April 21, 2024 – Proverbs 5; 6; 22; 23

Lesson Date: April 21, 2024

Focal Scripture Passage: Proverbs 5:1-14; 6:23-35; 22:14; 23:27

AIM: To lead students to discover some of the dangers of immorality and ways to protect themselves from it, and to give them an opportunity to repent of their sins and commit to a lifestyle of moral purity.

Before class: Read the notes on Proverbs 5; 6; 22; 23 found in the Sunday School Teacher Book.  Enlist some volunteers to look up Job 31:1 and Psalm 101:3, and to be prepared to read them to the class when called upon.  If possible, bring a picture of a bug zapper and a mouse trap to class.

INTRODUCTION (Create Learning Readiness): Ask the students if they know what a bug zapper is (it’s an electric device to kill flying bugs).  Ask: “How does a bug zapper work?” (bugs are attracted to the light in the bug zapper, and as they approach the light they are electrocuted when they touch a metal grid).  Tell the class that bug zappers work because flying insects are naturally attracted to light and are not smart enough to recognize the danger.

Ask: “Have you ever seen a mouse trap?” (they probably have).  Ask: “How does a mouse trap work?” (bait is placed on the trigger and when the mouse touches the trigger the trap snaps down and kills the mouse).  Tell the class that mouse traps work because mice are naturally attracted to bait and are not smart enough to recognize the danger.

Tell the students that humans are too smart to be lured into bug zappers or mouse traps, but there is a danger we face that can be just as destructive: sexual immorality.

Ask: “What is sexual immorality?”  Allow time for some responses.  Tell the class that according to Bible standards, sexual immorality includes any sexual activity outside of God’s design for marriage between one man and one woman.  Tell them sexual immorality includes pornography, as well as actual physical contact.

Tell the class that sexual immorality is very common and accepted today; in fact, forty percent of the babies born in America are born to unmarried mothers!

Tell the students the title of today’s lesson is Dangers of Immorality.  Tell them we will discover some of the dangers of immorality and ways to protect ourselves from it.

HEART OF THE LESSON (Bible Study):

