Bonded by Belief

Welcome back, brothers and sisters, to our blog. Today, we return to the majestic truths unfolded in Pastor Sam Merigala’s sermon on the book of Proverbs, aiming to summarize the glorious heights of chapter 8 before transitioning deeply into the monumental crossroads of chapter 9. If you have been following along in our teachings, you know that the eighth chapter of Proverbs stands as the breathtaking climax of Old Testament discipleship. In Pastor Sam Merigala’s sermon, we are powerfully reminded that Wisdom is not merely a set of pragmatic rules, but rather the God-centered wholeness of existence. Before we dive into the new territory of chapter 9, it is absolutely crucial to summarize the staggering truths we learned from chapter 8. The primary danger we face as human beings is fixing our hearts on earthly pursuits—like money, success, family, or even ministry—with an excessive emotional expectation that eventually leads to deep despair when these things inevitably leave us empty. W...

Greetings brothers and sisters in Christ, today let us take a look into the glorious truths unfolded by Pastor Sam Merigala in his powerful preaching on securing satisfying and enduring wealth through wisdom. The sermon lifts our eyes to the very heart of life’s meaning, proclaiming that true wisdom is the God-centered wholeness of existence, and it is inherently joyous. The Grandeur and Climax of Wisdom Pastor Merigala explains that the focus chapter, Proverbs 8, presents a wisdom speech that serves to offer inspiration and encouragement to the disciple. This exposition of wisdom must be evaluated against the deceptive rhetoric and false promises of non-wisdom found in the opening chapters of Proverbs. It is in Proverbs 8 that the portrait of Wisdom and her ways reaches its majestic climax, recognized by commentators as "the summit of Old Testament discipleship". The danger we face, Pastor Merigala cautions, is fixating on earthly pursuits—such as family, money, success, ...

Greetings, today let us explore the profound truths presented by Pastor Sam Merigala regarding the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, the coming judgment, and the eternal destiny of all souls. This sermon offers essential instruction, drawing deeply from the Scriptures, particularly the Gospel of John, chapter 5, and the ancient wisdom of Job. We must grasp these biblical principles, for they govern not only our understanding of eternity but our conduct in this present age. The Uniqueness of Christ’s Resurrection: More Than Mere Revivification Pastor Sam Merigala begins by establishing a crucial distinction: the resurrection of Jesus Christ was an event entirely unique, one that "had ever happened before, nor afterwards". Though one might recall miraculous raisings in Scripture, such as Lazarus in John 11:1–44 or the widow of Nain’s son in Luke 7:11–17, the nature of these events differs vastly from Christ’s rising. What Lazarus experienced was technically not resurrec...

Greetings! Today we will delve into the deep well of truth presented in Pastor Sam Merigala’s recent sermon on the glorious wisdom found in Proverbs Chapter 8. This profound teaching calls us away from the ways of death and sordidness described elsewhere, lifting before us a brightly positive, God-centered worldview that is inherently joyous. The overarching theme of this wisdom speech is to provide inspiration and encouragement for the reader to pursue life itself. Pastor Merigala reveals that although the sage is speaking, using the figure of speech known as personification to portray Wisdom as an elegant lady - the very antithesis of the adulteress in Proverbs 7 - the ultimate voice we are hearing is that of Christ Himself, our Creator-Savior. This glorious truth is presented in four divine movements, guiding us from the public call of wisdom to the necessary decision we must make. I. Wisdom Commands Us to Prize Her (Proverbs 8:1–11) The first movement of the wisdom spee...

Greeting, brother or sister in Christ, let us gather around the blessed Word and carefully study the profound truths laid out by Pastor Sam Merigala in his sermon on the consequences of sexual folly from Proverbs chapters 6 and 7. Pastor Merigala’s sermon addresses the massive significance of sexuality in life. Our sexuality matters greatly because romance originates from God and reveals Him; ultimate reality is God's romantic, hot passion for us. Marriage is a divine creation that points to the "mega-romance of Christ and the church". This is not merely an ethical treatise on right and wrong, but a deeply practical warning concerning the very "way of life". The Commandment, the Light, and the Practical Path to Life Before detailing the consequences of adultery, the sage counsels his son to keep his parents' commands and teaching. These truths must be "bound on your heart always" and "tie them around your neck". This binding of the Word t...

Dear brother or sister in Christ, greetings in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are continuing our journey through the divine wisdom found in the book of Proverbs, focusing on Pastor Sam Merigala’s powerful "Wise Living" sermon series. Let us delve deeply into the counsel provided by Pastor Merigala in his powerful sermon on Proverbs, "The Path of Folly and Death." Having already seen how sin leads to deep disappointment (Proverbs 5), we now turn to the next level of decline Proverbs Chapter 6. This divine instruction addresses three critical areas where we, as God’s people, are prone to stumble, thereby jeopardizing our financial, physical, moral, and spiritual standing. Pastor Sam Merigala established that the wisdom literature guides us toward growth and change, revealing both the nature of God and the nature of ourselves, step by step, through God's extreme grace. Proverbs 6:1–19, provides us with an “extreme makeover” fueled by God’s grace, calling us ...

Greetings in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ, and welcome to this deep dive into the profound wisdom offered by the book of Proverbs, as faithfully expounded by Pastor Sam Merigala in his sermon series, "Wise Living." We are called, to walk a path of wisdom, yet the temptations of this world constantly pull us toward ruin. Pastor Merigala’s teaching on Proverbs Chapters 5 and 6 delivers stern warnings coupled with glorious gospel hope, emphasizing why we must cling to God’s laws of purity and diligence.  The Threefold Danger of Sexual Sin Pastor Sam Merigala notes that the timeless truth of the seventh commandment, as the Lord God thundered from Sinai: "You shall not commit adultery" (Ex. 20:14), He declared that sexual intimacy outside the bonds of marriage is intrinsically wrong, even if it occurs "between consenting adults." Why does God forbid sexual sin? Pastor Merigala organizes the warnings against sexual sin into three categories based on the ...