(Instruction: This guide is for teaching prep. Use student handout as class focus)
Text: Proverbs 1:1–7
Audience: Youth & young people
Goal: Students will understand that true wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD and will evaluate where they seek guidance for their lives.
1. Opening & Icebreaker (5 minutes)
Icebreaker Question:
- “Who do you usually go to for advice when you have a big decision—friends, parents, Google, social media, or yourself?”
Transition:
Explain that everyone seeks advice, but the Bible teaches that true wisdom comes from one primary source: God.
2. Introduction to Proverbs (5 minutes)
Teacher Teaching Points:
- Proverbs is a book of wisdom written mainly by King Solomon.
- It is especially directed toward young people who are learning how to live wisely.
- Wisdom in the Bible is not just knowledge, but skill in living God’s way.
Key Idea to Emphasize:
Wisdom is about how we live, not just what we know.
3. Reading the Scripture (5 minutes)
Activity:
- Have students read Proverbs 1:1–7 aloud (different students read different verses).
Observation Question:
- “What words or ideas stand out to you in these verses?”
4. Teaching: What Is Biblical Wisdom? (10 minutes)
A. Purpose of Proverbs (vv. 1–4)
- Wisdom and instruction help us make good decisions.
- God wants to shape our character: righteousness, justice, and integrity.
- Proverbs is meant to guide real-life choices at school, with friends, and online.
B. The Fear of the LORD (v.7)
- Explain that “fear” means reverence, respect, and surrender to God.
- Wisdom begins when we recognize God as Lord, not just a helper.
- Without God, knowledge can become prideful or misused.
Illustration:
Knowing traffic laws doesn’t help if you ignore them. Wisdom is living by what you know.
5. Wise vs. Foolish Responses (10 minutes)
Teaching Point:
- A “fool” in Proverbs is not unintelligent, but unteachable.
- Fools reject correction and trust themselves more than God.
Small Group Discussion (3–4 students per group):
- What does a teachable person look like?
- Why is it hard to accept correction?
- How do pride or peer pressure affect our choices?
Teacher Wrap-Up:
Wisdom grows in humble, teachable hearts.
6. Personal Reflection & Application (7 minutes)
Reflection Questions (silent or written):
- Who influences my decisions the most right now?
- Am I willing to let God challenge my thinking?
- Where do I need to listen more carefully to God’s Word?
Application Challenge:
Encourage students to spend time this week reading one chapter of Proverbs and asking God for wisdom.
7. Closing Summary & Prayer (3 minutes)
Summary Points:
- Wisdom begins with the fear of the LORD.
- God’s wisdom shapes character, not just behavior.
- Being wise means being teachable and obedient.
Closing Prayer:
Ask God to give students reverence for Him, teachable hearts, and wisdom for daily decisions.
Optional Take-Home Challenge
- Read Proverbs 1 this week.
- Write down one verse that stands out and why.
- Pray daily for wisdom in decisions at school and with friends.