Note to the Teacher

The key idea in this scripture for this lesson is “holding onto wisdom.” The icebreaker invites youth to complete some quotations about wisdom. The discussion encourages students to delve more deeply into the concept of wisdom. The activity helps youth learn more about the book of Proverbs. Times are based on a fifty-five-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Wisdom Sayings (15 minutes)

In this game, the group(s) will try to complete the wisdom sayings provided. Some are biblical, and some are not. After they have put each saying together, have the groups identify which sayings are biblical. We suggest placing each half of the saying on a piece of paper and having the students match the sayings.

Too close / for comfort (not in the Bible)
Pride goes / before destruction (Prov16:18)
Too big / for your britches (not in the Bible)
Sticks and stones / may break my bones, but words will never hurt me (not in the Bible)
As iron sharpens iron / so one man sharpens another (Prov 27:17)
If you play with fire / you will get burnt (not in the Bible)
Better safe / than sorry (not in the Bible)
Do to others / as you would have them do to you (Matthew 7:12)
Innocent / until proven guilty (not in the Bible)
It is not good / that man should be alone (Gen 2:18)
A land flowing / with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8)
Man does not live / by bread alone (Deut. 8:3)
Two heads / are better than one (Eccl. 4:9)
You are / what you eat (not in the Bible)
Whoever digs a hole / will fall into it (Eccl 10:8)
They have sown the wind and / will reap the whirlwind (Hosea 8:7)
Where your treasure is, / there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21)
No man can serve / two masters (Matthew 6:24)
A wolf / in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15)
A pearl / of great price (Matthew 13:46)
The blind / leading the blind (Matthew 15:14)
You can lead a horse to water / but you can’t make him drink. (not in the Bible)
A watched pot / never boils (not in the Bible)
If at first you don’t succeed, / try, try again. (not in the Bible)
The squeaky wheel / gets the grease. (not in the Bible)
Seek / and you will find (Matthew7:7)
Beauty / is only skin deep (not in the Bible)
A city set on a hill / cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5:14)
Necessity /is the mother of invention. (not in the Bible)
A friend in need / is a friend indeed. (not in the Bible)
Silence / is golden. (not in the Bible)
Children / should be seen and not heard. (not in the Bible)
Don’t cast your pearls / before swine. (Matthew 7:6)
You can’t judge a book / by its cover. (not in the Bible)
Don’t count your chickens / before they hatch. (not in the Bible)
Cleanliness / is next to godliness. (not in the Bible)
Where there’s smoke / there’s fire. (not in the Bible)
Don’t cry over / spilled milk. (not in the Bible)
People who live in glass houses / shouldn’t throw stones. (not in the Bible)
The early bird / gets the worm. (not in the Bible)
An apple a day / keeps the doctor away. (not in the Bible)
All’s fair / in love and war. (not in the Bible)
Look / before you leap. (not in the Bible)

Modification Option:

Have them do this activity in pairs or small groups. The group that can pair the most sayings and identify which ones are biblical wins.

Another option is to provide the first half of a wisdom saying from Proverbs. Invite individuals or pairs to submit a made-up “second half” of the saying. Collect all answers together and have the group vote on the most likely correct answer. Of course, you, as the leader, can write the correct second half of the saying and include it in the options.

Read Scripture (5 minutes)

Our scripture reading today involves the idea of “holding onto wisdom.” Read Proverbs 1:20-33.

Discussion (15 minutes)

Is there a difference between being “wise” and being “smart”?
Who is someone you consider wise?
What about them makes you consider them wise?
This scripture personifies Wisdom as if it were speaking. What are some things Wisdom says about herself?
Is there any wisdom you get upset about? Could it come from scripture, parents, teachers, or others?
How do you define wisdom?
What are the characteristics of someone who is foolish (not wise)?