Prologue and Warnings—Proverbs 1:1–33
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Danger, Death, Direction, Experience, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Morality, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Wisdom
Open It
1. *Who is the wisest person you know?
2. What makes a person foolish or wise?
3. Who is someone you feared growing up?
Explore It
1. Who wrote this section of Proverbs? (1:1)
2. Why did Solomon write Proverbs? (1:1–7)
3. What three types of individuals are mentioned by Solomon? (1:1–7)
4. *Where does wisdom come from? (1:7)
5. *About what sort of enticements did Solomon warn us? (1:8–19)
6. What happens to those who pursue ill-gotten gain? (1:19)
7. How did Solomon describe wisdom? (1:20–21)
8. How did Solomon describe the simple person, the mocker, and the fool? (1:22)
9. *How does wisdom treat those who reject her? (1:24–27)
10. What is the result of not accepting wisdom? (1:28–32)
11. What is the result of accepting wisdom? (1:33)
Get It
1. *How is the fear of the Lord the beginning of knowledge?
2. *What does it mean to fear the Lord?
3. What type of knowledge and discipline do fools despise?
4. What are the benefits of living wisely?
5. What are the consequences of living foolishly?
6. How does your life-style reflect your acceptance or rejection of wisdom?
7. Why and how do people reject wisdom?
8. When and why have you been tempted to pursue ill-gotten gain?
9. Why do you agree or disagree with the principle that both the wise and the fool reap what they sow?
Apply It
1. *What is one thing you can do this week to seek wisdom?
2. What negative influence (person or thing) can you remove from your life this week?
3. What change in your life-style can you make to avoid being enticed by evil?
Moral Benefits of Wisdom—Proverbs 2:1–22
Topics: Adultery, Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Danger, Death, Direction, Experience, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Lust, Morality, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Weaknesses, Wisdom
Open It
1. *Why do people engage in habits that they know will hurt them?
2. What bad habit have you successfully broken?
3. What is something you have diligently pursued in life?
Explore It
1. *What did Solomon encourage us to do? Why? (2:1–5)
2. What is the theme of this chapter? (2:1–22)
3. What are some of the benefits of wisdom? (2:1–22)
4. How should we look for wisdom? (2:4)
5. What happens to the person who accepts these words? (2:5)
6. What does the Lord give? (2:6)
7. *What does the Lord do for the upright? (2:7–8)
8. What did Solomon say the reader would understand? (2:9–11)
9. From what can wisdom save us? (2:12, 16)
10. How did Solomon describe wicked people? (2:12–15)
11. How did Solomon describe the adulteress? (2:16–17)
12. About whom did Solomon warn us? (2:16–17)
13. *What results from being seduced by an adulteress? (2:18–19)
14. What will happen to the upright and to the wicked? (2:20–22)
Get It
1. How does wisdom benefit a person’s life?
2. Why is it hard to pursue and to accept wisdom?
3. When has the Lord given you wisdom?
4. What does it mean to understand what is right and just?
5. In what way has wisdom been a shield in your life?
6. Why are the ways of the wicked and the path of the adulteress so enticing?
7. How does wisdom save a person from the wicked and the adulteress?
8. *Why do people pursue sin when they know it will destroy them?
9. *In what way is wisdom like hidden treasure?
10. What is it about sin that makes it so tempting?
11. When are you the most tempted by sin?
Apply It
1. *What can you do today to accept wisdom and to apply your heart to understanding?
2. What tempting situation will you plan to avoid this week?
3. What is one way you can make wisdom your shield?
Further Benefits of Wisdom—Proverbs 3:1–35
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Direction, Evil, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Health, Heart, Honor, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Love, Morality, Priorities, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Trust, Understanding, Weaknesses, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. What is one thing or person you can rely on?
2. *What makes someone successful in life?
3. What is your most valuable possession?
Explore It
1. *What should we do and not do? Why? (3:1–2)
2. *What benefits of wisdom did Solomon mention? (3:1–35)
3. What should we do with love and faithfulness? Why? (3:3–4)
4. How should we trust in the Lord? (3:5–6)
5. What is the result of fearing the Lord and shunning evil? (3:7–8)
6. What is the relationship between wisdom and personal health? (3:8, 24)
7. What is the result of honoring the Lord with your wealth? (3:9–10)
8. Whom does the Lord discipline? (3:11–12)
9. *How did Solomon describe wisdom and its benefits? (3:13–18)
10. What role did wisdom play in creation? (3:19–20)
11. What did Solomon say about sound judgment and discernment? (3:21–23)
12. Why should we not be afraid? (3:24–26)
13. What can help a person overcome fear? (3:25–26)
14. How should we treat our neighbors? (3:27–30)
15. Why shouldn’t we envy a violent person? (3:31–32)
16. What does God do to the wicked, the righteous, the mocker, the humble, the wise, and the fool? (3:33–35)
Get It
1. *What do we need to do to receive the benefits of wisdom?
2. *What is the relationship between wisdom and personal success?
3. How can we write love and faithfulness on our heart?
4. What does it mean to trust the Lord with all your heart?
5. What does it mean to shun evil?
6. What “firstfruits” do you need to give to God?
7. How can we pursue wisdom in our life?
8. How should we treat our neighbor?
9. Why would someone envy a violent person?
Apply It
1. *What one thing can you do today to give wisdom its proper place in your life?
2. In what one area of your life in which you have not been trusting the Lord will you begin to trust Him this week?
3. How can you honor the Lord with your wealth this week?
Wisdom Is Supreme—Proverbs 4:1–27
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Direction, Evil, Experience, God, Guidance, Health, Heart, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Love, Morality, Priorities, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. How did peer pressure influence you when you were a teenager?
2. To what sort of things do people look for protection in life?
3. *What’s one of the best pieces of advice your parents ever gave you?
4. In your opinion what is the most important thing parents can teach their children?
Explore It
1. *Why should the reader listen to Solomon? (4:1–2)
2. What is one of the central messages of these verses? (4:1–27)
3. *What did Solomon’s father say would happen if he kept his commandments? (4:3–4)
4. What will wisdom do for the person who does not forsake it? (4:5–6)
5. Why did Solomon say to get wisdom? (4:7)
6. Whom does wisdom exalt? (4:8)
7. Why did Solomon tell his reader to accept what he said? (4:10–12)
8. *What is the value of listening to instruction? (4:13)
9. Why did Solomon warn us to avoid the path of the wicked? (4:14–15)
10. What did Solomon say about the wicked? (4:16–17)
11. How do the path of the righteous and the way of the wicked differ? (4:18–19)
12. What did Solomon tell us to do with his words? (4:20–21)
13. How do Solomon’s words help the people who find them? (4:22)
14. Why should we guard our hearts? (4:23)
15. What did Solomon say about perversity and corrupt talk? (4:24)
16. How should we proceed in life? (4:25–27)
Get It
1. How does a person get wisdom?
2. How do wisdom and understanding bring life and health to a person?
3. In what way is wisdom supreme?
4. *What can we learn from our parents?
5. If wisdom is so good, why do we need encouragement to seek it and to hang on to it?
6. *Why is it difficult to listen to instruction?
7. What does it take to learn from others, including our elders?
8. How is the heart the wellspring of life?
9. When and why is it hard to keep your eyes straight ahead, to keep your feet on ways that are firm, and to keep your foot from evil?
