This week’s BIG IDEA:  Divided people are distracted by the surface. Devoted people see the heart of the matter. Scripture of the Day:  "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you." - Proverbs 4:23-25 (NIV)   The heart is the wellspring of our being, influencing our thoughts, words, and actions. Solomon urge

BIG IDEA: Distracted men produce a divided people   Scripture Reading: 1 John 1:9   "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."   Psalm 51:10 "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." The remedy for a distracted and divided heart is only found through repentance. What exactly is repentance? It is a change of heart and mind that produces a change in your life.  1 John 1:9 pr

BIG IDEA: Distracted men produce a divided people    Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 11:4    "For when Solomon was old his wives turned away his heart after other gods, and his heart was not wholly true to the Lord his God, as was the heart of David his father." Exodus 20:3 ESV  "You shall have no other gods before me." Solomon's relationships with foreign wives eventually led to idolatry, drawing his heart away from God. This passage highlights the dangers of forming alliances th

BIG IDEA: Distracted men produce a divided people    Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 10:19  "The throne had six steps, and the throne had a round top, and on each side of the seat were armrests and two lions standing beside the armrests." Philippians 2:3-4  "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others." The description of Solomon’s

BIG IDEA: Distracted men produce a divided people   Scripture Reading: 1 Kings 10:14-15    "Now the weight of gold that came to Solomon in one year was 666 talents of gold, besides that which came from the explorers and from the business of the merchants, and from all the kings of the west and from the governors of the land." Matthew 6:24 ESV  "No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the ot