Sunday Sermon: "Listening to Wisdom"

I'm preaching this morning at College Wesleyan. Here is some of my outline:

Text: Matthew 11:16-19, 25-30

Introduction

• When cars run from the police and children irritate pets--you know how its going to end...
• Jesus as God's wisdom for His people--why didn't they listen?
• Listening to wisdom of all kinds always is better in the end (that's why it's called wisdom), but it isn't necessarily easy.

1. Seed on the Path

• Spiritual thickheads
• Deeply thankful to live in US... Our good lives also are prone to thickheadedness.
• Religious leaders of ancient Israel were spiritual thickheads (Sadducees, Pharisees)
• A thickhead will come up with any excuse when they don't want to listen to wisdom.
• The human animal often doesn't want to hear the truth about itself (projection, rationalization)
• ... or about the world (politics and religion)
• submitting to truth beyond ourselves is akin to submitting to God
• What to do with a thickhead? Admit that you are one. Love them.

2. Seed on the Rocks

• Delayed thickness
• Agrees with wisdom as long as it is convenient and easy. Turns away from truth when it becomes inconvenient or difficult.

3. Seed among Weeds

• We don't pick the weeds, but they come.
• Sometimes hard even to know what wisdom is.
• Do your best to get away from weeds.
• Ultimately we need the help of God and others to whom He has given weed eaters.

4. Good Soil

• Pray, because we do not have ultimate control over where our seed lands.
• Put down roots.
• Get away from weeds.
• Get out your weed eater for others.