An Ordered Life aka Wisdom in Practice on Proverbs 29:16-27 for 10-2-11

On 10-2-11 Proverbs 29:16-27 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary.  This lesson is known by some as An Ordered Life aka Wisdom in Practice.  You will find the 9-25-11 lesson directly beneath this message and/or on the lower right side.

Jed

An Ordered Life

Or

 Wisdom in Practice

Proverbs 29:16-27

International Sunday School Lesson

October 2, 2011

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

In today’s scripture we see proverbs that talk about order or if wisdom is not practiced the opposite.  Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 14 that God is not a God of disorder, so then why should we His people be that way?  Paul concluded that chapter of discussion concerning worship by saying that everything should be done in an orderly way.

Yes, as I said he was talking about worship but God is consistent and yes it does apply to all things that we be orderly.  For some of us this is a natural talent for others it takes hard effort but this doesn’t make it any less true and no one should do you any favors by telling you that it isn’t just because that is what your ears want to hear. 

This is what verse 18 means to me.  God’s word is not revealed when people are told what their itching ears want to hear as Paul put it.  This is when the people cast off their restraint and we have chaos.  You can see it in the world today more than ever. 

God’s proverbs give us that order if we choose to follow them, don’t follow them and look out for the eventual chaos.

Verse 16 says that sin will thrive with the wicked?  What do you think of?  I automatically thought of Hitler and yes, the righteous of the world eventually did see his downfall.  But there are times when it seems like the wicked never receive what they should but at the Last Day, believe me, you will see it happen.

Verse 17 says that a disciplined son will give you peace and delight and I think of something as simple as a dinner out and being able to enjoy my time with the family as my children act like the gentlemen they have been raised to be.

Verse 19 and 21 go together for me.  These are harder for us today because of the word servant being used but if we imagine an employee instead it is easier.  Imagine an employee who bit by bit over time realized that they could do little of what they were supposed to do or did bad things with impunity and you get the picture.  But the employee who needs his job and fears the repercussions if they were disobedient will behave totally different.

Verse 20 is a little too general if taken at first glance.  What I mean by that is who has not spoken in haste?  I myself in my enthusiasm have done it more than I care to remember but there was hope for me and I have grown.  This proverb has in sight the one who never learns to measure their words nor when they should share them.

Verse 22 reminds me of so many movies I have seen when I was growing up.  I just loved (still do) westerns including the series like Bonanza, Big Valley, The Rifleman and so on.  I cannot tell you how many episodes that there must have been where an angry man would get the people in the saloon or the street stirred up.  Or there would be the unlucky gambler who claims to be cheated or the man who had his elbow bumped while drinking.  If you’ve seen them you know the resulting sin from these hot-tempered men.  The examples seem a bit trivial perhaps but most of the tales could have a companion in reality even today as anger and hot-temperedness stir up and commit trouble even as we speak.

Verse 23 makes me think of Bernie Madoff when I thought of a prideful man being brought down.  I don’t even know if he has lost that pride but he has certainly lost everything else and been brought low.  And the lowly man what honor will he gain?  Christ said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Verse 24 in speaking of being put under oath is certainly remindful of all the dramas we can see or read of where the prosecutor will get some criminal a plea bargain in order to get them to testify.  The predictability of the defense to attack this witness’s credibility is straight out of this proverb.

Verse 25 brings to mind many scriptures that might be of use to you such as 1 Samuel 15:24, Isaiah 51:12, or John 12:42-43 but none more than Matthew 10:28, “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Verse 26 does not dispute that we sometimes wish to hobnob with the powers that be or that we sometimes must rely on them because that is how things work.  What it is saying is that rulers are men and as men they make both errors and commit injustice.  Only God who is without error or impartiality will without fail be just.

Verse 27 makes me think of light and darkness, they have nothing in common as it is also with the righteous and the unrighteous, and they are by nature enemies.  But we who are in the light cannot hate our brother who is still in the dark but rather how he lives. 

