Northside church of Christ Greets You

FAMILIES FOLLOWING JESUS IN LOVE AND UNITY.

EPHESIANS 4:4-6

BIBLE CENTER

LOVE CENTER

UNITY CENTER

HEAVEN BOUND

Opening

Prayer

What is a proverb?

A proverb is a short, wise saying that expresses a general truth, principle, or piece of advice based on common sense or experience.

For example:

• "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." (Proverbs 15:1)
• "Actions speak louder than words."
• "You reap what you sow."

The Beginning of Wisdom

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge." – Proverbs 1:7

How to Use This Lesson

1. Reflect silently or take brief notes.
2. No speaking is needed.
3. Just check, circle, or write on your sheet what I have printed for you.
4. Be honest with yourself and God.

1. Solomon is the writer.
2. Known as the wisest man.
3. The son of King David.

2 Samuel 12:24 "Then David comforted Bathsheba his wife, and went in to her and lay with her. So she bore a son, and he called his name Solomon. Now the Lord loved him."

1 Kings 4:32 "He spoke three thousand proverbs, and his songs were one thousand and five."

1. Do we need wisdom?
2. Do we need understanding?
3. Do we need prudence?

• Proverbs 1 is a powerful call to wisdom, a divine invitation to live a life rooted in the fear of the Lord.
• In a world full of distractions and temptations, God’s wisdom is our sure foundation.
• Today, let us study Solomon’s words given by the Holy Spirit, and apply them to our lives as a church.

​¹ The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: ² To know wisdom and instruction, To perceive the words of understanding, ³ To receive the instruction of wisdom, Justice, judgment, and equity; ⁴ To give prudence to the simple, To the young man knowledge and discretion— ⁵ A wise man will hear and increase learning, And a man of understanding will attain wise counsel, ⁶ To understand a proverb and an enigma, The words of the wise and their riddles. Proverbs 1:1-6

The Purpose of Proverbs (1:1-6)

Ask Yourself: Which of these is most urgent for your life?

The foundation of wisdom is the fear of the Lord (1:7)

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Immediate application: look at your checklist.

☐ I need wisdom for a current decision.

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☐ I want to grow in discernment.

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☐ I’m open to correction, even when it’s uncomfortable.

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☐ I want to mentor others with biblical wisdom.

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☐ I’d like to understand Scripture’s deeper truths.

7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

THE FEAR OF THE LORD (1:7)

Ask yourself: Is there an area where I’ve been playing the fool? Be honest.

This verse draws a clear line: the wise fear God; fools reject truth.

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What does ‘fearing the Lord’ mean to you? Check all that fit:

☐ Awe at God’s holiness

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☐ Obedience even when no one sees it

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☐ Trusting God’s Word over popular opinion

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☐ Repenting quickly when I sin

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☐ Rejecting pride in my own understanding

8 My son, hear the instruction of your father, And do not forsake the law of your mother; 9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, And chains about your neck.

LISTEN TO PARENTS (1:8-9)

Ask yourself: Is there a biblical principle you've been ignoring lately? Write it out.

Godly instruction from parents is a gift, even if we didn’t always appreciate it at the time.

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Which piece of advice are you most thankful for?

☐ “Guard your character.”

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☐ “Choose friends wisely.”

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☐ “Work with excellence.”

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☐ “Pray about everything.”

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☐ Other: ___________________________

¹⁰ My son, if sinners entice you, Do not consent. ¹¹ If they say, “Come with us, Let us lie in wait to shed blood; Let us lurk secretly for the innocent without cause; ¹² Let us swallow them alive like Sheol, And whole, like those who go down to the Pit; ¹³ We shall find all kinds of precious possessions, We shall fill our houses with spoil; ¹⁴ Cast in your lot among us, Let us all have one purse”— ¹⁵ My son, do not walk in the way with them, Keep your foot from their path; ¹⁶ For their feet run to evil, And they make haste to shed blood. ¹⁷ Surely, in vain the net is spread In the sight of any bird; ¹⁸ But they lie in wait for their own blood, They lurk secretly for their own lives. ¹⁹ So are the ways of everyone who is greedy for gain; It takes away the life of its owners

Warning Against Sinners (1:10-19)

Ask yourself: What is one way you will “not walk in the path with them” this week? (v. 15)

Proverbs warns about those who drag others into sin and where that road leads.

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Where are you most likely to feel pulled away from wisdom?

☐ Money/Greed: “Just cut corners, no one will know.”

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☐ Peer Pressure: “Everyone else is doing it.”

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☐ Anger: “They deserve it.”

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☐ Lust: “It’s harmless, just one look.”

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☐ Pride: “You don’t need advice from them.”

²⁰ Wisdom calls aloud outside; She raises her voice in the open squares. ²¹ She cries out in the chief concourses, At the openings of the gates in the city She speaks her words: ²² “How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity? For scorners delight in their scorning, And fools hate knowledge. ²³ Turn at my rebuke; Surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. ²⁴ Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, ²⁵ Because you disdained all my counsel, And would have none of my rebuke, ²⁶ I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, ²⁷ When your terror comes like a storm, And your destruction comes like a whirlwind, When distress and anguish come upon you. ²⁸ “Then they will call on me, but I will not answer; They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me. ²⁹ Because they hated knowledge And did not choose the fear of the LORD, ³⁰ They would have none of my counsel And despised my every rebuke. ³¹ Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way, And be filled to the full with their own fancies. ³² For the turning away of the simple will slay them, And the complacency of fools will destroy them; ³³ But whoever listens to me will dwell safely, And will be secure, without fear of evil.”

WISDOM’S CALL (1:20-33)

Circle a verse from today’s text to memorize or think about this week.

Wisdom doesn’t whisper, she SHOUTS in public.

The question is: are we listening?

Where do you most need to listen to wisdom’s voice?

☐ Work/School: Ethical dilemmas, prioritizing responsibilities

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☐ Relationships: Conflict or forgiveness

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☐ Social Media: Comparison or criticism

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☐ Thoughts and Mind: Anxiety or negativity

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☐ Church: Serving, attendance, or reconciling with the brethren

Personal Wisdom Audit

"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves." - 2 Corinthians 13:5

Rate each statement from 1 (Rarely) to 5 (Always). Check off your response.

Personal Wisdom Audit

If you are not a Christian this evening, then you are facing every storm alone!

Obey Jesus and ask Him to help you.

He can be your Shepherd and lead you through every season of your life.

Introduction for the Lord’s Supper

Matthew 26:26-29 (NKJV) ²⁶ And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is My body.” ²⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. ²⁹ But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father’s kingdom.”

16 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given orders to the churches of Galatia, so you must do also: ² On the first day of the week let each one of you lay something aside, storing up as he may prosper, that there be no collections when I come.

1 Corinthians 16:1-2