Proverbs 1:7 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. The word "beginning" (reshith) refers to the chief principle or the first and controlling idea, rather than a stage which someone leaves behind. The fear of God is nor simply an action of the heart and mind, but it is about a right relation to God. When we have this right relation to God, then all we know about life is placed into the proper context.

This phrase can be called the motto of the wisdom writings of the Bible. It speaks to an outlook on life, and it drives our view of all other topics. Derek Kidner said of Proverbs, 'It's function in Scripture is to put godliness into working clothes; to name business and society as spheres in which we are to look for training." Understanding and applying the fear of the Lord will not simply be a nice addition to our lives. It must be the core of our lives.

Message from James Sumpter on June 19, 2022

Message from James Sumpter on June 19, 2022

Most of us have probably read Christian books about marriage, parenting, business, finance, leadership, and a variety of topics. However, friendship is probably not one we focused on very often. Friends help produce some of the greatest memories, joy, and support in life. They can also produce some of the greatest hurt and pain when relationships are not handled properly.

The absence of friendship can also produce great loneliness and magnify our sorrow. I believe one of the greatest gifts that God intends for us to find in a local church congregation is the blessing of friendships. Relationships and friendships have seemed to shift and change in the last twenty years. Human beings are more mobile, more virtual, and committed to more responsibilities than we ever have been. We have been acquaintances, but not always very many friends.

The book of Proverbs has a surprising amount to say about friendships. It speaks to the good and bad nature of different types of friends. From Proverbs, let's look at the type of friends we should be.

Message from James Sumpter on June 12, 2022

Message from James Sumpter on June 12, 2022

For the summer months, we will be looking at select passages from another Old Testament "wisdom book", the book of Proverbs. Studying the book of Proverbs is a wise thing (pun intended), but it is important to always keep the proper perspective on the book.

The book of Proverbs is different from the other wisdom books (Job, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Solomon) that offer more abstract wisdom to handle issues broader than general human experience. Proverbs focuses on practical wisdom handling everyday issues and experiences of life. However, it can still be challenging to develop a proper understanding of its teachings.

Message from James Sumpter on June 5, 2022

Message from James Sumpter on June 5, 2022

Message from James Sumpter on June 1, 2022