Building Meaningful Relationships Through Divine Wisdom
Summary
### Summary
Good morning, everyone! It's wonderful to be back after a few weeks off, and I'm thrilled to share some exciting updates about our church. Mark your calendars for August 25th, as we celebrate one year of Devoted City Church. On this day, I'll also be sharing our vision for the future, including updates on our North Raleigh campus and our new Saturday night service starting September 7th.
Today, we continue our series on the book of Proverbs, focusing on Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages us to trust in the Lord and reject human wisdom. Wisdom, as described in the Hebrew language, is a skill that we must learn and develop. One crucial aspect of wisdom is understanding the power of our relationships. The people we choose to surround ourselves with have a significant influence on our lives. Proverbs 13:20 tells us that walking with the wise makes us wise, while the company of fools leads to harm.
Our friends have the power to shape our decisions, behaviors, and even our faith. This is especially important as we enter a new season, whether it's going back to school or starting new projects. This is a perfect time to reset and evaluate our relationships. We need to be intentional about choosing friends who will lead us towards wisdom and godliness.
In today's world, many factors, such as busyness, social media, and even politics, can hinder the development of meaningful relationships. Social media, in particular, can make us feel connected but often leaves us feeling lonely and unsatisfied. It's crucial to prioritize face-to-face interactions and build relationships that are grounded in truth and mutual support.
We all need friends who will tell us the truth, even when it's hard to hear. These friends help us grow and keep us accountable. As we move forward, let's focus on building relationships that reflect God's wisdom and love. If you don't have such friends, I encourage you to join one of our groups. These groups provide a supportive community where you can grow in your faith and wisdom.
Ultimately, the most important relationship we can have is with Jesus. He calls us friends and invites us into a relationship based on love, trust, and mutual understanding. Let's strive to build friendships that reflect this divine relationship and help us live out our faith more fully.
### Key Takeaways
1. Trust in the Lord and Reject Human Wisdom: Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and reject human wisdom. In a world that often embraces human wisdom, we must stand firm in our faith and rely on God's guidance. This trust leads to straight paths and a life aligned with God's will. [23:11]
2. The Power of Relationships: The people we choose to surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives. Proverbs 13:20 teaches us that walking with the wise makes us wise, while the company of fools leads to harm. Our friends influence our decisions, behaviors, and even our faith, making it crucial to choose our companions wisely. [29:04]
3. The Dangers of Social Media: While social media can enhance our lives, it often leaves us feeling lonely and unsatisfied. It fosters a culture of comparison, which kills contentment and inflates our egos. We must prioritize face-to-face interactions and build meaningful relationships that are grounded in truth and mutual support. [40:33]
4. The Importance of Truthful Friends: We all need friends who will tell us the truth, even when it's hard to hear. These friends help us grow and keep us accountable. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." True friends are concerned about our well-being and will speak the truth in love. [36:02]
5. The Ultimate Friendship with Jesus: The most important relationship we can have is with Jesus. In John 15, Jesus calls us friends and invites us into a relationship based on love, trust, and mutual understanding. This divine friendship should be the model for all our relationships, helping us to live out our faith more fully. [51:26]
### YouTube Chapters
1. [0:00] - Welcome
2. [0:45] - Celebrating One Year of Devoted City Church
3. [2:15] - Upcoming Events and Announcements
4. [4:30] - Introduction to Today's Message
5. [5:45] - Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord
6. [7:30] - The Concept of Wisdom
7. [9:00] - The Power of Relationships
8. [10:30] - Influence of Friends on Our Lives
9. [12:00] - The Impact of Social Media
10. [14:00] - The Importance of Truthful Friends
11. [16:00] - The Ultimate Friendship with Jesus
12. [18:00] - Building Meaningful Relationships
13. [20:00] - Closing Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Proverbs 3:5-6
2. Proverbs 13:20
3. John 15:15
#### Observation Questions
1. What does Proverbs 3:5-6 instruct us to do with all our heart, and what is the promised result? ([23:11])
2. According to Proverbs 13:20, what are the consequences of walking with the wise versus the company of fools? ([29:04])
3. In John 15:15, how does Jesus describe His relationship with His followers, and what does this imply about the nature of our relationship with Him? ([51:26])
4. What are some of the modern-day obstacles mentioned in the sermon that hinder the development of meaningful relationships? ([37:32])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does trusting in the Lord and rejecting human wisdom, as stated in Proverbs 3:5-6, impact our daily decision-making and life direction? ([23:11])
2. Why is it important to surround ourselves with wise friends, and how can the company of fools lead to harm, according to Proverbs 13:20? ([29:04])
3. How does the concept of Jesus calling us friends in John 15:15 change our understanding of our relationship with Him and with others? ([51:26])
4. What are the potential dangers of relying too heavily on social media for our sense of connection and community? ([40:33])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on your current friendships. Are there any relationships that might be leading you away from wisdom and godliness? How can you address this? ([29:04])
2. In what ways can you prioritize face-to-face interactions over social media to build more meaningful and supportive relationships? ([40:33])
3. Think of a time when a friend told you a hard truth. How did it impact your life, and how can you be that kind of friend to others? ([36:02])
4. How can you intentionally seek out and build relationships with people who will help you grow in your faith and wisdom? ([27:39])
5. What steps can you take to deepen your relationship with Jesus, understanding that He calls you His friend? ([51:26])
6. Identify one area in your life where you have been relying on human wisdom rather than trusting in the Lord. What changes can you make to align more closely with Proverbs 3:5-6? ([23:11])
7. How can you be a positive influence in the lives of your friends, especially those who may not know Jesus? ([49:03])
Devotional
Day 1: Trusting in Divine Wisdom Over Human Understanding
Description: Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages believers to trust in the Lord with all their hearts and to reject human wisdom. In a world that often prioritizes human intellect and reasoning, it is crucial to stand firm in faith and rely on God's guidance. Trusting in the Lord leads to straight paths and a life aligned with God's will. This trust is not passive but requires active dependence on God, especially when human wisdom seems more appealing or logical. By surrendering our understanding and embracing divine wisdom, we open ourselves to God's perfect plan for our lives. [23:11]
Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV): "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you find yourself relying more on your own understanding than on God's wisdom? How can you begin to trust God more in this area today?
Day 2: The Influence of Relationships
Description: The people we choose to surround ourselves with have a profound impact on our lives. Proverbs 13:20 teaches that walking with the wise makes us wise, while the company of fools leads to harm. Our friends influence our decisions, behaviors, and even our faith. As we enter new seasons, such as going back to school or starting new projects, it is a perfect time to reset and evaluate our relationships. We need to be intentional about choosing friends who will lead us towards wisdom and godliness. [29:04]
1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (ESV): "Do not be deceived: 'Bad company ruins good morals.' Wake up from your drunken stupor, as is right, and do not go on sinning. For some have no knowledge of God. I say this to your shame."
Reflection: Think about your current circle of friends. Are there any relationships that are leading you away from wisdom and godliness? What steps can you take to surround yourself with people who will positively influence your faith and decisions?
Day 3: The Dangers of Social Media
Description: While social media can enhance our lives, it often leaves us feeling lonely and unsatisfied. It fosters a culture of comparison, which kills contentment and inflates our egos. In today's world, many factors, such as busyness, social media, and even politics, can hinder the development of meaningful relationships. It's crucial to prioritize face-to-face interactions and build relationships that are grounded in truth and mutual support. By doing so, we can combat the negative effects of social media and cultivate genuine connections. [40:33]
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV): "Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"
Reflection: How much time do you spend on social media compared to face-to-face interactions? What is one practical step you can take this week to prioritize building meaningful, in-person relationships?
Day 4: The Importance of Truthful Friends
Description: We all need friends who will tell us the truth, even when it's hard to hear. These friends help us grow and keep us accountable. Proverbs 27:17 says, "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." True friends are concerned about our well-being and will speak the truth in love. They help us see our blind spots and encourage us to become better versions of ourselves. Building such friendships requires vulnerability and a willingness to both give and receive honest feedback. [36:02]
Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV): "Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love."
