Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at
Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today.
Special welcome if you're new or visiting with us. We're glad that you're here and we're glad
that you're here not because we're filling seats but because we're following Jesus together
as one community. And as we follow Jesus together we become convinced that there's no one so good
they don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it which means that God has
something to say to everyone in his word which is why we come week after week and listen to what God
has to say from us to us from the scriptures. We're continuing our series in the book of Proverbs and
actually this is going to be my last sermon from the book of Proverbs this summer. Many of you received
our letter from the elders this week. I'm going to be out of the pulpit the next three weeks. Next week
Mike Winsler who preached I believe this January once is going to preach from Proverbs on the topic
of friendship but for me this is the close to our series on Proverbs and as we come to the end remember
that Proverbs is a book about wisdom. Wisdom is skill in the art of living. It begins with the fear of
the Lord. That's its foundation and it continues in humility. We cannot grow in wisdom unless we're humble
if we recognize that there are things we don't know and we need to learn. Now when I was growing up
there was a man in my church who loved to tell this story about the Sunday school class and in this class
the teacher let's say it was an elementary class I think asked the kids you know there's a
an object and it's gray and furry and it has a tail and it likes to run up trees. What is it?
Well a kid in the class raised his hand and said well
sounds like a squirrel but we're in Sunday school so it must be Jesus.
Now I've been telling you all along for our very first sermon I believe on Proverbs that Jesus is our
great and greater wisdom teacher and you might think well of course he's going to say that right
we're in a church he's a preacher he's supposed to tell us something about Jesus this sounds right.
So as we come to chapter 8 we're going to ask this one question I've been telling you this now we're
going to ask why. Why is Jesus our great and greater wisdom teacher? Why do we listen to Jesus first
and why do we trust him more? Why out of all the voices that are telling us things that are wise why
should Jesus voice be the loudest voice? Why is Jesus the path to skill in the art of living? Why is Jesus
our great and greater wisdom teacher? Proverbs chapter 8 is the classic text for getting from Proverbs to Jesus
and so that's going to be our focus this morning. I invite you to turn there with me you'll find it
printed near the end of your worship guide of course you'll find it in your bible as well
or on your phone no matter where you turn to it remember that this is God's word.
In Proverbs chapter 30 verse 5 tells us that every word of God proves true he is a shield
to those who take refuge in him and so that's why we read now starting in chapter 8 verse 1
does not wisdom call does not understanding raise her voice on the heights beside the way at the
crossroads she takes her stand beside the gates in front of the town at the entrance of the portals
she cries aloud to you oh men I call and my cry is to the children of man oh simple ones learn prudence
oh fools learn sense hear for I will speak noble things and from my lips will come what is right
verse 7 for my mouth will utter truth wickedness is an abomination to my lips
all the words of my mouth are righteous there is nothing twisted or crooked in them
they are all straight to him who understands and right to those who find knowledge take my instruction
instead of silver and knowledge rather than choice gold for wisdom is better than jewels and all that
you may desire cannot compare with her verse 12 I wisdom dwell with prudence and I find knowledge and
discretion the fear of the Lord is hatred of evil pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted
speech I hate I have counsel and sound wisdom I have insight I have strength by me kings reign and rulers
decree what is just by me princes rule and nobles all who govern justly I love those who love me and
those who seek me diligently find me riches and honor are with me enduring wealth and righteousness
my fruit is better than gold even fine gold and my yield than choice silver I walk in the way of
righteousness in the paths of justice granting an inheritance through those who love me and filling
their treasuries verse 22 the Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work the first of his acts of old
ages ago I was set up at the first before the beginning of the earth when there were no depths I was brought
forth when there were no springs abounding with water before the mountains had been shaped before the hills
I was brought forth before he had made the earth with its fields or the first of the dust of the world
when he established the heavens I was there when he drew a circle on the face of the deep when he made firm
the skies above when he established the fountains of the deep when he assigned to the sea its limit
so that the waters might not transgress his command when he marked out the foundations of the earth
then I was beside him like a master workman and I was daily his delight rejoicing before him always
rejoicing in his inhabited world and delighting in the children of man verse 32 and now oh sons listen
to me blessed are those who keep my ways hear instruction and be wise and do not neglect it blessed is the
one who listens to me watching daily at my gates waiting beside my doors for whoever finds me finds life
and obtains favor from the Lord but he who fails to find me injures himself all who hate me love death
I invite you to pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word
our father in heaven we thank you again for the gift of your word that you have not left us
to stumble alone in the dark
but instead you have come to show us the way to walk
we ask that you would do that this morning that you would shine a light on Jesus for us
that we would see him as beautiful and glorious
and that would cause us to obey and trust him more than anyone else
we ask these things grateful that we don't have to earn them or deserve them
because we ask them in the mighty name of Jesus Christ
amen
when we were in Proverbs chapter 2
we talked about the importance of the way
and of course I related it to Star Wars and the Mandalorian
and we talked about many of the things that happened in Star Wars after the fall
of the empire in episodes 7 through 9
but I want you to go back with me a little bit
before episode 4
before A New Hope
we get the back story in Rogue One to the beginning of the Death Star
and we find out
of course that this Death Star is dangerous right
it can destroy entire planets
and so it's something that's a great threat to the rebellion
and we meet this man named Galen Erso
and Galen is sort of coerced to become the architect
one of the builders of the Death Star
and as this builder
as this architect
he knows it inside and out
because of course he's the one designing it
and so he knows good things about it
and he knows bad things about it
and if you've seen the movie
you know he designs certain parts into it
he designs a vulnerability
so that it can be destroyed
because he's actually not in favor of the Death Star
he's sort of a double agent
but he knows something that no one else knows
he knows right
that he set up a problem in the reactor core
and he knows this
because he is the one who built it
he knows things
that no one else knows
and of course that's the same thing
that wisdom is telling us here
in verses 22 through 31
if you turn there with me
we see that wisdom
was before everything else
in verses 22 through 25
they're at the beginning
they're the first thing created
when God made the world
