Key Scriptures: Proverbs 5 (entire chapter), 2:17, 19:14, 18:22, 31 (chapter), 12:4, 11:22, 19:13, 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15-16, 6:19, 20:7, 31:28, 14:26, 1:8, 6:20, 19:27, 7:1, 15:20, 23:15-16, 27:11, 29:3, 22:15, 19:18, 17:17, 12:26, 13:20, 6:1-5, 14:20, 19:4, 16:29-30, 1:10-19, 22:24-25, 14:7, 24:21-22, 29:27, 18:24, 15:1, 28:23, 15:7, 16:21, 10:8, 14:25, 12:25, 15:23, 16:24, 12:19, 14:5 and 25, 11:13, 20:19, 29:5, 26:28, 29:22, 15:28, 10:19, 14:23, 20:1, 21:17, 23:20-21, 23:29-35, 31:1-9, 15:27, 27:20, 21:24, 18:12, 29:23, 6:16-17, 15:25, 25:27
Guiding Question: What other godly advice is found in Proverbs?
Optional Introductory Activity: Divide students into small groups. Give them two minutes to think of as many categories as possible on which teens would want or need godly advice. Have each group share their lists and record a combined list where everyone can see it. (Note: Any topics not covered in this lesson, may give you ideas for needed topics of future lessons needed by your class.)
Lesson: (Questions to students are in bold italics.) Proverbs actually gives advice to us on a lot of topics in addition to the general ideas of wisdom and foolishness. Some of these may be problems you are already facing and some are ones you may face in the future. Why is it important to learn how God wants us to deal with an issue before we actually encounter it? What should we do if we learn from Proverbs or other scriptures we have been handling something in a way God does not consider wise (or godly)? Have students read and discuss the scriptures under each category. (Note: Entire lessons could be taught on each of these categories. The point of this discussion is to help the students understand the Bible is full of practical, helpful advice on a wide variety of practical topics. It should be the first place they turn to when they need advice.)
- Parents and children: Proverbs 20:7, 31:28, 14:26, 1:8, 6:20, 19:27, 7:1, 15:20, 23:15-16, 27:11, 29:3, 22:15, 19:18
- Friends: Proverbs 17:17, 12:26, 13:20, 6:1-5, 14:20, 19:4, 16:29-30, 1:10-19, 22:24-25, 14:7, 24:21-22, 29:27, 18:24
- What we say: Proverbs 15:1, 28:23, 15:7, 16:21, 10:8, 14:25, 12:25, 15:23, 16:24, 12:19, 14:5 and 25, 11:13, 20:19, 29:5, 26:28, 29:22, 15:28, 10:19, 14:23
- Drunkenness: Proverbs 20:1, 21:17, 23:20-21, 23:29-35, 31:1-9
- Greed: Proverbs 15:27, 27:20
- Pride: Proverbs 21:24, 18:12, 29:23, 6:16-17, 15:25, 25:27
- Marriage: Proverbs 5 (chapter), 2:17, 19:14, 18:22, 31 (chapter), 12:4, 11:22, 19:13, 21:9, 21:19, 25:24, 27:15-16, 6:19
How much of this advice have you heard before? What pieces of godly wisdom were new to you? What can you do to continue increasing your godly wisdom and putting it into practice?
Application Challenge: Continue reading at least one chapter of Proverbs each day until you complete the book. Think about the new things you learned you should or shouldn’t be doing. Decide how you are going to put this new godly wisdom into practice in your life every day.
Author: Thereasa Winnett