The WISDOM Process ™

The WISDOM Process™ of Facilitated Learning

“…Our job is not to give quick and easy answers that never work in the realities of life. It’s far, far better to have students leave scratching their heads–with questions they think and talk about, and with problems they’re eager to find solutions for in the weeks ahead.”
–Howard Hendricks

The WISDOM Process™

As children of God living in a hostile world, we need to learn how to think like Christ with biblical, spiritual wisdom for life.

Tested by thousands of people and hundreds of groups, the six-step WISDOM Process offers a surprisingly simple and profoundly powerful way to think. Today we are drowning in data and starving for wisdom. We Google for information on any topic, but we cannot find wisdom for life’s complex challenges. This simple process can guide you to wisdom.

You will find that you can use The WISDOM Process^© not only in this Bible study but also for issues you face in ordinary life.

This process of thinking helps us move from knowing facts to transforming our lives in God’s power. Most adults learn differently than children. Research into adult learning and studies of ancient education both show that people learn best when they have a reason to learn: a question to answer, a problem to solve or a mystery to unravel. All of us have these in our lives.

Bruce Miller on the Wisdom Process™

Flow Chart of The WISDOM Process™

Work the Issue
What’s really at stake?
Investigate Scripture
What does God say?
Seek Counsel
What do wise people say?
Develop your Response
What do I think?
Openly Discuss
What do we think?
Move to Action
What will I do?

Pray
What’s the role of prayer?

We access the guidance of God’s Spirit through prayer and the Word of God. While God wants us to use our minds to study his Word to gain his revealed life direction, the Bible tells us:

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him (James 1:5).

Bible study should be covered with prayer. Paul prayed like this for the Colossians:

For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding (Colossians 1:9).

In answer to your prayers, the Spirit will shape your desires and then you will develop the mind of Christ. Rather than prayer being a specific step in The WISDOM Process, it should be threaded throughout the process of your study from start to end.

You will find that as you pray, the Spirit of God will guide you to truth. As a group, if you will prayerfully listen to the Spirit, he will direct your conversation to deep spiritual wisdom, conviction and motivation to honor God in daily life choices.
Work the Issue
What’s really at stake?

Prepare your heart and mind before engaging God’s Word. Take a moment to pray about questions in your life and issues arising from the Scripture you are studying. Consider how the Lord may want to impact you at this time. Bring your questions to your study of God’s Word.
Investigate Scripture
What does God say?

God’s Word is our authority for life. It is our guide for belief and behavior. Our lives must be grounded in the Word of God. It is our primary source of absolute, divine truth. Spend time prayerfully and carefully considering what the biblical text is saying.
Seek Counsel
What do wise people say?

After studying the Scripture for ourselves, it is wise to seek the counsel of others. In Proverbs, Solomon said there is wisdom in a multitude of counselors. Wise people listen to advice (Proverbs 12:15; 13:10; 19:20). We provide you with well-researched input in these chapters to help you understand God’s Word better, but of course this counsel itself must be judged by the Word of God.
Develop your Response
What do I think?

We learn best when we actively engage. Writing down answers to questions will deepen your interaction with God’s Word. Some questions are designed to increase your focus and understanding of the Scripture; others help you extend your thinking in applying God’s Word to your life.
Openly Discuss
What do we think?

Life transformation is increased when we sharpen each other in dynamic discussion. You will grow more if you study with a group where you can wrestle together with how to understand and obey God’s Word. Together, prepared people led by the Holy Spirit will generate a dynamic in which ideas and wisdom multiply beyond what any individual could produce.
Move to Action
What will I do?

Christ calls us to obey all he commands (Matthew 28:20). The point of Bible study is not simply knowledge, but obedience. We are studying God’s Word to be more and more conformed to the image of Jesus Christ to grow to maturity. The Bible tells us that hearing the Word without acting on it is like building a house on sand, while acting on the truth is like building a house on rock (Matthew 7:24–27; James 1:22–25). We are in the business of building houses on the Rock! Our study should lead us to move to action in the Spirit’s power.

Let Us Help You

In the “WISDOM by Design” workshop, your people learn to facilitate and guide others in small-group exploration experiences that employ the WISDOM Process.

Talk with us about customizing 1st century discipleship to fit with your church’s existing programs, activities, and goals.

For more information please contact our office for a phone appointment or direct consultation.

contact.us@ccbt.org

972-547-7037

The WISDOM Process ™