10. What is it about evil that makes it so tempting?
Apply It
1. *What is one thing you can do this week to get wisdom?
2. What will you do today to avoid following the way of the wicked?
3. What tempting situation will you purposefully avoid this week?
4. What is something you can do to guard your heart today?
Warning against Adultery—Proverbs 5:1–23
Topics: Adultery, Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Direction, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Husbands, Life, Life-style, Love, Lust, Marriage, Morality, Righteousness, Sex, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Weaknesses, Wisdom, Wives
Open It
1. *In what way have you found society encourages or discourages personal discipline?
2. What makes a good marriage work?
Explore It
1. Why did Solomon tell the reader to listen to his words? (5:1–2)
2. *What is this chapter about? (5:1–23)
3. What did Solomon say about the lips and speech of an adulteress? (5:3–4)
4. *Where do the steps of an adulteress lead? (5:5)
5. What thought does an adulteress give to the long-term consequences of her way of life? (5:6)
6. What did Solomon encourage us to do? (5:7–8)
7. Why should a person keep away from the adulteress? (5:9–10)
8. *What happens to the person who does not stay away from the adulteress? (5:11–14)
9. How should a person satisfy his or her thirst? (5:15)
10. Where should a person seek sexual fulfillment? (5:15–20)
11. What did Solomon say about intimacy in marriage? (5:16–17)
12. What is one of the reasons a person should stay faithful to his or her spouse? (5:21)
13. What sort of damage can the evil deeds and sin of a wicked person do? (5:22)
14. What did Solomon say was the downfall of a wicked man? (5:23)
Get It
1. What has God provided for us in the marriage relationship?
2. Why do you think people fall into sexual sin?
3. What makes sexual sin so tempting?
4. *How can adultery destroy a person’s life?
5. How do people show they hate discipline?
6. Why is it difficult to live a disciplined life and resist sin?
7. Why might someone be tempted to satisfy his or her longings outside his or her marriage relationship?
8. What does it mean to be captivated by your spouse’s love?
9. *What can we do to avoid being enticed by adultery?
10. How does the fact that your ways are in full view of the Lord make you feel?
11. How can a wicked person’s evil deeds and sin ensnare him or her?
Apply It
1. *What steps can you take to guard against sexual temptation?
2. What can you do today to renew your love relationship with your spouse?
3. What is one thing you can do to affirm the marriage relationship?
Warnings against Folly and Adultery—Proverbs 6:1–35
Topics: Adultery, Character, Choices, Commitment, Consequences, Convictions, Evil, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Immorality, Impulsiveness, Instructions, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Lust, Marriage, Morality, Righteousness, Sex, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Weaknesses, Wisdom
Open It
1. When was the last time you committed yourself to doing something without really thinking about it?
2. What do you think makes it hard to live a chaste life-style in our society?
3. *What do you think makes it hard to live a disciplined life-style in our society?
Explore It
1. What title would you give to this chapter? (6:1–35)
2. What sort of commitment does this chapter warn us about? (6:1–3)
3. What should the person do who has put up security for his or her neighbor? (6:3–5)
4. *What should we observe, and why? (6:6–8)
5. *What happens to sluggards? (6:9–11)
6. What happens to scoundrels and villains? (6:12–15)
7. What is detestable to the Lord? (6:17–19)
8. What should we do with our parents’ commands and teachings? (6:20–22)
9. What results when we listen to our parents’ instruction? (6:20–22)
10. *How did Solomon describe these commands and teachings? (6:23)
11. Who needs to watch out for the immoral woman? (6:24–29)
12. What is dangerous about lust? (6:24–29)
13. How did Solomon distinguish stealing and adultery? (6:30–35)
Get It
1. Why is putting up security for your neighbor a harmful thing to do?
2. When and why are you tempted to make unwise commitments?
3. How can we avoid making unwise commitments?
4. What does it mean to be lazy?
5. *What can we learn from the ant?
6. What is the problem with being lazy?
7. *What is the difference between laziness and leisure?
8. How can the teachings of parents guard and protect their children?
9. Why do people think that they can “play with fire” (sin) and “not be burned” (get away with it)?
10. Why is adultery worse than stealing?
Apply It
1. *In what one area of your life will you make an effort to be more disciplined this week?
2. What is one step you can take to deal with the inevitable temptation to lust?
Warnings against the Adulteress—Proverbs 7:1–27
Topics: Adultery, Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Direction, Evil, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Immorality, Instructions, Life, Life-style, Love, Lust, Morality, Priorities, Righteousness, Sex, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Weaknesses, Wisdom
Open It
1. What makes sex such a powerful advertising tool?
2. What does our society’s obsession with sex tell you about our society?
3. *Why do you think people cheat on their husband or wife?
Explore It
1. What did Solomon urge us to do with his advice? (7:1–5)
2. Why should we take Solomon’s advice? (7:1–5)
3. What is this chapter about? (7:1–27)
4. *Whom did Solomon see outside his window? (7:6–7)
5. Where was the person Solomon saw outside his window going? (7:8)
6. Who came out to meet the youth lacking judgment? (7:10)
7. *How did Solomon describe the woman who came out to meet the youth? (7:10–12)
8. What did the adulterous woman do? (7:13)
9. What did the adulterous woman say? (7:14–20)
10. What did the adulteress invite the youth to do? (7:18)
11. How did the adulterous woman entice the young man to come to her? (7:19–20)
12. What did the adulterous woman do to the youth? (7:21)
13. How did Solomon describe the youth’s conduct? (7:22–23)
14. *Why did Solomon tell young men to avoid the adulteress? (7:24–27)
Get It
1. What does it mean to lack judgment?
2. *What is so enticing about sexual sin?
3. How can we guard against being seduced by sexual sin?
4. *How is each person to blame in an immoral relationship?
5. Why does sexual sin have such tremendous power to destroy?
6. Why do you think Solomon spent so much time warning us against adultery?
Apply It
1. *What specific steps can you take to guard against temptations to sexual sin?
2. Starting today, what situations or people do you need to be more careful to avoid?
Wisdom’s Call—Proverbs 8:1–36
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Creation, Direction, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Priorities, Righteousness, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, World
Open It
1. *Who or what sorts of things compete for people’s attention and loyalty these days?
2. What one possession do you value more than any other?
Explore It
1. How was wisdom depicted by Solomon? (8:1–3)
2. How is wisdom described in these verses? (8:1–36)
3. To whom does wisdom cry out? (8:4–5)
4. Why does wisdom say people should listen to her? (8:6–9)
5. *To what are wisdom, instruction, and knowledge compared? (8:10–11)
6. With whom does wisdom dwell, and what does she possess? (8:12, 14, 18)
7. What does it mean to fear the Lord? (8:13)
8. *Who uses wisdom? (8:15–16)
9. *Whom does wisdom love? (8:17)
10. What did wisdom say about her origin and her role in creation? (8:22–31)
11. What did wisdom say would be the result of finding or not finding her? (8:32–36)
Get It
1. Why do you think wisdom was depicted as being out in the streets of the city?
2. If wisdom went walking through your neighborhood, how do you think people would respond?
3. *In what way is wisdom like precious metals and stones?
