Straight From The Heart
Aired Teaching # Scripture Description Listen
10/7/2024 WED868 Proverbs 28:13-30:6 Wise sayings (Part 4)- Proverbs 28 says, "He who is of a proud heart stirs up strife, but he who trusts in the Lord will be prospered." Trusting in the Lord keeps us from the many consequences of the sin of pride.
10/4/2024 WED867 Proverbs 27:9-28:13 Stewardship- It's not wrong to want to accomplish great things for the Lord, but God is more concerned with whether we are diligent and faithful with the everyday tasks and interactions He puts before us. The law is mentioned more time in proverbs 28 than any other chapter.
10/3/2024 WED867 Proverbs 27:9-28:13 Wisdom in friendships- We should be using wisdom and discretion when it comes to who we choose to spend our time with. Do you and your friends "sharpen" each other, and challenge each other to grow in your faith?
10/2/2024 WED866 Proverbs 25:19-27:8 Wise sayings (Part 3)- Proverbs 27 says, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful." The tongue can be an instrument to build others up or a tool of the enemy to sow seeds of division. There can be a real temptation to wander from God's calling.
10/1/2024 WED866 Proverbs 25:19-27:8 Foolish behavior- What is God's will for my life? We can say with certainty that part of God's will for us is to not be like the fool. Among other things, Proverbs 26 says that foolish behavior includes laziness, deception, and gossip.
9/30/2024 WED866 Proverbs 25:19-27:8 Check your attitude- Proverbs 25 says, "Whoever has no rule over his own spirit is like a city broken down, without walls." We need the power and influence of the Holy Spirit to help us have self-control when it comes to our attitudes towards others.
9/27/2024 WED865 Proverbs 24:1-25:19 Wise sayings (Part 2)- There are some things about God that will remain a mystery to us. Surveying creation helps us to better understand and appreciate the "invisible things" of God. Among other words of wisdom, this passage reminds us to avoid the dangers of self-exaltation.
9/26/2024 WED865 Proverbs 24:1-25:19 The sin of negligence- Solomon observed the field of the lazy man; overgrown with thorns. It was the result of no effort other than neglecting responsibility. In the same way, neglecting to sow the seed of the word into our lives will be detrimental to ourselves and those around us.
9/25/2024 WED865 Proverbs 24:1-25:19 The way of the wise- The fool is a schemer who plots to do evil, but a wise man finds safety in "a multitude of counselors." The wise man finds his hope and security in eternal rather than temporal things, and he does not rejoice when the wicked stumble.
9/24/2024 WED864 Proverbs 22:17-23:35 The truth about alcohol- There are varying opinions on whether a Christian should consume alcohol. What does the Bible say about this topic? Proverbs 23 warns that alcohol can be alluring, but it "bites like a serpent, and stings like a viper."
9/23/2024 WED864 Proverbs 22:17-23:35 Wise sayings- Proverbs 22 begins a list of wise sayings by Solomon covering a wide range of topics applicable to everyday life. This section includes warnings against envying or befriending the wicked.
9/20/2024 WED863 Proverbs 22:6-21 The rod of correction- We are all born with a sin nature. A child will go down one of two paths: the path of foolishness, or the path of the pure in heart. Proverbs says that the rod of correction will help steer a child the right way.
9/19/2024 WED863 Proverbs 22:6-21 Instruction for parents- Every individual has a certain "way" about them. God created each of us with different gifts and abilities. Christian parents have a responsibility to study their children to help foster a healthy relationship. Rules without relationship always lead to rebellion.
9/18/2024 WED862 Proverbs 21:1-22:6 Riches, honor, and life- For many people, a big part of their identity is found in the amount of money they make. Proverbs says a wise man will value a good reputation over material wealth, and a good reputation is found by living with humility and the fear of the Lord.
9/17/2024 WED862 Proverbs 21:1-22:6 Guard your mouth- Proverbs says, "whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles." Words can cut deep and leave long lasting scars. The contentious and angry woman is an example of someone who has failed to use discretion with her words.
9/16/2024 WED862 Proverbs 21:1-22:6 The Lord weighs the heart- Our actions are determined by the state of our hearts before the Lord. We need to be diligent to examine ourselves daily, so our motives are pure and righteous by the help of the Holy Spirit. If we don't, we will be tempted toward pride and foolishness.
9/13/2024 WED861 Proverbs 20 Trusting God's guidance- Some people say that God is too far off and beyond our understanding to ever bother involving Himself in our lives. Proverbs says that "a man's steps are of the Lord." Are you willing to trust God's plan even when it feels hard to understand?
9/12/2024 WED861 Proverbs 20 The fool and the lazy man- Proverbs says it is foolish to let alcohol affect your behavior. As Christians, the force that should be influencing our actions is the Holy Spirit, not alcohol. The lazy man will not only bring harm to himself, but he will also potentially hurt those around him.
