All the Sermons

“Happy Father’s Day!” The one who brings trouble on the family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise. ~Proverbs 11:29 The one who keeps the law is a discerning child, but a companion of gluttons disgraces the parents. ~Proverbs 28:7 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother” which is the first commandment with a promise-- “that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.” ~Ephesians 6:1-4 Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not embitter your children, or they will become discouraged. ~Colossians 3:20-2 First of all, Happy Father’s Day, to all of you who deserve that greeting. Parenting is the most rewarding and difficult mission any of us will ever do, so to those of you who have made it through, congratulations! The rol...

A greedy person brings trouble to the family, but the one who hates bribes will live. ~Proverbs 15:27  A stingy person is eager to get rich and is unaware that poverty awaits him. ~Proverbs 28:22  A greedy person stirs up dissension, but the one who trusts in the Lord will prosper. ~Proverbs 28:25  Among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of “GREED,” because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or “GREEDY” person, such a man is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore, do not be partners with them. ~Ephesians 5:3-7  A greedy person: One who grasps everything he or she can with no thought of others....

The Lord tears down the proud man’s house but He keeps the widow’s boundaries intact. The Lord detests the thoughts of the wicked, but those of the pure are pleasing to Him. ~Proverbs 15:25-26 Then Mary said, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my savior, for He has been mindful of the humble state of His servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the mighty One has done great things for me, Holy is His name. His mercy extends to those that fear Him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with His arm; He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped His servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as He said to our Fathers.” ~Luke 1:46-55 “He has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thought...

You will find joy in giving an apt reply—and how good is a timely word! The path of life leads upward for the wise to keep them from going down to the grave. ~Proverbs 15:23-24 Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander. ~1 Peter 3:15-16 “You will find joy in giving an apt reply.” We have already acknowledged that our tongues can get us into a lot of trouble, but that should not stop us from sharing words of wisdom and comfort when we can. So often we keep quiet, but, as Solomon acknowledged in Ecclesiastes 3, “There is a time to speak.” Staying silent is not always a virtue. Why is speaking hard? Well, there are those times when holding the tongue is the right response, as when a fool is given full vent to their words. They aren’t interested i...

What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say, “Look! This is something new.” It was here always, long ago. It was here before our time. There is no remembrance of men of old and even those who are yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow. ~Ecclesiastes 1:9-11 You turn men back to dust, saying, “return to dust, O sons of men.” For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night. You sweep men away in the sleep of death. They are like the new grass of the morning: though in the morning it springs up new, by evening it is dry and withered. ~Psalm 90:3-6 The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our LORD will stand forever. ~Isaiah 40:8 This whole idea that Solomon presents that there is nothing new under the sun, was brought home to me the other day as I was doing my daily Bible reading. Have you ever been tem...

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die, A time to plant and a time to uproot, A time to kill and a time to heal, A time to tear down and a time to build, A time to weep and a time to laugh, A time to mourn and a time to dance, A time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, A time to embrace and a time to refrain, A time to search and a time to give up, A time to keep and a time to throw away, A time to tear and a time to mend, A time to be silent and a time to speak, A time to love and a time to hate, A time for war and a time for peace. ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word! ~Proverbs 15:23 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. ~Proverbs 17:17 Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12 All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one o...

(The word “king” is replaced with “leader.”) O my son, do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on those who ruin leaders. It’s not for leaders to drink wine, not for rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what the law decrees, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish. Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly. Defend the rights of the poor and needy. ~Proverbs 31:2-9 (edited) An elder must be blameless, the husband of but one wife, a man whose children believe and are not open to the charge of being wild and disobedient. Since an overseer is entrusted with God’s work, he must be blameless—not overbearing, not quick tempered, not given to drunkenness, not violent, not pursuing dishonest gain. Rather, he must be hospitable, one who loves wha...