and so because wisdom was there before
wisdom was also there
when everything else was created
that's what we see in verses 26 through 29
wisdom tells us all these places she was
she was there
before the earth was made
verse 26
she was there when the heavens were made
verse 27
she was there
when the fountains were made
verse 28
she was there
verse 29
when the boundaries of the seas were established
we find out not just that wisdom
was there before everything
and was there when things were created
but then wisdom is actually
involved in the creation
we see that in verses
30 through 31
wisdom is
verse 30
beside him like a master workman
daily his delight
rejoicing before him always
rejoicing in his inhabited world
and delighting
in the children of man
in other words
of course
wisdom knows
the best way
that things work
like Galen
the architect
wisdom knows the secrets
there's some things
that wisdom knows
that no one else knows
because wisdom
is part of the design
process
wisdom knows
how everything works
and it has information
just like only Galen
is able to tell them
how to destroy the death star
only wisdom
is able to tell us
certain things
because wisdom
was there
wisdom was there
when it was designed
wisdom
was part
of the design
and so we can go back
to everything
we've talked about
this summer
and say
of course
right
of course
hard work
leads to success
because God
created the world
in such a way
that he gave
mankind
dominion over it
he said
I want you
to work
in this world
so I've set it up
in such a way
that your hard work
is going to lead
to good things
of course
saving money
right
is going to lead
to success
because I've established
this world
as a place
where you're stewards
where you need
to care for it
and preserve things
and of course
it's also
because of sin
a chaotic world
and so there are
unexpected things
that we need
to prepare for
wisdom knows
these things
of course
things rise
and fall
based on our words
of course
the things
that we tell
other people
can destroy them
or build them up
it can preserve
communities
or burn them down
because God's
created the world
as a place
of truth
he's created
it as a place
of connection
of course
what we do
with our sexuality
matters
of course
sex is meant
to be reserved
for a husband
and a wife
together in marriage
because God
has designed
the world
that way
he's made
it a place
of faithfulness
and he's designed
our sexuality
as something
that's meant
to unite
lives together
to make two
people into one
and so we would
expect that it
would only work
best in that
context
of course
dishonest gain
is not going
to end well
right
God's created
the world
as a place
of honesty
God is a
truthful God
we would expect
his world
to work in that
way
of course
oppressing
the poor
is going
to lead
to judgment
why
because God
has designed
this to be
a just
world
and he's
given humans
dignity
and so when we
take away
from that
dignity
by oppressing
others
we can expect
nothing else
than God's
judgment
God created
the world
wisdom
was there
and so of course
we listen
to wisdom's
voice
more than
any other
voice
we look
in verses
15 and
16 here
we see
that this
is what
successful
rulers know
verse 15
by me
kings reign
and rulers
decree
what is
just
verse 16
by me
princes rule
and nobles
all who
govern
justly
in other
words
you ignore
the way
God has
created the
world
at your
own peril
successful
rulers
and leaders
understand
how things
are supposed
to work
and they
work along
with it
and that's
what leads
to their
success
and so
wisdom
here
is reminding
us
it is
foolish
to listen
to other
voices
more
of course
we would
listen to
wisdom
first
of course
we would
trust
wisdom
more
of course
the voice
of wisdom
would be
the loudest
because of
course
wisdom
knows
more
than anyone
else
knows
wisdom
knows
these
things
because
she
was
there
at the
beginning
now
I've
told you
a lot
that
Jesus
is our
great
and
greater
wisdom
teacher
I
have
not
mentioned
as
often
that
Jesus
is not
just
the
great
wisdom
teacher
he
is
also
the
