Sunday School Lesson

2. Proverbs 3:21-35
James 3:13-18
Two Types of Wisdom
June 21, 2020
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi 39216
USA

3. What’s the number one thing?
The Glory of God!
1 Corinthians 10:31 NKJV
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you
do, do all to the glory of God.

4. References
•Jeremiah, David, Seeking Wisdom-Finding Gold
(Atlanta, GA, Walk Thru the Bible Ministries, 1994).
•MacArthur, John, Think Biblically (Wheaton, Crossway
Books, 2003).
•Palmer, Edwin H., The NIV Study Bible (Grand Rapids,
Zondervan, 1985).

5. Goals of Lesson Today
•Read Proverbs 3:21-35 to see the contrasts between
the behavior of a wise person and a foolish person.
•Study James 3:13-18 to learn about the two kinds of
wisdom.
•Apply heavenly wisdom to life.

6. Introduction to “The Book of Proverbs”
•A collection of 513 of the over 3,000 proverbs
pondered by King Solomon (Reign 971-931 BC).
•Proverbs 1:1-2 NKJV
1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of
Israel:
2 To know wisdom and instruction,
To perceive the words of understanding,

7. What is wisdom?
•Charles H. Spurgeon: “The right use of knowledge.”
•Samuel Coleridge: “Wisdom is common sense in an
uncommon degree.”
•Mark Twain: “Wisdom is knowledge using its head.”

8. Wisdom according to Dr. David Jeremiah
•In Scripture, wisdom always refers to knowledge of
the course of action that will please God and make
life what God wants it to be. When God promises
wisdom, He promises a way of life that is superior
to the way of the world. He guarantees that we will
find “that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of
God” (Romans 12:2).

9. The Behavior of Belief by Spiros Zodiates
•Wisdom is a synonym of the Word, and it refers to
that perfection and eternity which is to be found
only in God the Father, manifested to the world
through His Son, the Lord Jesus, and existing in the
world today only through the Holy Spirit. The wise
man is he who has given himself to Jesus Christ, and
who, by the help of the Holy Spirit, keeps his intellect
in submission to the will of God.

10. How does wisdom come to believers?
•1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV
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.
•Jesus Christ is our wisdom from God.
•He (wisdom) dwells in us through the Holy Spirit.
•1 Corinthians 2:16b NIV
16b But we have the mind of Christ.

11. Introduction to Proverbs 3:21-35
•Solomon presents a contrast of those who follow
wisdom, and those who are wicked.
•Good deeds are done by the wise person.
•The evil will have a bad outcome.

12. Proverbs 3:21-23 NIV (A Safe Path)
21 My son, preserve sound judgment and
discernment,
do not let them out of your sight;
22 they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.

13. Proverbs 3:24-26 NIV (Sweet Sleep)
24 When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25 Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26 for the Lord will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.

14. Proverbs 3:27-28 NIV (Compassion Demonstrated)
27 Do not withhold good from those who deserve it,
when it is in your power to act.
28 Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back later; I’ll give it to you tomorrow”—
when you now have it with you.

15. Proverbs 3:29-32 NIV (Right Choices)
29 Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30 Do not accuse a man for no reason—
when he has done you no harm.
31 Do not envy a violent man
or choose any of his ways
32 for the Lord detests a perverse man
but takes the upright into his confidence.

16. Proverbs 3:33-35 NIV (A Contrast of Life)
33 The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34 He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble.
35 The wise inherit honor,
but fools he holds up to shame.

17. The New Testament’s View on Wisdom
•James was Jesus’ brother, but he did not become a
believer until after the resurrection.
•He taught the practical application of Jesus’ teachings,
and wisdom’s impact on behavior.
•James applied the truths of the two realms of Old
Testament wisdom literature.
1) Worldly Wisdom.
2) Heavenly Wisdom.

18. James 3:13 NIV (Deeds of the Wise)
13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him
show it by his good life, by deeds done in the humility
that comes from wisdom.
•This verse mirrors Proverbs 3:27-28 to do good for
those who need it when it is in your power to help.

19. Ephesians 2:10 NIV (Just for You)
10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to
do good works, which God prepared in advance for us
to do.

20. James 3:14-16 NIV (The Wisdom of the World)
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in
your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but
is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. 16 For where you
have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder
and every evil practice.

