Study Questions for Groups
By Michael C. Mack
1. Did you share something you’ve learned from God’s Word with someone outside the group last week? How? With whom?
2. What challenge did you face last week?
Ask three people—two readers and one reteller—to help. Ask the readers to read Proverbs 1:7; 2:1-8; 8:22-26; and 9:10 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. (Leader, for the sake of continuity, it may help to print these as handouts before the meeting.)
Ask the third person to summarize the main points of the passages.
3. What do you learn in general about the source (beginning) of wisdom from these passages?
4. Let’s dig deeper into these passages:
• Compare and contrast Proverbs 1:7 with Proverbs 9:10. What do these verses reveal to you about wisdom, instruction, knowledge, and understanding?
• What effect does “fear of the Lord” (respect, reverence for him) have on wisdom?
• Proverbs 2:1-8 presents an elaborate conditional statement (if-if-if-then). How would you characterize, in general, the hypotheses (the if statements)?
• What are the conclusions (vv. 5-8)?
• In Proverbs 8:22-26, Wisdom is personified and speaks to humankind (actually sings a hymn) describing her role. What does this teach you about wisdom?
5. What do you learn about God from these passages?
6. What do you learn about humankind from these passages?
7. In what specific way will you seek God’s wisdom? (Reread and perhaps circle theif statements in Proverbs 2:1-4; e.g., “Accept my words,” “store up my commands within you.” Then choose how you will live out that instruction consistently. Share this with the rest of the group.)
8. Look again at the if statements in Proverbs 2:1-4, but this time, consider this: How will you teach someone else how to seek God’s wisdom by following at least one of these instructions? (Be as specific as you can.)
9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”
10. What challenges might you face this week as you seek to live in reverence and awe of God?
For Next Week: Read and reflect on Proverbs 3:1-12; 14:2; and 22:4. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.
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