Thank you.
Well, good morning. It's good to see you all.
! Thank you.
I do commend to you all the events that have been mentioned next Sunday, Tim Challey's,
for the teens, and also next Sunday evening as well. It'll be wisdom indeed, so I commend
that to you, and also Wednesday nights. Why not make it your priority to join with others
as we study God's Word together, looking at grace for all of life, how we need it.
I have a little booklet here. Our series that we've just started is on Proverbs. Here's an
overview. You want to know what Proverbs is all about? There's a booklet on the table,
one per family. Do take it and read, and it'll give you insight into what it's all about. That's
something that Sam has put together, and it'll be helpful for you.
Well, we're going to read God's Word, Proverbs chapter 1, from verse, well, we're going to
look together this morning from verse 8 to 33, but our reading is going to start in at verse
20.
Proverbs chapter 1, verse 20.
Proverbs 1, starting at verse 20.
Out in the open, wisdom calls aloud. She raises her voice in the public square. On top of the
wall, she cries out. At the city gate, she makes her speech. How long will you who are simple
love your simple ways? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge?
Repent at my rebuke. Then I will pour out my thoughts to you. I will make known to you my
teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call, and no one pays attention when I stretch out
my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when
disaster strikes you. When disaster strikes you. I will mock when calamity overtakes you. When calamity
overtakes you like a storm. When disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind. When distress and trouble
overwhelm you. Then they will call to me, but I will not answer. They will look for me,
but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the Lord. Since they would
not accept my advice and spurned my rebuke, they will eat the fruit of their ways and be filled with the
fruit of their schemes. For the waywardness of the simple will kill them. The complacency of fools
will destroy them will destroy them. But whoever listens to me will live in safety and be at ease
without fear of harm. Well, let's pray and ask for God's help.
Our Father God, your word is wise. It is good and best for us. So give us ears that we might hear clearly.
Hearts that will be receptive.
And hands that are ready to do your work and feet that will walk your paths.
In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sat-navs in Google Maps.
You know how they work.
You key in your destination and you just follow the route.
Simples.
The problem is, I don't always like the route that I'm being taken on.
Although I'm given clear instruction, I ignore the directions.
And what's really annoying is, when I go my own way,
it keeps telling me to turn around.
Rerouting.
Take the next left.
But of course,
Johnny knows best and pays no attention to these warnings.
And then comes that moment.
I'm not where I thought I was.
Why didn't I listen?
Have you ever had that experience?
You've set your mind on something.
You've decided on a course of action.
And despite the advice from others and even their rebukes,
you plough on ahead.
And then comes that moment.
Why did I not listen?
Well, our text today is all about wise listening.
There's a call to listen.
Verse 8.
Listen, my son.
There's a warning if we don't listen.
In verse 24.
But since you refuse to listen,
there will be disaster ahead.
And there's blessing if we do listen.
Verse 33.
But whoever listens to me will live in safety.
You see, listening isn't just hearing something
or understanding something.
Wise listening is doing what you have heard.
And Proverbs is all about wisdom.
We can summarize it like this.
Wisdom is God's word
to live God's way
in God's world.
Wisdom not only listens to God's word.
Wisdom does what God's word says.
James, one of the authors of the New Testament,
also well known for his wisdom,
put it like this.
Do not merely listen to the word
and so deceive yourselves.
Do what it says.
So are we listening?
Two messages, two voices
we are to listen to this morning.
Wisdom's warning
and wisdom's calling.
Wisdom's warning is directed to young people,
young adults.
It applies to us all,
but I think in particular
to young adults and young people
and wisdom's calling
to those who are a bit older
and further down the tracks.
But nonetheless,
it is applicable to us all.
So first, wisdom's warning.
Wisdom's warning
is like a father
talking to their son or daughter
who are about to head out
into the big bad world.
They're ready to leave home,
off to college or off to work.
Verse 8.
Listen, my son,
to your father's instruction.
Do not forsake
your mother's teaching.
They are a garland
to grace your head
and a chain
to adorn your neck.
Listen to what I am about
to say to you
and you will keep
on God's straight path.
