Pass it On is Christ-centered, showing how Christ is wisdom for us. “…true wisdom came to full bloom in the person of Christ. And because of his life and death, he stands as our ultimate Example and Source of wisdom. Jesus modeled perfect wisdom, rightly relating to God and everything else. And now he has graciously passed on to his people, that same wisdom. Thus, as the believing men and women of one generation have generously received the wisdom from God, so they must preserve this treasure for the next generation—and pass it on” (page 28).

In Deuteronomy, Israel was charged to teach God’s word to their children, “You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise” (6:7). Perhaps Solomon thought of this passage when wrote to his son in the book of Proverbs, “My son, if you…call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding; if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2.1,3-5).

Much of the book of Proverbs was written from the King to his son, imploring him to seek the way of wisdom. Like all of God’s word, Proverbs points us to Christ, wisdom incarnate, the One who became wisdom for us, fulfilling all the requirements of the law because we could not. His Spirit lives within us, teaching and guiding us in the way of wisdom so that we reflect and image Christ. Proverbs is a highly practical book, covering all areas of life, and helps us apply God’s wisdom to our life.

Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation, is both a study guide for the book of Proverbs and a gift to give away. Not only does it aid us in gaining wisdom from God’s word in the book of Proverbs, but it is also a great way to pass on the word of God to the next generation. How is that? First, you use Pass it On yourself, studying Proverbs and making notes on what you learn along the way. When you finish your study, you pass on the book to a child, grandchild, or another loved one to benefit from and share in what you’ve learned.

The beginning of Pass it On explains the book of Proverbs, outlining its structure, patterns, and common themes and explains how the study is laid out. It then moves into the study itself which is divided into thirty-one chapters.

The author encourages the reader to study one chapter a week. For each chapter, the author gives an overview of the main points of that chapter, titled “Guided Tour.” The “At a Glance” section provides the passage written out to read. A “Reflections” section allows the reader to write down the things that stand out in the chapter. In the “Going Deeper” section, the author asks probing questions to help the reader think through what was read and apply the passage to the reader’s life. There’s a “Connecting the Gospel” section which helps the reader study the passage through the lens of what Christ has done. One of my favorite sections is titled “Personalizing a Prayer” and encourages the reader to write out a prayer based on what was learned from the chapter. This prayer is intended both for the reader and the person who will later receive the book. Lastly is the “Sharing Your Story” section where the reader personally shares applications learned from Proverbs to the person who will eventually receive Pass it On.

Pass it On is Christ-centered, showing how Christ is wisdom for us. “…true wisdom came to full bloom in the person of Christ. And because of his life and death, he stands as our ultimate Example and Source of wisdom. Jesus modeled perfect wisdom, rightly relating to God and everything else. And now he has graciously passed on to his people, that same wisdom. Thus, as the believing men and women of one generation have generously received the wisdom from God, so they must preserve this treasure for the next generation—and pass it on” (page 28).

This book is a great way to disciple and share with someone else the blessing of God’s word and his wisdom for our lives. It’s a practical way to live out the call in Deuteronomy 6 to pass on God’s word to the next generation. And with the Christmas season around the corner,  Pass it On would make a wonderful gift.

Are you interested in studying Proverbs? Is there someone in your life you’d like to pass on the gift of God’s word and wisdom? Consider Champ Thornton’s new book. Pass It On: A Proverbs Journal for the Next Generation is a gift that benefits both the giver and receiver.

Christina Fox, a graduate of Covenant College, is a member of a PCA church and author of A Heart Set Free.  This article is used with permission.