4. *How is wisdom better than precious metals and stones?
5. How is hating evil fearing the Lord?
6. What types of things do people today value more than wisdom?
7. How does having wisdom benefit your life?
8. Why is it important that wisdom was God’s first work of creation?
9. What is the role of wisdom in the universe?
10. How is wisdom’s role in your life demonstrated in your life-style?
11. How has the world responded to wisdom’s invitation?
12. How have you answered wisdom’s invitation?
13. What does it mean to find wisdom?
Apply It
1. What is one way in which you can increase wisdom’s role in your life?
2. *What is something that you have mistakenly valued more than wisdom that you want to restore to its proper place?
Invitations of Wisdom and Folly—Proverbs 9:1–18
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Convictions, Direction, Experience, Faithfulness, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Life, Life-style, Morality, Priorities, Righteousness, Simplicity, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Weaknesses, Wisdom
Open It
1. Who are some famous rivals that you know about (for example, Elliot Ness and Al Capone)?
2. Why do people sometimes say, “Ignorance is bliss”?
3. Why do you think some people fall prey to false or deceptive sales tactics?
4. *What are the advantages and disadvantages of being naive?
Explore It
1. How did Wisdom build her house? (9:1)
2. What two characteristics are portrayed as rivals? (9:1–18)
3. What three types of people are described in this chapter? (9:1–18)
4. For what did Wisdom prepare? (9:2–5)
5. For whom did Wisdom prepare? (9:2–5)
6. What did Wisdom encourage the simple to do? (9:6)
7. What are the consequences of correcting a mocker? (9:7–8)
8. What are the consequences of instructing a wise or righteous person? (9:7–8)
9. What is the beginning of wisdom? (9:10)
10. What are the consequences of being wise? of being a mocker? (9:12)
11. *How did Solomon depict Folly? (9:13–15)
12. *What invitation did Folly issue, and to whom did she issue it? (9:16)
13. What did Folly say about water and food? (9:17)
14. *What did Solomon say about Folly’s guests? (9:18)
Get It
1. How are Wisdom and Folly different?
2. What do Wisdom and Folly offer their listeners?
3. *In what way is it dangerous to be naive?
4. What is true or false about the statement “ignorance is bliss”?
5. What do you find attractive about the invitations of Wisdom and Folly?
6. *How can we be careful to avoid Folly’s enticements?
7. Why would stolen water be sweet or food eaten in secret be delicious?
8. Why are forbidden things sometimes appealing?
9. In what ways are the mocker, the simple, and the wise person alike? different?
10. In what way are you like the mocker, the simple, and the wise person?
11. How should we adjust our advice to the person receiving it?
Apply It
1. What is one step you can take today to pursue wisdom rather than folly?
2. What steps can you take this week to eliminate foolish behavior from your life?
3. *Who is one person to whom you will turn to help you be more discerning and less naive?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 10:1–32
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Direction, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Fear, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Hatred, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Love, Priorities, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. *Who was the last person to say something encouraging to you?
2. Why do you agree or disagree with the statement that the tongue can do as much harm as a gun?
3. Who is a popular television or movie character you would characterize as being really wicked or evil?
Explore It
1. Who wrote these proverbs? (10:1)
2. How would you describe these proverbs? (10:1–32)
3. By what common themes are the proverbs in this chapter linked together? (10:1–32)
4. What two types of people are compared and contrasted in these verses? (10:1–32)
5. How did Solomon characterize the wise person? (10:1–32)
6. How did Solomon describe the wicked person? (10:1–32)
7. From what does righteousness deliver a person? (10:2)
8. What are the rewards of diligence? laziness? (10:4–5)
9. How did Solomon compare the memory of the righteous and the wicked? (10:7)
10. *What did Solomon say about the mouth of the righteous and the wicked? (10:11, 13, 14)
11. *How are hatred and love different? (10:12)
12. How do the wages of the righteous differ from the income of the wicked? (10:16)
13. *What did Solomon say about the tongue, the lips, and words? (10:18–21, 31–32)
14. What can the fear of the Lord do? (10:27)
15. What is the way of the Lord for the righteous and the wicked? (10:29)
Get It
1. In what way is it true that the way of the wise leads to life and success while the way of the wicked leads to death and destruction?
2. When is it difficult to be diligent and easy to be lazy?
3. *What does it mean to use our lips, mouth, tongue, and words wisely?
4. Why is it difficult for people to hold their tongue?
5. When might words be more beneficial or more harmful than physical actions?
6. *How can you nourish another person with your words?
7. How is God your refuge?
Apply It
1. *Who is someone you will nourish with a kind word today?
2. What is one way that you can adjust your life-style in order to live more wisely?
3. In what area of your life will you strive to be more diligent this week?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 11:1–31
Topics:Character, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, God, Gossip, Guidance, Humility, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Life, Life-style, Pride, Priorities, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. Who is someone famous you would describe as being a proud person?
2. *Who is someone you would describe as being a righteous person?
3. About what do people usually like to gossip?
Explore It
1. What common themes are discussed in this chapter? (11:1–31)
2. What types of people are discussed in this chapter? (11:1–31)
3. What goes with pride and humility? (11:2)
4. *How did Solomon describe the upright, or blameless, person? (11:3–6)
5. *How did Solomon contrast the life of the righteous person with the life of the wicked person? (11:7–11)
6. What kind of person holds his or her tongue? (11:12)
7. What does gossip do? (11:13)
8. What kind of person can keep a secret? (11:13)
9. What is the result of too few or too many advisers? (11:14)
10. What does the wicked earn and the righteous reap? (11:18)
11. *About what fact did Solomon say we can be sure? (11:21)
12. How did Solomon describe a woman with no discretion? (11:22)
13. What is the result of being generous? of being stingy? (11:24–25)
14. What is the result of trusting in money? (11:28)
15. What results from being righteous? (11:30)
Get It
1. What is the fundamental distinction between the upright, or blameless, person and the wicked person?
2. In what way is it true that pride brings disgrace while humility brings wisdom?
3. Why do you agree or disagree that pride generally results in disgrace while humility generally results in wisdom?
4. *In what way do righteous people and wicked people generally get what they deserve?
5. Why does righteous living result in a better life?
6. Why are people tempted to trust in riches?
7. In what other things besides God are you tempted to trust?
8. When do you tend to be generous, and when do you tend to be stingy?
9. Why is it hard to be generous?
10. *In what area of life do you want to be a more righteous person?
11. Concerning what do you want to be more humble?
Apply It
1. What steps will you take this week to become a more giving, generous person?
2. *What can you do to cultivate a righteous attitude and character this week?
3. In what specific area of your life will you trust God rather than riches or talent?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 12:1–28
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Direction, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Priorities, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Temptation, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. Why do people gamble and play the lottery?
2. In what way is prudence encouraged or discouraged in our society?
3. *What do you think of people who work hard?
Explore It
1. *What does the person who loves discipline also love? (12:1)
2. How would you summarize the proverbs in this chapter? (12:1–28)
3. What is a firm foundation for life? a shaky foundation? (12:3)
4. How did Solomon distinguish a wife of noble character from a disgraceful one? (12:4)
5. What’s the difference between the words of the righteous and the words of the wicked? (12:5–6)
6. For what is a person praised? (12:8)
7. What did Solomon say about the person who chases fantasies? (12:11)
8. What is the result of sinful talk? (12:13)
9. To what does a wise man listen? (12:15)
10. What did Solomon say about reckless words and the tongue of the wise? (12:18)
11. In what sort of person does the Lord delight? (12:22)
12. What did Solomon say the prudent man did with his knowledge in contrast to what the fool does with his folly? (12:23)
13. *How do the diligent and the lazy person differ? (12:24, 27)
14. *What kind of worker is a righteous person? (12:27)
15. What is one significant reward of being righteous? (12:28)
Get It
1. How can a person find life?
2. How do the things with which you are rewarded in life reflect the kind of person you are?
3. What does it mean to love discipline?
4. How is it that words can have power to harm people?
5. How can we use words to help people?
6. When have you praised someone according to his or her wisdom?
7. What sort of fantasies do people chase?
8. How does sinful talk trap a person?
9. Why does God delight in people who are truthful?
10. In what way is it prudent to keep your knowledge to yourself?
11. *How is your life characterized by diligence or laziness?
12. *In what areas do you need to work harder or more diligently?
Apply It
1. What foolish fantasy that you waste time pursuing will you stop chasing this week?
2. What is one step you will take to use words to heal and encourage others today?
3. *What work will you do this week that you have been putting off?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 13:1–25
Topics: Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Integrity, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Money, Parents, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. What is something you crave?
2. Why do you think parents should or should not spank their children?
3. *When was the last time someone asked you to get involved in some sort of get-rich-quick scheme?
Explore It
1. What does a wise child do? (13:1)
2. What do the unfaithful crave? (13:2)
3. What does the person who guards his or her lips also guard? (13:3)
4. Whom does righteousness guard? (13:6)
5. *How should we and should we not use money? (13:7)
6. *What advantage does a person have who is poor? (13:8)
7. What does pride breed? (13:10)
8. *How should a person accumulate wealth? (13:11)
9. How did Solomon describe the teachings of a wise person? (13:14)
10. How does a prudent person act? (13:16)
11. What is the result of ignoring discipline? (13:18)
12. What happens to those who spend time with wise people? (13:20)
13. What reward do righteous people receive? (13:21)
14. What does a good person leave for his or her grandchildren? (13:22)
15. What is the person who loves his or her child careful to do? (13:24)
Get It
1. What does it mean to have a craving for violence?
2. What should a person do to guard his or her lips?
3. Why is guarding one’s own lips so difficult to do?
4. In what way does righteousness guard a person of integrity?
5. *How is Solomon’s advice about accumulating wealth like or unlike any financial advice you have been given?
6. *Why are people tempted by get-rich-quick schemes?
7. How do wise teachings turn a person from death?
8. In what way do you ignore discipline in your life?
9. Why is it easy to ignore discipline?
10. Why does a good person leave an inheritance to his or her grandchildren?
11. In what way does a parent who does not discipline his or her child hate the child?
12. Why would a person who loves his or her child use discipline?
13. What is the value and purpose of disciplining children?
14. Of what do parents need to be careful in using discipline to correct children?
Apply It
1. What is one specific step you will take this week to guard what you say?
2. *What do you want to change about the way you handle money?
3. As a parent, what can you do to make your correction of your children more loving, consistent, or purposeful?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 14:1–35
Topics: Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Death, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Money, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. When do you tend to act without thinking?
2. *What sort of “philosophies of life” are generally represented in television commercials?
3. Why are we tempted to believe the promises in television commercials even when we know they are either untrue or exaggerations?
Explore It
1. What themes did Solomon develop throughout the proverbs in this chapter? (14:1–35)
2. How did Solomon illustrate the differences between the wise person and the foolish person? (14:1–35)
3. On what general areas of life do these verses touch? (14:1–35)
4. How does the fool’s talk contrast with that of the wise? (14:3)
5. *What is the difference between a truthful witness and a false witness? (14:5, 25)
6. What does the mocker seek but not find? (14:6)
7. What is the wisdom of the prudent? (14:8)
8. Where is goodwill found? (14:9)
9. What does each heart know? (14:10)
10. *Where does the way that seems right lead? (14:12)
11. What are the rewards of the good person and the faithless? (14:14)
12. *To what does the prudent person give thought? (14:15)
13. What does the wise person do? (14:16)
14. What does a quick-tempered person do? (14:17)
15. How should a person treat those in need? (14:21, 31)
16. What do those who plan what is good find? (14:22)
17. What are the results of hard work? mere talk? (14:23)
18. What did Solomon say about the fear of the Lord? (14:26–27)
19. What do a heart at peace and envy do? (14:30)
Get It
1. How might a person’s speech protect him or her?
2. When have loose lips gotten you into trouble?
3. Why would a mocker be unable to find wisdom?
4. *What does it mean to give thought to one’s steps?
5. Why is it that many people seem to live their life without giving much thought to what they are doing with their life?
6. *How can we reflect on our steps in life?
7. Why is it hard to understand genuinely another person’s heartache?
8. How might the way that leads to death seem like the right way to some people?
9. What are some of the “wrong ways” in life or “false philosophies” that people you know are following?
10. When is it hard for you to exercise prudence?
11. What sort of relationship do these verses suggest there is between mental and physical health?
Apply It
1. What is one way in which you can alter your speech so that your words will protect you this week?
2. What is one thing you can change about your life-style in order to establish better mental and physical health?
3. *When this week can you take some time to reflect on the path you are following in life?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 15:1–33
Topics: Advice, Answers, Character, Choices, Consequences, Correction, Discipline, Experience, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Happiness, Heart, Humility, Ignorance, Instructions, Integrity, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Love, Money, Patience, Priorities, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. When is it better to have a little in life rather than a lot?
2. What is something that makes you happy or brings you a lot of joy?
3. *From whom is it difficult for you to take criticism? Why?
Explore It
1. *How do gentle answers and harsh words differ? (15:1)
2. What did Solomon say about the speech of the wise and of the fool? (15:2, 4, 7)
3. What did Solomon say about the eyes of the Lord? (15:3)
4. *What do we know about the person who hates and resists correction? (15:10, 12)
5. What did Solomon say about the heart? (15:13–15)
6. When is it better to have a little than a lot? (15:16–17)
7. *How do the hot-tempered person and the patient person differ? (15:18)
8. What kind of course does a wise person keep? (15:21)
9. What does the heart of the righteous do with his or her answers? (15:28)
10. What does the person who ignores wisdom do to himself or herself? (15:32)
11. What comes before honor? (15:33)
Get It
1. Why is it easier to speak harshly rather than gently?
2. How does the reality that the eyes of the Lord are everywhere affect our life?
3. *What type of person hates and resists correction?
4. How can a person cultivate a happy and cheerful heart?
5. When have you found that having less where there is love is better than having a lot where there is conflict?
6. What does it mean to weigh one’s answers?
7. What kind of person ignores discipline?
8. When have you ignored discipline?
9. *Why must humility come before honor?
10. How can a person cultivate humility?
Apply It
1. What one thing can you do today to cultivate humility in your life?
2. How can you focus on enjoying what you have, no matter how little?
3. *What can you do this week to become more open to correction in your life?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 16:1–33
Topics: Character, Choices, Commitment, Consequences, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Gossip, Guidance, Instructions, Life, Life-style, Motives, Plans, Pride, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Sovereignty, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. What are some plans you have made?
