The Fourth Week of September

Printable Guide

We Read…

Our passages for this week talk a lot about wisdom and righteousness. James 3 says that when we have wisdom, our actions will be good. Psalm 1 shows that when we follow and love God (and God’s instruction) we will be like a tree that is filled with life, one that can weather any storm. And Proverbs 31 reminds us that following God will lead to a life that reflects God’s goodness, care, and love.

It seems like our authors are trying to tell us that what’s in our hearts matters, and what’s in our hearts will overflow into our lives. It’s important to remember that our good works don’t save us; nothing can save us outside of God. But when we center our lives hearts on becoming more like God, our lives WILL reflect what’s inside. When we seek out God’s wisdom and guidance, spend more time with God, and learn more about what is righteous and desire to live in those ways, the way we act will be different than how we acted before.

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 A capable wife who can find? 

She is far more precious than jewels. 

11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, 

and he will have no lack of gain. 

12 She does him good, and not harm, 

all the days of her life. 

13 She seeks wool and flax, 

and works with willing hands. 

14 She is like the ships of the merchant, 

she brings her food from far away. 

15 She rises while it is still night 

and provides food for her household 

and tasks for her servant-girls. 

16 She considers a field and buys it; 

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. 

17 She girds herself with strength, 

and makes her arms strong. 

18 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. 

Her lamp does not go out at night. 

19 She puts her hands to the distaff, 

and her hands hold the spindle. 

20 She opens her hand to the poor, 

and reaches out her hands to the needy. 

21 She is not afraid for her household when it snows, 

for all her household are clothed in crimson. 

22 She makes herself coverings; 

her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

23 Her husband is known in the city gates, 

taking his seat among the elders of the land. 

24 She makes linen garments and sells them; 

she supplies the merchant with sashes. 

25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, 

and she laughs at the time to come. 

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, 

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. 

27 She looks well to the ways of her household, 

and does not eat the bread of idleness. 

28 Her children rise up and call her happy; 

her husband too, and he praises her: 

29 “Many women have done excellently, 

but you surpass them all.” 

30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, 

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. 

31 Give her a share in the fruit of her hands, 

and let her works praise her in the city gates. 

Psalm 1

1 Happy are those 

who do not follow the advice of the wicked, 

or take the path that sinners tread, 

or sit in the seat of scoffers; 

2 but their delight is in the law of the Lord, 

and on his law they meditate day and night. 

3 They are like trees 

planted by streams of water, 

which yield their fruit in its season, 

and their leaves do not wither. 

In all that they do, they prosper. 

4 The wicked are not so, 

but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 

5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, 

nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 

6 for the Lord watches over the way of the righteous, 

but the way of the wicked will perish. 

James 3:13-4:3, 7-8a

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 15 Such wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 16 For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace. 

3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, in order to spend what you get on your pleasures. 4 Adulterers! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you suppose that it is for nothing that the scripture says, “God yearns jealously for the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives all the more grace; therefore it says, 

“God opposes the proud, 

but gives grace to the humble.” 

7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. 

Mark 9:30-37

30 They went on from there and passed through Galilee. He did not want anyone to know it; 31 for he was teaching his disciples, saying to them, “The Son of Man is to be betrayed into human hands, and they will kill him, and three days after being killed, he will rise again.” 32 But they did not understand what he was saying and were afraid to ask him. 

33 Then they came to Capernaum; and when he was in the house he asked them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” 34 But they were silent, for on the way they had argued with one another who was the greatest. 35 He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.” 36 Then he took a little child and put it among them; and taking it in his arms, he said to them, 37 “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me.” 

We Think…

• What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?

• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or in the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind?

• Why do you think wisdom and righteousness are connected to people’s actions so many times in the Bible?

• What is the difference between trees planted by water and dust being blown away (Psalm 1)?

We Feel…

• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?

• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe it is something in creation, a friend or adult that cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart? 

• When have you experienced someone using their words to build you up?

• When have you experienced someone using them to bring harm?

We Believe…

Proverbs 31 is a popular passage used to describe women. Some have made it into a list of things that a “good” woman should be, a way to measure women and call it biblical. However, when we look at the passage as a whole and in its context, we realize that the author isn’t trying to make a to-do list for women or create a standard that lists everything a woman should be (and excludes anything else she might want to do). Instead, it comes from a place of praise and adoration! The author is praising this woman in their life. It wasn’t meant to limit women. Instead, it was meant to show how amazing and capable this woman is. It should be an encouragement, a piece of scripture that shows how even the behind-the-scenes work is seen and valued. We believe that women and men have both been created in the image of God; both are equal and capable of leading, submitting, and working together. When Proverbs 31 is taken out of context to limit women, we aren’t reading the text faithfully or in line with our tradition. 

We Practice…

Jesus reminds us that our lives should not be centered on being at the top or holding the most power. Instead, we should humble ourselves and be “least of all.” 

What is one way that you can intentionally humble yourself this week? How can you serve someone else? Maybe this looks like taking time to talk to your neighbors who are younger than you and need a friend; maybe this means staying after church to help clean up the sanctuary; maybe this means sitting with someone new at lunch. 

Pick a way that you can serve someone or think of someone before yourself, write it down, and then actually do it.