You will be like an athlete
who finishes the race
and is given a garland
that is like a champion's crown
will be placed on your head
or a medal around your neck.
Listen very carefully
to what I am about to say.
Well, what do our parents say?
Verse 10.
My son,
if sinful men entice you,
do not give in to them.
If they say,
come along with us.
Why don't you join our gang?
Why don't you be part of our group?
Come along with us.
Let's lie in wait
for innocent blood.
Let's ambush some harmless soul.
Let's take advantage
of other people.
verse 12.
Let's swallow them alive
like the grave
and whole
like those who go down
to the pit.
Let's control them.
And if we do,
verse 13,
oh, we will get
all sorts of valuable things
and we will fill our houses.
Yes, we will have our own homes
and we will fill it
with our riches
and our plunder.
cast lots with me.
Let's play cards together
and the winner,
well, they'll get to pick
the best of the lot.
We'll share the loot.
My son,
do not go along with them
and do not
set foot on their paths.
get rich and fast.
Get rich
and fast.
It's not every
young person's dream.
We're all enticed
by this luxurious living
and the easiest way
to get rich
is to pray
on the weak
and the vulnerable.
It's called,
look at the middle
of verse 19,
ill-gotten gain.
In other words,
making easy money
at the expense
of other people.
young men,
you can drive around
in that luxury car
and wear that Rolex watch.
Young women,
you can dress in Gucci
and Armani
and, well,
you can holiday
as you please.
Oh, it's an enticing
lifestyle.
But be warned,
verse 18,
these people
who call you
to join them
and be part
of their group,
these men
lie in wait
for their own blood.
They ambush
only themselves.
They're digging
their own grave.
Such are the paths
of all who go after
unjust
or ill-gotten gain.
It takes away
the life
of those
who get it.
You see,
unjust gain,
you will reap lots.
But unjust gain
is always
temporary gain.
In fact,
it's eternal
loss.
I was reading
a book
recently
by Paul Williams,
one of Ireland's
top crime
journalists.
He records
in it
the life
of a man
called
Austin Higgins
who was a
major boss,
major crime boss
in the 80s.
Eventually,
he was shot
by the guards.
And after
Austin died,
Williams interviewed
the partner
and the mother.
This is what
the mum
or the mother
said
or the
the partner.
She said,
when I get
older,
I'm going
to tell
my kids
what happened
to their
father.
I don't
want them
to fall
into the
same trap.
I don't
want them
getting mixed
up in crime.
The mother
interacted.
Sometimes I
get really
mad.
He was
such a fool
to get
mixed up
in that
mess.
Like so
many young
criminals,
Austin was
lured in
by the
promise of
easy money
and excitement.
A parent's
regret
and a
partner's
fear.
It's
extraordinary,
isn't it,
that account?
It's almost
straight out
of the book
of Proverbs.
Stop!
Listen!
Don't get
enticed.
Don't go
down that
path.
You see,
Proverbs,
which was
written almost
3,000 years
ago,
still speaks
to us
today.
It's
eternal
wisdom.
Of course,
violent crime
is not the
only way to
make fast
money.
It might
be the
dirty world
of politics,
jobs for
the boys,
and brown
envelopes
under the
desks.
It could
be the
underhand
ways of
bank traders
exploiting the
system for
themselves.
It can be
overcharging
customers or
underpaying
workers,
cash in
hand or
false
expenses.
There's no
shortage of
voices saying,
come with
us,
join our
group,
and you
will get
all kinds
of valuable
things.
know,
through the
words of
scripture,
God is
warning us
like a
father to
his son who
is about to
leave home
and make
their way
in life.
Feel the
weight of
God's hands
upon your
shoulders.
Feel the
gaze of
his eyes.
Listen to
his clear,
wise words.
Be warned,
unjust gain
is always
temporary
gain.
In fact,
it's eternal
loss.
It will not
end with a
garland of
grace, but
a grave
of regret.
Listen
to the
warning
of wisdom.
Now,
before we
move on,
let me
speak
directly
to those
of us
who are
parents
here today,
or
particularly
those who
are fathers.
