God in Sandals: Wisdom

Series: God in Sandals
Wisdom by John Burke - June 3, 2007

1. In this series, we’ll learn more about true wisdom and it’s source. And for contrast, today, John talked about some of the unwise things he did when he was a teen-ager… but of course, doing less-than-brilliant things are not limited to the young. What about you… care to share one of the most “unwise” things you’ve ever done? (10 minutes)

2. Ok – we’ve all had some “duh” moments. But, putting that aside, let’s go 180 and focus on wisdom. As John noted, there is a LOT of supposed “wisdom” out there – and we’ve all gotten both good and bad advice along the way. For now, let’s think about the good – and from a perspective of having enough time pass to see the true wisdom of the advise. Think back about some advice you were given in the past that you now think was really wise (whether you took the advice or not). What about that advice makes you think it was wise? Did you think so at the time? Write down some thoughts and then share in your group. As a group, try to come up with a list of what good advice looks like. (10 minutes)

3. Now, let’s think about people who are wise. Think of someone you know, or know of, who you think of as genuinely “wise” (it might or might not be the person who gave you the advice above). What is that person like? Write down some words that describe that person – and then in the group, make a list of characteristics that seem to define a wise person. (10 minutes)

4. Next – go through the list above and think about Jesus. To what degree is HE a good match for the characteristics of a wise person that you’ve listed? Discuss Jesus in the context of each characteristic . See if you can think of some episode/incident in Jesus’ life where He demonstrated each of the different characteristics of wisdom you’ve noted. I f there are any words that are NOT a good match with who the Bible tells us Jesus is/was/did, then talk about why you think the match is not there. (10 – 15 minutes)

5. As we go through this series on wisdom, we’ll no doubt be learning more about Jesus and Scripture as a source of wisdom, but for now, let’s do a check on what we really think about going to God and the Bible for “advice” about how to live our lives: Is looking to Jesus or the Bible for wisdom a regular part of your life? Write down some thoughts about why or why not. Then spend some time in the group talking about why people DON’T look to God as a source of wisdom for their lives. (10 minutes)

6. Let’s end by seeing whether God has any advice for us on getting advice from Him. John challenged those who do not know much about Jesus’ life to check out His wisdom by reading either the gospel of Matthew or of John. Was John talking to you? If so, write down your commitment to yourself to take the challenge and start with the first chapter from one of those “books” of the Bible tomorrow. Or if you already know about Jesus’ life and think He IS a wise man – are your seeking to get His wisdom in your life now? If not, is this a good time for you to take the challenge too? Finally, if this is not a challenge for you, see whether you can identify some specific area or decision in your life where you’d like God’s wisdom, and commit to seeking His advice this week, through reading the Bible and/or through prayer. Whichever place was right for you, right now, write down an appointment with God to seek His wisdom in the coming week. (5 minutes).

Bible verses from the message:

Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? Aren't all his sisters with us?”
Matthew 13:54-

“Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” But some of the teachers of religious law said to themselves, “That’s blasphemy! Does he think he’s God?” Jesus knew what they were thinking, so he asked them, “Why do you have such evil thoughts in your hearts? Is it easier to say ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or ‘Stand up and walk’? So I will prove to you that the Son of Man has the authority on earth to forgive sins.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home! Fear swept through the crowd as they saw this happen.
Matthew 9:2-8

“Many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them…so he began teaching them many things.
Mark 6:33-34

“I have no demon in me. For I honor my Father—and you dishonor me…I tell you the truth, anyone who obeys my teaching will never die!” ….(The religious leaders asked) Are you greater than our father Abraham? He died, and so did the prophets. Who do you think you are?” Jesus replied…“My Father, whom you claim as your God, is the one who glorifies me. Though you do not know him, I know him. If I said I did not, I would be a liar like you, but I do know him and obey his word. Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad." "You are not yet fifty years old," they said to him, "and you have seen Abraham!" "Very truly I tell you," Jesus answered, "before Abraham was born, I am!" At this, they picked up stones to stone him, but Jesus hid himself.”
John 8:49-59

"I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest detail of God’s law will disappear until its purpose is achieved. So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven..”
Matthew 5:17-19

“Jesus told them, ‘My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me. Anyone who wants to do the will of God will know whether my teaching is from God or is merely my own.’”
John 7:16-17

(One day as Jesus was teaching….) “A woman in the crowd called out, ‘Blessed is the mother who gave you birth and nursed you.’ He replied, ‘Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.’
Luke 11:27-29

"God's kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field for years and then accidentally found by a trespasser. The finder is ecstatic—what a find!—and proceeds to sell everything he owns to raise money and buy that field.”
Matthew 13:44


“You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you: 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'"
Matthew 15:7-9

Other quotes from John’s message:

“Now there arose about this time a source of further trouble in one Jesus, a wise man who performed surprising works, a teacher of men who gladly welcome strange things. He led away many Jews, and many Gentiles. He was the so-called Messiah. Pilate…condemned him to the cross.” Josephus, Antiquities 18 (A.D. 93)

Africanus, “Thallus, in the third book of his histories, explains away this darkness as an eclipse of the sun—unreasonably, it seems to me…it was at the season of the Paschal full moon that Christ died.” – Thallus, quoted in Africanus Africanus

“[Phlegon] records that in the time of Tiberius Caesar at full moon, there was a full eclipse of the sun from the sixth hour to the ninth.” – Phlegon, quoted in Africanus

Related Next-Step Resources:

• The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancy (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Jesus the One and Only by Beth Moore (available at Gateway Bookstore)
• Experiencing the Heart of Jesus by Max Lucado (available at Gateway Bookstore)
  

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