• Doing ministry, work, and life in a hurried, harried, and crazy world
August 19, 2010

5 Church Ministry Mistakes that Can Drive Away New Volunteers

By Eyvonne

I’ve made all of the following mistakes when working with new ministry volunteers. By avoiding these 5 errors, you can keep more ministry workers and integrate their unique gifts and talents into your ministry.

Read More »

Posted in Ministry | Tagged , | Leave a comment
August 7, 2010

Self-awareness is a scary thing (at least when you’re me)

By Eyvonne

I read the following quote from George Muller a month ago. Describing his method for effective prayer he said:

I seek at the beginning to get my heart into such a state that it has no will of its own in regard to a given matter. Nine-tenths of the trouble with people generally is just here. Nine-tenths of the difficulties are over come when our hearts are ready to do the Lord’s will, whatever it may be. When one is truly in this state, it is usually but a little way to the knowledge of what His will is.

This statement has been like a hot coal burning in my mind. It has made me realize how many of my prayers are centered on what I want to happen, and not what God wants. I have been trying to “get my heart into such a state that is has no will of it’s own” and it is HARD.
Read More »

Posted in Thoughts and Observations | Tagged , | 1 Comment
October 26, 2009

God’s Desire for Relationship: Exodus 19 – 34

By Eyvonne

We’re going to start our first study in Exodus. When you hear Exodus, what do you think? If you’ve studied the Bible or attended church at any length, you probably think of Moses, and the Red Sea, and the 10 commandments and maybe even Charlton Heston. You probably think that you’ve heard the story a million times, and even seen it on TV a few thousand and there’s very little you have left to learn about the Israelites exit (aka exodus) from captivity after years in exile. I understand.

However, as we explore these particular chapters, we’ll find that there is a lot of truth here left unexplored. We’re going to join the Israelites about 3 months after they’ve crossed the Red Sea and end with them only a few months later. I’ve been excited to see the fresh insight that I have gained from reading and studying these passages. I hope you will join me.
Read More »

Posted in Bible Study | Tagged , | Leave a comment
October 4, 2009

The Great Sin — Pride

By Eyvonne

A Sunday School Lesson from the Young Adults class at Brookview Baptist on 10/04/2009

From Mere Christianity
By CS Lewis
Let’s play name that sin! Read the paragraph below and see if you can determine what vice CS Lewis is talking about?

The Great Sin

I now come to that part of Christian morals where they differ most sharply from all other morals. There is one vice of which no man in the world is free; which every one in the world loathes when he sees it in someone else; and of which hardly any people, except Christians, ever imagine that they are guilty themselves. I have heard people admit that they are bad-tempered, or that they cannot keep their heads about girls or drink, or even that they are cowards. I do not think I have ever heard anyone who was not a Christian accuse himself of this vice. And at the same time I have very seldom met anyone, who was not a Christian, who showed the slightest mercy to it in others. There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it ourselves, the more we dislike it in others. (From Mere Cristianity by C.S. Lewis)

  1. What is your response to this paragraph?  Were you surprised when you found out what CS Lewis is talking about?
  2. How can we recognize this vice in ourselves?
  3. We are going to hear more from CS Lewis on this great vice.  What thoughts and ideas stand out to you?
  4. Are you, as Lewis suggests, more likely to notice this vice in others than yourself?  Has there been a time in your life when you have been painfully aware of your own struggles in this area?
  5. What do you think about CS Lewis’ recommended first step in this area?

You can read the entire chapter on The Great Sin, here.

Verses on the topic:

Proverbs 11:12

Proverbs 13:10

Proverbs 15:25

Proverbs 16:18-19

Proverbs 18:12

Proverbs 29:23

Luke 14:7-11

 In Luke 14, Jesus gives us a practical example of how to handle this vice in our lives.  Discuss his solution and how it would apply to you in your life today at home, school, church, and on the job?

Posted in Bible Study | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment
September 12, 2009

Mastering the Tongue

By Eyvonne

A Sunday School Lesson from the Young Adults class at Brookview Baptist on 9/12/2009

Has there ever been an instrument of mankind that has caused more damage than the tongue?  Today we’re going to look at a selection of verses from Proverbs and see what they say to us about mastering the unwieldy tendancy our tongue.

Today, I hope this cross section of verses will help you see how serious this issue is and the consistency with which the book of Proverbs addresses this topic.  God takes mastering our speach very seriously, therefore so should we!

Truth and Lies

Proverbs 6:16-19
There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 21:6
A fortune made by a lying tongue
is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare

Proverbs 16:13
Kings take pleasure in honest lips;
they value a man who speaks the truth.

  1. From Proverbs 6:16-19, what three detestable things in these verses are related to our tongues and/or how we speak?
  2. Why do you believe lying is addressed so seriously here?
  3. What does Proverbs 16:13 say will happen if you consistently speak the truth?
  4. Do you struggle with telling the truth, and what can you do to improve in this area?

Holding Our Tongue

Proverbs 10:19
When words are many, sin is not absent,
but he who holds his tongue is wise.

Proverbs 11:12
A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbor,
but a man of understanding holds his tongue.

Proverbs 17:28
Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent,
and discerning if he holds his tongue.

Proverbs 21:23
He who guards his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself from calamity.

Proverbs 4:24
Put away perversity from your mouth;
keep corrupt talk far from your lips.

Proverbs 15:28
The heart of the righteous weighs its answers,
but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil.

  1. How should these verses impact how we speak and what we say to others?
  2. Are you suprised at the number of times Proverbs references holding our tongue?
  3. Is this an area of personal struggle for you? If so, why? What inner force makes you feel the desire to speak out rashly or thoughtlessly?

A Wise Tongue

Proverbs 12:18
Reckless words pierce like a sword,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 15:2
The tongue of the wise commends knowledge,
but the mouth of the fool gushes folly.

Proverbs 10:14
Wise men store up knowledge,
but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.

Proverbs 20:15
Gold there is, and rubies in abundance,
but lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

  1. Have you ever thought about how wisdom is linked to how and when you speak?
  2. How can you move toward having the kind of wisdom spoken of here?

A Calm Tongue

Proverbs 25:15
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

  1. What kind of impact could this verse have in your family, church, and professional life if applied consistently?

Flattery and Boasting

Proverbs 28:23
 He who rebukes a man will in the end gain more favor
than he who has a flattering tongue.

Proverbs 27:2
Let another praise you, and not your own mouth;
someone else, and not your own lips.

  1. What do you think Proverbs 28:23 means by rebuke? How do you apply this verse lovingly be and consistent with all of scripture?
  2. How do the instructions in this verse contradict what our culture recommends?
  3. Do you have a desire to praise yourself and point out your accomplishments to those around you? Why do you think Proverbs 27:2 recommends against this?

Self Study

Look at the following links to keyword lookups at Bible Gateway. There are three searches: one for the word ‘tongue’; one for the word ‘mouth’; and one for the word ‘speak’. Read through the verses in Proverbs that reference our daily speach. Are there others trends that you see that were not discussed today? What topics stand out to you?

Post a comment below about what you observed from this brief overview in Proverbs.

Posted in Bible Study | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment