The Wise King
1 Kings 3
Teaching Videos
Teaching Ideas
Idea 1
Read “The Wise King” on page 178 in The Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd-Jones
Questions:
What was the important choice Solomon made when he prayed to God?
How did Solomon show his wisdom when he made decisions?
Why is wisdom more important than having a lot of money or power?
How can we make wise choices in our lives?
Idea 2
Play a game - Wise or not wise
Give examples of situations with two endings, one ending being wise and the other being not wise
Ask the kids to choose what ending would be the wise one.
Idea 3
Go on a wisdom hunt.
Write a word like kindness, sharing, honesty on a number of jewels and hide them around the room where you are teaching the lesson.
Explain to the kids that wisdom is like a jewel and ask them to go searching for all the jewels and bring them back to you.
Once all the jewels have been found, read what each jewel says and have a conversation with the kids.
Ask them questions like what does it mean to be honest? What does it mean to share?
Finish off this conversation by letting the kids know that it says in James 1:5 that if you need wisdom, you can ask God.
Idea 4
Read “King Solomon” on page 178 in The Beginner’s Bible: Timeless Children’s Stories by Kelly Pulley
Questions:
What did King Solomon ask God for?
Why do you think Solomon chose to ask for wisdom instead of riches or power?
How did God respond to Solomon’s request?
How can we ask God for help when we need wisdom?
Idea 5
Solve the problem
Tell the kids that it is their turn to be wise. Tell them the example of the two ladies coming to talk with Solomon in 1 Kings 3:16-28. One of the ladies babies had died in the night and now they were both saying that the child that was alive was their own child.
Ask the kids what they would do to figure out who was telling the truth. What kinds of questions could they ask the ladies?
Idea 6
Play a memory game with the kids. Ask them if they could ask for one thing what would you ask for?
Sit in a circle and let the first kid answer - If I could ask for one thing it would be __________.
Ask the second kid to answer - If I could ask for one thing it would be _________ and 1st kids’ answer.
Ask the third kid to answer - If I could ask for one thing it would be _______ and 2nd kids answer and 1st kids’ answer.
Keep going like this adding one more answer with every new kid.
Idea 7
True or False Questions
Solomon was David’s Son. (True)
Solomon went to Bethlehem to offer sacrifices. (False)
Solomon offered 5000 animals as sacrifices. (False)
Solomon slept over in Gibeon. (True)
Solomon had a dream from God. (True)
In Solomon’s dream God asked Solomon what he would like for Christmas. (False)
Solomon asked for wisdom. (True)
Solomon is known as the wise king. (True)