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Proverbs 26:20-22

Proverbs 26:20-22 Proverbs

Pastor Martin expounds Proverbs 26:20-22, using the imagery of fire and wood to illustrate the nature of contention and the role of a 'whisperer' in inflaming strife. He argues that just as fire goes out without fuel, contention ceases when the contentious person is removed. Martin applies this principle to parenting, urging parents to recognize and address patterns of contention in their children, rather than blaming external factors, and to understand that children's character traits are being formed for their future lives and relationships.

1 illustration in this sermon

The Analogy of Fire and Contention
compare analogy

Fire Goes Out Without Wood

The point: Teach children that contention stops when there is no whisperer to fuel it.

Martin uses the common experience of a fire going out when no more wood is added to illustrate how contention stops when there is no 'whisperer' to fuel it. This is presented as an easily understandable concept for children.

For lack of wood, the fire goes out. Now we're back to imagery. Every kid can understand. Son, honey, sweetie, what happens if daddy doesn't put any more fire in the fireplace or in the wood-burning thing?