Camden Valley Church
10am 11/1/2026
  • Love So Great
  • Jesus Strong And Kind
  • Holy Spirit

  • WELCOME

    Welcome & introduction
    Mention Peter’s sermon last week on Hope and continuing the New Year’s theme
    Today: Wisdom — Making Wise Decisions
    Not a full doctrine of wisdom
    But the biblical bedrock for wise living
    We’ll be in Proverbs 1:1–7
    Proverbs: Israel’s wisdom literature
    Short, pithy sayings
    Solomon (approx. 1000 years before Jesus; ~3000 years ago for us)
    These sayings were disseminated for the parents, young people, and teachers of Israel—essentially Israel’s school curriculum

    Read & Pray: Proverbs 1:1–7 (NIV)

    Proverbs 1:1–7 NIV
    The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    PRAYER
    INTRODUCTION

    INTRODUCTION

    Dietrich Bonhoeffer
    February 1, 1933 — “The Younger Generation’s Altered Concept of Leadership”
    Context:
    Germany devastated economically
    Humiliated after WWI
    Younger generation had lost confidence in traditional authorities—kaiser, church, institutions
    Nation searching for a new leader, a Führer
    Bonhoeffer understood the danger:
    Misplaced power becomes an idol
    Idols produce misleaders
    Bonhoeffer soon became one of Hitler’s earliest and strongest opponents.
    April 1933 Essay, Bonhoeffer argued that the church must resist injustice
    Not merely care for victims
    But actively “put a spoke in the wheel” of the machinery of injustice
    Opposed the Aryan Clause (explain briefly)
    This stance fractured the national church

    Felt Need

    How did he know Hitler was so disatrous?
    Was he extraordinarily intelligent?
    Was it life experience?
    Was he just brave?
    He was wise.
    He possessed knowledge, shaped by:
    His intellect
    His allegiance to Christ
    A refined moral character
    The ability to see reality clearly
    The courage to act

    ME & US

    We all like to imagine we would be on the right side of history.
    I’d like to think:
    I would see danger clearly
    I would have the spiritual character to interpret my moment
    I would have the moral courage to act
    That is exactly what biblical wisdom is: Character → Conduct → Consequence
    Quality & quantity of life
    If you asked Bonhoeffer whether he’d do it again—he’d say yes

    Why Wisdom Matters

    It’s not only for the rare dramatic moments.
    The life you want to look back on is on the other side of your wise decisions.
    Peace with God
    Flourishing relationships
    Positive contribution to community
    Financial freedom and stability
    Meaning, purpose, success, spiritual vitality
    Our New Year’s resolutions — health, finances, relationships, spirituality — are really just hopes for wise decisions.

    TEACHING

    1. What Wisdom Is For (vv. 2–3)

    Proverbs 1:2–3 NIV
    for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight; for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair;

    (1) Internalization & Discipline — v.2

    “for gaining wisdom and instruction; for understanding words of insight…”
    Wisdom is not merely hearing truth
    It is internalizing truth
    It forms discipline and shapes character
    It involves receiving instructions (chastening) “corrective lessons” that address our moral faults and our natural waywardness

    (2) Moral Action — v.3

    “for receiving instruction in prudent behavior, doing what is right and just and fair…”
    Wisdom is:
    Knowledge (knowing what to do)
    Moral direction (knowing who to do it for — God and others)
    Unlike mere skill or knowledge, Wisdom is never neutral; it is morally oriented
    Simeon Stylites
    Simeon Stylites - Cilicia (Aleppo, Syria),
    kicked out of a monastery for being too austere,
    so arount 420AD he climbed lived atop a 15m pillar for 37 years. fed by what food and drink could be thrown up to him.
    People flocked to him from hundreds of kilometres away to seek his wisdom, to learn
    Extreme discipline and focus
    Appears to embody wisdom by withdrawal worldly distractions and superficial concerns, allowing them to focus on deeper truths and exercise clear judgment.
    But…
    Biblical wisdom is not withdrawal from life. It is earthy, practical, gritty, and deeply concerned with everyday realities: parenting, money, relationships, work.

    What Wisdom Is For - Internalization & Discipline Moral Action

    2. Who Wisdom Is For (vv. 4–6)

    Proverbs 1:4–6 NIV
    for giving prudence to those who are simple, knowledge and discretion to the young— let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance— for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.

    (1) The Young / “Simple” — v.4

    “giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young…”
    “Simple” = naïve, gullible, easily misled
    Starting life “behind the eight ball”
    Wisdom gives prudence and discretion
    Its interesting that the words used for the young are restrictive in nature. “Prudence” = the ability to pick the careful and correct path. “Discretion” = the quality of restricting your behaviour and speech as to not cause offense.
    The young have a world of opportunities.
    Choice overload
    Sober Curious Movement
    Younger generations valuing wellness and clarity
    Seeking experiences without alcohol’s “chaos”
    Seeking freedom from impulsiveness and restrictionless
    Your worst moments, are never your never your most unrestrained.
    Wisdom gives exactly that kind of prudent restraint.

    (2) The Mature — v.5

    “let the wise listen and add to their learning…”
    Wisdom is not a destination
    The wise never “arrive”
    This shows that the pursuit of wisdom is a lifelong journey that requires humility and a plurality of counsel.
    Chapter in a book.
    I’ve done enough. I’ve worked enough. I’ve learned enough. I’ve heard enough. I’ve given enough.
    Never been through one bad decision
    Your success today is not a guarantee of your success tomorrow.

    3. For the Studious (v. 6)

    “for understanding proverbs and parables, the sayings and riddles of the wise.”
    There is studious work to this. Wisdom requires:
    Interpretation
    Study
    Reflection
    Application
    Never seen someone easily slip into the life they want to live.

    THE FOUNDATION OF WISE DECISIONS (v. 7)

    Proverbs 1:7 NIV
    The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.
    The key to the book is the “Fear of the Lord”
    Bruce Waltke:
    “‘Fear of the Lord’ is to wisdom what the alphabet is to reading.” - Bruce Waltke
    There are two meanings within this statement that we need to draw out:

    The first is the emotional meaning.

    Natural emotional fear response to experiencing God.
    I don’t like fear.… You don’t either
    Fears are our vulnerability and they are easily exploited...
    Safetyism...
    So we have lost the concept of healthy fear...
    But:
    Fear can be an appropriate emotional response. (e.g., thief breaking in; legitimate danger)
    Before a holy God:
    It is right to feel morally exposed
    It is right to experience reverence and awe
    EXPOSING AND DREADFUL
    What unwise decision would you NOT make if you truly feared you would give an account before God for it?
    What would you NOT buy?
    How would you stop acting towards that person or people?
    What website would you NOT click on?
    BUT,
    Fear is the beginning

    Second meaning full description of relationahip with God

    coreferential
    o focus on fear is an inappropriate sitting on one aspect of God’s character.
    1 John 4:18 NIV
    There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.
    Every reason I have to fear God has been removed, paid for! (Gospel). Every reason for dread has been paid for in Christ.
    He is holy and just, worthy of our fear and reverence, but He is also loving and abounding in mercy to purchase us back by to himself by the blod of Jesus.
    1 Corinthians 1:22–25 NIV
    Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
    Where does God direct us for wisdom?
    To a crucified Jesus, on a roman cross, who imparts His Spirit to his rag-tag bunch of early followers, who with the gospel message, go and change the world and embark on God’s renewal project for the world.
    God says “Thats my wisdom”, in Christ!
    Their might be knew technologies and scientific insight but there is no wise teaching, no wise principal to live by, no wise relational dynamics to live within, no wise financial teaching that is not simply a footnote to the teachings and example of Jesus.
    It might be despised & ridiculed by some.
    Another way to say what I say it… The life you want to live - The spiritual vibrant, relationally rich, peaceful and impactful life you want to live and look back on - is on the other side of the wise decisions Jesus would make.
    How do make wise decisions?
    I love how theologian John Murray puts our correct emotional response to the Fear of the Lord being the beginning of wisdom

    Christ-Conscious

    Not fearing man, but loving and fearing God, being awestruck by God
    Make sure they are God-Conscious, humble and obedient decisions to wisely follow Jesus and emulate a Jesus who loves you, so much so that he sacrificed Himself to have you for himself, so He could show you and teach the way to live life skillfully

      • Proverbs 1:2–3NIV2011

      • Proverbs 1:4–6NIV2011

      • Proverbs 1:7NIV2011

      • 1 John 4:18NIV2011

      • 1 Corinthians 1:22–25NIV2011

      • John 3:16NIV2011

      • Romans 10:9–10NIV2011

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