Sharpen the Edge

INTRO

So, Shanna and I went to this Waffle House—not a fast food place, I’m talking the kind of place where the lights are low, the bill is high, and the menu doesn’t have pictures.

I order this big, beautiful ribeye—medium rare, praise God. The server brings it out sizzling on the plate, cooked to perfection… and then she sets down my utensil for the evening: a butter knife.

Now listen, I’m a grown man. I’ve cut a few things in my life. So I thought, “Maybe this is just a really soft steak. Maybe I don’t need to say anything.”

Big mistake.

I’m over there sawing like I’m carving a Thanksgiving turkey, while Shanna’s across the table just watching me struggle. The knife’s bending, the steak’s not budging, and my pride is writing checks my utensils can’t cash.

Finally she says, “Do you want me to ask for a real knife?”

And I’m like, “No, no—I got this. I’m just… tenderizing it from the outside.”

But let me tell you something—you can’t cut steak with a butter knife, and you can’t cut through life with a dull blade either.

Here’s the truth:

A dull blade can’t do what it was created to do.

And neither can a dull life.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

That word sharpen implies friction, intentionality, and proximity. You don’t get sharper by accident—and you don’t stay sharp without community.

So today, let’s lean into this truth:

You need people who sharpen you, and you need to be someone who sharpens others.

MAIN POINT

God designed you to grow in relationships that refine your purpose, deepen your character, and expand your calling.

1. DULLNESS EQUALS DANGER

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

A. IRON DOESN’T SHARPEN ITSELF. LEFT ALONE, IT CORRODES.

B. MANY CHRISTIANS OPERATE WITH A SPIRITUAL EDGE THAT IS WORN DOWN.

YOU’RE BUSY, BUT NOT FRUITFUL.

YOU’RE WORKING, BUT NOT GROWING.

John 15:5 NLT

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.

C. ISOLATION IS THE ENEMY OF SHARPENING.

THE BLADE ONLY SHARPENS THROUGH INTENTIONAL CONTACT.

STAYING DISCONNECTED IS HOW WE GROW DULL WITHOUT REALIZING IT.

MAYBE YOU’VE BEEN TRYING TO CUT THROUGH LIFE—BUT IT’S NOT WORKING. YOU’RE TRYING TO FIGHT BATTLES WITH A BLUNT BLADE.

SHARPENING REQUIRES CONTACT, CONNECTION AND COMMUNITY.

Hebrews 10:25 NLT

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

2. FRICTION ISN’T ALWAYS A FIGHT.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

A. SHARPENING IMPLIES RESISTANCE, NOT REJECTION.

FRICTION IS NECESSARY TO REFINEMENT.

SOME PEOPLE AVOID CONFLICT AND CALL IT PEACE—BUT IN DOING SO, THEY MISS GROWTH.

B. A FRIEND IS WILLING TO CHALLENGE.

IF EVERYONE IN YOUR CIRCLE ONLY AGREES WITH YOU, IT’S NOT SHARPENING—IT’S ENABLING.

GROWTH OFTEN COMES FROM THE TENSION OF TRUTH SPOKEN IN LOVE.

Ephesians 4:15 NLT

Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church.

C. MOST OF US WANT RESULTS WITHOUT RESISTANCE.

WE PRAY FOR CLARITY, THEN RESIST CORRECTION.

IRON SHARPENING IRON REQUIRES COURAGE—BOTH TO GIVE AND TO RECEIVE HONEST FEEDBACK.

WHO DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR LIFE THAT MAKES YOU BETTER…NOT JUST HAPPIER?

3. SHARPENING IS A TWO-WAY STREET

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

A. YOU’RE NOT CALL TO BE PASSIVE IN COMMUNITY.

IT’S NOT JUST WHO’S SHARPENING YOU—WHO ARE YOU SHARPENING?

YOU’RE STORY, YOUR VOICE, YOUR ENCOURAGEMENT CAN PULL SOMEONE ELSE INTO PURPOSE.

