#471 (1/11/21) WISDOM AND MATURITY (1 COR. 2:6)

This week our devotions are based on 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

What does it mean to be mature and wise? God, through this text, teaches us that maturity is listening to God; maturity is listening to the ‘message of wisdom’.

THE MESSAGE OF WISDOM

What is this ‘message of wisdom’ that Paul is referring to? Wisdom is about the right means to the right ends. Our world offers many messages of wisdom: if you live like this… have this…look like this… believe this… you will have your best life and be your best self. God’s wisdom is Jesus. He is ‘the way, the truth and the life’. The gospel - the ‘good news’ of Jesus’ death and resurrection for salvation and restoration is God’s ‘message of wisdom’ to us.

AMONG THE MATURE

Paul says that he speaks this wisdom ‘among the mature’. This is a challenge for us. Godly maturity is about humility. Are we humble enough to listen to the gospel and build our lives on it? Paul says that there is a competing ‘wisdom of this age’. Maturity is not being clever by the standards of this age. Maturity is not learning the tips and tricks for the successful life. Maturity is receiving God’s message of wisdom about how Jesus saves us; secondly, it’s also about seeking to grow in our relationship with God by listening to His voice in scripture.

In response, are you listening and building your life on the message of wisdom? Are you mature?

OVER TO YOU - PRAY AND WORSHIP OUT OF THE BIBLE

I’ve made a few comments. However, it’s more important that you engage with the text yourself. Take a moment to pray and listen to God’s voice out of today’s text.

Use the following questions which are based upon The Lord’s Prayer (Matt. 6:9-13).

1. Praise - What does this text teach me about God? What can I praise Him for?

2. Petitions - What does this teach me about His will for me and others? What could I pray for from this text? This is a good time to pray for our non-believing. friends. It’s good to ask, Is the Holy Spirit leading me in any specific response?

3. Peace-making - Is the Holy Spirit convicting me of sin for which I need forgiveness? Do I need to forgive others?

4. Protection - Ask for God’s protection generally and for any specific areas of vulnerability. Am I believing lies regarding the truths in this text?

COMMUNITY GROUP NOTES AND STUDY

1. Notices

It might be good to begin with notices. Please share from this week’s Church News.

Let's be praying and actively preparing to invite friends to our carol service on 5th December. Please make sure this is in your diary

2. Icebreaker

How has God spoken to you from the Bible this week?

3. Recap of Sunday's message - please share in your group

Running up to our carol service on the 5th December we would like you to spend more time on the SIV (Serving, Invest and Invite) aspect of our time together. Therefore, there will only be fewer questions each week on the Sunday message so as to give plenty of time for praying and sharing about our mission.

On Sunday, we continued with our series in 1 Corinthians.

Please read 1 Corinthians 2:6-16.

I wonder how we might define wisdom and maturity? This text portrays wisdom as the message of 'Christ crucified' (1 Corinthians 1:23-24). The gospel is God's wisdom and power.

To be mature is to listen and receive God's wisdom in the gospel. To be mature is to build our lives on Jesus. To be mature is also to listen to God's voice in all of scripture.

In summary, we can define the mature: 'The mature are those who listen to God'.

Discussion questions

1. How does Paul define God's wisdom in the first 2 chapters of 1 Corinthians?

2. Please read 1 Corinthians 2:9-14. What does this teach about who the Spirit is? What does it teach about his role in our understanding the gospel and the Bible more broadly?

2. How do you listen to God's voice in scripture each day, or how would you like to develop in this?

3. How has God spoken to you from this text or Sunday’s message?

4. SIV - Do you have any encouraging stories or any plans in this regard?

5. SIV - Who are you planning to invite to the carol service on 5th December?

6. Prayer - Let's spend some time in prayer regarding this week's message and anything else that you would like to pray about.