Lesson 18 - Solomon
And God said to him, “Because you have asked this, and have not asked for yourself long life or riches or the life of your enemies...I give you a wise and discerning mind, so that none like you has been before you and none like you shall arise after you. (1 Kings 3:11-12)
Solomon Becomes King
Parent Explanation:
Solomon was King David’s son, and he became king when he was still quite young. He wanted to be a good king and take care of his people.
Questions:
Who was Solomon's father? (Answer: King David)
What did Solomon want to be? (Answer: A good king)
Hand Motions:
Crown Gesture: Pretend to place a crown on your head.
Thinking Pose: Tap your chin, showing Solomon thinking about being a good leader.
Activities:
Story Time: Share how Solomon became king and his feelings about it.
Interactive Question: What do you think makes a good leader?
Solomon Asks for Wisdom
Parent Explanation:
Instead of asking for treasures or to be the strongest, Solomon asked God for wisdom so he could help his people the best way possible.
Questions to Ask:
What did Solomon ask God to give him? (Answer: Wisdom)
Why did Solomon want wisdom? (Answer: To rule his people well)
Hand Motions:
Wisdom Gesture: Point to your head, symbolizing wisdom.
Pleased Gesture: Smile broadly, showing God’s pleasure.
Activities:
Wisdom Sharing: Encourage kids to think of wise choices they made.
Question: What wise thing would you ask for?
Building the Temple
Parent Explanation:
Solomon used his wisdom to build a big beautiful house for God, called a temple, where people could come to worship.
Questions to Ask:
What did Solomon build for God? (Answer: A temple)
Why did Solomon build the temple? (Answer: To worship God)
Hand Motions:
Building Gesture: Pretend to stack bricks, showing the building of the temple.
Worship Gesture: Bow your head and fold your hands.
Activities:
Building Blocks: Use blocks to build a simple structure, talking about teamwork and dedication.
Question: How can we show our love for God?
The Wisdom of Solomon
Parent Explanation:
One time, two moms were arguing over a baby, and Solomon had to decide who the real mommy was. He figured it out by watching how each reacted. Solomon was able to find who the real mommy was.
Questions to Ask:
How did Solomon find the baby's real mother? (Answer: By suggesting to split the baby, knowing the real mother would rather give her baby up than see him hurt)
What does this story teach us about wisdom? (Answer: It helps us solve problems and care for others)
Hand Motions:
Thinking Cap: Pretend to put on a cap, symbolizing deep thinking.
Heart Gesture: Place hand over heart, indicating the real mother’s love.
Activities:
Problem-Solving Game: Create simple problems for kids to solve using clues.
Question: What would you do if you had to solve a tough problem?
Solomon's Legacy
Parent Explanation:
Solomon did many great things and was very wise. But he also made some mistakes when he stopped following God’s ways, which caused problems.
Questions to Ask:
What did Solomon do well? (Answer: Ruled wisely, built the temple)
What can we learn from Solomon's whole life? (Answer: It's important to always follow God)
Hand Motions:
Up and Down Gesture: Move your hand up and down to show the highs and lows of Solomon’s life.
Follow Path Gesture: Use your finger to trace a path on the ground, showing the importance of following God’s path.
Activities:
Story Recap: Use illustrations to recap Solomon’s life and highlight key moments.
Favorite Part: What did you like best about Solomon's story?