Guidance
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
Have you ever been given a new chore that you did not know how to do? How did you figure it out? Did you have to ask someone for help? We all have to ask for help sometimes because we might not be able to do it alone. We can always ask God for help!
BIBLE STORY
Create a series of races in which you have to pass a baton on to the next person in line (David passes the crown/throne to Solomon). Alternative: create a baton out of a stick or pencil. Create a start and finish line that is at the same point. Each person runs from start to a halfway point and three turns around to come back to the start line where they pass the baton to the next person in line.
Let’s make a race. We will start one the start line and after we have ran to the next point, turn around and run back to the start line. once you reach the start line, pass your baton to the next person in line for them to continue to run the race. Each race we will do a different style of running in order to win.
Jump on one foot
Army crawl
Skip
Crab-walk backwards
Hopscotch (2 feet-1 foot)
Just as you passed the baton on to the next person in line to race, David was on longer king and had passed the crown to his son Solomon. It was now Solomon’s turn to be king and lead God’s people. Being king means you are the leader of everyone in your nation. Solomon had a kingdom to run and wanted to have God’s guidance. He wanted to be sure He did what God wanted him to do and not rely on his own wishes. Let’s read or listen to the Bible story and see what Solomon asked of God so that he would be a good king.
Read or listen to I Kings 2:10-12; 3:3-14
How long had David reigned as king? (40 years)
Who sat on the throne after David? (Solomon)
How did Solomon show his love for the Lord? (Following the instructions given to him by his father David)
Who did Solomon believe gave Him the throne? (God showed great kindness and gave David a son to sit on the throne)
What did Solomon ask God for? (A discerning heart to rule over the people)
What did the Lord say about Solomon’s request? (He was pleased he asked for discernment over money, death of enemies or long life)
What did God give Solomon along width wisdom? (Wealth and honor)
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Activity
Wouldn’t it be fun to be the person in charge? It seems like it would be a great job and every one would have to do what you say! Solomon was in charge but he wasn’t sure he would be as great a king as his father, so he asked God for help. Let’s pretend you are the leader and you are in charge. Your job is to guide us to a location. You will need to give me directions and tell me which way to go (left, right, straight etc) without showing me. Pick a location in your home where your child will give you directions to walk there from where you are standing such as the bathroom, the refrigerator, the backyard, your bed, etc. Was that easy or hard to lead others to where you want them to go? Just as Solomon had to ask God for help while leading others, we can ask God to help us do difficult things as well.
Materials:
Alternate
There are times we have to do hard things and we can ask God to help us as well. We don’t need to have all of the answers to every difficult thing we face, God will give us answers as we need them. Think about some difficult things you face at school, home, on the field, and at church. What could you ask God for in these situations:
Hard test at school (wisdom)
Fighting with a friend (patience)
Obeying your mom and dad (obedience)
Telling your teacher the truth (strength)
being nice to someone who is mean to you (love)
Not following along with other kids who are making back choices (self control)
There are so many difficult decisions we make every day, but we don’t have to make any of them without God’s help. We can ask for something specific, such as wisdom, or we can just ask God for help!
Materials:
Independent activity:
Draw a picture of what you would ask for if you were Solomon. If God came to you in a dream and said you could ask for anything, what would it be? Draw a picture of what you would ask for. (Graphic of kid sleeping, with dream bubble above head)
Materials: printed activity sheet
ARTS & CAFTS
CRAFT 1
Create a paper platte 3-D King Solomon. Watch the following instructional video to see how to make a King Solomon out of household materials.
Materials: paper plate, glue, scissors, orange, yellow, blue construction paper, small gems, white paper plate, pen/pencil
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
What did Solomon ask for?
What other benefits did Solomon receive along with wisdom?
What problems may Solomon have had if he’d asked for wealth?
How can we know God is guiding us?
What is something you can ask God to help you with?
When can we trust our own wisdom?
What are some things we might try to hide in the darkness?
What are some things we might want to do in the light?
Why do you think people might do bad things in the darkness?
Practical Application at Home
Cover a picture with black paper squares. Ask your child to guess the picture under the black squares, then take off one square at a time as your child continues to guess what the image might be. It is hard for us to know what we are looking at in the darkness, but when we see things in the light it is clear. We can live our lives in the light and not in the darkness. When we do this, we can see the truth, we can see our sins and we can live in the way God wants us to live. God has called us to follow his leading and not hide in the darkness.
This week, pray that God helps you live in the light of the Lord; in goodness, righteousness and truth.
Material: picture, black construction paper cut into squares
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Enjoy the cool weather and take a nature walk. Observe the things God created and how they work together in His plan. What part do each of us play in God’s plan for us?