Bible ReadingProverbs 1:20-33 “Wisdom cries aloud in the street, in the markets she raises her voice; at the head of the noisy streets she cries out; at the entrance of the city gates she speaks: ‘How long, O simple ones, will you love being simple? How long will scoffers delight in their scoffing and fools hate knowledge? If you turn at my reproof, behold, I will pour out my spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded, because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, when terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you. Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me. Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof, therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices. For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them; but whoever listens to me will dwell secure and will be at ease, without dread of disaster.’”
[00:45] [01:00]Proverbs 4:10-27 “Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.”
[00:45] [02:40]Luke 15:11-32 “And he said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. And the younger of them said to his father, ‘Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.’ And he divided his property between them. Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living. And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs. And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants.’ And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him. And the son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet. And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.’ And they began to celebrate. Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, ‘Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.’ But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him, but he answered his father, ‘Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!’ And he said to him, ‘Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.’”
[41:28]Observation questions- In Proverbs 1, where does Wisdom speak, and what does that setting suggest about the kind of places where real-life decisions are made? [14:19]
- In Proverbs 1:22, what three kinds of people are named, and what does each one seem to resist or refuse?
- In Proverbs 4, what repeated commands are given about the wrong path, and what images are used to compare the path of the righteous and the way of the wicked? [36:12]
- In Proverbs 4:23-27, what parts of a person’s life are mentioned after the heart—speech, eyes, and feet—and how are they all connected?
Interpretation questions- Proverbs says the fear of the Lord must be chosen. What does that show about wisdom? Is wisdom mainly about collecting information, or about responding rightly to God? [10:25]
- Proverbs 1 treats reproof as a turning point. Why does correction reveal so much about the direction a person is already heading? [26:09]
- Proverbs 4 describes wisdom as freedom within limits rather than the death of freedom. Why do people often feel that limits are restrictive, and how might godly limits actually protect life and joy? [32:20]
- Luke 15 says the younger son “came to himself” before he got up and went home. What does that suggest about the connection between a changed heart and a changed life? [41:53]
Application questions- Wisdom speaks in the middle of noise, not just in quiet moments. What are the loudest voices in daily life right now—phone, stress, ambition, fear, approval, entertainment—and which of them makes it hardest to hear God clearly? [13:19]
- The simple person is wide open to every voice, the scoffer keeps everything at arm’s length, and the fool refuses to change. Which of those patterns feels closest to home right now, even in a small way? [24:11]
- Correction is trying to love. When truth shows up and interrupts comfort, what is the usual first reaction—defensiveness, delay, excuses, joking, shutting down? What might it look like to turn at reproof instead of resisting it? [28:11]
- A voice that keeps getting heard eventually becomes a direction. What repeated message has been shaping decisions lately? Where is that voice actually leading? [29:20]
- The wrong road usually feels right at the start. Is there any area where a small compromise keeps asking for “just one inch”? What would it look like to turn away early instead of waiting for a bigger collapse? [36:12]
- “Keep your heart with all vigilance” means the center of life matters most. If the heart is driving speech, attention, and habits, what has been filling the heart lately? What fruit is starting to show up from that? [38:28]
- Jesus is not only the one who points out the way home; he is the way home, and the Father runs toward those who turn back. Where is there a need to stop rehearsing excuses and actually start walking home? [43:13]
