Bible Basis:
1 Kings 3:1-15, 4:29-30, Proverbs 3:1-18, 2 Chronicles 6:12-7:3, 2 Chronicles 9:1-8, 1 Kings 11:9-13
“Don’t be wise in your own eyes. Have respect for the Lord” (Proverbs 3:7).

Get the Point:
Preschool: God made Solomon a wise leader. God can make me wise, too.
Elementary: God made Solomon a wise leader. God can make me wise, too.
Middle School: Man’s wisdom—even Solomon’s—is limited. God’s love endures forever.
High School: Solomon was the wisest man alive, but he failed to follow his own godly teaching and that led to his downfall.

Table Talk
Preschool/Elementary
• God appeared to Solomon in a dream and offered to give him anything he asked for. If God
gave you the same offer, what would you ask for?
• Solomon asked for wisdom, so he could be a good king. Do you think that was a good
request?
• God liked Solomon’s answer so much that he gave him wisdom, fame and money. What’s the
best reward you’ve received for a good answer?
• If you could ask your parents to give you one thing, what would it be?
Middle/High School
• Solomon’s wisdom is legendary. Many of his saying can be found in Proverbs and
Ecclesiastes. He begins Proverbs by writing, “Fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge,
but fools despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7). What does that mean to you?
• Would your teachers and friends agree that the “fear of the Lord is the beginning of
knowledge”?
• What would modern-day science say about that statement?
• Is Solomon’s wisdom out of date or does it still apply today? Why?

Living Faith
This activity requires a 20-ounce plastic bottle, warm water, vinegar and baking soda. It’s best to complete this activity outside or in a sink. As you watch the baking soda and vinegar react and fizz out of the bottle, think about what it would’ve been like to watch God’s presence come down and fill the temple.
Start by putting about two tablespoons of baking soda in the bottom of the bottle. Quickly add a 1⁄2 cup of vinegar and 1⁄4 cup of warm water. Step back and watch the bottle fill with foam that bursts out of the top.
When Solomon prayed for the temple, God’s presence came down. Second Chronicles 7:2 says, “the priests couldn’t enter the temple of the Lord. His glory filled it.” Can you imagine God’s tangible presence filling a building? It was so powerful that people who witnessed it, dropped to their knees and worshiped God.
For a bonus activity after discussing God’s powerful presence at his temple, get a plastic zipper bag to demonstrate that God’s glory can’t be contained. Be careful as the bag will explode and may create a mess.
This time put a couple of tablespoons of baking soda in a paper towel and fold it up. Pour a 1⁄2 cup of vinegar and a 1⁄4 cup of water into the plastic zipper bag. Drop in the paper towel and quickly zip the bag closed. Give a quick shake to start the reaction, then put the plastic bag on the ground and step away. The bag should puff up and pop with a loud bang.

Extra Mile
Idea #1: Money wasn’t an issue for Solomon. God blessed him with such vast riches that the Bible says silver had little value in Solomon’s kingdom and that the king drank out of a gold goblet. So when Solomon built God’s temple, he spared no expense.
Even though Solomon had 180,000 workers and 4,000 supervisors on the project, the temple took seven years to complete. It was one of the most majestic structures of the day. Nearly 500 years after the Israelites left Egypt, God’s temple was complete.
Take a digital video tour of the temple by going to YouTube and watching the 4:58 video called “Solomons Temple.” Read 1 Kings 6 as you watch.
• Did anything stand out to you in the video?
• Is there any part of the description of the temple that seems especially majestic?
• How does Solomon’s temple compare to your church?
• Does God’s presence still fill buildings today? (Look at Matthew 18:20 for an answer.)
Idea #2: Read the Proverb that mirrors today’s date. (So if it’s the 10th, read Proverbs 10.) After you’re finished, have each family member discuss her favorite verse from what was just read. Encourage each person to memorize one verse from Proverbs. Try this for one day or do it all week!