Ecclesiastes – The Conclusion of Wisdom
True wisdom lives in light of eternity, fearing and obeying God, knowing that each of us will give an account to God.
Ecclesiastes 1:1-11; 12:13-14
Job – Part 2 – Wisdom on Suffering
True wisdom is humble, knowing its own limits, and trusting in the limitless wisdom of God.
Job 3-42 (1 Peter 4:19)
Job – Part 1 – His Story
Those who fear God and follow His ways can still face great suffering in this life.
Job 1-2 (James 5:11)
The Path of Blessing, The Path of Trouble
In general, those walking the path of wisdom will be blessed in every area, while those walking the path of the fool will find their lives filled with trouble.
Proverbs 14:11
The Integrity of the Wise
The wise are called to lives of integrity – speaking truthfully, acting honestly, and behaving reliably.
Proverbs 13:6
The Tongue of the Wise
The wise realize the power of the tongue, and carefully guard and use it to bring blessing rather than curse.
Proverbs 18:20-21
The Self-Control of the Wise
The wise cultivate self-control, building helpful traits and restricting harmful desires.
Proverbs 25:28
The Teachable Heart of the Wise
The wise have teachable hearts that hunger for instruction and even correction so that they may become wiser.
Proverbs 13:1
The Humility of the Wise
The wise person will reject pride and embrace the humility that flows from recognizing our own unworthiness before God.
Proverbs 11:2
The Sexual Life of the Wise
The wise person will avoid all sexual immorality but will enjoy a passionate sexual relationship with their spouse.
Proverbs 5:1-23 (& Song of Solomon)
The Heart of the Wise – Shaping Our Souls for Character
The key to a godly character is carefully guarding our hearts because the state of the heart determines character.
Proverbs 4:20-23
The Gate to the Way of Wisdom: The Fear of the Lord
The gate to the way of wisdom is the fear of the Lord — a proper reverence and awe for our great God.
Proverbs 1:7
The Way of Wisdom
The wisdom books of the Old Testament teach us how to shape our souls so that we acquire the skill to learn and live successfully in this fallen world.
Proverbs 1:1-7
The Tragedy of Divorce
Divorce is a tragedy arising from man’s sin which produces devastating effects on all involved, so Christians should always work to save marriages.
Matthew 19:1-9; Malachi 2:16
The Purposes of Marriage
Marriage must be centered on God, and its true purposes are found in fulfilling our call to display God’s image in all the earth.
Genesis 1:26-28; 2:18-24
The Covenant Nature of Marriage
Marriage is a life-long covenant between a man and a woman to be exclusively faithful to one another.
Malachi 2:13-16
Does God Allow Homosexual Marriage?
Although Christians must show compassion to those trapped in homosexuality, we must be clear that it is a sin, and that God would never condone homosexual marriage.
Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19:3-6
Is Cohabitation the Same As Marriage?
Cohabitation is different in both purpose and practice from marriage, and it does not fit the biblical parameters for marriage and thus does not benefit the individuals or society.
Genesis 2:22-24; Matthew 19:3-6
Biblical Principles for Selecting A Marriage Partner (Part 2)
When thinking about a marriage partner, we need to follow God’s wisdom and choose someone, not based on external looks, but on the basis of godly character.
Proverbs 31:10, 30
The God of Restoration
The Lord is a God Who delights to restore what has been lost because of Satan, the world, and even sin.
Psalm 14:7
God is Faithful
In the book of Ruth, we see how God is faithful to His covenant people, through all circumstances.
Ruth 4:18-22
The Kinsman Redeemer
Jesus is our Kinsman Redeemer – a member of our family Who defends, protects, and redeems us from our trouble.
Ruth 2:20
God’s Concern for the Poor
In the book of Ruth, we see God’s deep concern for the poor, and how His people are called to care for the poor.
Ruth 2:1-3
The Value of Godly Character
God calls His people to respond to Him in faith and to display a character that is like His.
Ruth 2:5-12
God’s Providence
The book of Ruth is a showcase of God’s providence, his ongoing and intimate relationship with his creation.
Ruth