Statistics about faith in the family

• Initiating faith >> A survey found that if a child is the first person in a household to become a Christian, there is a 3.5% probability everyone else in the household will follow. If the mother is the first to become a Christian, there is a 17% probability everyone else in the household will follow. However, when the father is first, there is a 93% probability everyone else in the household will follow.
• Initiating Faith

// Practicing Christians were asked, “Whose faith influenced you?” Mother – 68%, Father – 46%

• Influencing Faith >> Practicing Christian teens were asked, “Which parent offers spiritual guidance?”

// Prayer together: Mother 63%, Father 53%
// Discussing God: Mother 70%, Father 56%
// Discussing the Bible: Mother 71%, Father 50%
// Responding to faith questions: Mother 72%, Father 56%
// Encouraging church attendance: Mother 79%, Father 64%

• Why your mom tries to share wisdom with you >> 3 John 4 | I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.
• Proverbs provides the

,

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, and

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stepping stones on the path of life in the world. They are the stepping stones that God designed moms and dads to walk on and what we may not realize is that our kids are following in our footsteps.
• Today, we will take a look at the Book of Proverbs and rejoice in the wisdom of God and how He communicates it to us – not just Scripturally, but relationally.

Wisdom & It’s

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• Two books about the most important

in our lives: Psalms and Song of Solomon
• Three books on finding the

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: Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, & Job.

// If you want to live a good life according to God’s design on this earth, then the book of Proverbs gives memorable, easily-accessible wisdom on every area of life. It speaks to it all: relationships, business, anger, alcohol, work ethic, debt, friendship & forgiveness.
// So, yes fearing God and being a moral person will most likely lead to a better, longer life. And raising your kids in a stable, loving home does set them up well. But there are NO GUARANTEES. Lots of things can and often do go wrong in our world.
// That’s where Ecclesiastes & Job come into the Wisdom Literature mix. Sometimes wicked people do prosper & sometimes people who are seeking the Lord experience immense pain & suffering. Ecclesiastes & Job deal with these two exceptions to the rule.

• But the wisdom of Proverbs is meant to be a general rule for how to live according to God’s design in God’s world. It’s a simple picture & a simple guide.

An Overview of Proverbs

• Written & collected by Solomon (see Proverbs 1:1 and 1 Kings 4:29-34)
• A “proverb” is defined as a short,

saying about some topic. But what you may not know is that Proverbs does not simply contain these one-liners.
• A proverb is a true-ism about

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• Proverbs is broken down into two main sections (which speaks to the powerful influence of womanhood – in spite of the Fall).

// The first main section of Proverbs is contained in chapters 1-9.
// The second main section of Proverbs is contained in chapters 10-29.

• Wisdom is not just

.
• Wisdom is seen in

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, not just witty sayings (see Exodus 31:2-5)
• But how do I find wisdom? See Proverbs 9:10 | The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.
• To

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the Lord is not to be scared of Him or to be terrified that He will destroy you. Rather, it means that your first choice is to submit to His definition of life.
• In the final section of Proverbs, chapters 30-31, you have two respected figures that Solomon chooses to end this book of collected wisdom with: Agur and Lemuel

Today, during this time of invitation, you need to come to grips with the fact that your life is proving the wisdom of God.

• You may be facing

that testify that you have not sought wisdom.
• Proverbs 10:12 | Love covers a multitude of sins >> for some of you, you didn’t have a motherly influence that pressed you towards wisdom. Mother’s Day isn’t easy because it is marked by pain, wounds inflicted by your mom or dad. Let God begin a work of healing in your heart by forgiving them. That doesn’t mean you are forgetting or ignoring wrongs. That means you are entrusting judgment to God and letting Him shape your path forward.
• Proverbs 31:28 | Her children rise up and call her blessed… | Today, thank God for you mom’s wisdom. Thank God for the wise counsel, encouragement, and exhortation from godly, influential women in your life.