially if what you’re saying is true? You’re not making it up or enlarging on it. Would this kind of behavior be viewed as a lack of integrity?  Well, let’s go back to our verse in Proverbs 21:21: Whoever pursues righteousness and love finds life, prosperity and honor. Remember righteousness is simply doing the right thing.  Here’s another biblical principle to consider:  Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen (Ephesians 4:29).  I will grant you in the world’s view, gossip and backbiting would not likely be considered unethical behavior, but God’s Word says it is. No unwholesome talk out of our mouths. That’s the standard. Only what will build others up and benefit those who listen. This is not a moving standard; it remains steadfast regardless of the circumstances.  In this case study, we have a difficult manager, one who makes your job difficult, and it’s particularly hard to keep your mouth shut in these situations. But the standard doesn’t change for the difficult manager. No unwholesome talk—that’s it.   Now, if you decide to live your life by this standard of integrity, how will you handle situations in which others talk about the boss behind her back? Here are some suggestions: Get up and leave if you can. Just walk away from the conversation. Do it quietly, try not to call attention to it. You don’t want to announce, “I’m not going to listen to this kind of gossip; I’m leaving.” Not necessary; not a good idea. But walk away if you can. Someone may notice, and that’s okay.   If walking away is not an option, try changing the subject. Just find another topic and start in. Rather assertively, talk about something else which is harmless and not derogatory. That will take some fortitude and guts on your part, but you can do it nicely. Remember, it’s okay if someone notices you’re purposely changing the subject. But do it as gently as you can.  And then, I would add, don’t be afraid to say, “Instead of talking about her, why don't we talk to her?” There may be occasions when you’ll have to state your objections to the gossip. Again, do it as nicely and gently and non-judgmentally as you can, but you shouldn’t be afraid to stand up for what you think is right.   You know, integrity can be costly. If we determine to live our lives by Proverbs 21:21 and pursue righteousness and love in all we do, it won’t always be popular. Jesus told us people like darkness because their deeds are evil. And when our integrity turns a light on and exposes dark areas, we may not be appreciated for it. We must be prepared to pay the price, but we shouldn’t purposely expose someone or make an example out of them.  In part two, we’ll look at some other real-life situations where we have to make ethical choices in the marketplace. I hope you’ll take some time this week to consider the biblical imperative for a life of integrity and ask God to show you any areas in your own life where you’ve let down the bars and lowered the standards.   Pray Proverbs 21:21 this week: Lord, help me to pursue righteousness and love in everything I do. Help me to simply do the right thing, no matter what the situation is, no matter how alone I may be, no matter what it may cost me. Give me your power to make right ethical choices.  I can only imagine what would happen if every Christian in the marketplace started to pray this every morning before work. I’m telling you, it would make a difference in our witness for Jesus. We might find ourselves out on a limb occasionally, but if we simply do what is right, we’re never going to be out on that limb by ourselves. Jesus will be with us, and he has promised we will prosper and be honored if we pursue righteousness and love.  I don’t think this necessarily means prosperity by the world’s measure but prosperity in God’s eyes. A healthy and prosperous soul is far more important than a prosperous lifestyle. And the honor may not come immediately; but if God has promised it, it will come. We can trust him. 

Send us Fan Mail***Read the Bible in a Year with me in 2026 right here on the podcast!***Bible Verses of the Week: Week 31: Psalm 63:1-3Welcome to the podcast Move Forth With Grace!  We will be reading the entire Bible in a year.  This is such a perfect way to get into God's Word each day and to develop your own relationship with God our Father through His Son Jesus Christ. I am your host Angela and want to first of all say that I am not an expert in Theology or Church History or a Minister and I never will claim to be.  I am a  wife and mother who has been reborn and want to be of service to God in gratitude for calling me back home. Welcome to the Podcast! The Bible that I will be reading from is the McArthur Daily Bible.  It is a New American Standard Bible.Thank you for being here....thank you for becoming less like you and more like Jesus.May you Move Forth with Grace today!Love, Angela Connect with me on social media or send a prayer request to me on my website here:https://campsite.bio/moveforthBible Teachers that I recommend:Mike Winger on https://biblethinker.org/meet-mike/John McArthur on https://www.gty.orgDr. Chuck Missler on www.khouse.orgNancy Missler on www.kingshighway.orgDale Partridge on www.relearn.orgChuck Smith on http://www.pastorchuck.org/RC Sproul Eschatology Playlist:https://youtu.be/n22MRa0P6_I?si=Aw53nQLSteu6T3-ASupport the show

