Sermon Notes:
1. Why you need wisdom: Wisdom leads you to the life you were made to have—a life of peace, prosperity, love, and blessings. (Proverbs 3:1-4)
2. How you get wisdom: Trust God and listen to Him, not yourself and not other voices trying to direct your life. (Proverbs 3:5-8)
3. What trusting the Lord in good times looks like: Open your hands and honor Him. (Proverbs 3:9-10)
4. What trusting the Lord in bad times looks like: Accept hardship as discipline. (Proverbs 3:11-12)
Follow-up Questions from Sunday:
Quick Review:
Looking back at your notes from this week’s teaching, was there anything you heard for the first time or that caught your attention, challenged, or confused you?
Digging Deeper:
1. A popular phrase in our culture is, “well, we live and learn.” The wisdom in the Bible teaches us to learn first from God and then live. Can you think of a time in your life when you wished you’d learned something before you lived it?
2. In Proverbs 4:7, we read that the first rule of wisdom is to get wisdom, even if it costs all you have. How would you define wisdom? Why do you think having wisdom is more valuable than having wealth?
3. Read the Biblical definition of wisdom given below. As you ponder this definition what sticks out most to you?
4. James writes about two kinds of wisdom (James 3:13-17). What passes for wisdom in our world, apart from Christ? What does “wisdom that comes from heaven” look like, in practical terms? What kind of life emerges if we pursue that kind of wisdom and not the world’s?
5. Wisdom continues to be active in the New Testament as a guide to godly living. Read Ephesians 5:15-20. What are some wisdom principles Paul surfaces in this passage? What does he mean, the “days are evil?” Compare this to the pessimism in Ecclesiastes 5:16. What encouragement do we have in Christ despite the brevity of life?
6. In Proverbs 2:6-8, we read that God gives wisdom, that He holds success in store for the upright, and guards and protects those who are faithful. What are some things you need God’s wisdom for in your life right now? Please share with others.
Taking it Home:
What is one thing you can apply to your life from this message and how can this group remember you in prayer this week?
A Biblical Definition of Wisdom:
Proverbs 1:7 (9:10) states, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom/knowledge.” Hebrew meaning for wisdom = skill of living life as God intended it to be lived as it’s rooted in a reverent/fear relationship with Him. To the Hebrews, the success of wisdom did not simply require a compliance with wise instructions, but trust in, reverence for, and submission to the Lord (Proverbs 1:7; 3:5 –6;9:10) who created everything and governs both the world of nature and human history (3:19-20; 16:24; 21:1)
The purpose of the Wisdom literature is to stress the imperative to “Think!” Right thinking results in action. Its overarching purpose is to develop godly character, a character that will make wise choices in the rough-and-tumble marketplace of life. Wisdom is the combination of knowledge and character that allows one to live in the real world in a right and godly manner.