Wisdom Project 2/9

Proverbs 9 - NIV
Proverbs 9 - ESV

Proverbs 9:8-9 . . .
8 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you;
rebuke a wise man and he will love you.
9 Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still;
teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning.

Commentary:

teach a just [righteous] man; one that is truly so, that has seen the insufficiency of his own righteousness, and has renounced that, and does not trust in it; and who has learned Christ, as the Lord his righteousness; has seen the glory, fullness, and suitableness of his righteousness, and trusts unto it and depends upon it; and in consequence of this lives soberly, righteously, and godly; teach such a man the doctrines of the Gospel, and every lesson of obedience and duty, and he will increase in learning; he will grow in grace, and in the knowledge of Christ and all divine things; see (Matthew 13:12)

From: The New John Gill Exposition of the Entire Bible

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the Daily Proverbs Reading Assignment.

A Mission From God

This is an excellent article from The Scriptorium Daily on the idea of the missional nature and responsibility of the church. And who doesn't like a Blues Brother reference to make a good theological point. The first paragraph below explains the reference.



‘We’re on a mission from God.’

Matt Jenson
Theology
02.08.2010 .

In the 1980 movie The Blues Brothers, Dan Akroyd deadpans: ‘We’re on a mission from God.’ He and his partner are in the process of putting their band back together and are enlisting an old bandmate, and Akroyd’s character flatly insists that the divine origin of their project is sufficient warrant for the man to rejoin the band. Missions from God worry us, of course; they remind us of loose cannons and power mongers whose purportedly divine missions always seem to reveal a more diabolical than divine origin. To speak of the missio Dei, though, is to make a small, but significant, change in the language. This is not a mission from God but the mission of God. Where the first emphasizes divine sponsorship of our program and suggests its unassailable character (who, after all, can challenge the credentials of a prophet?), the second emphasizes a divine program in which we graciously have been included.

Later in the article he writes:

The church’s mission takes its cues from and finds its place in God’s mission. Jesus commissioned his disciples to continue his work, and he explicitly connected his mission to theirs: ‘As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.’ (John 17:18) There is an analogy between the two; even more, the mission of the disciples is included in the mission of the Son.

You can read the entire post here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Ed Stetzer - More on Tim Tebow

Missiologist Ed Stetzer on Tim Tebow

Posted using ShareThis

Wisdom Project 2/8

Proverbs 8 – NIV
Proverbs 8 – ESV

Proverbs 8:10-11 …
Choose my instruction instead of silver,
knowledge rather than choice gold,
for wisdom is more precious than rubies,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Commentary

Solomon is saying that wisdom, godly wisdom, is more valuable than all the treasures you could find in the entire world. Now that may be hard for some to understand because we have become such a materialistic society. Money is everything to many people. But all the money in the world will not put your mind at ease. It will not give you peace. If you think it will, if you think I am wrong, take a ride out to Hollywood California, for one example, and see all the psychologists and psychiatrists that the wealthy are going to, their offices are packed. Why? Because riches will not buy happiness, it won't put your mind at ease, it won't give you peace.

You see, the answer is coming before God, asking Him for wisdom in a given situation. In fact James 1:5 tells us, he admonishes us that "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." Thus, we are without excuse. God wants to give us wisdom. In fact, that word "liberally" in the Greek speaks of bountifully. You see, you don't have to face the circumstances of life in your own wisdom. If you need spiritual insight, ask of God and He will speak to your heart and show you the things you need to know and how to apply those truths to your life.

From: A Sermon posted on the Precept website, by Pastor Joe Guglielmo

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for

Wisdom Project 2/7

Proverbs 7 - NIV
Proverbs 7 - ESV

Proverbs 7:1 ... My son, keep my words
and store up my commands within you.

