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Sermon Starters

Support and Resources For Pastors and
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Thomas F. Fischer, M.Div., M.S.A., Editor


Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost 

Option 1: Rev. Kelly Bedard

Wisdom's Way"
(Proverbs 9:1-6, 13-18)

A. Beyond Folly
    1. Without sense: head knowledge
    2. Living it up: talking the walk

B. Walking for Life
    1. Insight: heart knowledge
    2. Upward living: walking the talk

Exegetical Notes:
1. "Built"=to be built up (of a childless wife becoming the mother)
2. "Understanding" (verse 4) is a matter of the heart (leb), not the head
3. "Maidens: her servants to invite the guests, ministers of the word whom he calls maidens for the decency of the parable; for wisdom being compared to a great princess, was fit to be attended upon by maidens." (Wesley's Notes)
4. "Live" (verse 5) refers ultimately to eternal life; not living it up but, instead, "upward living"

Commentary Notes
1. "He compares wisdom with great princes who keep open house for all who come." (Geneva Notes)
2. "There is no true wisdom but in the way of religion, no true life but in the end of that way. Here is the happiness of those that embrace it." (Matthew Henry's Commentary)
3. "The more a wise man learns, the more he loves wisdom." (Commentary on
the Whole Bible
, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871)
4. "Lady Wisdom was the Evangelist, the Life-Giver and the House-Builder.
Who else could this be than Jesus?" (Steven M. Baugh, in Kerux: The Online
Journal of Biblical Theology
[Reformed])

Option 2: Rev. Wayne Dobratz


Some Good Advice From An Old Friend--
Advice About:
Ephesians 5:15-20

I How you use your time

A. Time is running out, as the Scripture says in Ps. 90:12 & 1 Cor. 7:31
B. Because the night is coming when no one can work, as in John 9:4
C. Use every opportunity to serve God as He opens the door, as in Col. 4:5
D. Use time in a way that you will not regret, as the Scripture says in Eccl. 12:1

II How you take care of your body

A. Be a Saturday night Christian as well as a Sunday Christian, text v. 18
B. Abusing these "mood-altering chemicals" a/k/a "spirits" can lead to much trouble, as the Scripture says in Prov. 23:31-35; Isa. 5:11-15; 28:7-8.
C. Failing to obey the Lord in this way is to fall in "debauchery--asootia--an abandoned, dissolute life, according to Thayer's Lexicon, as described in 1 Pet. 4:3-4

III How you take care of your soul

A. text v. 18b--"Be filled with the Spirit."
1. To be "filled with" means to be, according to Thayer's Lexicon: to be made complete, to render perfect, to carry through to the end, to accomplish. to fulfill, i.e. to cause God's will to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises to receive fulfillment.
B. How to be filled in this way:
1. By God's Word--Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs--worship, public & private.
2. By sharing God's Word with each other in speech and in worship. Vv. 19-20

Matthew Henry writes re Eph. 5:15-21:
Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they daily sacrifice it! 

People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Be not unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries men into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard holds out to his family and to the world the sad spectacle of a sinner hardened beyond what is common, and hastening to perdition. When afflicted or weary, let us not seek to raise our spirits by
strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more felt.

But by fervent prayer let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to avoid whatever may grieve our gracious Comforter. All God's people have reason to sing for joy. Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency. God keeps believers from sinning against him, and engages them to submit one to another in all he has commanded, to
promote his glory, and to fulfill their duties to each other.

