Sermon-based Study Guide Sermon: iwonder (Proverbs 20:5) Sermon Series: in the Making SERMON SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY Question: What do disciples say to a person who is curious? When a person begins to open up it is a matter of the heart. the goal is understanding (does not come easily). Impediments include laziness & quarreling. o WYSIATI > WYSINATI wonder in. When someone begins to open up, disciples say I wonder. LET S REVIEW 1. What are 1 or 2 key truths you take away from this sermon? Page 1 of 7
DIGGING DEEPER The following is a review of the different kinds of people we come in contact with, the Biblical goal and action commensurate with each situation. * This is founded on the Biblical perspective of disciple making, which is: God does the growing, disciples join Him in the work. Person Goal Action Resistant Kindness Serve Indifferent Communication Listen Curious Understanding Wonder Next week Take some time to consider and discuss: 1. Who might be some people you know that fall into these various categories. 2. How do you feel about the goals connected with each situation. 3. What are some examples you can think of connected with the actions described? 4. What does this teach us about how the Lord relates to you and to others? Can you think of some Biblical examples? Some personal experiences? Page 2 of 7
IN MY LIFE The following material is from Doug Pollock s book, God Space. I hope you will take time to go through it and discuss it with someone or in your small group. I would also encourage you to use the scripture links on the cover of the sermon supplement for additional study and discussion. GOOD WAYS TO START WONDERING - That s an interesting perspective; I m wondering how you arrived at that conclusion. - If I could arrange for you to speak at my church about your impression of Christians, I m wondering what you would say. - I m wondering what role religion has played in shaping your life. - I m wondering why the topic of God seems to stir up such strong emotions in you. - I ve thought long and hard about our last conversation; here s what I m still wondering about. - I m wondering how my answer to that question made you feel. - Your comments on the subject have left me wondering. - I m wondering what you think you d have to give up or lose to become a Christian. - I m wondering what you think it would take for you to acknowledge the reality of God s existence. - As we ve been talking, I ve heard you talk about several things that WONDERING IS NOT - Using questions to gain control of a conversation so you can get your point across. - A set of memorized questions to herd people toward a decision you think they should make. - A springboard from which to launch into a monologue. (Survey: Pollock, Doug, God s Space, Group, Loveland, Co., 2009, p.73). Page 3 of 7
Word Study Sluggard: lazy bones, i.e., a person who is habitually lazy and inactive, suggesting he has no discipline or initiative, as a moral failure i Plow: i.e., cut a furrow into the earth as the first part of the planting process in farming ii Autumn: winter, i.e., the very beginning time of the growth and harvest cycle, a cooler time of the year, around the months of Nov/Dec in our calendar iii Harvest: harvest season, i.e., the time of reaping and gathering crops from the field as a definite unit of time iv Purpose: Especially in WisdLt and proph.; counsel = good counsel, wisdom v IN GREEK: to think, with the purpose of planning or deciding on a course of action to purpose, to plan, to intend. vi Heart: mind, soul, spirit, self, i.e., the source of life of the inner person in various aspects, with a focus on feelings, thoughts, volition, and other areas of the inner life vii Deep: profound; i.e., pertaining to what is below the surface of something, as a spatial dimension viii ; note: in some contexts, implying profundity or unknowableness; ix Understanding: the faculty Draw it out: understand, comprehend, i.e., to perceive what is hard to know x wis dom n [ME, fr. OE wīsdōm, fr. wīs wise] bef. 12c 1 a : accumulated philosophic or scientific learning : KNOWLEDGE b : ability to discern inner qualities and relationships : INSIGHT c : good sense : JUDGMENT d : generally accepted belief challenges what has become accepted wisdom among many historians Robert Darnton 2 : a wise attitude, belief, or course of action xi Page 4 of 7
