Wednesday, May 10, 2017

Proverbs Catechism

Proverbs Catechism

Unless otherwise noted, all verses will be in the English Standard Version.

Introduction to Proverbs and Wisdom

1. Why was the book of Proverbs written?
For the young and naïve to become wise and the wise to become wiser.
Proverbs 1:4–5 4 to give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance.

 2. What is wisdom? Wisdom is righteous skillful living in God’s world under the fear of the Lord.

   3. How important is wisdom? Do all you can to get and keep wisdom.
Proverbs 23:23 23 Buy truth, and do not sell it; buy wisdom, instruction, and understanding.


4. How can a person have spiritual ears to hear the call of wisdom and spiritual eyes to see the path of wisdom? God graciously grants ears to hear and eyes to see.
Proverbs 20:12 12 The hearing ear and the seeing eye, the Lord has made them both.

 5. Is there anything a person must do to acquire wisdom? I must diligently and prayerfully apply God's Word to my life.

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 6. Is there any other wisdom than God's wisdom? Yes, worldly wisdom is thinking and living apart from the fear of the Lord.
Proverbs 14:12 (NIV84) 12 There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end it leads to death.

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7. Who is the perfect manifestation of God’s wisdom? Christ is the greatest revelation of God’s wisdom. 


8. Is godly wisdom possible outside of Christ? No, because Christ is the source of all wisdom. 



9. Are there any warnings in memorizing and reading proverbs? Yes, proverbs can be useless or harmful in the mouth of fools. 


Proverbs 26:7, 9 ESV Like a lame man's legs, which hang useless, is a proverb in the mouth of fools. Like a thorn that goes up into the hand of a drunkard is a proverb in the mouth of fools.

 10. Where does the path of wisdom ultimately lead? Wisdom leads to the radiant glory of heaven.
18 Proverbs 4:18 But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn,    which shines brighter and brighter until full day.

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11. Can anyone live wise enough to be accepted before God? No, only Jesus can wash us and make us acceptable to God."

Proverbs 20:9Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?


12. Who is the closest source of God's wisdom when you are young? My parents, as they teach me the Scriptures, give wisdom to carry with me. 

Proverbs 1:8–9 8 Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, 9 for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.

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Doctrine of the Fear of the LORD

 13. What is the foundation for wise living? The Fear of the LORD is the ABC's of wisdom.

Proverbs 1:7 (NKJV) 7 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, But fools despise wisdom and instruction. 
14. What is it to fear the LORD? To fear the Lord, is to stand in awe; To love what’s right and hate what’s wrong. 
Proverbs 3:7 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord, and turn away from evil.


 Doctrine of God in Proverbs
15. Who is this LORD that we must fear? He is the triune powerful Creator, loving father, sovereign, holy, just, omniscient, and compassionate God. 

Proverbs 9:10 (NASB95) 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

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 16. What does it mean that God is the powerful creator that we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who wisely and powerfully created everything from my eyes to the skies.  
Proverbs 3:19–20 (NLT) 19 By wisdom the Lord founded the earth; by understanding he created the heavens. 20 By his knowledge the deepfountains of the earth burst forth, and the dew settles beneath the night sky.

17. What does it mean that God is the loving Father that we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who lovingly cares for His children even when He brings corrective pain. 
Proverbs 3:11-12  My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves him whom he loves, as a father the son in whom he delights.
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 18. What does it mean that God is the Sovereign LORD whom we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who controls all things, even the seemingly random events.
Proverbs 16:33 ESV The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.

19.What about man’s free will? While man is always responsible, God is ultimately sovereign even over the hearts of men. 

20. Doesn't this make God a sinner? No! God has good purposes in His Sovereign Hand over evil while not having a hand in evil. 

21.  What is the greatest example of God’s good purpose in His Sovereign Hand over evil while not having a hand in evil?   The greatest example is when man purposed the murder of Jesus while God purposed the salvation of sinners. 

23. What does it mean that God is the Just LORD whom we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who is righteous, loves righteousness, and hates evil. 
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 24. What does it mean that God is the Omniscient LORD whom we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who knows all things actual and possible: past, present, and future.

25. What does it mean that God is the compassionate LORD whom we must fear? We should joyfully stand in awe of the God who is wonderfully merciful to the repentant.

Doctrine of the Word of God in Proverbs

 26. What does the Proverbs teach about the Scriptures? Proverbs teaches the Word of God is without error, trustworthy, and sufficient.

27. What should be your attitude be toward the Scriptures?  I should love, revere, and trust God’s holy Word. 

28. Should you follow your own independent way of thinking or God’s way? God’s way in His Word is always the best way.

 29. Should you follow your heart? No, fools follow their hearts but the wise lead their hearts in wisdom. 

Doctrine of the Heart

30. What is the heart in Proverbs? The heart is immaterial you on the inside, which is the center of responsible thinking, desiring, and feeling before the eye of God and the source of all behavior. 
Proverbs 4:23 Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

 31. What does it mean that the "heart is the immaterial you on the inside?" It means outward actions can deceive others, but the immaterial person is reflected in the heart. 
Proverbs 27:19 As in water face reflects face, so the heart of man reflects the man." 