Proverbs 31:10-31 | Wedding SermonIn this wedding sermon for Kaibo and Sarah, Pastor Rojas walks through Proverbs 31 as what it actually is: the final word of a book that has spent thirty chapters training a son's eyes toward true wisdom—not a scorecard for wives, but an oracle taught to a king by his own mother, an acrostic poem, A to Z, pointing to a woman whose strength, generosity, and fearlessness all flow from one root: the fear of the Lord.But the question “who can find her” doesn't stop with marriage. It reaches all the way to the cross. Because none of us can earn our way into being found — not by a spouse, and not by God. We are found. Christ himself spent his life seeking a bride who could never make herself worthy, and he paid for her with his own blood. Every ounce of value you have was set not by what you've done, but by what he was willing to pay.This sermon is for anyone getting married, anyone already married, and anyone who has ever wondered whether they're loved because they're good enough — or because Someone decided they were worth everything, long before they had anything to offer.Subscribe & Share if this sermon strengthened your faith.

20 Proverbs 28-29; 26 Ezekiel 6-12; 19 Psalms 69-71; 40 Matthew 2-6

Everything you truly desire and is ordained for your life, is all under this umbrella. God has never left us clueless about our life's purpose and blessings. Maybe we have not been listening to what He's already outlined. Maybe you don't have what you desire or aspire to have not because you're not believing enough or working hard to attain it. Maybe we don't have them because we're not seeking this first.. Meditated scriptures: Matthew 6:33, Proverbs 19:2, Isaiah 55:11, James 4:3. Suggested readings: Matthew 6, Luke 4 and Acts 22-28To support this podcast and our ministry, you're welcome to give via:  CashApp: $JLPNetwork  PayPal: paypal.me/JLPNetwork JLPNetwork.com If you've been listening to our podcast ove the years and have been blessed by our content and want to book a one-on-one session with me, visit our website, JLPNetwork.comI can't wait to partner with you and seeing you flourish in singlehood/ in relationships!Shop EmunahCulture's New Merch

Proverbs 22 teaches that wisdom shapes our character, choices, relationships, and influence. A good name is more valuable than great riches because godly character reflects integrity, faithfulness, humility, and consistency. In this episode of Reading the Bible Daily with Dave, Dave Jenkins explains why wise choices have lasting consequences, why instruction and training matter, and why believers should avoid harmful influences while pursuing justice, generosity, diligence, and excellence. Proverbs 22 ultimately points us to Jesus Christ, who perfectly lived with wisdom, humility, integrity, and obedience to the Father. Through Christ, our sins are forgiven, our hearts are changed, and we are formed into people who increasingly reflect godly wisdom. Learn more about Reading the Bible Daily with Dave at: https://servantsofgrace.org/reading-the-bible-daily-with-dave/

Can the gospel actually free you from the power of sin in your everyday life? First Peter 4:1-6 answers that question with a clear and urgent call to arm yourself with the mindset of Christ and to fight sin from a position of victory rather than defeat. This message explores what it truly means to be freed from sin, not just forgiven for it. Topics covered include why the Christian life feels like a battle even though Christ has already won, what it means to arm yourself with the right way of thinking, whether complete freedom from sin is possible in this life, and how the gospel provides real power to fight temptation every single day. Key themes and topics in this message: 1 Peter 4:1-6 explained and applied Romans 6 and dying to sin What baptism means for your daily fight against sin Christian perfectionism and what Scripture actually teaches Mortification of sin and the Holy Spirit's role Why grace, not law, is the key to overcoming sin How the gospel transforms your desires, not just your behavior Why the world will oppose a changed life John Owen on killing sin Practical steps for fighting temptation this week If you have ever felt stuck in a cycle of sin, wondered why the Christian life feels so hard, or questioned whether real change is actually possible, this message is for you. The gospel is not only the answer to where you have been. It is the power for where you are going. Relevant Scripture references: 1 Peter 4:1-6, Romans 6:1-4, Romans 6:14, Romans 6:20-21, Ecclesiastes 7:20, 1 John 1:8, Proverbs 20:9 Keywords: overcoming sin, freedom from sin, 1 Peter 4, Romans 6, dying to sin, mortification of sin, Christian growth, sanctification, Holy Spirit power, fighting temptation, gospel transformation, new life in Christ, baptism and identity, grace and sin, John Owen killing sin, spiritual warfare, Christian living, how to stop sinning, power of the gospel, changed life

Drop us a note about the podcast. A single question runs like a thread through everything we talk about here: what are you waiting for? We start with Acts 22 as Paul recounts his calling, his repentance, and the simple, urgent command to obey God, then we pair it with Psalm 1's picture of a life planted by living water. From the first minutes, we're not aiming for vague inspiration. We're aiming for a clear look at how faith in Jesus Christ shows up in real decisions and real priorities.We also bring up a heartbreaking public case involving a missing teen and the broader failure of communities to protect children, using it to press a bigger point about moral courage and leadership. From there, the conversation turns to the closest proving ground most of us face every day: marriage and family. If we can give hours to phones, sports, TV, social media, and endless distractions but claim we have no time for our spouse, our actions speak louder than our words. Love is not a slogan. Love is time, attention, and the willingness to treat what matters to them as something that matters to us.We close with a reminder that courage and conviction are not new in American life, from a Medal of Honor story to reflections on American Christian heritage, including Herbert Hoover's use of Proverbs and Benjamin Rush's argument that the gospel shapes moral sensibility. If you care about biblical literacy, Christian marriage, family values, and the role of Scripture in public life, this one will challenge you and steady you. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review to help more people find the show.#Marriage#ChristianLife#AmericanPatriotSupport the showThe American Soul Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/1791934/subscribeCountryside Book Serieshttps://www.amazon.com/Countryside-Book-J-T-Cope-IV-ebook/dp/B00MPIXOB2 America's Christian Heritage Podcasthttps://www.buzzsprout.com/2622483

20 Proverbs 1-2; 23 Isaiah 45-51; 19 Psalms 147-150, 1-4; 40 Matthew 18-21

1 The proverbs of Solomon, the son of David, king of Israel: 2 to know wisdom and instruction; to discern the words of understanding; 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young man: 5 that the wise man may hear, and increase in learning; that the man of understanding may attain to sound counsel: 6 to understand a proverb, and parables, the words and riddles of the wise. 7 The fear of Yahweh is the beginning of knowledge; but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction. 8 My son, listen to your father's instruction, and don't forsake your mother's teaching: 9 for they will be a garland to grace your head, and chains around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don't consent. 11 If they say, “Come with us. Let's lay in wait for blood. Let's lurk secretly for the innocent without cause. 12 Let's swallow them up alive like Sheol, and whole, like those who go down into the pit. 13 We'll find all valuable wealth. We'll fill our houses with plunder. 14 You shall cast your lot among us. We'll all have one purse.” 15 My son, don't walk on the path with them. Keep your foot from their path, 16 for their feet run to evil. They hurry to shed blood. 17 For in vain is the net spread in the sight of any bird: 18 but these lay wait for their own blood. They lurk secretly for their own lives. 19 So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain. It takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She utters her voice in the public squares. 21 She calls at the head of noisy places. At the entrance of the city gates, she utters her words: 22 “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight themselves in mockery, and fools hate knowledge? 23 Turn at my reproof. Behold, I will pour out my spirit on you. I will make known my words to you. 24 Because I have called, and you have refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no one has paid attention; 25 but you have ignored all my counsel, and wanted none of my reproof; 26 I also will laugh at your disaster. I will mock when calamity overtakes you; 27 when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when your disaster comes on like a whirlwind; when distress and anguish come on you. 28 Then will they call on me, but I will not answer. They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me; 29 because they hated knowledge, and didn't choose the fear of Yahweh. 30 They wanted none of my counsel. They despised all my reproof. 31 Therefore they will eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the backsliding of the simple will kill them. The careless ease of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely, and will be at ease, without fear of harm.” Listen Donate Subscribe:Proverbs Daily PodcastPsalms Daily Podcast

Sunday, July 19th 2026 | Pastor Jason Wallace | “When you refuse to spread offense, you become part of God's solution instead of the problem!” - Pastor Jason WallaceFire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭26‬:‭20‬ ‭NLT

August 2 - In just 15-20 minutes a day, you can listen to the entire Bible read through in a year, and/or watch the Bible verses on the screen. Each day, you will hear some of the New Testament, some of the Old Testament, and some of Psalms or Proverbs. You will read through Psalms and Proverbs twice in the year. Today's reading is James 3; Hosea 5-8; and Psalm 32. You can get through the entire Bible in a year listening to it on the way to and from work each day. The elderly with bad eyesight can now see the Bible verses in large print right on the screen. Little children, just learning how to read, can now read along by seeing and hearing each word pronounced. Imagine little children accomplishing something that many adults never do even once in their lifetimes--reading through the entire Bible. Get a free printed copy of the Bible Reading Schedule at LibertyGospelTracts.com. The Books are read in chronological order, which really helps you to understand the order that things happened. We offer free certificates at the end of the year, for those who read through the entire Bible. Just write to us to request one. May God bless you as you read through all that God has written for us.

Fr. Mike highlights the works of King Cyrus, who we met yesterday, and how he is able to contribute to the will of God without actually knowing him. Cyrus not only shows us that no soul is ever too far for God's grace, but that God makes all things new, and is able to bring beautiful blessings from the most desperate situations. Today's readings are Isaiah 45-46, Ezekiel 6-7, and Proverbs 12:9-12. For the complete reading plan, visit ascensionpress.com/bibleinayear. Please note: The Bible contains adult themes that may not be suitable for children - parental discretion is advised.