“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” —Proverbs 13:20 NIV

community.

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” —Proverbs 9:10 NIV

“You can’t follow Jesus alone.” —John Mark Comer, Practicing the Way
In the course of time, Amnon son of David fell in love with Tamar, the beautiful sister of Absalom son of David.
Amnon became so obsessed with his sister Tamar that he made himself ill. She was a virgin, and it seemed impossible for him to do anything to her.

Now Amnon had an adviser named Jonadab son of Shimeah, David’s brother. Jonadab was a very shrewd man. He asked Amnon, “Why do you, the king’s son, look so haggard morning after morning? Won’t you tell me?”
Amnon said to him, “I’m in love with Tamar, my brother Absalom’s sister.”

“Go to bed and pretend to be ill,” Jonadab said. “When your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘I would like my sister Tamar to come and give me something to eat. Let her prepare the food in my sight so I may watch her and then eat it from her hand.’ ” —2 Samuel 13:1-5 NIV

we can be messed up by those we mix up with

“Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” —Proverbs 13:20 NIV

“Keep company with the wise and you will become wise. If you make friends with stupid people, you will be ruined.” —proverbs 13:20 GNT

the company you keep will either cultivate or corrupt

be around what you want to become

Discussion Questions

1.  The Impact of Influence
•   Read Proverbs 13:20: “Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.”
•   How have you seen the truth of this verse play out in your life, either positively or negatively?
•   Who are the “wise ones” you need to walk with more intentionally, and how can you make space for those relationships?

2.  Community and Discipleship
•   John Mark Comer writes, “You can’t follow Jesus alone.”
•   Why do you think God designed us to grow in faith through community?
•   Share a time when being in a group or having Christian friends helped you overcome a challenge or grow spiritually.

3.  Learning from Amnon’s Choices (2 Samuel 13)
•   Read 2 Samuel 13:1-5, focusing on the role of Jonadab in Amnon’s decision-making.
•   What can this story teach us about the importance of seeking godly counsel?
•   How can we ensure that the advice we give and receive aligns with God’s Word?

4.  The Company You Keep
•   The sermon emphasized, “The company you keep will either cultivate or corrupt.”
•   How do you evaluate whether a relationship is leading you closer to Jesus or pulling you away from Him?
•   Are there any relationships you feel God is calling you to either invest in or distance yourself from?

5.  Walking Like Jesus Together
•   Reflect on the idea that “intimacy with Jesus leads to imitation of Jesus.”
•   How does walking closely with Jesus impact your relationships with others?
•   How can our small group help each other live, learn, and love more like Jesus this week?