God has
given us
a very
precious
gift,
your sons
and your
daughters.
As a
father,
you have
a responsibility
to be
opening up
the wise
wisdom
of God's
word
and
speaking
to it
to your
children.
So let
me ask
you,
and I
ask myself,
when was
the last
time you
sat down
and opened
the Bible
and talked
to your
sons or
your daughters
about life
and the
things that
they are
going to
face in
the years
ahead?
when have
you prayed
for your
son and
daughter
that they
will keep
to the
paths
that they
are
raised?
I think
we all
need to
reflect
deeply
on our
calling as
fathers and
mothers,
particularly
fathers,
to be
teaching
our
children.
And
young
people,
young
teens who
are here
today,
still living
at home
under your
parents'
care,
what's
your
response?
Here
they go
again,
boring.
No.
Verse
8,
listen
to your
father's
instruction.
Do not
forsake
your
mother's
teaching.
They're
not stupid.
They
weren't
born
yesterday.
listen
to their
wisdom.
They've
gathered
wisdom
over the
years.
They are
sharing
God's
word with
you.
They are
seeking
to put
it into
practice
for your
good.
And how
you respond
to what
they say
will shape
your life
and the
direction
you go.
So
first,
let us
listen to
wisdom's
warning.
Let us
all listen
to wisdom's
warning.
Second
voice
that we
are to
listen to
is wisdom's
calling.
Wisdom's
calling is
like a
concerned
mother
pursuing
her
wayward
child.
Here
the son
or child
has already
left home
and they're
now in
the big
bad
world
living
life
in the
city
going
their
own
way.
They're
further
down
the
path
of
life
but
it
is
God's
way.
Verse
20.
Out
in the
open
wisdom
calls
aloud.
She
raises
her
voice
in the
public
square.
On
top
of the
wall
she cries
out.
At
the
city
gate
she
makes
her
speech.
There
she is
searching.
On
one of
our
family
holidays
our
son
Ethan
went
missing.
The
problem
was
it
was
in
the
middle
of
a
crowded
downtown
city.
Of
course
we
searched
everywhere.
We
even
called
out.
How
could
we
possibly
leave
our
son
wander
around
on
his
own.
We
had
to
find
him.
And
look
at
wisdom.
She
is
searching
verse
20.
She
calls
aloud.
She
raises
her
voice.
She
cries
out.
She
makes
her
speech
verse
22.
How
long
will
you
who
are
simple
love
your
simple
ways?
How
long
will
mockers
delight
in
mockery
and
fools
hate
knowledge?
How
long
will
you
follow
the
wisdom
of
the
world?
How
long
will
you
keep
walking
away
from
the
wise
words
of
God?
Can
you
hear
wisdom's
pursuit?
Maybe
you have
been
walking
your
own
path.
Perhaps
you've
keyed in
your
own
destination
and
you've
taken
your
own
route
in
life.
Wisdom
is
calling
you.
Can
you
hear
her
voice?
You
see
wisdom
is
calling
us
to
turn
back.
Look
at
verse
23.
Repent
at
my
rebuke.
stop
walking.
Turn
around.
Come
back.
Like
the
voice of
Google
Maps.
Rerouting.
Go
around
the
roundabout
and
come
back.
You
see
repentance
means
turning
from our
own
wisdom
and
listening
to
God's
wisdom.
It's
to
admit
that
well
I'm
a
fool
and
I
need
to
submit
to
God's
rule.
It's
a
desire
to
listen
to
God's
word
and
to
live
God's
way
in
God's
world.
Stop.
Turn
around.
Come
back.
You
see
not only
are we
called
to
turn
back
but
the
wisdom
that is
presented
to
us
here.
This
concerned
mother
calling
to
her
wayward
son.
Well
it's
a
picture
isn't
it?
It's
imagery
but it
has
become
a
reality
for
us.
Look
with
me
please
to
Luke's
gospel
and
chapter
15.
Luke's
gospel
chapter
15.
Amen.
You
see
like
wisdom
shouting
out in
the
city
for
the
wayward
son
God
in
his
wisdom
has
pursued
us
through
his
son
the
Lord
Jesus.
