Proverbs 10:17 (NKJV) — 17 He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, But he who refuses correction goes astray.
The way of life. There are only two ways, death and life. The person who lives according to wise instruction is on the way of life, but the person who refuses reproof makes a serious mistake. Even if some reproof is unmerited, it can help a person to learn much about self-control and grace.
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Proverbs 10:16 (NKJV) — 16 The labor of the righteous leads to life, The wages of the wicked to sin.
Results of righteousness and wickedness. The efforts of the righteous and wicked produce two different results. The efforts of the righteous produce life; the efforts of the wicked produce sin, the wages of which is death.
Romans 6:23 (NKJV) — 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
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Proverbs 10:15 (NKJV) — 15 The rich man’s wealth is his strong city; The destruction of the poor is their poverty.
Where the rich and poor meet. The overriding problem with wealth is the tendency to trust in it. (See Mark 10:24; I Timothy 6:6-10.) The poor man may be pitied by many, but the rich man is really in no better shape. His confidence is in something that could very well be taken from him tomorrow. The poor man may be destroyed by his poverty, but the rich man may be destroyed by his wealth. (See Proverbs 19:7; 30:7-9.)
If you are interested in checking out the latest version of Logos Bible Software with the opportunity for a 15% discount and a selection of free books, click the link below. There is no obligation to make a purchase. This is the software I use for research and writing.
https://partners.faithlife.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=472111
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Proverbs 10:14 (NKJV) — 14 Wise people store up knowledge, But the mouth of the foolish is near destruction.
How to tell if destruction is near. As some people collect butterflies, stamps, or coins, a wise person collects and stores knowledge. But a foolish person’s words cause that person to be on the brink of disaster.
If you are interested in checking out the latest version of Logos Bible Software with the opportunity for a 15% discount and a selection of free books, click the link below. There is no obligation to make a purchase. This is the software I use for research and writing.
https://partners.faithlife.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=472111
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I preached my first sermon when I was sixteen years old. I didn’t use any software. Such a thing did not exist. I used an outline I found in my father’s library from a book on sermon outlines.
After that first experience, my dad asked, “Son, where did you get that sermon?”
“There’s a book of sermon outlines in your library,” I answered. “That’s where I got it.”
It was clear he was not impressed. “Don’t get your sermons out of books,” Dad said. “Get them out of the Bible.”
I’ve been working on that ever since.
Now I’m seventy-four years old. I have served as a pastor, Bible college instructor, seminary professor, writer of curriculum, articles, and twenty-one books. In addition to my first graduation from Bible college in 1967, I have earned five degrees, two of which are doctorates. This has involved a lot of research and writing.
I mention these things not to boast, but to point out that the work to which God called me has required many years and untold hours of research. The first seminary degree I earned, the M. A. in Exegetical Theology, required me to read thousands of pages and resulted in about 700 pages of written assignments, in addition to completing the requirements for the Greek and Hebrew languages. The second seminary degree, the Master of Theology, took five years to finish and required the writing of a second thesis. Finally, the Ph.D. took eight years to complete, and I have no idea how much reading I did, in addition to taking an additional course in Theological German. My dissertation alone reached nearly 500 pages.
When I began to work on the M.A., I took all my notes by hand. I had no laptop computer. It would have been a wonderful thing to have such a tool at the beginning . . . and to have a resource like Logos Bible Software.
Now, people have asked what Bible software I recommend. Hands down, it is Logos. I can’t begin to describe it in full, so I am attaching a link to give you access to information. The latest iteration, Logos 9, was released one week ago today. I encourage you to look into it. If you decide to invest in this awesome tool, you can take advantage of a 15% discount by following the link to do so.
https://partners.faithlife.com/click.track?CID=431490&AFID=472111
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Pastor Mitchell Bland of The Sanctuary UPC in Hazelwood, Missouri asked me to teach the adult Bible class yesterday. This was the first time the class had met since March 2020.
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Proverbs 10:13 (NKJV) — 13 Wisdom is found on the lips of him who has understanding, But a rod is for the back of him who is devoid of understanding.
Where wisdom is found. Wisdom will be demonstrated in a person’s words. A person who lacks understanding will experience the consequences of externally imposed discipline.
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