Next Level Leadership Training: Volume Two

By Rick Johnston

Every local church requires leaders. Many believers are given responsibility to lead but fail to sustain their leadership. Developing the people who lead is essential to building strong churches and demonstrating the kingdom message to those who do not know Christ. The nonpublic lifestyle of a leader is what vitally supports the public expression of his or her grace.

Jesus said, “Follow me … and I will make … you fishers of men.” Those three simple phrases are the essence of Rick Johnston’s Next Level Leadership Training. Johnston provides a syllabus for training such leaders. Bible-saturated lessons are the foundation of teaching. Classroom interaction tips, external resource suggestions, and life-implementation steps, given at the end of each lesson, provide the opportunity to increase in grace. Theological foundations, relationship-building assignments, and miracle demonstrations—defined in this text—provide a wide-ranging training course for every local church.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: May 15, 2015
• ISBN: 9781483430164

Rick Johnston

THE AUTHOR IS A NATIVE FLORIDIAN AND HAS WORKED IN THE COFFEE FIELDS OF JAMAICA, AS A PROFESSIONAL ROCK MUSICIAN, A CONDIMENTS MANUFACTURER, AND AS A NURSERYMAN. HE IS A SELF TAUGHT NATURALIST AND AN AVID FISHERMAN. HIS FAVORITE SUBJECTS ARE HISTORY, PHILOSOPHY AND ART. HE NOW RESIDES NEXT TO A SMALL LAKE IN ODESSA FLORIDA.

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Next Level

Leadership Training

Volume Two

Rick Johnston

Copyright © 2015 Rick Johnston.

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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. All rights reserved worldwide. Used by permission. NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks of Biblica, Inc. Use of either trademark for the offering of goods or services requires the prior written consent of Biblica US, Inc.

Scripture taken from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture taken from the New Century Version. Copyright © 2005 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture taken from The Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. The Living Bible, TLB, and the The Living Bible logo are registered trademarks of Tyndale House Publishers.

Scripture taken from the Amplified Bible, copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, Copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations taken from the New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1979, 1980, 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

All Scripture quotations in this publications are from The Message. Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group.

All Scripture text in bold throughout the book is the author’s emphasis and is not used in the particular Bible version quoted. The bold text used in Scripture references at the end of each chapter (also not found in the published versions of the particular Scripture version) is used to show the thread of truth being referred to in the body of the text.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3017-1 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-3016-4 (e)

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Contents

Leadership is…

1.   The Leader and Responding to Authority

2.   The Leader and Wisdom

3.   The Leader and Testing

4.   The Leader and Lifelong Friendships

5.   The Leader and Work

6.   The Leader and Health

7.   The Leader and Lust

8.   The Leader and Identity

9.   The Leader and Exercising Your Spiritual Authority in Ministry

10.   The Leader and Self-Discipline

11.   The Leader and Money

12.   The Leader and Attitude

13.   The Leader and Destiny

14.   The Leader and Team Dynamics

15.   The Leader and The Supernatural

16.   The Leader and Criticism

17.   The Leader and Judgment

18.   The Leader and Legalism

19.   The Leader and The Fear of The Lord

20.   The Leader and Favour and Grace

21.   The Leader and Fathers

22.   The Leader and The Authority You Possess and Use

Summary

This book is dedicated to my dear wife, Merilee, who has supported me, walked with me and added to me, through all the years of learning and teaching. It is dedicated to my children who have contributed an immeasurable source of wisdom and encouragement and joy to me as a father. It is also dedicated to my spiritual fathers, Dick Iverson, Kevin Conner, and Bob Stricker who taught me and helped shape who I am today. Their legacy lives on, not only through me but through the contributions they have made to the development of leaders around the world. It is also dedicated to many sons and daughters in the gospel that God has privileged me with, that have taught me so much beyond their knowing. Special thanks to Michael Praverman for his tireless efforts in reading and editing the manuscript. Finally, it is a recognition that all that is good and eternal is as the Scripture says, from Him, through Him, and to Him… -- to Him be the glory. May any insight received from this text lead the leader into more of the Word and more of Him, for the Scripture says, "…in the volume of the book it is written of Me." (KJV emphasis mine)

To The Teacher

Leadership is meant to be developed in the same way as children are to be matured through the training of their parents. These lessons are meant to be used as a basis for instruction and discussion and can be taken in any order that the teacher believes is best. Scripture references for all Bible passages, not quoted in full, in the lesson, are all given at the end of each lesson, for reference in teaching. The teacher, in preparation for teaching, would be well advised to look at all the Scriptures so as to capture the full message of the lesson.

