Week 15: WISDOM AND BEAUTY

 

If you would like to print this study, or have trouble viewing it on your screen, you can download the Microsoft Word document below.

 

On Sunday at church Daniel preached on what Biblical Wisdom has to say about beauty. Please make sure you have watched Sunday’s sermon before Community Group.

 
 

Read this overview

On Sunday at church Daniel preached on “Wisdom and Beauty”. 

Begin with silence and prayer 

[5 minutes]

Sit down, get comfortable and ask someone to pray aloud for the study.

Then spend a few minutes in silence. Ask God to help us remove distractions from our minds, listen to what He is saying to and through each of us and change our lives accordingly.

 

DEBRIEF

Reflect on last week’s study application (smaller groups)

[10 minutes]

Discuss times in the last week that you when you found yourself fully present in the moment you were inhabiting. What was the benefit of this present minded-ness? 

 

DEEP DIVE

Open to the Bible together (whole group)

[15 minutes]

From the World

  • What are the common attitudes you would find among your peers about physical beauty (Christian and Non-Christian)?

  • Is there a difference between the Christians and the non-Christians?

  • What would you say is the dominant message about beauty that our society ‘preaches’?

To the Bible

  • What attitudes do you anticipate to find in the Bible on the issue of physical beauty?

 

Choose one of these narratives to read in full. And once you have read it, discuss the following questions. 

Genesis 29:14-30:24 (Rachel and Leah)

Genesis 39:1-23 (Joseph in Potiphars House)

1 Samuel 16:1-13 (David’s anointing), 17:41-43 also adds value

 

  1. What role do you see beauty playing in this narrative? 

  2. Does the presentation of beauty in this narrative resonate with the things Daniel said in his sermon on Sunday? If it’s different/similar, how is it different/similar? 

  3. Is this narrative celebrating beauty or cautioning us about beauty? 

 

Ask a person to read each of these verses and then discuss the questions.

 

  • Proverbs 31:30 “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.”

  • Proverbs 11:22 “Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout is a beautiful woman who shows no discretion.”

  • 1 Peter 3:3 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.“

  • 1 Tim 4:8-9 “For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come. 9 This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance.

 

  1. Why do you think that many of these verses about beauty are targeted at women?

  2. Do you think the fact that they are targeted at women means they don’t apply to men? 

  3. How do we balance the message of 1 Peter 3:3-4 with the celebration of physical beauty in the Bible (Especially Song of Songs)? 

 

DISCIPLESHIP

Application for the coming week: 

[5 minutes]

Go around the group and have everyone answer these questions… 

  • What do you personally feel like God is saying to you about the topic of physical beauty?

  • Where are you being fed unhelpful messages about physical beauty? What could you do to limit or get rid of that influence?

  • Who would value from hearing these verses or Daniel’s talk? (You might want to share this, or keep it to yourself!)

Close in prayer 

[15 minutes]