10/11/26 Worship Service & Sermon: The Sluggard's Story - Proverbs 22:13

Join us for worship! 10/11/26 Sunday Service from Brick Lane Community Church in Elverson, PA. Worship Leader: TJ Waldy Speaker: Dave Royes Title: The Sluggard’s Story Scripture: Proverbs 22:13 Outline: (with scripture reference centered at top) "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Pr. 1:7 1. There are narratives within us 2. God’s call is upon us 3. There is a Father who keeps us The sluggard says, "There is a lion outside! I shall be killed in the streets!" Notes: Main point: A wise person must learn from the lips of the lazy 1. Introduction A. Good surprises B. A surprising proverb C. Main point 2. There are narratives within us A. The stories we tell ourselves will rule our actions i. An imagined situation ii. A convenient excuse iii. A narrative of victimhood 3. God's call is upon us A. Laziness is rooted in ungodliness B. Godly fear produces Godly zeal 4. There is a Father who keeps us A. A reversal of the sluggard's "logic" B. Preach to yourself a narrative of God's faithfulness "But we have many spiritual sluggards, and it is to them that I speak. They are not sceptics, they are not confirmed infidels, they are not opposers of the gospel, perhaps their sluggish nature saves them from anything like energetic opposition to goodness. Theu claim that they are not averse to the gospel: on the contrary, they are rather friendly to it, and one of these days they intend to be obedient to its great commands and to yield themselves as servants to Christ; but not just yet, the good time has not fully arrived. They have a very comfortable bed of sloth upon which they lie, and they do not want to rise in a hurry and exert themselves too much. They want to take this matter very leisurely and turn to Christ when it is quite convenient--when it will not require so much self-denial as at the present moment. 'Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep,' is their continual cry; and although God's watchmen disturb them terribly, and cry aloud that they may wake them, yet they sleep so heavily that they just turn over when they are most disturbed and drop into their slumbers again. I want to cry aloud under the window of such sleepers tonight with the hope that peradventure some of them may be wakened. What meanest thou, O sleeper? Wilt thou sleep thy soul away? Wilt thou lose heaven rather than bestir thyself? Wilt thou never lift up thine eyes till hell's torments are hopelessly about thee and within thee?" --C.H. Spurgeon, One Lion, Two Lions, No Lion At All "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction." --Proverbs 1:7 "Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever." --1 Peter 5:6-11 #Proverbs #sluggard #narrative To connect with Brick Lane, visit our website at: https://www.brick52.org/ For more biblical teaching, you can also listen to audio sermons at: https://www.brick52.org/audio-sermons