Lesson One
Reflection
Begin your study by
entertaining thoughts on this question.
1. Which aspects of the gospel
(Jesus' life, death, and resurrection) are difficult for people to understand
and accept?
While the basic tenants of
the Gospel of Jesus Christ are simple and straight forward, people today find
it difficult to understand why Jesus or the gospel matter to them. I have seen
people reject Christ because salvation by grace through faith in the cross and
resurrection of Christ seems too simple…they insist there must be more to it
than that to be rendered acceptable to God. They want answers for humanities
problems that are scientific, from scholarly sources, and which does not assign
responsibility for their sins to themselves. They want a message that is easy
to receive, positive, affirming, and immediately advantageous for them
personally or professionally. With these modern criteria, the gospel simply
does not seem to fit what people want to hear these days. As a result, it is
difficult for this generation to see why an ancient story about a poor
carpenter turned traveling preacher…who got himself killed by his contemporary
authorities has anything to offer them as they face the challenges of a very
sophisticated age.
Bible Reading
Read thoughtfully 1 Corinthians 1:18–31.
- The Gospel of Jesus
Christ is in View. To the Christian this is the most important topic of
all time!
The “preaching of the
cross” this is a
reference to the gospel in all its fullness, which centers in the incarnation,
crucifixion, and resurrection of Christ; it encompasses the entire divine plan
and provision for the redemption of sinners—this is the theme of entire body of
Scripture (1Cor. 15:1-4) and what the ancient OT prophets anticipated (1Pet.
1:10-12). (J. MacArthur)
Commentator
Albert Barnes said it so well stating:
The death on the cross was associated with the idea of all
that is shameful and dishonorable; and to speak of salvation only by the
sufferings and death of a crucified man was fitted to excite in their bosoms
only unmingled scorn.[1]
In this section,
Paul distinguishes this message of hope and redemption, the gospel of Christ, from
all other messages and philosophies, both ancient and modern.
- The Lowest Wisdom of
God versus the Highest Wisdom of Humanity
1.
The Greeks highly valued “wisdom”. This is a reference to ancient Greek
philosophy. Paul showed in the following verses, however, that there is the
kind of "wisdom" that the world
worships, and there is the true wisdom that comes from God alone (W. Wiersbe). Not
only is the gospel simple (1Cor. 1:17), many consider it "foolish" (1:18). This should
not be surprising, since numerous centuries of human wisdom have failed to
bring anyone closer to God (1Cor. 1:19-21).
2.
Jewish scholars looked for supernatural “signs,” while the
scholars of Greece pursued knowledge for its own sake—and both misunderstood
the gospel in its simplicity (1Cor. 1:22-23).
3.
Those who were called (1Cor. 1:2, 9), however, responded in faith and were saved (1Cor. 1:18, 24). The gospel's
very simplicity shows how much wiser the Creator is than any of his creatures (1:25). Jesus used
simple logic and his understanding of human nature to destroy human wisdom (1Cor. 1:19; 3:19; see Matt 21:23-27;
22:15-22; John 8:1-11). Even the lowest wisdom of God far out distances the most
elite human wisdom ever!
C.
Fundamentally, the Corinthians needed a renewal of their minds (Rom. 12:2). They were
trying to live their Christian lives on the basis of unsanctified ideals which
have self-preservation as its ultimate goal. This kind of life is self-seeking,
self-serving, and ultimately self-destructive (Luke 9:24-25). Does such
hyper focus on number one sound familiar?
Discovery
Explore the
Bible reading by discussing these questions.
2. In what ways can
the gospel seem foolish? (1Cor 1:18)
Greeks believed that some gods had died and returned
(usually they were vegetation deities who returned annually), but they
relegated this belief to ancient myth and sometimes even allegorized the myths.
Romans regarded crucifixion as a death appropriate for slaves; Jews also saw it
as shameful (Deut 21:23). Those viewed as "saviors" were normally
gods, kings, wealthy benefactors or miracle workers. Roman society was built
around power and status; power was concentrated in the male head of the
household, in wealthy and aristocratic families, and so forth. Associating
power with a crucified man — the epitome of weakness — thus made no more sense
to ancients than it does to modern people outside Christ. [2]
In spite of how
the gospel may be perceived, Paul and early believers still preached the cross
of Christ!
A. There
were those Who Preach the Cross. (1Cor. 1:17- 18).
