Prove It: True Wisdom Comes from God

In one paragraph

On January 6, 2019, Pastor Scott walked First B Jackson through James 3:13-18, drawing a clear line between the world's wisdom and the wisdom that comes from God. The world's wisdom, he said, rises naturally and produces disorder and evil, while God's wisdom produces a harvest of righteousness. The passage's challenge is simple: if you claim to be wise, prove it by the life you live. The sermon...

Read together

1. James 3:13 Opening verse on proving wisdom by living an honorable life, tied to the 'prove it' theme
2. Proverbs 4:7 Getting wisdom is the wisest thing you can do, develop good judgment
3. James 3:13-18 Main passage read in full on true wisdom from God versus worldly wisdom
4. Matthew 26:53 Jesus saying he could ask the Father for thousands of angels to protect them but did not
5. 1 Corinthians 13 Love does not insist on its own way, connected to willing to yield to others
6. Matthew 9:13 Jesus says I desire mercy not sacrifice, contrasted with the Pharisees' showy offerings

Talk about it

1. The pastor described wisdom as 'applied knowledge' rather than just intelligence. What is a situation from your own life where you had the knowledge of what to do but struggled to actually apply it?
2. Humility was defined as 'meekness, gentle strength' that 'begins with God's inspiration and finishes by his direction and empowerment.' What does it look like in practice to treat humility as something God produces in you rather than something you work up on your own?
3. The pastor pointed to Jesus at his arrest, who said he could have called thousands of angels but did not, as the clearest example of 'reserved strength.' Where in your own relationships do you find it hardest to hold that kind of restraint?
4. The sermon described being 'willing to yield to others' as deciding ahead of time to come disarmed before a conflict even begins. Have you ever tried that approach, and what happened?
5. The pastor closed by admitting that his own default when facing a big decision is to consult himself first rather than asking God. What habits or practices help you actually turn to God for wisdom when the stakes are high?