Turning to the Scriptures and referring to them in the teaching process is vital, as it is the Word of God that the Holy Spirit places into the hearts of leaders in training. All Scripture references used are the New International Version (2011 Anglicised version) except where specifically stated otherwise.

There are some project or implementation tips given at the end of some of the lessons. These tips can help would-be leaders to more fully integrate, what they have come to understand, into their lives. As the teacher will be training leaders for the rest of his life, there is no hurry to get through the material. Plants that grow the fastest are often weak and unstable. Any lessons that include concepts that are unsuitable to a particular context can simply be accommodated by saying, in our context, we would do the following rather than what the text states.

The lessons endeavour to focus on five primary areas of leadership development: character issues, practical issues, relational issues, theological foundations and principles of supernatural ministry. The goal of this course is two-fold: 1) to develop total life maturity in the men and women being trained and 2) to develop a culture of love, unity and power among the team of those being trained. As a leader, you will only have the team that is powerful, loving and unified, if you train them to be so. Go for it! The wisdom and enablement that was His, in making a team of leaders that turned the world upside down, is on you!

Leadership is…

Many people think of leadership as simply a role one is asked to fill in the context of the local church. Such a concept is fraught with unforeseen dangers. Leadership is fundamentally, spiritual maturity. As we grow up into Christ in all things, we model character, lifestyle and functions that are consistent with that increasing maturity or spiritual development. I can inspire others to stretch out after God but their spiritual development (which includes taking up certain biblical tasks), is limited by my own spiritual development. Parents cannot reasonably expect their children to act more wisely or more maturely than they do. Many do not discover that leadership is more than a man with a message. The man becomes the message even as Christ, who is the Word, spoke the Word. Leaders are meant to be and to become, the message they trumpet.

This course is designed to focus on the nature of this spiritual development as it is defined in our personal, family, and corporate life. No matter your age or experience, you will always be a learner and growing into greater spiritual maturity like Paul, who near the end of his amazing life, aspired to know Him in even greater ways. Next level leadership is on the table for the rest of your life. To develop a role or function without the corresponding character and Spirit-development is a road to ruin. Many leaders have had awe-inspiring talents but didn’t last the course in integrity and honour. Let us set our hearts to follow Him, pursue Him, find Him, love Him and obey Him. Learning from the greatest leader and teacher of all time, we will lean into the One who draws us on and draws others on, through us. Paul said, …that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured. Col. 4:12.

Some leaders will, like the first disciples, leave their careers and take up leadership responsibility and receive financial compensation for it. Jesus called His disciples. It is reasonable to believe that He still does so. Gal. 1:1. Whether the time and circumstances are such that a leader is to leave his or her career and take up leadership, in such a quantity of time, that it necessitates getting paid for it, is not the fundamental issue. Every genuine leader is one who has heard or sensed the call to become a fisher of men by responding to the discipline of training. Becoming what He said He would make them, is a process that is more than instruction, although it includes instruction. Whether you came into leadership responsibility because you came forward and asked for something to do or you were asked to do a certain task, you will inevitably have to recognise that it is God that has called you to serve Him. When and if you do, you will also see that it is His calling that must be supreme in your life. Using His wisdom, you can integrate everything else He requires, to fulfil His mission for your life.

Saying Yes! to the call of God on your life is far more consequential than you realise. It is an adventure of faith, full of exciting challenges, and glorious privilege. Once you have said, Yes to the Master, He takes you forward in relationship, training and service fruitfulness beyond what you could ever dream. Leaders get tired, frustrated, upset, de-motivated and feel uninspired at times. If they submit to those feelings and make decisions on the basis of them, they will drift away from what they have acquired. Sometimes they even drift away from God entirely. God is always leading His people to take up a mandate outside of themselves that is impossible. Only He can sustain and enable what He has designed for each leader. Your leadership will find the greatest level of your endurance and motivation and then call you beyond it. Only then, do you stretch to become a greater expression of the capacity that He in His wisdom has placed within you.

There are two great entities that God is passionate about: His Church and His Kingdom. These lessons are designed to help the leader grow in his partnership with Christ in building His Church and in demonstrating His Kingdom.

John 15:16 NLT says, "You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind. This is the first and most important command." Matt. 22:37-38 NCV.

Do your best in the job you received from the Master. Do your very best. Col. 4:17 TMV

See to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. Col. 4:17 NIV

The Leader and…..

