Knowable Word - Bible study help

No Need for All the Answers

October 21, 2026 By Peter Krol

I appreciate Douglas Allison’s continued reflections on leading small groups, including this post on why small group leaders don’t need to have all the answers.

Allison gives practical suggestions for what to do when a question arises that you don’t know the answer to. Perhaps you can promise a follow up, or commit to finding out, or refer them to a person or place where an answer may be found.

But the best part is Allison’s reason for why leaders shouldn’t even presume they need all the answers themselves.

Leaders, then, should expect to need to grow in their knowledge and maturity for their entire lives. It is no failure for a leader not to know everything. It is rather a failure for leaders not to be seeking to grow in the grace and knowledge of their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

So, omniscience is not a prerequisite to being a small group leader.

Check it out!

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The Dangerous Consequences of Ignoring Context

October 19, 2026 By Ryan Higginbottom

Perhaps you’ve read a post or two on this blog stressing the importance of Biblical context. You may have seen a whole catalog of articles showing how familiar verses and phrases may not carry the meanings intended by those who splash them on coffee cups and t-shirts.

Yes, context matters. We won’t tire of repeating this key to interpreting the Bible because ignoring context is not just misguided, it is dangerous.

We Miss the Truth

The obvious danger of neglecting context is that we lose the truth. But we dare not forget how devastating a loss this is. What do we have if we don’t have Biblical truth? We are a parched, dusty land with no hope of rain.

Context drives interpretation. So when we pluck out individual verses we have no chance of arriving at a proper understanding.

In the best situations, this leads to a true teaching through a bad process. (See here for an example.) In the worst cases, we end up with damnable heresy.

We Disrespect God

Imagine writing a letter to a dear friend. You haven’t been in touch for months, so your words stretch into the thousands. You write about children and parents, work and health, joys and sorrows.

Later you learn that your friend lifted one sentence from this letter and posted it on social media. Your friend gave you credit, and the quote didn’t make you look bad, but the meaning is gone. How would this make you feel?

Despite our best intentions, misusing someone’s words always disrespects the author.

God gave us his word to read as 66 books under one cover. When we discount Biblical context, we not only disrespect the original authors, we put ourselves above the Scriptures, insisting we know better how to present it than God himself.

Though perhaps distasteful, we need to name this error accurately. It is arrogance. And God does not think highly of the arrogant (see James 4:1–10, especially James 4:6).

We Mislead Our Neighbors

As Christians we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves, and part of this calling is pointing our neighbors toward God through Jesus Christ.

Whenever we rip verses from their Biblical context and slap them on hats or bumper stickers or (gulp!) church signs, we’re telling our neighbors that this is a proper way to handle God’s word. We’re encouraging them to pick and choose what seems good or inspirational from the Bible.

This misleads our neighbors about the nature of both the Bible and God himself, and it may encourage them in error.

The Bible in Context

Now that I’ve shown how delightful a companion I’d be on your next trip to a Christian bookstore, let me reassure you.

I’m not saying we need to quote the whole Bible or nothing. There are plenty of ways to share powerful, helpful passages of Scripture with a friend or neighbor while still respecting the context of those passages. (I will share some of my suggestions on this in my next post.) I am urging, however, that we must be careful.

God’s word brings us joy and encouragement and comfort. But it is a serious, weighty, and holy matter to have and communicate the very words of God.

After all, context matters.

This was originally posted in 2020.

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When Words are More than Words and Life is Really Death

October 16, 2026 By Peter Krol

Easy sex will keep you from being wise. Trusting yourself and pleasing yourself are not in line with the fear of the Lord, the love of instruction. Therefore, it is a way that leads to death. In Proverbs 5-7, Solomon has made this point repeatedly. Now, in the last section of Proverbs 7, Solomon tries one last time.

Proverbs 7:21-27 consists of two short poems, parallel in structure. Each poem has four couplets, and these two sets of four couplets follow the same topical pattern: words, path, trap, death.

A: seductive words persuade the young man (21)
B: he follows her path (22a)
C: he’s like a stag caught in a trap (22b-23a)
D: it will cost him his life (23b)

A: listen, sons, to my words (24)
B: don’t turn your heart to her path (25)
C: she has trapped many before you (26)
D: her house will take you to death (27)

Solomon writes the first poem in third person, speaking of the young man, seduced by the immoral woman. He writes the second poem in second person, directly imploring his readers to heed his counsel.

Words

Solomon warns that words are more than words.

Immorality’s words are “seductive speech,” “smooth talk” (Prov 7:21). These words have a goal in mind, and that goal is not your best interest. We tend to hear and believe these words, but wisdom unmasks the deception:

It will feel good
It won’t hurt anybody
No-one will know about it
You’ll be glad you did it
Your pain will go away

The best weapons against immorality’s seductive speech are the father’s words (Prov 7:24). Listen to the words of Solomon, those words which were breathed out by the Spirit of Christ to profit you and equip you for every good work (2 Tim 3:16-17).

Immorality will kill you (Prov 7:23).
Turn at reproof and God will pour out his Spirit (Prov 1:23).
Hear wisdom; call out for insight. You will understand the fear of the Lord (Prov 2:1-5), which is the beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7).
Keep the commandments, and you’ll find life and peace (Prov 3:1-2).
Wisdom is more pleasing than immorality (Prov 3:17).
The love of your covenanted spouse can be utterly intoxicating (Prov 5:19).

Path

We tend to think we’re victims to our sexual sin. There’s a sense in which this is true, for when we turn to sexual sin, we’re as dumb as oxen going to the butcher (Prov 7:22). We’re hooked, following the wrong path.

But the problem is not ultimately with the path, or with the temptation itself. The problem is not with the spring weather, when people are more likely to wear fewer clothes. The problem is with our hearts. We follow the path of immorality because we have given our hearts away (Prov 7:25). We choose immorality because we believe its lies, and we want pleasures that we don’t think wisdom can give us.

Thus, the solution to immorality will never be better Internet filtering. If we want something enough, we’ll find a way around any filter. The solution is not to stay indoors or attend a Christian university. These measures offer some help, but they won’t change our hearts. We must give our hearts to the Lord and his wisdom (Prov 4:23).

Trap

Immorality is not the way of freedom. It’s a trap. A holding cell. It’s only a matter of time before the hunter arrives and finishes the job (Prov 7:22-23).

We choose sexual immorality because we think it will make us feel good and alive. Remember that many before you have fallen into this trap. Many after you will fall into it. If they couldn’t escape, neither will you (Prov 7:26).

Death

The wages of sin are death (Prov 7:23). Running toward immorality is like jumping into an early grave (Prov 7:27).

If you know Christ, you stand forgiven, now and always. He is your hope and your life. Why would you want to prolong your slavery to foolishness? He offers joy, and you choose guilt. He offers peace, and you drive yourself into turmoil. He offers love, and you mistake it for quick lust. Put those things to death, and find something better, something far more satisfying.

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry…drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Gal 5:19-24)

This post was first published in 2014 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

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Don’t Let Study Replace Reading

October 14, 2026 By Peter Krol

A few weeks ago, I gave two of my daughters new study Bibles. But along with the Bibles came a few rules I expect them to follow:

Don’t use the study Bible as your main Bible, but keep it on the shelf as a reference.
Don’t use the study Bible just because a passage feels hard to understand. Work on the passage as far as you can first.
Don’t crack open the study Bible unless you’ve got a specific question on a specific text.

Ben Hicks has a thoughtful piece about not study Bibles in particular but the process of Bible study in general. In “Don’t Just Study the Bible, Read it!” he addresses the numerous ways that “study” could get in the way of direct interaction with the Scriptures. For example,

If you want to get started reading your Bible, there’s a lot of help available. Literally thousands of books, podcasts, videos, and other resources have been designed and published to help you study the Bible, many of them free of charge. You could listen to sermons every hour of the day, every day of the week and not begin to make a dent in all the sermons that were uploaded to that internet from that previous Sunday. All of this is wonderful, and could rightly be described as an “embarrassment of riches.” We have near limitless assistance in better reading the Bible. The danger, of course, is that these wonderful tools can become a replacement for actually reading the Bible.

He’s absolutely right. Let’s not get so caught up in the supplements that we starve ourselves of the true feast.

Hicks’s piece is worth a bit of your time. Check it out!

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How to Resist Seduction’s Tactics

October 9, 2026 By Peter Krol

Seduction’s tactics are not complicated (Prov 7:10-20):

Initiative
Dress
Commonality
Touch
Foreplay
Piety
Taste
Sights
Smells
Adventure

Though death awaits, we still regularly go looking for trouble and find it. What applications can we make from Proverbs 7? How do we strengthen our resistance to this wily enemy?

