wisdom for living week 2 welcome to dingwall free church wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who...
TRANSCRIPT
WISDOMfor LIVING
Week 2Welcome to
DingwallFree Church
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her
will be blessed.”
Sermons from
ProverbsApril & May 2007
Psalm 122:1-9 (p. 416)
1 I joyed when to the house of GOD,
Go up, they said to me.
2 Jerusalem, within thy gates
our feet shall standing be.
Psalm 122:1-9 (2/6)
3 Jerus’lem, as a city, is
compactly built together:
4 Unto that place the tribes go up,
the tribes of GOD go thither:
Psalm 122:1-9 (3/6)
To Isr’el’s testimony, there
to GOD’s name thanks to pay.
5 For thrones of judgment, ev’n the thrones
of David’s house, there stay.
Psalm 122:1-9 (4/6)
6 Pray that Jerusalem may have
peace and felicity:
Let them that love thee and thy peace
have still prosperity.
Psalm 122:1-9 (5/6)
7 Therefore I wish that peace may still
within thy walls remain,
And ever may thy palaces
prosperity retain.
Psalm 122:1-9 (6/6)
8 Now, for my friends’ and brethren’s sakes,
Peace be in thee, I’ll say.
9 And for the house of God our LORD,
I’ll seek thy good alway.
Prayer
&
Children’s Talk
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those
who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18
WhoAre
Your…?
Wise Friends
Best Friend
I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you
John 15:15
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (p. 185)
1 O LORD, I call to you.Come quickly! I’m in need!
And, when I cry to you for help,to my appeal give heed.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (2/5)
2 Like incense may my prayerbefore your face arise—
The raising of my hands be likethe evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (3/5)
3 Keep watch, LORD, on my mouthand guard my lips, I pray;
4 Let not my heart to evil thoughtsbe drawn and led astray.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (4/5)
Keep me from taking partin what the evil do;
Let me not taste their choicest food,
lest I be false to you.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (5/5)
5 A righteous friend’s rebukewill be a soothing balm;
Such blows, in kindness aimed at me,
will never do me harm.
Bible Reading
–
Proverbs 1:1-19
Page 635
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those
who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
• 2 for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight;
• 3 for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair;
• 4 for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young--
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
• 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
• 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• 8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
• 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
• 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
• 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
• 14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--
• 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
• 17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
• 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!
• 19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.
Psalm 73:23-26 (p. 316)
23 Nevertheless continually,O Lord, I am with thee:
Thou dost me hold by my right hand,
and still upholdest me.
Psalm 73:23-26 (2/4)
24 Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,
wilt me conduct and guide;And to thy glory afterward
receive me to abide.
Psalm 73:23-26 (3/4)
25 Whom have I in the heavens highbut thee, O Lord, alone?
And in the earth whom I desirebesides thee there is none.
Psalm 73:23-26 (4/4)
26 My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,
but God doth fail me never:For of my heart God is the
strength and pörtion for ever.
Proverbs - Wisdom for Living Sermon Series - April / May 2007
In Today’s Youth Culture – your Mates are probably more important to you than your family.
We all need friends, later in life we may seek out old friends – “Friends Reunited.”
Choosing our FRIENDS requires - WISDOM! We may choose Miss Folly, we may fall our with Miss Wisdom!
What makes a good friend?
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
God’s Book is not abstract theology. It’s for real life / daily friendships.
The aim of Proverbs (1:1) – includes wisdom for this area of life.
Miss (or Mr) Wisdom have their PRIMARY relationship right: 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
• 1:8-10 - The Wrong kind of friend.
• 12:26 - A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
• 13:20 - He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
• It can be tough for a Christian…
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
• The WISE friend is faithful even in TOUGH times. 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
• Not just a friend in good times!• 18:24 - A man of many companions
may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A friend loves at all times
2 – Be a Faithful Friend!
• What kind of friend will you be? • If your friend goes through a rocky
time – and your friendship seems all one sided – will you be faithful?
• 19:4 - Wealth brings many friends but a poor man's friend deserts him.
• Howard Hughes (once worth $4 billion) said: "I'd give it all for a good friend."
A friend loves at all times
3 – Choose Honest Friends
• The WISE friend is honest – however hard.
• We may like our friends to “rubber stamp” our own ideas, BUT…
• 29:5 - Whoever flatters his neighbour is spreading a net for his feet.
• 28:28: A lying tongue hates those it hurts & a flattering mouth works ruin.
The light of the righteous
shines brightlyProverbs 13:9
3 – Choose Honest Friends
• ‘Miss Folly’ backs you up – especially when you are wrong!
• It takes a real friend to hurt you in love: 27:6 - "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."
• It takes an honest friend to call you to repent - back to God’s plan for your life. Will you have the humility to accept a loving rebuke?
The light of the righteous
shines brightlyProverbs 13:9
4 – Choose Approachable Friends
• Miss (or Mr) Wisdom is forgiving, and sensitive. So get talking!
• A true friend will treat a good friendship with care.
• The wise friend gives you space – 25:17 - Seldom set foot in your neighbour's house- too much of you and he will hate you.
• A wise friend watches his mouth! (17:9)
"He who covers over an offence promotes
love, but whoever repeats the matter
separates close friends."
Proverbs 17:9
4 – Choose Approachable Friends
• The wise friend goes beyond the Book of Proverbs – he goes on to Jesus.
• Who else is so faithful, reliable, honest, and gentle?
• Isaiah 42:3 - A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
• Have you make HIM your friend?
"He who covers over an offence promotes
love, but whoever repeats the matter
separates close friends."
Proverbs 17:9
Psalm 25:8-15* (p. 29)8 Because the LORD is just and good,
He shows his paths to all who stray.
9 He guides the meek in what is right
And teaches them his holy way.
Psalm 25:8-15* (2/4)10 To those who keep his covenant
laws
He shows his love consistently.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD my God,
Forgive my great iniquity.
Psalm 25:8-15* (3/4)12 Who, then, are those who fear the
LORD?
He’ll teach to them the chosen way
13 That they may prosper all their life;
Their children in the land will stay.
Psalm 25:8-15* (4/4)14 God’s friends are those who fear
his name;
With them his cov’nant he will share.
15 My eyes are always on the LORD;
He’ll free my feet from every snare.
Please join us inThe Church hall for a
Hot or Cold drink
God Calls Us to delight in Christ
and to ShareHis Hope.
Proverbs 27:19