Point of Grace Online Worship - July 27, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 7.28.25 “Seek Wisdom – Part 3 – The Way of Wisdom is the Way of Humility”

Seek Wisdom

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding”.  Prov.9:10

“Seeking Wisdom = Seeking Jesus “ – Proverbs 8

“The Way of Wisdom is the Way of Humility”- Proverbs 10-31

Proverbs 10-31
Hundreds of proverbial sayings on a myriad of topics applying wisdom to living … “with the grain living”.

Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin. (10:10)
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. (10:11)
Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.  (16:24)
Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs. (10:12)
Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.  (10:18)
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.  (10:19)
A gossip betrays a confidence; so, avoid anyone who talks too much. (20:19)

All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the Lord. (16:2)
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. (16:3)
Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  (16:18)
Listen to advice and accept discipline, and at the end you will be counted among the wise. (19:20)
Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers and blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord.  (16:20)
There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end, it leads to death.  (16:25)
Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (16:32)

How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!  (16:16)
The generous will themselves be blessed, for they share their food with the poor. (22:9)
Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil.  (15:16)
Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred. (15:17)
Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops;
then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine. (3:9-10)
Those who trust in their riches will fall, but the righteous will thrive like a green leaf. (11:28) 

Which proverbs will cost you something when applied in your life?

1 Peter 5
All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because
“God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.

Humility costs the “self” something… prying it loose from its authoritative position.
The “self” is relegated to the back seat and God is trusted in the driver’s seat.
Humility is the practical path moving us from “self-reliant” living to “God-reliant” living.

Philippians 2
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.

5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself  by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!
9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name,
10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

1 Corinthians 1:21-30
21 For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. 22 Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, 23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24 but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength….
28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.  

What does The Way of Wisdom cost me?

What does The Way of Wisdom offer me?

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 20, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 7.20.25 “Seek Wisdom – Part 2 – Proverbs 8-9”

Seek Wisdom

“Wisdom “- Chokmah (חָכְמָה):  Biblical wisdom denotes knowledge with understanding as well as practical skill in applying wisdom guided by a moral component.  To live with “wisdom” is to flow with the way the universe was designed to function.  Folly (wisdom-less-ness) on the other hand is living “against the grain” of the designer’s design for a meaningful life in this world.

“Fear of the Lord” – Awe and reverence with deeply relational love, trust and submission.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

The Case for Seeking Wisdom Above All (Spoiler Alert – Seeking Wisdom = Seeking Jesus)

Proverbs 8:1-11          Wisdom Pleas (Passionately)

Does not wisdom call out?    Does not understanding raise her voice?
2 At the highest point along the way, where the paths meet, she takes her stand;
3 beside the gate leading into the city, at the entrance, she cries aloud:
4 “To you, O people, I call out; I raise my voice to all mankind.
5 You who are simple, gain prudence; you who are foolish, set your hearts on it.
6 Listen, for I have trustworthy things to say; I open my lips to speak what is right.
7 My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.
8 All the words of my mouth are just; none of them is crooked or perverse.
9 To the discerning all of them are right; they are upright to those who have found knowledge.
10 Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold,
11 for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.

Proverbs 8:12-21       Wisdom Gives

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence; I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the Lord is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine; I have insight, I have power.
15 By me kings reign and rulers issue decrees that are just;
16 by me princes govern, and nobles—all who rule on earth.
17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me find me.
18 With me are riches and honor, enduring wealth and prosperity.
19 My fruit is better than fine gold; what I yield surpasses choice silver.
20 I walk in the way of righteousness, along the paths of justice,
21 bestowing a rich inheritance on those who love me and making their treasuries full.

Proverbs 8:22-31       Wisdom Is … … … Divine Creator

22 “The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old.
23 Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth.
24 When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no springs abounding with water.
25 Before the mountains had been shaped, before the hills, I was brought forth,
26 before he had made the earth with its fields, or the first of the dust of the world.
27 When he established the heavens, I was there; when he drew a circle on the face of the deep,
28 when he made firm the skies above, when he established the fountains of the deep,
29 when he assigned to the sea its limit, so that the waters might not transgress his command, when he marked out the foundations of the earth

30 Then I was constantly at his side, as a master craftsmen, I was filled with delight day after day, rejoicing always in his presence,
31 rejoicing in his whole world and delighting in mankind.

Proverbs 8:32-36       Wisdom Blesses (don’t miss out the consequences are devastating)

32 “Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways.
33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it.
34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.
35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord.
36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”

Proverbs 9     Who will get my “Yes”… … … everyday?
Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars.
2 She has prepared her meat and mixed her wine; she has also set her table.
3 She has sent out her servants, and she calls from the highest point of the city,
4     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”  To those who have no sense she says,
5     “Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.
6 Leave your simple ways and you will live; walk in the way of insight.”

10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

13 Folly is an unruly woman; she is simple and knows nothing.
14 She sits at the door of her house, on a seat at the highest point of the city,
15 calling out to those who pass by, who go straight on their way,
16     “Let all who are simple come to my house!”
To those who have no sense she says,
17     “Stolen water is sweet; food eaten in secret is delicious!”
18 But little do they know that the dead are there, that her guests are deep in the realm of the dead. 

“Come, eat my food and drink the wine I have mixed.” - Jesus

Point of Grace Online Worship - July 13, 2025

Point of Grace Worship 7.13.25 “Wisdom – Proverbs and Ecclesiastes – Part 1”

Proverbs 1:1-7
The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight,
3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity;
4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth—
5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,
6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1 Kings 3:7-12  7 “Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. 8 Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. 9 So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours?”
10 The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for this. 11 So God said to him, “Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, 12 I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. 

Wisdom - Chokmah (חָכְמָה):  Biblical wisdom denotes knowledge with understanding as well as practical skill in applying wisdom guided by a moral component.  To live with “wisdom” is to flow with the way the universe was designed to function.  Folly on the other hand is living “against the grain” of the designer’s design for a meaningful life in this world.

Fear of the Lord – Awe and reverence with relational trust and submission.
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.  Proverbs 9:10

The Problem – The folly of fools. 
Proverbs 3:1-10
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart,
2 for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name in the sight of God and man.

5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil.
8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
9 Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the  first fruits of all your crops;
10 then your barns will be filled to overflowing,  and your vats will brim over with new wine.

Where does God rank in your decisions, priorities and values?

“We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, Christ, the power of God and the wisdom of God.  1 Cor. 1:23-24