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WISDOMfor LIVING
Week 2Welcome to
DingwallFree Church
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those who lay hold of her
will be blessed.”
Sermons from
ProverbsApril & May 2007
Psalm 122:1-9 (p. 416)
1 I joyed when to the house of GOD,
Go up, they said to me.
2 Jerusalem, within thy gates
our feet shall standing be.
Psalm 122:1-9 (2/6)
3 Jerus’lem, as a city, is
compactly built together:
4 Unto that place the tribes go up,
the tribes of GOD go thither:
Psalm 122:1-9 (3/6)
To Isr’el’s testimony, there
to GOD’s name thanks to pay.
5 For thrones of judgment, ev’n the thrones
of David’s house, there stay.
Psalm 122:1-9 (4/6)
6 Pray that Jerusalem may have
peace and felicity:
Let them that love thee and thy peace
have still prosperity.
Psalm 122:1-9 (5/6)
7 Therefore I wish that peace may still
within thy walls remain,
And ever may thy palaces
prosperity retain.
Psalm 122:1-9 (6/6)
8 Now, for my friends’ and brethren’s sakes,
Peace be in thee, I’ll say.
9 And for the house of God our LORD,
I’ll seek thy good alway.
Prayer
&
Children’s Talk
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those
who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18
WhoAre
Your…?
Wise Friends
Best Friend
I have called you friends, for everything that I learned
from my Father I have made known to you
John 15:15
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (p. 185)
1 O LORD, I call to you.Come quickly! I’m in need!
And, when I cry to you for help,to my appeal give heed.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (2/5)
2 Like incense may my prayerbefore your face arise—
The raising of my hands be likethe evening sacrifice.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (3/5)
3 Keep watch, LORD, on my mouthand guard my lips, I pray;
4 Let not my heart to evil thoughtsbe drawn and led astray.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (4/5)
Keep me from taking partin what the evil do;
Let me not taste their choicest food,
lest I be false to you.
Psalm 141: 1-5a* (5/5)
5 A righteous friend’s rebukewill be a soothing balm;
Such blows, in kindness aimed at me,
will never do me harm.
Bible Reading
–
Proverbs 1:1-19
Page 635
Wisdom is… “a tree of life to those who embrace her; those
who lay hold of her will be blessed.” Prov. 3:18
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:
• 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--
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 5 let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance--
• 6 for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.
• 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
• 8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching.
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 9 They will be a garland to grace your head and a chain to adorn your neck.
• 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not give in to them.
• 11 If they say, "Come along with us; let's lie in wait for someone's blood, let's waylay some harmless soul;
• 12 let's swallow them alive, like the grave, and whole, like those who go down to the pit;
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 13 we will get all sorts of valuable things and fill our houses with plunder;
• 14 throw in your lot with us, and we will share a common purse"--
• 15 my son, do not go along with them, do not set foot on their paths;
Bible Reading (Pew Bible - page 635) Proverbs 1:1-19
• 16 for their feet rush into sin, they are swift to shed blood.
• 17 How useless to spread a net in full view of all the birds!
• 18 These men lie in wait for their own blood; they waylay only themselves!
• 19 Such is the end of all who go after ill-gotten gain; it takes away the lives of those who get it.
Psalm 73:23-26 (p. 316)
23 Nevertheless continually,O Lord, I am with thee:
Thou dost me hold by my right hand,
and still upholdest me.
Psalm 73:23-26 (2/4)
24 Thou, with thy counsel, while I live,
wilt me conduct and guide;And to thy glory afterward
receive me to abide.
Psalm 73:23-26 (3/4)
25 Whom have I in the heavens highbut thee, O Lord, alone?
And in the earth whom I desirebesides thee there is none.
Psalm 73:23-26 (4/4)
26 My flesh and heart doth faint and fail,
but God doth fail me never:For of my heart God is the
strength and pörtion for ever.
Proverbs - Wisdom for Living Sermon Series - April / May 2007
In Today’s Youth Culture – your Mates are probably more important to you than your family.
We all need friends, later in life we may seek out old friends – “Friends Reunited.”
Choosing our FRIENDS requires - WISDOM! We may choose Miss Folly, we may fall our with Miss Wisdom!
What makes a good friend?
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
God’s Book is not abstract theology. It’s for real life / daily friendships.
The aim of Proverbs (1:1) – includes wisdom for this area of life.
Miss (or Mr) Wisdom have their PRIMARY relationship right: 1:7The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline.
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
• 1:8-10 - The Wrong kind of friend.
• 12:26 - A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
• 13:20 - He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
• It can be tough for a Christian…
A friend loves at all times
1 – Choose Faithful Friends
• The WISE friend is faithful even in TOUGH times. 17:17 - A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
• Not just a friend in good times!• 18:24 - A man of many companions
may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
A friend loves at all times
2 – Be a Faithful Friend!
• What kind of friend will you be? • If your friend goes through a rocky
time – and your friendship seems all one sided – will you be faithful?
• 19:4 - Wealth brings many friends but a poor man's friend deserts him.
• Howard Hughes (once worth $4 billion) said: "I'd give it all for a good friend."
A friend loves at all times
3 – Choose Honest Friends
• The WISE friend is honest – however hard.
• We may like our friends to “rubber stamp” our own ideas, BUT…
• 29:5 - Whoever flatters his neighbour is spreading a net for his feet.
• 28:28: A lying tongue hates those it hurts & a flattering mouth works ruin.
The light of the righteous
shines brightlyProverbs 13:9
3 – Choose Honest Friends
• ‘Miss Folly’ backs you up – especially when you are wrong!
• It takes a real friend to hurt you in love: 27:6 - "Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses."
• It takes an honest friend to call you to repent - back to God’s plan for your life. Will you have the humility to accept a loving rebuke?
The light of the righteous
shines brightlyProverbs 13:9
4 – Choose Approachable Friends
• Miss (or Mr) Wisdom is forgiving, and sensitive. So get talking!
• A true friend will treat a good friendship with care.
• The wise friend gives you space – 25:17 - Seldom set foot in your neighbour's house- too much of you and he will hate you.
• A wise friend watches his mouth! (17:9)
"He who covers over an offence promotes
love, but whoever repeats the matter
separates close friends."
Proverbs 17:9
4 – Choose Approachable Friends
• The wise friend goes beyond the Book of Proverbs – he goes on to Jesus.
• Who else is so faithful, reliable, honest, and gentle?
• Isaiah 42:3 - A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out.
• Have you make HIM your friend?
"He who covers over an offence promotes
love, but whoever repeats the matter
separates close friends."
Proverbs 17:9
Psalm 25:8-15* (p. 29)8 Because the LORD is just and good,
He shows his paths to all who stray.
9 He guides the meek in what is right
And teaches them his holy way.
Psalm 25:8-15* (2/4)10 To those who keep his covenant
laws
He shows his love consistently.
11 For your name’s sake, O LORD my God,
Forgive my great iniquity.
Psalm 25:8-15* (3/4)12 Who, then, are those who fear the
LORD?
He’ll teach to them the chosen way
13 That they may prosper all their life;
Their children in the land will stay.
Psalm 25:8-15* (4/4)14 God’s friends are those who fear
his name;
With them his cov’nant he will share.
15 My eyes are always on the LORD;
He’ll free my feet from every snare.
Please join us inThe Church hall for a
Hot or Cold drink
God Calls Us to delight in Christ
and to ShareHis Hope.
Proverbs 27:19