WISDOM…
IT
HOW TO
JAMES 3:13 -17

Who is wise and understanding
among you? Let him show it by
his good life, by deeds done in
humility that comes from
wisdom. But if you harbor bitter
envy and selfish ambition in
your hearts, do not boast about
it or deny the truth.

Such “wisdom” does not come
down from heaven but is earthly,
unspiritual, of the devil.
For where you have envy and
selfish ambition, there you find
disorder and every evil practice.

But the wisdom that comes from
heaven is first of all pure; then
peace-loving, considerate,
submissive, full of mercy and
good fruit, impartial and sincere.
James 3:13-17

II. THE BIG QUESTION, verse 13
A. Who is wise and Understanding?
1. Wise
2. Understanding
B. The proof
1. Good life
2. Deeds done in humility

III. THE BIG WRONG, verses 14-16
A. Counter-productive attitudes
1. Bitter envy
2. Selfish ambition
* “When you get what you want, you
might not want what you get …when
you leave God out of the equation”
* The “bully”

III. THE BIG WRONG, verses 14-16
B. The source
1. Earthly
2. Unspiritual
3. Of the devil

III. THE BIG WRONG, verses 14-16
C. The product
1. Disorder
2. Every evil practice

IV. THE TRUE WISDOM, verse 17
A. Productive attitudes
1. Pure
2. Peace-loving
3. Considerate
4. Submissive
5. Full of mercy & good fruit
6. Impartial
7. Sincere

PERSONAL APPLICATION
A. Do I truly want God’s wisdom…
or, do I want to propel my own
ideas forward?
B. What is my attitude about the
future of our church? Do I trust
God to work through the
leadership of the church…or, do I
need to try to control things?

PERSONAL APPLICATION
C. Do I trust the leadership of the
church?
D. When leadership hears me…am
I willing to trust God and leave it
with Him…or, do I have to persist
until I get my way…or, persist
until I close people’s ears to me?

PERSONAL APPLICATION
E. Is “my wisdom” full of mercy and
good fruit?