Day 5 

Lisa Sheffler, author

We’ve arrived at the end of our study through Proverbs! Today, let’s look back on key verses from this series and invite the Spirit to speak to us through the Word. Can you remember the sermon topic for each verse?

Read

Proverbs 1:7

⁷ The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,

but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Proverbs 15:20

²⁰ A wise son brings joy to his father,

but a foolish man despises his mother.

Proverbs 17:17

¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,

and a brother is born for a time of adversity.

Proverbs 16:24

²⁴ Gracious words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

Proverbs 15:1

A gentle answer turns away wrath,

   but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 20:1

Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler;

   whoever is led astray by them is not wise.

Proverbs 6:28–29

²⁸ Can a man walk on hot coals

without his feet being scorched?

²⁹ So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.

Proverbs 12:4

⁴ A wife of noble character is her husband’s crown,

but a disgraceful wife is like decay in his bones.

Reflect

• Reflect back on our time in Proverbs. In which of the areas that we covered did you feel the most conviction? How has the Spirit given you a desire to change? Write down your thoughts in a journal (paper or online).
• What proverbs has God used in your life? Which ones are sticking with you? Record those proverbs in your journal so you can refer back to them.
• Remember that in Christ, you are fully forgiven and completely loved. Don’t let conviction turn into shame. Confess, receive forgiveness, and ask the Spirit for help in making a change!
• Which proverbs have prompted you to pray for others? Record their names in your journal and pray for those people now. Pray for opportunities to have meaningful conversations with them where you can share the love of Christ.

Pray

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing me who you are by sharing your wisdom. Thank you for the perfect representation of wisdom that I see in Jesus.

I want to reflect your wisdom in my daily life. Teach me to be wise in my relationships with family and friends, neighbors and strangers. Spirit, help me become more loving, prudent, patient, and gracious. I want to be less self-indulgent and more giving. Less focused on myself and more focused on you and on sharing your grace with others.

Thank you, Father, for your great and unending love. Thank you that even when I fail to live wisely, you forgive and restore me. Thank you, Jesus for making my redemption possible. I love you so much. Amen.

Talk about it

• What are three big things you learned from our Proverbs series? Discuss those with someone.
• Our goal in this series was to become more “fool proof.” We want to grow in wisdom, which means we’ll also be growing to be more like Jesus. Now that this series is over, how will you continue to grow in wisdom? Discuss some ideas and hold each other accountable.

Coming next week

We’re kicking off a new series next week, and you don’t want to miss it! We’re going to smash the idols in our lives so we can live for Jesus with undivided hearts. You’ll want to be a part of this life-changing series, Smashing our Idols!