full
and
final
embodiment
of
wisdom
that's
what
we're
told
in
the
New
Testament
Colossians
chapter
2
tells
us
that
in
Jesus
are
hidden
all the
treasures
of wisdom
and knowledge
1st
Corinthians
chapter 1
tells us
this
multiple
times
in verse
24
it tells
us
Christ
is the
power
of God
and the
wisdom
of God
in verse
30
we're told
Jesus
became to
us
wisdom
from God
and
and so
it's
not
just
that
we
listen
to
lady
wisdom
who's
here
is
just
a
personification
of
wisdom
but
it
points
forward
even
more
we
listen
to
Jesus
Christ
and
it's
not
just
that
he
is
God's
wisdom
but
just
like
lady
wisdom
here
is
telling
us
she
was
there
at
the
beginning
Jesus
was
also
there
at
the
beginning
and
even
more
we're
told
in
John
chapter 1
that
not only
all
things
were
made
through
him
and
without
him
was
not
anything
made
that
was
made
Jesus
was
part
of
the
creation
we're
told
something
even
more
astounding
in
Hebrews
chapter
1
it says
through
whom
referring
to
Jesus
also
he
that's
God
the
father
created
the
world
he
is
the
radiance
of
the
glory
of
God
and
the
exact
imprint
of
his
nature
and
he
upholds
the
universe
by
the
word
of
you
right
now
are
holding
together
as a
person
physically
because
Jesus
has
chosen
you
to
uphold
you
by
his
word
the
universe
is
still
intact
because
Jesus
is
keeping
it
in
place
Jesus
was
not
just
there
at
the
beginning
he
was
part
of
God's
creation
of
the
world
and
so
of
course
he
knows
what
is
best
and
right
we
trust
him
even
when
other
people
are
telling
us
things
that
are
different
we
listen
to
Jesus
and
we
trust
Jesus
because
of
course
he
knows
why
is
Jesus
our
great
and
greater
wisdom
teacher
he
is
our
great
and
our
greater
wisdom
teacher
because
he's
the
creator
he
made
this
world
and
so
we
should
expect
nothing
less
than
that
he
knows
what's
best
and
so
we
listen
to
Jesus
we
trust
him
we
do
what
he
tells
us
even
when
it's
inconvenient
even
when
it's
hard
we
do
it
because
he's
the
creator
he
knows
what
he's
talking
about
and
so
that's
why
we're
told
in
verses
8
through
10
that
the
words
of
wisdom
are
more
valuable
than
anything
else
verse
10
take
my
instruction
instead
of
silver
and
knowledge
rather
than
choice
gold
Jesus
was there
at the
beginning
he
created
the
world
of
course
he
knows
how
it
works
so
we
listen
to
him
we
trust
him
and
we
obey
him
because
we
know
he
knows
more
than
any
other
voice
Jesus
is not
just
the
creator
though
he
is
also
our
great
redeemer
if
you're
familiar
with
the
story
you'll
know
that
Galen
is
not
just
the
architect
of
the
death
star
he
doesn't
just
make
it
he
also
wants
to
reveal
the
secrets
and
so
remember
he
sends
Bodhi
Rook
the
pilot
he
escapes
from
the
rebellion
Bodhi
comes
with
the
plans
in
a
hologram
he
sends
a
message
so
that
the
rebellion
knows
what
they
need
to
know
about
the
death
star
they
know
how
to
destroy
it
and
so
he's
sending
his
information
out
he's
proclaiming
it
he's
not
waiting
on
them
to
discover
it
Galen's
not
sitting
passively
instead
he's
active
he wants
this
information
to be
known
there's
a
vulnerability
the reactor
module
is not
stable
he's
made it
that way
on purpose
so that
the
death
star
can be
destroyed
so he
wants
to make
sure
the
rebellion
has the
plans
so he
gives
them
the
information
about
the
vulnerability
right
and then
he
tells
them
they're
going
to
have
to
go
to
the
planet
Scarif
to
get
the
plans
so that
they
know
exactly
how
to
destroy
it
he
is
actively
seeking
to give
them
the
information
of
course
the
same
thing
is
true
of
wisdom
here
that's
what
we
see
in
verses
1
through
11
wisdom
is
raising
her
voice
this is
similar
to what
we saw
in the
first few
chapters
of
Proverbs
wisdom
is not
hiding
her
resources
right
she's
in
public
anyone
who
wants
to
learn
she'll
teach
wisdom
is
active
going
out
instructing
and
finding
of
course
the
same
thing
is
true
of
our
Lord
Jesus
we're
told
in
Luke
chapter
19
that
he
comes
to
seek
and
to
save
the
lost
Jesus
is
not
waiting
passively
but
as
God's
wisdom
as
God's
full
and
final
wisdom
whatever
is
true
of
lady
wisdom
is
even
more
true
of
Jesus
wisdom
is
calling
out
Jesus
seeks
us
out
he
doesn't
wait
passively
he
comes
with
information
that only
he
can
give
us
he
comes
with
the
truth
not
just
of
wisdom
but
of
his
grace
and
his
forgiveness
for
us
and
so
wisdom
Jesus
is our
redeemer
in the
sense
that
he
seeks
us
out
he's
also
our
redeemer
in the
sense
that
he
gives
us
what
we
would
otherwise
not
be
able
to
have
because
wisdom
here
is
offered
to
fools
I've
been
warning
you
all
summer
against
being
a
fool
and
at
some
level
all
of
us
are
fools
that
is
who
wisdom
comes
for
verse
5
oh
simple
ones
learn
prudence
oh
fools
learn
sense
in
other
words
wisdom
is
offering
to
teach
foolish
people
verse
17
I
love
those
who
love
me
and
those
who
seek
me
diligently
find
me
verse
21
granting
an
inheritance
to
those
who
love
me
and
filling
their
treasuries
and so
wisdom
is
coming
here
for
foolish
people
who
don't
deserve
what
wisdom
has
to
offer
people
who
are
rightly
condemned
right
these
are
people
as
we've
talked
about
before
who
can't
connect
the
dots
they
don't
know
the
connection
between
present
actions
and future
consequences
yet
wisdom
still
comes
for
them
wisdom
is
still
willing
to
teach
fools
and
then
we
have
this
final
warning
in
verses
32
through
36
wisdom
is
a
matter
of
life
and
death
verse
35
for
whoever
finds
me
finds
life
and
obtains
favor
from
the
Lord
but
he
who
fails
to
find
me
injures
himself
all
who
hate
me
love
death
and
of course
if this
is true
of
wisdom
how
much
more
is
it
true
of
Jesus
says
he
comes
not
for
the
well
but
for
the
sick
Jesus
has
come
not
to
call
the
righteous
but
sinners
to
repentance
that's
what
we're
told
in
Luke
chapter
5
and
so
Jesus
is
also
willing
to
teach
fools
he
is
not
just
the
creator
he's
the
redeemer
he
is
the
only
one
who
offers
hope
and
life
for
all
the
pieces
of
foolishness
that
we've
talked
about
this
summer
it's
Jesus
that
gives
a
chance
to
fools
it's
Jesus
that
offers
to
cover
over
our
foolishness
and
to
replace
it
with
his
wisdom
as
some
of
you
know
I
did
a
short
podcast
this
summer
where
I
interviewed
a few
folks
about
proverbs
and
wisdom
and
if
you
listen
to
the
first
one
with
a
man
named
Zach
Eswine
you'll
be
familiar
with
this
quote
he
tells
us
what
it
looks
like
for
Jesus
to
become
our
wisdom
for
us
and
he
says
this
when
we
encounter
wisdom
and
see
how
foolish
and
naive
we've
been
that's
what
leads
us
to
Christ
that's
what
leads
us
to
true
wisdom
begins
to
name
things
as
they
are
and
I
get
to
that
humility
is
the
first
place
where
wisdom
is
taking
root
and
I
need
one
wiser
than
myself
and
when
Christ
died
for
me
he
applied
all
his
wisdom
he
took
all
my
folly
and
all
my
naivety
and
all
my
scoffing
onto
himself
and
he
lavished
upon
me
and
clothed
me
with
all
of
his
wisdom
and
this
is
my
hope
that
when
I
see
my
folly
all
is
not
lost
it
doesn't
have
the
last
word
in
my
life
I
am
foolish
but
it's
not
the
truest
thing
about
me
anymore
because
Jesus
is
my
savior
my
shepherd
and
my
lord
why
is
Jesus
our
great
and
greater
wisdom
teacher
it
is
not
just
because
he's
our
creator
it
is
also
because
he's
our
redeemer
it
would
be
useless
for
Jesus
to
teach
us
anything
about
wisdom
if
he
were
not
willing
to
cover
over
and
take
our
folly
our
naivety
and
our
scoffing
but
of course
as
our
great
wisdom
teacher
that's
exactly
what
he
does
he
did
it
in
the
past
by
coming
as
a
real
man
in
real
space
in
real
time
he
lived
the
wise
life
that
we
should
have
lived
and
he
died
the
foolish
death
that
we
should
have
died
and
he
invites
anyone
and
everyone
who's
willing
to
repent
of
their
foolishness
and
have
faith
in
him
to
have
their
folly
covered
with
his
wisdom
in
other
words
the
invitation
that
wisdom
gives
us
is
even
more
true
of
the
invitation
from
Jesus
verse
5
oh
simple
ones
learn
prudence
oh
fools
learn
sense
Jesus
is
saying
the
same
thing
simple
and
foolish
people
come
to
me
I
will
give
you
true
wisdom
I
will
cover
over
the
consequences
of
your
folly
you
have
not
been
able
to
connect
the
consequences
of
your
present
actions
to
future
consequences
but
if
you
are
part
of
me
and
my
kingdom
that's
okay
because
I
give
you
all
of
my
forgiveness
because
of
my
death
on
your
behalf
and
so
the
offer
for
wisdom
is
an
urgent
call
right
what
we
see
at
the
end
of
chapter
8
is
something
everyone
is
going
to
have
to
answer
to
whoever
finds
wisdom
that
is
whoever
finds
Jesus
Christ
finds
life
verse
35
and
obtains
favor
from
the
Lord
verse
36
but
he
who
fails
to
find
me
all
who
fail
to
find
Jesus
Christ
injure
themselves
all
who
hate
me
love
death
there
is
only
one
path
to
wisdom
and
it
is
a
path
through
our
Lord
and
Savior
Jesus
Christ
and
so
if
you
do
not
have
faith
in
him
if
you
are
not
following
after
Jesus
trusting
him
to
cover
your
foolishness
and
replace
it
with
his
wisdom
no
matter
how
superficially
wise
you
might
be
there
is
no
hope
you
love
death
God's
offer
of
wisdom
is
for
anyone
and
for
everyone
who
is
willing
to
repent
and
embrace
him
in
faith
and
so
if
you
do
not
have
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
the
call
from
wisdom
is
as
urgent
today
as
it
was
thousands
of
years
ago
when
this
chapter
was
written
to
come
and
repent
and
believe
so
you
do
not
have
faith
in
Jesus
Christ
I
challenge
you
now
today
to
think
about
the
consequences
of
foolishness
and
to
come
to
Jesus
the
true
and
full
and
final
wisdom
of
course
I'm
happy
to
talk
with
you
about
that
today
after
our
service
as
we're
socially
distanced
outside
and
there's
many
people
around
you
who'd
be
happy
to
talk
to
you
about
that
but
it
is
more
important
than
anything
else
remember
verse
19
my
fruit
is
better
than
gold
even
fine
gold
and
my
yield
than
choice
silver
wisdom
is
the
most
important
thing
embracing
wisdom
embracing
Jesus
Christ
is
more
important
than
anything
else
in
this
world
and
the
call
of
wisdom
is
for
everyone
now
Galen
doesn't
just
send
the
plans
he
doesn't
just
send
a
hologram
he's
also
ultimately
willing to
lay down
his life
for the
sake
of the
rebellion
and
when
his
daughter
Jen
and
the
others
see
him
do
that
they
realize
their
response
that
they
have
only
one
hope
which
is
to
go
and
find
the
plans
that
he's
told
them
about
to
go
to
the
planet
of
Scarif
and
they
do
it
despite
the
disapproval
of
the
council
right
they're
not
supposed
to
go
and
do
it
and
yet
they
rebel
because
they
realize
that's
their
only
hope
it's
either
that
or
be
destroyed
in
other
words
Galen's
act
motivates
them
us
wisdom
is
seeking
us
out
verse
17
we
must
love
her
back
Jesus
is
seeking
us
out
we
must
love
him
back
as
well
we
listen
to
God
and
his
word
we
hear
what
he's
saying
to
us
he
moves
in
our
hearts
to
create
that
love
for
him
and
we
repent
and
turn
from
folly
we
repent
and
sacrifice
whatever
we
have
to
get
wisdom
whatever
we
have
to
get
Jesus
Christ
because
Jesus
doesn't
just
have
wisdom
he's
not
just
the
creator
he's
able
to
make
us
wise
he's
the
redeemer
Galen's
not just
the
creator
he's
not
just
one
who
lays
down
his
life
for
the
rebellion
he's
also
Jyn's
father
and
at
the
very
beginning
of the
movie
we
see
his
last
words
to
her
before
they're
separated
for
probably
about
15
years
as
he
goes
out
to
face
the
imperial
forces
he
looks
Jyn
in the
eyes
and
he
says
this
knowing
they'll
be
separated
whatever
I
do
I
do
it
to
protect
you
do
you
understand
and
Jyn
nods
her head
and
says
yes
I
understand
and
so
for
15
years
as
she
separated
from
her
father
she
has
to
trust
and
believe
that
everything
he's
doing
as
he's
separated
from
her
as
he's
working
on
the
death
star
he
is
doing
it
to
protect
her
how
much
more
is
that
true
of
our
father
God
and
his
son
Jesus
Christ
everything
he's
done
all
the
instructions
of
wisdom
are
to
protect
us
and
so
why
is
Jesus
our
great
and
greater
wisdom
teacher
he
is
our
great
and
greater
wisdom
teacher
because
he's
our
creator
he's
made
the
world
and
he
knows
it
and
he's
because
he's
our
redeemer
he offers
to
rescue
us
from
our
foolishness
and
to
cover
it
with
his
wisdom
and
so
we
listen
to
him
first
and
we
trust
him
more
please
pray
with
me
you