Big Idea: Full life in Christ comes from a full heart of love for Christ
How can we show our love for Christ?
1. Worship (Jn. 20:28; 9:35-38)
2. Affection (Lk. 7:41-47)
3. Loyalty (Matt. 10:37-39)
4. Obedience (Jn. 14:15, 21, 23-24; 13:34-35)
5. Trust (1 Jn. 4:15-16, 19)
Big Idea: To live sent with our feet, we must first focus our eyes on Christ
1. Creation is focused on Christ (Col 1:15-16)
2. The Father’s love is focused on Christ (Mk 1:9-11, Jn 3:35, 10:17, 17:22-26)
3. The Spirit’s ministry is focused on Christ (Jn 14:26, 16:13-14)
4. The Bible’s message is focused on Christ (Jn 5:39-40, Lk 24:26-27)
5. The founding and authority of the church is focused on Christ (Col 1:18, Eph 1:22-23, 2:19-21)
6. Our identity is focused on Christ (Rom 6:5-8, 2 Cor 5:16-17, Gal 2:20)
7. Our future is focused on Christ (Phil 3:20-21, Tit 2:11-13, 1 Th 4:15-18)
8. Our salvation is focused on Christ (Acts 4:11-12, Col 1:13-14, Rom 5:6-9)
The Lord promises true life to anyone who trusts him with their whole heart
1. The Lord promises true life (3:1-4)
2. The Lord desires your whole heart (3:5-8)
The Lord’s wisdom is a compass, not a map, for your plans
1. The Lord has the final word (Pr. 16:1)
2. The Lord holds the ultimate scales (Pr. 16:2)
3. The Lord desires your complete trust (Pr. 16:3)
A wise ruler is a fountain of blessing from the Lord
Wise rulers know...
1. Their rule is from the Lord
2. They are accountable to the Lord
3. They administer justice for the Lord
4. They deliver blessing from the Lord
Big Idea: Life doesn’t flow from the outside in; it flows from the inside out
Sexual Lust (Pr. 5:15-19; 6:20-32)
Greed (Pr. 11:24-28)
Envy (Pr. 14:30; 23:17-18)
Gluttony & Drunkenness (Pr. 23:19-21, 29-35; 25:16, 27)
Laziness (Pr. 6:6-11; 24:30-34)
Big Idea: To resolve life’s daily conflicts, we desperately need God’s daily wisdom
1. Go higher (Pr. 17:14; 19:11; 25:21-22)
2. Get real (Pr. 18:13; 19:20; 28:13)
3. Gently engage (Pr. 10:18; 15:1; 25:15; 26:23-26; 27:5-6; 28:23)
4. Get together (Pr. 10:12; 11:12-13; 17:9)
Big Idea: Destruction marches behind pride; grace follows in the quiet steps of humility
1. Destruction marches behind pride (Pr. 11:2; 15:25; 16:18-19; 18:12a; 21:4; 29:23a)
2. Grace follows in the quiet steps of humility (Pr. 15:33; 18:12b; 22:4; 29:23)
Big Idea: Our problem with wealth is that we think too small, not too big
1. Shortcuts are small. Faithful earning is big.
2. Greed is small. Contentment is big.
3. Selfishness is small. Generosity is big.
Big Idea: Words hold the power to either destroy or build up—use them wisely
1. The power of our words
2. The power of silence, listening and timing
3. The power of God’s Word
Big Idea: The wise know family matters much, but not most
1. Marriage matters (Pr. 2:16-17; 12:4; 19:14; 21:19; 27:15-16; 31:10-11, 28-31)
2. Children and parents matter (Pr. 22:6, 15; 23:22-25; 30:17)
3. What matters MOST (Pr. 14:26; 1 Tim. 3:14-16)
Big Idea: Friendship is part of God’s design for a fruitful life—not a distraction from it
A good friend gives...
1. Constant Love (Pr. 17:17; 18:24; 27:10)
2. Honest Counsel (Pr. 27:6, 9, 17; 28:23)
3. Safe Cover (17:9)
Big Idea: Wisdom is a feast for those who fully commit themselves to it
1. Wisdom’s feast is bountiful and life-giving (9:1-6)
2. Folly’s feast is phony and deadly (9:13-18)
3. Wisdom’s blessing is only for the committed (9:7-12)
Big Idea: Wisdom is a beautiful, loving mother who offers us life if we will just listen
This mother is...
1. Impartial (8:1-9)
2. Precious (8:10-11)
3. Prudent (8:12-13)
4. Generous (8:14-21)
5. Work of God in Creation (8:22-31)
6. Not To Be Ignored (8:32-36)
Big Idea: We are wise to listen to our Father’s lectures because they are full of love and life
Ten Parental Lectures: 1:8–19; 2:1–22; 3:1–12, 21–35; 4:1–9, 10–27; 5:1–23; 6:1–5, 20–35; 7:1–27
Address: “My son...”
Charge: “Listen up...”
Motivation: “This is good for you...”
Imperative: “Do this/don’t do that”
Summary: “Wickedness leads to death, righteousness leads to life”
Big Idea: Proverbs reveals our need for wisdom and where we can find it
The wisdom of Proverbs...
1. Originates with a young, wise king (1:1)
2. Gives knowledge and skill to the young and inexperienced (1:2-4)
3. Invites the teachable to learn well (1:5-6)
4. Founded on the fear of the LORD (1:7)
Big Idea: To truly see the risen Christ, you must first believe in the suffering Christ
1. Blinded by false expectations (24:13-24)
2. Blinded by unbelief (24:25-27)
3. Believing is seeing (24:28-35)
Big Idea: Eternal life in Jesus is our victory, our confidence and our protection
In Jesus we have...
Victory over the world because we believe God’s testimony (5:4-12)
Confidence in prayer because we ask and God hears us (5:14-17)
Protection from the devil because we know the real God (5:18-21)
Big Idea: Those who know God love like God because God is love
Those who love like God...
Receive his love that came down to them (4:9-11)
Remain in his love that lives in them (4:12-19)
Reciprocate his love that flows out of them (4:20-5:3)
Big Idea: God gives us his Spirit so we can confidently detect truth and error
Do they confess the real Christ? (4:2-3)
Do they listen to God’s message? (4:5-6)
Testing the spirits today:
What do they believe?
How do they walk?
Who do they love?