Here we go on yet another journey through the 31 chapters of proverbs.

1 Kings 3:4-15 (read this)

Solomon was facing a big assignment.  His destiny was to lead a nation.   He had seen his father make good decisions.  He had joined in the suffering of his father’s bad decisions.  But watching his father was not enough.

The most important thing Solomon witnessed was his father’s love for God.  David was a “man after God’s own heart”.  He wasn’t perfect.  In fact he was full of flaws but he was a man clinging to this deeply personal relationship with God.

Some scholars suggest that Solomon may have been a teenager when he became king.  Here he stands knowing only one thing:  he can’t do what God has called him to do without wisdom…without God.

Have you ever stood at the threshold of a big assignment in your life scared to death at the prospect of what’s in front of you?

As a new husband, what do you do?  As a new father what do you do?  At a new job what do you do?  At the end of a marriage what do you do?  Breaking an addiction what do you do?

Solomon did what he saw his father do?  He ran to God.  He worshipped.

How will your children face their life’s biggest decisions after watching you?

Solomon offered a thousand sacrifices.  Think of that.  Imagine the smell, the sound of 1000 sacrifices.  What a statement he made to the nation he was to lead about the priority God’s will had in his life.

According so some scholars an average of 1200 sacrifices were made in a year.  Solomon offered almost as many in this one profound act of worship.

How would your life change if you put worship before work?

God showed up.  God told Solomon to ask for anything…anything and he would do it.

What do you want from God?   

Solomon asked for the one thing:  wisdom!

Asking God for wisdom acknowledges that He has it.

Solomon’s request tells us 2 things about God.  (1) God is the one TRUE source of enduring wisdom.  (2) God can give you wisdom.  He can put wisdom in your heart and mind immediately.

Solomon’s faith allowed this.  In order for God to give you wisdom you have to believe in Him.

Do you know what you need to know in order to do what God has called you to do?

Are you making wise choices?

Why are we here?

The Big Picture

We’re here to surrender to God.  We’re here to study, learn from and apply the life wisdom in Proverbs.

The Practical Picture

A Return to Reverence

Falling in love with the God of all wisdom and having His power shape and transform your life.

Improving  All Your Relationships

Changing the way you think about and treat yourself.  Transforming your walk with God.  Enjoying a faith-grounded relationship with God.  Developing the habits and character skills that help you function and serve more effectively in all of your relationships.

Making better decisions so you get better results

Learning how to respond to life instead of reacting to life.  Making right choices.  Thinking about results before we take an action

How will we do it?

Read the Proverbs

Read each chapter slowly and thoughtfully.  Just one chapter a week for the next 31 weeks.   Memorize the Proverbs that minister to you most so that they become your internal counselors.

Journal your experience in the word.

Keep a daily journal.  Keep a record of what God is saying to you and what you’re saying to God.

Teach what God is teaching you.

Each week one of you will be asked to present what God has been teaching you through the Proverbs.  Prepare a one page summary of the BIG idea that God challenged you with in the previous week.

Come to class.

Show up for the fellowship and study.  Commit.  Come on time.  Be prepared.

Help your fellow brother.

Reach out.  Share your experience.  Keep their confidence.  Be a friend.

Suggested 1-page Format

Name

Date

Passage

Put your Proverb with chapter and verse here.

Bottom Line

A one or two sentence summary of what you learned or what God revealed to you.

Why this passage?

What you learned?

How this passage will work or has worked in your life?

Optional: something profound God gave you from your journal.