 32. What does it mean that the heart is 'the center of responsible thinking, desiring, and feeling?" It means my thoughts, desires, and emotions ought to be governed by the fear of the LORD. 
Proverbs 23:17-18 Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the fear of the Lord all the day. Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off.

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 33. What does it mean the heart is 'responsible...before the eye of God'? It means God sees and judges what is in my heart. 
Proverbs 21:2-3 NKJV Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the Lord weighs the hearts. To do righteousness and justice Is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.

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34. What does it mean that the heart is "source of all behavior?" It means my heart initiates actions that are mediated through my body.
Luke 6:45 NKJV A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

35. Were you born with a good heart? No! My heart is naturally foolish and sinful. 

 Proverbs 22:15 NIV1984 Folly is bound up in the heart of a child, but the rod of discipline will drive it far from him.

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 Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have made my heart pure; I am clean from my sin”?

36. Is there any hope for your foolish and sinful heart? Yes! God can give me a new heart by His Spirit. 
Ezekiel 36:26-27 NIV I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.
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 37. Is it most important to be beautiful on the outside? It is nice to be beautiful on the outside but it is most important to be beautiful in the heart. 
Proverbs 31:30 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

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Pride and Humility 

38. What is pride? Pride is a lofty and foolish measuring of oneself without God. 

39. What are some common consequences of pride? Some consequences of pride are disgrace, disappointment, division, and ultimate destruction. 
Proverbs 11:2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

 Proverbs 25:6-7 Do not put yourself forward in the king's presence or stand in the place of the great, for it is better to be told, “Come up here,” than to be put lower in the presence of a noble.

 Proverbs 13:10 By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom.

 Proverbs 16:18 Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

40. What does God think of pride? God hates and abominates a proud heart. 
Proverbs 16:5 ESV Everyone who is arrogant in heart is an abomination to the Lord; be assured, he will not go unpunished.

41. What is the fear of man? The fear of man is a prideful idolatrous anxiety over the opinions of others rather than God. 
Proverbs 29:25 NIV Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe.

42. What is humility? Humility is honestly measuring ourselves in light of God's holiness and our sinfulness. 
Proverbs 15:33 The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

 43. What are some of the graces that accompany humility? Some of the graces are what Solomon experienced: riches, honor, and life. 
Proverbs 22:4  The reward for humility and fear of the Lord is riches and honor and life.

44. What does God think of humility? Humility is more valuable than money and worldly success. 
Proverbs 16:19 (ESV): 19  It is better to be of a lowly spirit with the poor than to divide the spoil with the proud. 

 45. Who is the best example of humility? Jesus, who died for our proud hearts and shows us how to be humble.
Philippians 2:3–5, 8  3 Do nothing from selfish ambition (rivalry) or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus....8 And being found in human form,he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on across.

 Self-control

 46. Should you always do what you feel like doing? No, I should have self-control so I do not become my own worst enemy.
Proverbs 25:28 (NIV1984) Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.

47. What does self-control over speech look like?  It means I think about fearing God before I speak. 
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

 48. What does self-control over anger look like? It means I think about fearing God before I react. 
Proverbs 29:1 He who is often reproved, yet stiffens his neck, will suddenly be broken beyond healing.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.

49. What is self-control better than? Self-control is better than conquering a city. 
Proverbs 16:32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

 Proverbs 19:11 NIV84 A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.
50.  What insect illustrates a lack of self-control over desires in the book of Proverbs? The leech's greediness

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 51. What does self-control over pleasures look like? It means I restrain my desires because good things can become god things when desire for stuff surpasses a desire for God. 


 Discipline 

 52. What did God give parents to help you learn self-control and not become a shameful fool? The Lord has given reproof to teach and the rod to reinforce. 
Proverbs 29:15 (NASB) The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child who gets his own way brings shame to his mother.
53. What should be the motive and method of discipline? Parents should consistently discipline out of a heart of love. 

 54. Is the rod going to kill you? No, the rod will sting me but the purpose is to save me.
Proverbs 23:13–14 (ESV): Do not withhold discipline from a child; if you strike him with a rod, he will not die. 14  If you strike him with the rod, you will save his soul from Sheol. 

 55. When should parents apply the rod with reproof? They should discipline when I knowingly disobey and while there is still hope. 
56. Is Biblical discipline the same as child abuse? No! The Father in heaven is the best example of discipline with love.

57. What should be your attitude toward discipline? I should not hate discipline but welcome it as it helps point me to Christ and His righteousness. 


 58. What kind of influence does a parent have on their children? The Scriptures do not promise parenting results but do speak of the powerful influence of a parent. 

 59. Does the rod and reproof guarantee you will fear the Lord and become a Christian? No, my parents are responsible, I am responsible, and we all depend on God's grace. 

Laziness and Hard Work

 60. What represents the lazy fool and the hard working wise person in Proverbs? The sluggard is lazy and the ant is hardworking. 

