Our preacher, Mark Stinnett, publishes articles for the church bulletin each week. These articles are designed to teach, encourage and challenge the members of our congregation. His latest articles can be found below with the most recent at the beginning of the list. Mark has archived all of his articles on his personal blog 'MicroMarks' which can be accessed at: micromarks.blogspot.com.
Preacher's Blog
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More Than Sacrifice
From Proverbs 21:3...
To do righteousness and justice
Is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice.
In the Old Testament, righteousness and justice are often parallel, even synonymous. However, when paired together it suggests a distinction. Often, righteousness is explained as ‘doing what is right.’ Justice is explained as ‘fairness.’ Those are meaningful, but there is more. Consider the words of the prophet…
He has told you, O man, what is good
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
In the leading Proverb and in this verse, the focus is on doing justice. ‘Doing justice’ involves people. The way you treat people is the focus.
Did you notice righteousness in Micah 6:8?
It’s there, just look, and ponder.
Micah’s question was presented to Israel by Moses many years earlier:
Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, and to keep the Lord’s commandments and His statutes which I am commanding you today for your good? (Deuteronomy 10:12-13)
The words righteousness and justice do not appear, but the concepts are there.
Righteousness is about doing what is right, first in one’s relationship with God. That means that a person does what God expects. We are to fear God, that is, honor Him, revere Him, and stand in awe of Him. We are to obey God by listening to His revealed word and putting it into action in our lives. To do God’s will also means that we treat people properly, that is, according to God’s way. Think: The Second Great Command. Think: The Golden Rule.
Justice more specifically emphasizes our responsibility toward others. We must interact with people with fairness and equity.
Now, what about the sacrifices in today’s proverb?
Two specific sacrifices are noteworthy. First, consider the sin offering in the Law of Moses. It was an animal sacrifice that was offered as an appeal to God for forgiveness for a sin a person had committed.
Re-read the proverb. God desires righteousness and justice more than a sin offering (sacrifice).
Can you see why?
If you were to live a life of righteousness and justice, you would honor God and treat your fellow man as God desires. So there would be no need for a sin offering! God would rather that you live a life free of sin, a life of righteousness and justice, than committing sin and needing to beg God’s forgiveness.
Another animal sacrifice was the peace offering, a sacrifice offered to show gratitude to God. It is naturally considered worship. Looking back to the proverb...God desires righteousness and justice more. That is not to say that He is not interested in our worship. Rather, Jesus said it well to the Pharisees:
You tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. (Matthew 23:23)
James wrote that pure religion is to take care of orphans and widows and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. (James 1:27) Go back and read that verse in its entirety. You’ll see it—righteousness and justice, more desired by God than sacrifice.
God is not trying to make people religious. He wants us to be like Him!
Let’s give God ALL that He desires of us.
Mark Stinnett
December 21, 2025
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Pondering the Proverbs
The Psalmist wrote of the blissful man whose:
Delight is in the law of the Lord,
And in His law he meditates day and night. (Psalm 1:2)
Some folks associate meditation with the practices of eastern pagan religions. In reality, meditation is nothing more than focusing one’s thoughts on something to gain a better or deeper understanding. It is good to pause in our Bible reading to focus and think about what we have read. I find it productive to ask myself questions about the things I’ve read.
If you have caught up on reading the Book of Proverbs (see last week’s article), then you may remember the following from chapter 1:
Wisdom shouts in the street,
She lifts her voice in the square. (1:20)
Wisdom is personified as a woman. Why is she shouting? What would that look like if it were taken literally, that is, if a woman actually stood in the streets shouting? (Focus and think.)
In verse 22 Wisdom calls out:
How long, O naïve ones, will you love being simple-minded
And scoffers delight themselves in scoffing
And fools hate knowledge?
What is the relationship between:
- The naïve and simplicity?
- The scoffer and scoffing?
- The fool and knowledge?
What is the difference between the three individuals: the naïve, the scoffer, and the fool? (Ponder.)
The naïve ‘loves,’ the scoffer ‘delights,’ and the fool ‘hates.’ What is the significance of these action words? (Meditate.)
When we pause and ask ourselves questions about the things written, we tend to look more intently at the text. We envision the scene and all the moving parts. It may help us to see connections not seen before, grasp a deeper meaning, remember things more easily, or remember longer.
