Sermon Tone Analysis

CHILDREN’S MOMENT

Have you ever thought about what you want to be when you grow up?

says, “In your heart you plan your life.

But the LORD decides where your steps will take you” (NIrV).

says, “In your heart you plan your life.

But the LORD decides where your steps will take you” (NIrV).

“How do you get what you want?”

Sometimes what we think we want to be when we grow up changes.

After high school, Nate joined the Army to train to be a fighter pilot.

But one day before he started pilot training, the infection in his leg returned.

The Army told him he would not be able to be a fighter pilot.

I always thought I would be an Attorney when I was growing up—my Mom said it was because I liked to argue.

At first Nate was sad.

But he still wanted to fly, so he got his pilot’s license and became a missionary pilot in the country of Ecuador in the 1950s.

Nate delivered food and medical supplies to missionary families and flew others into the jungle to tell people, who had never heard the gospel, about Jesus.

Because of his example, Nate’s sister, Rachel, and his son Steve later became missionaries in Ecuador.

Nate didn’t get to do exactly what he had planned, but by following God’s plan for his life, many people came to know Jesus.

Some people lie.

Some people pitch fits, yell and scream.

[Ask these questions]

What would you like to be when you grow up?

How will you feel if God has a different plan?

Some people just ask nicely.

Other people make a plan and work on the plan.

Having big dreams for your future is a great thing!

It keeps us focused on pursuing our dreams.

But if God has another dream for you, trust Him it will not only be better, because he knows you better than you can ever know yourself.

Talk to God about what you want and listen to Him

INTRODUCTION

The big question we started with : How do I get from where I am to where I want to be?

The big question we started with three weeks ago was: “How do I get from where I am to where I want to be?”

Biblical principles in Wisdom Literature (Proverbs, Psalms, Job, Ecclesiastics, Song of Solomon):

Reap what you sow

Actions define outcomes

The simple keep right on going

Behavior determines results

Direction, not intentions, determine destination

Ten basic Biblical themes found in Wisdom Literature:

1.

The world has been corrupted by sin, and life is not fair.

2. Every person is responsible to respond for the light given to them.

3. Freedom was the first gift given to humanity at creation.

4. Every person has an innate desire to restore the freedom lost by our first parents.

5.

The typical person sees life as an independent journey resulting in choices to reach a desired outcome which best benefits them and those within their circle of concern.

6.

Every person starts where they are, and chooses to stay there or to take a road to another destination.

7. Most people do not look beyond the next bend in the road, they see only the distractions along their way.

As a result, most people never gain the courage to question or discover what lies beyond the bend.

8.

People often blame God for their broken lives, rather than taking responsibility for their bad decisions.

9. Sin always takes us farther than we are willing to go, and costs us more than we are to pay!

10.

A wise person looks at the second and third order effects of their steps, while a fool steps without looking!

If you narrowed the themes down to specific issues, each book answers a important question:

Job answers the question, “Why is there so much pain in this life, and how do I deal with it?”

Psalms point heavenward and teach us how to walk with God.

Proverbs are aimed at daily living and teach us to walk with people.

Ecclesiastes is a treatise on the nature of life and the struggles of life’s difficulties—it ends with a conclusion about life and God.

And Song of Songs is a romantic love letter and cautions us about what can take the joy out of marriage.

Now turn to

Solomon, the primary author of Proverbs, tells us that Proverbs was written

Prov 1:2

Who doesn’t want that?

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-

Who doesn’t want that?

To be PRUDENT means = “to know what to do,” “to discern properly,” “to exercise good judgment,” or “having common sense.”

Knowing what to do.

Exercising good judgment.

Having common sense.

Prudent = Knowing what to do.

Exercising good judgment.

Having common sense.

We don’t use this word very much, but the book of Proverbs uses it a lot.

In fact, Solomon compares and contrasts prudent people with a second kind of people, simple people.

SIMPLE does not refer to a person’s intellectual abilities.

It refers to the INABILITY & FAILURE to apply practical knowledge and common sense solutions to life situations.

From God’s perspective a person can be extremely intelligent AND simple; and, another can be less intelligent and prudent—like Forest Gump.

ILLUSTRATION

Forest was prudent—he thought long term!

He applied knowledge wisely to life situations.

He made decisions to ensure his future.

Treated people with respect who didn’t deserve it .

Built a financial empire and was surrounded by friends.

His Commander was much smarter but she was simple!

He ruined his life with drunkenness and loose living while he moaned about his problems rather than overcoming them.

He blamed everyone else for his failures rather than owning his mistakes.

In , Solomon says:

Flog a mocker, and the simple will learn prudence; rebuke a discerning man, and he will gain knowledge ().

It’s an interesting observation!

Solomon tells us, discerning (wise/prudent) people learn by verbal instruction, while simple people have to be whipped or beaten to learn a lesson.

In another Proverb, Solomon says:

A fool shows his annoyance at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult ().

Simple people let their emotions get the best of them.

They get mad and go into a rage; they gripe and complain when things don’t go their way—they don’t supply solutions!

But prudent people know how to control themselves and take things in stride—they may gripe, but they will find answers to problems!

Here’s another one:

Simple people are fooled easily; they follow emotions.

But prudent people use their minds.

Can you imagine if we mastered prudence?