Paul had not
come to Corinth to make disciples for himself; he had come to "preach the
gospel" (1:17). But this preaching was not according to the world's
wisdom or desires—it was not filled with philosophical arguments or
supernatural acts. Paul's preaching was the message of the cross—Jesus Christ
crucified on behalf of sinners.
1.
Such a message always has two results, for ultimately all of humanity
will end up in one of these two classes.
2.
The gospel message sounds foolish . . . to those who are on the road to
destruction. For those who desire worldly wisdom, the message of the cross
seems stupid. "Who wants a crucified
king?" they might ask. To the Greek mind the whole notion was idiotic:
salvation, if there were such a thing, would have to come through some appeal
to man’s capacity to achieve. Furthermore, the Greek mind viewed God as
immutable and unchangeable. The Gospel presentation of Incarnation, the Cross,
and Resurrection were simply ruled out; the Gospel contradicted one of the
axioms of classical Greek philosophy.
3. But for those who are being saved .
. . the gospel message is the very “power of God.” Paul wrote to the Romans, “For I am not
ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to
everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:16). The gospel message is more than a true story and a good
way to live; it is “the power of God.”
4.
Only with such power can the gospel message redeem sinful people and
transform them into God's people. (W. Wiersbe)
B. There
are those Who Stumble at the Cross (1Cor. 1:23a).
This was the
attitude of the Jews, because their emphasis is on miraculous signs and the
cross appears to be weakness.
1.
Jewish history is filled with miraculous events, from the Exodus out of
Egypt to the days of Elijah and Elisha. When Jesus was ministering on earth,
the Jewish leaders repeatedly asked Him to perform a sign from heaven; but He
refused.
2.
The Jewish nation did not understand their own sacred Scriptures. They
looked for a Messiah who would come like a mighty conqueror and defeat all
their enemies. He would then set up His kingdom and return the glory to Israel.
The question of the Apostles in Acts 1:6 shows how strong this hope was
among the Jews.
At the same
time, their scribes noticed in the Old Testament that the Messiah would suffer
and die. Passages like Ps 22 and Isa 53 pointed toward a different kind of Messiah, and the
scholars could not reconcile these two seemingly contradictory prophetic
images. They did not understand that their Messiah had to suffer and die before
He could enter into His glory (see Luke 24:13-35), and that the
future messianic kingdom was to be preceded by the age of the church. (W.
Wiersbe)
3.
Because the Jews were looking for power and great glory, they stumbled
at the weakness of the cross. How could
anybody put faith in an unemployed carpenter from Nazareth who died the
shameful death of a common criminal? But the Gospel of Jesus Christ is “the power of God
unto salvation” (Rom 1:16). Rather than a testimony of weakness, the cross is a
tremendous instrument of power! After all, the "weakness of God [in the cross] is stronger than
men" (1Cor 1:25). To the Hebrew,
the whole thing was foreign as well. Deliverance would come in another Exodus,
with God breaking into history to perform miracles and punish Israel’s enemies.
A suffering Savior? Never! Israel would settle for nothing less than a
conquering king.
C. Then,
there are those Who Laugh at the Cross (1Cor. 1:23b).
This was the
response of the Greeks. To them the cross was “foolishness.”
1.
The Greeks emphasized wisdom we still study the profound writings of the
Greek philosophers. But they saw no wisdom in the cross, for they looked at the
cross from a human point of view. Had they seen it from God's viewpoint, they
would have discerned the wisdom of God's great plan of salvation.
2.
Paul called, on three men to bear witness: “the wise” (the expert), “the scribe” (the
interpreter and writer), and “the disputer” (the philosopher and debater). He asked
them one question: Through your studies into man's wisdom, have you come to
know God in a personal way? They all must answer no! The fact that they laugh
at the cross and consider it foolishness is evidence that they are perishing. (W.
Wiersbe)
3.
Paul quoted Isa 29:14 in 1Cor 1:19, proving that God has written a big "0 - Failure!" - over the wisdom of men. In his address
on Mars' Hill, Paul dared to tell the philosophers that Greek and Roman history
were but "times of this ignorance" (Acts 17:30). He was not
suggesting that they knew nothing, because Paul knew too well that the Greek
thinkers had made some achievements. However, their wisdom did not enable them
to find God and experience salvation. (W. Wiersbe)
Question 2. As you discuss what seems foolish about
the gospel, ask group members about their initial encounter with the Gospel of
Christ. What age were they? What was hard for them to accept? What were some
misconceptions they may have had about following Christ?
