Preparing for Worship_7.23.23
Join us as we end the summer with a 3 weeks series in the book of Proverbs.
Why are we studying the book of Proverbs? Because we need more than ethical principles. We need new hearts. We need wisdom deep within, at an intuitive level, as we hurry from one complex decision to the next, moment by moment, in the concrete realities of our daily lives. Without God’s wisdom, many difficulties in life will remain confusing and threatening. With God’s wisdom entering our hearts, we get the hang of how life really works, and we come alive more and more.
Sermon Passage: Proverbs 3:1-12
Made Alive | I Will Follow | None But Jesus | Jesus Paid It All
Irenaeus, the early Christian theologian, famously said, “The glory of God is man fully alive.” That is where Proverbs 3 wants to take us…. It is an education in life at its best—how to live well in every area, at home, at work, all around. In Proverbs 3:1–8, God is showing us the way into shalom (v. 2), “good success” (v. 4), and “refreshment” (v. 8). This is not a matter of earning God’s love. As in Proverbs 2, the passage begins with “My son” in verse 1. God is speaking to us as his beloved ones, his adopted children. He was not stuck with us. He chose us, because he loves us, and now he is coaching us in how we can be fully alive, for his glory. – Ray Ortland