The Bridge Church
James - Wisdom from Above - Week 6
February 5, 2023
Locations & Times
Englewood SKY Academy
871 S River Rd, Englewood, FL 34223, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
"Wisdom is seeing and interpreting life from God's perspective and then making life's decisions based on that understanding."
- Tony Evans
- Tony Evans
1. Watch out for earthly wisdom
It is envious and selfish
"If each spouse says to the other, 'I will treat my selfishness as the main problem in our marriage', you will have the prospect of a great marriage."
- Tim Keller
- Tim Keller
It is unspiritual and demonic
2. Walk in heavenly wisdom
A Wisdom Assessment:
1. Am I pure in my lifestyle and motives?
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure...
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
James 3:17
But the wisdom from above is first pure...
Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
2. Am I a person of peace?
James 3:17
...then peace-loving.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
James 3:17
...then peace-loving.
Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
3. Am I gentle and compliant?
James 3:17
...is gentle, compliant.
James 3:17
...is gentle, compliant.
4. Am I merciful?
James 3:17
...full of mercy.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
James 3:17
...full of mercy.
Luke 6:36
Be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.
5. Am I producing good fruit?
James 3:17-18
...good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
James 3:17-18
...good fruits, unwavering, without pretense. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who cultivate peace.
We cultivate heavenly wisdom by living peaceful, humble lives.
MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS:
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
I need to receive Jesus Christ as my personal Savior for the first time.
I need to be baptized.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/baptism
I need to attend Starting Point.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/starting-point
I need to join a small group.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/bridge-groups
I need to join a serve team.
https://www.thebridgevenice.com/serve
Dig Deeper:
1. Have you ever described someone as “wise”? If so, what qualities did they have to make you describe them as wise?
2. In your own words, define what wisdom is.
3. Read James 3:13. Does our culture value wisdom? How does wisdom rank among wealth, popularity, and education through the lens of this world?
4. Read James 3:14-18. How is “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition” earthly, unspiritual, and demonic wisdom? How is the wisdom from above described?
5. How is wisdom different than knowledge?
6. Is all ambition bad? What is the difference between selfish ambition and ambition that is rooted in wisdom?
7. How is our earthly ambition rooted to a fallen world and Satan himself? Knowing that it is, how does it make you want to change your perspective about your own earthly ambition?
8. Read James 3:16. Describe a time when you have seen envy and selfish ambition create disorder.
9. Read James 3:17-18. Discuss the different attributes of wisdom that is “from above” (pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense).
10. Of the attributes listed in the previous question, which one would you choose as the easiest one to put into practice? Which one is the most difficult?
11. How is humility tied to wisdom that is “from above”?
12. How does submitting to heavenly wisdom change the way you interact with others?
13. What does it mean to cultivate? Is cultivating an active or passive activity? Explain why the word cultivate might be used in this passage.
14. How can cultivating peace produce peace?
15. Read James 1:5. Where does wisdom come from? How can you ask God for wisdom?
16. What else does God provide to us “generously and ungrudgingly”?
17. Where do you need to turn to God to receive wisdom for a relationship or situation in your life?
Live It Out:
Wisdom is seeing life from God’s perspective.
Use the questions below as a wisdom assessment to “cultivate peace” in your life and in your relationships. Take time to reflect on each question and answer honestly. Pray to God for wisdom on how to move forward, walking in a way that honors and brings glory to Him.
1. Am I pure in my lifestyle and motives?
2. Am I a person of peace?
3. Am I gentle and compliant?
4. Am I merciful?
5. Am I producing good fruit?
Reading Plan:
Monday: James 3:13-18
Tuesday: Genesis 3:4-6
Wednesday: Matthew 5:3-12
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Friday: Proverbs 2:6, 3:7, 4:7, 11:2, 16:16
Saturday: Galatians 5:22-26
1. Have you ever described someone as “wise”? If so, what qualities did they have to make you describe them as wise?
2. In your own words, define what wisdom is.
3. Read James 3:13. Does our culture value wisdom? How does wisdom rank among wealth, popularity, and education through the lens of this world?
4. Read James 3:14-18. How is “bitter envy” and “selfish ambition” earthly, unspiritual, and demonic wisdom? How is the wisdom from above described?
5. How is wisdom different than knowledge?
6. Is all ambition bad? What is the difference between selfish ambition and ambition that is rooted in wisdom?
7. How is our earthly ambition rooted to a fallen world and Satan himself? Knowing that it is, how does it make you want to change your perspective about your own earthly ambition?
8. Read James 3:16. Describe a time when you have seen envy and selfish ambition create disorder.
9. Read James 3:17-18. Discuss the different attributes of wisdom that is “from above” (pure, peace-loving, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without pretense).
10. Of the attributes listed in the previous question, which one would you choose as the easiest one to put into practice? Which one is the most difficult?
11. How is humility tied to wisdom that is “from above”?
12. How does submitting to heavenly wisdom change the way you interact with others?
13. What does it mean to cultivate? Is cultivating an active or passive activity? Explain why the word cultivate might be used in this passage.
14. How can cultivating peace produce peace?
15. Read James 1:5. Where does wisdom come from? How can you ask God for wisdom?
16. What else does God provide to us “generously and ungrudgingly”?
17. Where do you need to turn to God to receive wisdom for a relationship or situation in your life?
Live It Out:
Wisdom is seeing life from God’s perspective.
Use the questions below as a wisdom assessment to “cultivate peace” in your life and in your relationships. Take time to reflect on each question and answer honestly. Pray to God for wisdom on how to move forward, walking in a way that honors and brings glory to Him.
1. Am I pure in my lifestyle and motives?
2. Am I a person of peace?
3. Am I gentle and compliant?
4. Am I merciful?
5. Am I producing good fruit?
Reading Plan:
Monday: James 3:13-18
Tuesday: Genesis 3:4-6
Wednesday: Matthew 5:3-12
Thursday: 1 Corinthians 1:18-25
Friday: Proverbs 2:6, 3:7, 4:7, 11:2, 16:16
Saturday: Galatians 5:22-26