12 Year Olds and Proverbs

I love the challenge of teaching Jr. High students each and every week. It keeps you sharp, keeps you practical and can be extremely rewarding. We currently have 2 studies going in our Jr. High Ministry. On Sunday mornings we are studying the book of Acts. On Wednesday nights we are studying Proverbs. I have a competent team of men who are helping me teach through this book. I teach about every 3-4 weeks with the other guys handling the other weeks. It has been a great study. I believe Proverbs was written for youth. The temptation is to gloss over some of the difficult stuff (chapters 5, 7, 9) and completely move around the adulterous woman and the discussions that come with that. I think that is precisely what Solomon would NOT want us to do. These students are being educated on the temptations of the world; why not give them a biblical grid to think through the issues? We completed Proverbs 9 last Wednesday with a discussion of the invitation of the adulterous woman. I sat in on one of the small groups after I taught and was thrilled to see many of the boys thinking through the issues. They understand the temptation of the world, now it's our job to give them the tools to go to battle. True change only comes through Christ so pray with me that these students would come to understand the power that God has supplied through His Spirit and His Word.