The Wisdom of Authority

Christ Restoration Church Sermons

selected passages from the Proverbs
October 27, 2024
preached by Pastor Doug Cooper
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Time of Reflection Quotations

“The modern world detests authority but worships relevance. Our Christian conviction is that the Bible has both authority and relevance, and that the secret of both is Jesus Christ.”

~ John Stott (1921-2011), English minister, theologian and author

“The deepest problems of modern life derive from the claim of the individual to preserve the autonomy and individuality of his existence.”

~ Georg Simmel (1858-1918), German sociologist and philosopher

“Is authority to be placed in human wisdom or cultural experience, or is it to be located in an incommensurable divine revelation that intrudes into our world from the beyond? Does it lie within the compass of what we can ordinarily discover or conceive, or does it break into our world as a new reality that overturns human imagination and conception? Is it a truth waiting to be uncovered through diligent searching, or is it a word personally addressed to us, calling us to repentance and obedience?”

~ Donald Bloesch (1928-2010), American pastor, theologian, writer

“Beware of placing even the smallest drop of your confidence on anything apart from the Gospel.”

~ John Calvin (1509-1564), French theologian, pastor and author

“Hope for the Christian isn’t just confidence in a certain, glorious future. It’s hope in a present providence. It’s hope that God’s plans can’t be thwarted by local authorities or irate mobs, by unfriendly bosses or unbelieving husbands, by Supreme Court rulings or the next election. The Christian hope is that God’s purposes are so unassailable that a great thunderstorm of events can’t drive them off course. Even when we’re wave-tossed and lost at sea, Jesus remains the captain of the ship and the commander of the storm.”

~ Elliot Clark, contemporary missionary and church planting

“As things are brought back under Christ’s rule and authority, they are restored to health, beauty, and freedom.”

~ Timothy Keller (1950-2023), American minister, theologian, writer

Sermon Passage

selected passages from the Proverbs (ESV)

Proverbs 9

⁷ Whoever corrects a scoffer gets himself abuse, and he who reproves a wicked man incurs injury. ⁸ Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you; reprove a wise man, and he will love you. ⁹ Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a righteous man, and he will increase in learning. ¹⁰ The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. ¹¹ For by me your days will be multiplied, and years will be added to your life. 1² If you are wise, you are wise for yourself; if you scoff, you alone will bear it.

Proverbs 23

²² Listen to your father who gave you life, and do not despise your mother when she is old. ²³ Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding. ²⁴ The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. ²⁵ Let your father and mother be glad; let her who bore you rejoice. ²⁶ My son, give me your heart, and let your eyes observe my ways.

Proverbs 24

²¹ My son, fear the LORD and the king, and do not join with those who do otherwise, ²² for disaster will arise suddenly from them, and who knows the ruin that will come from them both?

Proverbs 29

¹ He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing. ² When the righteous increase, the people rejoice, but when the wicked rule, the people groan. ³ He who loves wisdom makes his father glad, but a companion of prostitutes squanders his wealth. ⁴ By justice a king builds up the land, but he who exacts gifts tears it down.