Studies from the Book of Proverbs

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The Book of Proverbs offers the help we need. It is a book of practical ethics . . . a time-tested guide for making everyday decisions. King Solomon wrote most of Proverbs, along with Agur, King Lemuel and certain wise men, and the book was systematically compiled between 931 and 700 B.C. While the authors directed their words to young people making decisions for life, the principles are for persons of all ages.

Maxims for life known as proverbs have been a part of all cultures. They are usually short statements constructed as riddles, taunts or perplexing statements. The proverbs of the Bible are unique in that they promote godly wisdom that integrates personal faith in God with daily decision-making. The biblically wise person reverences and trusts in the Lord and above all else desires to please Him. He continually studies the Scriptures to learn godly precepts and then works to apply those precepts to daily life. He also seeks to be motivated by love in his decisions (cf. I Corinthians 13:2), perhaps the most challenging requirement of godly wisdom.

When we add these dimensions of biblical wisdom---trust in God, knowledge and application of biblical principles, and a motivation of love---to the ever-changing daily complexities of life, the result is a dynamic, lifelong adventure with God. As we will see, His wisdom not only equips us for good decision-making but also secures the fulfillment of our deepest needs. This is why the biblical writers place the value of godly wisdom at a premium and encourage us to pursue it with all our hearts.

The book of Proverbs is filled with guidance on many subjects. In our study of Wisdom that Counts, we will select the issues most frequently addressed in the book. Let's begin by looking at what Proverbs has to say about the great value of godly wisdom.

1. a. How would you define wisdom?

b. Why is it important to seek wisdom in life?

c. Why is biblical wisdom uniquely valuable?

2. In compiling the Proverbs, what did Solomon wish to give its readers?

Proverbs 1:2-5

3. What two paths of life are suggested in Proverbs 1:7?

4. What is the source of wisdom and understanding according to Proverbs 9:10?

Note: Biblical "fear of the Lord" is a loving reverence for God that motivates our submission to His lordship and the commands of His word.

5. a. According to the following, why is trust in the Lord essential to gaining wisdom?

Proverbs 2:6

Daniel 2:20, 21b-22

b. What does the Bible say about Jesus Christ and wisdom?

Colossians 2:3

I Corinthians 1:24b

6. What is true of the wisdom God offers?

Proverbs 3:13-18

Note: The Hebrew word for wisdom is in the feminine.

Proverbs 4:6-8

Proverbs 24:14

7. What do these proverbs warn about wisdom apart from God?

Proverbs 14:12

Proverbs 28:26

8. How do the following proverbs contrast the one who seeks God and His wisdom (referred to as wise, righteous, blameless, faithful, upright) with the one who does not (fool, wicked, unfaithful)?

4:18-19

11:3

12:3

14:32

29:2

29:7

9. What rewards of learning and practicing godly wisdom are given in the following?

Proverbs 3:21-26

Proverbs 21:21

10. According to the these Scriptures, how do we obtain godly wisdom?

Proverbs 2:1-5

Proverbs 13:20

Proverbs 19:20

James 1:5

11. Why is godly wisdom the most precious commodity for your life?

12. What must you do to grow in godly wisdom?

13. Is there a particular situation in your life today in which you would like to ask God for wisdom? What does He promise?

14. What is your desire as you embark on this study of Wisdom that Counts?

Quest for Fulfillment

Studies from the Gospel of John

LESSON 1

John was there when Jesus agonized in the Garden of Gethsemane, was crucified on a cross, and most incredible of all, as Jesus walked and talked with him and many others during a forty-day period after His resurrection from the dead.

But this was only the beginning. After this, John witnessed the miraculous coming of the Holy Spirit (Acts 2) to indwell and empower believers to witness for Christ in the face of hostility. He saw God enable the early believers to perform miracles as the church grew and spread the Good News about Christ. John witnessed the incredible conversion of a formerly ruthless persecutor of the church, Saul of Tarsus (Paul), whom the Lord used to spread the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. Last but not least, John lived through the persecution and martyrdom of countless believers and all the apostles except himself. He was now full of years and, more than ever, full of faith.

Let's look closely at John's profound opening statements.

1. a. Rather than beginning his gospel with the genealogy of Jesus, John referenced the creation account in Genesis 1. What point did John make with such a beginning (1:1-3)?

b. How did the writer of Colossians reiterate this point (Colossians 1:16-17)?

2. What positive word pictures did John give to describe Jesus Christ (1:4,9)?

3. a. What tragedy did John introduce in this passage (1:10-11)?

b. What wonderful possibility did John declare (1:12-13)?

4. What personal testimony about Christ did the apostle give (1:14)?

5. John described Jesus as the incarnate Word of God (1:1-2,14). With this title, he referred to Christ as both the reason and force behind all creation as well as the expression of God to mankind. How are these concepts reiterated by the author of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:1-3)?

Reference: Note 3, The Word, page 8.

6. John the Baptist, a contemporary prophet in Israel, also declared the deity of Jesus Christ. What was John the Baptist's role (1:6-8,15)?

Reference: John the Baptist, Note 4 page 8.

