During Proverbs: The Art of Living Wisely, we challenge you to read one chapter from Proverbs every day for a week. Yup, that's the same chapter over and over for seven days. Over time, you'll notice something new you didn't notice before. Also, Pastor Adam Hamerlinck will drop a new video each Monday, discussing the chapter from Proverbs we are reading. So be sure to bookmark this page or catch Adam's video on our social media accounts.
Week 8
JUNE 10-16, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 1 EACH DAY
This week we are closing out our 8-week look at Proverbs. Over our time in Proverbs we have seen that it is a book full of bite-sized pieces of wisdom to help us in our daily life, and we have also seen that we have a role to play in this wisdom. Not only do we listen to it, but then we are to put it into practice in our lives.
- Question: What has been your biggest take-away from the book of Proverbs?
We recognize that this wisdom is for our good and God’s kingdom gain. Pastor Wayne shared over the weekend that we get to be a part of creating the future and the church that carries on to the next generation, and we certainly need Godly wisdom for that endeavor.
- Question: What is one step you can take this week to put the wisdom of Proverbs into practice in your daily life?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this final week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 1 once every day again this week.
Week 7
JUNE 3-9, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 22 EACH DAY
“You are who you surround yourself with” and other quotes like this get posted on social media often, and they sound quite a bit like Proverbs where it shows “walk with the wise and become wise. Associate with fools and get in trouble.” There seems to be something about our humanity that leaves us easily influenced by others.
- Question: Why do you think our friends influence and shape us so much?
This reality should cause us to be cautious and intentional with who we invite into our inner circle of life. If we acknowledge that our closest friends influence us then we should desire to have friends that are desiring to be transformed into the image of Jesus, and we too should take seriously our role as friends who are influencing those around us to become more like Jesus.
- Question: How can you be a Godly and wise friend to those around you this week?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 22 once every day this week.
Week 6
MAY 27-JUNE 2, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 12 EACH DAY
Proverbs reminds us that our words have tremendous power. The words we speak and the words that are spoken to us have the power to speak life or speak death. Many of us can remember words spoken to us long ago that have shaped us to this day.
- Question: Can you recall a time that someone said something to you, and you are still affected by the power of those words? How have those words shaped you?
So often we say something out of our emotion that we know we should not have said, but once it is out there you can’t just take it back. We’ve seen words destroy relationships, but we also see words bring healing to relationships. As Pastor Jonathan said, "Words cut, but words heal as well."
- Question: Is there someone this week that you can use your words to bring healing to them personally or bring healing to your relationship with them?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 12 once every day this week.
Week 5
MAY 20-26, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 14 EACH DAY
Proverbs reminds us in multiple places that anger leads to foolish decisions and unwise living. Pastor Brian shared this weekend that those with wisdom control their anger and don’t allow it to control them.
- Question: When do you find it most difficult to control your anger?
Anger is a hot topic in scripture, but it is also very present in the fields of psychology, biology, and neurology. There appears to be a clear distinction across many fields that being consumed by anger has a negative effect on our lives.
- Question: Why do you think anger is so destructive? How have you seen it negatively affect you or those around you?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 14 once every day this week.
Week 4
MAY 13-19, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 30 EACH DAY
Pastor Brian shared this weekend that humility and its counterpart pride make a strange paradox. He said that for humility- the moment you think you have it, it is the guarantee you have most certainly lost it. And for Pride – the moment you think you’ve beat it, you certainly have come down with a severe case of it.
- Question: Where in your life is pride most present?
We learn that growing in humility can be an intentional action on our part. We either choose to be humbled or to humble ourselves. James the brother of Jesus said that we are to “humble ourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” (James 4:10)
- Question: How can you humble yourself before the Lord this week?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 30 once every day this week.
Week 3
MAY 6-12, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 20 EACH DAY
Pastor Wayne experimented this weekend by taking live suggestions from Proverbs and taught from them, so depending on what service you joined us, you heard something different. However, a common theme throughout all the services was that there is wisdom that comes from experience.
- Question: What is an area of life that you have grown in wisdom due to your experience and/or age?
We see in Proverbs chapter 20 that God has given us all the gift to receive his wisdom, and that no matter what season of life we are in, we each have gifts and strengths to help build up the kingdom of God.
- Question: Whether you are young or old, what is one way that you can serve God with your gifts and strengths?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 20 once every day this week.
Week 2
APRIL 29-MAY 5, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 3 EACH DAY
Our guest Dave Stone shared that one of the first lessons on wisdom we see in Proverbs chapter 3 is that planning begins with trusting God. As followers Jesus there are seasons and situations that are easy to trust God, but there are other times when it is very difficult to trust God. Yet we see that wisdom starts with confidently putting our trust in God – believing that He know what is best.
- Question: When is it hardest for you to fully trust God?
We often hear Christian’s say, “God has a plan for you,” but if we are honest, there are days when we wonder if God’s plan for us is actually what we want for ourselves. We believe there is a God, but does God care about what I want? It is a challenge to give God the driver seat to our life.
- Question: Do you believe God wants what is best for you? Why or why not?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 3 once every day this week.
Week 1
APRIL 22-28, 2022 | READ PROVERBS 1 EACH DAY
Living in a time where information and disinformation flies across our tv screens and smartphones, it can be so difficult to know how to follow God’s truth and live wisely. Let’s lean into the book of Proverbs and learn together how we can walk in wisdom and live the life God desires for us.
- Question: How would you define wisdom?
In Proverbs we see this collection of wise phrases and sayings, and it’s easy to think they aren’t directly relevant to our daily lives. We can easily mistake it for a bunch of smart sayings by some knowledgeable guy. Yet, Godly wisdom isn’t just knowledge on paper, but Godly wisdom is God’s knowledge applied to our daily lives.
- Question: What is one area of your life you could use more wisdom in knowing how to handle?
What if you were to take a step this week towards walking more wisely? We consume so much information daily, so let's pause this week and take a few minutes each day to savor the wisdom of Proverbs. By the end of the week, you will have filled your heart and mind with God’s wisdom for your life.
- Challenge: Read Proverbs Chapter 1 once every day this week.
Intro to Proverbs
NEW 8-WEEK SERIES BEGINS APRIL 23/24, 2022
To begin, read Proverbs Chapter 1 each day for the next week.
If you'd like to receive the reading challenge each Friday, sign up for our "What's Happening" digital news via email or just text us at (217) 875-3350 and let us know you want to receive our digital newsletter via text.
If you have any questions along the way, call or text us at (217) 875-3350. We'd love to help!