As
Jesus
began
his
ministry
the
religious
leaders
complained
that
Jesus
was
eating
with
the
sinners
and
tax
collectors
those
who
were
getting
rich
at the
expense
of
others
those
who
had
chosen
their
own
path
in
life
and
in
response
Jesus
said
oh
it's
not
the
healthy
who
need
the
doctor
but
the
sick
those
who've
wandered
down
their
wrong
path
I
have
not
come
to
call
the
righteous
but
sinners
to
repentance
to
come
back
now
in
Luke
chapter
15
Jesus
tells
a
story
to
show
us
what
this
would
be
like
we
know
it
don't
we
a
son
asked
his
father
for
an
inheritance
!
In
other
words
he
wished
his
father
dead
so
that
he
could
get
on
with
his
life
in
his
own
wisdom
he
had
rejected
his
father
but
ill
gotten
gain
is
always
temporary
gain
his
life
had
become
a
mess
verse
17
then
he
came
to
his
senses
he
said
how
many
of
my
father's
hired
servants
have
food
to
spare
!
And
here
I
am
starving
to
death!
I
will
set
out
and
go
back
to
my
father
and
say
to
him
father
I
have
sinned
against
heaven
and
against
you
I
am
no
longer
worthy
to be
called
your
son
make
me
like
one
of
your
hired
servants
so
he
got
up
and
went
to
his
father
but
while
he
was
still
a
long
way
off
his
father
saw
him
and
was
filled
with
compassion
for
him
he
ran
to
his
son
threw
his
arms
around
him
and
kissed
him
the
son
said
to
him
father
I
have
sinned
against
heaven
and
against
you
I
am
no
longer
worthy
to be
called
your
son
but
the
father
said
to
his
servants
quick
bring
the
best
robe
and
put
it
on
him
a
sign
of
welcome
and
restoration
put
a
ring
and
sandals
on
his
feet
a
sign
of
acceptance
and
blessing
bring
the
fattened
calf
and
kill
it
let's
have
a
feast
and
celebrate
for
the
son
of
mine
was
dead
and
is
alive
again
he
was
lost
and
is
found
so
they
began
to
celebrate
let's
go back
to
proverbs
you
see
god
in his
wisdom
is
calling
out
to
us
through
his
son
he
pursues
us
he
longs
for us
that we
would
turn
back
when we
have
wandered
away
come
home
come
home
to
where
you
belong
and
when
we
do
oh
what
a
welcome
closed
afresh
a
garland
of
grace
is
placed
on
our
head
welcome
home
my
child
welcome
home
but
we
must
also
be
careful
to
ignore
the
voice
is
both
foolish
and
dangerous
it
will
be
like
a
storm
that
will
suddenly
come
on
you
do
you
see
it
there
in
proverbs
chapter
2
verse
27
when
calamity
!
