December 23, 2024
Proverbs 1:8-19 (HCSB)
Avoid the Path of the Violent
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, 9 for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. 11 If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. 13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. 14 Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share our money”— 15 my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path, 16 because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. 17 It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, 18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. 19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
Andrew Ivey
This week’s passages are all going to address money and wealth. But we will start with a passage that goes in a direction you probably don’t expect. Today’s passage addresses ill-gotten gains, particularly those acquired through violently victimizing others. While this scripture was written close to 3,000 years ago, these people, who ruthlessly victimize the innocent, are still prevalent in our world today. Many find victims every day in Nashville. They may burglarize a house, carjack a driver, or even take someone’s life in their pursuit of ill-gotten wealth. Do not believe for an instant they will get away with it. Reread verses 18-19. These people ambush themselves and destroy their own lives. One day they will stand before a Holy God to give an account of their actions, just as you and I will. Solomon admonishes us not to join them on this self-destructive path. Stay far away. Do not make them your friends. Don’t let them drag you down and deceive you to follow them. If you find yourself tempted to pursue illicit gains, run away! And while you’re running, run to Jesus and live. In Him, we find life, healing, and the forgiveness of sins.
Avoid the Path of the Violent
8 Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction, and don’t reject your mother’s teaching, 9 for they will be a garland of grace on your head and a gold chain around your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, don’t be persuaded. 11 If they say—“Come with us! Let’s set an ambush and kill someone. Let’s attack some innocent person just for fun! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like Sheol, still healthy as they go down to the Pit. 13 We’ll find all kinds of valuable property and fill our houses with plunder. 14 Throw in your lot with us, and we’ll all share our money”— 15 my son, don’t travel that road with them or set foot on their path, 16 because their feet run toward trouble and they hurry to commit murder. 17 It is foolish to spread a net where any bird can see it, 18 but they set an ambush to kill themselves; they attack their own lives. 19 Such are the paths of all who make profit dishonestly; it takes the lives of those who receive it.
Andrew Ivey
This week’s passages are all going to address money and wealth. But we will start with a passage that goes in a direction you probably don’t expect. Today’s passage addresses ill-gotten gains, particularly those acquired through violently victimizing others. While this scripture was written close to 3,000 years ago, these people, who ruthlessly victimize the innocent, are still prevalent in our world today. Many find victims every day in Nashville. They may burglarize a house, carjack a driver, or even take someone’s life in their pursuit of ill-gotten wealth. Do not believe for an instant they will get away with it. Reread verses 18-19. These people ambush themselves and destroy their own lives. One day they will stand before a Holy God to give an account of their actions, just as you and I will. Solomon admonishes us not to join them on this self-destructive path. Stay far away. Do not make them your friends. Don’t let them drag you down and deceive you to follow them. If you find yourself tempted to pursue illicit gains, run away! And while you’re running, run to Jesus and live. In Him, we find life, healing, and the forgiveness of sins.
Recent
Archive
2025
January
January 1, 2025A Note From Pastor HDJanuary 2, 2025January 3, 2025January 4, 2025Sunday Connect Lesson for January 5, 2025January 6, 2025January 7, 2025January 8, 2025January 9, 2025January 10, 2025Questions for the WeekJanuary 12, 2025January 13, 2025January 14, 2025January 15, 2025January 16, 2025January 17, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 19, 2025January 20, 2025January 21, 2025January 22, 2025January 23, 2025January 24, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for January 26January 27, 2025January 28, 2025January 29, 2025January 30, 2025January 31, 2025
February
Questions for the WeekConnect Lesson for Sunday, February 2February 3, 2025February 4, 2025February 5, 2025February 6, 2025February 7, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 9, 2025February 10, 2025February 11, 2025February 12, 2025February 13, 2025February 14, 2025Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 16, 2025
2024
January
SimplicityJanuary 1, 2024January 2, 2024January 3, 2024January 4, 2023January 5, 2023January 6, 2024January 7, 2024January 8, 2024January 9, 2024January 10, 2024January 11, 2024January 12, 2024January 13, 2024Sunday Connect Lesson for January 14, 2024January 15, 2024January 16, 2024January 17, 2024January 18, 2024January 19, 2024JANUARY 20, 2024SUNDAY CONNECT LESSON FOR JANUARY 21, 2024JANUARY 22, 2024JANUARY 23, 2024JANUARY 24, 2024January 25, 2024JANUARY 26, 2024JANUARY 27, 2024SUNDAY CONNECT LESSON FOR JANUARY 28, 2024JANUARY 29, 2024January 30, 2024January 31, 2024
February
February 1, 2024February 2, 2024Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 4, 2024February 5, 2024February 6, 2024February 7, 2024February 8, 2024February 9, 2024Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 11, 2024February 12, 2024February 13, 2024February 14, 2024February 15, 2024February 16, 2024Questions for the WeekSunday Connect Lesson for February 18, 2024February 19, 2024February 20, 2024
No Comments