Family Matters, Part 2: Get Smart
⌥ Type: Sunday Morning Service
🎬 Series: Family Matters
⛪ Sermon: Part 2: Get Smart
🗣️ Speaker: Pastor Tom Van Kempen
📜 Description: Building a strong home requires wisdom from God rather than relying on our own natural inclinations, which tend toward foolishness. True wisdom means making decisions based on character, future consequences, and biblical truth rather than pursuing happiness, present comfort, or what feels good in the moment. By submitting to God's Word and fearing Him in healthy reverence, we can build our lives on a solid foundation that withstands life's storms and leads to genuine peace and fulfillment.
ℹ️ Tip: The video is set to start at the beginning of the sermon, but you can scrub the playhead to any part of the service. ℹ️
Additional Info
The info below was generated by an AI from the audio recording of the sermon.
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Use the questions listed below as a launching point to discuss the sermon points together as a family. These are great for dinner table discussions and small groups.
Opening Prayer (2 minutes) Begin by asking God to give your group wisdom and open hearts to His Word.
Icebreaker (5 minutes) Share one piece of advice (good or bad) that you received growing up. How has it affected your life?
Scripture Reading (3 minutes) Read aloud Proverbs 24:3-4 and Matthew 7:24-27.
Discussion Questions (30 minutes)
The message defined wisdom as "practical skill for daily living." How is this different from how you've thought about wisdom before? What does it mean to have skill in living out your faith day-to-day?
We learned that "foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child" and that our default setting is foolishness. In what areas of your life do you find yourself still operating on "default" rather than seeking God's wisdom?
The five contrasts were presented:
Fools focus on happiness / Wise focus on character
Fools focus on present / Wise focus on future
Fools focus on what feels good / Wise focus on consequences
Fools focus on shortcuts / Wise focus on discipline
Fools follow emotions / Wise follow truth
Which of these resonates most with a struggle you're currently facing? Why?
The message stated, "Follow your heart" is one of the dumbest pieces of advice in the world because "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things." How does our culture promote following our hearts? What happens when we do this without God's guidance?
James 1 tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God and He will give generously. When was the last time you specifically asked God for wisdom about a decision or situation? What happened?
Jesus' parable shows that both houses faced the same storms—wind, rain, and floods. What storms are you currently facing? How does building your life on God's Word (the rock) help you withstand these storms differently than building on sand (your own understanding)?
The message mentioned that sometimes God doesn't answer all our prayers the way we want, but the question is whether we're standing on His Word and trusting in His stability. How do you maintain trust in God's wisdom when circumstances don't turn out as you hoped?
Action Step (5 minutes) Choose one area of your life where you've been operating in foolishness rather than wisdom (finances, relationships, parenting, career, health, etc.). This week, identify one specific action you can take to begin building with wisdom in that area. Share your commitment with at least one other person in the group for accountability.
Closing Prayer (3 minutes) Pray for each person's specific area of growth and for God's wisdom to guide your group in the week ahead.
Key Bible Verses Referenced:
Proverbs 24:3-4
Proverbs 2:6
Proverbs 28:26
Proverbs 16:25
Proverbs 4:7
James 1:5
Matthew 7:24-27
Jeremiah 17:9
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Historical Context for Proverbs 24:3-4
The book of Proverbs was compiled during Israel's golden age under King Solomon, around 950 BC. Solomon, renowned as the wisest man who ever lived, gathered these practical sayings to instruct his sons and the next generation of leaders. In ancient Israel, the concept of "house" carried much deeper meaning than just a physical dwelling. The Hebrew word "bayit" encompassed the entire household—the family unit, inheritance, legacy, and even one's reputation in the community.
Building a literal house in ancient times was a serious undertaking that required skill, planning, and resources. Homes were typically constructed from stone or mud brick, and poor construction could lead to collapse during the rainy season or when storms came. This made the imagery of building with wisdom versus foolishness immediately relatable to the original audience. They understood that a house built without knowledge and skill would not stand.
The three concepts mentioned—wisdom, understanding, and knowledge—were highly valued in Hebrew culture. These terms shared a common secondary meaning in Hebrew: practical skill. This wasn't abstract philosophy but hands-on expertise, like the skill of craftsmen who built the tabernacle or temple. God's wisdom was seen as the blueprint for successful living, passed down through generations and observable in the natural order of creation.
Historical Context for Matthew 7:24-27
Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount around 30 AD in the Galilean region, likely near Capernaum. This sermon represented the core of His teaching and concluded with the parable of the wise and foolish builders. His audience would have immediately understood this illustration from their own experience.
In first-century Palestine, the rainy season brought sudden, violent storms that could turn dry wadis (seasonal riverbeds) into raging torrents within minutes. Builders faced a choice: construct on the convenient sandy soil of the wadi bed, which was easier to dig and level, or do the harder work of building on rock, which required more effort but provided a solid foundation.
The coastal and valley regions experienced flash floods that could destroy entire structures built on sand or in low-lying areas. Everyone in Jesus' audience had likely witnessed the devastating results of poor building choices. By using this familiar imagery, Jesus emphasized that hearing His words without obeying them was as foolish as building a house on sand—it might look fine initially, but when the inevitable storms came, complete destruction would follow.