Simple observation is a part of meditation. What do you remember about Proverbs 2? For me it is the ‘path’ chapter. The word path, or a synonym (way, course, or track), appears twelve times. Why is there such repetition? Is there an overarching message or emphasis? If so, what is that message?
Sometimes the text seems to jump off the page with a pattern of thought. It may be a mere poetic device or it may suggest a deeper meaning. Either way, it makes the reader stop and look...and ponder.
Sometimes the text seems to jump off the page because the text does not meet the reader’s expectation. For example, Solomon addressed “my son” numerous times in the first seven chapters, but in 4:1 and 5:7 he addressed, “my sons,” plural. Why? Is there significance? (Think.)
Some questions may be easily answered in the surrounding text. Others may be answered when considering the book as a whole and its repetitive themes. Some questions may go unanswered. Even then, our minds are sharper as we continue to read further in the book, as we re-read, and as we explore other sections of scripture.
Pondering the proverbs is not a science, but rather a simple means of delving more deeply into God’s word. What will you see today!?
Mark Stinnett
December 14, 2025
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The Proverbs Challenge
(NOTE: "The Proverbs Challenge" was originally intended to begin on Monday, December 1st. However, due to inclement weather we did not meet and the bulletin article issuing this challenge was not published and distributed. So, the challenge was adapted slightly to begin on December 7th. Anyone wishing to participate in "The Proverbs Challenge" may simply begin on the day they read this blog. Previous chapters may be read as desired to complete the entire book by the end of the month.)
A few years ago I issued to our congregation ‘The Proverbs Challenge.’ I would like to do so once again and will explain in this article.
Even a casual reading of scripture tells us that there are different kinds of writings in the Bible. There are poetic sections and narrative sections. The poetry of Psalms is different than the Proverbs and the prophets. Likewise, the narrative of Genesis or Joshua is different than the gospel narratives. Because of the different kinds of writings in Scripture, we read and process them differently.
Today I wish to challenge you to read the book of Proverbs in December.
The Challenge
Read the entire book of Proverbs over the next month as follows. Each day read the chapter in Proverbs that corresponds to the day of the month. (Since we missed last Sunday due to weather, you may begin in chapter 7 today. Of course, you can read the first six chapters to catch up if you wish.) Tomorrow, Monday the 8th, read chapter 8. On Tuesday the 9th, read chapter 9. You’ll finish Proverbs on New Year’s Eve.
Why Proverbs?
¨ Proverbs is easy to read and generally easy to understand.
¨ You will recognize wisdom you already know, and some that you don’t.
¨ Proverbs is about life in the present. So, it is practical.
¨ Proverbs presents the ideal when wisdom is applied to life.
¨ The wisdom of Proverbs is timeless and applicable to young and old.
¨ It’s not about reading the Bible for the sake of reading. It is about gaining wisdom without having to go learn from the ‘school of hard knocks.’
Things to Know about the Book of Proverbs
Proverbs is primarily a writing from a father to his son. The father pleads with his son to listen to wisdom and follow the instruction of his father and mother. In doing so he is assured a good life.
The first nine chapters in Proverbs have an overall theme. They flow together with connected thoughts. Then, in chapter ten, the writing changes with “The proverbs of Solomon,” the more familiar portion of the book comprised of individual sayings of only one or two verses in length.
While individual proverbs seem to stand alone, recurring themes appear throughout the book, such as: poverty, foolishness, righteousness, honesty, wealth, wisdom, laziness, generosity, good/bad speech, etc.
It is common for the second line of a proverb to extend or emphasize the thought in the first line. For example:
The generous man will be prosperous, and
He who waters will himself be watered. (11:25)
Often, a strong contrast is used in the second line. For example:
The merciful man does himself good,
But the cruel man does himself harm. (11:17)
Truth is sometimes taught by strong language or a stark illustration:
Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes,
So is the lazy one to those who send him. (10:26)
As you read The Proverbs enjoy the memorable ways that truth is presented. Then each day, pick out one verse or thought to remember and ponder throughout the day. I plan to draw from the Proverbs in some of my future articles and would be happy to hear from you about your ponderings.
Mark Stinnett
December 7, 2925
