CONFIDENCE From God
WELCOME TO WEEK 3
Welcome to week 3! This week we will see how Solomon was able to use the wisdom God gave him to administer justice. When we have God’s wisdom we will have the right words to say.
BIBLE STORY
Have you ever had a loss of _____(give kids a chance to fill in the blank), ya, words! I’m going to say some popular American idioms (sayings) and I want to see if you can finish them.
Get your ducks in a _____ (row)
It cost an _____(arm) and a leg.
You hit the ____ (nail) on the head.
We have a test, better hit the ___ (books)
Putting the cart before the ____(horse)
I don’t feel well today. I’m feeling under the _____(weather)
We need a great idea, think outside the ___(box)
Sometimes we don’t have the right words to say. This week we are learning that it is important to use our words wisely. We can trust God to give us the right words in all situations. We may not always know exactly what to say when someone is sick, when our friend is lonely, a friend has lost a loved one, or when we want to be happy for a friend. But we ask God for the right words. Solomon asked God for wisdom and God gave him wisdom to know how to judge and administer justice.
Read or listen to the story this week in 1 Kings 3:16-28
Who came to see King Solomon? (2 Mothers of 2 small babies)
What did the first mother say happened? (The other woman had a baby a few days after her and after she laid with her baby she crushed it, and then switched the dead baby for the living baby)
What did both mothers claim? (That the living baby was hers)
What did Solomon decide to do? (Cut the baby in half so that they could share it) What did the first mother tell King Solomon? (Do not kill the living baby but give it to the other woman)
What did the second mother tell King Solomon? (Cut the baby in half so no one would have him)
What did Solomon decide? (Not to cut the baby but to give the baby to the first mother because that is his really mother)
How did King Solomon know who was the mother? (A mother would not want to see her own child killed)
What did Israel think of King Solomon’s ruling? (they thought highly of him and thought he had God’s wisdom to give justice.
BIBLE STORY ACTIVITY
Solomon gave a wise ruling for the two mothers because God gave him wisdom to know what to do with his knowledge. God gives us the right words to say in different situations.
Activity
Solomon was given wisdom that he used to rule with justice. Having knowledge means you know information but having wisdom means you know how to use that knowledge. Look at the following scenarios and sort them to decide if the person is showing wisdom or knowledge.
Alternate
How we say things to others can affect how they feel. We can say words 2 different ways that can either make someone else feel loved or disrespected. For example, if you said I’m sorry but didn’t really mean it or said it with a sarcastic tone. Or if you said “that looks wonderful” but didn’t really mean it, it would sound hurtful and unkind. We need to be careful about the words we use and also the way we say them. Use the following activity sheet to sort these word phrases into categories of kind and unkind words. Circle a few kind phrases that could also be hurtful if we didn’t mean what we said.
Materials: printed activity sheet, scissors, glue
Materials: printed activity sheet, scissors, glue
Independent activity:
Create a word collage for the word “Words”. Look up the following scriptures that describes what our words are like. In the middle of a sheet of paper, write in large bold letters “Words”. Look up the attached verses and all around the paper write the descriptive words the Bible uses to describe our words. Use different colored markers and creative fonts. The more times the same word appears in the scriptures the bigger you can write that word on your page.
Materials: scriptures, crayons, colored pencils, or markers
ARTS & CRAFTS
CRAFT 1
Fold a piece of construction paper in half and trace child’s hand being sure one side is along the fold of the paper. Cut out the hands without cutting against the fold of the paper to ensure the pages stay together. On the outside write “Solomon asks for Wisdom” 1 Kings 3:5-10. On the inside of the praying hands write your child’s prayer request.
Materials: construction paper, scissors, pencil, crayons
Craft 2
Coloring page
Materials: printed coloring sheet, crayons
Craft 3
Coloring page
Materials: Printed coloring sheet, crayons
FOLLOW-UP
Read the following verses,Proverbs 18:4-8, 21; Proverbs 21:23. It first describes our words as deep waters and then describes the fountain of wisdom as a rushing stream. Let’s think about what those verses are describing. What are some words you would use to describe deep waters.
What are some positive and negative things that can happen with deep water?
What are some positive and negative effects of a rushing stream.
In verse 21 it says the tongue has the power of life and death. How can the tongue bring life?
How can a tongue bring death?
We all have tongue’s, how do we bring life to others with our tongue?
Do we bring death to someone through our tongues?
Practical Application at Home
The bible gives many examples of how the tongue or our words can do good or do harm to others. God must think it is important to use wisdom when we speak. It can be hard to say the right words when someone is mistreating us, we had a bad day, or when we are asked a tough question. God can give us the right words to say, just as He gave Solomon the wisdom to know the right things to say to administer justice. Read the following quotes below that someone might say. Decide which of the following scriptures is being shown by the words spoken in quotations.
Proverbs 16:24
Proverbs 10:11
Proverbs 12:18
Romans 10:9
Proverbs 15:1a
“Thank you brother for helping me clean my room! That was so kind of you.”
“I’m sorry mom for breaking your favorite bowl. I was being careless and accidentally knocked it over.”
“Be sure to get plenty of rest for our big day tomorrow!”
“I love you Lord and I want to serve you in all that I do. Please help me to listen to your voice today.”
“Yes mom, I will wash the dishes for you.”
Additional Resources
Outings to Reinforce Lesson
Go to a park and spend time in worship and prayer. Ask God to show you ways to trust him and listen to his voice.