Hungry for Wisdom

Sermon Notes September 22 , 2019 Proverbs 4:1-9 Short Review Review the main points of the morning message. Focus on: How do we stay hungry for wisdom? Some Questions for Discussion: 1. Break the ice in some ways. Perhaps with this: Who are trend setters, or those who write and speak about how to be successful in life? Names? Are they wise? Do people in our country/culture value wisdom? 2. Below are the 6 points about staying hungry for wisdom with some of the texts quoted. a. Questions: i. Why are good questions better than easy answers? How to encourage them in children? ii. Where do you go with your questions? iii. Proverbs 18:2; 27:21 (careful about giving praise); 12:15 b. Eschew easy answers i. False teaching can be easier to hear – Amos 8:11 – God keeps us hungry ii. What are some questions which you have mulled over for a long time – and still don’t know the complete answer to? What are some ‘easy answers’ you have heard? iii. Proverbs 2:4; 15:14; c. Tell stories i. Which novels, biographies, movies, songs have taught you wisdom in life? ii. Compare the value of reading the life story of a young/mature person to reading the story of an elderly person, or one who has died. What might we gain or miss with regard to wisdom in each? iii. Proverbs 16:22; 8:35-36; 4:3-5 d. Learn wisdom everywhere i. Discuss the idea of “looking through something and not merely at something.” ii. How did Solomon learn wisdom from animals, fools, wise people – everything? e. Remember mortality i. Is thinking about death scary? Why is it important for wisdom? ii. How do you teach children to “number their days?” iii. Ps. 90:12; Proverbs 14:12 f. Pursuing wisdom leads to pursuing Christ i. How, practically, does following Jesus, lead you to lead a wise life? ii. Matthew 13:44-46 and Proverbs 4:7b (cf. NIV)