These proverbs that we have been given are short sayings of wisdom.  For the most part they are true consistently but yes, some will argue there are exceptions.

There have been sons who have been disciplined who still disappoint.  There have been congregations who have heard the Word and turned from it.  There have been angry men who have brought about change for good.  Perjury is a fact on the witness stand.  And finally many a person that trusted in God met a horrible fate while on this mortal coil.

But….these are exceptions and why the proverbs remain true and why following them will bring order to our lives, to our children’s lives, to our employees, congregations, courts, to our friendships, to our classes, to everything!

For Discussion:

1.      As a class project have individuals write their own proverbs.

2.      Ask the class if they have any favorite proverbs even non-Biblical sayings such as, “you have to break a few eggs to make an omelet” or “cleanliness is next to godliness.”

3.      Hand out slips of paper with numbers that correspond to today’s verses and ask for thoughts on each verse.

4.      Discuss why God might want us to have order in all facets of our lives.

5.      Share examples in a general way where disorder, perhaps in a church, has brought chaos.

6.      Have people share how they have areas of their lives where they need more order.

7.      Have people share how they have managed to bring order to their lives.

8.      Research and discuss the Proverbs as to their authorship, audience, history etc.

10-9-11:  The Superiority of Wisdom (Wisdom is Better than Might), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 or 9:13-10:4

10-16-11:  Wisdom for Aging (Remember Your Creator), Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7, 13

10-23-11:  Tradition and Love (How Sweet is Love), Song of Solomon 4:8-5:1a

10-30-11:  Living as God’s People (Blessed by God), Matthew 5:1-12

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Wisdom and Discernment aka Wisdom and Government on Proverbs 25:1-10 for 9-25-11

On 9-25-11 Proverbs 25:1-10 will be our Adult Sunday School/Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary.  This lesson is known by some as Wisdom and Discernment or Wisdom and Government.  You will find the 9-18-11 lesson directly beneath this message and on the lower right side.

Jed

Wisdom and Discernment

Or

 Wisdom and Government

Proverbs 25:1-10

International Sunday School Lesson

September 25, 2011

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Leadership, government, they are so threaded into the fabric of the world we live in today.  In the past there have been times where in parts of the world people could live independently never knowing in some cases who their supposed leaders were.  Believe it or not there are still places like that where people don’t know and don’t care.  Their daily lives fill them with all the cares and needs that consume their waking and dreaming moments.

Most of us though do know due to the ever growing level of governmental involvement as it pervades our lives and affects our incomes, our grocery choices, our medical visits, even where and how we finish out our lives.  What is stunning though is how lightly we who can take part in choosing our leaders take that responsibility. 

When I read the second verse from today I naturally think about the king mentioned as one of ultimate authority, someone like a President or a King David.  God who knows all and has created all knows where the oil lies beneath the ground or the aquifer flows waiting to be tapped but the “king” who longs to improve his lands and tap its resources searches diligently to make the most of what he has been given.

But wouldn’t it be better yet if our kings at all levels were kings like David, a man after God’s own heart, who would hunger and thirst for God.  This is a king who would search out the matters of God.  Do we have many of these left in our world?

And what about us who live in the world today who actually can have a choice, an impact on who leads?  Are we not in a sense king makers?  It is a bizarre world where so many now have this right but so few exercise that privilege.

Verse 3 says that just as the heavens and the depths are unsearchable so are the minds of kings.  As the scriptures say (Acts 15:8 & 1 Cor 2:11) no one knows what’s in a man’s heart but God.  So what are you basing your choices on?  In today’s world discernment is just as important for the king makers as the kings.

Leadership from home or church, from committees or work places, to the highest places of power in our government without wisdom and discernment is meaningless and will only lead to downfall.

When leadership does not lead in a righteous manner then wickedness will result in the people that are being led.  Remove the wickedness and righteousness we are told in verse 5 for today will follow.

