How do we live with God?

Discussion

What was your biggest take away from the Pre-Work this week?

What is wisdom?

Share a time you learned wisdom the hard way. What lesson did you take from that experience.

Main Point: All of life is lived in God’s presence. God supplies wisdom for His people for all of life.

What is the difference between wisdom and information?

How do they relate to one another?

Read Psalm 1/Proverbs 1

Summary of the three covenants

Abraham—I will make a people to be with me.

Moses—I will give my people the Law to define how my people are to live in holiness.

David—I will give them a King whose throne will endure forever so they can be with me forever.

It’s costly to live with God.

We cannot just live however we want to live in God’s presence.

His presence changes His people.

When we get to the wisdom literature, we are given very practical and faithful instruction for how to live in God’s presence.

How have Christians overlooked the wisdom literature? The benefits/blessing of it?

How does the Law interact with wisdom literature?

The Law tells us how to live in God’s presence, but in a different way.

The Law is more directive

Wisdom is more invitational.

Wisdom literature is a situational application of the moral principles we see in the law.

We need the Wisdom books because life is complex/relationships are complex.

Proverbs 26:4–5 ESV

4 Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself. 5 Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes.

It depends on which fool you’re talking to.

Life/relationships are complex and the wisdom literature takes that into consideration.

You might miss that if you boil it down to 10 simple statements on two tablets of stone.

Proverbs 9:10 ESV

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

What is the fear of the Lord?

Why is the fear of the Lord the beginning of wisdom?

It’s an acknowledgement of the Creator.

“Fear of the Lord” is a real recognition of God’s holiness and the fact that He’s set apart/not like us.

Before I belong to Him in redemption, I belong to Him in creation. He’s the One who has made me.”

Having a right reverence of God is the beginning of wisdom.

The “fear of the Lord”/reverence is also to lead us to worship.

The wisdom literature teaches us that worship is not just when I feel good and the band plays bangers.

Worship is not just when life is good, but also in seasons of doubt, suffering, and confusion.

All of life is worship.

Think about this phrase: “All of life is worship.” What does it mean? How does it work?

We think wisdom begins with knowledge or experience, but really it begins with worshipping the Lord.

There are wisdoms in time/experience, but the wisdom that comes from God is divinely imparted by wisdom we receive when we are given the eyes of faith.

It’s starting point is a right orientation to God.

One of the goals of the prayer assignment is to help us think through how we can communicate with God—This involves a fear of the Lord.

The way we formulate our prayers ought to communicate “You are God and I am not.”

If the only purpose of prayer was adoration, that would be purpose enough to pray without ceasing.

Why? Because it rightly orients us to the Lord.

This week you read something from each of the wisdom literature books.

Job/Ecclesiastes = Sandpaper

It’s gritty, uncomfortable

Psalms = Kaleidoscope

The more we look, the more we see.

Proverbs = Slinky

The most steps you take, the more it builds on itself.

SOS = Fluffy pillow.

What piece of the Wisdom literature does the Church need today?

The psalms remind God’s people that God is King, He reigns and rules forever, and His kingdom will come.

Does Jesus use a Wisdom literature approach in the Sermon on the Mount?

Matthew 5-7

How do we live with God? We need wisdom.

Discussion

What is your main takeaway from this session?

Give an example of the difference between worldly wisdom and godly wisdom as they apply to a particular situation. How does motive factor into each type of wisdom?

When have you asked God for knowledge (information) instead of wisdom? How would you reword your prayers after this session?

Pre-Work 12.17.25

Turn and Tell: With whom can you share something you learned in this session? What do you plan to share with them?

Continue Prayer assignment

DUE NEXT WEEK

Everyone will be asked to read. Be ready!

Read Psalm 79, Ezra 1-10, Nehemiah 1-13, Ezekiel 11:18-21; 16:59-63, 18:30-32; 37:15-28; Isaiah 55:1-5; 61:8-9.

Read chapter 9 “Covenant in Exile: The Kingdom of Darkness from Remember and Rehearse.

Big Idea question for next week: “How do we live in exile?”

NOTE: Of course the work is hard, but it’s worth it. All good things are. If you keep on this path, you will grow in your knowledge and love of God.