1 Corinthians 1:27 (AKJV)

"But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty."

1 Corinthians 3:19 (GWT)

The wisdom of this world is nonsense in God’s sight. That’s why Scripture says, “God catches the wise in their cleverness.”

Luke 3:1-3 (NIV)

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— 2 during the high-priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the wilderness. 3 He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins.

Matthew 3:4 (NIV)

John’s clothes were made of camel’s hair, and he had a leather belt around his waist. His food was locusts and wild honey.

Luke 3:19-20 (NIV)

19 But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, 20 Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

Learning To Live Like John:

1. He was crazy in living simply & generously.

Luke 3:10-11 (NIV)

10 “What should we do then?” the crowd asked.
11 John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.”

2. He was crazy in living a life of integrity.

Luke 3:12-14 (NIV)

12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?”
13 “Don’t collect any more than you are required to,” he told them.
14 Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?”
He replied, “Don’t extort money and don’t accuse people falsely—be content with your pay.”

3. He was crazy in his humility.

Luke 3:15-16 (NIV)

15 The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. 16 John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.

1 Corinthians 3:18-19 (MSG)

18-19 Don’t fool yourself. Don’t think that you can be wise merely by being up-to-date with the times. Be God’s fool—that’s the path to true wisdom. What the world calls smart, God calls stupid.

For my personal time with God this week:

[#1] Read your second week’s readings as part of the Community Bible Experience. If you prefer, you can download the CBE app, add the CBE readings to your YouVersion Bible app, or listen to it via audio. For all of these resources, go to www.gracetucson.org/cbe-resources.
[#2] As you do your readings, consider these 5 questions (which will be the 5 questions everyone shares in their book clubs next week):
1. What’s something you noticed for the first time?
2. What questions did you have?
3. Was there anything that bothered you?
4. What did you learn about loving God?
5. What did you learn about loving others?
[#3] If you haven’t signed up for CBE yet, there’s still time to jump in with us, and catch up later! Stop by the CBE table, the church office, or sign up today online at www.gracetucson.org/cbe.