September 23, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – Salty Wisdom

Salty Wisdom

Ecclesiastes 7:4-12 and 29 - New International Version (NIV)         

⁴ The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning,
    but the heart of fools is in the house of pleasure.
⁵ It is better to heed the rebuke of a wise person
    than to listen to the song of fools.
⁶ Like the crackling of thorns under the pot,
    so is the laughter of fools.
    This too is meaningless.

⁷ Extortion turns a wise person into a fool,
    and a bribe corrupts the heart.

⁸ The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
    and patience is better than pride.
⁹ Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit,
    for anger resides in the lap of fools.

¹⁰ Do not say, “Why were the old days better than these?”
    For it is not wise to ask such questions.

¹¹ Wisdom, like an inheritance, is a good thing
    and benefits those who see the sun.
¹² Wisdom is a shelter
    as money is a shelter,
but the advantage of knowledge is this:
    Wisdom preserves those who have it.

²⁹ This only have I found:
    God created mankind upright,
    but they have gone in search of many schemes.

Where does the Teacher say the “heart of the wise” is (verse 4)?

In your opinion, why is it better to heed the rebuke of a wise person than to listen to the the song of fools (verse 5)?

What is the laughter of fools like (verse 6)?

What turns the wise person into a fool (verse 7)?

What is better than pride (verse 8)?

Where does anger reside (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why is it not wise to ask “why were the old days better than these” (verse 10)?

Who benefits from wisdom (verse 11)?

What are both wisdom and money (verse 12)?

How did God create mankind (verse 29)?

Where has mankind gone (verse 29)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Matthew 5:13-16 - New International Version (NIV)

¹³ “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.

¹⁴ “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

What does Jesus call his disciples (verse 13)?

In your opinion, how can salt be made salty again (verse 13)?

What are Jesus’s disciples (verse 14)?

In your opinion, why can’t a town built on a hill be hidden (verse 14)?

In your opinion, what would happen if a lighted lamp was placed under a bowl (verse 15)?

Where is the lighted lamp put (verse 15)?

Where is the light of Jesus’s disciples to shine (verse 16)?

Whyy should the light of Jesus’s disciples shine (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what happens when you combine the Teacher’s statement that “God created mankind upright” only to have them go “in search of many schemes” from Ecclesiastes 7:29 with Jesus saying in Matthew 5:13-16 that salt that loses it’s saltiness is “no longer good for anything”?

1 Corinthians 1:18-31 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
    the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

What is the message of the cross to “us who are being saved” (verse 18)?

Whose wisdom will be destroyed (verse 19)?

In your opinion, has God made foolish the wisdom of the world (verse 20)?

How is God pleased to “save those who believe” (verse 21)?

What do Greeks look for (verse 22)?

What does Paul preach (verse 23)?

In your opinion, how is Christ “the power of God and the wisdom of God” (verse 24)?

What is “wiser than human wisdom” (verse 25)?

Why did God “choose the foolish things of the world” (verse 27)?

For what did God choose the lowly things, the despised things, and the things that are not (verse 28)?

Who has become “wisdom from God” for us (verse 30)?

How should we boast (verse 31)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what does the wisdom of God that is revealed in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 do to the wisdom of the Teacher as revealed in Ecclesiastes 7:1-12 and 29?

In your opinion, how can the “message of the cross” that Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 make salty again those who may have lost their saltiness so that they become the ones that Jesus commands in Matthew 5:13-16 to “let your light shine before others”?

James 3:13-18 – New International Version (NIV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. ¹⁵ Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.

¹⁷ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. ¹⁸ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.

How does James instruct the “wise and understanding” to show it (verse 13)?

What are we not to deny (verse 14)?

What is the wisdom that harbors “bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts” (verses 14 and 15)?

Where will you find “disorder and every evil practice” (verse 16)?

What is “pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (verse 17)?

What will “peacemakers who sow in peace” reap (verse 18)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, based on what James says about wisdom in James 3:13-18 how would you define the wisdom of the Teacher from Ecclesiastes 7:1-12 and 29?

In your opinion, how is the light that Jesus commands us to “shine before others” in Matthew 5:13-16 defined by the “wisdom that comes from heaven” that James discusses in James 3:13-18?

In your opinion, what do Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and James in James 3:13-18 help us understand about worldly wisdom?