Reflection: Do you have friends who speak the truth to you in love? How can you cultivate deeper, more honest relationships that encourage mutual growth and accountability?
Day 5: The Ultimate Friendship with Jesus
Description: The most important relationship we can have is with Jesus. In John 15, Jesus calls us friends and invites us into a relationship based on love, trust, and mutual understanding. This divine friendship should be the model for all our relationships, helping us to live out our faith more fully. Jesus' friendship offers us unconditional love, guidance, and support. By nurturing our relationship with Him, we can better reflect His love and wisdom in our interactions with others. [51:26]
James 2:23 (ESV): "And the Scripture was fulfilled that says, 'Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness'—and he was called a friend of God."
Reflection: How is your relationship with Jesus influencing your other relationships? What steps can you take to deepen your friendship with Jesus and allow His love to flow through you to others?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Trust God, reject human wisdom. Now we live in a world today that has embraced human wisdom to where language is softened and people who say they're followers of Jesus, defend things that are ungodly because they've trusted in human wisdom. But our job as followers of Jesus, and we're reminded in scripture over and over, we trust God and we reject human wisdom." [23:11] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "Every single one of you, you have this power in your life and you give it away. Every time you choose the community that you're going to be doing life with. It's more simply put every time you choose a friend, you give away power to your, in your life. Every time you choose a group of people to do life with, you are giving away authority and power in your life because all of our friends, they have power over us." [24:43] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You will be pulled in the direction of your closest friends. Whoever that is, you are pulled in their direction with their beliefs, with their actions, with their attitudes, with their worldview, with their perspective on life. You will be pulled in that direction. Imagine it's like a tug of war. You've got, you've got a group of friends and they're on one side of the rope. And then you've got an individual that's chosen that group of friends they're on the other side." [31:56] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "You may think you're strong and maybe you are to an extent, but you can't win against a group of influential people in your life. So Solomon says, if I'm tethered to the wise, I'll become wise. Not just good things will happen to me, but their wisdom is going to rub off on me. If I'm tethered to a bunch of fools, I will suffer harm guaranteed." [33:24] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "You know, one friend could change the direction of your life, good or bad. If you stop letting these obstacles get in the way of friendship and community, one friendship, one community could change the direction of your life. So that one little decision to say, I need to be with wise people, not foolish people. I need to be in a community of people that help me apply my faith to life, that have God's word as their standard of life, not their own feelings." [43:25] (29 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Wisdom is a skill that we're not born with, that we have to be taught. If you have kids, you know that you have to teach them wisdom as they grow. Some people never learned that. And so they get later in life and you got to learn that. Learn wisdom. So if you feel like you don't have it, the good news is you can get it simply by applying God's word to your life and developing the skill of wisdom." [23:11] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "If you want to be wise, here's the simple answer. Get around wise people. When I first became a pastor, I was like, well, I'm not even good at this. I need to talk to people who are. So I found people who were good at it, who had done it for a while. And I let their wisdom rub off on me. That works with anything in life. You're newly married. You need to find an older married couple and say, Hey, give us the marriage wisdom." [29:04] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You might impress people with your strength, but you'll connect with them through your weakness. Imagine one year from now, let's fast forward to August 2025. Think about your current friends and ask yourself this question. If I stay in these relationships, go in the direction I'm going, what will my life be like a year? What will my life be like a year from now? What would it be like?" [47:36] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "We all need a friend who follows Jesus, every one of us. We need a friend who makes us better because we follow Jesus together. We need a friend who will listen from a spiritual perspective. And we all need friends that will tell us the truth about what's going on in our lives. If you don't have that, just come and talk to me or somebody else on staff, or out of the next steps, and say, I need to be in a group that's going to help me start to build meaningful relationships with people who should follow Jesus." [50:18] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Ultimately, the place to start is the ultimate friendship we can all have that we've all been invited into, and that's with Jesus. In John 15, he said this, I no longer call you servants because a servant does not know what his master's business. Instead, I've called you friends for everything I've learned from my father, I've made known to you. And Jesus is indicating when he says friend, it's a relationship that's based on love and trust and mutual understanding." [51:26] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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