Responding to Authority

Introduction

In this age of grace, sometimes, people wrongfully assume that there are no rules, boundaries, or authorities that are clear, inviolable, and right. All absolutes are questioned and cast away or redefined so as to make them more palatable. Any authority figure, who acts in their authority, to adjust or attempt to get them to do something, is viewed as harsh, controlling and unreasonable. Sometimes leaders are even negatively described as legalistic simply because they insist on what they require. Legalism is not, however, the existence of laws that must be obeyed, but more to do with how laws or requirements are to be obeyed.

Christian leaders, however, model their complete submission to all authorities, not justifying any behaviour that is illegal or not submissive. Rom. 13:1-8. Any leader who walks in rebellion will sow that rebellion into others and without repentance, eventually self-destruct. In John 15:14 Jesus says, "You are my friends if you do what I command." The leader also cannot resist the Devil if he fails to submit to God. James 4:7. Inherent in every command that we receive from the Lord is the power to fulfill or comply with that command. That inherent power is the power of grace.

Submission and Agreement

Sometimes leaders who disagree with their leader, refuse to comply. They justify their lack of obedience and submission as acceptable because they hold the correct view of the matter and their leader does not. They can fail to see that even if they are right in their judgment of a matter, that they are wrong in their attitude and approach to authority. Being right in one matter does not justify being wrong in another. If a leader is asking another to violate Scripture, the one asked, can justifiably decline obeying but with a submissive attitude as the disciples did when they were commanded not to preach. Their submissive attitude was revealed when they were arrested. They did not resist the authorities but believed that even their arrest would serve God’s purpose. Acts 4:17-19; 5:17-20. It is the rare exception, however, that a leader is asked to violate a specific Bible principle or command.

Submission and Compliance

There are two words contrasted with each other that help to define the internal and external nature of response to authority: submission and compliance. Submission, is first an internal response to authority and then an external response to authority. Compliance (in one definition), is appearing to obey outwardly, while opposing the command or instruction in inward thoughts and plans. This hidden rebellious attitude serves to achieve one’s own goals or desires, or exercise one’s own judgment. Eph. 6:5-6; Col. 3:22-25 NASU. True submission takes place when you choose to obey with a right attitude towards authority, even though you may intellectually disagree. Every person should consider that they themselves could be wrong—strange as it may seem to us—and God’s will, either way, is worked out for you when you obey. Two wrongs never make a right.

1 Peter 3:1 says, Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands, so that if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over, without words, by the behaviour of their wives…. In this passage, a godly wife submits to her husband even if he fails to obey God’s Word. Submission, then, becomes a matter of trust—trusting in the Lord that as you submit to authorities in your life, His will is worked out in you and for you and for others. Her submission to her erring husband does not include violating the Word of God, however.

The Struggle to Obey

It is the old nature, the nature of sin and rebellion that hates to obey. Only one thing you do not have to teach children: how to disobey. Rom. 8:7-8. They know how to do this instinctively and how to avoid punishment for disobeying by lying. The leader understands that all disobedience comes from the person that he used to be, his old nature. He knows that he is to obey all authorities even as he would obey Christ. Rom. 13:1-7. Yet he may find at times a struggle to obey. It is most often because he unwittingly places his own logic and reasoning above the command to obey. Submission is not to be done because we agree with the authority figure’s reasoning but because they are the authority over us. You may disagree with the government’s right and calculation of your taxes but you are not allowed to disobey them simply because you believe they are wrong. The following are some of the reasonings that undermine submission to authority.

• I disagree with the authority figure’s decision and thus their command

• I don’t like to feel that someone else is controlling my life

• I don’t like someone else telling me what to do

• No one is getting hurt by my disobeying or not complying with this command

• I think the instruction I have received should be an option and not a command because it is totally unreasonable and may have negative consequences if I do obey it

• Who would ever know if I did disobey in this instance? If no one would ever know that I disobeyed and thus there was no negative consequence for others or me, then I should be free to do as I desire

• I am not given the place of authority I should be given so I will resist some of the exercise of authority of the one over me

Leaders in Submission and Obedience

Leaders are commanded to submit and obey:

• Those over them in the Lord

• The laws of the land

• All established authorities

• Wives to husbands

• Husbands to Christ

• Children to parents

• Children to teachers

Succeeding in Submission

Christ was submissive and has placed that nature in us to submit and obey. Heb. 5:7. Leaders are to model a yieldedness to all authority and meekly respect and obey them. They do not react in anger and defensiveness, resisting authority, for that is connecting to the spirit of the first rebellious one, the Devil. Walking in the Spirit, they yield to all authorities as they would yield to Christ and obey Him.

Living in self-consciousness and self-dependence, a leader will rationalise or attempt to legitimise disobedience. Only as the leader chooses to live in vital relationship with Christ by the Spirit can he operate in the death of the old person (the person I used to be) and live the life of the person Christ has made him to be.

Correction, Adjustment, and Change

God uses circumstances, pressures, failures, His Word, the voice of the Holy Spirit, loving confrontation of peers, and the authority figures in our lives, to help us make course corrections in attitude, behaviour, and practice. If we respond positively to the authority figures in our lives when they correct us, we are truly sons. Heb. 12:5-11 NASU. If we fail to respond correctly to adjustments and find grace to make changes, we halt our progress in God and simply go around in circles like Israel did, until we get to that same point again and get it right. Sometimes behind what seems a small area of correction, is a great well or reservoir of resistance and/or resentment. This is a sign of an unyielded spirit and a basic problem with authority. This kind of behaviour does not exhibit the person God has made the leader to be and it must be recognised and forsaken. The yielding, submissive, authority-embracing person is the new self He has made the leader to be.

Application

• Examine your whole life and reflect on situations you have been tempted to disobey or disregard some authorities’ instruction or mandate. What does this tell you about your relationship to authority?

• Read the lesson on Authority in the book Church Life Course, by Rick Johnston.

• Ask God to forgive you of any sins of rebellion and set a plan in motion to obey in all of the areas where you have failed.

Responding To Authority Scriptures

Rom. 13:1-8

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law."

James 4:7

"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

Acts 4:17-20

But so that it will not spread any further among the people, let us warn them to speak no longer to any man in this name. And when they had summoned them, they commanded them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said to them, Whether it is right in the sight of God to give heed to you rather than to God, you be the judge; for we cannot stop speaking about what we have seen and heard.

Acts 5:17-20

"Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail. But during the night an angel of the Lord opened the doors of the jail and brought them out. ‘Go, stand in the temple courts,’ he said, ‘and tell the people all about this new life.’

Eph. 6:5-6

"Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favour when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart."

Col. 3:22-25 NASU

"Slaves, in all things obey those who are your masters on earth, not with external service, as those who merely please men, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance. It is the Lord Christ whom you serve. For he who does wrong will receive the consequences of the wrong which he has done, and that without partiality."

Acts 5:29 NASU

But Peter and the apostles answered: We must obey God rather than men…."

Rom. 8:7-8

For the sinful nature is always hostile to God. It never did obey God’s laws, and it never will. That’s why those who are still under the control of their sinful nature can never please God.

Rom. 13:1-7

"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honour, then honour…."

Heb. 5:7

"During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."

Heb. 12:5-11 NASU

…and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, my son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the lord, nor faint when you are reproved by him; for those whom the lord loves he disciplines, and he scourges every son whom he receives." It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness. All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness."

Leaders live under all authorities that they might exercise authority.

The Leader and…

Wisdom

Leaders and Wisdom

Every leader is involved in personal decisions and decisions that involve others. The impact of those decisions, whether minor or major decisions, impacts his or her life and the lives of others. Life quality, is in many ways, determined by our decisions. If we make poor decisions, we have disappointments and sometimes, major unnecessary consequences. Everyone uses wisdom. We use wisdom from one or two sources, Heaven or earth. One is sensual and devilish and the other is spiritual and godly. James 3:15-17.

As leaders, we pursue God, healing, provision, growth, deliverance, change and so many other dimensions of grace in order to secure the abundant life we have been given. Yet, in all of our pursuits, we must pursue the wisdom of God, so that our blessings and benefits are not overshadowed by poor decisions. Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, made some poor decisions that affected his life in radical ways. Solomon’s wisdom was not sourced in himself, but in the One who is Wisdom. Isa. 11:3-4.

Wisdom is: God’s intelligence, God’s solutions, and God’s plan of procedure for every circumstance, condition, and problem. It is spoken of as, a wisdom from Heaven as contrasted with a wisdom from earth. (James 3:15-17). There is no earthly challenge or problem outside of the provision of God’s wisdom. The instinct to rely on our own wisdom or ignorantly depend on the wisdom of this world, denies our dependence upon Him and sets us up for loss and disappointment. Matthew 12:42 tells us that our world will ultimately be judged by the wisdom that the Queen of Sheba sought and the world has forsaken. 1 Cor. 1:20-21; 3:19-20. A wise person receives Christ as Saviour, the foolish person does not. 2 Tim. 3:15. Our modern world glorifies its own research-based wisdom and scoffs at the timeless, senseless-appearing wisdom of God.

Realms in which Wisdom is Vital

Decision-making in all the seasons of life and in relation to the ministry demands the wisdom of God. Gen 41:38-39 says, Can we find anyone like this man, one in whom is the spirit of God? Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, Since God has made all this known to you, there is no-one so discerning and wise as you. Wisdom in all the seasons of life and in all circumstances is found in the Spirit of wisdom. Prov. 24:3-5 says, "By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. A wise man has great power, and a man of knowledge increases strength. As a leader, you are always building with Him, your own personal ‘house’," and the collective House of the Lord. Leaning on Him in prayer, conversing with other wise people, studying the Word of God, and maintaining an enquiring heart, are vital to having success in the following areas:

• Handling success in ministry

• Financial accountability

• Handling financial blessing and giving to others

• Financial trial

• Mediation of relational problems

• Relating to the opposite sex

• Raising a family

• Making a marriage last a lifetime

• Selection of leaders

• Correcting and adjusting others

• Responding to insult, rejection, and being judged falsely or being misunderstood

• Enduring delay

• Conflicts that you are not directly responsible for solving – Prov. 26:17 ESV

• Parenting teenagers through the course of testing and trial

• Counselling

The Provision of Wisdom

There are sources of God’s wisdom available to every leader. A leader has a lifestyle that seeks the wisdom of God for his entire life, embracing the One who is all wisdom. The wisdom of God comes to us from the following sources:

• Our own devotional relationship with The Wise One. Isa. 11:2. The same Spirit that rests on Him, rests on us, giving us wisdom in all the dimensions of life, as we look to Him.

• Wise men and women who have lived and received from God what we have not yet received…parents, older people, spiritual fathers and mothers, and other believers. Prov. 13:20; Eccl. 9:17; Prov. 10:13.

• Observation of cause and effect in the course of our lives. Prov. 1:20.

• Experience, both positive and negative can provide for us wisdom for living. Gen. 30:27 NKJV; Prov. 15:31 NKJV says, The ear that hears the rebukes of life will abide among the wise. Someone has said, Experience is expensive; wisdom is far, far cheaper.

• The Book of Proverbs is a source of wisdom for many, many things. Prov. 1:1-7.

• Instruction is also a source of wisdom. Ps. 105:22. Wisdom can come from the mouths of the most unlikely. God has ways of imparting to us His thoughts and strategies in unique and effective ways. We must always be open to them.

Application

Discuss with two other members of the team the places you have found wisdom and how it has changed your life. Reveal in specific terms what that wisdom has taught you. It may be how to stay out of debt, budget your finances, teach your children to obey, become a punctual person, structure your life to enable a devotional life, solve family and marriage problems, succeed in your work relationships, demonstrate the Gospel, juggle all of your responsibilities successfully, organize your life, clean your home, relate to difficult or interfering relatives, etc.

Spend an hour with a wise person. Ask them five questions that you would like the answers for, from their life experience.

Wisdom Scriptures

James 3:15-17

Such wisdom" does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

Isa 11:3-4

"…and he will delight in the fear of the Lord. He will not judge by what he sees with his eyes, or decide by what he hears with his ears; but with righteousness he will judge…."

James 3:15-17

"Such wisdom does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, of the devil. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

Matt 12:42

"The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here."

1 Cor. 1:20-21

"Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe."

1 Cor. 3:19-20

"For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: He catches the wise in their craftiness; and again, The Lord knows that the thoughts of the wise are futile.

2 Tim. 3:15

"…and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus."

Prov. 26:17 ESV

"Whoever meddles in a quarrel not his own is like one who takes a passing dog by the ears."

Isa 11:2

"The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him — the Spirit of wisdom and of understanding, the Spirit of counsel and of power, the Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord…."

Prov. 13:20

"He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm."

Eccl. 9:17

"The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded than the shouts of a ruler of fools."

Prov. 10:13

"Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment."

Prov. 1:20

"Wisdom calls aloud in the street, she raises her voice in the public squares…."

Gen. 30:27 NKJV

…and Laban said to him, Please stay, if I have found favor in your eyes, for I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed me for your sake."

Prov. 1:1-7

"The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: for understanding words of insight attaining wisdom and discipline; for acquiring a disciplined and prudent life, doing what is right and just and fair; for giving prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young — let the wise listen and add