1. Review.
   • Remind the students that we are studying the Old Testament book of Proverbs.
   • Ask: “What was last week’s lesson about?” (Guard Your Heart; we discovered the seriousness of guarding our heart, the benefits of guarding our heart, the dangers of not guarding our heart, and some ways to guard our heart).
   • Ask if anyone would recite last week’s memory verse (Prov. 4:23).
2. Immorality is Alluring but Deadly.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Proverbs 5:1-5.
   • Ask: “According to verses 1-2, why did Solomon want his son to listen to him?” (because doing so would give the son discretion and knowledge).
   • Ask: “How does verse 3 describe the immoral woman?” (sweet like honey and smooth like oil; in other words, desirable, attractive, and alluring).
   • Explain the following:
     • Since Solomon wrote these words to his son, the immoral person described is a woman, but the same warnings apply to an immoral man.
     • The entertainment industry dresses up immoral people in beautiful and alluring clothing, but underneath they are sinful and corrupt.
     • The Bible acknowledges that sin is pleasurable for a short time (Heb. 11:25).
   • Ask: “According to verse 4, what becomes of the immoral person’s sweetness and smoothness?” (the sweet soon turns bitter, and the smooth soon turns sharp).
   • Ask: “According to verse 5, where will associating with an immoral person lead?” (to death and hell).
   • Read Proverbs 5:6-8.
   • Tell the class those verses give us three ways to avoid immorality; ask them to identify those three ways:
     • 6 – Don’t even think about immorality.
     • 7 – Listen to and heed godly warnings.
     • 8 – Stay away from immoral people.
   • Tell the class the next verses identify some of the consequences of immorality.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Proverbs 5:9-14.
   • Tell the class that immorality will:
     • 9 – Steal our honor and our life.
     • 10 – Steal our wealth.
     • 11 – Bring us sorrow and take away our health.
     • 12-13 – Bring us regret and remorse.
     • 14 – Get us involved in all kinds of evil, even though we are attending church.
   • Summarize: The Bible makes it clear that immorality is alluring, but like a trap for bugs or mice, it is deadly.
3. Immorality Carries a High Price.
   • Read Proverbs 6:23-26.
   • Ask: “According to verses 23-24, what will God’s commands and godly instruction protect us from?” (the seductions of immoral people).
   • Explain the following from verse 24:
     • Flattery always plays a very large role in seduction.
     • Most adulterous relationships begin with kind, complimentary words.
     • Christians must be careful what they say to others and what they allow to be said to them.
   • Ask: “According to verse 25, where does immorality start?” (lust in the heart).
   • Explain the following:
     • God’s people have no business lusting after anybody, including people on TV, movies, the Internet, social media, or in print media.
     • Our world pushes sex at us at every opportunity, including through TV commercials and even in the grocery store checkout line.
     • The fashion industry works to makes sure that women dress immodestly.
     • Christians must try to avoid such images and must NOT think about and lust after them.
   • Ask the previously enlisted volunteers to read Job 31:1 and Psalm 101:3 to the class.
   • Ask: “What do those verses tell us about avoiding immorality?” (we must guard our eyes; in other words, we must be careful what we look at).
   • Ask: “According to verse 26, what happens to the person who gets involved in immorality?” (he loses his money and life).
   • Ask a volunteer to read Proverbs 6:27-29.
   • Ask: “Can we put fire in our clothes and not be burned?” (no).
   • Ask: “Can we walk into a fire and not get burned?” (no).
   • Ask: “Can we get into adultery and not get burned?” (no).
   • Read Proverbs 6:30-31.
   • Tell the class that people can understand a thief who steals to feed himself when he is hungry, but he must still repay when he is caught.
   • Read Proverbs 6:32-35.
   • Ask: “How does verse 32 describe the person who commits adultery?” (stupid, unthinking, self-destructive).
   • Ask: “According to verse 33, what will the adulterer get?” (a wound, dishonor, and reproach).
   • Ask: “What will not be wiped away?” (reproach).
   • Stress the fact that a person’s reputation as an adulterer NEVER leaves them.
   • Ask: “What is your reputation worth to you?”
   • Tell the students that verses 34-35 reveal that there is no way to make right or pay for the sin of adultery!
   • Summarize: The Bible makes it clear that immorality, like a trap for bugs or mice, carries a very high price.
4. Immorality is a Sign of God’s Judgment.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Proverbs 22.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Proverbs 22:14.
   • Ask: “What’s dangerous about a deep pit?” (it is hard to get out of).
   • Ask: “Is it easy to fall into a deep pit if we stay far away from it?” (no, we only fall in if we are very near to it).
   • Ask: “Who will fall into the deep pit of immorality?” (those who are cursed and abhorred by the Lord; in other words, unrepentant sinners).
   • Explain the following:
     • The Lord allows sinners to follow their natural sinful desires and fall into the deep pit of immorality (Eccl. 7:26).
     • This means that immorality is a sign of God’s judgment.
   • Summarize: The Bible says the Lord allows sinners to fall into the deep pit of immorality as a sign of His judgment.
5. Immorality is Hard to Escape.
   • Ask everyone to turn to Proverbs 23.
   • Ask a volunteer to read Proverbs 23:27.
   • Explain the following:
     • A deep ditch or a narrow pit is almost impossible to escape.
     • Joseph’s brothers threw him into a deep pit (Gen. 37:24) before selling him into slavery.
     • Prisoners were sometimes kept in deep pits because they are so hard to escape.
   • Summarize: The Bible makes it clear that once someone falls into immorality, it is very hard to escape.

PERSONAL APPLICATION: Remind the students of the bug zapper and mouse trap discussed at the beginning of the lesson.  Tell them that those devices work because they are alluring but deadly, and very hard to escape.

Remind the class that the title of today’s lesson is Dangers of Immorality.  Review the lesson by reading the following outline:

• Immorality is alluring but deadly.
• Immorality carries a high price.
• Immorality is a sign of God’s judgment.
• Immorality is hard to escape.

Ask: “When presented with warnings about danger and death, is it smarter to heed the warning and stay far away from danger, or to ignore the warning and go on as if there was no danger?” (it is smarter to heed the warnings; it is foolish to ignore them).

Tell the students that we should run from immorality, stop looking at suggestive media, and stay away from immoral people.

Ask everyone to bow their head and close their eyes.  Urge them to repent of their sins and commit themselves to a lifestyle of moral purity.  Allow a moment for silent prayer, and then voice a closing prayer.

CONCLUSION: Ask everyone to memorize Proverbs 6:32.  Encourage them to follow through on the commitment they made to God, and to tell someone this week about the dangers of immorality.