1. Before the Seduction

The battle begins long before you face sin’s temptation. This is where you discover whether you want to resist it or not. “Whoever says ‘I know him’ but does not keep his commandments is a liar, and the truth is not in him, but whoever keeps his word, in him truly the love of God is perfected” (1 John 2:4-5, ESV).

Do you have time scheduled to soak in the commands of God? Do you have adequate time in the Scripture? Do you even want to have such time?

As you spend time in God’s word, you hear the voice of Jesus. His perspective overshadows your own. His delight drowns yours. His death gives you life and reminds you of what’s most important. Hint: It’s not your self-gratification but his kingdom. When Jesus is your intimate friend, immorality’s seduction becomes less and less seductive. Why would you gorge on black licorice when there’s ice cream in the freezer?

2. During the Seduction

As best you can, try to figure out what you’re thinking while in the midst of temptation. What do you really want? What do you think this immoral act will give you? This is difficult because immorality is not particularly logical. But your thinking provides the avenue to your heart. You and I must identify the lies before we can replace them with the truth.

Did you have a hard day with difficult deadlines and unresolved conflict? Do you think sexual sin will offer an escape?

Does your life feel out of control? Do you think sexual sin will make you feel powerful and stable once again?

Are you feeling sorry for yourself? Do you feel mistreated, alone, abandoned, or discouraged? Do you think sexual sin will make you happy again? Do you think it will feel good?

Remind yourself that the Lord is near, and he sees all. How does that influence your motivations?

3. After the Seduction

You might expect me to say “remember the gospel.” And that’s critical, but it comes with another key discipline: Reinforce the pain. Not in a guilt-ridden, beat-yourself-up sort of way, but in a sobered, moment-of-truth, life-lesson sort of way.

By “reinforce the pain,” I don’t mean that you should flagellate yourself and feel sorry for yourself all over again. That would not be in line with the fact that Jesus already died to rescue you.

No, I mean that you should receive the Lord’s discipline. He disciplines those he loves, and he chastises every son he receives (Heb 12:6). No discipline is pleasant at the time, but painful. So receive the pain. Learn from it. Brand it on your conscience and leverage it to strengthen you in your Father’s love.

As a teenager, I once drove a girl home and ended up making out with her in the car before she went inside. It didn’t surprise me when it happened. I had hoped it would happen when I offered to give her a lift; I was reasonably sure she was baiting me to it (though I blame myself, not her, for the idiocy of it).

But afterward I felt awful. I felt so bad about it—not because I felt condemned by God, but because it felt so unsatisfying—that as I drove the rest of the way home, I prayed to God and shouted things at myself: “That was not fun! That really sucked! That was the stupidest thing you could do!”

I don’t condone fits of rage, and I acknowledge that this story is somewhat childish. But I’ll confess that few things have been more helpful to me when I face sexual temptation. The memory of my private shouting match has stuck with me ever since. I’m not perfect, but often, when I face temptation, I still hear my own voice: “That was not fun! That really sucked!” And the memory of the pain reminds me both to remember what Jesus has done and to reconsider what the Lord would have me do.

And I have never regretted such remembrance and reconsideration.

Question: What practical steps have helped you to unmask immorality’s deceptive tactics?

This post was first published in 2014 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

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4 Keys to Understanding the Book of Revelation

October 7, 2026 By Peter Krol

Daniel Hyde proposes that “Revelation is Not a Puzzle,” and he provides four keys to interpretation to back it up.

The book does ask to be understood. Yet not in the way so many think. The seals, trumpets, and bowls are not a collection of coded predictions that we can confidently match, one by one, to individual events in a modern timeline. If each symbol pointed to one datable event, how would we identify which event among thousands? Thus, we’d get endless interpretations and no certainty, and the book would stay closed.

That’s why I say Revelation was not given like a mass of puzzle pieces to be solved. God did not give Revelation to be interpreted by us but to interpret the world for us. That one sentence changes what you’re doing when you open it. You’re not the detective. You’re the one being shown something.

So how do you read Revelation? Here are four keys: Read it as a book about Christ, to reveal, written in Old Testament signs, and to be heard and obeyed.

His brief piece is worth your time, as he explains each of the four interpretive keys to help you read this book well.

Check it out!

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The Surprising Transformation of the Disciples of Jesus

October 5, 2026 By Ryan Higginbottom

Jesus’ disciples were not at their best at the end of his life. They were fearful, uneasy, and uncertain about the future.

