The Wise Man pt II

- we're in a new section of our study of the book of Proverbs.
- we've worked through the first nine chapters verse by verse.
- now, because the chapters themselves become more topical in nature, our study will as well.
- so the bottom line is, we let the type of literature determine our method of study.

- here's the plan over the next several weeks.
- we have "met" a variety of "people" in our study thus far…
- the wise man, the wicked man, the simple, the fool, and the scorner
- our goal now is to scour the remaining chapters of the book and learn all we can about each group.
- we're trying to develop a biblical theology of the wise man, a biblical theology of the fool, etc.
- after that, we're going to deal with some of the headline topics that appear in the remainder of the book…things like money, and friendships, and communication, and drunkenness, and disrespect, and greed, and pride….
- so there is a lot of important material left…and I think we'll find it to be very helpful and profitable.

- last week we began talking about the…

I. Characteristics of the Wise Man.

A. Wise people trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
B. Wise people listen to wise instruction, especially the Word of God.
1. they listen to wise words.
2. they avoid foolish words.

************************************

- Before we leave that thought, I would like to ask you to be thinking/praying about 2 items regarding our next five-year ministry plan…
a. What additional ministries can we develop that make wise instruction more accessible to people in our church, and our community?
b. How can we help our children desire this kind of teaching?]

- now, let's add something else to the equation…what do the following verses contribute to our topic?

Proverbs 9:8-9 - Do not reprove a scoffer, lest he hate you, Reprove a wise man, and he will love you. Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man, and he will increase his learning.

Proverbs 10:17 - He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who forsakes reproof goes astray.

Proverbs 17:10 - A rebuke goes deeper into one who has understanding than a hundred blows into a fool.

Proverbs 13:10 - Through presumption comes nothing but strife, But with those who receive counsel is wisdom.

Proverbs 12:15 - The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man is he who listens to counsel.

Proverbs 19:20 - Listen to counsel and accept discipline, that you may be wise the rest of your days.

3. they benefit from wise rebuke and advice.

[if time, do the following question as a neighbor nudge…]
- INPUT - Write out several evaluative questions based on the verses above. What questions should be asking ourselves? What questions should we help our children ask?

C. Wise people fear the Lord.

- we saw in the beginning of the book that…
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; Fools despise wisdom and instruction.
- INPUT - What does it mean to "fear the Lord" and what are some characteristics of a person who rightly fears God?

1. It is a fountain of life - 14:27

2. It gives security - 14:26

3. It gives hope - 23:17-18

4. It promises long life - 10:27

5. It helps a person keep priorities straight - 15:16

6. It helps you avoid evil - 8:13
- now let's add another concept to our discussion…
- READ Proverbs 13:20.

D. Wise people associate with wise people

1. by reading the Scriptures

- in essence, you are "walking with" Christ, Paul, Peter, James, etc.

2. by cultivating godly friendships

- cf. Proverbs 12:26

- INPUT - Since we're all busy people, what ways have you found to build godly friendships?

3. by reading Christian biographies and other Christian literature.

- READ Proverbs 10:14, 12:27.

E. Wise people preserve what they've gained and they use it.

Wiersbe - What a tragedy it is when people waste their gains by failing to use their education, the sermons and Bible lessons they’ve heard, or the books they’ve read. Truly wise people treasure the knowledge and skills they’ve worked hard to acquire and use this treasure to the glory of God.

INPUT - What are some of the ways people who have been believers for many years can use what they've gained?
- [develop -- teaching, children's ministries]

- [if time, develop what we're trying to do with Libronix…]

- READ Proverbs 14:16, 8:13

F. Wise people flee from sin.

Wiersbe - If we fear the Lord, we will hate evil (8:13; see Ps. 97:10; Rom. 12:9). The self-confident person isn’t wise. Joshua was self-confident and lost a battle (Josh. 7); Samson was self-confident and became a prisoner (Jud. 16:20ff); Peter was self-confident and betrayed the Lord three times (Luke 22:33–34). “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, NKJV).
Wise people don’t take unnecessary chances and experiment to see how close they can get to the precipice without falling off. When Joseph was confronted with evil, he fled (Gen. 39:7ff).

Adult Bible Fellowship
The Wise Man #2
Proverbs Series #27

I. Characteristics of the Wise Man.
A. Wise people trust Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord.
B. Wise people listen to wise instruction, especially the Word of God.
1. They listen to wise words.
2. They avoid foolish words.

3. They _____________ from wise rebuke and advice.

C. Wise people _________ the _________.
Proverbs 1:7 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.
INPUT - What does it mean to "fear the Lord" and what are some characteristics of a person who rightly fears God?
1. It is a ______________ of ________ - 14:27
2. It gives ____________ - 14:26
3. It gives _________ - 23:17-18
4. It promises ________ ________ - 10:27
5. It helps a person keep ______________ straight - 15:16
6. It helps you __________ evil - 8:13

D. Wise people _______________ with wise people
1. By reading the _________________
2. By cultivating _________ friendships
3. By reading Christian ________________ and other Christian ______________.
E. Wise people preserve what they've gained and they use it.
Wiersbe - What a tragedy it is when people waste their gains by failing to use their education, the sermons and Bible lessons they’ve heard, or the books they’ve read. Truly wise people treasure the knowledge and skills they’ve worked hard to acquire and use this treasure to the glory of God.

F. Wise people ________ from sin.
Wiersbe - If we fear the Lord, we will hate evil (8:13; see Ps. 97:10; Rom. 12:9). The self-confident person isn’t wise. Joshua was self-confident and lost a battle (Josh. 7); Samson was self-confident and became a prisoner (Jud. 16:20ff); Peter was self-confident and betrayed the Lord three times (Luke 22:33–34). “Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor. 10:12, NKJV).
Wise people don’t take unnecessary chances and experiment to see how close they can get to the precipice without falling off. When Joseph was confronted with evil, he fled (Gen. 39:7ff).