Schooled: Who Ya Foolin: Proverbs 26:1-28

 

Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor is inappropriate for a fool.
Proverbs 26:1 (CSB)

1. The Rebel Fool Resists Following Authority

A whip for the horse, a bridle for the donkey, and a rod for the backs of fools.
Proverbs 26:3 (CSB)

Don’t answer a fool according to his foolishness, or you’ll be like him yourself. 5 Answer a fool according to his foolishness, or he’ll become wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 26:4-5 (CSB)

The one who sends a message by a fool’s hand cuts off his own feet and drinks violence.
Proverbs 26:6 (CSB)

As a dog returns to its vomit, so also a fool repeats his foolishness.
Proverbs 26:11 (CSB)

2. The Egomaniac Fool Values Their Ideas More Than God’s

Do you see a person who is wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Proverbs 26:12 (CSB)

3. The Slacker Fool Looks for the Easiest Way to Get by

The slacker says, “There’s a lion in the road—a lion in the public square!” 14 A door turns on its hinges, and a slacker, on his bed.15 The slacker buries his hand in the bowl; he is too weary to bring it to his mouth!16 In his own eyes, a slacker is wiser than seven who can answer sensibly.
Proverbs 26:13-16 (CSB)

The slacker does not plow during planting season; at harvest time he looks, and there is nothing.
Proverbs 20:4 (CSB)

He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.
Titus 2:14 (CSB)

4. The Gossip Fool Provokes People by Their Words

A person who is passing by and meddles in a quarrel that’s not his is like one who grabs a dog by the ears.
Proverbs 26:17 (CSB)

Like a madman who throws flaming darts and deadly arrows,19 so is the person who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking!” 20 Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. 21 As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
Proverbs 26:18-21 (CSB)

A gossip’s words are like choice food that goes down to one’s innermost being. Smooth lips with an evil heart are like glaze on an earthen vessel. A hateful person disguises himself with his speech and harbors deceit within. When he speaks graciously, don’t believe him, for there are seven detestable things in his heart. Though his hatred is concealed by deception, his evil will be revealed in the assembly. The one who digs a pit will fall into it, and whoever rolls a stone—it will come back on him. A lying tongue hates those it crushes, and a flattering mouth causes ruin.
Proverbs 26:24-28 (CSB)

Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart.
Matthew 12:34 (CSB)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
1 Corinthians 1:18 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/schooled-who-ya-foolin-proverbs-261-28/

Schooled: Wise Up: Proverbs 3:5-10

 

Why Tithing Is Wise…

1. Honors the Lord

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)

One tenth of the produce of the land, whether grain from the fields or fruit from the trees, belongs to the LORD and must be set apart to him as holy.
Leviticus 27:30 (NLT)

2. Allows God to Bless Me

Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:9-10 (ESV)

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:24-25 (NLT)

3. Protects Me from Becoming Selfish

The world of the generous gets larger and larger; the world of the stingy gets smaller and smaller.
Proverbs 11:24 (Mess)

For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.
1 Timothy 6:10 (NLT)

4. Makes Me Trust God

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and  do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he  l will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. 8 It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones. 9 Honor the LORD with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10 then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.
Proverbs 3:5-10 (ESV)

5. Teaches Me Discipline

We should make plans—counting on God to direct us.
Proverbs 16: 9 (LB)

The plans of the diligent lead surely to plenty, but those of everyone who is hasty, surely to poverty.
Proverbs 21:5 (NKJV)

6. Brings Me Joy

A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.
Proverbs 11:25 (NIV)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/schooled-wise-up-proverbs-35-10/

Schooled: Better Living: Proverbs 2:1-22

 

How Can I Gain Wisdom?

1. Accept Eagerly

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you.
Proverbs 2:1 (CSB)

2. Acquire Continually

My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you.
Proverbs 2:1 (CSB)

3. Listen Intently

…listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding…
Proverbs 2:2 (CSB)

Tune your ears to wisdom, and concentrate on understanding.
Proverbs 2:2 (NLT)

4. Pray Earnestly

…furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding… then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:3-5 (CSB)

5. Search Diligently

…furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God.
Proverbs 2:3-5 (CSB)

How Does God Respond?

1. He Gives Wisdom

For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:6 (CSB)

Then you will understand righteousness, justice, and integrity—every good path.
Proverbs 2:9 (CSB)

2. He Grants Success

He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity.
Proverbs 2:7 (CSB)

3. He Guards Your Path

He stores up success for the upright; He is a shield for those who live with integrity so that he may guard the paths of justice and protect the way of his faithful followers.
Proverbs 2:7-8 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/schooled-better-living-proverbs-21-22/

Walk This Way: Activate Your Faith: Mark 2:1-12

5 benchmarks of a growing faith

1. My Faith Motivates

So many people gathered together that there was no more room, not even in the doorway, and He was speaking the message to them. Then they came to Him bringing a paralytic, carried by four men.
Mark 2:2-3 (CSB)

2. My Faith Persists

Since they were not able to bring him to Jesus because of the crowd, they removed the roof above where He was. And when they had broken through, they lowered the stretcher on which the paralytic was lying.
Mark 2:4 (CSB)

3. My Faith Reconciles

Seeing their faith, Jesus told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”
Mark 2:5 (CSB)

As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Psalm 103:12 (CSB)

4. My Faith Provokes

Right away Jesus understood in His spirit that they were reasoning like this within themselves and said to them, “Why are you reasoning these things in your hearts? 9 Which is easier: to say to the paralytic, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your stretcher, and walk’? But so you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He told the paralytic, “I tell you: get up, pick up your stretcher, and go home.”
Mark 2:8-11 (CSB)

5. My Faith Praises

Immediately he got up, picked up the stretcher, and went out in front of everyone. As a result, they were all astounded and gave glory to God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”
Mark 2:12 (CSB)

 

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/walk-this-way-activate-your-faith-mark-21-12/

Walk This Way: Moved: Mark 1:39-45

 

What moves the Heart of Jesus?

1. A Courageous Approach

Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:40 (CSB)

2. A Humble Plea

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. “If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Mark 1:40-41 (NLT)

Therefore, he says: God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore, submit to God…Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
James 4:6-10 (CSB)

The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart.
Psalm 51:17 (CSB)

3. A Faith-Filled Request

“If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean,” he said. Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!”
Mark 1:40-41 (NLT)

Jesus said to him, “‘If you can’? Everything is possible for the one who believes.”
Mark 9:23 (CSB)

How does Jesus respond?

1. A Compassionate Heart

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him.
Mark 1:41 (CSB)

2. A Loving Embrace

Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched him. “I am willing,” he told him.
Mark 1:41 (CSB)

3. A Total Healing

Immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 
Mark 1:42 (CSB)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come!
2 Corinthians 5:17 (CSB)

The Lord does not delay his promise, as some understand delay, but is patient with you, not wanting any to perish but all to come to repentance.
2 Peter 3:9 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/walk-this-way-moved-mark-139-45/

Walk This Way: The Secret To Spiritual Power: Mark 1:35-39

 

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying. 36 Simon and his companions searched for him, 37 and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come.” 39 He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Mark 1:35-39 (CSB)

1. Pick A Place

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.
Mark 1:35 (CSB)

But when you pray, go into your private room, shut your door, and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.
Matthew 6:6 (CSB)

2. Set A Time

Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying.
Mark 1:35 (CSB)

3. Stick To Your Commitment

Simon and his companions searched for him, and when they found him they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
Mark 1:36-37 (CSB)

4. Expect God To Move

He went into all of Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 Then a man with leprosy came to him and, on his knees, begged him, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
Mark 1:39-40 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/walk-this-way-the-secret-to-spiritual-power-mark-135-39/

Walk This Way: Update Your Profile: Mark 1:9-11

 

Why Should I Get Baptized?

1. DECISION—I’m going public with my faith

In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. Mark 1:9 (CSB)

As they were traveling down the road, they came to some water. The eunuch said, “Look, there’s water. What would keep me from being baptized?” 38 So he ordered the chariot to stop, and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and he baptized him.
Acts 8:37-38 (CSB)

2. ASSOCIATION—I’m identifying with Jesus

He proclaimed, “One who is more powerful than I am is coming after me. I am not worthy to stoop down and untie the strap of his sandals. 8 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”
Mark 1:7-8 (CSB)

When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too.
Luke 3:21 (NIV)

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 But John tried to stop him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you come to me?”15 Jesus answered him, “Allow it for now, because this is the way for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John allowed him to be baptized.
Matthew 3:13-15 (CSB)

For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:15 (CSB)

Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?4 Therefore we were buried with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in newness[ of life. 5 For if we have been united with him in the likeness of his death, we will certainly also be in the likeness of his resurrection.
Romans 6:3-5 (CSB)

3. AUTHORIZATION—I’m ready for God to send me

As soon as he came up out of the water, he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well-pleased.” 12 Immediately the Spirit drove him into the wilderness.
Mark 1:10-12 (CSB)

If only you would tear the heavens open and come down, so that mountains would quake at you presence.
Isaiah 64:1 (CSB)

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”  
Mark 1:8 (CSB)

For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ.
Galatians 3:27 (CSB)

source https://edgechurchcolorado.com/walk-this-way-update-your-profile-mark-19-11/