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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, October 17, 2007
“Two Kinds of Wisdom”
James 3:13-18
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
Read the text together – James 3:13-18.
Describe someone you know that you would characterize as wise and understanding?
Can it be that our real quest in life can be so easily reduced down as to whether we spend most of our time pursuing “worldly” or “Godly” wisdom?
15 Minutes - DIG
Wisdom is something that is rated very highly in the Bible. It is mentioned over one hundred times in the Book of Proverbs and many more times in the rest of the Bible. And so we shouldn’t be surprised to find James having something to say on this important subject. Wonder why?
Right living begins with right thinking.
Often, we mess up by confusing wisdom with knowledge.
Who from scripture do you remember for his wisdom? Here is what is said about Solomon’s wisdom:
“God gave Solomon wisdom and very great insight, and a breadth of understanding as measureless as the sand on the seashore” (1 Kings 4:29).
Knowledge gives us all the data, all the facts, and we can recite them verbatim. Wisdom takes those facts, puts faith into them, and gives them feet.
Proverbs, the book of wisdom, says, “Wisdom is supreme; therefore, get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding” (Prov. 4:7). Job, who had some reason to know about this said, “the price of wisdom is beyond rubies” (Job. 28:18).
Wisdom is worth all you have, and true wisdom will bring humility. Wisdom is the power of knowledge applied, directed, and focused.
How can you tell the difference between someone who is wise and someone who is just knowledgeable?
There is a vast difference between Godly wisdom and worldly wisdom. Sometimes we want to have a little bit of worldly wisdom mixed in with the Godly wisdom, a little chaos with the control.
This will never do!
James even says that worldly wisdom is “of the devil” (v. 15). How do you react to this declaration?
James brings up two things that are signs of worldly wisdom:
• bitter envy;
• selfish ambition.
Of all the things he could have mentioned, why do you suppose he brings up these two worldly characteristics? What about these two attitudes stands in conflict with Godly wisdom?
Read 1 Corinthians 1:26-31. What does all this have to do with our own “boastings”?
Notice the harvest of worldly wisdom –
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice” (v. 16).
How does this strike you?
Look closely at each of the descriptive terms that James uses to describe “the wisdom that comes from heaven” . . .
• . . . pure;
• . . . peace-loving;
• . . . considerate;
• . . . submissive;
• . . . full o f mercy and good fruit;
• . . . impartial and sincere.
Look closely at these qualities one by one. Are they the qualities to which you have devoted your life? Why is the life filled with Godly wisdom so attractive?
And then James closes this section with this comment:
“Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness.”
What is it about a peacemaker that is so “central” to our being a follower of Jesus Christ?
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Take some time now to examine your heart.
Let’s be honest tonight and talk about how all this squares with who we are at this point in our life.
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
In closing tonight, read Colossians 2:2-3.
In what situation do you need wisdom right now?
From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about tonight? Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.
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