Sunday, May 15, 2016

Wisdom: a group discussion


Some (much-summarized) thoughts from Sunday's group discussion on wisdom, based on the previous Sunday's interactive teaching on the subject.

Brandi:

Though we may not know if we're wise, it's the little things that God does through us, in us, and in those around us that gives us the knowledge that we're on the right track.

"Let not mercy and truth forsake you; Bind them around your neck, Write them on the tablet of your heart, And so find favor and high esteem In the sight of God and man. Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and depart from evil.
It will be health to your flesh, And strength to your bones." --Proverbs 3:3-8

(This passage appeared in a responsive reading she happened to flip to in the back of the hymnal after we finished singing. Pretty cool!)

Katrina:

Ephesians is chock-full of references to wisdom and how godly wisdom differs from that of the secular world. In sum, Jesus is wisdom!

"In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence." --Ephesians 1:7-8.

We should camp out in Ephesians for awhile if we want to understand how it relates to our walk with Christ.

Braden:

We can all seek it, like Solomon did:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him." --James 1:5.

Andy:

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." --Proverbs 9:10, 15:33.

Repeated in various ways in a few places in the Bible, and accompanied by knowledge in other places, this means the awe, reverence, and worship of God is the beginning of God-sourced wisdom. There is also a general, earthly shrewdness called wisdom, but there is a difference between that and what God gifts us with.

The context of Proverbs 9 shows that wisdom is accompanied by being open to correction. Fools hate correction and surround themselves with "platitudes" (Brandi's word!) and those who are only interested in having fun. Meanwhile, foolishness creeps in unaware. A wise man may not enjoy being corrected, but will know what to do with it.

Emma (grade 5): 

When asked the difference between knowledge and wisdom ...

"Knowledge is knowing things, and wisdom is ... what an old man knows."


Then we sung a few hymns:

Have Thine Own Way, Lord
The Church's One Foundation (in honor of the Church's birthday, Pentecost!)
Blessed Assurance (request from Braden)
It is Well with My Soul (request from Brandi)



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