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