Preschool December 08, 2013 10:15am
Leader BIBLE STUDY Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes are three books spanning nearly 200 chapters of the Bible. This week s study follows the stories of David and Solomon, the primary writers 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. The Book of Psalms, a collection of 150 songs meant for prayer and praise, has helped believers throughout history express themselves in worship. Kids will find this is still true today. Wisdom comes from God. (See Prov. 2:6.) Solomon could have asked God for anything, and he asked for wisdom. 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 also wrote 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 someone greater than Solomon. Something greater than Solomon is here! (Matt. 12:42; Luke 11:31). Jesus not only taught God s wisdom, He displayed it perfectly. Finally, the Book of Ecclesiastes also works to provide wisdom and knowledge to God s people. Ecclesiastes addresses the reality of fearing God in a world heavily affected by sin. When reading Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes, remember that these books are the inspired words of God. The wisdom offered is not merely a suggestion for living; it is part of God s plan for our sanctification. God wants us to be like Jesus in how we live, how we speak, and how we think. We attain wisdom by knowing and loving the One who became Godgiven wisdom for us, Jesus Christ. (1 Cor. 1:30) 1 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 12, Session 4 Copyright 2013
Preschool WORSHIP OVERVIEW Session Title: Poetry and Wisdom Bible Passage: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes Big Picture Question: Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God. Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61 Unit Christ Connection: Solomon s grand earthly reign is a picture of the eternal reign of Christ. Solomon s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ s perfect Kingdom is forever. Large Group Worship Small Group Activities The Big Attic Make sure all children arriving at 10:15am have a Journal Page to take home to complete. Send the Journal Page and a Big Picture Card for Families home with each child. 2 A Kingdom in Trouble
The BIBLE STORY Poetry and Wisdom Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes King David loved God. He wrote many songs about his love for God. The Israelites collected the songs David and other people wrote and put them in the Bible. The songs are called psalms. The songs are in the Book of Psalms. David wrote psalms when he was happy. He wrote songs when he was glad. David sang, God, Your name is so magnificent! Magnificent means wonderful or great. God had done very good and powerful things for David. God deserved to be praised. When David was sad or afraid, he still sang praises to God. One time David was hiding from King Saul. King Saul did not like David, and David was afraid. David wrote a song to God. He sang, When I am afraid, I trust in You. I will trust God and not be afraid. When David did something wrong, he was sorry he sinned against God. David wrote songs to God to say he was sorry. I sinned against You, God, David said. Give me a clean heart and please forgive me. God forgave David, and David praised God. David thought about God s Word all the time. He taught his son, Solomon, to love and follow God s Word, too. When Solomon became king, he asked God for help to be a good leader. God told Solomon to ask for anything he wanted. Solomon could have asked for money or to live a long time, but he asked for wisdom. God was happy! He gave Solomon great wisdom. Solomon wrote down wise ideas called proverbs. Like his father David, Solomon wrote songs too. In the Book of Proverbs, Solomon told God s people how to make wise choices. Solomon wrote about getting along with others, having good manners, telling the truth, being a good friend, and many other things. Trust in God with all your heart, Solomon wrote in Proverbs 3:5. Watch how hard an ant works. Work hard too; this is the wise thing 3 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 12, Session 4 Copyright 2013
to do. (See Proverbs 6:6.) Some people do not always listen to God s words. Solomon wrote another book in the Bible called Ecclesiastes. The Book of Ecclesiastes also has wisdom for people. Solomon wrote about money and work and how to live a good life. The most important thing, Solomon said, was to love and obey God. Solomon even wrote a poem. He taught that there is a time for everything: a time to give birth and a time to die; a time to plant and a time to uproot; a time to kill and a time to heal; a time to tear down and a time to build; a time to weep and a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance (Ecclesiastes 3:2-4). Christ Connection: God gives us wisdom in the Bible. Wisdom comes from knowing and loving God. (Proverbs 1:7) Wisdom teaches us how to live. God wants to change people who know and love Him to become like Jesus. * Use only the words in bold to review the Bible story or tell it to younger preschoolers. 4 A Kingdom in Trouble
