The powerful message of James' letter to the church is as relevant today as when he originally wrote it. James is Mr. Straight Forward - he tells it like it is. Many of our problems in life stem from our own spiritual immaturity. However, our spiritual life doesn't end there. God wants us to grow up in Christ, not just grow old. What I love about the book of James is its practicality: this is down to earth teaching and gold nuggets of wisdom, along with a call for believers to grow up in our relationship with God.

This week is about wisdom. All of us know people who are very intelligent, and yet seemingly cannot carry out the simplest tasks of life. Where can we find wisdom? Is it distant and unreachable or is it something within the grasp of all people?

Our reading for this week: Proverbs 1: 20-33; James 3: 13-18

Plan to join us this Sunday morning at 10:30am OR go to our FB page to link to Youtube live on Sunday mornings or anytime on our website redoakpresbyterianchurch.com

Questions to think about:

1. Who in your life has exemplified and imparted Godly wisdom? What characteristics mark his or her life?

2. Warren Wiersbe said, "Knowledge enables us to take things apart, but wisdom enables us to put things together and relate God's truth to daily life." What do you think about Wiersbe's differentiation between knowledge and wisdom?

3. How does the world's definition of wisdom differ from Scripture's definition?

4. According to James 3:13, why can't someone whose life is marked by immortality be considered wise?

5. What's the difference between knowing facts and possessing Godly wisdom?

6. There are all kinds of self-help books proclaiming to offer wisdom for one area of life or another (dieting, finances, relational help). What does the prevalence of self-help books tell you about our world's fascination with wisdom?

7. According to James, any wisdom that is not heavenly is unspiritual or even of the devil? Is James being too harsh?

8. Describe some ways the world is in such a mess because people have refused to accept the wisdom of God. Now look at each of those circumstances and consider how things might be different if people had accepted God's wisdom.

9. How do you get your wisdom from God? List practical ways to increase your heavenly wisdom.

10. Would you consider yourself wise? Why or why not? What deeds or actions would suggest you're living out heavenly wisdom? What deeds or actions suggest you're counting on worldly wisdom?