BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT DOES GOD KNOW? GOD knows everything about the past, present, and the future. God divided Israel into two kingdoms because Solomon sinned. When Solomon’s son Rehoboam became king, he made an unwise decision which led to God’s people being torn in two. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
King Solomon loved God. He received wisdom from the Lord and was dedicated to building His temple. But early on, we see hints that Solomon’s heart was not completely devoted to God. He married foreign wives who turned Solomon’s heart away from God. (1 Kings 11:4) Solomon gradually abandoned what he had believed. Israel had a history of turning away from God, and Solomon was no exception. God was angry with Solomon. He had warned him twice not to turn to false gods. God planned to discipline Solomon by taking the kingdom away from his family. God was going to take the kingdom from Solomon’s son Rehoboam—every tribe except for one. God graciously left one tribe for Rehoboam, keeping the promise He made to David. (See 2 Sam. 7:16.) God set apart Jeroboam, one of Solomon’s servants, to become leader over 10 tribes of Israel. Parts of the tribe of Benjamin followed Jeroboam, and some followed Rehoboam. When Solomon died, all of Israel gathered to make Rehoboam their new king. They asked Rehoboam to lighten the burden of service Solomon had given them, but Rehoboam refused. In fact, he promised to make their work even harder. Israel rebelled against Rehoboam and made Jeroboam king. Only the tribe of Judah stayed with Rehoboam. So the kingdom was divided into two kingdoms—the Northern Kingdom was called Israel (ruled by Jeroboam) and the Southern Kingdom was called Judah (ruled by Rehoboam). King Solomon failed to lead God’s people perfectly. God’s people needed a better king, a perfect king! Through David’s family, God would send His own Son, Jesus Christ, to be a perfect King over God’s people forever. Jesus is greater than Solomon. Jesus brings His people together and leads them back to God. Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. GOSPEL APPLICATION K-2nd:
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BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT DOES GOD KNOW? GOD knows everything about the past, present, and the future. God led His people to build a temple where He would dwell with them. The people would gather at the temple to make sacrifices and worship God. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
When David was king, he wanted to build a temple for God, but God did not allow him to. “When your time comes and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up after you your descendant … and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever” (2 Sam. 7:12-13). God said King David’s son would build the temple. King Solomon began to gather materials to build the temple. He ordered cedar and cypress timbers from Lebanon. He gathered 30,000 men from all of Israel as laborers to excavate stone and prepare the timbers for the temple’s construction. The temple was impressive. The entire interior was cedar. King Solomon had everything covered with gold. In all, it took seven years for the temple to be completed. Inside the temple was furniture and accessories. (See 1 Kings 7:48-50.) The time came to dedicate the temple. All of the Israelites gathered in Jerusalem. The priests brought the ark of the Lord to the most holy place, and a cloud filled the house of the Lord. God’s glory filled the temple. Solomon prayed and praised God for keeping His covenant with David. He recognized that God is not confined to a temple. “Even heaven, the highest heaven, cannot contain you, much less this temple I have built” (1 Kings 8:27). Solomon’s prayer and speech was followed by a great offering to God. Jesus changed everything when He died for our sins on the cross. By taking our sin upon Himself, Jesus made the way for sinners to come to God. The temple was a place where God was with His people. The people could go there to make sacrifices and worship God. Today, when we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go. We can look to Him for forgiveness and help. Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. GOSPEL APPLICATION K-2nd:
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER WHAT DOES GOD KNOW? GOD knows everything about the past, present, and the future. Wisdom is fearing the Lord and obeying His Word. God wrote of wisdom in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs, but we find the the fulfillment of wisdom in Jesus. MEMORY VERSE READ THE STORY:
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and Song of Songs are three books spanning more than 50 chapters of the Bible. This week’s study follows the story of Solomon, the primary writer of these books. While three books of the Bible are certainly a lot to cover in one session, this brief overview will reveal the wisdom of God for His people as He works out His wise plan for our salvation. True wisdom comes from God. (See Prov. 2:6.) God made Solomon the wisest man who had ever lived, and people came from all over to listen to his wisdom. (See 1 Kings 4:29-34; 10:1-9.) He wrote most of the Book of Proverbs, which offers practical advice for living wisely. Solomon ruled Israel with great wisdom, but he still turned away from God and pursued His own desires. Israel needed someone greater than Solomon. God’s plan included that: “Something greater than Solomon is here!” (Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31). Jesus not only taught God’s wisdom, He displayed it perfectly. The Book of Ecclesiastes teaches us to think carefully about how we should live our lives. Solomon was searching for something to give meaning to his life. In the end Solomon discovered that following God was—and is—the only way to find real happiness. Finally, King Solomon wrote Song of Songs, which reveals God’s wisdom for relationships—specifically, between a husband and a wife. In the New Testament, the book of Ephesians says that Jesus loves the church as a husband loves his wife. (Eph. 5:22-28) These books are the inspired words of God. The wisdom offered is not merely suggestions for living; it is part of God’s plan for our sanctification. Wisdom in the Bible shows us how to be like Jesus—in how we live, how we speak, and how we think. But wisdom cannot save us. Only Jesus, who perfectly followed God’s wise plan, can rescue us from sin. Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. GOSPEL APPLICATION K-2nd:
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December 2023
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