3. How do Jesus'
life and death reveal the wisdom and power of God? (1Cor 1:22-24).
A.
Some Believe and Experience the Power and the Wisdom of the Cross (1Cor. 1:24).
Paul did not
alter his message when he turned from a Jewish audience to a Greek one: he
preached Christ crucified. "The foolishness of preaching" (1Cor 1:21) does not mean
that the act of preaching is foolish, but rather the content of the message.
B.
Those who have been called by God's grace, and who have responded by
faith (see 2Thess 2:13-14), realize that Christ is God's “power” and God's “wisdom.” Not the Christ
of the manger, or the temple, or the marketplace - but the Christ of the cross.
It is in the death of Christ that God has revealed the foolishness of man's
wisdom and the weakness of man's power.
C. We
are called into fellowship because of our union with Jesus Christ He died for
us; we were baptized in His name; we are identified with His cross. What a
wonderful basis for spiritual unity!
D.
Many Jews considered the Good News of Jesus Christ to be foolish because
they thought the Messiah would be a conquering king who did many spectacular
signs and miracles. Although Jesus had performed many miracles during his
ministry on earth, many Jews who observed his miracles firsthand had refused to
believe (Matt 12:38-39; 16:1-4; Mark 8:11-12; Luke 11:16; John 6:30). Jesus had not
restored David's throne in the way that they had expected. Besides, he had been
executed as a criminal (Deut 21:23) -- how could a criminal be the Savior? This proclamation
of Christ crucified was a contradiction of all that they believed, and it
became a stumbling block to them (see also Rom 9:33; 1 Peter 2:8). (W. Wiersbe)
E.
Silly, Superficial, and Simple
Paul had
literally been where no man had gone before. He had taken the gospel to
uncharted territories and untested hearers. He understood rejection. When Paul
mentioned audience reactions (1:21), he had the scars to prove just how
violently some resisted the gospel. Problems in sharing the gospel were not
theoretical for Paul. Those who proclaim the gospel may find that others think
they are ridiculous. If our message did not hold the answer to life and death
it might seem silly and superficial. Though some ridicule it, the gospel
remains the simple truth. Paul described the attitude we ought to have this
way: (Rom 1:16). Like Paul, we must proclaim the simple gospel; it requires no
revisions, embellishments, upgrades, or add-ons.
4. In what ways is
God's wisdom different from the world's wisdom? (1Cor. 1:21-24)
A.
The mention of the cross in 1Cor 1:17 introduced this long section on
the power of the Gospel versus the weakness of man's wisdom. It is interesting
to see how Paul approached this problem of division in the church. First, he
pointed to the unity of Christ: there is one Savior and one body. Then he
reminded them of their baptism, a picture of the death, burial and resurrection
of Christ. Then he took them to the
cross.
B.
Crucifixion was not only a horrible death; it was a shameful death. It
was illegal to crucify a Roman citizen. Crucifixion was never mentioned in
polite society, any more than we today would discuss over dinner the gas
chamber or the electric chair.
C.
The key word in this paragraph is wisdom; it is used
eight times.
— The “in the wisdom of God,” (1:21) God
wisely established that men could not come to know Him by human wisdom. That
would exalt man, so God designed to save helpless sinners through the preaching
of a message that was so simple the “worldly
wise” deemed it nonsense. Rom 1:18–23.
— “That believe,” (1:21) from the
human side, salvation requires and comes only through faith in the gospel. John 1:12; Rom.
10:8–17.
— The key idea—that Paul expressed is
that we dare not mix man's wisdom with God's revealed message. The entire
section on wisdom (1Cor 1:17-2:16) presents a number of contrasts between
the revealed Word of God and the wisdom of men.
— God's wisdom is revealed primarily
in the cross of Jesus Christ but not everybody sees this. (W. Wiersbe)
D.
This very point is one that Paul made in 1 Corinthians 1 and 2.
— He pointed out that man’s ways of
thinking (human “wisdom”) and God’s ways of thinking (His “foolishness”) truly do not correspond.
— “The Cross” is given as an
example. What human mind would have imagined that God would give us
righteousness, holiness, and redemption by means of the execution of His Son as
a criminal!
— While the Greek and the Jew each
clung to his own notion of how God must act, God had His own ideas. The Cross
meant that each must surrender his own way of thinking, and submit to a divine wisdom that operates on principles
which are fundamentally different from those that appeal to mere human thought
or values!