Fittingly we see King Hezekiah mentioned in verse 1.  He was unlike most of his recent forefathers.  When we look into his history we see it said in 2 Kings 18 that among all the kings of Judah there were none like him before or after.

Unlike many that had preceded him and unlike even his own son, Hezekiah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and most importantly for a leader, showed wisdom by trusting God.  What resulted from that was how he governed.

Hezekiah tore down the high places.  He destroyed alters to false gods.  Hezekiah destroyed the bronze snake which had been a symbol but had turned into idolatry.  He turned back to the commands as given by Moses and, as we see from today’s scripture, promoted the word of God.

Hezekiah is a perfect example from God’s word of how we or our leaders can establish our positions of leadership.  If we like Hezekiah tear down the high places, restore the commitment to God’s word then we can accomplish for those we lead just as he did.

We need leaders, who like Hezekiah in 2 Chronicles 30, pray effectively for their people.  We need leaders who like Hezekiah encourage the religious leaders who fulfilled their roles well.  And we need leaders who like Hezekiah demonstrated through his contributions the high place he held worship to the Lord.

Pray for your leaders.  If given the opportunity choose your leaders with discernment.

For Discussion:

1.      Within your church, are your leaders prepared?  Do they study and search out the matter?

2.      Are your leaders demonstrating dignity or do they air all their laundry for everyone to see?

3.      Are those within your churches leadership (at all levels) refined or were they not ready for the positions they now hold?

4.      Do the impure need to be removed so that righteousness will be revealed?

5.      Who receives the glory where you worship?  Is there talk of growth, numbers, successes, prayers only for the church and its congregants or is the glory given to the Father?

6.      Is there bickering and pettiness or do you put your brothers’ and sisters’ position before yours?

7.      Even Hezekiah became puffed up with pride but he repented.  We all make mistakes but sometimes we need to remind ourselves that we aren’t  all that and we need to start anew.

8.      Please save this blog in your favorites so you can come back again and again!

Upcoming Sunday School Lessons

10-2-11:  An Ordered Life (Wisdom in Practice), Proverbs 29:16-27

10-9-11:  The Superiority of Wisdom (Wisdom is Better than Might), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 or 9:13-10:4

10-16-11:  Wisdom for Aging (Remember Your Creator), Ecclesiastes 11:9-12:7, 13

10-23-11:  Tradition and Love (How Sweet is Love), Song of Solomon 4:8-5:1a

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

The Power of Sunday School aka Teaching Values or Instruction in Wisdom on Proverbs 15:21-33 for 9-18-11

On 9-18-11 Proverbs 15:21-33 will be our Adult Sunday School Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary.  This lesson is known by some as Teaching Values or Instruction in Wisdom.  You will find the 9-11-11 lesson directly beneath this message.

Jed

Teaching Values

Or

 Instruction in Wisdom

Proverbs 15:21-33

International Sunday School Lesson

September 18, 2011

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Why do children go to school?  Why do professionals such as doctors have continuing education?  Why will you be in your Sunday School class?

The answers are all the same--so that we might be taught. 

I know that there are many teachers among this “class” who are here for ideas to help prepare them for their class that they will teach on the 18^th.  Similarly there will be many students from classes that stop by to be instructed so that they will be more prepared and more able to participate in their groups.

These are serious roles we play of student and teacher and I take my role in the process seriously.  One way I do that is to make prayer an important part of the process.  Prayer before, during and after every effort I make in this blog is the rule so that I might help you the student or you the teacher.

I know first-hand that I accomplish far more and feel far better about my contributions when I have an active prayer life and I encourage you to do this as well.  I would also encourage you to make prayer a bigger part of your classes.

Right now perhaps you start and end in prayer but sometimes try expanding upon it by having others take part.  This could occasionally include prayers from multiple participants from the class as they pray for what the Spirit moves them to pray for.  You as leader don’t have to lead in all aspects of your class and this can be one of those where you listen.

