Immanuel Church

Proverbs 18 (continued)

1. This past week have your words been more life giving or harmful?2. 15:4—A gentle tongue is a tree of life3. 16:24 -- “Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to thebones.”4. Please share about a time when some friends words to you were nourishing and lifegiving at a time that you desperately needed them? How were they nourishing? Didthis inspire you to speak nourishing words to others in your life? How have you donethis for others?5. Who do you know currently that could use some nourishing words? A Word Gift!6. 28:23, Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatterswith his tongue.7. Have you ever had a friend rebuke you? Share about that experience. In the end wasit nourishing to your life?8. How apt are you to rebuke a friend? Why do we find this so difficult?
9. Homework – this week find someone who needs a nourishing word and give them aWord Gift

Proverbs 18

1. What does this one chapter alone teach us about our words? Read the chapter andmake a list.2. Focus on verse 8 – what do we learn? What does this teach us about human nature?3. Focus on verse 13 – What do we learn? How can we apply this to life? Also see v17,how does this apply as well?4. Focus on verse 21 – Where have you seen your words bring the power of death? Howdid you reconcile? How did you make it right? Where have you seen your wordsbring the power of life?

Proverbs 7:1-27

1. Where in life do you struggle with lust? Not necessarily sexual lust, but a perverteddesire that treats a want as a need, and sets yourself as the god of that area of yourlife.2. Then Discuss ANTHEMA – AVOID as much as is possible and reasonable the sights and situations that arouseunfitting desire.N – Say NO to every lustful thought within five seconds.T – TURN the mind forcefully toward Christ as a superior satisfaction.H – HOLD the promise and the pleasure of Christ firmly in your mind until it pushes theother images out.E – ENJOY a superior satisfaction.M – MOVE into a useful activity away from idleness and other vulnerable behaviors.

Proverbs 1:9-19

Read Proverbs 1:9-191. What is the main message Solomon is trying to convey to his son in this passage?2. How does this passage speak to the responsibility of parents to teach wisdom to their children?3. Why do you think Solomon warns his son about the dangers of joining a gang of murderous thieves? How is our culture a “culture of death?” How can we as believers make sure that we are creating a “culture of life?”4. What does it mean that all people are created in the image of God? Are there people or groups of people that you treating in a way that is less than you should treat someone created in the image of God?5. What does it mean to be "greedy for unjust gain," and how can this temptation lead to destructive behavior? How is this a “culture of death?”6. What are some "evil companions" or influences in your life that might lead you away from wise choices?7. How can you actively choose to resist the allure of quick, easy gratification and instead pursue true wisdom?8. How does the imagery of "a snare" and "a trap" highlight the dangers of following foolish paths?9. How can you apply the principles of Proverbs 1:8-19 to your relationships with friends and family?10. How does the concept of "the fear of the Lord" relate to living a wise life?PRAYER:Heavenly Father, even in our best moments, the temptation to make foolish choices lurks near. We need Your wisdom to flee youthful lusts and sinful folly. Grant us self-control over impulses, especially when pressured. Help us to discern lies and resist pleasing anybody but You. Prompt us towards righteous choices before we are lured into destructive behavior. Bring wise friends who strengthen commitment to integrity rather than compromise. Give us the courage to disobey anyone who tries to lead us to dishonor You. Above all, make us a wise, discerning, and prudent people who despise sin’s enticing lure and run from what is opposed to godly wisdom. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Characters of Proverbs

1. What were the marks, or tendencies, or characteristics of the fool according toscripture as mentioned in the message on Sunday? What others can you think of?2. What were the marks, or tendencies, or characteristics of the wise according toscripture as mentioned in the message on Sunday? What others can you think of?3. Can you think of times in your life when you have walked the path of the fool? Anyrecently? How did you get back on the path of wisdom?4. What are habits or rhythms that you can develop in life to help you stay on the pathof wisdom?

Proverbs 3:1-12

Read Proverbs 3:1-121. How is your love for God seen in your love for his word? What are you doing to developor deepen your love for His word? How are you implanting the word into your heartand mind?2. Where in your life do you trust in your own wisdom rather than God’s? Where do youstruggle to submit your choices to the truth of His word?3. There are two paths in life: the path of the foolish and the path of the wise. Where doyou most easily walk the path of the foolish? Where are you tempted to veer off thestraight path and take the turn towards foolishness?4. Do you worship wealth and earthly treasure or do you worship God with your wealthand earthly treasure?5. Do you regularly worship through repentance? Daily submitting your life to the Lordand his ways?

Proverbs 1:1-7

1. Who do you know that is filled with Biblical wisdom? How did they get that way?2. Do you enjoy texts like the proverbs that invite you into the learning process? What doyou think you will find difficult about this series in the book of Proverbs? What will besimple?3. If someone observed your life today (family, finances, occupation, speech, etc), wouldthey say that you feared the Lord?

Advent: O Come All Ye Faithful

Advent: Joy to the World

Sing “Joy to the World”Read Psalm 981. Why do people love the song Joy to the World so much? What about the song speaksto your heart and soul?2. Have you ever realized before that it is primarily a song not about Christmas, the firstAdvent, but about Christ’s return, the second Advent?3. Why is the second Advent such a joyful occasion for nature and for people? Will it be forall people?4. How can you make sure that it will be a joyful occasion for you? Who do you know thatwill not find that day a joyful occasion? How can you begin praying for their salvationtoday and looking for opportunities to share the gospel with them?5. How does this help us to rejoice even today? In the midst of suffering, does it give youjoy and peace to know that Christ is coming to make all things right?6. How should you live differently today because of this truth?

Advent: O Come O Come Emmanuel

Sing, O Come O Come Emmanuel1. May this time together be more of a time of testimony of God’s faithfulness.2. Emmanuel means “God with us.” Emmanuel came to dwell with us and to rescue us from sin and death. How did God defeat sin and death? How have you experienced “God with us” or this freedom from sin and death in your life?3. Day-spring refers to the dawning of a new day, where darkness flees in the face of light. How is Jesus our day-spring? In what ways is Jesus the light of the world? Where in your life are you experiencing darkness and need the light of Jesus to show you the way?4. How is Jesus the wisdom of God? Where have you experienced the wisdom of God being greater than the wisdom of man? Where in your life do you need God’s wisdom right now?5. The desire of nations come to bring peace amidst turmoil. Where have you experienced the peace of God in the midst of the trials of life? Where do you need God’s peace now?