Divine Savior Church-Santa Rita Ranch Sermons

This week we focus on pride. Pride is the conclusion in one’s thinking that a person, idea, or thing is better than another. This conclusion justifies any praise or humiliation in attitude or treatment that result from the thinking. It can be as quiet as a turned-up nose or as loud as derogatory comment. All of it is detrimental to everyone involved. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about the source, the destruction, and the antidote for pride.  

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.

This week we focus on envy. Envy is the awful feeling you have when you know you should celebrate someone’s good fortune but think it really should have happened to you instead. Envy makes it hard to rejoice with others. Soon it becomes hard to rejoice at all. The result is a complaining spirit that’s difficult to be around. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to say about envy, how we eliminate it, and what will happen when we do.

After 4 weeks of looking at the source of wisdom and the principles of its design for our lives, this series now applies wisdom from the book of Proverbs to the everyday “complexities of life”.

This week we focus on money. The evil of pursuing money at all cost and the injustices caused by greed are obvious. And yet, commerce and economy are core to our society. How can you deal wisely with money without it consuming you. In the series this week learn what Proverbs has to teach about a godly understanding of money and generosity.

Everyone likes a guarantee. It makes us feel safe. Hesitation in the grey zone of “what if” causes doubt, worry, and fear. We prefer confirmation, a stamp of approval, and the proven process that gives confidence, a sense of security, and builds excitement for what’s to come. 

The book of Proverbs shows that God’s path of wisdom gives us the confidence we’re looking for because it’s different than every other pursuit of wisdom. This week in the series learn what the difference is, why it’s important, and how it makes it easy to pursue wisdom God’s way.

Everyone knows to get to the right destination you must start in the right place and head in the right direction. The same is true for wisdom. But whose way is right? Experts offer wisdom through short cuts, techniques, and formulas. Friends give advice from experience. Our own hearts lead with emotion. Artificial intelligence uses science and facts. But who’s right?

Only Proverbs points to the right way by directing us to the One who is wisdom and designed the path on which to find it. This week in the series learn why pursuing the path God designed will lead to a correct understanding of reality and the wisdom to navigate it.

A godly pursuit of wisdom has an ultimate goal of living God’s way as outlined in the Bible. Unfortunately, life in a sinful world means our path is filled with distractions, deterrents, and delays. Often these roadblocks are even more alluring than annoying. They threaten to derail a godly pursuit of wisdom by encouraging us to settle for less than everything God has planned for us. Because of this, Proverbs tells us to “guard our heart above all else because it is the wellspring of life.” In the series this week learn what that means, how to put it into practice in our lives, and what happens when we don’t.

Wisdom is knowing the right thing to do at the right time for any given circumstance-especially when there’s no “right” answer. But how do you get wisdom? 

Like walking a path, pursuing wisdom begins with knowing where to start, where to go, and what to expect along the way. This week we begin the series on Proverbs by defining wisdom, showing where to find it, and learning how to grow in it. 

Made solid by the undergirding promises of Jesus, the apostle Peter acted boldly and courageously. Sometimes this acting-before-thinking disciple pushed the envelope of courage to its border with foolishness, but Jesus was always there to pull him back.

Loved by his Lord, John expressed the same kind of love to his Lord and others. His writings in the Scriptures encourage followers of Jesus in that same love.

This tax collector turned apostle experienced firsthand the loving mercy of the Messiah, who came to save sinners. He turned around and wrote a lot about it in his gospel. 

He vacillated between the twin towers of unshakeable confidence and wishy washy uncertainty. However, faith is as strong as the on whom it rests, and Jesus' loyalty and love bless this apostle with a new resurrection conviction.

Thaddaeus (also called Judas) asked Jesus, "But, Lord, why do you intend to show yourself to us and not to the whole world?" Many ask this same question today, why some and not others? We marvel at God desiring all to be saved and his grace for all, and yet we see the sad reality that those who don’t know him, or who have rejected him won’t be saved. The attitude of Thaddaeus, "I want others to know," is the outward love for the world who do not yet know, the heart of God behind the great commission. This outward looking concern is mirrored in Jesus' answer based on the mystery of the Trinity. Here we see the doctrine of the Trinity unraveled into saving activity, and sought after by a disciple.

