Lesson 4: Offerings are Like Seeds Planted for a Harvest.
Definition The offering is a gift to God after our tithes. Scripture Reading 2 Corinthians 9:6, “Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.” Main Points SOW SEED: The biblical word sow means, “plant.” Therefore, Paul in the above passage is comparing one’s offerings to seeds that are…
Read MoreMay 3 | Friends & Siblings
Proverbs 17:17, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity.” What is the real difference between a friend and a sibling? According to Solomon a friend is a spiritual relationship based on mutual choice, whereas a brotherly relationship (or sibling) is a physical relationship based on family…
Read MoreMay 2 | Avoiding Quarrels
Proverbs 17:14, “Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.” Have you ever noticed that there are some things in life not worth arguing about? Especially for those who are married, have you realized that sometimes it’s better to just drop the issue before a fight…
Read MoreMay 1 | Pride Goes Before Destruction
Proverbs 16:18, “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.” Do you remember Pharaoh in the book of Exodus? He had watched God use Moses to send devastating plagues upon the land and people, yet he refused to obey God. It took God sending a death angel to kill all the first-born males…
Read MoreApril 30 | Commit to the Lord
Proverbs 16:3, “Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Have you ever tried to take a toy away from a small child that didn’t want to give it to you? They might have cried, screamed or become angry. Why? They didn’t want to give you what they felt belonged to…
Read MoreApril 29 | Humility Before Honor
Proverbs 15:33 (ESV), “The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” Solomon gives two important principles in today’s proverb with their positive outcomes. First, he mentions that, “the fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom.” The “fear of the Lord” means to, “honor and respect God as the…
Read MoreApril 28 | Life-Giving Corrections
Proverbs 15:31, “Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise.” My Mom is Italian and my Dad is Polish. Both of their grandparents came from the mother country. My parents were the first generation to marry outside of their nationality. Up until that time, their parents married within their own culture. So…
Read MoreApril 27 | Success With Advisers
Proverbs 15:22, “Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.” One of the hardest failures that I faced as a pastor was moving into a large facility and having to break our lease because of the lack of finances. Words cannot describe how defeated and discouraged I felt. I had worked…
Read MoreActs 2:42-47 (Part 5)
ACTS 2:42-47 42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. 43 Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. 44 All the believers were together and had everything in common. 45 They sold property and possessions to…
Read MoreMark 2:18-22 (Part 2)
Mark 2:18-22 18 Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?” 19 Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long…
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