The cultural context also matters: rabbis of this era commonly ended their teachings with memorable illustrations. Jesus' audience expected a concluding story, and this parable served as a final, powerful warning that mere knowledge of God's ways meant nothing without obedience and application.
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Building Smart: A Kids Lesson on Wisdom Age Range: Elementary (K-6th grade) Time: 45 minutes
INTRODUCTION (5 minutes)
Welcome kids with energy and enthusiasm!
Say: "Today we're going to talk about being SMART—not just school smart, but God smart! Have you ever built something? Maybe with blocks or LEGOs? What happens if you don't follow the instructions or if you build on something wobbly? That's right—it falls down! Today we're going to learn about building our lives the SMART way, which is God's way!"
Opening Question: "Who thinks they make smart choices all the time?" (Let kids respond) "The truth is, we ALL need help making smart choices. That's why God gave us the Bible—it's like an instruction manual for life!"
SCRIPTURE (5 minutes)
Read Matthew 7:24-27 (use a kid-friendly translation)
"Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
Explain: "Jesus told this story to help us understand something really important. The ROCK is like God's Word—the Bible. When we listen to what God says and actually DO it, we're building our lives on something strong and solid. But if we ignore what God says and just do whatever we want, it's like building on sand—everything can fall apart!"
CRAFT: Build Your Foundation (15 minutes)
Materials Needed:
Small paper cups (2 per child)
Sand or rice in a shallow tray
Small flat rocks or cardboard squares
Popsicle sticks (10-12 per child)
Glue
Markers
Labels that say "GOD'S WORD"
Instructions:
Give each child two cups—one to place in the sand/rice tray, one to place on a rock/cardboard
Have kids build a small structure on top of each cup using popsicle sticks and glue
While structures dry, have kids decorate their rocks/cardboard with "GOD'S WORD" labels and drawings
When dry, gently shake the tray and tap the table to show how the sand foundation is unstable
Compare to the stable rock foundation
Discussion while crafting: "What are some 'storms' or hard things that kids your age face? (Examples: being left out, parents arguing, being bullied, making wrong choices, losing something important) When we know what the Bible says and we DO it, we can stand strong even when hard things happen!"
GAME: Smart Choices Relay (12 minutes)
Setup: Create two parallel paths with tape on the floor. Along each path, place scenario cards face down.
How to Play:
Divide kids into two teams
One at a time, each child runs to a card, flips it over, reads the scenario (or has leader read it), and chooses between two options
If they choose the "wise" option, they continue to the end; if they choose the "foolish" option, they must go back to start and try again
First team to have all members complete the course wins
Sample Scenario Cards:
"Your friend wants you to lie to your parents. Do you: A) Lie to keep your friend happy, or B) Tell the truth even though it's hard?" (B is wise)
"You have homework due tomorrow but your favorite show is on. Do you: A) Watch the show and skip homework, or B) Do homework first, then watch if there's time?" (B is wise)
"Someone is mean to you at school. Do you: A) Be mean back to them, or B) Walk away and tell a trusted adult?" (B is wise)
"You want a new toy but don't have money. Do you: A) Take it without asking, or B) Save your money or ask your parents?" (B is wise)
"Your parents say no to something you really want. Do you: A) Throw a fit and argue, or B) Accept their answer and trust they know best?" (B is wise)
DISCUSSION QUESTIONS (5 minutes)
Gather kids in a circle and ask:
"What's the difference between being school-smart and being God-smart (wise)?"
"Why do you think God wants us to listen to His Word AND do what it says?"
"What's one way you can build your life on the rock this week?"
"Who can help you make wise choices?" (God, parents, teachers, pastors, the Bible)
Key Point to Emphasize: "Being wise doesn't mean you're perfect or never make mistakes. It means when you have a choice, you ask 'What does God want me to do?' and then you do it—even when it's hard!"
WRAP-UP PRAYER (3 minutes)
Gather kids together and pray:
"Dear God, thank You for giving us the Bible so we can be wise! Help us to not just know what You say, but to actually DO it. When we face hard choices this week, remind us to build our lives on the rock—on Your Word. Help us to be obedient to our parents, kind to our friends, and honest even when it's hard. We want to be kids who make wise choices that make You happy. In Jesus' name, Amen!"
Send-Off: "This week, every time you have to make a choice, remember: Am I building on the ROCK (God's way) or on the SAND (my own way)? Choose the rock every time!"
Take-Home Challenge: Encourage kids to read one chapter of Proverbs this week with their family and talk about one wise choice they can make together.
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As you can see I was talking to Chief.
Oh, everyone was asking me, what in the world are you doing this morning?
Are you are you doing a wedding today?
Are you changing the dress code today?
None of those things.
All we were doing was spoofing an old 1960s television series entitled Get Smart.
How many ever saw that?
Oh look at that.
Most of you know it.
In 2008 they actually redid it to into a movie Starring Steve Corell, um Hathaway Girl, and The Rock.