9/11/2024 WED860 Proverbs 19 Finding God's will- When it comes to God's will for our lives Proverbs says, "There are many plans in a man's heart, Nevertheless the Lord's counsel- that will stand." We may not know what the future holds, but we know that God's will is that we live in the fear of the Lord.
9/10/2024 WED860 Proverbs 19 The rich and the poor- Are you quick to judge others based on their wealth or status? Proverbs says it is better to be poor, but live with integrity, than to be rich and lead a foolish and perverse lifestyle. God rewards those who take pity on the poor.
9/9/2024 WED859 Proverbs 17-18 The power of the tongue- Proverbs says, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." A fool's words will bring destruction and contention into his life. A wise man will find blessing from the good fruit that comes from his speech.
9/6/2024 WED859 Proverbs 17-18 Justice will be served- God sees all the injustice that plagues our world. It breaks God's heart to see the consequences of sin and wickedness, and He will judge all evil one day. Proverbs says that those who justify sin or condemn the just are an "abomination to the Lord."
9/5/2024 WED859 Proverbs 17-18 Keeping the right perspective- The wicked look to find satisfaction in material things, even at the cost of lying and deceit. The wise know that all the blessings experienced in life are a gift from the Lord. The Lord can use trials and difficulties for our good, to refine our faith.
9/4/2024 WED858 Proverbs 15:27-16:33 What has God given you?- We may be disappointed when we consider what life has brought our way; especially when we compare our situation to other people. No matter how bleak things may seem we must remember that God will never cheat us or hold anything back from us.
9/3/2024 WED858 Proverbs 15:27-16:33 We plan but God directs- Sometimes we are so focused on the future that we forget to be concerned about the next step in front of us. Fortunately, God is faithful to direct each step we take, and to pour out His favor on us "like a cloud of the latter rain."
9/2/2024 WED858 Proverbs 15:27-16:33 Created for His pleasure- What is the purpose of man's existence? Proverbs says that all things exist to give God glory. Does that make God egotistical? God loves to hear the prayers of His children because He loves them, and He demonstrated His great love by sending Jesus to die in our place.
8/30/2024 WED857 Proverbs 13:25-15:26 How God sees us- We may not consider someone who is religious as wicked, but Proverbs says, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, But the prayer of the upright is His delight." God wants a relationship with us, not religious acts.
8/29/2024 WED857 Proverbs 13:25-15:26 The fear of the Lord- Proverbs says, "The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life." Those who fear the Lord understand that they are responsible for their actions first and foremost, before the Lord. The fear of the Lord should influence what we say and how we treat others.
8/28/2024 WED857 Proverbs 13:25-15:26 The way of the fool- What is your attitude toward sin? Proverbs 14 says "fools mock at sin." It's possible to be very genuine but very wrong at the same time.
8/27/2024 WED856 Proverbs 12:1-13:24 The righteous vs the wicked (part 3)- What does the way of the wicked look like? The wicked man is lazy, prideful, loves money, and despises the word. Parents, are you quick to discipline your children?
8/26/2024 WED856 Proverbs 12:1-13:24 The righteous vs the wicked (part 2)- The righteous can't expect a trouble-free life, but trials won't "overtake" them. Who are your friends? The righteous are careful when it comes to friendships.
8/23/2024 WED856 Proverbs 12:1-13:24 The righteous vs the wicked- The contrasting lifestyles of the righteous and the wicked are displayed through their speech, thoughts, work ethic, and even how they treat their animals.
8/22/2024 WED855 Proverbs 10-11 The way of righteousness- The way of the righteous and the way of the wicked are contrasted in Proverbs 11. We can't experience the blessings of a righteous life by our own efforts. God will only honor our service for Him through the blood of Jesus Christ and His perfect righteous life.
8/21/2024 WED855 Proverbs 10-11 The tongue of the just- James says that the tongue "is set on fire by hell." Satan loves to use our words to promote hurt and division in the church. Proverbs 10 tells us all about what wise speech should and should not look like.
8/20/2024 WED854 Proverbs 8-9 Wisdom and folly- There are two invitations imparted to us every day from the way of wisdom, and the way of folly. Folly invites you to emptiness and temporary pleasures. Wisdom invites you to Jesus, and the promise of eternal life. Whose guest will you be?
8/19/2024 WED854 Proverbs 8-9 Jesus is wisdom- I Corinthians 1:30 says that Jesus "became for us wisdom from God." With that in mind, we can read the words spoken of by wisdom personified in Proverbs 8 as the words of Jesus. Wisdom says, "I love those who love me, and those who seek me diligently will find me."