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July 12, 2026: Wisdom and Appetite
FOCUS TEXT: Proverbs 23:19-35
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 23:1-8; Romans 1:24-32; 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17; 6:18-20
DEVOTIONAL READING: 1 Corinthians 9:19-27
KEY VERSE: Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Temperance in every area of living is the mark of a truly wise man.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list areas of life that need self-control.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Control Your Appetite (Proverbs 23:19-21)
II. Learn From Experience (Proverbs 23:22-28)
III. Abstain From Evil (Proverbs 23:29-35)
Editorial: Comparing Your Values with Jesus’ Values
It seems significant that Jesus opened this sermon by setting his priorities. The kingdom person would first be a person of character and secondly a person of action. We live in a world that has that order reversed. In our world people are generally valued more by what they can accomplish than by who they are. Our society even suggests that a person’s private life should be of no concern to others. What is important is what they produce.
There are many ways of examining how well your faith in Christ is growing. One of them is by comparing your life with the template Jesus lays down in the Beatitudes.
In his commentary on this sermon, Larry Richards has shown that each of the beatitudes establishes a value of Jesus that conflicts with the values of the world. Jesus begins by valuing “poverty of spirit.” The world values self-confidence, competency, and self-reliance. But bravado does not impress God. He wants to know if we understand our inadequacies. He knows that without Him we are nothing. The question is whether we recognize the same truth.
Jesus valued “mourning” over pleasure. That is, does the fact that we have nothing of concern to us? Or do we pass it off as “no big deal?”
Jesus valued a submissive spirit over a proud, powerful spirit. The word “meek” was used to describe a well-trained beast of burden. Although the animal was much more powerful than its controller, it moved as the slightest movement of the reins. Are you that much under the control of the Holy Spirit?
Jesus valued spiritual desire over self-satisfaction. Verse 5 literally says, “Blessed are those who are hungering...for they are being filled.” In the economy of God, you can’t be full without desire.
Jesus valued mercifulness more than independence. The world disdains mercy because it is condescending. We want to believe that we can do it ourselves. The only time we want mercy is when it is coming our direction! Not so with the Christ-follower!
To have a pure heart requires separation from anything unclean. By contrast, the world values “broad-mindedness.”
Jesus values peace over competition. We live in a very competitive society. But often, competitiveness is the birthplace of division. Jesus desires that we be one.
To Jesus, it was better to be persecuted for righteousness’ sake than to be the life of the party, the popular person whose attention everyone craves.
How do your values line up with those of Jesus? Being honest in your assessment will tell you a lot about your relationship with the King.
July 5, 2026: Wisdom and Social Responsibility
FOCUS TEXT: Proverbs 19:1-8, 17; 22:16-23
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 19:1-29; 22:2, 7; Ecclesiastes 2:1-11; Hebrews 13:1-6; James 2:2-13
DEVOTIONAL READING: Proverbs 14:20-31
KEY VERSE: But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17).
CENTRAL TRUTH: Christian compassion toward the needy in this world is an obligation for which God holds us accountable.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways in which they may help people in need.
LESSON OUTLINE
I. Condition of the Poor (Proverbs 19:1-8)
II. Compassion for the Poor (Proverbs 19:17)
III. Champion of the Poor (Proverbs 22:16-23)
June 14, 2026: The Benefits of Wisdom
FOCUS TEXT: Proverbs 3:1-18
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Proverbs 3:1-26; 4:1 – 5:23; Matthew 7:24-27
DEVOTIONAL READING: Proverbs 3:19-26
KEY VERSE: Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding (Proverbs 3:13).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The path of wisdom leads to satisfaction in life and purity in character.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to identify several benefits of true wisdom.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. The Value of Obedience (Proverbs 3:1-4)
II. The Value of Trust (Proverbs 3:5-12)
III. The Value of Wisdom (Proverbs 3:13-18)
April 26, 2026: Prepared for Christ’s Coming
FOCUS TEXT: 2 Peter 3:8-18
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; Titus 2:11-15; 2 Peter 3:1-18
DEVOTIONAL READING: Mark 13:28-37
KEY VERSE: Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness . . . ? (2 Peter 3:11).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The believer's responsibility is to live righteously in the hope of Christ's coming.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list ways they can be better prepared for Christ's coming.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Delay of Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:8, 9)
II. Dissolution at Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:10-13)
III. Diligence for Christ's Coming (2 Peter 3:14-18)
March 15, 2026: Controlling the Tongue
FOCUS TEXT: James 3:1-12
BACKGROUND SCRIPTURES: Ephesians 4:24-32
DEVOTIONAL READING: James 3:13-18
KEY VERSE: If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body (James 3:2).
CENTRAL TRUTH: The spiritually mature person has control of his tongue.
OBJECTIVE: By the end of this lesson my students should be able to list several principles which will guide the Christian in proper use of his tongue.
LESSON OUTLINE:
I. Power to Direct (James 3:1-4)
II. Power to Destroy (James 3:5-8)
III. Power to Delight (James 3:9-12)