VERB - Living Out Your Faith | June 1, 2025
June 1, 2025

VERB - Living Out Your Faith | Part 1

Pastor Jason Kennedy

Part 1: What is Wisdom?

Proverbs answer the universal question….”How should I live my life in light of God’s plan?”

Proverbs 22:7
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 1:8
8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching,

Proverbs 3:5-7
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
and do not lean on your own understanding.
6 In all your ways acknowledge him,
and he will make straight your paths.
7 Be not wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

WE MUST TRUST GOD EXCLUSIVELY

Proverbs 1:7

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 9:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. [2]

Deuteronomy 6:5
5 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Joshua 24:14
14 “Now therefore fear the Lord and serve him in sincerity and in faithfulness. Put away the gods that your fathers served beyond the River and in Egypt, and serve the Lord.

WE ARE TO TRUST GOD EXHAUSTIVELY

Proverbs 1:7
7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge;

fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Ecclesiastes 1:12-18

12 I the Preacher have been king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And I applied my heart to seek and to search out by wisdom all that is done under heaven. It is an unhappy business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. 14 I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind. 15 What is crooked cannot be made straight, and what is lacking cannot be counted. 16 I said in my heart, “I have acquired great wisdom, surpassing all who were over Jerusalem before me, and my heart has had great experience of wisdom and knowledge.” 17 And I applied my heart to know wisdom and to know madness and folly. I perceived that this also is but a striving after wind. 18 For in much wisdom is much vexation, and he who increases knowledge increases sorrow.

Proverbs 3:7
7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.

True wisdom brings us ultimate fulfillment because it points us to a life with God both in the present and in eternity. (Proverbs 3:18)

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed.

True wisdom is gained by accepting the father’s instruction (Proverbs 1:8; 3:1; 3:13).

*Proverbs 1:8 *
Hear, my son, your father’s instruction,
and forsake not your mother’s teaching, [3]

*Proverbs 3:1 *
My son, do not forget my teaching,
but let your heart keep my commandments, [4]

Proverbs 3:13
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding, [5]

True wisdom brings the blessing of God. (Proverbs 3:2; 3:16)

*Proverbs 3:2 *
for length of days and years of life
and peace they will add to you. [6]

*Proverbs 3:13-17 *
Blessed is the one who finds wisdom,
and the one who gets understanding,
for the gain from her is better than gain from silver
and her profit better than gold.
She is more precious than jewels,
and nothing you desire can compare with her.
Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
Her ways are ways of pleasantness,
and all her paths are peace. [7]

  • God blesses us with longevity.
  • God blesses us with prosperity.
  • God blesses us with honor.
  • God blesses us with peace.

True wisdom points us to a life with God both in the present and in eternity. (Proverbs 3:18)

Proverbs 3:18
She is a tree of life to those who lay hold of her; those who hold her fast are called blessed. [8]

Digging Deeper Devotional

Devotional: “The Wisdom That Leads to Life”
Scripture Focus:
“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” – Proverbs 9:10
Devotion
Summers, for many of us, bring a break from structure. For the young, they can represent a release from discipline—an opportunity to act without considering consequences. But what about the adult who still lives this way—detached from wisdom, driven by impulse, resistant to guidance?
This sermon introduces us to the deep well of wisdom found in the book of Proverbs. It highlights that knowing isn’t the same as being wise. As Spurgeon said, “There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool.” Wisdom is the application of knowledge—it’s lived, practiced, and rooted in relationship with God.
Proverbs was crafted as a father’s counsel to his son, yet its message resounds across time: live wisely by fearing God. This fear is not dread, but reverent awe—a recognition of God’s holiness, sovereignty, and the truth that He alone is the source of wisdom.
The Bible calls us not just to collect knowledge but to walk in it. This means trusting God exclusively—without compromise or divided affection—and exhaustively—in every area of our lives. Solomon’s tragic downfall, despite his wisdom, came from pursuing knowledge, pleasure, and success apart from God. He learned the hard way that wisdom without fear of the Lord is empty.
Godly wisdom is more than moral behavior or practical tips for living—it is life-giving. Proverbs 3:18 paints wisdom as the Tree of Life, echoing Eden and pointing forward to eternity. When we pursue wisdom, we are reaching back to what was lost in the Garden and forward to the restoration promised in Revelation.
In short, to live wisely is to walk in step with the Father, obey His instruction, and hold fast to the Word of Life. It leads not just to a better life now—but to eternal life with Him.

Study Guide: “Walking in Wisdom”
Key Scriptures:
Proverbs 1:7
Proverbs 3:5–7
Proverbs 9:10
Proverbs 3:13–18
Ecclesiastes 1:12–18

Discussion Questions:
What is the difference between knowledge and wisdom?
Why do you think our culture often confuses the two?
Read Proverbs 1:7 and 9:10.
What does it mean to “fear the Lord”? How does this affect our decision-making?
Think about Solomon’s life.
What does his journey teach us about the danger of pursuing wisdom or success without God?
What does it mean to trust God “exclusively” and “exhaustively” (Proverbs 3:5–6)?
What are some areas of your life where trust in God is partial?
Proverbs 3:18 calls wisdom a “tree of life.”
How does this image connect wisdom to both the beginning (Genesis) and the end (Revelation) of the Bible?
In what ways does God bless those who pursue wisdom (Proverbs 3:13–17)?
How do these blessings compare to what the world typically promises?

Reflection:
Where in your life do you need to apply wisdom right now?
How might revering God change the way you approach a current challenge or decision?

Action Steps:
Read one chapter of Proverbs each day this month.
Reflect on one verse that stands out and consider how to apply it.
Identify one area of life where you’re relying on your own understanding more than trusting God. Surrender it to Him in prayer.
Practice fearing the Lord by worshipping Him daily—acknowledge His holiness, authority, and nearness.
Share one insight from Proverbs with a friend or family member this week. Let wisdom be not just for you, but through you.