"We have found the one," Philip proclaimed to Nathaniel, when Jesus actually found him first. Later Philip personally found a gracious Savior at the feeding of the 5,000 when Jesus taught him a lesson about faith. On another occasion, Philip commented to Jesus, "Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us," and Jesus went on to describe the mysterious unity of the Father and the Son. All of this helped Philip find others in search of a Savior.

Bartholomew asked, "Nazareth, can anything good come from there?" and found in his shattered hope a fulfilled hope in the promised Savior. In Bartholomew (aka Nathanael) we see our own expectations - too often misunderstood and misplaced, until Jesus meets them and us. So often we expect God to fit our mold and to fit his plans into what we expect and hope for. But God's plan is almost always different than ours. And it's better! 

Andrew showed care and concern for bringing others to Jesus. Ministry is one on one. Mission is one on one. Parents to children. Husband to wife. You to a friend, family member, or co-worker. We only know Peter, because Andrew sought out his brother. Mission work happens in backyards, picnics, bleachers, and cubicles. One of the main principles of our harvest strategy is "Everyone invite one." There is value in telling just one person. 

With the zeal of thunder, James has glory on his mind, both personal glory and ethnic/national glory and pride. Jesus' zeal to save and serve recovers and redirects this apostle to an evangelical instead of legislative zeal. This is the only place to mention the other apostle, James the Less, about whom we know very little.

Most people today think the “devil” is a joke. And make jokes about him. But the truth is, the devil is a real and vicious enemy of God and his people. He tempts us to doubt God’s Word. He wants to tear us away from God, and he did so. But Jesus came to defeat the devil. And He did! The church displays that victory in all we do! But the battles rage on… our enemy is real and the daily battles we face with him are too. So Paul reaches the dramatic finale to his letter: “Finally be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.” (Eph. 6:10-11) Put on that armor of God and let the Word of truth continue to fill your life! There is no greater hope than what God’s grace in Jesus gives us! Know greater hope!

From the beginning, God designed people to live in families. He also gave us work to do, a garden to take care of, something to give meaning and purpose. So a lot of our lives are spent at home and at work. As we continue to rebel against God, our homes and workplaces often become the scenes of our most obvious failings and flaws. They can become unhappy or even downright dysfunctional places. When Jesus came here to save us, He was born into a family of a worker, a carpenter. He lived in our place and died on our behalf to give us a new life. So we thank and worship Him. Not just on Sundays. We worship Him Monday to Saturday as well, in our families, homes, and workplaces.

Marriage has been instilled into human hearts and human society by our loving Creator to stir up human longing and to prepare our hearts for the love of Christ. Marriage conducted in God’s way by his people is a beautiful demonstration of his plan to gather all things under Christ and make us one in Christ. Among God’s people, marriage isn’t a battleground, but a field of victory, where sinners can remain united to each other in the service of Christ. Marriage is a beautiful object lesson of how Jesus loves the people who believe in Him. Today’s text not only speaks of the ways our marriages can be blessed, but also celebrates the spiritual union of all believers with Christ, to whom we will one day be united – the ultimate “marriage made in heaven.”

The world we live in loves to live in darkness. What people do behind closed doors should be up to them, they say. The world is accepting of all kinds of alternative expressions of gender and sexuality. But the God who loves us created us a certain way to glorify Him. His Word is very clear on how He wants us to live. In the light. Not in the darkness. As we shine this light into the world, it isn’t going to want to hear it. It seems backward and outdated. It sounds unloving and unsupportive. But the truth is, God’s way of living is the only way that is self-less and actually truly loving! Let’s show the world the beauty of God’s way! Let’s share it in a loving way. That’s the way to honor Him for the true light and greater hope He has given us!