And yet, at the end of the Gospels, these same men were ready to take on the world. How can we explain this difference?

The Disciples Before

For most of the last chapter of Luke, the disciples were not exactly full of faith.

When the women who visited the tomb told the apostles what they had seen, the men did not believe them—it sounded like an “idle tale” (Luke 24:11). Peter was curious, but he didn’t have much company when searched out the evidence (Luke 24:12, John 20:8).

The two disciples on the road to Emmaeus were intrigued by the women’s report (Luke 24:22), but they had lost hope in Jesus as the Redeemer of Israel (Luke 24:21). His death was unexpected and disheartening.

When Jesus appeared to his disciples, they thought he was a spirit (Luke 24:37). They were full of fears and doubts (Luke 24:38). Even after Jesus showed them his hands and feet and invited them to touch his wounds, they weren’t convinced it was him (Luke 24:41).

The Disciples After

The end of Luke 24 stands in stark contrast to its beginning.

The disciples witnessed Jesus’ ascension, worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy (Luke 24:51–52). They were continually in the temple praising God (Luke 24:53).

The fact that the disciples returned to Jerusalem with great joy is itself an act of faith. In Luke, Jesus spent the first part of his ministry teaching and healing in Galilee, but then “he set his face to go to Jerusalem” (Luke 9:51).

Things unraveled quickly after Jesus and his companions arrived in Jerusalem for Passover. Jesus was betrayed, arrested, tried, and killed. The religious and governmental leaders who were responsible were largely still present in Jerusalem on Easter Sunday; this would have made the city a terrifying place for Jesus’ followers.

Yet Jerusalem was to be the launching place for the proclamation of the gospel to all the nations (Luke 24:47). Jesus told his disciples to stay in the city until they received power for this mission (Luke 24:49). The fact that they faced staying in a dangerous place with “great joy” shows the magnitude of their transformation.

So, what caused the change?

The Elements of Change

As we observe the text of Luke 24, we notice three ingredients that kindled the disciples’ growth.

The Word of God

Jesus’ followers did not understand the Scriptures. Consequently, they did not grasp who he was nor did they expect him to suffer, die, and rise.

At the tomb, the angels reminded the women that Jesus had told them that he “must” die and rise (Luke 24:6–8).

Jesus told the Emmaeus-bound disciples that they were foolish and slow to believe what the prophets had spoken (Luke 24:25). He explained that it was “necessary” for the Christ to die and then enter glory (Luke 24:26). He then taught them about himself through all the Scriptures (Luke 24:27).

When Jesus appeared to the disciples, he reminded them that everything in the Law, Prophets, and Psalms “must” be fulfilled (Luke 24:44). He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).

God’s word is the central corrective element in this passage. Jesus, the angels, and Luke all point to the Scriptures for a proper understanding about the Messiah. That understanding brought transformation.

Jesus

The disciples heard rumors of Jesus’ resurrection, but they were changed when they finally saw him.

After the two traveling disciples recognized Jesus at a meal, they felt conviction like heartburn when they reflected on his Scripture lesson for them (Luke 24:32). They returned to the eleven with the ground-breaking news (Luke 24:33), and when they arrived, the others were convinced of the resurrection because Jesus had also appeared to Peter (Luke 24:34).

When Jesus “stood among” the disciples, they weren’t convinced it was him (Luke 24:36–37). But Jesus invited them to touch and see. He showed them his hands and feet. He ate with them (Luke 24:39–43). Thus convincing the disciples that he was not a spirit and that he was, in fact, Jesus, he gave them supernatural understanding of the Scriptures (Luke 24:45).

Finally, the disciples went with Jesus to Bethany for his ascension (Luke 24:50). He blessed them as they watched him depart (Luke 24:51).

The disciples had experienced a traumatic stretch of days. At the center of their disappointment was the death of their leader and their loss of hope. Spending time with and learning from Jesus between his resurrection and ascension had a powerful effect.

A Mission and a Promise

When Jesus visited the disciples, he didn’t only give them instruction and fellowship, he gave them a purpose for the future.

When explaining the Scriptures, Jesus said “it is written” that “repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem” (Luke 24:47). And the disciples were not just messengers but “witnesses of these things” (Luke 24:48).

Jesus gave the disciples a promise to accompany their mission.

