July 21, 2026
Be Careful What You Say
Ecclesiastes warns against unfiltered words, unfulfilled promises, and unnecessary speech, reminding believers that wise, sincere, and carefully chosen words can bring life.
Articles for tag: Proverbs
March 15, 2021
Mar 21 | Application
If you want to be savvy and streetwise, read the book of Proverbs. It’s a jewelry box filled with nuggets of spiritual gold . . . a toolbox full of blue-collar common sense . . . a handbook . . .
March 15, 2021
Mar 21 | Discovery
Where does Lady Wisdom make her appeal, and what does that signify? To whom does Lady Wisdom call, and what does that imply about wisdom?
October 12, 2020
Don’t Get Sloppy (Oct. 18 Lesson Application)
This “Application” column goes with the Bible Lesson for Oct. 18, 2020: How To (2 Timothy 2:14-26; 3:1-9) ________ By David Faust An NFL Hall of Fame player passed along a tip he learned from a coach: “Always arrive a few minutes early for practice.” Punctuality itself wasn’t the main point. The coach advised, “Be disciplined off the field, and you will perform better on the field.” Why do soldiers in boot camp make their beds every morning? Why do parents ask their children to brush their teeth twice a day? Why does the book of Proverbs advise us to
August 22, 2019
A Little Boy’s Prayer
By Micah Stephen Bedtime is one of my favorite times of the day. Not because of my kids going to sleep, but because I get to wrap up the day with them. On one particular evening, however, as I walked across that squeaky old floor toward the kids’ bedroom, I was hoping bedtime would be easy. The routine includes a story, a quick prayer, kisses goodnight, and saying “I love you” to one another. At bedtime, I can forget my daily stress. No bills. No problem-solving. But, for whatever reason, on this night I just wanted “me” time. Little did
March 27, 2017
The Solomon Syndrome
By Daniel Schantz When an old friend of ours left his wife for a younger model, I was dumbstruck. “He”s smarter than that,” I said to my wife. “He knows better.” His villainy didn”t bother me as much as his sheer stupidity. We all do stupid things, like texting and driving, but when someone really smart does something dumb, well, that”s just inexcusable. And yet, being smart doesn”t make it any easier to behave. Being good has more to do with emotions and willpower than with brains. Smart people have all the same temptations we all do, plus some that
March 26, 2017
Lady Wisdom, Ben Franklin, and the Marlboro Man
Jay Engelbrecht Your creator designed you to live healthy and well. How can we cooperate with his yearning for our best? Let”s test your knowledge of the book of Proverbs. Three of the quotes below come from Eugene Peterson”s modern paraphrase The Message, while the other two come from founding father Benjamin Franklin. Can you identify the source of each? 1. “Don”t stuff yourself; bridle your appetite.” 2. “He that won”t be counseled can”t be helped.” 3. “When you”re given a box of candy, don”t gulp it all down.” 4. “Eat to live, don”t live to eat.” 5. “It”s not smart
March 24, 2016
140 Character: How to Be a Social Media Missionary
By T.R. Robertson I”ve dreamed of being a writer since I was just a kid, back in the 1970s. Being a writer would give me the chance to express myself, to share my thoughts and opinions. Little did I know by the time I became a published writer, anyone with Internet access would be able to instantly publish his or her thoughts. Social media enable everyone to have their say, whether insightful or spiteful, eloquent or ignorant. Twitter recorded 738 million tweets in the 10 days following the shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Social media drove the public
December 12, 2015
The Art Effect
By Jennifer Johnson Many churches look at summer as a time to coast; attendance is down, staff members are vacationing, and everyone is tempted to take it easy. Not The Crossing Church in Las Vegas, Nevada. This year the creative arts team developed Art Effect, a seven-week emphasis on the arts tied into senior pastor Shane Philip”s sermon series on the book of Proverbs. From hip-hop music to paintings by children, The Crossing used summer 2015 to stretch its people””and themselves””with new expressions of worship. A Variety of Approaches The Crossing”s creative arts team includes several staff members, including Lee
August 26, 2015
Behind My Back
By Jim Tune I wasn”t intending to eavesdrop. It just sort of happened. I had left the company of two close friends, but realized minutes later I had left a personal item behind. My friends were still talking when I returned, and they were talking about me. I wasn”t trying to eavesdrop, but I couldn”t keep from listening as they discussed a very personal decision I had shared with them earlier. There was nothing mean-spirited in anything they said. I made my presence known almost immediately. I had heard enough to feel a flash of betrayal and embarrassment. When I
June 26, 2015
From Generation to Generation
By Jon Weatherly How can the older generation pass along its faith to the younger? History””even biblical history””shows this is always a perilous proposition. And yet here we are, all these millennia later, still lifting up his name. A review of the Bible”s record can encourage us that it will be true again long after we have passed. I am a baby boomer, barely. Too young for Woodstock or the Vietnam draft, I watched from the safety of childhood and early adolescence as older boomers turned on, tuned in, and dropped out to create the infamous generation gap. Today, as
February 1, 2013
Leadership Proverbs and Models of Change
The Leadership Wisdom of Solomon: 28 Essential Strategies for Leading with Integrity Pat Williams with Jim Denney Cincinnati: Standard Publishing, 2010 Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard Chip Heath and Dan Heath New York: Crown Business, 2010 Better Off: Flipping the Switch on Technology (Two People, One Year, Zero Watts) Eric Brende New York: Harper Perennial, 2004 Of the writing of leadership books there is no end. So much of what you read in one seems to be copied from others of them. In Pat Williams”s The Leadership Wisdom of Solomon, though, what impresses is not that there is
February 27, 2012
Lesson for March 4, 2012: Wisdom”s Origin (Proverbs 8)
Sam E. Stone examines Proverbs 8 and its portrait of wisdom as present with God in creation, calling people to listen, gain understanding, and find life.
September 16, 2011
A Stormy and Sweet Romance
Daniel Schantz explains why he questions, argues with, and probes Scripture—and how wrestling honestly with difficult passages has helped him understand the Bible more deeply.
September 12, 2011
Lesson for Sept. 18, 2011: Teaching Values (Proverbs 10:1 15:33)
Bruce Stoker explores Proverbs 10–15 to show how families and Bible teachers can help children develop biblical values through God's Word, everyday experiences, and the choices they make along life's journey.
September 5, 2011
Lesson for Sept. 11, 2011: Making Right Choices (Proverbs 4:1-27)
Proverbs 4 points us toward wisdom as the key to making right choices. Jeremy Lawson explores how seeking God and listening to godly counsel can lead us down straight paths.
August 29, 2011
Lesson for Sept. 4, 2011: Pursuing Righteousness (Proverbs 3)
Proverbs 3 points to wisdom as more valuable than gold or silver. Cheryl Frey examines six practical steps Solomon gives for pursuing righteousness, trusting God, and developing godly character.
April 5, 2011
Words Matter
J.K. Jones reflects on Proverbs, the THINK acrostic, and the spiritual power of words to heal, wound, encourage, or divide within Christian community.
December 28, 2010
A Ministry Based on Proverbs
Javan Rowe draws from Proverbs to show how prayer, organization, and persistence can help ministries endure hard times while remaining faithful to God’s direction.
December 14, 2008
Reflections from a Bartender’s Son
Chuck Sackett reflects on alcohol, abstinence, moderation, and Christian leadership, urging believers to weigh motives, wisdom, Scripture, family impact, and witness with humility.
