Scott LaPierre's Blog: Scott LaPierre | Living God's Way | Pastor, Author, and Speaker, page 8

The Unfading Beauty of a Godly Woman (Proverbs 7:10-12 and 1 Peter 3:1-4)

First Peter 3 explains how a woman can have unfading beauty. The godly woman in 1 Peter 3 can be contrasted with the ungodly woman in Proverbs 7 who lures the foolish young man.Table of contentsA Godly Woman Has a Gentle and Quiet Spirit Versus Being LoudA Godly Woman Is Submissive Versus RebelliousA Godly Woman Manages Her Home Versus Neglects ItA Godly Woman Dresses ModestlyAre Men or Women at Fault?A Selfish AttitudeA Godly Woman Can Pursue External BeautyWhat About Jewelry and Nice Cloth...

Three Ways to Resist Temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9

God personifies temptation as a harlot in Proverbs 7. The chapter gives us one of the greatest pictures of temptation in Scripture. The harlot pursues the young man the way temptation pursues us. The chapter also gives us one of the greatest pictures of the foolishness of giving in to temptation. The young man should have resisted the harlot like we should resist temptation. Here are three ways to resist temptation from Proverbs 7:6-9.Table of contentsTo Resist Temptation, Don’t Take the Fir...

Young Men Overcoming the Evil One By…

In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. Twice, the verses mention young men overcoming the evil one. They do so by being spiritually strong, being in God’s Word, being self-controlled, and resisting the harlot in Proverbs 7.Table of contentsYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Spiritually StrongYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being in God’s WordYoung Men Overcome the Evil One By Being Self-ControlledYoung Men Are Fig...

Progressive Sanctification from Children to Fathers (1 John 2:12-14)

Progressive sanctification is the process of becoming more like Jesus. Justification is the once-for-all-time moment God declares us righteous by faith in Christ. Progressive sanctification begins after justification and continues throughout our Christian lives until we receive glorified bodies. In 1 John 2:12-14 progressive sanctification is divided into three stages: children, young men, and fathers. God’s spiritual family is like human families, with members at different maturity levels.T...

When I Kept Silent About My Sin (Psalm 32:3-5)

David committed adultery with Bathsheba and murdered her husband, Uriah, in 2 Samuel 11. We wouldn’t know it from that chapter, but David was paying an excruciating price while he wouldn’t confess. He wrote, “When I kept silent about my sin,” and then described the consequences he experienced in Psalm 32:3-5.Table of contentsOutline for Psalm 32:1-5Psalm 32:3-4 Describes David's Misery When He Kept Silent About His SinSin Is a Heavy BurdenIf We Keep Silent About Sin, It Can Physically Affect...

Blessed Are Those Whose Sins Are Covered (Psalm 32:1-2)

God took away Adam and Eve’s fig leaves and clothed them himself. He stopped them from covering themselves, and he covered them. This is a physical picture of a spiritual reality. God doesn’t want us to cover our sins. He wants to cover our sins for us. In Psalm 32:1 David wrote, "Blessed are those whose sins are covered." We can't cover our sins. When we try, we fail. We still see our sin. It is always before us. But when we confess our sin, and God covers it, it is hidden from sight, never to...

The Stone that the Builders Rejected Has Become the Cornerstone (Psalm 118:22)

Jesus quoted Psalm 118:22 at the end of the parable of the vineyard owner: "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." In a few days, the religious leaders arrest Jesus and murder him. They look victorious, and he looks defeated, but this verse lets everyone know he will be victorious, and they will be defeated. Even though they rejected Jesus, God the Father chose to exalt him.Table of contentsGod Stopped Focusing on Israel and Focused on GentilesGod Gave His Vineyard...

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked Husbandmen (Luke 20:9-18)

The Parable of the Vineyard Owner and the Wicked Husbandmen is in Matthew 21: 33-46, Mark 12:1-12, and Luke 20:9-18. As the owner continued to send servant after servant after servant (the way God sent prophet after prophet after prophet), it says much about the tenants and how stiff-necked and rebellious they were. But it says even more about the vineyard owner (God) who kept sending them because of how longsuffering he is.Table of contentsGod Pursues PeopleGod's Pursuit in the Parable of t...

The Song of the Vineyard (Isaiah 5:1-7)

The owner comes looking for fruit in the Song of the Vineyard in Isaiah 5:1-7. He didn't send servants too early when the tenants were not ready. God is not expecting us to produce fruit that we are not ready to produce yet. But because of all God has done for his vineyard, whether Israel in the Old Testament or the church in the New Testament, he still expects fruit.Table of contentsDon't Take God’s Grace for GrantedGod's Grace in My LifeWe Should Examine Our FruitGod Only Needs to Remove H...

Prepare the Way of the Lord Spiritually Versus Physically (Luke 3:1-6)

John the Baptist told people to “Prepare the way of the Lord.” There’s no record of Jesus walking around saying, “Man, these roads are terrible. Why didn’t anyone fix things up for me?” The preparation he wanted was spiritual instead of physical. Jesus didn’t care about having better roads to walk on, but he did care about people having better hearts to receive him.Table of contentsThe Old Testament Prophesied a King Was ComingWhen Kings CameIs This What Jesus Really Wanted?Jesus Wants Heart...