2. How important do you think a person’s motives are?
3. *On what sort of news do you and your friends like to keep up?
Explore It
1. What topics are discussed in this chapter? (16:1–33)
2. How is God described? (16:1–33)
3. What is said about God’s sovereignty? (16:1–33)
4. *What is said in these proverbs about speech? (16:1–33)
5. What does the Lord consider? (16:2)
6. What happens to the person who commits to the Lord what he or she does? (16:3)
7. What does the Lord work out for His own ends? (16:4)
8. Who determines a person’s steps? (16:9)
9. What did Solomon say about kings? (16:12–15)
10. What is better than gold and silver? (16:16)
11. What does pride precede? (16:18)
12. *What is so good about pleasant words? (16:24)
13. *What does gossip do? (16:28)
Get It
1. What is the difference between being proud and having self-confidence?
2. How do our plans and choices in life interact with God’s plans and choices?
3. Why should people make plans if God is sovereign?
4. What did Solomon mean by, “the Lord works out everything for his own ends—even the wicked for a day of disaster”?
5. Why are motives so important to God?
6. Why do you think a person can have or cannot have pure motives for doing something?
7. How does a person commit himself or herself to the Lord?
8. In what way does the person who commits himself or herself to the Lord succeed?
9. *When has gossip come between you and a good friend?
10. *What should we do whenever we find ourselves in the middle of a conversation laced with gossip?
11. How are wisdom and instruction more valuable than gold and silver?
12. How can a person demonstrate commitment to the Lord?
Apply It
1. What can you do this week to purify your motives?
2. *In what situations do you want to remember to restrain gossip about others this week?
3. What pleasant words can you speak today?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 17:1–28
Topics: Arguments, Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Discernment, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, Goals, God, Guidance, Heart, Life, Life-style, Love, Parents, Plans, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Testing, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. *When was the last time you got into a really big argument with someone?
2. When you were a child, what did you want to be when you grew up? Why?
Explore It
1. When is dry crust better than feasting? (17:1)
2. What themes are developed in this chapter? (17:1–28)
3. What does this chapter say about fathers and sons? (17:1–28)
4. What does the Lord test? (17:3)
5. What did Solomon say about children and parents? (17:6)
6. What did Solomon say about bribes? (17:8, 23)
7. *How can friends build or tear down their friendship? (17:9)
8. *What happens to the person who pays back evil for good? (17:13)
9. *What does a friend always do? (17:17)
10. What do we know about a person who loves quarrels? (17:19)
11. What is the good of a cheerful attitude? (17:22)
12. What dries up the bones? (17:22)
13. What distinguishes the aspirations of the discerning person from those of the fool? (17:24)
14. How does a person of knowledge use words? (17:27)
15. What is the benefit of holding one’s tongue—even for the fool? (17:28)
Get It
1. How and why does God test us?
2. If God were to test your heart, what would He find?
3. In what way are children a crown to older people?
4. In what way are parents the pride of their children?
5. *Why might it be easier to repeat a matter rather than to cover over it?
6. What is the appeal of quarreling?
7. How is a cheerful heart good medicine?
8. How can we know if our dreams and aspirations in life are realistic or foolish?
9. What is the relationship between mental attitude and good health?
10. *When is it hard to use words with restraint?
Apply It
1. What is one specific step you can take this week to purify your heart?
2. What offense can you forgive?
3. *What is a step you can take to help you use words with proper restraint?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 18:1–24
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Death, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Gossip, Humility, Life, Life-style, Listening, Money, Pride, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Wives, Words
Open It
1. When have you written or been tempted to write a “letter to the editor”?
2. *What sorts of gossip did students in your school like to pass when you were younger?
Explore It
1. What main topics are explored in these verses? (18:1–24)
2. What sort of themes are developed in this chapter? (18:1–24)
3. *In what does a fool delight? (18:2)
4. What did Solomon say about wisdom? (18:4)
5. *How does a fool’s words affect his or her life? (18:6–7)
6. To what did Solomon compare gossip? (18:8)
7. What is the value in God’s name? (18:10)
8. What do pride and humility precede? (18:12)
9. *What is the value of listening? (18:13, 15, 17)
10. What power does the tongue possess? (18:21)
11. What did Solomon say about the person who finds a wife? (18:22)
12. What’s the difference between a person’s closest friends and his or her larger group of friends? (18:24)
Get It
1. *Why do people like to share their opinions?
2. How can a person’s words get him or her into trouble?
3. How is the tongue like a weapon?
4. Why do people enjoy spreading and hearing gossip?
5. How has the name of the Lord been like a strong tower in your life?
6. Why would someone speak before he or she has gotten all the facts?
7. *What can we do to put a rein on our tongue?
8. How could the tongue “kill” someone?
9. How could the tongue be used to give life?
10. Why might it be good to find a wife?
11. Why is it better to have a few close friends than several companions?
12. What does it mean to be a loyal friend?
13. Who are your closest friends?
Apply It
1. In what situations do you want to be more careful about listening before you speak?
2. *How can you use your tongue to help or encourage someone today?
3. How can you be loyal and trustworthy to your closest friends?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 19:1–29
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Foolishness, Forgiveness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Love, Money, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Wives, Zeal
Open It
1. *What have you been especially zealous about at one time in your life?
2. When do you think parents should or should not bail their children out of trouble?
Explore It
1. What do these proverbs say about wealth and poverty? (19:1–29)
2. What do these proverbs say about wisdom? (19:1–29)
3. *Why do we need knowledge? (19:2)
4. *What’s the danger of haste? (19:2)
5. What does wealth bring? (19:4)
6. What is the fate of a false witness? (19:5, 9)
7. *What happens to the person who gets wisdom and understanding? (19:8)
8. What uncommon act brings a person “glory”? (19:11)
9. What affects family relationships? (19:13–14)
10. What is the problem with laziness? (19:15, 24)
11. What is the value of listening to and obeying instructions? (19:16, 20, 27)
12. Why should we be careful about how we help a person with a short temper? (19:19)
13. What do we really want? (19:22)
14. To what does the fear of the Lord lead? (19:23)
Get It
1. Why are people lazy?
2. What are the benefits of wisdom?
3. *What is zeal without knowledge?
4. What is dangerous about zeal without knowledge?
5. *In what area of life do you need to temper your zeal with greater knowledge?
6. Why do people resist listening to and obeying instructions?
7. How should we guard our own life?
8. When would it be unwise to bail someone out?
9. Why is it so hard to overlook an offense?
10. How does the fear of the Lord lead to life?
11. What does it mean to fear the Lord?
12. In what way does every person desire unfailing love?
Apply It
1. What is one thing you can do to gain some wisdom?
2. *What emotionally-charged subject can you learn more about this week?
3. How can you be a more prudent or loving wife or husband?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 20:1–30
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Experience, Foolishness, God, Gossip, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Motives, Perspective, Priorities, Punishment, Purpose, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Vows, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. When have you made a commitment or purchase you later regretted?
2. *How have you found it easier to understand other people than to understand yourself?
