Sermon Notes:
· Where do you look for answers?
· Personal Feelings/Instincts
· Popular Culture
· Social Media & Influencers
· Peers/Friends
· Family Traditions
· How do you cut through the chaos of a broken world with wisdom that actually works?
· (Psalm 37:1) “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers!” (ESV)
· Our default is to fret and envy.
· —How much of your life is consumed by fret and envy?
· (Psalm 37:2) “For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb.” (ESV)
· The world’s wisdom is temporary, but it promises long-term joy.
· Do you need new wisdom?
· (Psalm 37:3) “Trust in the Lord, and do good; dwell in the land and befriend faithfulness.” (ESV)
· God gives us steps toward His wisdom. It’s not mysterious—He wants us to know that he is with us to guide us.
· Knowledge is facts. Wisdom is steps.
· What are you cultivating?
· Knowledge is understanding that the Bible says to trust God. Wisdom is actually trusting Him to take the steps he has laid out.
· (Psalm 37:4) “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” (ESV)
· What we delight in shapes us the most.
· Are you faithful, even when things don’t go your way?
· (Psalm 37:5) “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” (ESV)
· God calls us to find joy in His wisdom.
· What is your commitment level to His calling?
· (Psalm 37:6) “He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” (ESV)
· When we trust God’s wisdom, joy doesn’t just quietly exist—----it consumes everything that we see and experience.
· Have you trusted your wisdom more than God’s?
· (Psalm 37:7–8) “Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” (ESV)
· stillness before God is where wisdom deepens.
· (Psalm 37:9) “For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.” (ESV)
· Here’s the promise: The future belongs to those who trust God’s wisdom.
· How do you cut through the chaos of a broken world with wisdom that actually works? Trust God’s wisdom because it brings life-changing joy!
· The cross is where false wisdom dies.
· The Resurrection is where true wisdom lives.
LIFE Group- Sermon Discussion Guide
Opening Question
· Think of a circumstance where you had to wait — for a job, a relationship, or a breakthrough. How did you handle the waiting?
Read Psalm 37:1-2
· Why do envy and worry take such a strong hold on us?
· When has this happened most recently in your life?
Read Psalm 37:3
· What does it practically mean to “trust in the Lord and do good” at work, at home, or in relationships?
· How do “dwelling in the land” and “befriending faithfulness” connect to Joy?
Read Psalm 37:4
· What does it mean to delight in the Lord rather than just obey Him out of duty?
· How might delighting in God reshape the desires of your heart?
Read Psalm 37:5
· What does it look like to roll over your plans, burdens, and future onto God?
· Where do you find it hardest to commit your way to Him?
Read Psalm 37:6-9
· Why is waiting on God so difficult?
· Share an example where waiting on God brought better results than rushing ahead.
Application
· Which command in Psalm 37:1–9 speaks to you most right now: Do not fret, Trust, Do Good, Dwell, Befriend Faithfulness, Delight, Commit, or Be Still?
· What is one specific way you can practice that command this week?
