small group discussion

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SMALL GROUP DISCUSSION DATE

5/9/18 5/9/18

BIBLE PASSAGE

Proverbs 12:26; Proverbs 12:26; 17:17; 17:17; 27:6; 27:6; 27:17 27:17

GRADES 9-12

1. KNOW THE CONTEXT The It was is said said to to be be the The book book of of Proverbs Proverbs is is all all about about wisdom. wisdom. It was written written by by Solomon Solomon who who is the wisest wisest person person who who ever ever lived. lived. The The book book itself itself is is made made up up mostly mostly of of short short sayings sayings about about how how to to live live wisely wisely and and some some longer longer passages passages that that express express wisdom wisdom in in more more detail. detail. There There is is so so much much good good stuff stuff in in Proverbs Proverbs about about all all kind kind of of topics, topics, but but it's it's also also filled filled with we are are going with great great wisdom wisdom about about relationships relationships and and so so tonight tonight we going to to read read multiple multiple passages passages that that will will help help us us "win" "win" in in our our friendships. friendships. These These passages passages are are short, short, so so II encourage encourage you you to to read read them them all all out out loud loud together! together!

2. READ THE BIBLE PASSAGE TOGETHER 3. SPEND TIME IN OBSERVATION Which verses, ideas, or characters stuck out to you? What questions could come from this passage? Observation notes:

Questions:

4. SPEND TIME IN INTERPRETATION What did this passage mean to the original audience? What would it have felt like to be a character in this passage, and who in the passage is the hero/role model (if any)? What’s the main point of this passage?

Questions

Answers

Proverbs 12:26 Proverbs 12:26 focuses focuses on on advice. How How do do you you choose choose advice. who who to to go go to to for for advice? advice?

Have Have them them dig dig into into the the question question of of what what criteria criteria they they look look for for in in choosing choosing someone someone to to go go to to for advice. advice. They They may not have have ever ever thought thought about about what what they they look look for for in in someone someone who who for may not they seek seek advice advice from from and and it's it's an an important important thing thing to to think think about! about! they

What do What do you you think think Proverbs Proverbs 17:17 is is trying trying to to say say about about 17:17 friendships? friendships?

Get Get them them to to try try and and summarize summarize this this in in their their own own words words so so they they are are really really getting getting what what itit means. means.

Why Why would would Proverbs Proverbs 27:6 27:6 say that wounds wounds could could be be say that better than than kisses? kisses? better

This gets at at the enemy might This passage passage gets the idea idea of of listening listening to to difficult difficult truths truths from from friends. friends. An An enemy might butter you up up and and tell tell you you you're you're great, great, but but someone someone who who cares cares about about you might need need to to butter you you might tell you you a a difficult difficult truth truth sometime sometime and and that that is is better! better! tell

What you think think itit means What do do you means to to Encourage Encourage them them to to keep keep talking talking about about this this and and come come up up with with different different things things that that this this "sharpen" could "sharpen" each each other? other? could mean! mean!

5. SPEND TIME IN APPLICATION What is the “universal truth” God wants to teach us from this passage? How can we apply the message of this passage to our daily lives?

What are are some •• What some of of your your favorite favorite things things to to do do with with your your friends? friends? When you you think think of of the your friendships? friendships? Are Are there there •• When the wisdom wisdom about about friendships friendships here, here, is is there there anything anything missing missing in in your any any ways ways that that this this small small group group could could step step in in and and be be loyal, loyal, provide provide good good advice advice or or challenge challenge with with truth? truth? What kind kind of of friend friend are are you you to to others? others? What What is is hardest hardest for for you: you: giving giving good friends during during •• What good advice? advice? sticking sticking with with friends difficult difficult times? times? Or Or challenging challenging friends friends with with difficult difficult truth? truth? How could could you continue to to grow as a a friend? friend? •• How you continue grow as

6. PRAY Follow-up notes: