• What Does the Bible Say About Being Lazy? A Biblical Warning (Proverbs 6:6-11)
    May 27 2025
    Are you struggling with procrastination, lack of motivation, or a sluggish spiritual walk? Discover what the Bible really says about laziness and how to overcome it biblically. Proverbs 6:6-11 and other scriptures provide a biblical warning against laziness, and how it impacts our work, witness, and walk with Christ. Whether you’re looking for bible verses about laziness, searching for answers on how to stop being lazy as a Christian, or seeking a solid Bible study on laziness in Proverbs, this sermon delivers the truth with love, clarity, and conviction. https://youtu.be/NCsbmBNQycw Table of contentsGod’s Work Brings Him GloryOur Work Should Bring God GloryFour Important Points About Serving Christ In Our JobsLaziness Is a Bad TestimonyAvoid laziness By Learning from the AntAvoid Laziness by Avoiding Oversleeping.Avoid Laziness By Avoiding ExcusesAvoid Laziness by Avoiding Lazy PeopleGiving to the Lazy Does More Harm than GoodLaziness Leads to Other SinsLaziness and BusybodiesThe Solution to Laziness In April 2025, approximately 7.2 million people in the United States were unemployed, representing a 4.2% unemployment rate. Additionally, nearly 20% of prime-age adults (25-54) were not working, with the vast majority (around 21 million) not seeking work. What could help these people? I think the Bible’s teaching on laziness, because it is incredibly convicting. God’s Work Brings Him Glory Let’s begin by understanding a little more about God’s work: Psalm 19:1 The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shows the work of His hands. God created the heavens and the earth, and they bring Him glory. Isaiah 6 contains the incredible vision of God sitting on His throne, high and lifted up, with the train of His robe filling the temple. Angels fly around Him giving Him praise: Isaiah 6:3 One cried to another and said: ‘Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!” Of all the things the angels could say to praise God, they mention His holiness and the earth, His workmanship, giving Him glory. Think of it like this: We see a beautiful painting and praise the painter. We see an impressive building and praise the architect. Similarly, when we see creation, we should praise the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator. The greatness of creation reveals the greatness of the Creator so well that people are condemned when they refuse to worship the Creator: Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse. God reveals Himself to the world through His creation because work says something about the worker. Work reveals character, motivation, and skills. God’s work is of the highest quality because it expresses His character and majesty. Our Work Should Bring God Glory Genesis 1:27 God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him. God created us in His image; we should work because He works. Ephesians 5:1 commands us to “be imitators of God.” We imitate God by bringing Him glory through our work, as He does with His work. We might tend to think that only certain things bring God glory, such as praying, singing, worshiping, and serving, but anything we do can bring God glory if it honors Him: 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. This includes our work. Colossians 3:23 Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.” While we’re working we aren’t even really serving man. We’re serving Christ. Ephesians 6:5-9 discusses bondservants or slaves obeying their earthly masters. This is more like an employee-employer relationship than what we think of...
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    25 mins
  • What Does the Bible Say About Work? A Biblical View on Labor
    May 19 2025
    What does the bible say about work? This sermon explores a biblical view on labor, sharing insights from my recent mission trip to Malawi and Uganda. Through firsthand stories, scriptural analysis, and spiritual reflection, the message unpacks what the Bible says about work, the spiritual causes of poverty, and how God created us to work as a form of worship and obedience. From Genesis to Ecclesiastes, we see that work is not a curse, but a God-given gift. The sermon contrasts the productivity seen in Scripture with the cultural issues faced in parts of Africa, highlighting how laziness, unbiblical marriage roles, and entitlement contribute to poverty. Most importantly, this sermon is a wake-up call to view work as a spiritual calling and a platform for Gospel witness. Whether you're asking “What does the Bible say about work?” or wondering how to find purpose and fulfillment in your labor, this message will challenge and equip you with biblical truth. https://youtu.be/Tc1kco1Spxw Table of contentsThe Poverty Problem Is Spiritual Versus PhysicalThree Consequences of Disobeying the BibleUgandans Are Poor Because They Disobey What the Bible Says About WorkFirst, people have no concept of saving or planning for the futureSecond, socialism is destroying the countryThird, there’s no shame about not workingWhat Does the Bible Say About Work?The Bible Says God Is a WorkerThe Bible Says God Created Us to WorkOur Motivations with WorkThe Fall Brought a Curse on WorkWe Work After the Curse Is RemovedThe Bible Says Enjoying Our Work Is Good and Fitting I was a business major in college. I’ve always enjoyed finance and economics. In 2024, I took a mission trip to Malawi, Africa, to teach at a Bible College and a Pastor's Conference. In 2025, I went to Malawi and Uganda to put on marriage conferences. I was very interested in the countries' economies on both trips, particularly why they are so poor. This is Afghanistan. Out of almost 200 countries, Afghanistan is the 10th poorest, and Malawi is 20th. There are two reasons Afghanistan is poor. First, all the military conflicts that have occurred within their borders. Second, as you can tell from the picture, nothing grows there. There’s little farmable land. Malawi is a beautiful and lush country. We ate well there because of the bananas and the largest avocados I’ve ever seen. We broke down in front of this restaurant in Malawi. I have been trying to get Katie to come to Africa with me. She kept refusing, so I sent her this picture and told her I would make us reservations if she would come with me. She’s still thinking about it. What surprised me about Malawi and Uganda is how similar they are in terms of beliefs, marriage problems, environments, and economies. This is a picture of the Nile I took from our hotel in Uganda. Again, you see how lush and green it is. This furniture store is right outside our hotel and might reveal part of Uganda's economic problems. It was raining incredibly hard at times, but the store owner kept the tarp over his bricks but left his couches exposed to the weather. When Ricky, Johnny, and I visited Robert Wafula, our missionary, in Uganda, we had to take a ferry back and forth among the islands. This is a picture from when we approached the port. Again, you can see how lush and beautiful it is. Can you see why I wondered why Malawi and Uganda are so poor? I am not going to say that either country has the resources to be wealthy, but I believe they have the resources to be in much better situations than they are in. The Poverty Problem Is Spiritual Versus Physical The more I traveled and spoke with people, the more convinced I became that poverty seems like a physical problem. However, while some physical factors exist, the problem is primarily spiritual. Much of Africa's poverty can be attributed to disobeying God’s word. That’s why the best way to help the people in Uganda and Malawi i...
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    29 mins
  • Who Is the Greatest? Jesus Teaches Humility in Leadership (Luke 22:24-30)
    Apr 15 2025
    Learn how Jesus redefines greatness through humility and service in this sermon on Luke 22:24–30. Explore the surprising moment when the disciples begin to argue over who is the greatest only moments after Jesus washed their feet and revealed His betrayal and coming death. Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership. Instead of rebuking them harshly, Jesus offers a life-changing teaching on true greatness, humility, and servant leadership. https://youtu.be/uyI4wm01DZQ Table of contentsThe Importance of Foot WashingJesus’s Passover PreparationsJesus Washes the Disciples’ FeetJesus Was Teaching Service and HumilityThe Disciples Wouldn’t Wash Each Other’s Feet Because of PrideHumility Is Thinking of Ourselves Less Versus Less of OurselvesPhilippians 2: The Humility ChapterThe Disciples’ Sad Response to Jesus’s Statement About His Betrayal and DeathThree Things Making the Disciples’ Argument Even WorseHow Could This Argument Happen?Jesus Used the Moment to Teach The Disciples About LeadershipLeaders Should Be HumbleLeaders Should Be ServantsThe Greatest Are ServantsPursue Rewards in God’s Kingdom The Top Tens lists the top 10 of many things, such as songs, movies, albums, cell phones, workout programs, and mountain bikes. Here’s their list of the Top 10 Greatest People of All Time: Jesus Martin Luther King Jr. Albert Einstein Muhammad Buddha Gandhi Abraham Lincoln Moses Nelson Mandela Isaac Newton If the disciples read this list, they would be upset because they thought they should be on it! They argued about who was the greatest, not once but at least twice, first in Luke 9 and again in Luke 22. These are just the recorded instances; maybe it happened more than this! Context is always important, but sometimes it is especially important, and this is one of those instances. We will never fully appreciate this account without considering what occurred before it: Jesus washed their feet! The Importance of Foot Washing To understand Jesus washing the disciples' feet, let’s first look at a few verses in Luke 7. Beginning at Luke 7:36, we have the account of Jesus going to eat at the home of one of the Pharisees. During the meal, a woman, probably a prostitute, approached Jesus, wept, and washed His feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. Then she anointed His feet with ointment. This would’ve been a dramatic and moving scene to witness. Unless you are the Pharisee, in which case it makes you mad: Luke 7:39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” The Pharisee only thought this to himself, but you must be careful around Jesus because He can read people’s thoughts. He rebukes the Pharisee and contrasts the woman’s actions toward Him after entering the Pharisee’s home with the Pharisee’s actions when Jesus entered his home. Consider what He said about the situation: Luke 7:44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Jesus commended the women for washing His feet and rebuked the Pharisees for failing to do so. This reveals how big of a deal it was in Jesus’s day to wash your feet before meals because dust, mud, and other filth accumulated on people’s feet as they walked on unpaved roads. Jesus’s Passover Preparations Notice Jesus’s attention to detail as He tells Peter and John how to prepare for the Last Supper: Luke 22:8 So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying,
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    50 mins
  • Ahithophel & Judas: Two Betrayers, One Sovereign God
    Apr 8 2025
    Discover How God Uses Even Betrayal for His Glory. What do Ahithophel and Judas have in common? Both were trusted companions—both committed heartbreaking betrayals—and both served a purpose in God’s sovereign plan. Walk through the betrayal of King David by Ahithophel and how it foreshadows the betrayal of Jesus Christ by Judas Iscariot. See God's sovereignty over their betrayals and be encouraged God is sovereign over our betrayals. https://youtu.be/iQB0t3lO6W4 Table of contentsDavid Is a Type of ChristAhithophel Is a Type of JudasFirst, Ahithophel betrayed David, just as Judas betrayed Jesus.Second, Ahithophel plotted David’s death to Absalom, just as Judas plotted Jesus's death to the religious leaders.Third, Ahithophel hanged himself, just as Judas hanged himselfDavid wrote about Ahithophel’s Betrayal in the PsalmsIs This Old Testament Verse a Prophecy?Jesus’s Two Shocking StatementsGod Is Sovereign Over BetrayalIs Judas Still Responsible?God’s Sovereignty Over Our BetrayalThree Points About the Disciples Questioning ThemselvesTwo Reasons the Disciples Didn’t Know It Was JudasGod Uses Betrayal for GoodGod Uses Joseph’s Betrayal for GoodJesus Could Say Joseph’s Words Even Better The Sound of Music tells the story of the von Trapp family escaping the Nazi takeover of Austria before World War II. A young Austrian named Rolf, who had been pursuing the oldest von Trapp daughter, joined the Nazis. When the von Trapps were hiding from the Nazis, Rolf found them. While holding the family at gunpoint, he demanded that they surrender. Captain von Trapp, the father of the family, confronted Rolf, and gave him a choice: join the von Trapps while they flee to Switzerland or remain with the Nazis. Even though Rolf was conflicted, he chose to betray the von Trapps to the Nazis. At the Last Supper, Jesus declared that He would be betrayed by one of the disciples. We know Jesus was speaking of Judas. We might wonder if Judas was conflicted because he tried to return the money and then committed suicide. But he was an evil man, and we shouldn’t make any excuses for his actions. David Is a Type of Christ Jesus’s betrayal is so significant that God prefigured it or foreshadowed it in the Old Testament through another man’s betrayal, and that’s David’s. As far as types and shadows of Christ go, David is one of the most dramatic: David and Jesus were both born in Bethlehem David was a shepherd, and Jesus is the Good Shepherd David was anointed, and Jesus is the Messiah or Anointed One David was a king, and Jesus is the King of Kings David defeated Goliath, the greatest enemy in his day, and Jesus defeated the devil, the greatest enemy in our day: 1 Corinthians 15:57 Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. The list could go on, but you get the idea. Another way David is a picture or type of Christ is that they both experienced horrible betrayals. If I were David, I would have felt betrayed by my family when they left me out in the field to watch the sheep, rather than inviting me to the anointing of the next king of Israel. Think of how Saul betrayed David. David killed Goliath, something Saul should’ve done. David comforted Saul with music when the demonic spirit tormented him. Then, David faithfully served Saul as his greatest general. After all that, Saul spent 10 to 15 years trying to murder David, forcing him to flee from his friends and family and live in caves in the wilderness. David saved the city of Keilah from the Philistines, but then the people he saved were willing to turn him over to Saul. David’s son, Absalom, betrayed him, taking his wives, the throne, and the hearts of the people of Israel. At the end of David’s life, his son, Adonijah, betrayed him like Absalom did. Making the betrayal worse, Joab, David’s nephew and great general, and Abiathar the priest, David’s longtime friend, betrayed David and joined Adonijah in his rebellion. ...