— Man is impressed by human
accomplishment: God chose to use things man despises.
— Man is impressed by strength: God
chose to use weakness.
E.
Even in churches, the human tendency is to seek to build little kingdoms
around differences—different leaders, different message styles, and different
ways of worship. Paul’s whole argument is a warning to the church at
Corinth—and to us—that we must learn to look at issues from the divine
viewpoint. We must realize God doesn’t think the same way we do. We must be
willing to surrender our own way of thinking and earnestly search out His.
F.
How? God has revealed His thoughts by the Spirit (1Cor. 2:13). And God has
given believers the Holy Spirit to interpret the written Word (1Cor. 2:9–15). In the Word
and in the Spirit we have been given an astounding gift: “We have the mind
of Christ” (1Cor. 2:16). Searching the Word, guided by the Spirit, we are to
learn God’s way of thinking (His wisdom), and gradually learn to evaluate all
things from His unique perspective.
G.
This is why a tracing-the-argument approach to Bible study is so
important. We’re prone to grasp a single verse or teaching, and try to make it
fit our way of thinking. We’re apt to use the Bible to try to prove our point
of view, or to disprove another’s. But Paul here teaches us to study the
Scripture so we can learn to abandon
our own points of view, and submit ourselves instead to God’s. By disciplining
ourselves to trace the argument of a section of Scripture, we guard against our
natural tendency to misuse, and we set ourselves to grasp the very thoughts of
God. (W. Wiersbe)
5. What does Paul
mean when he says God “hath chosen the weak things of the world”? (1Cor. 1:27)
A.
Perhaps the Corinthian were influenced by the culture of nearby Athens.
They seemed to fancy themselves as thinkers and took pride in their supposed
intellectual superiority. Paul reminded them that human cleverness is not
necessarily God's way or wisdom (1:18–2:16). God's plan of salvation
through Christ's death on the Cross is often rejected by wise and clever
people. Those who are spiritually wise perceive truth by the Spirit and not the
mind alone. This kind of wisdom is God's gift through His Holy Spirit.
B.
Proud and clever people are not the ones who appreciate the wisdom of
God's plan of salvation through Christ's death on the Cross, but those who are
spiritually wise. According to 1 Corinthians 3:18, one must actually become a “fool” in
the world's eyes in order to be really wise.
C.
One does not have to “check his
brains at the door” when he becomes a Christian. Human wisdom has its
place. God has equipped us with wondrous knowledge, giving us dominion over the
earth and intelligence to travel to the moon and back. The capacity of the
human mind is beyond comprehension.
D.
Paul's attack on human wisdom (1Cor. 1:18–31) does not
belittle the gift of human intelligence. But the answer to humankind's dilemma
is not intellectual and cultural;
it is moral and spiritual. The
cure is the Cross of Christ—not merely the wooden instrument of death, but the
sacrifice that took place there—and the subsequent resurrection of our Lord,
His ascension, and finally the bestowal of His Spirit on all those who believe.
But God's “holy foolishness” is at odds with
humankind's “wise” ways. Neither the
Jews' “do a miracle” approach, nor
the Gentiles' philosophical approach (1:22) can grasp the power and wisdom God
expressed in the Cross. It is an issue of false versus true wisdom.
E.
Paul further points out the inferior intellectual and social status of
many of the believers. The church was populated with the ordinary instead of
the extraordinary person of that day and culture. Their congregation was
evidence that God ignore the worldly criteria of favoring and selecting people
because of their social elitism, high breeding, outstanding pedigree, political
influence or whatever other ‘power’ men pride themselves for. Notice Paul’s explanation:
“But
God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God
hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are
mighty;” (1Cor. 1:27). Yes, God choose those who embrace the foolishness of
Christ’s cross, and the result is no one can brag about their human accomplishments
or elevated position in life before the Lord.
F.
But the results are powerful and eternal. Each believer is “in Christ,” and He provides
“righteousness
and sanctification and redemption” (1Cor. 1:30). This “holy foolishness” is
illustrated further by Paul's plain manner of preaching and in the convincing
power of the Spirit (2:1–5). The purpose was that the faith of the believing
Corinthians would not be in man's cleverness, but in the power of God (2:5). However,
true wisdom is revealed by the Spirit (2:6–13) to those who are “mature.” This
maturity is like a fruit which has developed to completion and perfection; it
is ripe.
G.