And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high. (Luke 24:49)

The disciples had a great task in front of them, but there was a mighty helper on the way.

Main Point and Application

Luke had at least one main point in writing the last chapter of his Gospel: An encounter with the resurrected Jesus will transform disciples and prepare them for a joyful mission.

We can start to apply this powerful truth by praying. Let’s pray for these encounters—for ourselves and others.

And as you brainstorm ways to bring yourself and your neighbors into contact with the risen Christ, remember that he is powerfully present in the Bible and with his people.

This was originally posted in 2020.

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The 11 Deceptive Tactics of Seduction

October 2, 2026 By Peter Krol

When we commit sexual sin, we are not victims but perpetrators. Therefore the solution is to keep the Father’s words in our hearts so we might see sexual temptation with new eyes. Then the glamor doesn’t seem so glamorous anymore. We’ll see the stupid deception for what it is and make better choices.

So, can you recognize the deception when you see it?

1. Initiative

And behold, the woman meets him…
‘So now I have come out to meet you,
to seek you eagerly, and I have found you.’ (Prov 7:10, 15)

Do you love to feel loved? Do you want to feel wanted? Do you desire desirability? Immorality flatters you. It tells you you’re something special. It comes out to meet you, unlike all those real people with real lives, who are too busy even to take notice of you.

2. Dress

Dressed as a prostitute, wily of heart. (Prov 7:10b)

Women and men both know it: If you dress a certain way, you’ll cause people to think of you in a certain way. But just because they think it, doesn’t make it true. And just because you’re deceived by it, doesn’t make it a good idea.

3. Commonality

She is loud and wayward;
her feet do not stay at home;
now in the street, now in the market,
and at every corner she lies in wait. (Prov 7:11-12)

I know everybody’s doing it. I know it’s “every man’s battle” and “every woman’s battle.” But though immorality is loud and proud, and you can find it on every street corner and in every person’s life, it shouldn’t be that way. As a teen, I thought I should masturbate because all my friends were doing it. With the way many Christians discuss internet pornography today, those who don’t look at it might start to wonder if they’re doing something wrong.

4. Touch

She seizes him… (Prov 7:13a)

The right touch at the right time is like magic. It doesn’t have to be sexual (though see the next point), it only has to communicate a sense of concern and value. That’s why predators groom victims through pats on the back and affectionate tousling. Be careful how and when you touch or are touched.

5. Foreplay

…and kisses him… (Prov 7:13b)

I remember a Christian youth event about dating where the students asked the obligatory, “How far is too far?” Please pardon my flabbergasted incredulity at the woefully misinformed youth leader’s answer: “Well, other than no sex before marriage, the Bible doesn’t really say anything about it. So my personal advice is to keep it above the waist.” I pray and pray that this filthy, destructive lie might soon return to the pit from whence it came. The Bible teaches that kissing is sexual (Prov 7:13, 22:14, Song 1:2). Of course, not the “holy kiss,” which obviously was equal to a wave or handshake (Rom 16:16). I know you know the difference between that which welcomes and that which arouses.

6. Piety

…and with bold face she says to him,
‘I had to offer sacrifices,
and today I have paid my vows.’ (Prov 7:13-14)

She’s just what all Christian parents want for their grown son: a nice girl. She goes to church. Perhaps she went to Bible college. She is pretty, easy to get along with, and nice to puppies. She offers all the right sacrifices; she makes and keeps her religious vows. You think you can trust this girl with your life. But immorality can’t be trusted, no matter how often she serves in the church nursery. Remember that sexual temptation is not something “out there.” It’s right “in here” where we might not expect it.

7. Taste

I had to offer sacrifices. (Prov 7:14)

Notice the ESV marginal reading for “sacrifices”: peace offerings. Of the various Old Testament sacrifices, peace offerings were the only ones that ordinary people—not only priests—got to eat. Solomon portrays this woman as having divinely blessed lamb chops and hamburgers hot and ready. She’s got dinner waiting. And since the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, her seduction is likely to succeed.

What is the point? Only that immorality will promise to satiate every physical desire. It will try to convince you that, since your hunger must be fed, you should go ahead and take a bite. Don’t fall for it.

8. Sights

I have spread my couch with coverings,
colored linens from Egyptian linen. (Prov 7:16)

Immorality looks so good, doesn’t it? It’s amazing what pounds of makeup and lumens of stage lighting can do to the most normal person. The human being takes on a perfect, angelic appearance. What is seen seems so real. It seems so exotic. So exciting.