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    Less than 1 minute
  • How to Deal with Betrayal as a Christian: Lessons from Scripture (1 Samuel 23:1-13)
    Apr 1 2025
    Betrayed by someone you trusted? You're not alone. You do something for someone only to be met with ingratitude, thanklessness, or betrayal. Study David's example in 1 Samuel 23:1-13 when the citizens of Keilah betrayed him to Saul after he saved them from the Philistines. Learn how to respond to betrayal with faith, grace, and Christlike humility—no matter the hurt. https://youtu.be/6jqTSSKwedA Table of contentsWhen the People of Keilah Reached out to David for HelpDavid Heard from God Through the Urim and ThummimDavid Saved the People of KeilahRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering the Lord Didn’t Promise Us GratefulnessRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering We Were Doing It for the LordPractical Examples of Dealing with BetrayalWhen We Dealt with BetrayalRespond Well to Betrayal By Remembering the Lord Stands By Us John Anthony Walker was an American naval officer who spied for the Soviet Union from 1967 to 1985 during the Cold War. Motivated by financial gain, he sold highly classified information to which he had access as a communications specialist. The information Walker provided to the Soviet Union included details of the Navy's communication systems, jeopardizing the security of U.S. military operations and risking countless lives. How was Walker caught? After he and his wife divorced, she reported him to the FBI when he stopped providing her financial support. So she didn’t mind him serving as a spy, but when he wouldn’t give her money, that was going too far. Most betrayals aren’t this dramatic. They take place on much smaller scales. We do something for someone only to be met with ingratitude, thanklessness, or betrayal. In this morning’s passage, we’ll learn how to respond in these situations by studying David’s example. When the People of Keilah Reached out to David for Help Here’s the context: David became extremely popular among the people, which made Saul paranoid and jealous. Despite David’s loyalty and service, Saul began trying to murder him. David had to flee Jerusalem and spend years as a fugitive in the Judean wilderness. While David had plenty of his problems to worry about, such as staying alive and keeping his men alive, he received news of a city that needed his help: 1 Samuel 23:1 Now they told David, “Behold, the Philistines are fighting against Keilah and are robbing the threshing floors.” Keilah is located in the western foothills of Judah, about 18 miles southwest of Jerusalem. The threshing floors are where wheat is separated from the chaff. This is the final stage at which the harvest is prepared before becoming food. Looting the threshing floors means the Israelites invested months of effort, while the Philistines waited until all the work was complete and then stole the crop. This is why Boaz slept at the threshing floor in the book of Ruth to protect his harvest! Stealing the people’s food was not the same as it would be in our day. The Israelites couldn’t drive to the local grocery store for more. For them, this meant starvation. Where would you expect the people of Keilah to go for help at this desperate moment? In the ancient world, where did you go for justice? You went to the king! It’s pretty unbelievable that David was informed about this instead of Saul. Saul is the one who should have been protecting his people from the Philistines, but he’s too busy mobilizing the nation’s army to murder David. Because the people knew they couldn’t count on Saul, they turned to David for help, even while he was a fugitive. Do you think it would have been very easy for David to justify not helping the people of Keilah? Yes: “I can barely keep myself and my men alive without keeping a city alive.” But he sought the Lord about it anyway: 1 Samuel 23:2 Therefore David inquired of the Lord, “Shall I go and attack these Philistines?” And the Lord said to David, “Go and attack the Philistines and save Keilah.” 3 But David's men said to him, “Behold,
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    48 mins
  • Jesus’ New Covenant at the Last Supper: A Promise Fulfilled (Luke 22:19-20)
    Mar 24 2025
    Jesus instituted the New Covenant at the Last Supper, fulfilling God's promise in Jeremiah 31:31-34. Learn how Christ's words, "This is My body... This is the new covenant in My blood," revealed the redemptive purpose of His death and forever changed how we understand communion. From the blood of the Old Covenant in Exodus to Jesus's sacrifice on the cross, understand the deep spiritual meaning behind the bread and the cup and how they point to our salvation and eternal hope. If you're a believer, whether you’ve taken communion for years or are learning about it for the first time, I hope this helps you remember and rejoice in Christ’s love for you. https://youtu.be/KvxU2-A2Q2Q Table of contentsCovenants Must Be Instituted with BloodJesus Finally Revealed His Death Was RedemptiveCommunion Encourages Us to Look Back to Christ’s Work on the CrossCommunion Encourages Us to Look Inwardly at OurselvesWhen Should Children Partake in Communion?Communion Encourages Us to Look Forward to Christ’s Second ComingCommunion Encourages Us to Four Remember Christ died “For You” A man asked his wife why she always cut off the ends of her roast. She replied that she had learned this from her mother but didn’t know why her mother did it. So, she asked her grandmother, who said she didn’t know either; that’s just what her mother taught her to do. Then, she went to her great-grandmother, who didn’t know, saying it was also what her mother had taught her. Finally, she visited her great-great-grandmother, who explained that the ends of the roast were cut off so the meat would fit in the pan she had used seventy years ago. All these women followed a tradition passed down to them. They had always done it without understanding why they were doing it. This illustrates what happened with Passover. The Jews followed a tradition passed down to them. They went through the motions, doing everything they were supposed to do, without understanding it looked forward to Christ. When Jesus celebrated Passover with His disciples, He spelled it out for them. Covenants Must Be Instituted with Blood Some important verses in Exodus 24 help us understand Jesus’s words at the Last Supper. This chapter contains the institution of the Old Covenant. The people agreed to the terms of the Old Covenant, and Moses instituted them. Let’s start with verse three for context: Exodus 24:3 Moses came and told the people all the words of the Lord and all the rules. And all the people answered with one voice and said, “All the words that the Lord has spoken we will do.” 4 And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. 5 And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. Moses told the people everything the covenant entailed, and they agreed to it, so it looked like it was ratified. But there’s still one more important step. Notice the emphasis on blood: Exodus 24:6 And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. 7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.” The word blood occurs four times in three verses. Now the covenant is ratified. There’s no instituting a covenant without blood: Hebrews 9:18 Not even the first covenant was inaugurated without blood. If you want a covenant, you have to shed blood. God instituted a New Covenant because we couldn’t keep the old one. God could have condemned us to hell for eternity for failing to keep His law perfectly, but instead,
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    24 mins
  • Who Are the Two Witnesses in Revelation 11?