Did anybody see the movie?
A few of you, but not as many as are familiar with the the series anyway.
So so obviously today is all about uh wisdom.
It's all about getting smart, and so uh I hope that you uh laugh. just a little bit because there's no better place to laugh than in church who can say amen.
I I mean I'm I don't know about you but I grew up and and church was always serious And uh I'm just glad that we can interject a little bit of God's personality into our services.
Because if you don't think God has a sense of humor, look at your neighbor right now.
Okay?
Look at your pastor.
I I mean God definitely has a sense of humor.
So who remembers the agent number of Maxwell Smart?
86.
Okay?
Because the other woman was 99.
That's right.
And so in my marriage, Robin's ninety-nine and uh I'm I'm the I'm the other guy.
So uh but if if you are not familiar with the television show or the movie, uh you need to know that That Maxwell Smart was really a nice guy.
Okay?
And he was obviously dressed for success because as you saw in that intro, he drove up in that convertible and he was wearing a like a suit with a bow tie, a tuxedo tie. type event.
And he was well intentioned.
He wanted to save the world, but he was a bumbling fool.
He made mistake after mistake after mistake and and at the end of most shows something t bad happened and he barely got out of it.
And this is what he'd say Missed it by that much.
Yep, you guys remember that.
Missed it by that much.
The problem is many of us are living our lives like Maxwell Smart We love our families, we we love our churches, we appreciate our kids, but we are not living with the wisdom when it comes to self-discipline.
When it comes to patience, when it comes to finances, when it comes to communication, and we find ourselves looking at the chaos in mirroring or mimicking Maxwell Smart and saying, oh, you know, it was innocent enough.
I miss it by just that much.
But was it really just that much?
Or did we miss it by a long, long ways?
Again, if you're familiar with the television show or the movie, there were two separate entities.
There was control, and that That represented the good guys, and there was chaos, and that represented the bad guys.
And the same two things happen in our life.
When we give our control over to God, wisdom prevails.
But when we try and do things on our own, or if we follow after the patterns of the world, chaos is not far behind again and again and again.
Today I want to share with everyone here.
It doesn't matter if you have a husband, wife, and four kids and ten grandkids.
It doesn't matter if you're single.
It doesn't matter if you're an empty nester or you're married and you've never had children before in your entire lives.
Maybe you've never planned to have children, or maybe you want to have children.
I don't know.
But what I do know is you're building your life and you're building a home.
Who can say amen?
Homes look a lot different today than they used to, right?
I mean there's there's a lot of divorce today where a hundred years ago that wasn't there, seventy-five years ago that wasn't there There's all these blended families, and they're very real, and they're a part of the church.
Did you know there's more single households today than married households?
All right, so so I need you to understand that this series isn't just about the that the family that we talked about last week in regards to husband, wife, and children.
This is for absolutely everybody, so say this is for me.
This is for you God's created this for you, and he wants you to get smart, not worldly smart, but word smart.
Bible smart.
Listen to what the scripture says in Proverbs chapter 24, verses 3 and 4.
Through wisdom a house is built.
And by understanding it is established.
By knowledge, the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches.
You don't build a strong home of any kind by accident.
Wisdom is built, or wisdom builds the house.
So let me just clarify here, we go back to last week just a little bit.
The Hebrew word for for house is the same one this week as it was last week.
It was B-A-Y-I-T, by it, and it means a number of different things.
It means house, household, home, family.
So when the scripture says house, it's not just reflecting To an edifice.
It's not just referring to a building or a structure.
It also means your family, your household.
So that's the review of last week.
Now we're getting into this week.
We're going to focus on one word, and it's the word wisdom.
Say wisdom.
God wants you to be wise.
We tend to picture someone old sitting on a porch giving up advice whether you ask for it or not.
I heard about a little boy who asked his grandfather, Grandpa, were you on Noah's Ark?
Grandpa was rather indignant and said, no, I wasn't And the little boy followed it up right away.
Then why didn't you drown in the flood?
For some reason we think anybody with a gray beard is a thousand years old or or four thousand years old.
No, uh it's in the eye of uh the young child oftentimes It's funny, but it makes this point.
Just because someone is old doesn't mean they are wise.
If they don't know the word of God.
Now listen, wisdom, this particular word.
In the verses, the two verses I just read, it said, uh wisdom builds the house.
It said that there is also understanding in knowledge.
Here's what's interesting.
All three of these Hebrew words have a secondary definition, and that definition is practical skill.
Skill in war, skill in fighting, skill in in building.
So it's it's the skill of a craftsman.
If you remember the tabernacle in the Old Testament, God sent the Holy Spirit to anoint them with wisdom. to build the tabernacle, it's the same word right there.
It's the skill of a builder.
It's the skill of a modern-day heart surgeon.
Now, if you were to ask my wife, do you love Pastor Tom?
She would say.
Yes.
A little more enthusiasm plays.
Yeah there you go.
But listen, listen If I need an open heart surgery, I don't want her there saying, I just watched the video on this.
I want someone with some wisdom.