Copyright 2000 Ministry Health, LLC
All Rights Reserved
http://ministryhealth.net

A. Beyond Folly
    1. Without sense: head knowledge
    2. Living it up: talking the walk

B. Walking for Life
    1. Insight: heart knowledge
    2. Upward living: walking the talk

Exegetical Notes:
1. "Built"=to be built up (of a childless wife becoming the mother)
2. "Understanding" (verse 4) is a matter of the heart (leb), not the head
3. "Maidens: her servants to invite the guests, ministers of the word whom he calls maidens for the decency of the parable; for wisdom being compared to a great princess, was fit to be attended upon by maidens." (Wesley's Notes)
4. "Live" (verse 5) refers ultimately to eternal life; not living it up but, instead, "upward living"

Commentary Notes
1. "He compares wisdom with great princes who keep open house for all who come." (Geneva Notes)
2. "There is no true wisdom but in the way of religion, no true life but in the end of that way. Here is the happiness of those that embrace it." (Matthew Henry's Commentary)
3. "The more a wise man learns, the more he loves wisdom." (Commentary on
the Whole Bible
, Jamieson, Fausset and Brown, 1871)
4. "Lady Wisdom was the Evangelist, the Life-Giver and the House-Builder.
Who else could this be than Jesus?" (Steven M. Baugh, in Kerux: The Online
Journal of Biblical Theology
[Reformed])

Option 2: Rev. Wayne Dobratz


Some Good Advice From An Old Friend--
Advice About:
Ephesians 5:15-20

I How you use your time

A. Time is running out, as the Scripture says in Ps. 90:12 & 1 Cor. 7:31
B. Because the night is coming when no one can work, as in John 9:4
C. Use every opportunity to serve God as He opens the door, as in Col. 4:5
D. Use time in a way that you will not regret, as the Scripture says in Eccl. 12:1

II How you take care of your body

A. Be a Saturday night Christian as well as a Sunday Christian, text v. 18
B. Abusing these "mood-altering chemicals" a/k/a "spirits" can lead to much trouble, as the Scripture says in Prov. 23:31-35; Isa. 5:11-15; 28:7-8.
C. Failing to obey the Lord in this way is to fall in "debauchery--asootia--an abandoned, dissolute life, according to Thayer's Lexicon, as described in 1 Pet. 4:3-4

III How you take care of your soul

A. text v. 18b--"Be filled with the Spirit."
1. To be "filled with" means to be, according to Thayer's Lexicon: to be made complete, to render perfect, to carry through to the end, to accomplish. to fulfill, i.e. to cause God's will to be obeyed as it should be, and God's promises to receive fulfillment.
B. How to be filled in this way:
1. By God's Word--Psalms, hymns, spiritual songs--worship, public & private.
2. By sharing God's Word with each other in speech and in worship. Vv. 19-20

Matthew Henry writes re Eph. 5:15-21:
Another remedy against sin, is care, or caution, it being impossible else to maintain purity of heart and life. Time is a talent given us by God, and it is misspent and lost when not employed according to his design. If we have lost our time heretofore, we must double our diligence for the future. Of that time which thousands on a dying bed would gladly redeem at the price of the whole world, how little do men think, and to what trifles they daily sacrifice it! 

People are very apt to complain of bad times; it were well if that stirred them more to redeem time. Be not unwise. Ignorance of our duty, and neglect of our souls, show the greatest folly. Drunkenness is a sin that never goes alone, but carries men into other evils; it is a sin very provoking to God. The drunkard holds out to his family and to the world the sad spectacle of a sinner hardened beyond what is common, and hastening to perdition. When afflicted or weary, let us not seek to raise our spirits by
strong drink, which is hateful and hurtful, and only ends in making sorrows more felt.

But by fervent prayer let us seek to be filled with the Spirit, and to avoid whatever may grieve our gracious Comforter. All God's people have reason to sing for joy. Though we are not always singing, we should be always giving thanks; we should never want disposition for this duty, as we never want matter for it, through the whole course of our lives. Always, even in trials and afflictions, and for all things; being satisfied of their loving intent, and good tendency. God keeps believers from sinning against him, and engages them to submit one to another in all he has commanded, to
promote his glory, and to fulfill their duties to each other.

Copyright 2000 Ministry Health, LLC
All Rights Reserved
Website: http://ministryhealth.net

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