Intermediate lesson nine - book of Proverbs

MESSAGE FOR PEOPLE TODAY FROM THE BOOK OF PROVERBS

Please watch the Video Before Reading the Lesson Plan

Church: Smyrna                                        Lesson 14 of 39                        Theme: Mercy

Background Information:

ü  We asked in the book of Ruth, “How can the creation know how to share God’s mercy?" 

ü  In 2 Chronicles, we were awakened to learn how the world will try to confuse the message of Jesus’ sacrifice with pride.

Statement of Faith to Say Amen to for the Book of Proverbs:

I can bear an inner witness of the truth by listening to a wise man and not the worldview.

Essential Question:

Can I bear an inner witness that runs the race and gets a crown?

The Book of Proverbs:

Have students read pages 44-48 in The Pattern of Sound Teaching.

After students read the information ask them, "What do you want to talk about?"

Remember the Issue:

Living a life of a wise man bears witness to sharing God’s spiritual gift of mercy. A wise man loves his neighbor with wisdom, and it is a burden to bear witness with love to neighbors who are performing abominations and celebrating pride and not fearing the Lord. By putting on the armor of God, we can build an internal temple on the foundation of faith that the church of Laodicea formed on The Rock of Faith. We need to remember God’s armor includes a defense of (2) Feet that only go Toward Peace. In Proverbs 4:23-26, we are told we can guard our heart by pondering the path of our feet. We should use this weapon to stay in control of our mind, and to bear an inner witness to the world about the spiritual gift of mercy that God offers for faith:

(1)   First abomination: The worldview will teach us to have a proud look that belittles less fortunate people. As it is written in Proverbs 16:5, “Everyone that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord; though hand join in hand; he shall not be unpunished.” A wise man will bear witness to the world by showing mercy to those who are less fortunate.

(2)   Second abomination: The worldview will teach us to lie about other people and to sow discord between people. It is written in Proverbs 12:22 “Lying lips are abomination to the Lord: but they that deal truly are his delight.” A wise man will bear witness to the world by refusing to get into a match of lying back about people.

(3)   Third abomination: The worldview will teach us to plan ahead to take advantage and sacrifice innocent people just because we can. It is written in Proverbs 21:27, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” A wise man will bear witness to the world by refusing to take advantage of innocent people.

(4)   Fourth abomination: The worldview will teach us to lie awake at night making plans to cause conflict by manipulating people to argue with a heart that seems to be full of tender mercies but is actually cruel. It is written in Proverbs 3:32, “For the forward is an abomination to the Lord but his secret is with the righteous.” A wise man will bear witness to the world by realizing that cruel people will say and do cruel things because that is who they are.

(5)   Fifth and sixth abominations: The worldview will encourage us to have feet that are always running down an evil path that ends with trouble because when someone gets in the way they will be sacrificed. It is written in Proverbs 15:8-9, “The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. The way of the wicked is an abomination unto the Lord: but he loveth him that followed after righteousness.” A wise man will bear witness to the world by realizing that there are people living in the world who will deal harshly with anyone who gets in their way. A wise man also bears witness to the world by realizing that God loves when people follow after righteousness.

(6)   Seventh abomination: The worldview will encourage the government not to show mercy to the citizens. It is written in Proverbs 16:12, “It is an abomination to kings to commit wickedness: for the throne is established by righteousness.” A wise man will bear witness by supporting a merciful government. He will realize that when a government does not show mercy to citizens, the citizens that the government rules over will not show mercy to others.

Remember the Truth Jesus Brought:

We cannot let pride stop us from sharing mercy. We are to be wise in the way we deal with people who are performing abominations. It is also stated that fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Students can answer the following question: Is the world teaching us to fear the Lord or a worldview?

It is written in Proverbs 3:3-4 that people need to treat mercy as a truth around their neck and write mercy upon their hearts. Mercy will be like a noose, because if we do not show mercy to our neighbor, then Jesus will not show us mercy. The choice is ours: We can have a necklace or a noose around our neck. “Let not mercy and truth forsake thee bind them about thy neck, write them upon the table of thine heart. So shalt thou find favor and good understanding in the sight of God and man.”

Remember the Rock God Established:

As it is written by Paul of Tarsus in 1 Corinthians 9:24-27, “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore, I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus, I fight not as one who beats the air. But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, least, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.” The way to share God’s mercy is not to get disqualified from the race. Does the world teach us about God’s promise to give us a crown? The book of Proverbs was written by a wise man who explains to us how to run the race and get a crown with wisdom.

Activity:

The activity directions are located in Appendix 3.

Students will play a game called Sin.

Conclusion:

What will happen when we take our eyes off the Redeemer/ Jesus? The enemy will lead us astray.

Next Lesson:

In the next lesson, God's promise is how He gives us a way to escape what we cannot endure when we remember how the enemy will use fear and lies to tempt us into being proud. Pride will stop us from sharing mercy and love with a neighbor who is performing abominations. A righteous behavior that will bear good fruit is not to return an abomination with an abomination. A righteous behavior shares God’s mercy with love by praying for wisdom in how to respond to our neighbor who is performing abominations. Sharing God’s mercy with love is a defensive way to fight back without empowering what we are fighting against.