Category: Honey For The Soul

03-19-23 Honey for the Soul: The Freedom of Wisdom

3/19/2023

ICEBREAKER
How did you decide who you would marry? Or, what you would choose for your vocation?

We're discussing a teaching series from church called "Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom." This is based on Proverbs 24:14 which says, "Wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you." This week, our discussion will be around the freedom God gives us to choose and some of the principles God gives us for choosing wisely.

Are you following the reading through Proverbs? How's that going for you?
Have any particular proverbs from this week's reading stood to you?

REVIEW & DISCUSS

In his book, Decision Making and the Will of God, Gary Friesen says the first principle of decision making is "Where God commands, we must obey."
1. Which commands must we obey in the Old Testament?
  Remember, there are three types of law in the OT—Ceremonial Law, Civil Law, and Ethical Law. Both the Jewish Ceremonial Law and the Jewish Civil Law are now obsolete. Only the Ethical Law remains in effect. It is this "law" that Jesus says he did not come to abolish but to fulfill (Matthew 5:16-18).
2. What are some of the Commands of Christ that we must obey?
3. What are some of the commands we receive elsewhere in the New Testament?
  Think about the One Anothers.
Friesen's second principle of decision making is "Where there is no command, God gives us freedom."
1. How have you thought of God's will for you? Like a dot and your job is to make sure you land on it or like a fence inside of which you have freedom to choose?
2. What does realizing that we have freedom to choose do to your decision making process?
Friesen's third principle of decision making is "Where there is no command, God gives us wisdom."
Read 1 Corinthians 10:23-33. In this part of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he's applying four larger principles of wisdom to a specific decision the Corinthians must make—should they eat meat that has been sacrificed to an idol? Those four principles are as follows. Godly Wisdom is ...
1. God Honoring (see vs 31)
2. People Loving (see vs 24 & 28)
3. Self Caring (see vs 27, 29-30 and chapter 9)
4. Kingdom Promoting (see vs 33 and 9:19)
Think of a significant decision you need to make. What might that decision look like within these four principles?

PRAYER
First, take some time to identify ways you can pray about what you just discussed. Second, take some time to ask for additional prayer requests. Then close your time together in praise and prayer.

03-12-23 Honey for the Soul: The Anatomy of Wisdom

3/13/2023

ICEBREAKER
What's a great decision you've made in your life?

We're discussing a teaching series from church called "Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom." This is based on Proverbs 24:14 which says, "Wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you." This week, our discussion will be around how we make decisions and will be reference Colossians 1, Proverbs 1, and what psychologists have learned about the decision-making process.

Are you participating in the church's reading plan through Proverbs?
1. How is that going?
2. Have any particular proverbs really stood to you in your readings?

REVIEW & DISCUSS

Have you ever pushed an elevator button multiple times expecting it to come to you faster?
1. Did it change the outcome?
2. Why do you think you did that?
3. What are some other silly things we do that don't make sense? Why do you think we do those things?
There are three general levels of wisdom. While this isn't clear and evident from a face-value reading of the text, it is more evident in a broader understanding of how the bible refers to wisdom. The foundational level is sophia which is Intellectual, Theoretical, or Philosophical Wisdom and has to do with our knowledge—our "knowing". The middle level is sunesis which is Synthesizing or Analytical Wisdom and has to do with our understanding—our "thinking." It's within this level that all our mental and emotional processing happens. It's a very complicated level of wisdom with lots of "filters" and "gates." The third level is phronimos which is Pragmatic or Practical Wisdom demonstrated in our choices and decisions—our "doing". Solomon refers to all three levels in Proverbs 1:2-3 and the Apostle Paul refers to all three levels in Colossians 1:9-10.
1. On Sunday, Pastor Jim highlighted how complicated making wise decisions can be. This is especially because of the filters knowledge has to go through in the middle. Can you recall what some of the internal filters are that complicate our decisions and how have you seen them complicate decision in your own life?
2. How can knowledge and understanding of your personality help you make wiser decisions?
3. How can knowledge of your family of origin help you make wiser decisions?
4. How can knowledge of your emotional and mental biases help you make wiser decisions?
5. How can knowledge of mental distortions or lies help you make wiser decisions?
Is there any area in your life in which you'd like to grow in more wisdom, now?

03-05-23 Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Taste of Wisdom

3/7/2023

ICEBREAKER
Whose house did you love going to when you were a child? Was there food involved? What did it smell like? What were the people like? Why did you love it so much?

We're discussing a teaching series from church called "Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom." This is based on Proverbs 24:14 which says, "Wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you." This week, our discussion will be around Proverbs chapter 9 and Lady Wisdom's call to come eat at her table.

REVIEW & DISCUSS

Are you participating in the church's reading plan through Proverbs?
1. How is that going?
2. Did you watch the introductory videos? What did you think of them?
Read Proverbs 9:1-6.
Proverbs 9:1 says, "Wisdom has built her house; she has set up its seven pillars." James 3:17 gives us insight to these "seven pillars."
1. How have you experienced God's wisdom in your life as being "pure, peace-loving, considerate, submissive (agreeable), full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere?"
2. Can you describe what it's like to be around a wise person who models these characteristics?
3. Can you name anyone as an example?
Lady Wisdom says "come to my house."
1. Where in your life have you found that you've grown in wisdom?
2. Was it in your family home? Was it in particular group or bible study? Was it in a church? Was it in a school or program?
Lady Wisdom says "eat my food."
1. In what ways are you choosing to eat the food of wisdom and how is it helping you grow in wisdom?
2. This would include any bible reading habits, any current groups or studies, church, podcasts, etc.
Lady Wisdom says, "leave your simple (foolish) ways." Would you be willing to share an example of how you've left your foolish ways since growing in God's wisdom?
Is there any area in your life in which you'd like to grow in more wisdom, now?

02-26-23 Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom

2/27/2023

ICEBREAKER
What's a wise saying you've heard that has stuck with you and why?

We're discussing a teaching series from church called "Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom." This is based on Proverbs 24:14 which says, "Wisdom is like honey for you: if you find it, there is a future hope for you." This week, our discussion will be around Proverbs chapter 1, James 1:5, and the benefits of desiring and asking for wisdom.

REVIEW & DISCUSS

Are you participating in the church's reading plan through Proverbs?
1. How is that going?
2. Did you watch the introductory videos? What did you think of them?
Read Proverbs 24:13-14.
1. What some ways you enjoy honey and why?
2. In what ways is wisdom like honey?
3. What are some benefits of being wise?
Who have you know in your life that you considered to be very wise and why?
Read Proverbs 1:1-7.
1. In this passage we see hints of several components of wisdom: Knowledge, Understanding, Doing/Applying, and Moral Righteousness. How are these things all connected and why are they necessary for godly wisdom?
2. This passage also lays out what is necessary to gain wisdom: Listening for wisdom, learning from wisdom, letting yourself grow in wisdom, and fearing (respecting and trusting) God.
  1. Who have you listened to for wisdom?
  2. What are some things you have learned that have helped you grow in wisdom?
  3. How has your fear of God changed your understanding of what is wise?
Read James 1:5-8.
1. When is a time when you either lacked wisdom necessary to make wise choices or chose to not make the wise decision that you knew needed to be made?
2. Have you ever "asked God for wisdom"? Were you confident in receiving and trusting that wisdom?

03-19-23 Honey for the Soul: The Freedom of Wisdom

03-12-23 Honey for the Soul: The Anatomy of Wisdom

03-05-23 Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Taste of Wisdom

02-26-23 Honey for the Soul: The Sweet Hope of Wisdom

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