Brayden Schlabach <- Back The Lord is Good Brayden Schlabach November 23, 2025 The Lord is Good Brayden Schlabach 00:00 / 01:04 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now god, commitment, commit, praise, trust, trusting, seek, seeking, answer, answered, deliver, deliverance

Brett Hogland <- Back Lay Aside Every Weight - Part 2 Brett Hogland April 9, 2018 Lay Aside Every Weight - Part 2 Brett Hogland 00:00 / 01:04 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now obstacle, race, addiction, success, succeed, temptation, tempt, focus, priority, worldy, world, friend, marriage, marry non-christian, marry christian, pleasure, fun, wealth, money,

Steve Monts <- Back The Failure of Felix Steve Monts November 17, 2021 The Failure of Felix Steve Monts 00:00 / 01:04 Download Outline File Download Presention File Request a File Looking for an outline or powerpoint file for a specific lesson? Let us know! Request Now Felix, Paul, failure, procrastination, opportunity, adultery, money, providence, greed

In our last study, we considered Proverbs’ wisdom on God’s design for marriage, remembering that He sees, and recognizing the dangers of sexual sin. In this post, we’ll move forward with practical ways Proverbs teaches us to guard our hearts, avoid temptation, and replace sin with righteousness. 1.    Guard Your Heart and Mind Pornography begins in the heart before it manifests in action. Proverbs 4:23 : “Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 26:24-25  warns against disguising what’s in the heart. We must protect our thought life: limit access, avoid triggers, and fill our hearts with God’s word.  2. Avoid Tempting Situations Wisdom teaches us to flee, not flirt with temptation. Proverbs 5:8 : “Keep your way far from her…” Proverbs 22:3 : The prudent avoid danger; the naïve suffer for it. Guardrails, accountability, and planning ahead are essential. Don’t wait until temptation knocks—decide in advance to avoid the door. 3. Confess and Repent Proverbs 28:13 : “He who conceals his transgression will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.” Pornography brings secrets, but God offers mercy and forgiveness. Confession is humbling, but it is also healing. Satan wants us to believe we can’t be forgiven, but God promises compassion to those who confess and forsake. 4. Pursue Discipline and Self-Control Proverbs 25:28 : “Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control of his spirit.” Proverbs 6:27-28  warns that playing with lust will burn us. Pornography thrives where there’s no self-control. Discipline—through prayer, fasting, and godly habits—rebuilds our defenses. 5. Seek Accountability and Counsel Proverbs 27:17 : “Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” We need brothers and sisters who will challenge us, encourage us, and hold us accountable. There’s strength in numbers. 6. Replace Sin with Righteous Desires Pornography is counterfeit pleasure. God’s wisdom brings real joy. Proverbs 16:17 , 21:17 , 24:5 remind us that life, strength, and joy come from walking in righteousness. Don’t just say “No” to porn—say “Yes” to something greater: God’s word, service, love, and wisdom. Conclusion Pornography is one of the enemy’s most deceptive traps—it promises sweetness but delivers bitterness. Yet God’s word in Proverbs gives us the wisdom to fight back. Rejoicing in His design for marriage, guarding our hearts, avoiding temptation, confessing sin, and replacing counterfeit pleasures with true joy all lead to freedom.

Introduction This month, I’m sharing a two-part series from the book of Proverbs called Overcoming Pornography with Wisdom from Proverbs.  While Proverbs doesn’t use the word pornography, it paints a vivid picture of lust, temptation, and how to overcome it. Wisdom cries out to us (Proverbs 2:10-19), showing that God provides a way of escape. These posts are written to strengthen marriages, guard our hearts, and help us walk in integrity before God. Here is Part 1. We must always remember to trust in the LORD, Proverbs 3:5-8. I don’t need to share statistics about pornography. We’ve seen the devastation it causes in our lives, marriages, pulpits, and even most recently with a brother who had to be withdrawn from. Men and women of all ages are susceptible. It’s easy to say, “I would never…” but Proverbs 16:18 reminds us, “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before stumbling.” Proverbs vividly portrays temptation, lust, and the dangers of giving in. Wisdom cries out to us, giving us a way of escape. 1. Rejoice in God’s Design for Marriage The Proverbs remind us of the joy and intimacy between a husband and wife. Proverbs 5:15-20 : “Drink water from your own cistern…” This is God’s design for sexual intimacy—pure, holy, and to be enjoyed in marriage. Pornography distorts intimacy, but God’s way builds trust and joy. Proverbs 18:22 : “He who finds a wife finds a good thing…” Marriage is a blessing. Proverbs 19:14 : Marriage is a gift from the LORD. Pornography cheapens God’s design, but rejoicing in your spouse protects against it. 2. Remember God Sees Pornography thrives in secrecy and lies, but there is no hiding from God. Proverbs 15:3 : “The eyes of the LORD are in every place, watching the evil and the good.” He sees the bad, but He also sees the good when we walk in integrity. Remembering His watchful eyes helps us make holy choices. 3. Recognize the Danger of Sexual Sin Proverbs pull no punches about the consequences. Proverbs 5:3-14  describes the “lips of an adulteress.”  The application extends to pornography—what seems sweet turns bitter. It promises pleasure but brings shame, guilt, broken families, and ruined ministries. Proverbs 7:21-23  shows how young men are drawn in, unaware of the deadly consequences. Proverbs 22:14  reminds us of sin’s true end. Pornography always over-promises and under-delivers. We must see it for what it really is—deadly. Conclusion Pornography is not new. It’s just a modern version of an ancient temptation. But God’s wisdom shows us the path to freedom: rejoice in marriage, remember God sees, and recognize the true danger.

In Matthew 21:33–46 , Jesus tells a story that was both piercing and personal to His audience.It wasn’t just a nice illustration—it was a direct confrontation. The Context: A Challenge to Jesus’ Authority Backing up to verse 23 , Jesus is in the temple, speaking to the chief priests and elders. These religious leaders question Him: “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Instead of answering directly, Jesus responds with His own question about the baptism of John. When they refuse to answer—fearing the reaction of the crowd—He refuses to answer them in return. But He doesn’t stop talking. He goes on to tell the parable of the two sons—one who says he’ll obey his father but doesn’t, and one who initially refuses but ultimately does the work. The point was clear: knowing the law means nothing if you don’t obey it. This was a direct call-out to these leaders for their failure to truly serve God. And then, to drive the message home even further, Jesus tells another parable: the Parable of the Wicked Tenants. The Vineyard and the Tenants The landowner in the parable represents God . The vineyard is God’s plan for His kingdom , and the tenants are those entrusted to care for it and bear fruit . In Israel’s history, that role belonged to the Jewish people—God’s chosen nation—tasked with playing a central role in bringing about His plan of redemption. They were to be faithful workers, tending the vineyard and producing fruit for the Master. But in this parable, the tenants reject their Master’s will. They refuse to give Him what is rightfully His. The Servants: God’s Messengers When the master sends servants to collect the fruit, the tenants beat, stone, and kill them. These servants represent God’s messengers—prophets, leaders, and teachers—sent to call His people back to faithfulness . Over and over, Israel rejected God’s messengers. They ignored the prophets’ warnings, resisted correction, and refused to prepare for the coming Messiah. From the earliest prophets to John the Baptist, the pattern was the same: messengers were sent, and messengers were rejected. The Son: The Final Messenger Finally, the landowner sends his son, thinking they will respect him. But instead, the tenants kill him, hoping to seize his inheritance. This is a clear picture of Jesus , the Son of God. After centuries of sending prophets, God sends His own Son to His people. Instead of receiving Him, the religious leaders plotted to kill Him—driven by fear of losing their power and position. They weren’t protecting God’s vineyard—they were trying to claim it for themselves. The Reversal: The Vineyard Taken Away When Jesus asks what the landowner will do, the leaders themselves answer: “He will put those wretches to a miserable death and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.” And then Jesus turns the parable back on them: “Therefore I tell you, the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people producing its fruits” ( v. 43 ). They suddenly realize—they are the wicked tenants in the story. And rather than repenting, they become more determined to destroy Him. The Kingdom Given to Others The “new tenants” represent all who will receive Jesus and bear fruit for the kingdom —not just one nation, race, or heritage, but people from every background who choose to follow Him. God’s kingdom is no longer tied to one ethnic group. It belongs to those who hear, believe, and obey the Son. The Warning for Us This parable was a sharp rebuke to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day, but it still speaks today.We, too, have been entrusted with responsibilities in God’s vineyard. We are called to produce fruit—good works, faithful obedience, and a life that reflects our Master’s will. Rejecting Jesus, ignoring His word, or refusing to live for Him puts us in the same position as the tenants who were cast out. But receiving Him, submitting to His authority, and working faithfully in His vineyard makes us heirs of His kingdom. Let’s not be found as those who reject the Son. Instead, let’s be tenants who joyfully bear fruit for the Master.