 61. What should be the primary motive to work hard? I should do my best for Jesus who died and rose again.



62. What does a sluggard love more than Jesus? Comfort and ease are the common cravings of the sluggard. 

 63. What wisdom can you learn from the ant? I can learn to work diligently, disciplined, and deliberately. 


 65. Does the sluggard make physical and spiritual progress? No, there is a little movement but he stays on the couch.

 66. Does the sluggard finish his tasks? No, the sluggard starts many things but is too lazy to finish them.

 67. What does the sluggard think about himself? The sluggard thinks he is wiser than everyone, even God Himself! 

 68. Is the sluggard a good steward? No, the sluggard neglects his possessions and his potential. 

Speech 

69. Does it matter whether you speak truthfully? Yes, God hates lies but delights in the truth. 

 70. Are your words important? Yes, my words can lead to eternal ruin or well-being.

71. Does shouting and yelling promote peace? No, harsh words bring division and gentle words can bring peace.

 72. Does it matter how much You speak? Yes, while no number of words is commanded, the more I speak the more likely I am to sin.

73. Where do your words come from? My words come from my heart.

 74. Should you always say what's on your mind? No, the fool's tongue gushes what's on his mind. 

76. Should you give solutions without understanding the problem? No, that is foolish and often leads to wrong conclusions.


Proverbs 18:13 (ESV): If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame. 


77. Does it matter when you speak? Yes. Love and wisdom should determine when I speak because timely words are welcome words. 


Proverbs 15:23 NIV “A person finds joy in giving an apt reply— and how good is a timely word!”


78. What is gossip? Gossip is bad information about another that a person digests, and repeats, in order to make the other look bad.

79. What does gossip do? Gossip tends to destroy relationships. 


80. Is it wise to repeat what others have told you in private? No, loose lips sink ships.

82. What kinds of friends should you choose for yourself? I should choose wise friends and not fools. 


Proverbs 13: 20  whoever walks with wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm.



83. What can a good friend do for another? Good friends will sharpen each other.


Proverbs 27:17 (ESV): Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 


83. Is it wise to separate yourself from good friends? No. It is usually a bad sign that leads to bad consequences.


Proverbs 18:1 Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment. 


84. Are the more friends the better? No, quality of friends is better than quantity. 


Proverbs 18:24 (NIV84):  A man of many companions may come to ruin,  but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.


85. Who is the friend who sticks closer than brother? Jesus is the friend of sinners. 


John 15:12–13 (ESV): This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.



87. Is it wise to take revenge upon your enemy? Don't slight the judge and hold a grudge.


Proverbs 25:21–22 (KJV): If thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give him water to drink: 22 For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his head, and the LORD shall reward thee. 

Verse starts at 3:27

88. Is it wise to celebrate during a time of sorrow? No, it is improper and possibly inconsiderate to celebrate during a time of sorrow.


Proverbs 25:20 (KJV): As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart. 

Starts at 3:14



Money


89. Where does wealth come from? God is the ultimate giver of wealth. Therefore honor Him!


Proverbs 3:9–10 (ESV): Honor the Lord with your wealth and with the firstfruits of all your produce; 10  then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine. 


90. Is it better to pursue riches or to pursue the LORD? He who pursues the fear of the LORD is rich. 


Proverbs 15:16-17 NIV “Better a little with the fear of the Lord than great wealth with turmoil. Better a small serving of vegetables with love than a fattened calf with hatred.”


91. Is it wise to pursue and find security in wealth? No, wealth can grow wings and fly away. 


Proverbs 23:4–5 (KJV): Labour not to be rich: cease from thine own wisdom. Wilt thou set thine eyes upon that which is not? for riches certainly make themselves wings; they fly away as an eagle toward heaven. 


92. How does God tell you to acquire wealth? God's way to gain wealth is to work. Even Adam worked the garden. 


Proverbs 10:4 (KJV): He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich. 


93. What happens when a person is not willing to work? They dishonor God and will not have their needs met.


Proverbs 20:4 (ESV): The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 


94. Is it wise to get in financial debt? No debt is a form of voluntary slavery. 


Proverbs 22:7 (ESV): The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender. 


95. Should you just follow your dreams without wisdom? No. The one who foolishly chases dreams may wake up with neither dreams fulfilled nor food and drink.


Proverbs 28:19 The persons who works his land will have plenty of food. But the one who chases useless dreams instead will end up very poor.


96. How should you view get rich quick opportunities? A sucker is born every minute. Don't be one!


Proverbs 28:20 (KJV):  A faithful man shall abound with blessings: but he that maketh haste to be rich shall not be innocent.


97. Why should you have compassion on those in need? 

Every person is made in the image of God. 


Proverbs 22:2 (NIV84): Rich and poor have this in common: The LORD is the Maker of them all. 


98. How does God teach us to be generous toward others? Christ generously gave us himself so that we might have eternal riches.


2 Corinthians 8:9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. 



 




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