Spiritual maturity involves many things. Hebrews 5:11–14 teaches three
principles about spiritual maturity as compared with spiritual immaturity:
1.
First, maturity takes time (v.
12). The believers need to be exposed to the truth of the Word and see it
modeled in others over a period of time. God will apply it to the individual
life.
2.
Second, maturity involves growth
in the knowledge of the Word of God (v. 13). Babies in Christ are able only
to handle the simple things of the gospel (1 Pet. 2:2). Spiritual development
(or deformity) is directly related to the amount of intake of the Word.
3.
Finally, spiritual maturity
involves experience in the use of the Word in discerning between good and bad,
or truth and error (vv. 13, 14). This is to be a disciplined exercise in
spiritual discernment.
6. So, what do
believers have to brag about?
1Cor. 1:30-31, But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31 That,
according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
A. Beloved, all praise and glory is
correctly ascribed to God who acted graciously on our behalf. Accordingly, it
is by the activities of the Father that believers are “in Christ Jesus”—spiritually identified
with the Savior—and thus possesses wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and
redemption. This wisdom of God is literally Christ crucified and as a result
believers are declared righteous and justified in the courtroom of God,
sanctified to enter the august presence of God, and ultimately destined for the
fullness of redemption! These four underserved blessings are now ours and follow
the wisdom of God:
1. Wisdom—Christ is the wisdom
of God; he alone personifies divine wisdom—he is God’s way of salvation. As
such he actively accrues the praise to the Father and destroys all human
platforms for self-centered pride and confidence…achievement. He is our
exclusive claim to wisdom! (Walvoord & Zuck)
2. Righteousness—it is through
our faith in the cross of Christ that moves God, the Judge, to count us as
right in his court of law (Rom. 4:24–25). The final verdict concerning all
believers is ‘justified.’ If we are acceptable to God in Christ then we do not
need the acceptance of mere men who judge and value people for the wrong
reasons.
3. Sanctification—two realities
are in view and both are precious acts of the Father’s grace. First, since we
have no holy clout or status of holiness with God, he gave us this position,
status, and regards us as holy. Secondly, he also gave us the holy power to live
free of sin’s enslavement and control—thus a lifestyle experiencing and characterized
by holy motives and actions (2Thes. 2:13–15). We can brag about the clout,
privileges, and honors God graciously affords us because of who he is and not
who we are. (MacDonald & Farstad)
4. Redemption—while it is
true believers are redeemed, we also will be redeemed. Redemption has multiple
installments or benefits and blessings. There is more to come! Yes, we are
fully saved, but we have not experienced everything God has planned for the
Redeemed (Rom. 8:23; Eph. 4:30). Beloved, one day we will traverse new heights
of redemption relative to the body, soul, and spirit…we will move…yes...be
transported beyond anything and everything we have been trilled to know in
Christ heretofore. I am talking about the ultimate next level—glorification! God
plans for us are certain and will one day be fully consummated in our
individual and collective experience.
B. Clearly,
this is what we glory in, brag about, exult in, rejoice over, and swell with
appreciation for…the cross of Christ and God’s gracious acts towards fallen
sinners who repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ. Yes, it is appropriate
to glory in the Lord…to boast in the Lord’s goodness to us…to brag on Jesus!
Actually, we as God’s people have plenty to brag about (see Matt. 11:25–26).
C. The message and miracle of God’s grace in
Jesus Christ utterly confounds (“puts to shame”) the high and mighty people of
this world. The wise of this world cannot understand how God changes sinners
into saints, and the mighty of this world are helpless to duplicate the
miracle. God’s “foolishness” confounds the wise; God’s “weakness” confounds the
mighty!
The annals of church history are filled with the accounts
of great sinners whose lives were transformed by the power of the Gospel. In my
own ministry, as in the ministry of most pastors and preachers, I have seen
amazing things take place that the lawyers and psychologists could not understand.
We have seen delinquent teenagers become successful students and useful
citizens. We have seen marriages restored and homes reclaimed, much to the
amazement of the courts.
And why does God reveal the foolishness and the weakness of
this present world system, even with its philosophy and religion? “That no
flesh should glory in His presence” (1 Cor. 1:29). Salvation must be wholly of
grace; otherwise, God cannot get the glory.