Explore It
1. What is one hazard in drinking? (20:1)
2. What topics do these proverbs discuss, and how are they related to one another? (20:1–30)
3. What is it an honor to avoid? (20:3)
4. What are the consequences of being a sluggard? (20:4)
5. *What did Solomon say concerning the purposes of a person’s heart? (20:5)
6. What kind of life does a righteous person lead? (20:7)
7. By what is even a child known? (20:11)
8. What should we not love? Why? (20:13)
9. What is in rare supply? (20:15)
10. How should we make plans? (20:18)
11. What kind of person should we avoid? (20:19)
12. *How does God affect our life? (20:24)
13. How should we be careful about vows? (20:25)
14. *What does the Lord search? (20:27)
15. How do love and faithfulness help? (20:28)
16. What is the glory of young men and old men? (20:29)
Get It
1. How is wine a mocker and beer a brawler?
2. What sort of things should we do to avoid strife?
3. *Why is it hard to understand the deep purposes that motivate our thoughts and actions?
4. *How is a person of understanding able to draw out the deep purposes of a person’s heart?
5. What does it mean to live a blameless life?
6. By what actions are you known?
7. When is sleep a good thing, and when is it a bad thing?
8. Why is it important to get advice when making important decisions?
9. From what kind of people should we seek advice?
10. Under what circumstances do you talk more than you should?
Apply It
1. Beginning today, what simple plan can you make to avoid making rash decisions?
2. In what specific situation or relationship will you strive to avoid strife this week?
3. *What action can you take to gain a better understanding of the purposes that motivate and guide your life?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 21:1–31
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Desires, Discipline, Evil, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Love, Money, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sacrifice, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. When have you learned from another person’s punishment?
2. What is a notable rationalization you’ve heard?
3. *What sort of things do you crave?
Explore It
1. What themes run through the proverbs in this chapter? (21:1–31)
2. How are the righteous and the wicked compared in this chapter? (21:1–31)
3. *What seems right to people? (21:2)
4. What does the Lord weigh? (21:2)
5. What is better than sacrifice? (21:3)
6. What’s wrong with a fortune made by a lying tongue? (21:6)
7. What did Solomon say about marriage? (21:9, 19)
8. According to Solomon, how can punishment benefit a person? (21:11)
9. What happens to a person who is insensitive to the poor? (21:13)
10. How does the execution of justice impact the righteous as well as evildoers? (21:15)
11. *What’s wrong with loving pleasure and wine? (21:17)
12. What promise is there for the person who pursues righteousness and love? (21:21)
13. How should we manage our words? (21:23)
14. *What did Solomon say about cravings? (21:25–26)
15. How can some sacrifices not please God? (21:27)
16. How are our plans affected by God’s will? (21:30–31)
Get It
1. When do people often rationalize sinful behavior?
2. Why are motives sometimes more important than actions?
3. Why is sacrifice secondary to doing what is right and just?
4. In what way are riches fleeting?
5. What is the purpose of punishment?
6. *What is the purpose of pleasure?
7. *How should we enjoy pleasure?
8. How should we pursue righteousness and love?
9. When is it hard for you to guard what you say?
10. How are lazy people destroyed by their cravings?
11. What are some steps we can take to keep our cravings under control?
Apply It
1. When can you take time this week to reexamine your motives?
2. In what way can you pursue righteousness and love?
3. *Concerning what cravings do you want to ask for God’s help?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 22:1–29
Topics: Application, Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Excuses, Foolishness, Friendship, Generosity, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Money, Name, Parents, Priorities, Punishment, Reputation, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. When you were a child, what excuses did you use for not doing something you were supposed to do (such as your homework)?
2. What do people do to develop a good or bad reputation?
3. *What is the best thing your parents or guardians taught you?
Explore It
1. What is the value of a good name? (22:1)
2. What types of people did Solomon write about in this chapter? (22:1–29)
3. What do the rich and the poor have in common? (22:2)
4. What brings wealth and honor in life? (22:4)
5. *What is the result of training a child properly? (22:6)
6. What happens to generous people? (22:9)
7. How does a sluggard use his or her mouth? (22:13)
8. *How do children become wise? (22:15)
9. Why did Solomon want the reader to listen to what he taught? (22:17–21)
10. Who wrote the proverbs in the second half of this chapter? (22:17–29)
11. What counsel do the wise have concerning friends? (22:24–25)
12. *Why should we strive to learn and develop skills? (22:29)
Get It
1. What should we do in pursuit of a good reputation in the community?
2. How should the fact that Lord is Maker of both the rich and the poor impact our life?
3. How do humility and the fear of the Lord bring wealth and honor and life?
4. *What is the purpose and goal of parenting?
5. *In what ways are parents responsible or not responsible for the way their children turn out?
6. What does it mean to be a good parent?
7. What is the difference between a valid reason and an excuse?
8. What is the purpose and goal of discipline?
9. Why is it hard to live our life after what the Bible teaches?
10. Why should we be careful about the kind of people with whom we associate and make friends?
Apply It
1. What is one concrete step you can take this week to cultivate a good reputation in your neighborhood or community?
2. *How can you take greater responsibility for something your parents taught you?
3. In what way can you be generous to another person today?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 23:1–35
Topics: Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Drinking, Evil, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Life, Life-style, Money, Parents, Possessions, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Selfishness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. What methods of punishment (for example, spanking or time out) did your parents use when you were growing up?
2. *What foods do you (sometimes) crave?
3. Why do you think most people drink alcoholic beverages?
Explore It
1. *What is deceptive? (23:1–3)
2. What themes are developed in these sayings of the wise? (23:1–35)
3. How did the author characterize riches? (23:4–5)
4. *What did the author say about the food of the stingy person? (23:6–8)
5. Why should we not withhold discipline from children? (23:13–14)
6. What did the author encourage the reader to do? (23:17–18)
7. What advice did the author have for our associations with people? (23:19–21)
8. How should we treat our parents? Why? (23:22–25)
9. How did the author warn men about prostitutes? (23:26–28)
10. *What was the author’s advice concerning alcohol? Why? (23:29–35)
Get It
1. *How can food be deceptive?
2. *In what way should we be careful about the way we enjoy delicacies or comforts in life, including food?
3. If riches are fleeting, why do people strive so hard to acquire them?
4. How would you describe your attitude toward the acquisition and importance of wealth?
5. How is being stingy with respect to your possessions as bad as wearing yourself out pursuing riches?
6. Why would a parent withhold discipline from his or her child?
7. How could disciplining a child save him or her from death?
8. When and why have you been envious of a sinner?
9. How would you describe the author’s attitude toward alcohol?
10. Why should we be wary of alcohol?
11. How would you describe your attitude toward wine and alcohol in general?
12. What precautions or “survival tactics” should we practice with regard to alcohol?
Apply It
1. *In what way can you change your behavior to honor God with your eating habits?
2. How can you be generous rather than stingy with your possessions today?
3. What do you want to change or improve about the way you discipline your children?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 24:1–34
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Death, Discipline, Enemies, Envy, Evil, Experience, Foolishness, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Knowledge, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Money, Parents, Priorities, Procrastination, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom
Open It
1. What gives you hope for the future?
2. What sort of people are envied in our society?
3. *How responsible do you think most poor people are for their poverty?
