Lack of joy reveals itself in three ways: in negative thoughts and talk about others, in a lack of concern for their welfare, and in the failure to intercede on their behalf. Joyless believers are self-centered, selfish, proud, and often vengeful, and their self-centeredness inevitably manifests itself in prayerlessness.
John MacArthur

CHECKPOINT D

This entry is part 4 of 9 in the series Checkpoints for the Christian setting out to read the Bible for the first time

Checkpoints for the Christian setting out to read the Bible for the first time

CHECKPOINT D

  • Used with permission of Scripture Union, Adelaide South Australia. Copyright holder. Original edition (C) 1986.
  • Designed for the Christian setting out to read the Bible for the first time.

    F O O T ================================

    • H O L D

CHECK POINT D

Introduction to the selections from Matthew and Proverbs

  • The teaching of Jesus (Readings 31 to 37)
  • Words of wisdom (Readings 38 to 41)

THE STORY SO FAR

Already, we have a grip on the Bible’s basic message. We have read about the beginning of the world, the beginning of God’s family (Abraham) and the beginning of God’s new age (Jesus).

Now let’s look at the principles that indicate the kind of life we are to live in this new age. The best place to begin ins the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s Gospel; and we will then taste some ancient wisdom from the book of Proverbs.

MATTHEW

More than any of the Gospels, Matthew presents a royal portrait of Jesus. Jesus is the messianic King to which the Old Testament points.

A lot of his Gospel is given to the teachings of the King about life in the Kingdom. This material is recorded in blocks alternating with narrative material. One important block is called the Sermon on the Mount.

PROVERBS

The book of Proverbs gathers together several collections of proverbs. Most of the book bears Solomon’s name but there are other authors as well.

The heroine of Proverbs is a charming woman called ‘Wisdom’ who is contrasted with a foreign adulterous woman – ‘Folly’.

The basis of wisdom is to have reverence for the Lord and then to apply this to every area of life.

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