Study Questions for August 16, 2026

August 13th, 2026
by Kyle Carnahan

A Wise Child Follows and Loves by Reid Schultheis
Read Proverbs 6:20-24; Proverbs 7:1-27; and Matthew 18:1-4.

This sermon concludes a summer series on the characteristics of a wise child, moving from listening and seeking to discerning and following. How has your understanding of "wisdom" shifted from being a set of rules to a characteristic of a growing child of God?
Reid argues that because we are created, dependent beings, every single one of us is a follower. Why do we often resist this idea in favor of wanting to be "independent" or "leaders," and how can acknowledging our neediness actually lead us to the right person to follow?
Read Proverbs 6:24-26. The cost of sexual sin is described starkly as "your life". Reid asks why we still make the "foolish trade" for a few moments of satisfaction even when we know the high price. How can we better believe God’s warnings when sin looks "sweet as honey" on the surface?
Even though Solomon was full of wisdom, he famously "messed up" in the very areas he warns against. How does the reality that there is hope, healing, and redemption in Christ change the way you view your own past failures?
Reid suggests that those who have found healing from sin can become "older siblings" in the church to warn younger ones. How can we create a culture in our small group where we can confess and learn from each other's mistakes without shame?
Read Proverbs 7:1-5. The way to fight "illicit love" (sinful desires) is with "holy love" (a greater delight in wisdom). How does being "staggered and captivated" by God's truth act as a defense when the "smooth tongue" of temptation comes calling?
Discuss Augustine’s concept of "disordered loves" (ordo amorus)—the idea that our problem is not that we desire things, but that we love them in the wrong order. What is a good, God-given desire in your life that you are currently tempted to love more than God Himself?
Reid lists several core soul-desires that sin preys upon, such as the desire to be initiated with, sought after, or safe. How does the truth that Jesus satisfies every one of these desires at a "soul level" help you take your longings to Him instead of to "illicit places and people"?
Read Proverbs 7:24-27. A wise child guards both their heart (the desire level) and their feet (the behavioral level). Reid notes that wisdom is often about avoiding temptation entirely rather than just trying to fight it once you're in it. What practical "guardrails" (like internet accountability or life boundaries) can you put in place this week to guard your feet?
Read Matthew 18:1-4. Jesus teaches that to enter the kingdom, we must change and become like little children. How does the "lowly position" of a child contrast with the "arrogant adult" who refuses to be told whose words to follow?
Close in Prayer: Thank the Holy Spirit for giving us an increased understanding of our God-given desires. Ask the Father to help you move from "disordered loves" to a satisfaction found only in Jesus, and pray for the courage to guard your heart and your feet in the coming week.

_________________________________

Analogy for Understanding: Following wisdom is like a child walking through a dangerous forest while holding the hand of a loving father. The child may not see every pitfall ahead and may think the father’s direction limits freedom. But the father sees what the child cannot and lovingly leads him toward life. As the child comes to trust and delight in the father, the tempting side paths lose their appeal—not because they no longer look attractive, but because the child knows that staying close to his father is better, safer, and more satisfying than anything those paths promise.

Posted in Study Questions