21. Four Characteristics of the World’s Wisdom
James 3:14 NIV
14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in
your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth.

22. Four Characteristics of the World’s Wisdom
1. bitter envy – A harsh resentful attitude toward
others; to cut others down to elevate yourself.
2. selfish ambition – A person who is always causing
dissension and strife in order to advance his own
cause; Greek word to describe self-serving politician.
3. boast – A person operating in pride, arrogance and
self-comparison.
4. deny the truth – Outright deceit, lying and
untruthful.

23. The Origin of the World’s Wisdom
James 3:15 NIV
15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but
is earthly, unspiritual and of the devil.
•Earthly wisdom – Born in the Garden of Eden when
Satan deceived Adam and Eve.
•Earthly wisdom – Operates in total opposition to the
wisdom of God.

24. 1.Earthly wisdom ‒ Views heavenly wisdom as
foolishness.
•1 Corinthians 2:14 NIV
14 The man without the Spirit does not accept the
things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are
foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them,
because they are spiritually discerned.
•1 Corinthians 1:27 NIV
27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to
shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the
world to shame the strong.

25. 2.Unspiritual Wisdom of the World.
•Unspiritual wisdom ‒ Sensual, Natural
•1 Corinthians 2:14a NKJV
14a But the natural man does not receive the things of
the Spirit of God,
•Paul argued that there is a kind of wisdom which is
the wisdom of the flesh, the wisdom of the senses.

26. Four truths of the “natural man” by Dr. James
Boyer
1. He has a limited nature; spiritually dead.
2. He has a prejudiced disposition; things of God are
not welcome in his life.
3. He has distorted judgment; the things of God are
moronic to him.
4. He has inadequate abilities; lacks the ability to
discern spiritual things.

27. 3.The Wisdom of the World is “of the devil.”
•2 Corinthians 11:13-15 NIV
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen,
masquerading as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder,
for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. 15
It is not surprising, then, if his servants also
masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end
will be what their actions deserve.

28. James 3:16 NIV (The Consequences of the
World’s Wisdom)
16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there
you find disorder and every evil practice.
1. disorder – Confusion, anarchy, instability, chaos,
lawlessness.
2. every evil practice – No boundaries to evil.

29. Wisdom from God is knowing the enemy is
Satan.
•Ephesians 6:12 NIV
12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but
against the rulers, against the authorities, against the
powers of this dark world and against the spiritual
forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

30. Song – “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson
Do you feel the world is broken? (We do)
Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do)
But do you know that all the dark won't stop the light
from getting through? (We do)
Do you wish that you could see it all made new? (We
do)

31. Song – “Is He Worthy?” by Andrew Peterson
Is all creation groaning? (It is)
Is a new creation coming? (It is)
Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our
midst? (It is)
Is it good that we remind ourselves of this? (It is)

32. The Beginning of Heavenly Wisdom
•Proverbs 1:7 NIV
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
•Proverbs 9:10 NIV
10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and
the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.
•“fear of the Lord” ‒ Reverential trust.

33. Why is there chaos in the world?
•Paul and David described man’s sinful nature as “no
fear of God.”
•Romans 3:18 NIV
18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”
•Psalm 36:1 NIV
1 I have a message from God in my heart
concerning the sinfulness of the wicked:
There is no fear of God
before their eyes.

34. Fear of the Lord (God)
•Fearing God is the starting point for godliness.
•This fear includes commitment to His revealed will
(God’s written Word).
•Fearing God means that we keep Him and His statutes
as the focus and center of our attention.
•Matthew Henry: “Where no fear of God is, no good is
to be expected.”

35. James 3:17 NIV (Wisdom from Heaven)
17 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 lists 7 characteristics of wisdom from heaven.
•The source of heavenly wisdom is God himself in His
Word, manifested through His Son, Jesus, and
available to us through the Holy Spirit.

36. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
1. pure – Based upon the attribute of God – holiness.
•When you have God’s wisdom, you have no ulterior
motives or secret desires.
•Psalm 19:8 NKJV
8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the
heart;
The commandment of the Lord is pure,
enlightening the eyes;

37. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
2. peace-loving – True peace is always an outgrowth of
purity; peace is a blessing conferred on us by God.
• Isaiah 26:3 (NKJV)
3 You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
• Philippians 4:7 (NKJV)
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all
understanding, will guard your hearts and minds
through Christ Jesus.

38. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
3. considerate – Gentleness, “sweet reasonableness.”
• 2 Timothy 2:24 NIV
24 And the Lord’s servant must not quarrel; instead, he
must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful.
• James 1:19-20 NIV
19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should
be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become
angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the
righteous life that God desires.

39. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
4. submissive – Willing to yield and willing to listen,
teachable, compliant.
•A military term which means to be willing to take
instructions from the Commander-in-Chief.

40. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
5. full of mercy and good fruit – Showing compassion,
patience and forgiveness combined with kind deeds
toward the undeserving.
•Mercy is compassion in action.
•Luke 6:36 NIV
36 “Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.”
•Matthew 5:7 NIV
7 “Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.”

41. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
6. impartial – Without partiality.
•The Greek word occurs only here in the NT and
denotes a consistent, unwavering person who is
undivided in his commitment and conviction
•It also denotes a person who does not make
unfair distinctions
•James 2:9 NIV
9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are
convicted by the law as lawbreakers.

42. Characteristics of Wisdom from Heaven
7. sincere – Without hypocrisy; free from pretense or
deceit, real.
•Romans 12:9 NIV
9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to
what is good.
•Romans 12:9 NKJV
9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil.
Cling to what is good.

43. The Heavenly Wisdom in a Worldview
•Worldview
‒ “A worldview is a conceptual scheme by which we
consciously or unconsciously place or fit
everything we believe and by which we interpret
and judge reality.” (Andrew Hoffecker)
‒ A worldview is, first of all, an explanation and
interpretation of the world and second, an
application of this view to life.” (Arthur Holmes)

44. What is a Christian Worldview?
•Beliefs of the Christian worldview:
1. “Human beings and the universe in which they
reside are the creation of God who has revealed
himself in the Scripture.” (Ron Nash)
2. A Christian worldview embraces the authority and
sufficiency of the Scripture.
3. Salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

45. What distinguishes the Christian worldview
from other worldviews?
1. Recognizes that God is the unique source of all truth.
‒ Truth derives from the one, eternal God.
‒ God’s truth is absolute, unchanging and universal.

46. What distinguishes the Christian worldview
from other worldviews?
2. Relates all truth back to an understanding of God
and His purposes for this life and the next.
‒ Heavenly wisdom is applied to life’s situations
to glorify God.
‒ Earthly wisdom (from Satan) seeks to distort
and alter God’s truth and wisdom.

47. James 3:18 NIV (The Consequence of Heavenly Wisdom)
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of
righteousness.
•The result of God’s wisdom is peace and the fruit of
righteousness.
•The seeds from the fruit of righteousness are sown
and peace is multiplied and grows.

48. A contrast of James 3:16 and 3:18
•Earthly wisdom
‒ James 3:16 NIV
16 For where you have envy and selfish
ambition, there you find disorder and every evil
practice.
•Heavenly wisdom
‒ James 3:18 NIV
18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a
harvest of righteousness.

49. Closing Scripture
•Philippians 4:8 NKJV
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are
just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are
lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there
is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—
meditate on these things.

50. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
John 3:16-17 NKJV
16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only
begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not
perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His
Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the
world through Him might be saved.”
John 14:6 NKJV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No
one comes to the Father except through Me.”

51. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 3:23 NKJV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a NKJV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this
life to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Revelation 21:8 NKJV
8 “But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually
immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the
lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
• Anyone who’s lifestyle is one or more of the sins listed in Revelation
21:8, will experience the “second death,” if they do not repent.
• To Repent means to turn around, to go in the opposite direction, to turn
away from sin and believe in Jesus.
Romans 5:8 NKJV
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were
still sinners, Christ died for us.

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 6:23b NKJV
23b but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our
Lord.
Revelation 21:7 NKJV
7 “He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will
be his God and he shall be My son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explain to us how to be overcomers.

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Romans 10:9-10 NKJV
9 that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and
believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes unto
righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto
salvation.
Romans 10:13 NKJV
13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

55. The Plan of Hope & Salvation
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/