GROWING IN GOSPEL CULTURE

WEEK SEVEN

JAMES

GROWING IN GOSPEL CULTURE

CONTRASTING

EARTHLY &

HEAVENLY WISDOM

October 16, 2022

JAMES 3:13-18

PASTOR MATT LAVALLIERE

I THE BIBLICAL CONCEPT OF WISDOM

A. We should always go to the Bible for our source of understanding.

B. Wisdom is an attribute of God.

1. Prov. 1:32

2. Prov. 3:19

3. Prov. 1:7

C. The wisdom literature of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and lob help us under-stand wisdom as a characteristic

of God.

1 . Ecclesiastes 9:11-12

2. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

3. Job 42:3-6

4. Job 41:10-11

D. It is impossible to understand human wisdom without first

understanding what true wisdom is. True wisdom is divine.

II. DEMONSTRATE (JAMES 3:13)

A. We demonstrate Godly or heavenly wisdom through our behavior.

B. James calls for a demonstration of our wisdom through our good works.

C. The good works James calls for are qualified by meekness.

ilI. DESECRATE (JAMES 3:14-16)

A. The location of our desecration of God's gift of wisdom is our own

heart

1. Prov. 4:23

B. We become cruel towards one another when we become

ferociously self-interested.

C. Manipulating spiritual gifts for self-glorification desecrates Godly

wisdom.

1. Cor. 14:12

D. Earthly wisdom is: (James 3:15)

1. Earthly Unspiritual Demonic

E. There is no neutral response to Jesus. We are for Him, or against

Him.

F. Selfish Ambition is an attempt to cover our own shame with our

works.

IV. CULTIVATES (JAMES 3:17,18)

A. Heavenly wisdom cultivates fertile soil for peace and loving

relationships.

B. The wisdom from above is first pure, which is a quality the hearer

must possess.

C. Real peace is had by minimizing anger (James 1:20, 3:18)

D. We are to demonstrate Godly wisdom by our good conduct

amongst one another and by so doing we uphold His glorious

wisdom.