Wednesday, May 29, 2019

June 16, 2019 – Learning from James – Wisdom: Gift or Goal


-                        The

Wisdom: Gift or Goal


Proverbs 2:1-10 - New International Version (NIV)

1 My son, if you accept my words
    and store up my commands within you,
turning your ear to wisdom
    and applying your heart to understanding—
indeed, if you call out for insight
    and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
    and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
    and find the knowledge of God.

For the Lord gives wisdom;
    from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
He holds success in store for the upright,
    he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless,
for he guards the course of the just
    and protects the way of his faithful ones.

Then you will understand what is right and just
    and fair—every good path.
10 For wisdom will enter your heart,
    and knowledge will be pleasant to your soul.
11 Discretion will protect you,
    and understanding will guard you.

What will you understand and find if you accept Solomon’s words, turn your ear to wisdom, call for insight and search for it as for hidden treasure (verses 1-5)?

In your opinion, what is “fear of the Lord” (verse 5)?

Who gives wisdom (verse 6)?

What comes from the mouth of the Lord (verse 6)?

Who is the Lord a shield for (verse 7)?

What does the Lord protect (verse 8)?

What will we then understand  (verse 9)?

Where will wisdom enter (verse 10)?

What will understanding do (verse 11)?

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


Mark 8:27-33 - New International Version (NIV)                

27 Jesus and his disciples went on to the villages around Caesarea Philippi. On the way he asked them, “Who do people say I am?”

28 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.”

29 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

Peter answered, “You are the Messiah.”

30 Jesus warned them not to tell anyone about him.

31 He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. 32 He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him.

33 But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.”

Where were Jesus and his disciples (verse 27)?

Who did the people say that Jesus was (verses 27 and 28)?

How did Peter answer Jesus’ question “who do you say I am” (verse 29)?

In your opinion, why did Jesus warn them not to tell anyone (verse 30)?

Who must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law (verse 31)?

What will happen three days after he is killed (verse 31)?


Who took Jesus aside and “began to rebuke him” (verse 32)?


What kind of concerns did Jesus say Peter had (verse 33)?


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


In your opinion, what does Peter’s correct answer about who Jesus is, followed by his rebuke of Jesus, and then Jesus saying “get behind me Satan” in Mark 8:27-33 teach us about the wisdom that is proclaimed in Proverbs 2:1-10?


1 Corinthians 1:18-25 – 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.

What is “foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (verse 18)?

What will happen to “the wisdom of the wise” (verse 19)?

In your opinion, “where is the wise person” (verse 20)?

Who does the world not know “through its wisdom” (verse 21)?

Who looks for wisdom (verse 22)?

What is “foolishness to Gentiles” (verse 23)?

Who is the “power of God and the wisdom of God” to those who are called by God (verse 24)?

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

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


In your opinion, how does Peter in Mark 8:27-33 demonstrate both the wisdom of the world and the wisdom of God that Paul discusses in 1 Corinthians 1:18-25? 


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 are the “wise and understanding” to show it (verse 13)?

What are we to do with “bitter envy and selfish ambition” (verse 14)?


What are “bitter envy and selfish ambition” (verses 14 and 15)?


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


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


Who will reap a “harvest of righteousness” (verse 18)?


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


In your opinion, what do Solomon in Proverbs 2:1-10 and James in James 3:13-18 share in their belief about wisdom?


In your opinion, how do the two different incidents with Peter in Mark 8:27-33 illustrate the two different sources of wisdom explained in James 3:13-18?


In your opinion, why does James 3:13-18 talk about the “wisdom that comes from heaven” while 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 talks about “the foolishness of God”?  Are they the same?


In your opinion, what do these passages from Proverbs, Mark, 1 Corinthians and James help us understand about the difference between wisdom as a goal, and wisdom as a gift from God?


In your opinion, how can we find heavenly wisdom today?



(sprucewhispers.blogspot.com)

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