elimworthing

Proverbs 15:16, 17:1
What does it mean to live in contentment and how is it different from happiness, complacency and apathy. Paul said ‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances’. So, what does contentment look and feel like? Does it depend on external circumstances or is it an internal state? In this talk we’ll explore the characteristics of a content person, things like gratitude, peace of mind and generosity. We’ll explore common obstacles to contentment i.e. comparison, materialism, social media, discontent etc.

At the end of the talk we want to show that contentment is a journey, not a destination and explore practical steps like practicing gratitude’ focus on what you have, spiritual life, realistic expectation as a guardrail against discontentment.

(Other helpful verses - Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:11-12; 1 Timothy 6:6-8; Hebrews 13:5)

(Proverbs 10:12, 16:6, 17:9, 19:11

Forgiveness is a central theme of the Christian faith and God is the ultimate example of forgiveness. The very first human needed God’s forgiveness after the fall and God’s relationship with his people Israel was based on God’s atonement for their sin.

If we are ever to receive God’s blessings, then the journey begins with forgiveness. In truth if our world and communities are ever to know peace then they need to journey through forgiveness.

So in this session, we are going to explore knowing what forgiveness is and what it isn't. We know for example that forgiveness is a choice, a process, not just a one of activity, we know it benefits the person forgiving and it is possible without reconciliation, forgiveness at its heart is a gift. We also know that forgiveness is not condoning or excusing a sinful behaviour or the harm someone has committed, it is not forgetting or reconciliation, denying our feelings or ignoring justice. Forgiveness  is not powerful and at the heart of Jesus' mission here on earth.

We’ll examine what God feels about unforgiveness and explore what we need to do to make forgiveness a normal and natural part of our faith journey.

At the end of the session we want to have clarity about forgiveness and how we can apply its power to our lives so we can live wisely.

Other Biblical References

Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:21-22; Mark 11:25; Luke 23:24 

Proverbs 11:25, 19:17, 22:9

The spirit of generosity runs through the pages of scripture. It can be seen in the world that God created and the resources he placed abundantly within it. It can be seen in the life of Jesus, he gave willingly and freely and abundantly to all who came before him. When Jesus fed the five thousand he did not just give enough but he gave generously with twelve baskets left over. This is a picture of generosity.

As we continue to explore blessed to be a blessing and look at how we can live wisely, we want to explore what we need to know about have a generous heart and why it is important, we’ll explore the opposite of generosity and see how God feels about that (Parable of the unmerciful servant) and then look at what we need to do to cultivate generosity as a lifestyle.

We know that generosity is not just about what we give but who we are. 

We want to finish this session challenged to display generosity to those in our lives by using kind words generously, to give of our time, energy, attention, compassion and forgiveness generously and become a picture of Jesus to those we interact with.

Other Biblical References

Matthew 18:21-35 

At the heart of the book of Proverbs lies the desire by the author to help its readers be successful in all that they do. In this session we’ll explore how diligence and hard work contributes to a well and wisely lived life.

The scriptures through the Old and New Testament tells us and shows what we need to know about the benefits of hard work. The writer of proverbs shows us the ants, Jesus talked about the wise builder and the servants who multiplied their talents. Paul urges us to do everything as if working for the Lord.

The bible also opens our eyes to see what God feels about laziness. It does however give us insights into what we need to do and the benefits of being diligent and hardworking.

At the end of this session we want to be aware of what God wants us to know, feel and do. We also want to encourage each other to start today and not procrastinate on anything God is calling us to do

In the Bible, diligence is a virtue that means to work hard and persevere in one's efforts. It is characterized by careful attention to detail, a desire to serve others, and a commitment to excellence.

Other Biblical References

Proverbs 31; Proverbs 10:4; Proverbs 12:24; Proverbs 13:4, Proverbs 14:23 

Living Wisely Teaching Series

Proverbs 11-12, 20
The bible tells us the importance of truth. It states that a knowledge of the truth leads to freedom. Integrity and honesty builds a community and enables a society to function honourably with itself and others.

In a world where it can sometimes seem that objective truth is frowned upon and truth is turned into a subjective matter, how do followers of Jesus live a blessed life of integrity and honesty.

In this session we will explore what should be our standard for truth. What should be the source of our truth? We’ll explore how honesty builds relationships and creates a thriving and growing community. We will look at how we can live with integrity so that what we profess and what we do are coherent.

At the end of this session we want to have a clear picture of God's heart for integrity and honesty and highlight the blessings physically, emotionally and spiritually that comes from building our lives with integrity and honesty

Other Biblical References

Proverbs 11:3; Proverbs 12:22; Proverbs 16:13, Proverbs 19:1, Proverbs 20:7

The bible tells us that “The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.” The tongue wields a power and our words will either bring life and hope or death and destruction into a situation. Words can be a seed of blessing or curse that last for generations. Words spoken or unspoken can have a devastating impact on a person's life.