B. UNBALANCED RELATIONSHIPS LEAD TO SPIRITUAL EXHAUSTION.

IF YOU’RE ALWAYS GIVING AND NEVER RECEIVING, YOU BURN OUT. IF YOU’RE ALWAYS RECEIVING AND NEVER GIVING, YOU STAGNATE.

C. SHARPENING HAPPENS BEST IN INTENTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS.

THIS IS WHY SMALL GROUPS MATTER.

THIS IS WHY DISCIPLESHIP AND MENTORSHIP MATTER. THEY CREATE CIRCLES WHERE SHARPENING IS NORMAL.

Proverbs 13:20 NLT

Walk with the wise and become wise; associate with fools and get in trouble.

MAYBE IT’S TIME TO EVALUATE:

WHO’S IN YOUR CIRCLE?

WHO ARE YOU SHARPENING?

WHO IS SHARPENING YOU?

Hebrews 10:24 NLT

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.

4. STAY SHARP OVER TIME

A. STAYING SHARP REQUIRES REGULAR, INTENTIONAL CONTACT.

STAYING SHARP DOESN’T HAPPEN BY ACCIDENT, IT IS A RESPONSE TO RHYTHMS.

WEEKLY WORSHIP, CONSISTENT FRIENDSHIPS, SCRIPTURE IN COMMUNITY—THESE ARE RHYTHMS OF SHARPENING.

JUST LIKE A BLADE NEEDS UPKEEP, YOUR SPIRIT NEEDS CONSISTENT REALIGNMENT.

Acts 2:46 NLT

They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes for the Lord’s Supper, and shared their meals with great joy and generosity—

C. SHARPENING IS UNDERGROUND WORK—UNSEEN BUT ESSENTIAL.

YOU MAY NOT ALWAYS FEEL THE DIFFERENCE DAY TO DAY, BUT YOU’LL SEE THE RESULTS OVER TIME.

LEGACY IS BUILT THROUGH HABITS.

THAT’S WHY SMALL GROUPS, SERVING TEAMS, AND INTENTIONAL FRIENDSHIPS MATTER.

Galatians 6:9 NLT

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.

YOU NEED VOICES IN YOUR LIFE TO SAY:

“YOU’RE BETTER THAN THAT.”

“DON’T QUIT NOW.”

“LET’S PRAY RIGHT NOW.”

“LET’S CHASE PURPOSE TOGETHER.”

RESULT: RESULT OF INFO

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU STAY SHARP?

YOU START CUTTING THROUGH CONFUSION WITH CLARITY.

YOU START LIVING WITH CONVICTION INSTEAD OF COMPROMISE.

YOU BECOME A WITNESS TO THOSE AROUND YOU.

INLOOK - PERSONAL REFLECTION

AM I DULL RIGHT NOW?

DO I HAVE ANYONE WHO SPEAKS TRUTH INTO MY LIFE?

HAVE I ISOLATED MYSELF?

WHO AM I SHARPENING?

CHALLENGE: PERSONAL CHALLENGE

TEXT SOMEONE WHO SHARPENS YOU. THANK THEM.

PRAY ABOUT WHO GOD IS CALLING YOU TO INVEST IN.

COMMIT TO A SHARPENING RELATIONSHIP THIS SUMMER.

JOIN A GROUP OR START ONE BECAUSE SHARPENING HAPPENS IN CIRCLES, NOT ROWS.

CONCLUSION/CLOSE

YOU WEREN’T MEANT TO WALK THROUGH LIFE DULL, DRAINED, AND DISCONNECTED.

YOU WERE MADE TO LIVE SHARP WITH PURPOSE, POWER AND PEOPLE BESIDE YOU.

DON’T JUST SURVIVE SUMMER, SHARPEN DURING IT.

Closing:

INTRO

MAIN TEXT: Proverbs 4:23 (NLT)

“Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

1. YOUR HEART ISN’T A FEELING—IT’S A FILTER

Proverbs 4:23 says your heart determines the course of your life. That means it’s not just about emotions—it’s about direction.

A. WHAT GOES IN, COMES OUT.

You can’t binge on bitterness and expect peace.