So what have my prayers this week led me to conclude with regard to today’s scripture?  Well this week my slant is that the power in a church can lie with the Sunday School.  Let me explain.

No matter how called the Pastor or Minister or whatever title you give them may be, it is your classes where the real “growth” in a church will arise.  This is where the meaty teaching and continuing education will occur.  What size is your church, 70, 100, 600 or even larger?  It isn’t in the worship service, where all come together, that people at every level in life and faith will be able to participate.  They won’t share, agree and disagree.  Not many will participate in prayers nor even possibly occasionally rebuke someone.  Rather people sit silently in church as they listen to the sermon.  They may agree, disagree or not understand what it is being said and the vast majority of the time that is where it ends.  Finally it won’t often occur that before or after services that the spiritual is normally discussed.   But in the Sunday School class, the smaller groups are where the koinonia, the fellowship will form.

Go back to today’s scripture, notice all the different positive and negative things.  These things all remind me of what can happen in your Sunday School classes.  Those who are studying this scripture today and sharing it as teachers or students in fellowship with each other are who will benefit from the positives mentioned here.  And it is all those who are not studying these words whether in fellowship or not who are at risk of practicing the negatives.

Looking at the verses specifically I can confidently say that because of those you are joined with you will have much less chance of failing due to lack of council but will gain understanding because of what is shared.  As you and other students grow and participate you all will find joy in giving a good answer at just the right time. 

Your classes are where the value of humility like a widow being valued over being prideful is taught just as today’s scripture says.  So will be the lessons concerning greed, thoughtfulness, pure thoughts and matters of righteousness.  Students and teachers alike will actively participate, grow, laugh, learn, love and cry with each other.  Again does this sound like worship services or does it sound more like active and vibrant Sunday School classes?

I do not think I have ever used Wikipedia for a quote before but for today’s lesson I love what they had to say about Koinonia, “Koinonia is the anglicisation of a Greek word (κοινωνία) that means communion by intimate participation.”  Intimate participation, that’s it alright, it’s in your classrooms or should be!

Yep, this is the slant that I got when I read those proverbs.  Use the power of your classes for the difference you can make for the kingdom.  I lift you up.  I encourage you.  I pray for you that the teaching you give and receive will be powerful.

For Discussion:

1.      Include in your classes the prayer needs of those who make up your groups.

2.      Make it a class project to formally invite people into your group.  Send invitations, offer to pick them up, literally walk with them through the door.

3.      Discuss verse 25’s how God tears down a proud man’s house.

4.      Discuss verse 27’s how a greedy person brings trouble to their family.

5.      Verse 28 talks of how the righteous weigh their answers before choosing to speak.  Discuss how in our exuberance for God’s word we might often be too quick to speak.

6.      Showing up is the first step, but discuss with those the growth that can occur both as individuals and for the benefit of their classmates if they study and come prepared.

9-25-11:  Wisdom and Discernment (Wisdom and Government), Proverbs 25:1-10

10-2-11:  An Ordered Life (Wisdom in Practice), Proverbs 29:16-27

10-9-11:  The Superiority of Wisdom (Wisdom is Better than Might), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 or 9:13-10:4

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

The Adult Sunday School Lesson on Proverbs 4:10-15, 20-27 for 9-11-11

This is the Adult Sunday School Lesson for 9-11-11 From Generation to Generation aka Walk the Straight Path on Proverbs 4:10-15, 20-27 for the Uniform Series/International Sunday School Lesson.  You will find the 9-4-11 lesson beneath this message and/or on the right side.

Jed

Proverbs 4:10-15, 20-27

An International Sunday School Lesson

For

September 11, 2011

Entitled by some

From Generation to Generation

Or

 Walk the Straight Path

Commentary

By

Jed Greenough

Last week as we started our foray into Proverbs we looked at trusting in the Lord and I mentioned Psalm 119:105, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.”  This week we find that the path, drum roll please, is a straight one.