In your opinion, what do Paul in 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 and James in James 3:13-18 help us understand about heavenly wisdom?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, 1 Corinthians and James help us understand about the conflict between worldly wisdom and heavenly wisdom?

In your opinion, how does knowing that we are to “boast in the Lord” help us understand how to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

September 9, 2018 – Wisdom from Ecclesiastes and the Sermon on the Mount – From Foolish Statements to Gratitude

-            The

From Foolish Statements to Gratitude

Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 - New International Version (NIV)          

¹ Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

² Do not be quick with your mouth,
    do not be hasty in your heart
    to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
    and you are on earth,
    so let your words be few.
³ A dream comes when there are many cares,
    and many words mark the speech of a fool.

⁴ When you make a vow to God, do not delay to fulfill it. He has no pleasure in fools; fulfill your vow. ⁵ It is better not to make a vow than to make one and not fulfill it. ⁶ Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. And do not protest to the temple messenger, “My vow was a mistake.” Why should God be angry at what you say and destroy the work of your hands? ⁷ Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore fear God.

What did the Teacher say to go near to the house of God to do (verse 1)?

In your opinion, what is the “sacrifice of fools” (verse 1)?

What should we “not be quick with” our mouths to do (verse 2)?

How is the “speech of a fool” marked (verse 3)?

What should we not delay in fulfuilling (verse 4)?

What is better than making a vow and not fulfilling it (verse 5)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “not let your mouth lead you into sin” (verse 6)?

What is meaningless (verse 7)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

Matthew 5:33-37 - New International Version (NIV)

³³ “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

What does Jesus say that His hearers have heard was said long ago (verse 33)?

Why should we not swear an oath by heaven (verse 34)?

Why should we not swear an oath by earth (verse 35)?

Why should we not swear an oath by Jerusalem (verse 35)?

Why should we not swear an oath by our head (verse 36)?

What do we need to say (verse 37)?

What comes from the evil one (verse 37)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how is the reason the Teacher gives in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 about not making a vow different from the reason that Jesus gives in Matthew 5:33-37 for not swearing an oath?

Colossians 3:15-17 – New International Version (NIV)

¹⁵ Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. ¹⁷ And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

What should “rule in your hearts” (verse 15)?

How should the message of Christ dwell among us (verse 16)?

What should we do “through psalms, hymns, and songs of the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” (verse 16)?

In your opinion, what does it mean to “do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus” (verse 17)?

How should we give “thanks to God the Father” (verse 17)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, what is the difference between the “sacrifice of fools” that the Teacher warns about in Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 and the “psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit” that Paul instructs us to use to teach and admonish each other with in Colossians 3:15-17?

In your opinion, how is the focus of Jesus telling us in Matthew 5:33-37 not to swear an oath have something in common with the focus of Paul telling us in Colossians 3:15-17 to “be thankful”?

James 5:7-12 – New International Version (NIV)

⁷ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. ⁸ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. ⁹ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

¹⁰ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. ¹¹ As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

¹² Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.

How long are we to be patient (verse 7)?

What does the farmer wait for (verse 7)?

Why do we need to “be patient and stand firm” (verse 8)?

Who is “standing at the door” (verse 9)?

In your opinion, why does James give us the “prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” as an example of patience in the face of suffering (verse 10)?

Who do “we count as blessed” (verse 11)?

Who is “full of compassion and mercy” (verse 12)?

What should Christians not do (verse 12)?

What is needed (verse 12)?

In your opinion, what is the basic message of this passage?

In your opinion, how does Ecclestiastes 5:1-7 which talks about the dangers of vows to God help us understand why James would counsel us to have patience and to use a simple yes or no in James 5:7-12?

In your opinion, how does Jesus telling us not to swear an oath by our head because we can not change the color of a single hair in Matthew 5:33-37 help us begin to understand why James commands us to be patient in James 5:7-12?

In your opinion, what does Paul’s instruction to “let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts” in Colossians 3:15-17 help us understand about the patience that James instructs us to have in James 5:7-12?

In your opinion, what do these passages from Ecclesiastes, Matthew, Colossians and James teach us about foolish statements?

In your opinion, how do we move from the “sacrifice of fools” to doing and saying everything “in the name of the Lord Jesus”?

(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)