Sermons

God has hardwired us to search for knowledge and wisdom. But, as fallen creatures, we often search for that wisdom in places outside of God. As well, the more that we learn and understand, the heavier the weight of wisdom becomes. Only in Jesus can true wisdom for life be found.

Discussion Questions

1. How does Genesis 1 show that humans are hardwired for knowledge and wisdom? Why is this desire a good thing? Where does it go wrong?

2. If Proverbs is more “optimistic,” why do we need a book like Ecclesiastes that seems so pessimistic? How is this God-breathed Scripture useful for us?

3. Why is wisdom so heavy? Why does sorrow increase the more that we learn?

4. Why do we need Jesus “over the sun” to find meaning in this life “under the sun”? How can we trust him to bear the weight of wisdom?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that we as disciples would seek true wisdom and knowledge in Jesus. And pray that he would help us give the weight of wisdom to him.

2. Pray that we would be faithful to share the gospel of Jesus with those in our world who are searching for knowledge, wisdom, and meaning from life.

Sermon Description

The book of Proverbs repeatedly warns us against something called “the fear of man.” What is the fear of man, and how can we avoid it by fearing God? Guest preacher Dmitriy Spatarel from Resurrection Church Tacoma continues our series in Proverbs.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you struggle with the fear of man? Where does it show up most often in your life?

2. What does trusting God in those moments of temptation with the 'fear of man' look like for you?

3. How does the Gospel of Jesus Christ free you from the 'fear of man'?

4. What does it mean to truly fear the Lord in the right way? How does the Bible portray the fear of the Lord?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that we would truly fear God, and not give place to the fear of man. Pray that in those moments where we are tempted to fear man God’s Spirit would remind us to fear the Lord and seek to please him.

2. Pray for opportunities to get over our fear of man and share the gospel with those in our lives who don’t yet know his grace.

Sermon Description

Friendship is one of the most misunderstood and often-neglected virtues in our modern world. But Jesus calls us his friends, his close companions. In the Proverbs, we see much wisdom on what it means to have friendship with Christ and with each other.

Discussion Questions

1. Why do you think that friendship is so often misunderstood in our culture? What are the ways that our culture gets it right/wrong? How does the biblical picture of friendship stand in contrast?

2. Why do true friendships always involved risk? How can we help one another to open our hearts and lives to be truly vulnerable in friendship with one another?

3. Think about the continuum of acquaintance-companion-friend-family. How does the gospel continually move us further down the line into a place of committed closeness?

4. How do our close, committed, and caring friendships showcase the gospel of Jesus to a world that is fragmented and isolated? How should our friendships be used to further our witness, not hinder it?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that God would grow us as people who practice true, biblical, committed, and loving friendships.

2. Pray that God would heal us from pains that we’ve experienced in friendship.

3. Pray that our friendships would serve as a gospel witness to a lost and broken world, a world that deeply longs to be loved and known.

The book of Proverbs is a unique collection of pithy sayings, speeches, and poems. Its purpose is to help God’s people not just have heads full of information, but to be equipped for wisely navigating the many challenges of life.

Discussion Questions

1. Do you have any favorite proverbs? Why are they meaningful to you? How can we help one another think about them as truth, not necessarily as “promises”?

2. Why is it so important to understand that wisdom is more than just “following the rules?” How does this mindset encourage trust in God and relationship?

3. If Jesus is the wisdom of God, how is the gospel at the foundation of all true wisdom? What are some ways that the wisdom of the gospel differs from worldly wisdom?

4. How does wise living help us live on mission with Jesus in the world?

Prayer Points

1. Pray that God would use our time in the Proverbs to grow us in wisdom, understanding, and insight. And pray that God would grow us in wise living.

2. Pray that God would give us wisdom in sharing the gospel with a world that values a completely different approach to wisdom, knowledge, and living.

In this special week we didn’t have a sermon, but rather heard from Pastor Shane Patrick and Stephanie Hansen. They’ve both been embattled in health issues and their presence with us is evidence of God’s grace. They share what their experiences have been, how they’ve struggled with the Lord, and how they’ve seen his grace in their difficult times.