It is this truth that Paul wanted to get across to the
Corinthians, because they were guilty of glorying in men (1 Cor. 3:21). If we
glory in men—even godly men like Peter and Paul and Apollos—we are robbing God
of the glory that He alone deserves. It was this sinful attitude of pride that
was helping to cause division in the church.[3]
Question 6. Bragging or boasting implies a certain
amount of pride. Discuss the difference between the sin of being prideful and
the wonderful deep pleasure, soaring admiration, and complete satisfaction that
we have in Jesus’ accomplishments. (The difference resides in whether the
object of our “pride” is ourselves.) In contemplating what God has done for us,
see Romans 5:8 and 2 Corinthians 5:21.
Inspiration
Here is an
uplifting thought.
You want
success? Here's your model. You want achievement? Here's your prototype. You
want bright lights, pageants, and media attention? Consider the front-page,
center article of the nation's largest daily newspaper.
It is a
caricature of “Miss America.” The vital data of the fifty one participants has
been compiled to present the perfect woman. She has brown hair. She has brown
eyes. She knows how to sing and has a perfect figure: 35–24-35. She is Miss
America.
The message
trumpets off the page: “This is the standard for American women.” The
implication is clear: Do what it takes to be like her. Firm your thighs. Deepen
your cleavage. Pamper your hair. Improve your walk.
No reference is
made to her convictions … to her honesty … to her faith … or to her God. But
you are told her hip size.
In a small
photo, four inches to the left, is another woman. Her face is thin. Her skin is
wrinkled, almost leathery. No makeup … no blush … no lipstick. There is a faint
smile on her lips and a glint in her eyes. She looks pale. Perhaps it's my
imagination or perhaps it's time. The caption read, “Mother Teresa: In serious
condition.”
Mother Teresa.
You know her story. When she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, she gave the
two hundred thousand dollars to the poor of Calcutta. When a businessman bought
her a new car, she sold it and gave the money to the underprivileged. She owns
nothing. She owes nothing.
Two women: Miss
America and Mother Teresa. One walks the boardwalk; the other walks the alley.
Two voices. One promises crowns, flowers, and crowds. The other promises
service, surrender, and joy.
Now I have
nothing against beauty pageants (although I have my reservations about them).
But I do have something against the lying voices that noise our world.
You've heard
them. They tell you to swap your integrity for a new sale. To barter your
convictions for an easy deal. To exchange your devotion for a quick thrill.
They whisper.
They woo. They taunt. They tantalize. They flirt. They flatter. “Go ahead, it's
O.K.” “Just wait until tomorrow.” “Don't worry, no one will know.” “How could
anything that feels so right be so wrong?” …
For amidst the
fleeting promises of pleasure is the timeless promise of [God's] presence.
“Surely I am
with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“Never will I
leave you; never will I forsake you.”
There is no
chorus so loud that the voice of God cannot be heard … if we will but listen. —
(From In the Eye of the Storm by Max
Lucado)
Response
Use these
questions to share more deeply with each other.
7. In what ways does the media entice us to
accept the world's values?
Question
7. Be sure to include
music, printed materials, and billboard advertising when considering the media.
What commercials use sex to sell something totally unrelated? How are
conservatives depicted in the news? When do news stories or movies prompt us to
sympathize with the less-than-honorable characters or choices?
8. Have you
sought God's guidance, rather than relying on your own intellect and ability?
Explain the circumstances and the outcome.
Question
8. See Proverbs 3:5–7.
For more discussion, how should we draw the balance between acting on the
wisdom God gave us and trusting him to lead? Ask your group for any personal
experiences.
9. In what
ways can we ignore the false messages around us and think more like God?
Prayer
Father, too
often the lies of the world drown out your voice. Give us ears to hear you and
hearts willing to obey. Help us to stand against the pressure to seek success
and power. Give us the strength to choose the timeless truths of your Word over
the fleeting promises of the world. And Father, confirm only those thoughts and
plans that conform to your will.
Journaling
Take a few
moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.
In light of this passage, how can I make better decisions?
Additional
Questions
10. Why is
it important to recognize the limits of human wisdom?
11. In what
ways can you determine if an idea or plan is based on worldly thinking or
biblical teaching?
12. List
some benefits of living according to God's wisdom instead of human wisdom.
For more Bible
passages on the limits of human wisdom, see Proverbs 3:5, 7; Ecclesiastes
1:12–18; 2:16; Jeremiah 9:23–24; Ezekiel 28:2–7; Matthew 11:25; 1 Corinthians
3:19, 20. To complete the book of 1
Corinthians during this twelve-part study, read 1 Corinthians 1:1–31.
