Vision Sunday
Text: Proverbs 1:1-7; 29:18
Message: What’s Next?
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“Too often, personal effectiveness is used as a tool to build the life we want, and God is left out of the picture…So we aren’t truly unstuck unless Christ is at the center of our lives. For Christ to be at the center…means that we do all that we do for him and in his power…” — Matt Perman
“If you want to do more than simply make money in your life or be well liked; if you want to live a life that makes the kind of difference God wants you to make; then you need to have a vision…” — Matt Perman
New Year: “How will I increase this year in _________________?”
“Where there is no prophetic vision the people cast off restraint, but blessed is he who keeps the law.” — Proverbs 29:18
“Let us examine our ways and test them and let us return to the Lord.”
– Lamentations 3:40
Our Vision: To be a church for our city that seeks new life in Jesus (Jer. 29)
Our Mission: To equip people with the gospel for everyday life (Eph. 4:12)
“The reason I left you in Crete was that you might put in order what was left unfinished and appoint elders in every town, as I directed you.” — Titus 1:5
“Instantaneous access to information does not equal wisdom…It’s a good thing that the internet might provide some answers…But is it really the best and deepest and most godly place for finding the truest answers?…listening to wisdom’s voice…is a top predictor of resilient faith among young adults.”
— Dave Kinnaman & Mark Matlock (Faith for exiles)
“…Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man.” — Luke 2:52
New Year: “How will I increase this year in God’s wisdom?”
TEXT: Proverbs 1:1-7
“There is calculation in Proverbs, for there is every encouragement to count the cost or reward of one’s actions, and to study the ways of getting things done; but wisdom as taught here is God-centered, and even when it is most down to earth it consists in the shrewd and sound handling of one’s affairs in God’s world, in submission to his will.” — Derek Kidner
Wisdom is…(1. Transcendent 2. Multifaceted 3. Relational)
- Transcendent (v. 1)
“The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel…”
“What does this mean for us? We need to see that the Son of David—Jesus of Nazareth—has established a messianic kingdom by fulfilling the wisdom of Proverbs. He is the wise Messiah promised in Isaiah 11 who will reestabilish the harmony fortified at the fall. We need to submit to his loving and wise rule so that he can produce wisdom in us. That’s our only path to wisdom.” — Daniel Akin
- Multifaceted (v. 2-6)
“To know wisdom and instruction, to understand words of insight, 3 to receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance, 6 to understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles.”
- Relational (v. 7)
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
TAKEAWAYS: What’s Next?
* Increase in wisdom
* Embrace your stage
* Grow in grace
“Now then, my children, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. 33 Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not disregard it. 34 Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. 35 For those who find me find life and receive favor from the Lord. 36 But those who fail to find me harm themselves; all who hate me love death.”
— Proverbs 8:32-36