COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 8 LESSON 8 Teachable NIV, 1984 Conditions for Learning Proverbs 1:5 Let the wise listen and add to their learning and let the discerning get guidance, Proverbs 1:8 Listen, my son, to your father s instruction and do not forsake your mother s teaching. Proverbs 2:1-2, 5 My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and fine the knowledge of God. Proverbs 8:32 Proverbs 8:33 Proverbs 8:34 Proverbs 18:2 Proverbs 18:13 Proverbs 18:15 Proverbs 19:27 Now then, my sons, listen to me; blessed are those who keep my ways. Listen to my instruction and be wise; do not ignore it. Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway. A fools finds no pleasure in understanding but delights in airing his own opinions. He who answers before listening that is his filly and his shame. The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out. Stop listening to instruction, my son and you will stray from the words of knowledge. Contrast of Teachable and Unteachable Proverbs 9:7 Whoever corrects a mocker invites insult; whoever rebukes a wicked man incurs abuse. Proverbs 9:8 Proverbs 9:9 Proverbs 9:12 Proverbs 9:13 Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you. Instruct a wise man and he will be wiser still; teach a righteous man and he will add to his learning. If you are wise, your wisdom will reward you; if you are a mocker, you alone will suffer. The woman Folly is loud; she is undisciplined and without knowledge. 8 1
PROVERBS COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY LESSON 8 SPRING 2018 8 2 Proverbs 10:17 Proverbs 12:1 Proverbs 12:15 Proverbs 12:23 Proverbs 14:6 Proverbs 14:7 Proverbs 14:15 Proverbs 14:29 Proverbs 15:2 Proverbs 15:5 Rebuke Proverbs 3:11 Proverbs 3:12 Proverbs 5:12 Proverbs 5:13 Proverbs 5:14 Proverbs 5:21 Proverbs 17:10 Choices Proverbs 8:10 Proverbs 8:11 He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice. A prudent man keeps his knowledge to himself, but the heart of fools blurts our folly The mocker seeks wisdom and finds none, but knowledge comes easily to the discerning. Stay away from a foolish man for you will not find knowledge on his lips. The wisdom of the prudent man gives thought to his steps. A patient man has great understanding, but a quick-tempered man displays folly. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. A fool spurns his father s discipline, but whoever heeds correction shows prudence. My son, do not despise the Lord s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in. You will say, How I hated discipline! How my heart spurned correction! I would not obey my teachers or listen to my instructors I have come to the brink of utter ruin in the midst of the whole assembly. For a man s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths. A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. Choose my instruction instead of silver, knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her.
COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 8 Teachers Proverbs 13:30 Call to Action Proverbs 4:1 Proverbs 4:2 Proverbs 4:13 Proverbs 4:20 Proverbs 4:21 Proverbs 4:23 He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. Listen, my sons, to a father s instruction; pay attention and gain understanding. I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching. Hold onto instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. 1. Teachable: a. Describe what a teachable person would look like to you. b. What information does your dictionary add? c. Give three synonyms for unteachable. (You may want to use a thesaurus if you have one available.) It may surprise you to know that the word teachable is not specifically listed in the Bible. However, the concept of being teachable is seen again and again. Take a moment and ask God to teach you about having a teachable spirit. Being teachable involves learning but not simply learning for the sake of learning. One can be a good learner of facts but still not be a teachable person. Being teachable involves the attitude of your heart. It involves being willing to learn with a docile attitude. 2. Read through the Proverbs selections at the beginning of this lesson as many times as your schedule allows. a. Some clues to being wise and teachable are found in the proverbs printed under the Conditions for Learning section on pages 1 and 2. What are they? 8 3
PROVERBS COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY LESSON 8 SPRING 2018 b. What word is repeated numerous times? c. Why would this characteristic be necessary in teachable person? 3. Life is made up of a wide variety of people and personalities. Proverbs 18:2, 18:13, and 19:27 describe a certain type of person. a. Give at least three characteristics of the person(s) described in these verses. b. What are these people called? 4. Solomon was given great wisdom and was an astute observer of humanity. Using the following table, contrast the differences Solomon describes in the lives of the wise and teachable versus the foolish and unteachable. (Note: not every verse has a contrast.) Proverbs Wise and Teachable Foolish and Unteachable 9:7 9:8 9:9 9:12 9:13 10:17 8 4
COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 8 Proverbs Wise and Teachable Foolish and Unteachable 12:1 12:15 12:23 14:6 14:7 14:8 14:15 14:29 15:2 15:5 5. Look back over the contrasts you have listed. Do you see yourself in some of these verses? Yes No a. Which area(s) give you the most trouble? b. In what area(s) have you seen improvement during the last year? 8 5
PROVERBS COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY LESSON 8 SPRING 2018 6. Read the proverbs listed under the Rebuke section on page 2. Warning: these verses describe a defiant attitude toward correction. a. What do you learn about correction from these verses? b. Name at least five consequences of resenting or rebelling against correction. c. Why does God even bother to rebuke us and why must we avoid resenting God s discipline? (Proverbs 3:11-12 and Hebrews 12:5-6) 7. Our lives are affected by the choices we make or the actions we take. Proverbs 17:10 says, A rebuke impresses a man of discernment more than a hundred lashes a fool. a. Update this verse in your own words. b. What does this verse mean to you? A simile is a comparison of a quality with a known object using the word like. For example, A word aptly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. (Proverbs 25:11) 8. Create your own similes for the following: An unteachable fool is like. A teachable wise man or wise woman is like. 9. Think of three things you would really like to own or possess. a. List them and on a scale of 1-10 (10 being the most desirable) rate each item. Desired Possession Rating i. ii. iii. b. Now let s read Proverbs 8:10-11. What are we advised to choose? 8 6
COLE WOMEN S MINISTRY PROVERBS SPRING 2018 LESSON 8 c. Give this question some time and careful thought. Personalize the following: Chose my instruction instead of, knowledge rather than, for wisdom is more precious than, and nothing you desire can compare with her. The power of our influence should never be underestimated. Our choices in life speak volumes about our attitude toward God. 10. Read Proverbs 13:20. a. Paraphrase the verse in your own words: b. Think of your friends and associates. Would the author of Proverbs consider them to be wise and teachable or foolish and unteachable? Read Proverbs 4:1-2, 13, 20-21, and 23. We can stop learning at age 20 or still be learning at 102. The choice is ours. 11. Do you desire and are you willing to become teachable in the hands of our loving God? Pause and tell Him of your desire now. Remember with God, leaning and learning go hand in hand! Leane Chaffee (1997) 8 7
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