Someone who's studied, practiced, and knows exactly what they're doing.
And here's what's scary.
We'll trust a trained surgeon with our physical heart, but we ignore God when it comes to the spiritual.
We ignore God when it comes to marriage and family and home and all of that stuff.
God wants to give us wisdom for the spiritual, also.
Who can say amen?
He wants us to have wisdom for it all.
Wisdom for our purposes today and through this series is nothing more than skill for daily living.
Wisdom teaches us how to live in the here and now.
When it comes to our Christian faith, it teaches us that we need to walk every day by faith, not by sight.
It teaches us that prayer should be a part of everything that we do.
We should pray early in the morning.
We should pray when we're lying on our beds at night.
We should pray throughout the day.
We should love and worship God on a regular basis.
Who can say Amen.
But did you know if you read the book of Proverbs, especially the the wisdom literature?
I'm talking about Song of Solomon and and I'm talking about Ecclesiastes and Psalms and Proverbs There's a lot of practical, everyday stuff in there about things like just getting along with other people.
There's monetary advice.
One of the things that the Bible says is you need to spend less than you make.
We should be getting a bunch of amens right there.
Because as Christians, if we've been wise with our money and there's no excuse why we're not, then we should be spending less than we make in Jesus' name.
Jesus' name.
We shouldn't overindulge in anything.
There should be a balance to our life.
And so the Bible literally teaches us how to live well.
Not perfectly, but better than those who don't have the word, healthier and more satisfying relationships, better decisions, more stability in the in the long run in our lives. even better physical health.
I said it in the introduction.
I said that that there's more single households than there are married households today.
Do you know why that is Because for the last 75 years, America has been told that marriage is worthless.
For the last 75 years, we've been taught That we need to get our career first.
We need to get our education first.
We need to do all of these things.
And and so the average age From 70 in 1975, the average age was 22 when people were getting married.
Now it's 30.
People are putting it off.
People are not even able to have children now because they're putting their marriages off for such a long period of time.
Because the fertile years oftentimes are those younger years.
Did you know this?
So they just came up with a medical study that said if you are in a long-term marital relationship, your chances of getting cancer go down.
Significantly. 85 to 90 percent.
That's incredible to me.
Now now listen, I know you know married people who've had cancer, who've died of cancer, you might have had cancer, and you were married for 30 or 40. 40 or 50 years and all of that.
But the statistics point to the fact that what God originally created is still the best.
Who can say amen?
Alright, so marriage is good.
It's not bad.
It's not dumb.
It's not an outdated institution.
It is still from the Lord.
Who can say amen?
Now, on the other hand, if you're single and you've been unable to find someone to marry, you are just as much a part of the body of Christ.
Please understand that sin is what keeps that original plan from Genesis from happening.
Not because there's something wrong with you.
Not because there's some failing in your personhood, it's because maybe the devil doesn't want you or God has another plan.
And God's plans are always say always they're always good.
Who can say amen?
So the Bible teaches us how to live right also.
He teaches us about justice and integrity and truth And wisdom isn't just knowing the right thing, it is doing the right thing even when it's difficult.
And so it's important if wisdom builds the house, what is the opposite of wisdom?
Foolishness.
That's right.
Foolishness.
Acting dumb Some of the words I can't use, okay?
Because they're they're not politically correct or or whatever it is.
But did you know fool was a like a curse word back in the Old Testament?
It was one of the worst things you could say of another human being calling them a fool.
And yet in the book of Proverbs, it says this.
Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child.
In other words, our default setting for humanity is foolishness.
And unless we get God's wisdom, we will approach everything in life like a fool.
We will make a mistake again and again and again Here's the reality.
You don't have to teach a child to be selfish.
They just know.
You don't have to teach a child to have an attitude.
That is a system that's built into them at birth.
They're born with attitudes.
Three of my four had really bad attitudes.
I won't say which one of you had a good one, alright?
You'll have to fight that out at home somewhere.
Okay, but we start off foolish if we want to get Get smart.
We have to reach towards God.
We have to find God.
This is one of the reasons why we have children's ministries here.
Did you know this?
We have a children's pastor, a youth pastor.
We have vehicles that go and pick up kids on Wednesday nights and Sunday mornings.
We have bus ministries.
We have walk ministry.
The reason we do that is we want children to be walking.
Wise.
So here's my question.
Are children wise today?
Is it their fault?
No, it's their parents' fault.
It's the church's fault.
I'm just letting you know.
It's it's dumb things that cause dumb outcomes.
It's foolish decisions that cause children to behave in a foolish manner.
I'm here to tell you, there is nothing dumber than saying you can't place a hand on a child in a public Environment.
I know the laws.
I know suing.
But the Bible says there's only one way to drive out foolishness, and it is with something called a suing Spanking.
Uh oh, Pastor Tom.
Oh, wow.
When I went to school, they spanked me at school.
And guess what?
When I got home, I got another spanking.
Forgetting a spanking.
But do you know what that did to me?
It caused me not to want getting in any more trouble.
There's an African proverb, fear of jail is the beginning of wisdom.
Fear of a spanking is the beginning of a child's wisdom.
I'm just letting you know I'm not talking about hitting someone in anger.
I'm not talking about going overboard.
I'm talking about just the threat alone establishes Your authority.
And when a little two and three and four-year-old understands authority, the first time they walk into school, they will be submissive and they won't be prideful and arrogant.
We're going the wrong direction.
We're doing the wrong thing.
I want wise children, not foolish children.
Because foolishness, listen to me, foolishness destroys the house.
Wisdom builds the house, foolishness destroys the house.
And here is the dumbest thing I've ever heard in my life.
Follow your heart.
If you ever hear somebody say that, you need to you need to make sure they know that's the dumbest thing in the world.
You don't want to fool the heart, follow the heart.
You know what the Bible says?
That the heart is deceptively wicked above all things.
Why would you want to follow something wicked?
Again, we go back to Proverbs in chapter 28, verse 26.
It says, he who trusts his own heart is a fool.
But who walks wisely will be delivered.
Do you get what this verse is saying?
Wisdom is often the exact opposite of our natural inclinations because we are born with foolish and sinful hearts that need to be changed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
And that takes the word.
Let me give you five different ideas here of how the world that we live in today is so different from what the Bible teaches.
Simple things that you've might have heard before, but you still probably battle with because culture doesn't believe any of this.
Number one, fools focus on happiness, the wise focus on character.
Did you hear me?
Do not focus on happiness.
Happiness is not the ultimate Character is far more important.
You might be saying, Pastor, are you saying happiness isn't good?
No.
I love happiness.
There's nothing wrong with happiness.
It just cannot be your goal.
When happiness is the goal for your children, listen, major character flaws will develop Which will result in major behavioral issues.
Are there any behavioral issues in school today?
Yeah.
Oh yeah.
I mean, we have elementaries with full-time police officers.
Are are are you getting this?
That's not what it used to be like.
That's not normal.
Elementary students shouldn't be fighting to such a degree that a police officer needs to be there.
Parents shouldn't be coming in taking their children's side.
Are you listening to me?
Teachers and parents should have the same goal.
Churches and And parents should have the same goal.
It is developing our children who can say amen.
So listen, hard work will be rejected in favor of the easy path if happiness is the goal.
Your children will become selfish, spoiled, and overindulged.
And one day at at the age of 25 or 27 or 28, they'll quit a really good, well-paying job because the boss was too mean.
Because they didn't have any fun at work.
Well hear me.
Work's not supposed to be fun.
Okay?
That's why it's called work.
Fun is vacation.
Fun is home time.
Work is supposed to be work.
It takes hard work, patience, self-discipline, all of these things.
Who can say amen?
But ironically, the Bible teaches that happiness is oftentimes a byproduct of living a life of wisdom.
I mean, I've had so much happiness in my life because I have four well-adjusted, wonderful Christian children. who are married to wonderful Christian spouses and they're having wonderful Christian grandchildren for us and we're on number 10 now.
Who can say amen to that?
I've got ten grandchildren, and of course some of them are too young to have made a decision for Jesus Christ, but they're all heading that direction because we prioritize wisdom over happiness.
Who can say amen?
Number two, fools focus on the present, the wise focus on the future.
So, just because you're a Christian doesn't mean you're wise all the time, just so you know.
As a matter of fact, we're not wise enough I remember I was 25 years old, married.
We already had our first child on the way, and I arrived.
I got a MasterCard gold card.
Oh, you guys don't understand, especially if you're under 40 or 50.
Because all there was was the normal card and the gold card back then.
No black, no platinum, no emerald.
It was just you're a Normal nobody or you're a gold card holder.
And I became a gold cardholder at 25.
I'd arrived.
Robin and I were living in the San Francisco Bay Area.
We had just bought a condominium and so we were furnishing it on the gold card.
We were going out to eat on the gold card.
We were going on vacation cruises on the gold card.
And before you know it, my 5,000 limit had been reached.
Now you think 5,000 is not a big deal.
That's like about 10 or 15,000 today.
It was a lot more money back then.
And all of a sudden I got the credit card statement in the mail, and I realized I couldn't use it any longer, and the minimum payment was $40. 39 of it was interest.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out the math.
If I'm paying one dollar of principal every month, it will only take me five thousand months.
To pay off this gold card.
All of a sudden I realized I'd been tricked.
I'd been deceived into believing that the Present moment was more important than my future.
What I didn't realize was one month of fun cost me four years of bondage.
Four years.
Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about.
You're barely struggling to make payments, or maybe you've quit trying to make payments.
Let me tell you, you didn't miss it by just this much.
We missed it by this much.
Because the Bible teaches that this is not the way to spend your money.
Number three, fools focus on what feels good.
The wise focus on consequences.
There's never been a sin that advertises the cost, just so you know.
The sin never tells you what the price tag is going to be.
Sin only talks about the pleasure, and it advertises it with neon lights.
This is going to be awesome.
This is going to be great.
The party lifestyle sounds fun, but it can lead to mistakes, accidents, and addictions.
Listen, TV makes affairs and jumping into bed before you're married look like run-of-the-mill and the most exciting fun thing in the world.
But Every time, even in the movies, it leads to broken trust, it leads to pain, it leads to divorce, it leads to STDs and who knows all the other stuff.
We got people and especially women ladies you're you're more guilty of this of dating unbelievers thinking you're going to get them saved Listen to me, listen to me.
Did you know they're trying to convert you just as much as you're trying to convert them?
It's a dangerous situation to put yourself in.
And you might say, Pastor, you don't know him.
Pastor, you don't know her.
It feels so right.
Listen, your feelings are real, but they might not be.
What God wants for you.
The question wisdom asks is where is this going to lead me?
Number four, focus.
Fools focus on shortcuts, the wives focus on discipline.
You know, I'm gonna skip that one.
No, oh Robin wants me to tell this one only because it makes me look silly.
Alright, I'll shorten it up.
Alright.
S likes this one.
So you know I'm a big basketball fan.
So when our kids were small, I had a piece of concrete poured out in our backyard.
We had a big backyard in Las Vegas, and I wanted to put a basketball hoop out there.
And so uh we we ordered, got it at Walmart or something like that, and it was in a big box, and we pulled out the box and I took the instructions and just threw the instructions away Why?
Because I'm a man.
I don't need instructions, alright?
And so I started putting this thing together, and uh they made a mistake They didn't give me a pole that had holes in for the screws.
And so I called them up and I said, You guys sent me the wrong pole.
And they go, Are you sure?
Did you read the instructions?
I said, no.
They said, well, check your poll.
Did you put A into the B slot?
And I had not done that.
I had put C into the B slot, and because of that, the openings were in C.
I said, well then help me get this apart.
And they said, you can't get it to apart you have to buy a whole new unit.
That's what shortcuts get you.
They feel faster, but they often lead to dead ends.
I guess I missed it by that much.
Or a little bit more.
Fools follow emotions, the wise follow truth.
Again, I already said this feelings are true, but they're just not always A true manifestation of what God wants you to see.
Proverbs chapter 16, verse 25 says this.
There's a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.
We get gotta be careful about that.
So here's the question: if foolishness is our default and it's quietly tearing things down in our homes and in our lives, where do we actually get wisdom?
Who knows the answer?
From God.
That's right.
God is the provider of wisdom.
He's the source.
Proverbs 2. 6, for the Lord gives wisdom.
James chapter 1.
If anyone lacks wisdom, ask of God, and God will give generously.
He won't hold back.
He will give you exactly what you need for what you need in the moment you need it.
He is faithful.
Oh every single time.
And and here's what's amazing.
If God really made the family, and it's his idea And God is omnipresent.
That means He's been everywhere throughout the history of the universe.
At the same time, He's watched every human interaction that has ever occurred.
Do you think he might know what works and what doesn't work?
Yes, he is the expert, so we have to seek his wisdom.
Proverbs chapter 4 says, guilt wisdom, even if it costs you everything.
And it might cost you everything.
But here's the problem.
Many of us in this room already know what the Bible says.
The problem's not in knowing what the Bible says.
It's in doing what the Bible says.
Are we actually listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit?
I'm thinking of submitting to God and So you know the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
And a lot of people freak out at that.
They think, oh, I I I don't get that.
I don't want to be afraid of my God.
Isn't God a God of love?
Doesn't He love me?
And all that's true.
But I saw an analogy one time and I'm going to use it here.
If you're in the construction trade, what is the most important quality in becoming a good electrician?
And here's the answer, a healthy fear.
Because electricity is not a toy Electricity is a power that we cooperate with to get a good result.
If we don't cooperate, we get fried.
God is a power that we can cooperate with.
We can follow his rules.
We can follow his word.
We can follow his instructions.
And we do that by submitting to it.
That's how we get smart.
It's not enough to know God's word.
You also have to live it.
Partial obedience is still disobedience.
I'm just letting you know.
So there's a a dad, he uh he was at work one day and they they were going around uh collecting a dollar for a raffle and he decided that he was gonna pitch in, so he he gave a dollar and And he won the raffle.
It was a hundred dollar gift card.
Uh and he was so excited.
But the gift card was to toys.
I don't think they have those anymore, but that's where this gift card went to.
So so he didn't want any toys, so so he went home and gathered his five children.
I said I'm gonna ask you a couple of questions and depending upon how you answer them we'll determine who gets this hundred dollar gift card from Toys or Us.
So the kids were all excited because they they wanted to buy some toys and and go to the store and and so the first question was was simply this.
He said, who is the most obedient in this room?
And they all raised their hand, all five of them.
They also they were the most obedient.
And he said, Okay, let me let me ask you another question.
Who never talks back to their mother?
All the hands went down And then he asked one more question.
He says, who does everything she says?
And the oldest child spoke up and said, okay, Dad, you get to keep the gift card.
Listen, I wish there were more dads who were that obedient to God.
I wish there were more dads who put God's word first.
Ahead of ahead of.
Listen, listen, listen.
Sometimes it's easier for a dad to work two jobs.
Than to explain to his child why he can't buy them something.
That's wisdom.
It's wisdom to be able to discern that And say, I'm gonna spend time with my kids, even if I can't buy them everything they want, because giving them everything they want isn't the smartest thing in the world.
Who can say amen?
And if we do stuff like that, we will actually begin to grow in wisdom.
We grow through the word, we grow through prayer, we grow through through just observation, and sometimes we we we see what the word says and and we watch it and we see it.
In other people's families, and it's like, yeah, that that makes sense.
Sometimes experience will be a great teacher, and we can learn through experience, but but God's desire is for everyone to grow in wisdom who can say amen.
And fourth and finally, wisdom produces a much, much better life.
As we begin to wrap this thing up, I just want to ask you a simple question.
What kind of home do you want?
And remember, when I say home, I'm not talking about husband, wife with children.
I'm talking about your home.
Whether you're single, whether you're divorced, whether you're married, whether you're an empty nester, it doesn't matter.
What kind of home do you want?
When I look at this scripture, it says that there will be precious and pleasant rewards in every room.
And so when I look at that, I see all kinds of things.
If you don't have kids right now, that's referring to peace instead of chaos.
That's referring to to joy instead of tension.
It's referring to fulfillment instead of happiness If you do have kids or or grandchildren right now, let me tell you a story.
There's a a Catholic woman and and she couldn't bear a child.
Her and her husband had been trying for a number of years and And so they went to their priest and and said, Is is there a way you can pray for me so I can have a kid?
And the priest said, Well, I will pray for you, but I'm actually going on assignment to Rome for for the next ten years And uh when I get to the Vatican, I will light a candle on behalf of your request.
And so, ten years later, the priest comes on back, he's assigned to the same parish, and uh He sees the woman in church and she has eight rowdy children.
He goes on over to her and he says, Wow, that really worked.
And she he said, Where's your husband?
And he said, or the wife said, He went back to Rome to blow the candle out.
But listen, there are families who can't have children who desperately desire them.
And I would consider that a storm in life.
Something really, really difficult.
And and sometimes I think being a part of a church makes it even harder.
And the reason I say that is because in a church, you know, everyone's supposed to get married and everyone's supposed to have kids and all of those kinds of things.
And so sometimes the anguish and the pain that is experienced is Is deeper for them than people who don't even go to church.
And so I just want to talk to those couples right now and really to everybody because Jesus Ens is most famous servant, sermon with a construction story.
He talks about two builders One who built his house on sand, and one who built his house on the rock And the rock in this particular story are the words of Jesus.
Exactly what we've been talking about all day long today.
That God's word is the key to wisdom in life.
And what I find really interesting is the exact words are used in both stories.
In other words, the wind came, the rains came, the floods raised up.
It uses this terminology, the wind beat upon the house.
And sometimes when you're in the middle of a storm, it feels like you're getting Beaten on.
It feels like life isn't fair.
It feels like God isn't even there and and He might not even care.
But the scripture reminds us That house built on the rock did not fall.
It remained stable.
It remained strong.
And whether you're tired of going through whatever it is you're going through.
Maybe you're you're done with the drama.
It's okay.
We weren't created for drama on a regular basis.
We were created for those precious promises, those pleasant rewards that this scripture talks about.
We're not going to get them all on this planet, just so you know.
But C.
S.
Lewis says something beautiful and wonderful He says every ache, every pain, every misjustice, every evil ever done against you will literally be reversed in heaven.
You don't just get to go to heaven, you get total and complete restoration in heaven So whether God answers all of our prayers the way we want them to be answered isn't even the right question to be asking.
It's just, are we standing on the word?
Are we trusting in his stability, in his security?
Would you stand with me, please?
As we close today, I just want you to think about what kind of house are you building?
And are you building on the sand?
Or are you building on the rock?
Heavenly Father, we come to you in the precious name of Jesus Christ, the beautiful name that is above every other name.
I pray, Father God, that as we listen to this message today that there will be no one here that will ever have to say I missed it by just that much.
I hope Father God that that we will receive and live in In the wisdom of God for the remaining days that we have, whether it's one or one thousand or fifty thousand, Father God, I pray that you would be with us, you'd walk with us and allow.
Allow us to walk according to that spiritual wise way rather than according to the flesh, Father God, that will always lead us astray.
Father God, for the brokenness that has already taken place in our lives, I pray.
That you'd begin to bring healing.
I pray, Father God, that in this moment, as we commit to your word and your wisdom, Father God, that you'd begin to reveal things to us that would allow us to restore relationships, even bring health to our finest.
Answers, Father God, maybe even to our physical bodies, that you begin to do miracles.
Father God, the Bible says we reap what we sow, but once in a while you supersede that spiritual and and natural principle and you Do a miracle on behalf of those who love you.
So I pray, Father God, for healings today.
I pray, Father God, for restoration today.
I pray for prodigals to come home today in the mighty name of Jesus Christ.
And I pray for there to be. true joy and happiness and celebration, not because we pursued it, but because we pursued you.
I pray this today in Jesus' holy and precious name.
And together everybody says.
Amen.
Would you sing with the praise and worship team as the prayer partners come forward to pray?
Blog Post
The Foundation of a Strong Home
Building a strong home doesn't happen by accident. Whether you're married with children, single, divorced, or an empty nester, you're constructing something meaningful with your life. The ancient wisdom found in Proverbs 24:3-4 reveals a powerful truth: "Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established. By knowledge, the rooms are filled with precious and pleasant riches." This isn't just about physical structures but about households, families, and the very fabric of our daily lives.
Understanding True Wisdom
Wisdom isn't simply knowledge accumulated over time or advice from someone with a gray beard. The Hebrew words for wisdom, understanding, and knowledge all share a secondary definition: practical skill. This is the skill of a craftsman, the precision of a surgeon, the expertise that comes from training and experience. Wisdom for our purposes is nothing more than skill for daily living. It teaches us how to navigate relationships, manage finances, communicate effectively, and exercise self-discipline.
The Default Setting of Foolishness
Our natural inclination leans toward foolishness. Children don't need to be taught selfishness or bad attitudes—these come naturally. As Proverbs says, "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child." Unless we actively pursue God's wisdom, we'll approach life like fools, making the same mistakes repeatedly. The culture around us encourages us to follow our hearts, but Scripture warns that "the heart is deceitfully wicked above all things." Trusting our own hearts without God's guidance is a path to destruction.
Five Ways Wisdom Differs from Worldly Thinking
First, fools focus on happiness while the wise focus on character. Happiness isn't wrong, but it cannot be our ultimate goal. When parents prioritize their children's happiness above character development, they create selfish, spoiled individuals who lack the resilience needed for real life. Ironically, happiness often becomes a natural byproduct of living wisely.
Second, fools focus on the present while the wise focus on the future. The temptation to live for today's pleasure without considering tomorrow's consequences leads to bondage. Credit card debt, impulsive decisions, and instant gratification all promise immediate satisfaction but deliver long-term pain. One month of fun can cost years of struggle.
Third, fools focus on what feels good while the wise focus on consequences. Sin never advertises its true cost. It only highlights the pleasure with neon lights. The party lifestyle, premarital relationships, and dating unbelievers might seem exciting in the moment, but wisdom asks the crucial question: where is this going to lead me?
Fourth, fools focus on shortcuts while the wise focus on discipline. Shortcuts feel faster but often lead to dead ends or require starting over completely. The disciplined path might seem longer, but it actually gets you where you need to go.
Fifth, fools follow emotions while the wise follow truth. Feelings are real, but they're not always a true manifestation of what God wants. There's a way that seems right, but in the end it leads to death.
The Source of All Wisdom
If foolishness is our default setting, where do we find wisdom? God is the source. Proverbs 2:6 declares, "For the Lord gives wisdom." James 1 promises that if anyone lacks wisdom, they can ask God, who gives generously without holding back. God has watched every human interaction throughout history. He knows what works and what doesn't. He is the ultimate expert on building strong homes and meaningful lives.
The Fear of the Lord
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. This doesn't mean being terrified of God but having a healthy reverence for His power and authority. Like an electrician who respects electricity, we must respect God's ways. Electricity isn't a toy—it's a power we cooperate with to get good results. If we don't cooperate, we get hurt. Similarly, God is a power we can cooperate with by following His instructions and submitting to His Word.
Knowledge Isn't Enough
Many people already know what the Bible says. The problem isn't knowledge—it's obedience. Partial obedience is still disobedience. We must not only hear God's Word but actually live it. This requires listening to the Holy Spirit's voice and submitting to God's direction even when it's difficult or countercultural.
Growing in Wisdom
Wisdom grows through the Word, through prayer, through observation, and sometimes through experience. We can watch other families and see biblical principles at work. Experience can be a great teacher, though God's desire is for everyone to grow in wisdom through His revealed truth rather than learning everything the hard way.
Building on the Rock
Jesus ended His most famous sermon with a construction story about two builders. One built his house on sand, the other on rock. The rock represents the words of Jesus—God's Word as the foundation for life. Both houses faced the same storms: wind, rain, and floods beat upon both structures. The difference wasn't in the absence of difficulty but in the stability of the foundation. The house built on the rock did not fall.
The Promise of Restoration
Life isn't always fair. Sometimes we experience storms that feel like we're getting beaten down, moments when God seems absent or uncaring. But the promise remains: those who build on God's Word will stand firm. We weren't created for constant drama but for the precious promises and pleasant rewards Scripture describes. While we won't receive all of these on earth, every ache, every pain, every injustice, and every evil will be reversed in heaven. We don't just get to go to heaven—we get total and complete restoration.
What Kind of Home Are You Building?
The question isn't whether you'll face storms but whether you're building on sand or rock. Are you pursuing worldly wisdom or God's wisdom? Are you making decisions based on what feels good or what's truly right? Are you focused on temporary happiness or eternal character? The choice to build with wisdom rather than foolishness will determine not just the quality of your home but the legacy you leave behind.
