Sermon Based Small Group Lessons

The Rewards of Wisdom

2008 February 10

Meeting Schedule

1. Fellowship time & snacks

2. Share prayer requests

3. Pray (taking turns with short sentence prayers is good if group members are comfortable).

4. Begin the lesson.

a. Share the title (above)

b. Ask the Ice Breaker Question

c. Follow the guide, reading the Scripture and asking the questions.

Ice Breaker Questions

If you were given a chance for a “do-over” in life, what is one thing that you’d like the opportunity to have done differently?

What makes you better equipped to make a wise decision today?

Do you think people sometimes make unwise decisions because they are asking the wrong questions?

Focus Scripture: Proverbs 3:5-8

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

6 in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

7 Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.

8 This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.

Digging for Truth

1. The wise person surrenders everything to God, not just some things.

What do you think are the most difficult things to surrender to God? Why?

Can Jesus really be Lord of our lives if He isn’t Lord of everything?

Parents usually want the best for their kids, but from the child’s perspective it doesn’t look like the parent has the child’s best interest in mind. Can you think of an example of this situation? Now can you think of a situation where God is the parent and we are the child? Do we fully trust God?

2. The wise person submits to God's authority.

Pastor Les said that our actions sometimes show that we think we know better than God about how to run our lives. What actions do you see in people that show this to be true?

Have you ever really intellectually struggled with God’s authority? On what basis do we recognize God’s authority?

3. The wise person accepts God's discipline.

Proverbs 3:11-12 says “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

What can we learn from this verse?

What does it look like when we despise God’s wisdom?

How has God disciplined you? Did it help mold your character?

4. The wise person receives God's blessing.

Read Proverbs 3:13-14 (below)

Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.

What does it profit us to have wisdom? Does it literally mean financial profit?

What can we learn from Proverbs 14:12? (below)

There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

Does this say anything about our ability to think clearly? How can we improve that ability?

Closing Questions

1. Are you going through anything right now in which you need God’s wisdom? How are you seeking it?

2. What is the benefit of involving other believers in prayer and discussion of our situation?

3. Why is it important to commit to be obedient to God before He gives us an answer? (He doesn’t give His opinion just so we’ll have another option.)

Closing Scripture: James 1:5

If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

Closing Challenge

Seek to read a chapter in God’s word every day. You can find a great plan that many at Westwood are doing at www.BiblePlan.org. Sign up for the New Testament in a year plan.