Picture Developing, Second Shoot.

This week we keep the discussion going about how and where real change begins. As we reflect on "what's gone wrong", our thoughts abut our bad behaviors and regrettable choices seem to come down to an issue of foolishness. And this is a very deep, very ancient insight. We think historically on our lives in terms of foolishness and wisdom, but work presently on our faith in terms of morals and guilt. Help you group take 1 step this week into the non-anxious current of Christlike wisdom so they may become the men and women God intends for them to be.

As a leader, you may enjoy reading this article as you gather your thoughts.

Thaw

• What have you learned/discovered from last weeks discussion on surrendering thoughts?
• How has God (or other people) challenged you with regard to where your arrows are pointed?
• Have you felt any part of you transforming as you have sought ways to imitate Christ?

• What has most stuck with you from this week's message?
• How have you seen your self applying it?
• How have you seen your self struggling to apply it?

Read

• Proverbs 4
• Thoughts?
• Does it surprise you to find wisdom seeking at the center of our faith? Why or why not?
• Who are the people in your life that you think of when you read this?

Discuss

• What are some of the ways our lifestyle rejects wisdom?
• As you look back on your own life, what are some key moments where you rejected or embraced wisdom?

Leader note: Depending on the flow of conversation, you may want to consider reading the following excerpt from the book "Leap". It discusses how entrepreneurial super stars are actually the risk taking immortals we've maybe heard they were. You will hear partial definitions to wisdom within it. If you read it, follow up by seeing who in the group is surprised, inspired or perhaps even bothered by it:

"...Far from being one of the world’s great risk takers, Bill Gates might more accurately be thought of as one of the world’s greatest risk mitigators. And in that, he is not alone. The simple fact is that everyone is afraid of risk at some level, including everyone I interviewed for this book. …

You don’t have to be fearless to make dramatic changes in your life. Transformative change isn’t propelled by raw courage. It’s “sparked” by a series of events that build exposure and experience, both of which help to create asymmetric risk. Through sparking, the upside opportunity is confirmed while downside risk is mitigated..."

Read

• Genesis 25:29-34
• Thoughts
• What do you notice about the world-view that Esau carries into this event?

Discuss

• How would you define the difference between emotional decisions and rational/wise decisions?
• How does this apply to relationships?
• To how we spend?
• To how we respond to pain?
• To how we speak?

Apply

• Share specifically with the group the precise area that this applies to in your own life?
• If you feel like you only understand this after the foolishness has happened, how do you actually begin applying this beforehand- going from impulsive decision making and speech, to label-reading and pausing to reflect?

Leader note: Help the group understand how engrained our patterns of speech and behavior are, and how it takes time. You may want to go make to Proverbs 4 here and there and point out the the first step in wisdom is getting wisdom. The pursuit is wisdom, and encouraging the group as such is how they can take one step.

• Who are people that you need to begin opening yourself to in order to gain wisdom?

Prayer

• Ask God for wisdom. But recognize it doesn't come in a package, but in a long series of small decisions between who we are and seemingly insignificant impulses over soup. Ask God to begin showing you wisdom.

Additional reading

• Proverbs 15:21
• Proverbs 15:22
• Proverbs 15:23
• Proverbs 15:33
• Proverbs 16:22-23
• Proverbs 16:25
• Proverbs 17:18
• Proverbs 17:24