It should be obvious that God’s path would be a straight and smooth one and so then if followed will our lives be, yet our natural tendency is to stray from that straight path.  This tendency negates for most the benefit of simply reading scripture such as today’s and following it’s extolling of wisdom demonstrated.  As a result much more of God’s word is filled with examples that demonstrate those that fail to follow the path as defined in this wisdom proverb.

I spend a lot of time outdoors and this summer has been no exception.  On one camping trip my family and I were traveling in Yellowstone National Park and my young son asked why they chose where to put the roads that we now use to traverse the park.  I answered that it was mainly due to the lay of the land which dictated that one area was more favorable than the next.  It might mean therefore that the choice was because of a pass between mountain ranges, a relatively level river valley or lake shore.  This is where the elk and deer had traveled; this is where the Shoshoni and Blackfeet had also. When they came, those that built the trails that became roads chose the same paths. 

These were the paths of least resistance but interestingly enough, unlike these paths which offered an easier route that we like animals naturally follow, we don’t naturally follow God’s straight and smooth path for us.  Thus He has given us the scripture such as today’s Proverbs and scriptural examples of those who choose not to follow His guidance.  All of it in hopes that if we are aware of it we will not repeat their folly and therefore spare ourselves or spare our loved ones the pain.

On that same trip before my family arrived I had occasion to read of the earliest white visitors to the area that became Yellowstone National Park.  These explorers learned the hard way that straying off these age old paths to see what was around the bend could mire one down.  They stepped onto thin soil that gave way to scalding springs that could maim and kill.  They wasted muscle and livestock scaling heights that led to little.  They made scant progress when becoming nearly hopelessly entangled when they ventured into pathless, fallen and twisted timber.

But because of their experiences others learned, the best sights are accessible, the easiest routes are cleared and the road paved.  And so it is with all the scriptures.

1 Corinthians 10:1-12

Warnings From Israel’s History

 For I do not want you to be ignorant of the fact, brothers, that our forefathers were all under the cloud and that they all passed through the sea.  They were all baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea.  They all ate the same spiritual food and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that accompanied them, and that rock was Christ.  Nevertheless, God was not pleased with most of them; their bodies were scattered over the desert.

Now these things occurred as examples to keep us from setting our hearts on evil things as they did.  Do not be idolaters, as some of them were; as it is written: “The people sat down to eat and drink and got up to indulge in pagan revelry.”  We should not commit sexual immorality, as some of them did—and in one day twenty-three thousand of them died.  We should not test the Lord, as some of them did—and were killed by snakes.  And do not grumble, as some of them did—and were killed by the destroying angel.

These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the fulfillment of the ages has come.  So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!

For Discussion:

1.      Do you sense the almost desperate urgency in the “voice” of the writer?  Go back and read the scripture. 

2.      Discuss the view from the perspective of a parent who didn’t listen and strayed from the path and now wants the ones they care about to listen to this advice.

3.      Discuss the dangers of trying to walk on both paths at the same time.

4.      Discuss the little ways that people may think are okay to step off the path but in reality are not.  Examples might be with their humor or entertainment.

5.      Discuss how guilt can lead to more and more distance between them and God and how easily the wisdom mentioned in our scripture can be attained by just repenting and getting back on track.

6.      Due to the vagaries of the Internet browsers I encourage you to bookmark this page if you find these lessons useful.

9-18-11:  Teaching Values (Instruction in Wisdom), Proverbs 15:21-33

9-25-11:  Wisdom and Discernment (Wisdom and Government), Proverbs 25:1-10

10-2-11:  An Ordered Life (Wisdom in Practice), Proverbs 29:16-27

10-9-11:  The Superiority of Wisdom (Wisdom is Better than Might), Ecclesiastes 9:13-18 or 9:13-10:4

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved