Sermon by Bruce McCallum 9 September 2018

2. Long before modern medicine and psychology,
Proverbs taught that emotional well-being was
connected to physical health and well-being.

3. Main message of Proverbs
“You never really thought enough about
anything”

4. 1. What is the Heart?
Proverbs 4:23-26 (NIV)
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of
life. 24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep
corrupt talk far from your lips. 25 Let your eyes look
straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. 26 Make
level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.

5. What the heart loves most,
the head finds reasonable,
the emotions find desirable
and the will finds doable.

6. 2. How do you guard your heart?
Psalms 17:15 (NIV)
And I - in righteousness I will see your face; when I
awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

7. 3. How do you know what’s in your heart?
Proverbs 27:19 (NIV)
As water reflects a face, so a man's heart reflects the
man.

8. 4. Wisdom for dealing with the common
issues of the heart
Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)
A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the
bones.
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit
dries up the bones.

9. Anxiety
Proverbs 12:25 (NIV)
An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word
cheers him up.
Hebrew word – translated anxiety - means
“the emotional distress caused when something vital to
your life is threatened.”

10. 2 Corinthians 11:28 (NIV)
Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my
concern for all the churches.

11. Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by
prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.

12. Hope
Proverbs 13:12 (NIV)
Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing
fulfilled is a tree of life.

13. Alone
Proverbs 14:10 (NIV)
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can
share its joy.

14. 1 Corinthians 2:11 (NIV)
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except
the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one
knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
Proverbs 21:2 (NIV)
All a man's ways seem right to him, but the LORD weighs
the heart.

15. Jeremiah 17:9-10 (NIV)
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.
Who can understand it? 10 "I the LORD search the heart
and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his
conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.“

16. Proverbs 14:10 (NIV)
Each heart knows its own bitterness, and no one else can
share its joy.

17. Look deeper
Proverbs 14:13 (NIV)
Even in laughter the heart may ache, and joy may end in
grief.

18. Joy
Proverbs 15:30 (NIV)
A cheerful look brings joy to the heart, and good news
gives health to the bones.
Proverbs 15:30 (ESV)
The light of the eyes rejoices the heart, and good news
refreshes the bones.

19. How do you get joy in your eyes?
Philippians 4:4 (NIV)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
Philippians 4:11-13 (NIV)
I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to
be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be
in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the
secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well
fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do
everything through Him who gives me strength.

20. Guilt
Proverbs 28:1 (NIV)
The wicked man flees though no one pursues, but the
righteous are as bold as a lion.

21. Happiness is a choice
Proverbs 15:13-14 (NIV)
A happy heart makes the face cheerful, but heartache
crushes the spirit. 14 The discerning heart seeks
knowledge, but the mouth of a fool feeds on folly.

22. Long before modern medicine and psychology,
Proverbs taught that emotional well-being was
connected to physical health and well-being.

23. How do your change your heart?
Proverbs 4:14-16 (NIV)
Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the
way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from
it and go on your way.

24. “Sow a thought, reap an action; sow an
action, reap a habit, sow a habit, reap a
character, sow a character, reap a destiny”

25. Proverbs 4:18-19 (NIV)
The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn,
shining ever brighter till the full light of day. 19 But the
way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not
know what makes them stumble.