overtakes
you
overtakes
you
like
a
storm
when
disaster
sweeps
over you
like
a
whirlwind
when
distress
and
trouble
overwhelm
you
it'll be
like a
pleasure
yacht
with all
those on
board
heading out
into the
open sea
but the
warning has
been given
the weather
forecast is
clear
don't
leave
the
shore
a
storm
is
coming
it's
dangerous
you
will
not
survive
verse
24
but
since
you
refuse
to
listen
when
I
call
and
no
one
pays
attention
when
I
stretch
out
my
hand
since
you
disregard
all my
advice
and do
not
accept
my
rebuke
I
in turn
will
laugh
when
disaster
strikes
you
I
will
mock
when
calamity
overtakes
you
if we
refuse
to
listen
a
day
is
coming
a
storm
is on
its
way
and
God
will
laugh
at
us
not
in
a
disdaining
way
but
at
the
utter
stupidity
of
not
listening
and
as
they
head
out
in
that
boat
into
the
open
seas
the
danger
suddenly
becomes
clear
verse
28
then
they
will
call
to
me
but
I
will
not
answer
they
will
look
for
me
but
will
not
find
me
God
has
come
to
seek
and
save
the
lost
but
a
day
will
come
when
that
search
and
rescue
will
be
called
off
and
all
hope
will
be
lost
you
will
reap
your
reward
verse
30
since
they
would
not
accept
my
advice
and
spurned
my
rebuke
they
will
eat
the
fruit
of
their
ways
and
be
filled
with
the
fruit
of
their
schemes
those
who
refuse
God's
gracious
word
will
be
left
to
face
the
storm
of
God's
judgment
you
see
that's
why
Jesus
came
he
came
to
pursue
us
he
came
to
take
the
judgment
that
we
deserve
for
all
our
foolish
living
and
on
the
cross
that
innocent
man
Jesus
the
God
man
takes
the
full
brunt
of
the
storm
God's
wrath
falls
on him
like a
whirlwind
but
all
who
trust
him
are
safe
and
secure
don't
be
a
fool
hear
the
pursuit
of
wisdom
calling
you
listen
to
the
wise
words
of
God
you
see
if we
do
repent
God
will
not
only
welcome
you
he
will
change
your
life
so
that
you
become
a
pursuer
of
others
look
back
at
verse
23
repent
at
my
rebuke
then
I
will
pour
out
my
thoughts
to
you
literally
I
will
pour
out
my
spirit
upon
you
and
I
will
make
known
to
you
my
teachings
God's
word
his
wisdom
will
become
our
delight
and
joy
no
longer
something
to be
turned
away
but
we
will
desire
his
ways
and
we
will
walk
in
his
paths
in
fact
like
wisdom
we
will
call
out
to
one
another
when
we
have
wandered
away
like
wisdom
we
will
pursue
others
in
love
and
we
will
gently
warn
James
puts
it
like
this
is
our
calling
my
brothers
and
sisters
if
one
of
you
should
wander
from
the
truth
and
someone
should
bring
that
person
back
remember
this
whoever
turns a
sinner
from the
error
of their
way
will
save
them
from
death
and
cover
over
a
multitude
of
sins
maybe
you're
thinking
today
of a
child
a
son
or a
daughter
who
has
wandered
God
in his
wisdom
and by
his
spirit
is
calling
them
back
we
can
trust
God
to do
his
work
but
God
does
his
work
through
people
like
us
for
we
are
all
prone
to
wander
we
all
turn
our
back
on
wisdom
we
all
close
our
ears
to
our
voice
that's
why
God
has
given
to
us
one
another
in
the
family
of
this
church
so
that
we
can
speak
the
gospel
afresh
into
each
other's
lives
saying
turn
back
come
home
take
heed
of the
way
in which
you
are
going
for
God
is a
God
of
grace
his
wisdom
is
good
it
will
be
like
a
garland
of
grace
a
champion's
crown
that he
will
place
on
your
head
pursue
wanderers
just
as
God
has
pursued
us
let's
keep
our
Bibles
open
we're
going
to
pray
focus
on
verse
32
and
verse
33
let's
pray
for
the
waywardness
of the
simple
will
kill
them
and
the
complacency
of
fools
will
destroy
them
but
whoever
listens
to me
will
live
in
safety
and
be
at
ease
without
fear
of
harm
our
father
God
we
thank
you
for
the
wisdom
of
your
word
we
thank
you
for
the
clear
warning
you
have
given
father
we
pray
that
by
your
spirit
you
will
continue
to
pursue
those
who
have
wandered
from
your
path
that
they
might
yet
hear
your
voice
repent
and
be
welcomed
home
by
our
loving
father
and
would
you
help
us
that
we
would
pursue
others
in
grace
and
in
truth
help
us
to
look
out
for
one
another
to
care
for
one
another
and
to
keep
us
walking
on
the
path
that
is
good
please
help
us
in
Jesus
name
amen
we're
going
to
sing
a song
that
reflects
the way
that
perhaps
we once
walked
I once
was
lost
in
darkest
night
yet
thought
I
knew
the
way
but
our
ways
our
wisdom
are
always
going
to
fail
we
turn
afresh
to
the
grace
of
God
who
welcomes
us
back
home
let's
stand
together
as
we
sing