John begins his Gospel by addressing the need for light. Small children, and even adults, instinctively fear the darkness. It is a place of possible danger that gives a profound sense of being out of control.

Life can hold spiritual and emotional darkness for us all. We are a people who universally benefit from light in our lives. We not only need physical light to give us direction, understanding, and security, but we also need spiritual light to have these needs met.

Biblically, the word "light" is often synonymous with good and truth while "darkness" represents evil and falsehood. As in the physical realm, light is opposite darkness, but darkness is not equal to light in strength. A wonderful biblical truth is that spiritual light, or good and truth, ultimately cannot be overcome by darkness (John 1:5). Thus, the light of God John speaks of promises not only to meet our needs for direction, understanding, and security, but also to enable us to overcome evil and fill our lives with truth.

Here lie some very important keys to fulfillment. As we begin our study, let's look at what the Bible has to say about our need for light.

1. a. What are the contrasts between light and darkness in the physical realm?

b. How do these contrasts relate to spiritual and emotional darkness?

2. What circumstances in life make us feel like we are in the dark?

3. a. What do the following verses reveal about the light God gives spiritually and emotionally?

Psalm 27:1

Isaiah 42:16

Isaiah 60:20

b. What is mentioned about our part in receiving God's light?

Matthew 7:7-8

Proverbs 3:5-6

4. How does the Bible describe the darkness that comes from life without God's light?

Deuteronomy 28:29

Proverbs 4:19

5. What causes of spiritual darkness are suggested in the following?

Romans 1:21-22

Ephesians 4:18

6. As John states in his prologue, what does the apostle Paul declare about the source of the light we need?

II Corinthians 4:6

7. a. The prophets referred to Jesus Christ as "Immanuel," which means "God is with us" (Matthew 1:23). What spiritual light was God able to give through His Son coming to earth?

b. What do the following passages tell us about God which add to our understanding of Jesus Christ as Immanuel, the light of the world?

2 Samuel 22:31

Philippians 2:5-8

Hebrews 4:14-15

8. What did Jesus promise to the one who believes in Him?

John 8:12

9. a. When or how have you experienced spiritual and/or emotional darkness in your life?

b. What have you found life to be like without the illumination of God?

10. a. Are there present areas of your life in which you need the direction, understanding or security that God promises when we seek Him?

b. Take a moment to acknowledge your need and His faithfulness to meet it.

11. John declares that receiving Jesus Christ brings us out of darkness into light. Have you ever trusted Jesus Christ to do this for you? If not, and you would like to, the following is a suggested prayer: Heavenly Father, I need the light that comes through receiving your Son, Jesus Christ. I now invite Him to come into my life and illuminate my understanding of Your truth. Amen.

2 Authorship of John. Like many biblical authors, John, who refers to himself only as "the disciple whom Jesus loved" (cf. 13:23; 19:26; 20:2; 21:7), does not mention his name in the book. This fact would be hard to explain had John not been the author; any other writer would have mentioned this important disciple by name. The author's thorough understanding of Jewish life, geography of the region and eyewitness accounts support John's authorship. Tradition and early writers such as Irenaeus and Tertullian also attribute the book to the apostle.

John's father was Zebedee (21:2), his mother Salome, who was also a close follower of Jesus (cf. Matthew 27:56; Mark 15:40; 16:1). Some believe Salome was the sister of Jesus' mother Mary (cf. Mark 15:40; John 19:25). Perhaps the closeness between Jesus and John was born in early years as cousins.

John's older brother was the apostle James, who later became the first apostolic martyr (Acts 12:2). They were fishermen by trade, on the Sea of Galilee. After the death of Christ, John became a leader in the Jerusalem church (Galatians 2:9), and later wrote the Gospel near Ephesus where he spent the last years of his life. In all, John wrote five New Testament books: three epistles (I, II and III John), the Gospel of John, and Revelation (penned in exile on the Isle of Patmos).

Tradition states that John wrote his gospel at the request of Christian friends, and agreed to do so only after the church had fasted and prayed for three days. The Zondervan Pictorial Bible Dictionary, page 438.

3 The Word. The term "Word" is the outstanding title given Jesus in the prologue. It is the best possible translation of the Greek logos, which is best defined by the word "reason." To the Greek, logos represented the origin and power behind order in the universe. To the Jew, logos referred to the mighty word of God that spoke the universe into existence.

4 John the Baptist was a very important personality in Israel. (See Commentary, Lesson 2.) John was rugged, living in the wilderness area beyond the Jordan. He preached repentance and baptism symbolic of the washing away of sins in preparation for the soon-coming Messiah. Jew and Gentile alike who embraced John's message were baptized with water. John's teaching and baptism angered Jewish religious leaders who felt prepared to meet the Messiah just because they were Abraham's descendants and God's chosen people; only Gentile proselytes of the Jewish faith had received water baptism before. Even so, multitudes flocked to the Jordan to hear John and be baptized by him.

The gospels emphasize that John's sole mission was to be the God-appointed messenger to announce the arrival of Christ. John recognized and introduced Jesus as the Messiah when Jesus was baptized. Later, the prophet was imprisoned and put to death by Herod.