Large Group Worship Session Title: Poetry and Wisdom Bible Passage: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes Big Picture Question: Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God. Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61 Unit Christ Connection: Solomon s grand earthly reign is a picture of the eternal reign of Christ. Solomon s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ s perfect Kingdom is forever. Play Me Without You in the background as you welcome incoming preschoolers. Follow your church s security procedures. tear sheet The Bible Is God s Word song Bible Key Passage Poster Devoted song Timeline Map Poetry and Wisdom picture Large Group Worship Welcome and sing - Kindergarten Only Print Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, 39, and 66 on a large tear sheet as a reference. Provide several Bibles. As kids arrive, challenge them to locate the Book of Psalms in the Bible. (in the center of the Bible; begins with P) Challenge older kids to find Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. Sing The Bible Is God s Word together. Practice the key passage and a Bible skill Say Are Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes in the Old Testament or the New Testament? (Old Testament) How many books are there in the Old Testament? (39) And how many books are there altogether in the Bible? (66) Look at the key passage poster and say the verse together. Sing Devoted. Tell the Bible story Refer to previous pictures on the timeline as you discuss David s and Solomon s lives. Say What do you remember about David and his son 5 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 12, Session 4 Copyright 2013
Solomon? (David killed Goliath, played the harp for King Saul, was Jonathan s best friend, became king after Saul, and made mistakes but loved God with his whole heart. Solomon was David s son, became king after David, built the temple, married many wives, and worshiped false gods to make his wives happy.) While all of these things were happening, David and Solomon wrote down what they felt and thought. We can find their words in the Old Testament books of Psalms, Proverbs, and Ecclesiastes. Tell the Bible story. Stress that when we read what David and Solomon wrote, we can learn more about how to praise God and obey Him. Big Picture Question Poster Listen and Obey song The Bible Is God s Word song offering basket Tip: Do activities one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time in small groups that rotate through each activity set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose Worship with song and pray Say Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God. To be truly wise, we must love and trust God. God wants us to be wise so we can be more like Jesus in everything we do. David and Solomon wrote words that help us know more about God and how He wants us to live. We can read them in the Bible. Sing about being more like Jesus Listen and Obey. Play The Bible Is God s Word and collect the offering. Remind kids what the church does with the offering money that is collected. Sing Lord, Teach Me. Pray. Ask God to teach us how to be wise and thank Him for giving us the Bible to help us know what to do. Transition to small groups Dismiss kids to small groups individually after they tell you the names of the Bible books in today s session. 6 A Kingdom in Trouble
Small Group Activities Session Title: Poetry and Wisdom Bible Passage: Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes Big Picture Question: Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God. Key Passage: 1 Kings 8:61 Unit Christ Connection: Solomon s grand earthly reign is a picture of the eternal reign of Christ. Solomon s sin divided his kingdom, but Christ s perfect Kingdom is forever. Tip: Select from the activities those you can staff and which your class will enjoy. LOW PREP Key Passage Poster construction paper tape marker Devoted song Small Group Activities Jump the key passage Print words or short phrases from the key passage verse on sheets of construction paper and tape them to the floor in a circle, but not in order. Invite kids to jump from one to the other in the verse order. After several kids have jumped, sing the key passage song Devoted. Say Where does wisdom come from? Wisdom comes from God. How do we learn from God? We learn if our hearts are devoted to. (Complete the sentence with the last words of the key passage song: the Lord our God. ) 7 Preschool Worship Guide Unit 12, Session 4 Copyright 2013
paper plates rice, beans clear packing tape worship music or Everybody Sing song Make instruments Place rice or beans between two paper plates. Seal the edges with clear packing tape. Play worship music; encourage kids to shake their instruments with the music. Say Many of the psalms are songs for praising God. Who wrote many of them? (King David) Practice a responsive reading Read Psalm 136:1-16,23-26 responsively. Talk about the word eternal or forever. Kids say the response: His love is eternal or His love endures forever. To add hand signs, make a forever circle with the forefinger near the head for eternal; end the motion with little finger and thumb out, middle three fingers folded, hand moving away from the body. Cross hands over the heart in a hug for love. Say Solomon s grand kingdom lasted for a few years, but Christ s perfect kingdom is forever. Transition to The Big Attic 8 A Kingdom in Trouble
Let your heart therefore be wholly true to the LORD our God. 1 Kings 8:61 UNIT 12 Key Passage Poster (ESV) 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT A Kingdom in Trouble
2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT UNIT 12 Session 4 Big Picture Question A Kingdom in Trouble Wisdom comes from God. Where does wisdom come from?
UNIT 12 Session 4 Poetry and Wisdom 2013 Christian Resources. OK TO PRINT A Kingdom in Trouble