JESUS, THE MANIFESTATION OF WISDOM
This month we will look at Jesus and wisdom… this month we have left that book and are looking at Jesus, the wisdom of God.
Opener: Wisdom was Prized in antiquity, and it’s prized now. However, it’s important that we get the source of wisdom right, or it does no good. Who do I believe? Who do I Trust?
Read the following verses:
Acts 17:21 (TPT) Now, it was the favorite pastime of the Athenians and visitors to Athens to discuss the newest ideas and philosophies…. 24-25 (TPT)“The true God is the Creator of all things. He is the owner and Lord of the heavenly realm and the earthly realm, and he doesn’t live in man-made temples. [25] He supplies life and breath and all things to every living being. He doesn’t lack a thing that we mortals could supply for him, for he has all things and everything he needs.
Q1: Discuss the similarities today with the Athenians. What we’re they searching for? What was Paul’s answer? What about today, what are people searching for, and what would your answer be? Where can true wisdom be found?
Q2: How do they shed light on how we read and apply the book of Proverbs…and how we live our lives?
Q3: How do they speak to us about who or what we place our trust in?
Q4: How do they strengthen, encourage, and comfort us in uncertain times?
Discussion 1: Limits of human wisdom, a view through a straw.
Read: “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out! “Who has known the mind of the Lord? Or who has been his counselor?” “Who has ever given to God, that God should repay him?” For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him, be the glory forever!” Amen. Romans 11:33-36
Q1: According to Romans, who alone is wise?
Q2: How much of reality can we know, so why are we so proud?
How has what we’re going through shown us how limited we are?
Q3: Daniel—understood the source of all wisdom. Read Daniel 2:20-21 and discuss. “Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever; wisdom and power are his. He changes the times and seasons; he sets up kings and deposes them. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to the discerning.”
Discussion 2: The limitlessness of God’s wisdom…His is a perfect and complete view.
Exercise: Take a moment and think deeply about the unlimited wisdom of God–he sees all-time…all-purpose…at all times. God cannot be contained by human works and wisdom…he made everything…and everyone…and all of us depend completely on him…even if we don’t know that we do.
Q1: God is said to be light and to live in perfect light…this is a symbolic way of indicating his perfect ability to “see” everything…his wisdom. Light is symbolic of true wisdom… Light us allows us to see…wisdom is seeing what is real and true and valuable. How can we walk in the light?
Discussion 3: Walk in the Wisdom of Christ now.
Read: 1 John 1:1-9 “1 John 1:1-9 TPT
We saw him with our very own eyes. We gazed upon him and heard him speak. Our hands actually touched him, the one who was from the beginning, the Living Expression of God. [2] This Life-Giver was made visible and we have seen him. We testify to this truth: the eternal Life-Giver lived face-to-face with the Father and has now dawned upon us. [3] So we proclaim to you what we have seen and heard about this Life-Giver so that we may share and enjoy this life together. For truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus, the Anointed One. [4] We are writing these things to you because we want to release to you our fullness of joy. [5] This is the life-giving message we heard him share and it’s still ringing in our ears. We now repeat his words to you: God is pure light. You will never find even a trace of darkness in him. [6] If we claim that we share life with him, but keep walking in the realm of darkness, we’re fooling ourselves and not living the truth. [7] But if we keep living in the pure light that surrounds him, we share unbroken fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, continually cleanses us from all sin. [8] If we boast that we have no sin, we’re only fooling ourselves and are strangers to the truth. [9] But if we freely admit our sins when his light uncovers them, he will be faithful to forgive us every time. God is just to forgive us our sins because of Christ, and he will continue to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Q1: John calls us to make sure we keep Jesus in view in all that we do. God is light. In him, there is no darkness. With that in mind, what are the ways we can walk in the light?
Q2: Our purpose is the glory of God! How does His light help us live this out?
Q3: What is God’s cosmic purposes?
Note: Walk in the light in whatever circumstance you find yourself in…
Love God and Love people. Receive and give grace. Live the wisdom of Christ.