Week 3 & 4

10/11/09

Introduction to Proverbs & Biblical Wisdom

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.  Isaiah 33:6 NIV

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge/wisdom. Proverbs 1:7; 9:10

Review: Proverbs 1:1-7

  1. Wisdom – skill, knowledge, understanding, insight, prudence, discretion, discernment, maturity for the good of the covenant community (Eph.4:11-16).
  2. Character/virtueàactionàconsequence (Pr.1:3, righteous, upright)
  3. Instruction in wisdom – intergenerational (Pr.1:4-5)
  4. Wisdom is always characterized by humility.
  5. Fear of the Lord – The wisdom of God in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. (Pr.1:7)
  • The New Covenant – Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
  • “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.” John 4:24-26

Understanding the Gospel

  1. Why is the Gospel foolishness to the world? Counter-cultural?
  2. What is moralistic therapeutic deism, and why is it antithetical to the Gospel?
  3. As described by Smith and his team, Moralistic Therapeutic Deism consists of beliefs like these: 1. “A god exists who created and ordered the world and watches over human life on earth.” 2. “God wants people to be good, nice, and fair to each other, as taught in the Bible and by most world religions.” 3. “The central goal of life is to be happy and to feel good about oneself.” 4. “God does not need to be particularly involved in one’s life except when God is needed to resolve a problem.” 5. “Good people go to heaven when they die.”

Growth in Wisdom in the Church

  1. Identity – Deut. 6:20-25 (notice the relationship of the family and the church).
  2. Gospel worship – “The Protestant Reformers taught that a major function of these commandments is revelation. In attempting to obey the commandments, we learn the extent of our sinfulness and the means of our redemption. Thus, the commandments name a way of life made possible by our initiation (baptism) into a community where there are regular opportunities for confession, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Again, we cannot obey the commands of the Decalogue on our own. We could not stand the force of Jesus’ command “obey everything that I have commanded you” if it were not for his “I am with you always”.[1]
  3. The church, i.e. the covenant community is an environment where growth in wisdom thrives.
  4. What are some of the hindrances to growth in wisdom?
  5. How can we encourage growth in wisdom in the family and the church?

Proverbs 1:8-19 – Learning How to Listen to Wisdom (Intro)

  1. The Wise know who to listen to.
  2. The role of parents in teaching wisdom (Pr.4:1-9).
  3. Two paths. Two communities
  4. Discerning true and false speech.

Homework

  1. Study Proverbs 1:8-19
  2. Are you or your children tempted to join a gang? If not, what does this passage have to teach us about wisdom?
  3. The proverb found in verse 17 is a riddle. What does it mean?

Notes from 9/27/09

10 You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, 11 my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. 12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, 13 while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. 14 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it 15 and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.  2 Tim. 3:10-17

Paul the Wise – Timothy’s Spiritual Father/Authority

Wise unto salvation – Proverbs 1-9, Lady Wisdom or Lady Folly

For teaching, for reproof, for correction – Proverbs 1:2

And for instruction in righteousness – Proverbs 1:3

Equipped for every good work – righteousness, justice, and equity

Prologue – the fear of the LORD.

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery – Exodus 20:2

I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of slavery to Satan, sin, and death, by the life, death, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Wise have authority –YHWHà King (rulers, pastors, elders, deacons, parents, etc.) – Proverbs 1:5

Ephesians 5 – “as unto the Lord”

The fool rebels against (God’s) authority – Proverbs 1:7b

A Culture of Wisdom – an environment where wisdom can thrive

Hindrances to Wisdom:

  1. Moralistic therapeutic deism
  2. legalism
  3. technology
  4. youth culture
  5. the fast pace of life

[1] Hauerwas, Stanley, and Willimon, William, The Truth About God, p.22