wisdom noun 1 synonyms KNOWLEDGE 2, information, lore, science 2 synonyms SAGACITY, insight, sagaciousness, sageness, sapience 3 synonyms SENSE 6, common sense, good sense, gumption, horse sense, judgment related words judiciousness, sageness, saneness, sapience; perspicacity, sagacity, shrewdness antonyms folly xii wonder noun 1 something that causes fascinated astonishment or admiration <the seven wonders of the ancient world> synonyms marvel, miracle, phenomenon, portent, prodigy, sensation, stunner related words curiosity, cynosure, gazingstock, spectacle idioms one for the book(s), something to shout (or write home) about 2 the complex emotion aroused by the strange and incomprehensible and especially the aweinspiring <stood gazing in wide-eyed wonder at the scene unveiled before her> synonyms admiration, amaze, amazement, marveling, wonderment related words awe, fear, reverence; bewilderment, perplexity, puzzlement; astonishment, marvel, shock contrasted words disinterest, incuriosity, indifference, unconcern; dispassion, impassivity; casualness, offhandedness; boredom, ennui xiii Page 5 of 7
Text Study (Here are various Bible translations of the passage.) English Standard Version New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update The New International Version The New Revised Standard Version The Message 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, And whoever is intoxicated by it is not wise. 1 Wine is a mocker and beer a brawler; whoever is led astray by them is not wise. 1 Wine is a mocker, strong drink a brawler, and whoever is led astray by it is not wise. 1 Wine makes you mean, beer makes you quarrelsome a staggering drunk is not much fun. 2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life. 2 The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; He who provokes him to anger forfeits his own life. 2 A king s wrath is like the roar of a lion; he who angers him forfeits his life. 2 The dread anger of a king is like the growling of a lion; anyone who provokes him to anger forfeits life itself. 2 Quick-tempered leaders are like mad dogs cross them and they bite your head off. 3 It is an honor for a man to keep aloof from strife, but every fool will be quarreling. 3 Keeping away from strife is an honor for a man, But any fool will quarrel. 3 It is to a man s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. 3 It is honorable to refrain from strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel. 3 It s a mark of good character to avert quarrels, but fools love to pick fights. 4 The sluggard does not plow in the autumn; he will seek at harvest and have nothing. 4 The sluggard does not plow after the autumn, So he begs during the harvest and has nothing. 4 A sluggard does not plow in season; so at harvest time he looks but finds nothing. 4 The lazy person does not plow in season; harvest comes, and there is nothing to be found. 4 A farmer too lazy to plant in the spring has nothing to harvest in the fall. 5 The purpose in a man s heart is like deep water, but a man of understanding will draw it out. 5 A plan in the heart of a man is like deep water, But a man of understanding draws it out. 5 The purposes of a man s heart are deep waters, but a man of understanding draws them out. 5 The purposes in the human mind are like deep water, but the intelligent will draw them out. 5 Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart; a wise person draws from the well within. Page 6 of 7
Endnotes i Swanson, J. (1997). Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains : Hebrew (Old Testament) (electronic ed.) (DBLH 6789). Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc. ii Ibid. iii Ibid. iv Ibid. WisdLt Wisdom Literature. = equivalent, equals. v Brown, F., Driver, S. R., & Briggs, C. A. (2000). Enhanced Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew and English Lexicon. Strong's, TWOT, and GK references Copyright 2000 by Logos Research Systems, Inc. (electronic ed.) (420). Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems. vi Louw, J. P., & Nida, E. A. (1996, c1989). Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament : Based on semantic domains (electronic ed. of the 2nd edition.) (1:356). New York: United Bible societies. vii Swanson, J. (1997). viii Ibid. ix Ibid. x Ibid. n northern, noun ME Middle English fr from OE Old English bef before c century xi Merriam-Webster, I. (2003). Merriam-Webster's collegiate dictionary. Includes index. (Eleventh ed.). Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, Inc. xii Merriam-Webster, I. (1996, c1988). Merriam-Webster's collegiate thesaurus. Previously published as: Webster's collegiate thesaurus. Springfield, Mass.: Merriam- Webster. xiii Ibid. Page 7 of 7