Sermon Outlines . Volume 01 | Issue 11

How To Be A Wise Guy

By Michael Catt

*The following outline is taken from Pastor Michael Catt’s sermon series on James. The tape series and booklet can be purchased from Sherwood Baptist Church @229-883-1910 or go to their website @ www.sherwood-baptist.org.

James 3:13-18

I. Wisdom Defined. v. 13 “wise”
“understanding”

Worldly Wisdom Godly Wisdom
a wisdom of words – 1:17-24  of power – 2:4,5
operates by man’s word – 2:4 operates by the spirit – 2:13
foolish to God – 1:20 foolish to the world – 2:14
brings ignorance – 1:21 brings knowledge – 2:12
leads to condemnation – 1:18 leads to salvation – 1:18; 2:7

II. Wisdom Denied. v. 14-16

  1. Two evil motives of worldly wisdom:
    1. Bitter jealousy.
    2. Selfish ambition. Phil. 2:3
  2. Three evil sources of worldly wisdom. v. 15
    1. Secular – earthly.
    2. Sensual – natural.
    3. Satanic – demonic
  3. Two results of worldly wisdom. v. 16
    1. Instability – disorder
    2. Evil

III. Wisdom Described. v. 17, 18

  1. Its operation< “first pure”
    “peaceable” Isaiah 32:17
    “gentle”
    “reasonable”
    “full of mercy and good fruits”
    “unwavering”
    “without hypocrisy”
  2. Its outcome v.18; Proverbs 11:18; Hosea 10:12, 2 Cor. 9:10
    Three ways we can make peace:
    1. Preserve it
    2. Promote it
    3. Pursue it