Sermon Notes
Date: 01/18/2026
Preacher: Monty Simao, pastor
Series: Wisdom and Worship: Walking Through Psalms and Proverbs
Key Text: Proverbs 4:20-27
Description:
Even when we know what’s right…
why is it so hard to change?
Today on Scandia Bible Church Podcast, Pastor Monty Simao takes us to the book of Proverbs as we continue our Wisdom and Worship study — where Proverbs 4 confronts one of the great misunderstandings of the Christian life: that lasting change comes through behavior modification.
Here, Solomon teaches that the real issue lies deeper than behavior — it lies in the heart.
The heart is the command center of life, and everything we say, do, and pursue flows from it.
Consequently, this passage calls us to carefully guard what we allow into our hearts, to recognize how our words and actions reveal our inner condition, and to seek true transformation at the source.
Ultimately, this proverb — and the others in this book of wisdom — point us beyond self-effort to the gospel, where God promises not merely better habits, but a new heart, given through Jesus Christ, who alone makes real and lasting change possible.
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Discussion Guide:
This guide is designed for both individual reflection, as well as group discussions like family worship. My prayer is that it will allow you to dwell longer, and meditate more, upon God’s holy Word and will be fodder for sanctifying conversations.
— M.S.
Scandia Bible Church 