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1. Pride kills
Proverbs 21:4
Haughty eyes and a proud heart, the lamp of the wicked, are sin!
Q: What are lamps used for? [To guide us on our path].
What is the lamp of the wicked? [His own pride]
C: Here we see that like immorality and drunkness, pride is a sin. We must kill it or it will kill us.
Proverbs 18:12
Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor.
Q: What comes before a person fails? [Pride]
How could pride lead to failure in our lives? [If we are proud we won't work hard and be prepared and so we'll fail in exams, our work, our families, etc.]
Why does humility come before honor? [Often people are impressed the most by humble people. God himself lifts up the humble.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
Proverbs 26:12
Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Q: Why does he say this? [Because pride ruins our lives more than any other quality]
Proverbs 27:21
The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but man is tested by the praise he receives.
Q: What tests our hearts according to this verse? [The praise we receive. If we get proud, our heart is not good]
C: Think about your life: does encouragement and praise make you proud and big-headed?
2. Love correction
Proverbs 12:1
Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.
Q: According to this verse, what should our attitude be towards correction and discipline? [We should love it]
Why is it stupid to hate correction? [A small correction now can prevent a big mess-up later]
C: Think about your life: do you resent correction? Do you dislike it when you get challenged? Do you secretly plan revenge against those who challenge you? That is not right.
Proverbs 3:11-12
11 My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline and do not resent his rebuke,
12 because the LORD disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.
Q: Why does God allow us to be corrected and disciplined? [Because he loves us as his children and he wants us to grow up to be godly]
C: When you realize the challenge and correction is from God, not from men, it will help you to grow to be a more righteous and godly person.
Proverbs 27:6
Wounds from a friend can be trusted, but an enemy multiplies kisses.
Q: What does this verse teach? [A friend may wound you, but you can trust those wounds. When our friends in the church challenge us, it is for our own good]
C: An enemy will be kind to your face, but he'll slander you behind your back.
Q: Have you ever had someone who was very kind to your face, but behind your back spoke badly of you? How did that feel?
C: We as leaders are not perfect, but we are trying to help you all go to heaven. Let us all love correction. Even this week ask your discipler what you need to change and listen to him.
3. Take advice
Proverbs 12:15
The way of a fool seems right to him, but a wise man listens to advice.
C: A fool is wise in his own eyes.
Proverbs 3:7
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD and shun evil.
He thinks that his own way is right. But a wise man listens to advice.
Q: Have you ever done something that seemed right in your own eyes and it turned out badly?
Proverbs 10:8
The wise in heart accept commands, but a chattering fool comes to ruin.
C: A fool talks but a wise person knows how to listen and take advice.
Proverbs 10:17
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.
Q: What happens when we ignore correction? [Others will also follow our bad example and they will go astray]
C: It is important to realise that other people watch what you do. If you go out of town without taking advice, they will do so also. If you take a job against advice, they will, too. And they may go to hell because of wrong decisions they take after following you.
4. Get eager
Proverbs 13:20
He who walks with the wise grows wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm.
Q: How can we grow spiritually according to this? [Walk with the wise - spend time with your discipler. Be eager to spend time together]
Proverbs 18:15
The heart of the discerning acquires knowledge; the ears of the wise seek it out.
C: A wise person seeks to grow. He asks questions. He is eager. He wants to spend time with people.
C: Think about yourself. Are you eager to get discipled? Are you eager to be taught the 45-minute studies? Do you get together with others to pray?
Proverbs 27:9
Perfume and incense bring joy to the heart, and the pleasantness of one's friend springs from his earnest counsel.
Q: What does a friend do according to this passage? [He gives us honest advice. He speaks from the heart]
C: We should be eager to get with those who give us pleasant counsel. That is how we can grow.
Proverbs 27:17
As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.
Q: What does this verse mean? [As Christians, we sharpen each other like iron sharpens iron]
C: Each of us have good qualities. Each of us can learn from others. Be willing to help the other Christians in this group and to learn from them.
Challenge
Get together with your discipler and ask him/her what you need to change. Listen to what he/she says.
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