1. Week 1 Introduction

3. Don’t just sit there! • We’ll come across this idea later • There are four types of people in Proverbs • Wise, scorners, fools, simple • For now, know that: • You’ll have to READ • You’ll have to THINK • You’ll have to CHANGE • … or Proverbs is of little use.

4. What is a proverb? • “A ___ and his ___ are soon ______.” • Short • Memorable • They give principles, not promises • They don’t explain – they assume

5. Hebrew Poetry • The genre of the book of Proverbs • Based on parallelism • Generally, this is: “Idea #1, idea #2” • Each proverb takes two thoughts and: • Equates them (synonymous  AND) • Contrasts them (antithetic  OR) • Emphasizes them (synthetic  AND) • Illustrates them (comparative  SO)

6. Wisdom Personified (8:1-9:12) • Depicted as a woman crying out… • To all men • Especially the simple and the fool • Three aspects • Her message and words • Her qualities • Her purpose

7. Next week: The Foundation of Wisdom • The Purpose of Proverbs (1:1-1:7) • Wisdom Personified (8:1-9:12)

8. Week 2 The Foundation of Wisdom

10. No pain, no gain? • Unless you learn from someone else • Proverbs is a book of experience • You can learn from Solomon’s experience • Or you can make your own mistakes • Guess which one is more painful?

11. Why study Proverbs • It’s the word of God • It’s a book of Wisdom • Rules about living and relating • Based on the Law • What is wisdom? • It’s teachable • It’s rooted in fear of God

12. Why seek wisdom • For skill, knowledge, and correction • Four characteristics of Godly wisdom • It is rational • It is moral • It makes distinctions • It is impartial

13. Four types of people in Proverbs • We will see these types over and over • The wise – willing to learn & be corrected • The scorner – unwilling to be corrected • The fool – unwilling to learn • The simple – he just plain doesn’t know • Keep these types in mind! • We’ll be seeing them again and again…

14. Next week: The Search for Wisdom • Seek Wisdom (1:20-2:22) • Keep your Heart (4:23-4:27)

15. Week 3 The Search for Wisdom

17. Where’s the battle? • If it’s between you and the world… • You’re going to loose • The world is bigger, stronger, nastier • It doesn’t have to be that way, though! • What if it was “God vs. the world”? • Proverbs puts God’s wisdom in our hands • Which puts God in our corner!

18. How should we seek wisdom? • We must be open • To God’s truth • To God’s correction • We must be fearful • Of the consequences of refusing • Of the consequences of disregarding • Of the consequences of ignoring

19. Keeping active, keeping fit • What to do with wisdom? • Receive it • Use it • Seek it • Value it • Internalize it • Express it • Exercise it • Contemplate it • Stand firm in it

20. Pressing toward the mark • Covet God’s rewards for wisdom • Peace • Knowledge • Protection • Direction • Understanding • Deliverance • Direction

21. Next week: The Benefit of Wisdom • The Benefit of Wisdom (3:1-3:26) • Be Kind to Others (3:27-3:35)

22. Week 4 The Benefit of Wisdom

24. Worldly wisdom • Worldly wisdom vs. Godly wisdom • Opposed to one another • Man focused vs. God focused • What does worldly wisdom get you? • Well, a picture’s worth a thousand words… • So what does Godly wisdom get you? • I’m glad you asked…

25. Conditional benefits • Some benefits have conditions • Obedience to God is a given • These must be benefits of exemplary obedience • This depends on that • Life  study of God’s word • Favor  mercy and truth • Guidance  eyes on God • Health  humility • Material blessings  giving to God • Relationship with God  accepting correction

26. Unconditional benefits • Seem to be a byproduct of wisdom • Happiness • Pleasant life • Eternal life • World knowledge • Safety • Peace • Absence of fear • Confidence

27. Kindness to others • More conditional promises • A set of related conditions and consequences • “Do all this… or you’ll get all this!” • Do good to others • Avoid delay • Avoid evil • Avoid arguments • Avoid envy • Consequences • Cursed – or blessed • Scorned – or favored • Shamed – or glorified

28. Next week: Godly Labor • Avoid Financial Entanglements (6:1-6:5) • Do Not Be Lazy (6:6-6:19)

29. Week 5 Godly Labor

31. Working hard, or hardly working? • Enthusiasm without ability • Think of a little kid with a hammer • “Oh, I just need to hit it harder!” • How we work • Just as important as how hard we work • We don’t want to be lazy • We certainly don’t want to be ineffective

32. Dealing with money • Why is money a problem? • Timothy 6:10 – “love of money” • What are we to do? • Avoid financial entanglements • With friends • With strangers • If you can’t avoid, alleviate!

33. Alleviating financial problems • How to get yourself out of a money jam • Don’t get in one in the first place! • If you’re already there, though… • Be decisive • Admit the problem • Find the resolution • Fulfill your obligation • Make every effort to free yourself

34. Dealing with work • “Go to the ant…” • Foresight – thinking about what you’re doing • Economy – no wasted effort • Industry – enthusiasm and endurance • The caution • Ignoring the example leads to poverty • Poverty leads to perverse wickedness

35. Next week: Godly Friends • Avoid Bad Company (1:10-1:19) • Avoid the Wicked (4:14-4:22)

36. Week 6 Godly Friends

38. Who influences you? • When we’re in a group • We do things we otherwise might not • There’s a desire to “fit in” • Friends can build up or tear down • If groups can do dumb things… • Then think before you join a group! • Make sure they’ll hold you up… • Instead of tossing you out the plane.

39. What does God say… • About who to associate with? • Not a whole lot • The implication is obvious: other wise men • About who to avoid? • Certain groups of people (bad company) • Certain individuals (the wicked) • You have to be concerned about both

40. Evil groups: bad company • How to identify them? • Their words will be enticing • The inclination is to spread the blame • How to avoid them? • Don’t put yourself near them • Know about their traps and snares • Know their final end – self-destruction

41. Evil men: the wicked • Compare the two warnings • Bad company – keep away • Wicked men – keep far away • Identifying the wicked • Their character betrays them • Evil and violence are their pleasure • They are the opposite of the wise man

42. Next week: Godly Family • Stay Faithful in Marriage (5:15-5:23) • Wisdom for Women (31:10-31)

43. Week 7 Godly Family

45. Bliss or bluster? • What is a marriage? • The most unique relationship • Two people who choose one another • Why is marriage important? • God’s first ordained institution • A picture of Christ and the church • Why do marriages fail? • Bitterness, anger, faithlessness • What makes some love, and some leave?

46. The blessings of fidelity • Proverbs 5:15-23 • Water: essential for physical life • Fidelity: essential for marital life • The way to fidelity • Rejoice in your relationship • Exclusive • Permanent • Delight in one another • Spiritually • Physically • Emotionally

47. The danger of infidelity • What infidelity costs you • Joy • Delight • Companionship • What infidelity gets you • Sin before God • Willing entry into self-slavery • The character of a great fool

48. The Godly woman • Psalm 31 woman • A picture of a Godly woman • Intended as advice for a young man • Provides a guide for young women • The fortunes of a godly woman • She is respected (in and out of the home) • She is praised (publicly and privately) • She is blessed (spiritually and materially)

49. Next week: Ungodly Women • Avoid the Strange Woman (5:1-5:14) • Avoid the Evil Woman (6:20-6:35) • Avoid the Harlot (7:1-7:27) • Avoid the Foolish Woman (9:13-18)

50. Week 8 Ungodly Women