Commentary on Proverbs 7:1-4

Solomon’s remedy for promiscuity is to know and obey the word of God. However out-dated and simplistic this may seem, the same is true in our age, where those being advocated – sex education, contraception, free love, etc. – have all failed. . .
Series of vivid comparisons.
(a) Keep them as you would treasure (v.1 – store).
(b) Keep them as you would your life (v.2a). Obedience to God’s Word is a matter of life, both its length and quality (4:20-23).
(c) Keep them as you would the tenderest part of your anatomy (v.2b), such as the pupil of the eye, which is sensitive to the slightest speck. We are to God as the apple of his eye (Deut. 32:10, Ps. 17:8, Zech. 2:8), so let his words be thus to us.
(d) Keep them as you would something precious to you personally, (v.3a) such as the ring on your finger, which may have monetary value, and will certainly have sentimental value.
(e) Keep them as you would those whom you are most fond of, like the friends whose name you cherish in your heart (v.3b).
(f) Keep them as you would the affection of a close relative (v.4). This means cultivating familiarity and intimacy with the Word, as if it were speaking personally to you (cf. 1:20f, 3:13-18). Keep his words like this and they will keep you from dangerous liaisons.

From: Paul Apple - Quoting Eric Lane, at the Precept website

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for

Sunday Worship . . . Love Is Here

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Weekend Update (2/8-11)

For BBC students, our class schedule for the week is outlined below. If you have any questions drop me an email. Otherwise, I'll see you in class!

This week’s schedule (the BOLD items are assignments that are due) :

The Church's Ministry:

M (2/8) – Group Discussion on Acts Lectures

Biblical Foundations of Sports Ministry:

T (2/8) – Lecture: A Theology of Sports Ministry
F (2/11) - The Reason for Sports Chapters 5-7: Reading & Online Discussion Due

Dynamic Learning Experiences

T (2/8) – 7 Laws of the Learner Video

Proverbs (online)

Weeks 5 & 6 (2/8-21) – Text & 2 Lectures Reading; Quiz; Discussions, Inventory, Proverbs Daily Reading - each day, and Text Commentary paper due (2/19).

No classes Wednsday-Friday: Missions Conference

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Heaven: "A Moment on Earth"?

In my Biblical Foundations of Sports Ministry class this past Thursday, the lecture and topic for the day was about how seeing a great work of art, experiencing moments of pure joy, observing excellence, etc., gives us a little peek, a small taste, of heaven and the blessings of eternity.

It was a fun class.

We, of course, tied it to our enjoyment and love of sports, and talked about those exceptional moments and experiences in our own lives where maybe, just maybe, we have been given a little peek into the bliss of eternity, through sports.

And, being a die hard Buffalo Bills fan, there is nothing closer to heaven than the day the Bills came back from 32 points down in the 2nd half of a playoff game to defeat the Houston Oilers (I showed the highlight video in class - the best 10 minutes of the class all semester).

Anyhow, it's getting near that time of year when many special lifelong memories will be made for players, and fans alike, in end-of the-season high school basketball playoff games.

Well, here is one of the most inspirational ever! Indeed, it may be a glimpse, a little taste, of the pure joy, the excellencies, and the beauty, of heaven.

Moreover, it also serves as a vivid reminder of just how valuable every life is - because every life/person is made in the Image of God.

If you love sports, and love special people, get a tissue. . . .



Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Wisdom Project 2/6

Proverbs 6 – NIV
Proverbs 6 – ESV

Proverbs 6:22 . . .
When you walk, they will guide you;
when you sleep, they will watch over you;
when you awake, they will speak to you.

Commentary

Solomon also tells us that true religion guides us under all circumstances. He says in the 22nd verse that when we are active, there is nothing like true godliness to help us: “When thou goest, it shall lead thee.” He tells us that when we are resting there is nothing better than this for our preservation: “When thou sleepest, it shall keep thee.” And when we are just waking, there is nothing better than this with which to delight the mind: “When thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.” I do not intend to expand those three thoughts except just to say this, when thou art busiest, thy religion shall be thy best help. When thy hands are full of toil, and thy head is full of thought, nothing can do thee more service than to have a God to go to, a Savior to trust in, a heaven to look forward to. And when thou goest to thy bed to sleep or to be sick, thou canst have nothing better to smooth thy pillow and to give thee rest than to know that thou art forgiven through the precious blood of Christ, and saved in the Lord with an everlasting salvation.

From: Charles Haddon Spurgeon, at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, March 27th, 1887 (on Precept)

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Super Bowl - Overrated ???

And this from CJ Mahaney on the Super Bowl . . .

Thoughts on Super Bowl XLIV
by C.J. Mahaney 2/5/2010 8:10:00 AM

Given my love for sports I have an obligation to publish a public service announcement to prepare you for the impending Super Bowl…

O-V-E-R-R-A-T-E-D

The Super Bowl is the most overrated sporting event in the history of all sports, dating back to the very first Olympics. The NFL thinks so highly of itself, the Super Bowl is assigned Roman numerals.

Yet despite the hype, year after year this game rarely delivers. With few exceptions, most of these games are neither exciting nor memorable (unless your team is participating). With Peyton Manning and Drew Brees in the Super Bowl, there is at least a chance that Super Bowl 44 will be entertaining, but I doubt it.

Read the rest of the article here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Sports Ministry

The most recent issue of Christianity Today (February 5, 2010) has an entire lineup of sports ministry related articles. For my Sport Ministry people, take a serious look at these - and notice our buddy Ted Kluck is here.

My Top 5 Books on Sports
Picks from Andrew Parker, professor of sport and Christian outreach at the University of Gloucestershire
Andrew Parker posted 2/05/2010 10:01AM

The Joy of Sports
There are a lot of Christian athletes who care about the Cross, the gospel, humility, joy, and sanctification.
Ted Kluck posted 2/01/2010 09:51AM

Stay in the Struggle
I suspect that God's design is for us to conduct our analysis in the very throes of competition.
Benjamin J. Chase posted 2/01/2010 09:50AM

Amen, and a Foul
It is important to distinguish between individuals in sports and the system of sports. Both are broken due to the Fall.
Mark Householder posted 2/01/2010 09:48AM

Inside CT: More Sports Talk
But not the kind you hear on ESPN.
Mark Galli posted 1/29/2010 09:51AM

Sports Fanatics
How Christians have succumbed to the sports culture—and what might be done about it.
Shirl James Hoffman posted 1/29/2010 09:50AM

Also, Pastor and Blogger Kevin DeYoung has just posted a response to the the main CT article (Sports Fanatics); you can read is post here: A Simpler View at Sports.

In the article he writes: "And yet, I recognize sports talk is only the shallow end of the pool. More than that, I am fearful of the place sports can occupy in my heart. As a pastor, I want the folks in my congregation to give their lives for something more meaningful than youth soccer leagues and the triumphs of fandom. I am not blind to the idolatries of sport and the failings of sport stars. But, still, I am a huge sports fan."

Read the rest here >>

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Psalm 29

I just read this as part of my morning worship time; what a great reminder of the magnificence and greatness, the glory, of our God . . .

Psalm 29
Ascribe to the Lord Glory
A Psalm of David.

1 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters;
the God of glory thunders,
the Lord, over many waters.
4 The voice of the Lord is powerful;
the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

5 The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6 He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,
and Sirion like a young wild ox.

7 The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
8 The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

9 The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth
and strips the forests bare,
and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

10 The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;
the Lord sits enthroned as king forever.
11 May the Lord give strength to his people!
May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Blessing
3 John 8
Bill H.

Wisdom Project 2/5

Proverbs 5 – NIV
Proverbs 5 – ESV

Proverbs 5:1-2 …
My son, pay attention to my wisdom,
listen well to my words of insight,
that you may maintain discretion
and your lips may preserve knowledge.

Commentary:

The second line of verse 2 focuses more narrowly on what the son/reader should speak. His lips are to preserve or guard knowledge. Proverbs understands very well that part of wisdom is the ability not to talk too much. The wrong words to the wrong people at the wrong time can undo a lifetime of building trust and confidence.