9. Smells

I have perfumed my bed with myrrh,
aloes, and cinnamon. (Prov 7:17)

Immorality smells so good. A little deodorant can go a long way. The right fragrance can even cover the smell of death. Especially cinnamon. I love cinnamon.

10. Adventure

Come, let us take our fill of love till morning;
let us delight ourselves with love. (Prov 7:18)

Immorality promises something special. In fact, it promises that you are something special, and with that promise we’re back where we started. You’re not like all the others who have shared this bed. You can expect the delight to last all night till morning. You’ll have your fill of love. You won’t want to miss out. There’s an adventure to be had…

11. Secrecy

For my husband is not at home;
he has gone on a long journey;
he took a bag of money with him;
at full moon he will come home. (Prov 7:19-20)

Seduction’s final tactic is the promise of secrecy. Nobody sees us. Nobody will know what happens here tonight. We’re together under cover of darkness (Prov 7:9), far from prying eyes.

With the promise of such isolation comes the promise of invulnerability. Because no-one knows about it, we will get away with it. Some believe sin doesn’t have consequences (the liberal lie). Others expect God will forgive them, so it doesn’t matter if they capitulate again and again (the conservative lie).

All must know this sin doesn’t take place in isolation. The jealous God sees (Prov 6:34-35). The hapless victim—the willful perpetrator—rushes to the snare at the cost of his life (Prov 7:23).

If you’re caught in the snare, I beg you on behalf of Christ, please get out. We’re nearing the end of Proverbs 7, and Proverbs 8 approaches, so good news is on the way.

O simple ones, learn prudence;
O fools, learn sense. (Prov 8:5)

This post was first published in 2014 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

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Don’t Fear Silence in Small Groups

September 30, 2026 By Peter Krol

Douglas Allison helpfully wonders about the causes and cures of silence in small group discussions. Especially, he warns leaders against speaking themselves just to fill an awkward silence:

Small group leaders can tend to believe that something is going wrong if the conversation is not flowing. Silences can be awkward. Wrong answers can seem to beg for correction. But small group leaders do well not to correct every error or to fill every silence.

He goes on to address some of the potential causes for silence, reflecting on what a leader can do about it.

Even if it is unintentional on the leader’s part, the silence could be due to him. In any case, the leader does not help the group by filling the silence with words. In that case, the leader is not building relationships in the small group but compensating for the lack of it.

The best kind of silence in a small group is one in which all or the majority of the students are thinking hard about what to say. It is the kind of silence that is filled with thinking rather than attempting to read one another. It is a kind of silence in which students are actively processing what was said and eagerly developing ideas in response. It is the kind of silence that is called pregnant.

If you are part of a small group Bible study, these keen musings are worthy of your curious reflection.

Check it out!

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Another Way to Look at Sexual Temptation

September 25, 2026 By Peter Krol

We commit sexual immorality, not because we are victims to our desires, but because we are looking for trouble. We’re then tempted to believe either that we have to try harder or that we’ll never change. But there is a better way.

Those who walk with Christ will say to wisdom, “You are my sister.” They will call insight their intimate friend (Prov 7:4).

Your desires can change. You can train your heart by grace to love the truth. When you write God’s words upon your heart, you gain a new perspective on the things that once tripped you up. Instead of passing along the street near immorality’s corner, you can look out from your window and out through your lattice (Prov 7:6).

The scene in Proverbs 7:6-9 fascinates me because Solomon and the youth both see the same set of events. But what they truly see couldn’t be any different.

The simple youth sees a secret, life-giving delight at the end of his path.
The wise sage sees an obvious but lethal deceit down the very same road.

God’s grace will train you to say no to ungodliness and worldly passions (Titus 2:11-13), because God, in his grace, will show you in his word what ungodliness and worldly passions have to offer: death, death, and more death.

Ask the Lord to show you your path and turn you to his. Write his commandments on your heart and live (Prov 7:2).

And when you find yourself on the wrong path under cover of darkness, whip out those words which can be a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Ps 119:105). If they’re not already on your heart, ready to go, they won’t be much help to you when it counts.

Do you still want to look for trouble? I can assure you: You’ll find it.

Are you ready to look out upon trouble and reject it? Christ your wisdom can help.

This post was first published in 2014 and is part of a series walking through Proverbs 1-9.

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