Proverbs 3 - Choosing the Right Path pt IV

Introduction
- we’re studying a new section in the book of Proverbs.
- Chapters 2-4 emphasize the issue of choosing the right path.
- 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.
- Read Proverbs 3.
- last week we began talking about the first condition. We’ll pick it up there…

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

A. Learn God’s truth – vv. 1-4
- 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]

- [discuss why we have Clubs instead of other children's programs. Also recommend the lay counseling class for parents/teens, or encouraging teen to take the Monday program in the summer].

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

Warren Wiersbe - “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).

INPUT – Do you agree with what Warren Wiersbe has said here? Do you like it? How should these ideas impact us? What is the relationship of all of this to our overall study of wisdom?

II. The Blessings that Come When God Directs Our Paths

A. True wealth that comes from wisdom (vv. 13-18)

- these verses are very similar to the ones we studied in chapters 1, 8, and 9.

- INPUT - What conclusion is the writer wanting us to draw, and what would a person's life look like who has drawn this conclusion?

B. Personal knowledge of the Creator (vv. 19-20).

- two of the most important philosophical questions are "why am I here?" and "where did I come from?".
- Solomon is suggesting that knowing God and following His truth allows someone to have comprehensive and compelling answers to these questions.

- INPUT - The issue of creation has come up at other points in our study of the book of Proverbs. Does that surprise you? What should we make of that fact?

C. The Father's providential care (vv. 21-26).

- INPUT - What are some of the specific blessings listed in these verses? What other methods might a person employ to receive these blessings in places other than God's wisdom? How effective are these methods?

D. A positive relationship with others (vv. 27-35).

- INPUT - How do verses 27-28 fit in with some of the community ministry initiatives we've been discussing? How does this fit in with the wisdom of God?

Adult Bible Fellowship
Choosing the Right Path #4
Proverbs Series #15
I. The Conditions to Meet if We Want God to Direct Our Paths
A. Learn God’s truth. – vv. 1-4
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).
INPUT – Do you agree with what Warren Wiersbe has said here? Do you like it? How should these ideas impact us? What is the relationship of all of this to our overall study of wisdom?
II. The _______________ that Come When God Directs Our Paths
A. True _____________ that comes from wisdom (vv. 13-18)
INPUT – What conclusion is the writer wanting us to draw, and what would a person's life look like who has drawn this conclusion?

B. Personal knowledge of the _______________ (vv. 19-20).
INPUT – The issue of creation has come up at other points in our study of the book of Proverbs. Does that surprise you? What should we make of that fact?
C. The _______________ providential care (vv. 21-26).
INPUT – What are some of the specific blessings listed in these verses? What other methods might a person employ to receive these blessings in places other than God's wisdom? How effective are these methods?
D. A _______________ relationship with others (vv. 27-35).
INPUT – How do verses 27-28 fit in with some of the community ministry initiatives we've been discussing? How does this fit in with the wisdom of God?

Adult Bible Fellowship
Choosing the Right Path #4
Proverbs Series #15

I. The Conditions to Meet if We Want God to Direct Our Paths
A. Learn God’s truth – vv. 1-4
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).

INPUT – Do you agree with what Warren Wiersbe has said here? Do you like it? How should these ideas impact us? What is the relationship of all of this to our overall study of wisdom?
II. The Blessings that Come When God Directs Our Paths
A. True wealth that comes from wisdom (vv. 13-18)
INPUT – What conclusion is the writer wanting us to draw, and what would a person's life look like who has drawn this conclusion?
B. Personal knowledge of the Creator (vv. 19-20).
INPUT – The issue of creation has come up at other points in our study of the book of Proverbs. Does that surprise you? What should we make of that fact?

C. The Father's providential care (vv. 21-26).
INPUT – What are some of the specific blessings listed in these verses? What other methods might a person employ to receive these blessings in places other than God's wisdom? How effective are these methods?
D. A positive relationship with others (vv. 27-35).
INPUT – How do verses 27-28 fit in with some of the community ministry initiatives we've been discussing? How does this fit in with the wisdom of God?