1. Pray before starting 2. Introduce righteous & wise vs.

wicked & fools

What does it mean to be righteous & wise vs. wicked & foolish?
(Doing what God wants rather than what Satan wants. Godly life vs. worldly life) A fool is anyone who lives his life as if God doesn't exist. We can do that as Christians when we say we believe in Him, but then live as if He isn't really there. We make decisions without Him and do things that would offend Him, but seem to think He either can't see or won't do anything about it. We live our lives according to our standards instead of His; it is all like He is not even there. In Proverbs, there are five types of fools: Simple fool: vulnerable, doesnt know better, simple-minded, doesnt see cause-and-effect relationships. Silly fool: quick to speak before thinking, easily angered, hates correction, and thinks his way is the right way Sensual fool: seems to purposefully make wrong choices, rejects Gods wisdom and prefers the worlds way, and focused on short term gratification Scornful fool: eye-roller, has disdain/contempt for God, embraces anything against God, doesnt listen to correction, and needs punishment to get his attention Stubborn fool: most dangerous, totally rejects God and His ways, self-confident, close-minded, acts as his own god, does not submit to God, and drags others along, highly persuasive

3. Ask the class to look for cause and effect relationships between righteous & wise vs. wicked & foolish as we read Proverbs 10. 4. Ask Questions:
What stands out to you in the passage? Is anything surprising, seems redundant, hard to understand, etc. from the passage? What did you notice about the righteous & wise? What did you notice about the wicked & foolish?
(The righteous deliver from death, are crowned with blessings, which bring wealth without painful toil, their wealth is their fortified city, their name is used in blessings, their mouth is a fountain of life, their lives are longer, their wages are life, their tongue is choice silver, they do not go hungry, their lips nourish many, their lips know what finds favor, from their mouth comes fruit of wisdom, their prospect is joy, what they desire will be granted, the way of the LORD is their refuge, they walk securely, they will never be uprooted, they will stand firm forever, and their love covers all wrongs. A wise son brings joy to his father, accepts commands, holds his tongue, has lips of discerning, stores up knowledge, is a man of understanding, shows the way to life, is prudent, and his hands bring wealth.) (The wicked will be found out, have cravings thwarted, their mouths conceal violence, but they are

overwhelmed with violence, cause grief, will be overtaken by what they dread, are gone when the storm has swept by, stir up conflict, their heart is of little value, their years are cut short, their hopes come to nothing, the LORD is their ruin, their treasures have no lasting value, are ruined by poverty, earn sin and death, will not remain in the land, their name will rot, their lips only know what is perverse, their tongue will be silenced, and they frustrate and annoy those who send them. A foolish son is disgraceful, brings grief to his mother, invites ruin, comes to ruin, dies for lack of sense, leads others astray, finds pleasure in wicked schemes, is punished, is poor, conceals hatred with lying lips, spreads slander, and multiplies words rather than stopping his sin. )

In our own lives, how can we see that God is making us righteous & wise?
(Want to do what pleases God, are abundantly full of fruit of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), are known for being vessels Jesus shines His light through, dont speak crassly (cursing/crude language), desire and are given spiritual gifts rather than physical/worldly gifts, help others learn to want and be given spiritual gifts, turn to God when temptation comes, let love cover the faults of those around us, do what we know makes our parents (and God) proud, are obedient the first time we are told, listen before speaking, speak respectfully, and learn to understand and honor the lives of those around us.)

How can we see were letting Satan keep us wicked and foolish?
(Are not always nice to people, use bad language, pick on others, get in fights, dont treat everyone as God would treat them (perhaps because we think theyre too strong, weak, smart, stupid, fat, skinny etc.), make poor choices (eating habits, exercise, dangerous activities), do not have fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control), annoy others, disobey our parents/teachers (dont clean our room/turn in homework), think we are better than anyone else is, tell lies (even little ones), gossip, try to talk our way out of it when we do something wrong.)

Which is easier?
(Wickedness and foolishness come naturally because of our sinful nature. Righteousness & wisdom must be searched for by actively asking God to change us and give us fruit of the spirit)

If we try really hard, can we be righteous & wise on our own?

(No, we are naturally sinners and are too weak to break free from Satans grasp without Jesus to do it for us)

Do choices we make help us be righteous & wise?

(Yes, but only because it helps us become closer to God, who is our source of righteousness & wisdom)

Why do we want to be righteous & wise?

(It allows us to receive fulfillment throughout our lives that cannot be found elsewhere. It also gives us the resources to help others become closer to God so that they too can have fulfilling lives)

What should we do to try to become righteous & wise?

(Read the Bible, spend time with God, love all people, and let Him guide our lives)

5. Pray

10 The proverbs of Solomon:

1

17

Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
18

A wise son brings joy to his father, but a foolish son brings grief to his mother.
2

Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.
19

Ill-gotten treasures have no lasting value, but righteousness delivers from death.
3

Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the prudent hold their tongues.
20

The LORD does not let the righteous go hungry, but he thwarts the craving of the wicked.
4

The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value.
21

Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth.
5

The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of sense.
22

He who gathers crops in summer is a prudent son, but he who sleeps during harvest is a disgraceful son.
6

The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it.
23

Blessings crown the head of the righteous, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
7

A fool finds pleasure in wicked schemes, but a person of understanding delights in wisdom.
24

The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot.
8

What the wicked dread will overtake them; what the righteous desire will be granted.
25

The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
9

When the storm has swept by, the wicked are gone, but the righteous stand firm forever.
26

Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, but whoever takes crooked paths will be found out.
10

As vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so are sluggards to those who send them.
27

Whoever winks maliciously causes grief, and a chattering fool comes to ruin.
11

The fear of the LORD adds length to life, but the years of the wicked are cut short.
28

The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.
12

The prospect of the righteous is joy, but the hopes of the wicked come to nothing.
29

Hatred stirs up conflict, but love covers over all wrongs.

13

Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of one who has no sense.
14

The way of the LORD is a refuge for the blameless, but it is the ruin of those who do evil.
30

The wise store up knowledge, but the mouth of a fool invites ruin.
15

The righteous will never be uprooted, but the wicked will not remain in the land.
31

The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.
16

From the mouth of the righteous comes the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be silenced.
32

The wages of the righteous is life, but the earnings of the wicked are sin and death.

The lips of the righteous know what finds favor, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.