Resources: Lesson Manuscript, PowerPoint, and Devotional
PowerPoint link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/v70uaplrnbipmmkmetncq/God-s-Wisdom-PPNT.pptx?rlkey=27wm5zojgmhu9peqmpyo357dk&st=w4yfb791&dl=0
Franklin Heights Church Connect Groups: https://franklinheights.org/connect/groups/
Review: Last week we wrapped up II Peter being encouraged to discern false teachers and influencers by cherishing the Word of God, spending time in it and savoring His grace.
Title: God’s Wisdom
Text: Psalm 1:1-6
Key Verse: Psalms 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man[a]
who walks not in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stands in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the seat of scoffers;
2 but his delight is in the law[b] of the Lord,
and on his law he meditates day and night.”
Theme: Pursuing godly wisdom leads to a fruitful life.
Introduction: Every time we say yes to one thing we’re saying no to another. Our decisions matter. Some are major, others minor. Psalms is a book of collected corporate and personal worship praise songs to nurture our relationship intimacy with God. Psalm 1 comes right out the gate showing us that engagement with God’s word is an important decision.
How do you handle making bigger decisions? My wife and I pull out a piece of paper, draw a line down the middle with one column being pros and another beings cons. Sometimes decisions take longer and other counselors are needed, prayer, and searching the Scriptures. What’s part of your process you’ve found helpful? Please comment in the comment section below the video description.
- The Righteous Person (vv. 1-2)
Verse 1, “Blessed is the man…” or HAPPY is the one!
It’s not a worry-free promise, but a promise of joy no matter what we face.
To experience this blessed life there’s a downward spiral listed in verse 1 that we’ve got to avoid: Notice how the one whose life spins out of control gradually becomes more and more comfortable with influences toward sin, walking, standing, and then sitting right down comfortably with it.
The person who does the opposite in verse 2 loves, reads, saturates themselves in God’s word and meditates on it, meditates on it.
2. Benefits of Righteousness (vv. 3-4)
“He is like a tree
planted by streams of water
that yields its fruit in its season,
and its leaf does not wither.
In all that he does, he prospers.”
The person in God’s Word experiences results! Fruitfulness!
The Key doctrine here is God’s Word.
Psalm 119:140, “Your promise is well tried,
and your servant loves it.”
2 Peter 1:19-21, “19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts, 20 knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. 21 For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.”
What are some of the fruits that someone spending time in God’s Word will inevitably experience?
- A stronger walk
- More joy and living within a sense of God’s favor
- Spiritual strength to withstand temptation and help others come to Jesus and be strengthened in their faith.
- What are you able to do with a long, tall, sturdy tree? You can lean on it for shae and rest.
That’s the kind of person we can be through God’s word!
The opposite’s true here. Verse 4, “4 The wicked are not so,
but are like chaff that the wind drives away.”
Farmers would sift the solid, edible grain from the chaff, the useless parts that. Would just get blown away from the grain and separated by the wind.
Gospel: This world is broken and will sift the lost like chaff. God’s design is that we be healthy and fruitful in our spiritual walks. Through Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection if we’ll receive Him, we can be saved and recover and pursue his design and then charge back into the brokenness and rescue the chaff and God will miraculously make them grain by His grace!
3. Day of Judgement (vv. 5-6)
“Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,
nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous;
6 for the Lord knows the way of the righteous,
but the way of the wicked will perish.”
On the final day of judgement there will be a great separation of the righteous/those who are saved by God’s grace and the ungodly/those who have not received the righteousness of Jesus by grace. Matthew 7:19-23 describes it saying, “19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’”
That’s a serious warning.
Those who know God and have given Him their lives, God’s caring presence will nevr leave them! What hope!
Discussion Questions:
How can we prioritize God’s Word?
What can we do to get more out of God’s Word and make that commitment stronger in our lives?
In the comments please share how you cultivate spending time with God.
Big Takeaway(s):
- God has shown me such grace in Jesus for when I have not planted and rooted myself in the flowing stream of His Word like we should.
- Don’t stay stuck.
- Get in God’s Word.
- He promises His favor and blessing through being in His Word.
- The person Who is saved and seeks God diligently in God’s Word will be strengthened by it and fruitful from it; guaranteed.
What are your big takeaways? Please mention those in the comments.
Resources:
- www.drcalebwalker.com
- Lesson Teaching Manuscript
- Free Download of this PowerPoint
- Devotional
- Discipleship and church revitalization consulting: cwalker@franklinheights.org
Devotional from Psalm 1:1-6 for Family Devotions
By way of application, this Psalm reminds us of the importance of being in God’s Word and the blessings that come from that, as well as the detrimental impacts of neglecting it.
You need to prioritize family devotions in the home.
It can be a simple as reading some Scripture, explaining it and discussing it briefly and then having everyone go around in the circle and share how the scripture applies to their life personally.
We like to have a time where we share our biggest high and biggest low for the day as an icebreaker to settle everyone into that time.
Our kids are four and two, so singing fun songs they know about the Bible and Jesus is sometimes a majority of our family devotions time for now. We’re excited to get into thse deeper conversations. I’ll share a Bible story that’s on their level and they love it.
We conclude in prayer, and I usually briefly include a simple version of the gospel and celebrate one of God’s attributes like His goodness or love.
This time will change with each season our kids are in.
My wife and I do a brief devotional and scripture reading on our own before bed and wrap up with prayer. We have to remind ourselves that we’re not rehearsing our concerns but we are giving those concerns to God.
This isn’t a difficult, complicated family devotion plan, but is simple and doable most evenings. Maybe for you it will look different depending on your season of life. Let me encourage you to dive in and give it a try. If you miss a night because of schedule conflicts don’t get discouraged. God’s grace says, give it another shot tomorrow night. God bless you!
How to Pray:
- God help me do my part to lead the way for my family’s devotion time.
Caleb Walker 
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