Fool Proof: A Study in Proverbs

Week 1 | The Beginning of Wisdom

Welcome to our Fool Proof series!

 Today we’ll hear from Pastor Bruce Miller who’ll be kicking off our sermon series this Sunday. Watch this short video from Bruce as he gives us an introduction to Proverbs and explains one of its key concepts, that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

A transcript of this video is available here.

Ask yourself

• How does a proverb differ from a law or promise?
• What does the Hebrew word, ḥokmâḥ mean?
• How does Bruce explain “the fear of the Lord”?

Pray

Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth,

in whom all wisdom and knowledge resides:

Grant us wisdom, the skill of living. Teach us your ways, so that we might bring honor to your name, and blessings to others.

We ask this in the name of Christ Jesus, our Lord.

Amen.

Talk about it

• What is the danger in turning a proverb such as, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (22:6) into a law or a promise? How could doing so warp your view of God or damage your faith? What is a better way to understand proverbs?
• Discuss your reaction to hearing that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.” What does it mean to have a healthy fear of God? What happens when we don’t? When we’re either afraid of God or have no appropriate reverence for him?