Additional Thoughts on the Wisdom & Insight Sermon
Blessed, Week Seven, February 15th
We ran out of time. I really enjoyed the presence of God during worship and the ministry that came out of it, but let me finish the thought. -Tres
Ephesians 1:7–8.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”
Paul says God lavished grace on us with wisdom and insight. That means redemption is not just about getting forgiven and waiting on heaven. It means God is teaching us how to see the world correctly. A biblical worldview is not a church hobby. It is how you wake up, think, decide, parent, work, minister, and worship.
Here is the story we live in.
Creation.
God created everything. We did not create ourselves. We did not invent meaning. We did not wake up one day and decide family, work, marriage, church, and purpose would be good ideas. God did. So we reject the lie of secular humanism that says we are our own gods, free to invent truth and purpose. We embrace that our lives are not random. Your body, your family, your city, your job, your gifts are not accidents. They are entrusted realities from a Creator.
The Fall.
We also recognize something is wrong. God made everything good, but humanity chose to be its own god. That impulse still lives in us. Every day we feel it. We want control. We want approval. We want to define good and evil for ourselves. That battle is not solved by trying harder. It is only solved through Jesus and His work on the cross. Redemption is not self-improvement. It is surrender. Christ is restoring us from the inside out.
Restoration.
Jesus defeated sin and death. But until He returns, evil is still present. The story is not over. And God is not asking us to sit on the sidelines. He invites His church into the restoration process. We do not retreat. We participate. We pray, serve, build, reconcile, disciple, and live in such a way that the world begins to look more like His kingdom.
Now here is where this gets practical.
Your inner life.
If God created you and redeemed you, then you are not fighting for acceptance. You are already accepted in Christ. The world says perform, and maybe you will belong. The gospel says you belong, now live like it. So when you feel the need to impress peers, win every argument online, or curate your image, you recognize that as the old story creeping back in. The daily fight is not against people. It is against your flesh. You ask the Spirit to increase as your ego decreases.
Your home.
Your spouse, your kids, your grandkids are not random attachments. They are entrusted by the Creator. You are not just raising kids to survive school and get jobs. You are helping them enter into God’s story. You model repentance. You teach them Scripture. You show them how to forgive. You show them how to work hard. Your home becomes a training ground for the next generation of image bearers.
Your work.
Work is not just a paycheck. It is stewardship. The world says chase status, profit, and platform. The biblical story says steward relationships and reflect Christ. You still work hard. You still pursue excellence. But you ask different questions. Am I doing this unto the Lord or just for money? Am I cutting corners? Am I treating customers and coworkers as image bearers? Your job becomes a place of ministry, whether you are in an office, on a job site, in a classroom, or at home.
Your church life.
Every member is a minister. That is not a slogan. It is biblical reality. God does not only work through pastors. He works through His people. You are gifted. You are called. You are placed in this body for a reason. Wisdom and insight mean you do not consume church. You participate. You pray. You serve. You disciple. You encourage. You build.
Your city and the nations.
God cares about Morris, Kimberly, Warrior, Gardendale, and beyond. He cares about Alabama. He cares about the nations. The story of Scripture is not private spirituality. It is cosmic restoration. He invites us to pray for leaders, to seek justice, to love our neighbors, to act with integrity, and to reflect Christ in public life. Not as culture warriors obsessed with power, but as redeemed people who know the true King.
This is what wisdom and insight look like.
You stop seeing your life as random pieces. You start seeing it as one unified story under the lordship of Jesus. Creation. Fall. Redemption. Restoration.
That story has changed how I respond to criticism, how I raise my kids, how I work, how I handle conflict, and how I pray. It keeps me from panic when culture shifts. It keeps me from pride when things go well. It reminds me that I am not the hero. Jesus is.
Grace was lavished on you. Not just to forgive you, but to teach you how to see.
Ephesians 1:7–8.
“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight.”
Paul says God lavished grace on us with wisdom and insight. That means redemption is not just about getting forgiven and waiting on heaven. It means God is teaching us how to see the world correctly. A biblical worldview is not a church hobby. It is how you wake up, think, decide, parent, work, minister, and worship.
Here is the story we live in.
Creation.
God created everything. We did not create ourselves. We did not invent meaning. We did not wake up one day and decide family, work, marriage, church, and purpose would be good ideas. God did. So we reject the lie of secular humanism that says we are our own gods, free to invent truth and purpose. We embrace that our lives are not random. Your body, your family, your city, your job, your gifts are not accidents. They are entrusted realities from a Creator.
The Fall.
We also recognize something is wrong. God made everything good, but humanity chose to be its own god. That impulse still lives in us. Every day we feel it. We want control. We want approval. We want to define good and evil for ourselves. That battle is not solved by trying harder. It is only solved through Jesus and His work on the cross. Redemption is not self-improvement. It is surrender. Christ is restoring us from the inside out.
Restoration.
Jesus defeated sin and death. But until He returns, evil is still present. The story is not over. And God is not asking us to sit on the sidelines. He invites His church into the restoration process. We do not retreat. We participate. We pray, serve, build, reconcile, disciple, and live in such a way that the world begins to look more like His kingdom.
Now here is where this gets practical.
Your inner life.
If God created you and redeemed you, then you are not fighting for acceptance. You are already accepted in Christ. The world says perform, and maybe you will belong. The gospel says you belong, now live like it. So when you feel the need to impress peers, win every argument online, or curate your image, you recognize that as the old story creeping back in. The daily fight is not against people. It is against your flesh. You ask the Spirit to increase as your ego decreases.
Your home.
Your spouse, your kids, your grandkids are not random attachments. They are entrusted by the Creator. You are not just raising kids to survive school and get jobs. You are helping them enter into God’s story. You model repentance. You teach them Scripture. You show them how to forgive. You show them how to work hard. Your home becomes a training ground for the next generation of image bearers.
Your work.
Work is not just a paycheck. It is stewardship. The world says chase status, profit, and platform. The biblical story says steward relationships and reflect Christ. You still work hard. You still pursue excellence. But you ask different questions. Am I doing this unto the Lord or just for money? Am I cutting corners? Am I treating customers and coworkers as image bearers? Your job becomes a place of ministry, whether you are in an office, on a job site, in a classroom, or at home.
Your church life.
Every member is a minister. That is not a slogan. It is biblical reality. God does not only work through pastors. He works through His people. You are gifted. You are called. You are placed in this body for a reason. Wisdom and insight mean you do not consume church. You participate. You pray. You serve. You disciple. You encourage. You build.
Your city and the nations.
God cares about Morris, Kimberly, Warrior, Gardendale, and beyond. He cares about Alabama. He cares about the nations. The story of Scripture is not private spirituality. It is cosmic restoration. He invites us to pray for leaders, to seek justice, to love our neighbors, to act with integrity, and to reflect Christ in public life. Not as culture warriors obsessed with power, but as redeemed people who know the true King.
This is what wisdom and insight look like.
You stop seeing your life as random pieces. You start seeing it as one unified story under the lordship of Jesus. Creation. Fall. Redemption. Restoration.
That story has changed how I respond to criticism, how I raise my kids, how I work, how I handle conflict, and how I pray. It keeps me from panic when culture shifts. It keeps me from pride when things go well. It reminds me that I am not the hero. Jesus is.
Grace was lavished on you. Not just to forgive you, but to teach you how to see.