You can’t constantly feed on fear and expect faith to grow.

Luke 6:45 (NLT)

“What you say flows from what is in your heart.”

B. THE HEART IS A SPIRITUAL GATEWAY.

The enemy doesn’t always attack your habits—he goes after your heart.

If he can corrupt your heart, he can confuse your direction.

C. GUARDING IS ACTIVE, NOT PASSIVE.

It’s not enough to hope your heart stays pure—you have to be intentional.

You can’t guard your heart on autopilot. You’ve got to check the gate.

🛑 Ask yourself:

What am I letting in through music, media, conversations, comparisons?

2. UNGUARDED HEARTS LEAD TO UNINTENTIONAL LIVES

If the enemy can’t destroy you, he’ll distract you.

A. DISTRACTION IS THE NEW DESTRUCTION.

It’s not always a bad thing that derails your heart—sometimes it’s just the wrong thing.

You can’t give your heart to everything and expect it to stay aligned with anything.

Ecclesiastes 10:2 (NLT)

“A wise person chooses the right road; a fool takes the wrong one.”

B. A WOUNDED HEART BLEEDS INTO EVERY AREA.

When your heart gets hurt but not healed, it starts to leak into how you see God, people, and purpose.

And if you don’t guard your heart after the hurt—you start building walls instead of gates.

C. FOR SOME OF US, THE GATE IS OPEN… TO EVERYTHING.

Approval, offense, addiction, anxiety—they just walk in unchecked.

But a guarded heart says, “You can’t just come in here uninvited.”

🙋‍♂️ You’re not rude—you’re guarding your future.

3. GUARDING YOUR HEART MEANS GIVING GOD ACCESS FIRST

A guarded heart doesn’t mean you block everyone out—it means you let God in first.

A. GOD DOESN’T WANT A GUEST PASS—HE WANTS THE MASTER KEY.

You don’t just need to filter feelings—you need to surrender them.

Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

“Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds…”

B. GUARDING YOUR HEART ISN’T ABOUT FEAR—IT’S ABOUT FREEDOM.

You guard what’s valuable, not what’s fragile.

Your heart is worth protecting because it’s full of purpose.

C. SOME OF US NEED TO DO A HEART CHECK.

Is Jesus still the center—or did something sneak in and take His place?

Guarding your heart might mean closing some tabs, ending some DMs, or praying about some “harmless” habits.

💬 Let God be the gatekeeper—because He knows what belongs and what doesn’t.

4. CONSISTENT GUARDING SHAPES LONG-TERM DIRECTION

A. WHAT YOU GUARD DAILY DETERMINES WHERE YOU END UP EVENTUALLY.

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest…”

Some of you feel like you’re guarding your heart, but nothing’s changing.

Keep guarding anyway. What’s planted in secret grows in time.

B. GUARDING IS A RHYTHM, NOT A REACTION.

Don’t wait for a breakdown to start guarding.

Set boundaries before burnout. Protect peace before the panic.

Acts 2:46 (NLT)

“They worshiped together at the Temple each day, met in homes… and shared meals with joy…”

Worship. Community. Consistency. That’s how they guarded their hearts—and shaped the early church.

RESULT: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GUARD YOUR HEART?

You stop chasing peace—you carry it.

You stop leaking purpose—you live it.

Your relationships shift. Your faith deepens. Your focus sharpens.

INLOOK - PERSONAL REFLECTION

What’s been sneaking past your guard lately?

Am I giving God full access—or just Sunday access?

Are there leaks in my heart that I’ve been ignoring?

CHALLENGE: PERSONAL CHALLENGE

Text someone and ask them to pray with you about your heart.

Evaluate your spiritual intake this week. What needs to change?

Start your day tomorrow with Proverbs 4:23—before anything else.

CONCLUSION / CLOSE

Your heart is the command center of your life.

Guard it like your future depends on it—because it does.

Don’t let culture have your heart.

Don’t let bitterness build a home there.

Don’t let distractions drive your direction.

Give God full access. Guard the gate. And walk in purpose.

Because when your heart is guarded, your life is guided.