WISDOM: A Life of Wisdom Looks Different Than you Think
August 1, 2021 • Michelle Rader
Wisdom: We all want it. We know we need it. And we are often deceived into thinking that folly is wisdom. We aren't alone. Way back at the beginning in Genesis 3, the serpent convinced our first parents that they could become wise by eating forbidden fruit, the fruit God had warned would lead to death.
In Proverbs 8, we hear the ringing words of Lady Wisdom:
To you, O People, I call out,
and my voice calls to all mankind.
You who are naive, discern wisdom
And you fools, understand discernment....
Blessed is the one who listens to me,
watching at my doors day by day,
waiting beside my doorway.
For the one who finds me has found life
and received favor from the Lord.
But the one who misses me brings harm to himself;
all who hate me, love death. (Prov. 8:4-5, 35-36)
True discernment, true wisdom, leads to life. And conversely, false wisdom is actually death in disguise.
So where do we find God's true, life-giving Wisdom? Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians that it is found in Christ crucified - the crucified Messiah is the wisdom and power of God. The serpent hid death in a false promise of life and wisdom. God displays true wisdom and life in the death of his son on the cross - it is in knowing Christ that we come to know and understand the wisdom of God - the true wisdom that leads to life and joy and peace.
A life of wisdom looks different than you think. Join us as we conclude our Wisdom series by a study of how Lady Wisdom in Proverbs 8 points us to the Wisdom of God in 1 Corinthians - Jesus, the wisdom and power of God - and what this means for our life today.
WISDOM: Renewable Resources – God's Grace and Money
July 25, 2021 • Richard Fredericks, Ph.D.
The generous are joyful. Less fearful. More grateful. It is a great truth of this counterintuitive kingdom we are a part of. Jesus said the more we give away, the more we blessings we have—that our life does not consist (despite 10,000 adds) in the abundance of things possessed, but in the depth of our relationships, especially with the God who “so loved the world that He gave…” Our goal is to be more like the God of the Cross and less like Satan, who is utterly wrapped up in himself and his own ego (see Isaiah 14:12-15). So join me as we explore the wisdom of Proverbs on the use of God’s resources in our lives and explore the truth that our resources are truly renewable and life-giving when we live as rivers, not reservoirs, for: “The generous will themselves be blessed” (Proverbs 22:9).
WISDOM: Reflections From My Sabbatical
July 18, 2021 • Raj Pillai
It’s good to be back with you after my sabbatical. This weekend, I will share some key thoughts and reflections from my time away. In our world, our nation, and our church community, we have (and are continuing) to wrestle with a sea of changes none of us could have anticipated. Throughout this journey, we have committed to deepen our understanding of what it means to follow and proclaim Christ and present everyone mature in Him. So what does the road ahead look like in pursuit of God’s mission? How do we navigate this season and what’s ahead? How do we stay anchored on what is truly important? Join us this weekend as I walk us through some thoughts and reflections about God and about us that I hope to build into a more detailed series this Fall. A message that I hope will encourage you and embolden you to press on as we seek to become what God has called us to be.
WISDOM: The World, Justice, and Jesus
July 11, 2021
This weekend, we are talking about a very important subject: Justice. We will take a look at what Proverbs and other passages from the Bible have to say about justice. A life of wisdom is lived out in the moral realm, doing what is right, just, and fair (equitable). And so, as Christians, we are to have a biblically-centered view on what justice is.
WISDOM: Where the Heart Is
July 4, 2021 • Blake Dunlevy
It beats, it breaks, it soars, it aches.
It can be hard or soft,
It can be empty or full.
It’s the origin of courage and the home of despair.
It can fail or overcome.
It can be big or shriveled.
It can be divided or steadfast.
There is more said about the Heart in both popular culture and biblical imagery than any other part of a human being or human body. It could definitely be titled “King of the Organs." It is sung about in every genre of music and poetry where it is credited as the source of emotion, motivation, pride, courage, empathy, and even, at times, intellect. Join us this week as we explore what the biblical writer meant when he instructed: “above all else, guard your heart”. More than that, we will explore what it means to have a heart that beats after our heavenly Father.
WISDOM: Families Worth Fighting For
June 27, 2021 • Michael Yudt
Join us this weekend as we continue on with the Wisdom sermon series by looking at Proverbs 22:6 (NIV), “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”
Everyone has a role to play in reaching the next generation for Jesus. That includes you! Let’s celebrate what God is doing in our community, while also having a honest conversation about the challenges facing parents and guardians today in raising kids. It’s not easy, and the whole church is needed in order to raise up a generation that knows and loves Jesus!
WISDOM: It's Never Too Late
June 20, 2021 • Paul Foss
“A good person leaves an inheritance for their children’s children, but a sinner’s wealth is stored up for the righteous.” Proverbs 13:22
“It just never seemed like my dad was there. Even when he was there, he wasn’t. I thought surely he would step up when I started to drown in my addiction… nothing. Nothing but silence. If it wasn’t for my grandpa I don’t know if I would be here today. As an Anglican priest he was my lifeline to hope and love and God…”
Who has helped you become the person you are today? Was it your dad, your mom, maybe a coach, a favorite teacher, maybe like Lee it was your granddad. Take ten minutes this week, get a pad of paper, a pen, and write down everyone God has brought into your life to father you? Write down their names, write down what they left you as an inheritance.
This Sunday is Father’s day. In Pilgrim’s progress Bunyan said, “If a man would live well, let him fetch his last day to himself, and make it always his company-keeper.” It’s never too late to leave an inheritance for your children’s children… Let’s go on a journey together to discover how!
WISDOM: To Do or Not To Do
June 6, 2021
To do or not to do? That is the question this weekend. Often, the quality of our lives is impacted by the decisions we make. So how do we make decisions without driving ourselves crazy about what may be, or about what we have chosen to do? How do we grow in wisdom when it comes to our choices so that we can choose rightly and live with fewer regrets?
WISDOM: Life and Death Is in the Tongue
May 30, 2021 • Richard Fredericks, Ph.D.
The 3rd speaker in our summer series on Proverbs needs to repent before they teach. At first, a summer in Proverbs seemed a bit much. But once they dove in they realized NOT SO! The Proverbs themselves call us to listen carefully, focus intently and apply intentionally (22:17) to attain wisdom--and for those who do—such rewards. They are not a quick list of absolute promises or prophecies, but the enduring principles foundational for a wise and God-honoring life. Join us as we knock down one of the dumbest of old sayings—that “sticks and stones break our bones, but words can never hurt us.” Not so, says Proverbs, but rather: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Our theme is WORDS and Proverbs teaches our words have huge impact on others and ourselves—now and for eternity.
WISDOM: The Two Tests
May 23, 2021 • Roger Record
There are two spiritual tests highlighted in Proverbs: Good times and bad times. These circumstances show our character and our heart status. These tests can also expose sin in general, our idols in particular. We can choose whether to deal with them or deny them, but if we decide to deal with them with God by our side, we will gain wisdom and will not stay the same.
WISDOM: The Good Life
May 16, 2021
This weekend, we launch a brand new series titled Wisdom. If you are wondering how to live wisely in an age of outrage, how to handle your relationships in a way that honors both God and people, and if you desire to make decisions that will not lead to regret, then wisdom is required. In this series, we will look at the book of Proverbs and explore how we can live wiser and end up with fewer regrets.
WISDOM: Fighting for the Friendship
June 13, 2021
I almost gave up on a dear friendship that I have enjoyed for over ten years. 2020 was hard on relationships. Perhaps you struggled relationally in 2020 too. Perhaps you lost some friends in 2020 due to all the upheaval around us. This weekend we will go to the scriptures to frame the relational trauma that we experienced. Proverbs chapter seventeen and verse seventeen says, “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for a time of adversity. It may be helpful to think about our friendships through the lens of confidants, constituents, and comrades. Each play a role in our lives but only one is born for adversity. Of course, Jesus is our ultimate model of what it means to be a friend.
“This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends. You are my friends when you do the things I command you. I’m no longer calling you servants because servants don’t understand what their master is thinking and planning. No, I’ve named you friends because I’ve let you in on everything I’ve heard from the Father." - John 15:12-15 (The Message)
“A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out.” — Walter Winchell
“A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden.” — Unknown
“A friend who understands your tears is much more valuable than a lot of friends who only know your smile.” — Unknown
“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.” — Donna Roberts
This week, I want to talk to you about, ”Fighting for the Friendship.”