    Mar 19 2025
    Explore the identities of the two witnesses in Revelation, their mission during the Great Tribulation, and how they testify about Jesus.
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    29 mins
  • Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding the Shift in God’s Plan (Jeremiah 31:31-34)
    Mar 10 2025
    📖 Old vs. New Covenant: Understanding God’s Redemption Plan The transition from the Old Covenant to the New Covenant is one of the most profound shifts in biblical history. Why was a New Covenant necessary? How does it transform our relationship with God? Let's unpack Jeremiah 31:31-34, exploring how Jesus's Last Supper fulfilled prophecy and established a better covenant for believers. https://youtu.be/04ZpwaZQnHI Table of contentsLasting Change Must Begin with the HeartThe Heart’s ImportanceThe Old Covenant Didn’t Change the HeartThe Old Covenant Reveals Our SinfulnessThe Most Important Verses in the Old TestamentSix Ways the New Covenant Is Not Like the Old CovenantUnlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, God Does the WorkSecond, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Focus Is InwardThird, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, the Holy Spirit Teaches UsFourth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Christ is the Only MediatorFifth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, We Become the Priests, Temple, and SacrificesSixth, Unlike the Old Covenant, Under the New Covenant, Sin Is ForgivenFootnotes The Brennan Center for Justice is a nonpartisan law and policy institute. They published an article titled Prison and Jail Reform. Here’s a surprising part of the second sentence of the article: “Prisons often provide little to no effective rehabilitation.” This is an astonishing admission from a secular research institute about the ineffectiveness of our prison system! Why don’t prisons work? There is a saying that the heart of every problem is the problem of the heart. Prisons don’t work because they don’t deal with people’s hearts. Lasting Change Must Begin with the Heart If punishment could change people’s hearts, we could provide prison sentences long enough for inmates to return to society as model citizens when released. The best example in Scripture of punishment not changing the heart: Genesis 6:5 The Lord saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. That is an incredible indictment. Things were so bad that God had to flood the earth. I can’t imagine a worse punishment than a global flood, which is to say that if a punishment could change man’s heart, a global flood should. The water subsided. Noah and his family got off the ark. Noah built an altar and offered burnt offerings to God. Then we read: Genesis 8:21 And when the Lord smelled the pleasing aroma, the Lord said in his heart, “I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. This is what God said in His heart, which means it isn’t my, Noah’s, or Abraham’s. Even this catastrophic punishment didn’t change man’s heart. Not long after the flood, what sins do you start seeing? Polygamy, incest, prostitution, and homosexuality. So you ask, “If the flood wouldn’t change man’s heart, what was the point?” God didn’t bring the Flood to change man. He brought the flood to remove the demonic influence in the world, and it worked. You don’t see demonic influence again until Christ’s First Coming, when the demonic realm flared up against the kingdom of God coming from heaven to earth. If punishment could change hearts, what parents wouldn’t keep spanking their children until their hearts changed? We hope punishment, whether prison systems or spanking, is a deterrent and provides outward change. But we would be foolish to think it provides any change inwardly. Only the Gospel can do that. The Heart’s Importance Proverbs 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do (all outward behavior) flows from it. That is incredible. We are not told that some things we do, or even most, flow from our hearts. Everything we do flows from our hearts. All outward behavior originates inwardly. The way we talk, act, dress,
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    20 mins
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