Explore It
1. Whom did the author say not to envy? (24:1–2)
2. What common themes link the proverbs in this chapter together? (24:1–34)
3. What characters are discussed in these verses? (24:1–34)
4. How is a household built, established, and furnished? (24:3–4)
5. What does the wise person have? (24:5–6)
6. What happens to a person who plots evil? (24:8–9)
7. *What does a person’s response to hardship reveal? (24:10)
8. Whom did the author encourage his reader to rescue and hold back? (24:11)
9. *According to what will each person be repaid? (24:12)
10. What is sweet to the soul? (24:13–14)
11. What should we not do when an enemy falls? (24:17–18)
12. Why should we not envy wicked people? (24:19–20)
13. Whom should we fear? (24:21–22)
14. What did the author say was not good? (24:23–25)
15. What is an honest answer like? (24:26)
16. What should we not do to our neighbor? (24:28–29)
17. *What did the author learn from observing the field of the sluggard? (24:30–34)
Get It
1. When have you envied an evil person’s life-style, wealth, possessions, privileges?
2. How can we build, establish, and furnish our families with God’s wisdom?
3. Why might someone hold back from helping a person who is in danger?
4. How can we feed our soul with God’s wisdom?
5. Why is it tempting to gloat when someone you dislike fails?
6. What type of people are you tempted to be partial toward?
7. *Why do we put off doing difficult or unpleasant tasks even when they are important?
8. In what areas of responsibility do you tend to be lazy?
9. *What lessons can we learn from the life of the sluggard?
Apply It
1. What can you do this week to build, establish, or furnish your family with wisdom, understanding, or knowledge?
2. *In what one area of your life in which you tend to be lazy do you want to make a concerted effort to be more diligent?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 25:1–28
Topics: Arguments, Balance, Character, Choices, Consequences, Criticism, Discipline, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Leadership, Life, Life-style, Patience, Priorities, Reputation, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. What style or method of persuasion has the most effect on you?
2. In what areas of life do you think people often lack self-control?
3. *In what ways have you been criticized lately?
4. In what way is it harder to lose a bad reputation than to earn a good reputation?
Explore It
1. What character traits are discussed in this chapter? (25:1–28)
2. What relationships are explored in these proverbs? (25:1–28)
3. How should a king’s throne be established? (25:4–5)
4. What should a person do in the king’s presence? (25:6–7)
5. What did Solomon caution us to avoid? (25:7–8)
6. How can haste hurt us? (25:7–8)
7. *What should we not betray? Why? (25:9–10)
8. *What did Solomon say about words? (25:11)
9. *To what did Solomon compare a piece of advice to which someone listens? (25:12)
10. What kind of boasting is bad? (25:14)
11. Through what can a ruler be persuaded? (25:15)
12. In what two areas of life should we practice moderation? (25:16–17)
13. When should we temper our enthusiasm or excitement? (25:20)
14. How did Solomon counsel us to treat enemies? (25:21–22)
15. In what ways should a righteous person resist others? (25:26)
16. What value is there in self-control? (25:28)
Get It
1. When is it harmful to be hasty?
2. Why would a person be tempted to exalt himself or herself in the presence of an important person?
3. In what ways do people exalt themselves or try to improve their standing with important people?
4. Why is it hard to lose a bad reputation?
5. How can we respond to constructive criticism from wise people?
6. *What is difficult about giving advice or constructive criticism?
7. *Why would gentle persuasion be better than harsh argumentation when trying to persuade someone?
8. Why would someone wise like Solomon encourage moderation?
9. Why is too much of a good thing sometimes bad?
10. How is meeting your enemy’s needs like heaping burning coals on his or her head?
11. In what area of your life do you need more self-control?
Apply It
1. In what area of your life in which you lack self-control will you make a concerted effort this week to exercise more discipline?
2. *How can you adjust your style of persuasion or criticism so that it is more gentle, effective, or appropriate?
3. In what positive ways do you want to respond to any criticism you might receive this week?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 26:1–28
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Deceit, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Flattery, Foolishness, God, Gossip, Guidance, Ignorance, Instructions, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Priorities, Punishment, Quarrels, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. What characters that you’re aware of from television, movies, or novels exemplify foolishness, laziness, and wickedness?
2. *What is the funniest practical joke you ever played on someone?
3. How would you describe flattery?
Explore It
1. What three types of people did Solomon discuss in these proverbs? (26:1–28)
2. How should we answer fools? (26:4–5)
3. How did Solomon describe the fool? (26:6–11)
4. What does a fool repeat? (26:11)
5. What’s wrong with the person who thinks of himself or herself as wise? (26:12)
6. How did Solomon describe the sluggard? (26:13–16)
7. What caution should we observe about other people’s quarrels? (26:17)
8. *What did Solomon say about practical jokes? (26:18–19)
9. *How do gossip and quarrels work? (26:20–22)
10. *Why should we be suspicious of a wicked person’s speech? (26:23–26)
11. What kind of damage can lying and flattery do? (26:28)
Get It
1. How can we help someone who is a fool?
2. What is the danger in trusting a fool to do something?
3. In what way is it worse to be wise in your own eyes than to be a fool?
4. Why might a person be tempted to get involved in someone else’s quarrel?
5. What should we do when we are concerned about other people’s quarrels?
6. *Why is it dangerous to deceive someone else in fun?
7. *In what ways do we need to restrain our jokes and fun so that they are respectful of others?
8. Why do people enjoy gossip?
9. When have you been misled by the deceptive words of an evil person?
10. What is the danger of flattery?
Apply It
1. What can you do to avoid spreading or listening to gossip this week?
2. What quarrelsome situations do you want to avoid at work? at home? at church?
3. *What can you do to remind yourself to respect others in your fun and jokes?
4. In what one specific area of your life can you exercise greater discipline?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 27:1–27
Topics: Character, Choices, Consequences, Discipline, Emotions, Encouragement, Experience, Foolishness, Friendship, God, Guidance, Heart, Jealousy, Life, Life-style, Money, Praise, Priorities, Relationships, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. *Why is it helpful to have good friends?
2. What do you think is the most powerful emotion? Why?
3. Of what do you like to take good care? Why?
Explore It
1. Why shouldn’t we boast about tomorrow? (27:1)
2. What is more powerful than anger and fury? (27:4)
3. *What is better than hidden love? (27:5)
4. *How are friends and enemies different? (27:6)
5. What does Solomon’s statement about hunger illustrate about gratitude? (27:7)
6. From what does the pleasantness of one’s friend spring? (27:9)
7. *In what way should we be loyal? (27:10)
8. How do the prudent and the simple respond differently to danger? (27:12)
9. What effect do people have on one another? (27:17)
10. What does a person’s heart reflect? (27:19)
11. By what is a person tested? (27:21)
12. What limit is there in removing folly from a fool? (27:22)
13. Why did Solomon counsel us to give careful attention to our finances? (27:24)
Get It
1. About what sorts of things do people boast?
2. *Why is jealousy such a powerful emotion?
3. About what do you get jealous?
4. When has a friend’s earnest counsel been helpful to you?
5. *How can friends “sharpen” one another?
6. How do you generally respond when someone gives you a compliment?
7. How should the fact that riches are transitory affect our life-style?
Apply It
1. *What friend will you encourage with kind words or helpful counsel today?
2. In what specific way can you arrange your life-style to reflect the fact that money and things are transitory?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 28:1–28
Topics: Character, Confession, Consequences, Desires, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Flattery, Foolishness, God, Justice, Life, Life-style, Money, Poor, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. *What do you usually do when a street person or beggar asks you for money?
2. What sort of fantasies or desires do television commercials encourage people to pursue?
Explore It
1. How did Solomon contrast the wicked and the righteous? (28:1)
2. What types of individuals did Solomon discuss in this chapter? (28:1–28)
3. What topics are dealt with in these proverbs? (28:1–28)
4. What can we learn about a person from how he or she speaks about the wicked? (28:4)
5. Who understands justice? (28:5)
6. *What type of person is better than a rich person? (28:6)
7. *What kind of poor person has the advantage over rich people? (28:11)
8. What are the consequences of concealing one’s sins? of confessing them? (28:13)
9. What did Solomon say about the person who fears the Lord and about the person who hardens his or her heart? (28:14)
10. How do blameless people and perverse people differ? (28:18)
11. What promise applies to the person who chases fantasies? (28:19)
12. Who gains a lot of favor with others? (28:23)
13. Why is it bad to trust in yourself? (28:26)
14. *What should be our response to the needs of poor people? (28:27)
Get It
1. How do we forsake the law by our behavior?
2. *Why do you think it is better to be poor and blameless than rich and perverse?
3. When are you tempted to conceal rather than to confess your sins?
4. How does a person’s heart become hardened?
5. What sort of fantasies do people often chase?
6. What kind of person is willing to rebuke someone honestly?
7. What kind of person uses flattering words?
8. What does it mean to trust in one’s self?
9. *Why would you be tempted to close your eyes to the problem of poverty?
Apply It
1. What fantasy that you have foolishly chased will you put behind you?
2. What is one part of your life-style that you can change in an effort to live a blameless life?
3. *What is one thing you can do this week to help someone in need?
Proverbs of Solomon—Proverbs 29:1–27
Topics: Anger, Character, Children, Choices, Consequences, Correction, Discipline, Evil, Experience, Flattery, God, Instructions, Integrity, Justice, Laziness, Life, Life-style, Parents, Priorities, Punishment, Rewards, Righteousness, Sin, Understanding, Wealth, Wisdom, Words
Open It
1. About what sort of issues do you tend to be stubborn?
2. *What gets you mad?
3. Why do you think crime is increasing in our society?
Explore It
1. *What fate awaits the person who is stubborn, or stiff-necked? (29:1)
2. What characters did Solomon talk about in these proverbs? (29:1–27)
3. How did Solomon distinguish between the wicked, the wise, and the foolish? (29:1–27)
4. What damage does a flatterer do? (29:5)
5. By what is an evil person snared? (29:6)
6. About what do righteous people care? (29:7)
7. *How do the fool and the wise person deal with anger? (29:11)
8. What imparts wisdom? (29:15)
9. *When do people cast off restraint? (29:18)
10. What did Solomon say about the person who speaks in haste? (29:20)
11. What did Solomon say about fear? (29:25)
12. From where do we get justice? (29:26)
Get It
1. Why will people be stubborn even when they know they are wrong?
2. How can flattery hurt a person being flattered?
3. How can a person be ensnared in his or her own evil?
4. Why are the poor generally denied justice?
5. *How do you vent your anger and frustration?
6. *What is the right way to deal with anger?
7. What is the relationship between correction and wisdom?
8. Why do people cast off restraint when they are ignorant of God’s Word?
9. When do we usually speak without thinking?
10. How can we be responsible and not hasty with our words?
Apply It
1. In what specific area of your life do you need to be more flexible and less stubborn?
2. *How can you better manage the way in which you deal with or express anger?
Sayings of Agur—Proverbs 30:1–33
Topics: Anger, Creation, Experience, God, Life, Life-style, Nature, Wisdom
Open It
1. *What is something you enjoy or find fascinating about creation?
2. What have you learned by watching animals or some other part of creation?
Explore It
1. Who wrote the proverbs in this chapter? (30:1)
2. In what form were the proverbs in this chapter presented? (30:1)
3. How did the speaker describe himself, and what sort of questions did he ask? (30:2–4)
4. What did the speaker say about God’s words? (30:5–6)
5. What two things did the speaker ask of the Lord? Why? (30:7–9)
6. What sort of people did the speaker describe? (30:11–14)
7. *What four things are never satisfied? (30:15–16)
8. What four things did the speaker not understand? (30:18–19)
9. Under what four things can the earth not bear up? (30:21–23)
10. *What four things are wise though small? (30:24–28)
11. *What four things move with stately bearing? (30:29–31)
12. What produces strife? (30:33)
Get It
1. *What characteristics of God are implied by the speaker’s questions and observations?
2. Why is it important to you that God’s words are flawless?
3. What is the danger of having too much or too little in life?
4. Which do you think presents the greater danger, having too much or having too little? Why?
5. *What do you find significant about the author’s list of observations from nature?
6. What lessons can we draw from the author’s observations?
Apply It
1. *When can you take the opportunity this week to go outside and observe God’s creation?
2. Whether you have little or a lot, what is one thing you can do today to show your dependence on God and to honor Him with your life-style?
Sayings of King Lemuel and Epilogue—Proverbs 31:1–31
Topics: Appearance, Beauty, Character, Children, Discipline, Drinking, Example, God, Life, Life-style, Poor, Priorities, Righteousness, Wisdom, Wives, Words, Work
Open It
1. Why do you think physical beauty is so important to people?
2. Why do you think people should or should not drink alcoholic beverages?
3. *What is the role of a wife?
4. What makes a good marriage work?
Explore It
1. Who wrote the proverbs in this chapter, and what form do they take? (31:1)
2. On what did the author caution his readers not to waste strength? (31:2–3)
3. What should kings avoid? Why? (31:4–5)
4. To whom did the author say to give beer and wine? Why? (31:6–7)
5. On whose behalf should we speak up? (31:8–9)
6. What is a noble wife worth? (31:10)
7. What type of person do the last two-thirds of this chapter concern? (31:10–31)
8. *In what tasks does the noble wife engage? (31:13–27)
9. How does the noble wife respond to the poor? (31:20)
10. What did the author say about the noble wife’s speech? (31:26)
11. *How does the noble wife’s family respond to her? (31:28)
12. What is deceptive and fleeting? (31:30)
13. *What does the noble wife deserve? (31:31)
Get It
1. What do you think is the appropriate use of wine and beer?
2. What are the dangers associated with alcoholic beverages?
3. How would you describe a wife of noble character?
4. *How is the noble wife of this chapter different from or similar to the popular ideal today?
5. *What can we do to encourage wives and mothers in their God-given responsibilities?
6. How is charm deceptive?
7. Why is it important to keep in mind the fact that physical beauty is fleeting?
Apply It
1. How can you recognize the importance of inner beauty?
2. What is one God-given role or responsibility (whether that of a wife or something else) you can devote to God’s service?
3. *How can you show appreciation to your mother or wife for her hard work and wisdom?
Adult Questions for LESSONmaker (2024). Bellingham, WA: Logos, p. Pr 1:1–31:31.