Steadfast Love, Week 4, Folly

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This week’s video is an introduction to Week 5 that we will be working on this week.

State of being foolish; lack of understanding or sense; obsolete; wickedness; unwise, absurd, indiscretion, mistake, madness, or lunacy…

Yeah, these words sound like something I want to stay away from!

What do you think of when you hear the word folly? I think of a clown, a court jester, or the Joker. I think of someone being silly and having no sense. I also think about someone taking a crazy risk without any thought to the consequences. Just throw caution to the wind!

As Christ followers, however, we are to gain wisdom and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit in every area of our lives. While we remain in a human body, we may fall prey to folly from time to time, but that is the exception, not the rule. We can trust the Holy Spirit to give us wisdom and lead us in the ways that please the Lord. However, when we insist on our own feelings, or on worldly wisdom, we can be sure we will experience the consequences of folly!

When we fall into a snare that is a direct result of our own foolishness, we do not have to berate ourselves into a pit of shame. The good news is that we have a merciful and loving God who will rescue and deliver us, even when we have dug our pits with our own two hands! Just as the Israelites called to God for rescue, we can do the same, and He will do it!

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and he delivered them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction. Psalm 107:19-20 ESV

Folly includes much more than just dumb mistakes, too. According to our Scripture text, folly is rooted in sin. When we defy the leading of the Holy Spirit, and we disobey the voice of the Lord, we are choosing sin instead, and that is folly. Unfortunately, folly also comes with a series of consequences!

So, what is the remedy for folly? Soak in the wisdom found in God’s Word. Listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit as He speaks to your heart. Obey the commands of the Lord. Walk in absolute reverence, or holy fear of the Lord, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Know who God is, and contemplate His immeasurable attributes. Allow Him to purify your heart and cleanse you from all sin. Finally, simply ask God for wisdom, and He will provide it (James 1:5).

But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. James 3:17 ESV

 

Assignments for the Week:

 

Week 4 Discussion Questions

 

Here is a peek at the small group discussion questions for Week 4:

ICE BREAKER: Where are some of your favorite places to go shopping?

 

The woman Folly is loud;
she is seductive and knows nothing. Proverbs 9:13 ESV

QUESTION 1: Have you ever tasted the bitter fruit of folly in your life? What was the result? What could you have done differently?

 

“One doesn’t have to lean in to hear folly. It’s usually the first and loudest voice we hear as sinful, fallen human beings. In fact, it sounds a lot like the serpent’s voice in the garden… Did God really say? He is holding out on you! … You deserve better…”

QUESTION 2: What are some phrases folly has whispered in your ear or you’ve heard in your heart? (p. 101)

 

“Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4 ESV

QUESTION 3: One characteristic of folly is that they “loathed any kind of food” (verse 18). We have a tendency to crave spiritual, or mental, “junk” food in place of Godly wisdom. Make a list of some of the “food-like” substances, or “proverbs” of earthly wisdom, by which we sometimes live. (p. 105)

 

QUESTION 4: Let us consider two gates, the gate of holy fear of God (true wisdom) which leads to life, and the gate of the fear of man (earthly wisdom) which leads to death. How can a humble, holy fear of God help us avoid folly?

 

…He who is the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords, who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen. 1 Timothy 6:15b-16 ESV

QUESTION 5: Let’s list some of the incommunicable attributes of God. (That is, attributes, or traits, that cannot be caught or passed down to others. They are distinctive of Him alone.)

 

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV

QUESTION 6: What stood out to you in our study this week?

 

Reading Schedule

  • June 19-25, Study Week 1: A Call to Worship, pp.10-33; Week 1 Video
    • Small groups: Introduction. No need to ready anything ahead of time.
  • June 26-July 2, Study Week 2: The Desert, pp. 34-65; Week 2 Video
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 1
  • July 3-9, Study Week 3: Chains, pp. 66-95; Week 3 Video
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 2
  • July 10-16, Study Week 4: Folly, pp. 96-127; Week 4 Video
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 3
  • July 17-23, Study Week 5: Storm, pp. 128-155; Week 5 Video
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 4
  • July 24-30, Study Week 6: Gratitude, pp. 156-181; Week 6 Video
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 5
  • July 31-August 6, Week 7 Video, pp. 182-185
    • Small groups: Discuss Week 6

 

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