Proverbs Bible Study - 1

Our pastor has challenged us to read through Proverbs before Easter this year.  There are 31 chapters in proverbs, so if we read 5 chapters a week, we will have finished the book before Easter.  Will you join me in this challenge?  I thought my blog might be a fun place to work on this challenge together.  I would love to hear your thoughts, words of wisdom, and of course, your favorite verses from Proverbs.

My goal is to read 1 chapter of Proverbs each day - 5 days out of the week.  And then share with you here. I hope you will join me!

King Solomon appears to be the main author of the book of proverbs, but he may also have collected proverbs from others and edited them.  In the first part of the book, he often addresses the proverbs to "My son,".

Proverbs 1:1-6 summarizes the purpose of Proverbs:
Proverbs 1
Purpose and Theme
 ¹ The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel:

 ² for gaining wisdom and instruction;
   for understanding words of insight;
³ for receiving instruction in prudent behavior,
   doing what is right and just and fair;
⁴ for giving prudence to those who are simple,^[a]
   knowledge and discretion to the young—
⁵ let the wise listen and add to their learning,
   and let the discerning get guidance—
⁶ for understanding proverbs and parables,
   the sayings and riddles of the wise.^[b]

My favorite verse in Chapter 1 is:

Proverbs 1:8

"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction and do not forsake your mother's teaching."

I think I am going to post this on the mirror in Justin and Nate's bathrooms!  :)

Here is a link for chapter 1 if you still need to read it.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Proverbs+1&version=NIV

Some questions to ponder:

(taken from this website: http://www.padfield.com/acrobat/harbison/proverbs-rh.pdf)

(is this the proper way to give credit for an online source??)

How did Solomon obtain his wisdom?  How do we obtain wisdom? (James 1:5-8; 3:13-18)

Why are proverbs beneficial tools for teaching and learning?

Are proverbs statements of unchangeable truth and immovable promises of God?

How are the Proverbs able to span years, locations, cultures, and still be relevant to all people?

Why should we study the book of Proverbs?  What are we suppose to learn from all of these little bits and pieces of wisdom in this book?

Is a smart person necessarily a wise person?

Think of a simple event where God's wisdom helped you.

Now click on comment and share your thoughts!  God bless you!!