YOG - February 28, 2024

Introduction

Opener: Puzzling Questions

Easy: Which word in the Dictionary is spelled incorrectly? (incorrectly)

Medium: If there are 5 apples and you take away 3, how many apples do you have? (3 apples)

Hard: Forward I am heavy, but backward I am not. What am I? (ton)

Two Truths and A Lie

Open in Prayer

Lesson

INTRO ?:

When you hear the phrase “worldly temptations”, what do you think that is describing?

Solomon is about to instruct his son about the worldly temptation to be sexually immoral. The wise person stays away from evil temptation. A fool falls into the trap.

Read Prov 7:1-5

Proverbs 7:1–5 CSB

My son, obey my words, and treasure my commands. Keep my commands and live, and guard my instructions as you would the pupil of your eye. Tie them to your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart. Say to wisdom, “You are my sister,” and call understanding your relative. She will keep you from a forbidden woman, a wayward woman with her flattering talk.

What is the son supposed to ‘keep’?

his dad’s words, commandments, teaching

Where is he supposed to keep them?

on his fingers and heart

What’s it mean to keep something on our heart?

What’s it mean to keep something on his fingers?

Why do you think Solomon chose those two body parts?

sexual sin involves both our bodies and hearts

What does the ‘forbidden woman’ or ‘adulteress’ represent in v5?

the variety of temptations towards sexual sin

Read Prov 7:6-9

Proverbs 7:6–9 CSB

At the window of my house I looked through my lattice. I saw among the inexperienced, I noticed among the youths, a young man lacking sense. Crossing the street near her corner, he strolled down the road to her house at twilight, in the evening, in the dark of the night.

How does this young man demonstrate a lack of sound judgment?

walking too close to the temptation, alone, under the cover of darkness at night

Read Prov 7:10-12

Proverbs 7:10–12 CSB

A woman came to meet him dressed like a prostitute, having a hidden agenda. She is loud and defiant; her feet do not stay at home. Now in the street, now in the squares, she lurks at every corner.

What are some of the primary characteristics of the adulteress/foreign woman?

dressed inappropriately, loud, wayward, wanders from home

Read Prov 7:13-21

Proverbs 7:13–21 CSB

She grabs him and kisses him; she brazenly says to him, “I’ve made fellowship offerings; today I’ve fulfilled my vows. So I came out to meet you, to search for you, and I’ve found you. I’ve spread coverings on my bed— richly colored linen from Egypt. I’ve perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon. Come, let’s drink deeply of lovemaking until morning. Let’s feast on each other’s love! My husband isn’t home; he went on a long journey. He took a bag of silver with him and will come home at the time of the full moon.” She seduces him with her persistent pleading; she lures with her flattering talk.

What is her strategy?

physical touch, claiming they will be alone, redefining ‘love’, seductive speech, smooth talk

Read Prov 7:22-23

Proverbs 7:22–23 CSB

He follows her impulsively like an ox going to the slaughter, like a deer bounding toward a trap until an arrow pierces its liver, like a bird darting into a snare— he doesn’t know it will cost him his life.

How is the unthinking young man like an ox or a bird?

led to slaughter, or a snare, leading to his death

Read Prov 7:24-27

Proverbs 7:24–27 CSB

Now, sons, listen to me, and pay attention to the words from my mouth. Don’t let your heart turn aside to her ways; don’t stray onto her paths. For she has brought many down to death; her victims are countless. Her house is the road to Sheol, descending to the chambers of death.

Why do you think if he gives in to her that he’ll be led to death?

all sin makes us spiritually dead and has an effect on us – even physically

Application

Satan is the father of lies.

In his letter to Christians in Ephesus, Paul told them, “Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11). Paul, who wrote much of the New Testament, believed that there is a devil – an individual personality – who has schemes. And Satan’s strategy behind those schemes is simple: Take what is true and twist it. Take what is evident and distort it. Change it just enough to lead people astray.

For example: Our appetites are good things, but Satan twists them to where those appetites become addictions. Satan twists our desires and our appreciation into things like greed and jealousy and lust. Satan twists people’s views of God so that they get angry at him, make rash decisions in their anger and then blame God for the consequences. Satan has schemes, plans, a strategy. And when you begin factoring this into your own experience, there is a lot to learn.

What is the lie of sexual immorality that people often fall into?

it will make you happy, you deserve it, it won’t hurt anyone

Read Prov 6:27-28

Proverbs 6:27–28 CSB

Can a man embrace fire and his clothes not be burned? Can a man walk on burning coals without scorching his feet?

Put this principle in your own words.

God’s Word and Spirit is the cure to the world’s temptations. Which is why the chapter begins with admonition to keep the Word (7:1-5).

God’s Word assures us of the forgiveness we have in Jesus when we sin, but also gives us the strength to say “no” to temptation.

What bible passages can you think of to help you in the area of sexual purity? (Job 31:1/I Cor 6:18-20/Rom 13:14/II Tim 2:22)

Close in Prayer