Live Wise: The Power Of Proverbs
See The Danger; Make A Change
Life is difficult. There’s no way around it. But too often, we make it more difficult than it has to be because we work against principles God put into place. Fortunately, God offers us wisdom for how to live in harmony with the seen and unseen realities of our world. In this series, we’ll look at some of the powerful wisdom God offers from the book of Proverbs that can help us thrive in our family, finances, and careers.
Links
Series
Speakers
Marcus Avalos
Lead Pastor
When you see trouble coming, don’t ignore it. DO something.
OLLIE
QUESTION 1 HOW DO I CHOOSE THE RIGHT PATH IN LIFE?
QUESTION 2: WHAT PATH ARE YOU CURRENTLY ON?
QUESTION 3: If you continue the course you’re currently on, where will you end up?
YOU WIN OR LOSE BY THE PATHS YOU CHOOSE
Psalms 25:4,10 - Show me Your ways, O LORD; Teach me Your paths.
Prov. 4:18 But the path of the just is like the shining sun, That shines ever brighter unto the perfect day.
Prov. 4:26 Ponder the path of your feet, And let all your ways be established.
Ps. 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
LOOK AHEAD
SEE THE DANGER; MAKE THE CHANGE When you see trouble coming, don’t ignore it. DO something.
Prov. 27:12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
• TWO TYPES OF PEOPLE: prudent | simple • TWO RESPONSES: both see, 1 does something • TWO OUTCOMES: avoids harm | suffers hurt
PRIMARY DIFFERENCE:
Its Not What They Saw... But How They Responded To What They Saw
PRUDENT: A prudent individual is thoughtful about their actions, anticipates potential risks, and makes decisions that protect their well-being and that of others.
SIMPLE: The simple person doesn’t foresee danger or think about the consequences of their choices.
THE PROBLEM:
Not Looking Ahead Emotional Pull Blind Spots
Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.
BLIND SPOTS
Before one is shamed PUBLICLY The H.S. is working PRIVATELY
NEVER EVALUATE A RELATIONSHIP BASED ON WHERE IT IS, BUT WHERE IT IS MOVING.
APPLICATION REFLECT THIS WEEK:
• What Direction Do You want to go? • What dreams and hopes do you have? • Are the PATHS you’re on today going to GET YOU THERE? • What course corrections are necessary?
TODAY’S DECISIONS CREATE TOMORROWS EXPERIENCES
IF YOU SEE THE DANGER; MAKE THE CHANGE do something…
remember noah
PRAYER
“Lord, help us to see trouble coming long before it arrives, and give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it.”
TITLE: SEE THE DANGER; MAKE THE CHANGE
Week of 9-15-24
TEXT: PROVERBS 27:12
CHECKING IN
- If this is your first-time meeting as a group, or a new group member, introduce yourselves.
- Share with the group what you hope to get out of this GROW Group series.
MEMORY VERSE
Proverbs 14:15 - “A simple man believes anything, but a prudent man gives thought to his steps.”
MAIN POINT
Proverbs 27:12 - “The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer it”
IT IS NOT WHAT YOU SEE, BUT HOW YOU RESPOND TO WHAT YOU SEE THAT MATTERS.
INTRODUCTION
As your group time begins, use this section to introduce the topic of discussion.
- There is often a disconnect between where we want to end up and the path we choose. You win or lose by the path you choose. It is not where you are that is the issue; it is where you are headed. If you are on the wrong road, it doesn’t matter what you believe. It doesn’t matter what your intentions are. You are in trouble. The paths we choose impact us more than our intentions or our motivations. We are all on a path of some kind—financially, morally, relationally, spiritually.
QUESTION: If you continue your current path, where will you end up? (Financially, spiritually, etc...)
UNDERSTANDING/DIGGING DEEPER
YOU WIN OR LOSE BY THE PATH YOU CHOOSE. The prudent person, foreseeing the danger, prepares accordingly, and hides themself, but the simple is either so unaware that they do not anticipate it. They may be so willful and prideful that they will take no care to avoid it, and so venture on in their security and suffer the consequences. We do well for ourselves when we prepare for the challenge.
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ JEREMIAH 6:17 Unpack Jeremiah 6:17.
“I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’”
Usually, others will have more insight into where our paths are taking us than we do. Why? Blind spots and emotions. We often get entangled emotionally with what’s on the path. There’s always something on the wrong path that offers an immediate fix or thrill. Some type of strong emotional appeal. (Quick cash, 0% financing, Shares in the company, “But he is rich”; “She’s beautiful!”)
Where you are headed is more important than where you are. Regarding the path you are currently on, has anyone tried to warn you lately? Your conscience? Do you know anyone who has walked your path and ended up where you want to be relationally? Who has God sent in times past to give you guidance?
APPLICATION
HAVE A VOLUNTEER READ Proverbs 7:6-23
- What happens to the young man that avoided the warning?
- Read Proverbs 7:24-27
- What does wisdom say about this scenario? Where does it lead eventually?
NOTE: A prudent individual is thoughtful about their actions, anticipates potential risks, and makes decisions that protect their well-being and that of others. The simple person doesn’t foresee danger or think about the consequences of their choices.
COMMENTARY
When you see trouble coming, don’t ignore it. DO something. A misstep will result in a mishap, regardless of the fact that you were mistaken. The simple are like a man on a raft who hears a waterfall ahead and says, “That’s way up there; I’ll deal with it when I get there . . . besides, the water here is calm.” The sign says, “scout rapids,” but it’s so calm.
There are <u>points of no return</u> sometimes . . . then it is too late. There are situations that if left unattended become so complicated that there are no good options left. For instance: Age 60 is not the time to start thinking about saving. Being Pregnant isn’t the time to re-evaluate the relationship. Never evaluate a relationship based on where it is. Always evaluate where it is moving.
REFLECT THIS WEEK: What Direction Do You want to go? What dreams and hopes do you have? Are the PATHS you’re on today going to GET YOU THERE? What course corrections are necessary?
PRAYER DIRECTION
One way we can walk in wisdom and not get trapped by the temptations that come is to pray. Take some time as a group to share your prayer requests in groups of 3 or so, pray together over them. The following is an example of how one can pray: “Lord, help us to see trouble coming long before it arrives, and give us the wisdom to know what to do and the courage to do it.”
FOLLOW UP
Throughout this week, consider sending a follow-up email to your group. Some suggestions:
❏ Questions to consider as you continue to reflect on what you learned this week:
How can our group pray for you this week about the challenges you are facing, so that you can have victory? When are you most prone to Satan’s attacks? List a couple of them, then prepare ahead of time for the potential attacks.
❏ A note of encouragement, following up on any specific prayer requests mentioned during your group gathering.
❏ Remember to memorize Proverbs 14:15 and seek ways to apply this week