Application Questions:

What is a friend? How is friendship defined? How many friends do you have based on that definition?

Who was the last friend to rebuke you as in Proverbs 27:6? What was the issue and circumstance? How did you respond?

What does friendship mean during a time of comfort?

Should there be a distinction between friendship with believers and unbelievers?

Application Questions:

What does discipline include? How do definitions of instruction, training, and correction inform the goal of discipline?

What motivation must underline all child discipline?

Read Proverbs 22:6. How would you counsel, pray for, and encourage parents of an estranged child?

How were you disciplined as a child? What methods would you recommend or discourage for the next generation?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:
1. Who are better planners—the wise or the foolish? Compare Proverbs 16:3 with Proverbs 24:8. What distinguishes wise and foolish plans?

2. How will you know if plans are the Lord’s will? How do you make decisions without 100% certainty?

3. Who helps you plan? What value does counsel and advice provide?

4. Is there any randomness in life? Are you able to plan for everything? How does Proverbs 16:33 match life’s randomness and God’s sovereignty?

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. How is laziness hidden, excused, or overlooked? When and where do you find yourself struggling to work?

2. What is the last project you started but did not complete? What will it take to finish the job?

3. Do your emotions help or hinder your work? List emotional triggers and how they affect your discipline.

4. What Proverb from today’s sermon will help you start, do, and finish a delayed task.

APPLICATION QUESTIONS:

1. Why don’t riches profit in a day of wrath according to Proverbs 11:4? How does that influence estate planning?

2. What distinctions does Proverbs make between the rich and the poor?

3. Does God promise the righteous wealth? What does the book of Proverbs say about wealth and righteousness?

4. In what ways is wealth limited? In what way is wealth limiting?

Application Questions:

What is the fear of man? Why is it a problem? Why does Proverbs 29:25 call it a ‘snare’?

Should you please people? When is it right? When is it wrong? How can you build healthy relationships?

What does it mean to love people more but need them less? How does this address the fear of man?

What is the difference between fearing God and fearing man? Should you fear God?

How does fearing God affect your emotions?

Application Questions:

Who are the two speakers in Proverbs 9? What are their final appeals?

Is criticism a valid means of education? How do the wise handle criticism differently from scoffers? Give a recent example of criticism that you have received and benefited?

What role does education play in the Christian life? How does a Christian grow by learning?

Who is a scoffer? Why does Proverbs warn against rebuking a scoffer?

Application Questions:

How valuable is wisdom according to Proverbs 8:4-11? Give several examples of how wisdom can be chosen over possessions.

Is wisdom rare? Is wisdom’s value associated with its availability?

How does wisdom bless leadership? What is the impact of its absence in leadership?

Read Proverbs 8:24-25. Is Jesus the wisdom of God? If so, is Jesus a created being?

Application Questions:

Should you lend money to family or friends? Is it wise to ever loan money? How does wisdom govern lending practices?

What can be learned from the ant? What observable behaviors inform work and rest in the life of the wise?

What is an abomination? Why does Proverbs say God hates them? How should Christians hate what God hates?

Define the phrase “one who sows discord among the brothers” (Prov. 6:19).

Who does this describe? What does this offense look like in a family, a church, or a small group?