Wisdom for Living: Social Wisdom Part 1 (Chris)

Social Wisdom includes important behaviors like hospitality and manners and community-focused issues like gossip, slander, respect, loving our neighbors, politics, and self-sacrifice.  In part 1 of this lesson, we explore what the Bible teaches us about Christian life in each of these areas.

Listen to Social Wisdom Part 1
Lesson Plan

Wisdom for Living: The Wisdom of Self-Control (Randy)

How many times have we tried to stop a bad habit, or promised to treat our family or friends better, or promised God that we would change?  We are subject to our passions and they cause us to live out-of-controlled lives. We over indulge in unhealthy things that destroy our bodies or our relationships.  We lack self-control.  But God gives us the wisdom to grow in self-control. We just need to run to him and know that his grace is sufficient.  In this lesson, we will learn how dangerous it is to lack self-control, and how we can go about getting it.

Listen to The Wisdom of Self-Control
Lesson Plan

The Spirit World (Bruce Jones)

The Apostle Paul writes that the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom.  [1 Corinthians 1:25]  Many of the world’s wise believe only in material things and reject the idea of spiritual ones.  Guest speaker Bruce Jones visits Open Door to share a series of spiritual stories from different cultures and perspectives.

Listen to The Spirit World

Wisdom for Living: Personal Wisdom (Chris)

This lesson covers Personal Wisdom: the proper use of our time and talent as disciples.  Drawing from Old Testament law, the wisdom writing in Proverbs, and Jesus’ teachings in the Gospels, the three areas explored are: 1) Worship, 2) Witness, and 3) Work.

Listen to Personal Wisdom
Lesson Plan
Handout

Wisdom for Living: Possessional Wisdom (Chris)

This lesson explores “Possessional Wisdom”: how we should handle our money and our stuff.  Scripture passages from the Old Testament and the New Testament cover a range of perspectives on the topic including abundance vs. scarcity and the paradox of gathering vs. scattering.  In the end, it turns out that everything we have truly belongs to God.  What does that mean about how we should live?

Listen to Possessional Wisdom
Lesson Plan
Handout

Wisdom for Living: Plans and Outcomes (Randy)

We want to be in control of our lives.  We make plans and do everything we can to fulfill them.  We become frustrated when they don’t work out, though, and wonder what we can do to get more of God’s guidance along the way.  Jesus is our ultimate guide, as it turns out, and when we fully commit to him, God establishes our plans by making us people who make good plans.

Listen to Plans and Outcomes
Listen to Plans and Outcomes (alternate recording 7/16/17)
Lesson Plan

Wisdom for Living: The Beginning of Wisdom (Randy)

Proverbs tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This means revering and standing in awe of God, and putting our full faith and trust in him.  Our wisdom comes from that right relationship with God, the author of all wisdom.  Unfortunately, modern society has drifted toward secularism, and therefore modern wisdom reflects the bankrupt values of our society more than God’s eternal ideals.  How can we live wisely in such a society?  By focusing on our relationship with Jesus and the message of the cross.

Listen to the Beginning of Wisdom
Listen to the Beginning of Wisdom (alternate recording 6/25/17)
Lesson Plan