From: Roger Hahn – The Voice

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the day.

Haiti Details

Haiti Details

Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church (Seattle), has assembles and made availble this helpful summary of basic detals and information about the country of Haiti. He writes:

A number of pastors and ministry leaders have been seeking to inform their people about Haiti so they can mobilize prayer and support. I had my research assistant put together some basic data on Haiti and I am posting it to be of service to anyone who can benefit from it. For those of you who use the content we give away, thank you for letting us have some influence in your life and ministry.

Go here to view the entire Haiti profile that Resurgence has put together >>

And you can also download this information sheet (with footnotes) as a PDF.

For more information on how you can help the church in Haiti respond and minister in the midst of their suffering, visit http://www.churcheshelpingchurches.com/.

Bill H.

Religion Saves

The ChristianAudio.com free audio book for the month od February is Mark Driscoll’s Religion Saves: And Nine Other Misconceptions.

They make a book available every month, and the book is almost always well worth the price: Free! To give you an idea: I will download it, save it to my MP3 player, and listen to it while I exercise, or some times when I'm doing work on my computer (like grading, or wriitng, etc.).

Anyhow, go here >>, and use the the coupon code FEB2010.

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.

Wisdom Project 2/4

Proverbs 4 - NIV
Proverbs 4 - ESV

Proverbs 4:23 … Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.

Commentary:

Above all else, guard your heart … it is to be kept by all manner of means that can be thought of, by prayer, hearing, reading, meditation; and, above all, by applying to Christ for his grace and Spirit to sanctify, preserve, and keep it. Or, "above all keeping, keep thine heart"; though other things are to be kept, and care taken of them, as kingdoms and cities, and towns and families, and treasures and riches; yet the heart above all:

for it is the wellspring [are the issues] of life; as is a man's heart, such is his state now, and will be hereafter; if the heart is quickened and sanctified by the grace of God, the man will live a life of faith and holiness here, and enjoy everlasting life hereafter: and if the heart is right, so will the actions of men be; they are regulated and denominated by it; they will then spring from right principles, and be directed to right ends, and performed with right views; great care therefore should be taken of the heart, since so much depends upon it, and it is so well known to God the searcher of it.

From: John Gill at StudyLight.Org

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_________

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the day.

Wisdom Project 2/3

Proverbs 3 - NIV
Proverbs 3 – ESV

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

Commentary:

We must have a continual regard to God’s providence, must own and depend upon it in all our affairs, both by faith and prayer. 1. By faith. We must repose an entire confidence in the wisdom, power, and goodness of God, assuring ourselves of the extent of his providence to all the creatures and all their actions. We must therefore trust in the Lord with all our hearts (v. 5); we must believe that he is able to do what he will, wise to do what is best, and good, according to his promise, to do what is best for us, if we love him, and serve him. We must, with an entire submission and satisfaction, depend upon him to perform all things for us, and not lean to our own understanding, as if we could, by any forecast of our own, without God, help ourselves, and bring our affairs to a good issue. Those who know themselves cannot but find their own understanding to be a broken reed, which, if they lean to, will certainly fail them. In all our conduct we must be diffident of our own judgment, and confident of God’s wisdom, power, and goodness, and therefore must follow Providence and not force it. That often proves best which was least our own doing.

From: The Matthew Henry Commentary on Proverbs, at the Blue Letter Bible

Blessings
3 John 8
Bill H.
_ _ _ _ _

WISDOM PROJECT: For this month, I will supply links to both the NIV and ESV versions of the chapter each day (Feb. 1 = Proverbs 1, etc.) in the post—both of which contain the audio.

And in the month of February a unique feature for the WP will be Commentaries on selected passages/verses from within the chapter for the day. And for the most part, these comments will be from links in the Online Bible Study Resources feature here on the 3 John 8 blog (scroll down in the column to the right to find the links).

Note to Proverbs class participants: this is the place where you should post your application comments for the day.