Character Under Construction 3 of 4

Character Under Construction 3 of 4 Keeping Good Company

Objective: To develop a deeper commitment to becoming disciples who embrace and embody, Christ-like principles and practices.

Proverbs 1:8-19 NLT… My child, listen when your father corrects you. Don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. 9 What you learn from them will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck. 10 My child, if sinners entice you, turn your back on them!

11 They may say, “Come and join us. Let’s hide and kill someone! Just for fun, let’s ambush the innocent! 12 Let’s swallow them alive, like the grave; let’s swallow them whole, like those who go down to the pit of death. 13 Think of the great things we’ll get! We’ll fill our houses with all the stuff we take. 14 Come, throw in your lot with us; we’ll all share the loot.”

15 My child, don’t go along with them! Stay far away from their paths. 16 They rush to commit evil deeds.
They hurry to commit murder. 17 If a bird sees a trap being set, it knows to stay away. 18 But these people set an ambush for themselves; they are trying to get themselves killed. 19 Such is the fate of all who are greedy for money; it robs them of life.

Introduction: You can tell a lot about a person’s character (mental and moral qualities) by the company they keep, because our center/heart craves common bonds.

Transition: Our text is composed of two primary facets, instruction (verses 8-10, 15-19) and temptation (verses 11-14).

Exposition:

-The ideal for our lives is that we will not be closed to love that lifts us.

-The ordeal that life presents us is the result of being enticed by and yielding to temptation.

-A new deal for life can be attained when we fly high enough to spot traps.

Conclusion: When we fail to keep good company, we rob ourselves of a qualitative existence.