Proverbs 3 - Choosing the Right Path pt III

Introduction
- we’re studying a new section in the book of Proverbs.
- Chapters 2-4 emphasize the issue of choosing the right path.
- we said a couple of weeks ago that the book of Proverbs uses words like path/way nearly 100 times, which stands to reason since the book is written as a father speaking to his son.

- Warren Wiersbe loosely divides these chapters in this way…
- chapter 2 - Wisdom protects your path.
- chapter 3 – Wisdom directs your path.
- chapter 4 – Wisdom perfects your path.

- we worked on chapter 2 the last couple of weeks, today we’re ready to move into chapter 3.

- Read Proverbs 3.

- as we’ve said all along, it is challenging to outline these chapters because of their very nature, but in a loose way we can speak of the first half of the chapter addressing the conditions to meet if we want God to direct our paths, and then next week we’ll talk about the blessings that come from God directing our paths.

I. The Conditions to Meet if We Want God to Direct Our Paths

A. Learn God’s truth – vv. 1-4

- INPUT – What is the point of the comparison in verse one?
- [“keeping my commandments” means remembering them/not forgetting, keeping them in the forefront of one’s mind]

- INPUT – Why might a young person (or any person) ever forget his father’s teaching?…or, forget the Word of God?

- INPUT – What does Hebrews 6:14 contribute to our discussion?
- [one of the ways we keep God’s commandments is by practicing them in a disciplined way].

- INPUT – What are some ways that verse 2 might be fulfilled?

- INPUT – What can we learn from the words “leave you” in verse 3?
- [character has a shelf life—so does knowledge of the Scripture, there is a use it or lose it character to all of this]
B. Obey God’s Will – vv. 5-8

- Verses 5-6 of this chapter are some of the best known/loved of the entire Bible.
- Warren Wiersbe points out that…
- “The word translated ‘trust’ in verse 5 means ‘to lie helpless, facedown.’ It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.”

- INPUT – What is the balance between not leaning on your own understanding on one hand, but not checking your brain at the door on the other?
- understanding the nature of man, the nature of truth, and the nature of God are critical.
- that’s why the Reasons to Believe series was so important for us.
- everyone has to decide what they are going to believe, what their source of truth is going to be, how much stock they should put in their own ability to know truth, etc.

- cf. article from Freedom From Religion group.

INPUT – Illustrations of people who leaned on their own understanding in the Bible?
- Abraham – Gen. 12:10-20

- Joshua – Joshua 7

- Implications to our children and us?

C. Share God’s Blessings – vv. 9-10

- INPUT – Does it surprise you that these verses are in this chapter? Why or why not? How does this information fit into the rest of the chapter?

- if time, cf. Exodus 13:1-2, Lev. 23:9-14—point is that our obedience is often tested by the way we handle our material possessions. This is not an end in itself, but if we are not faithful here, we won’t be faithful in other areas.

D. Submit to God’s chastening – vv. 11-12

[Nancy, please type in Wiersbe quote here]

Adult Bible Fellowship
Choosing the Right Path #3
Proverbs Series #14

I. The ________________ to Meet if We Want God to Direct Our Paths

A. ___________ God’s ____________ – vv. 1-4
INPUT – What is the point of the comparison in verse one?
INPUT – Why might a young person (or any person) ever forget his father’s teaching? or, forget the Word of God?
INPUT – What does Hebrews 6:14 contribute to our discussion?
INPUT – What are some ways that verse 2 might be fulfilled?
INPUT – What can we learn from the words “leave you” in verse 3?
B. ___________ God’s _________ – vv. 5-8
Warren Wiersbe points out that…“The word translated ‘trust’ in verse 5 means ‘to lie helpless, facedown.’ It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.”
INPUT – What is the balance between not leaning on your own understanding on one hand, but not checking your brain at the door on the other?
INPUT – Illustrations of people who leaned on their own understanding in the Bible?

C. _____________ God’s ________________ – vv. 9-10
INPUT – Does it surprise you that these verses are in this chapter? Why or why not? How does this information fit into the rest of the chapter?

D. _____________ to God’s __________________ – vv. 11-12

Warren Wiersbe says, “Chastening is a part of God’s plan to help His sons and daughters mature in godly character (Heb. 12:1-11). God chastens us, not as a judge punishes a criminal, but as a parent disciplines a child. He acts in love and His purpose is that we might become ‘partakers of His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10). Sometimes He chastens because we have rebelled and need to repent; other times He chastens to keep us from sinning and to prepare us for His special blessing. No matter how much the experience hurts us, it will never harm us, because God always chastens in love” (Deut. 8:2-5).

Adult Bible Fellowship
Choosing the Right Path #3
Proverbs Series #14

I. The Conditions to Meet if We Want God to Direct Our Paths
A. Learn God’s truth – vv. 1-4
INPUT – What is the point of the comparison in verse one?
INPUT – Why might a young person (or any person) ever forget his father’s teaching? or, forget the Word of God?
INPUT – What does Hebrews 6:14 contribute to our discussion?
INPUT – What are some ways that verse 2 might be fulfilled?
INPUT – What can we learn from the words “leave you” in verse 3?

B. Obey God’s Will – vv. 5-8
Warren Wiersbe points out that… “The word translated ‘trust’ in verse 5 means ‘to lie helpless, facedown.’ It pictures a servant waiting for the master’s command in readiness to obey, or a defeated soldier yielding himself to the conquering general.”
INPUT – What is the balance between not leaning on your own understanding on one hand, but not checking your brain at the door on the other?
INPUT – Illustrations of people who leaned on their own understanding in the Bible?
C. Share God’s Blessings – vv. 9-10
INPUT – Does it surprise you that these verses are in this chapter? Why or why not? How does this information fit into the rest of the chapter?

D. Submit to God’s chastening – vv. 11-12
Warren Wiersbe says, “Chastening is a part of God’s plan to help His sons and daughters mature in godly character (Heb. 12:1-11). God chastens us, not as a judge punishes a criminal, but as a parent disciplines a child. He acts in love and His purpose is that we might become ‘partakers of His holiness’ (Heb. 12:10). Sometimes He chastens because we have rebelled and need to repent; other times He chastens to keep us from sinning and to prepare us for His special blessing. No matter how much the experience hurts us, it will never harm us, because God always chastens in love” (Deut. 8:2-5).