August 16, 2026
Proverbs
Proverbs 16:1-9 Trust God's Sovereignty
Terence Sikoryak
• "It's not that we have a short space of time but that we waste much of it" — Seneca, 4BC
The preparations of the heart belong to man,
But the answer of the tongue is from the LORD. —
• Superior preparation increases the probability of victory but never eliminates the possibility of defeat.
• Mercy calls us out of the tomb. Truth removes the grave clothes.
Discussion Questions
1. What stood out to you about the relationship between our responsibility and God's sovereignty? Where do you find that tension in your own life?
2. Proverbs 16 says God weighs our motives, not just our actions. Can you think of a time when your motives mattered more than what you actually did?
3. The message says, "Preparation is our responsibility; the outcome belongs to God." Is there an area of your life where you need to prepare more faithfully, or trust God more completely?
4. What "opportunity" in your life turned out to be God's protection rather than His rejection?