Key Verse
“No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” Matthew 6:24
Read the Key Verse with your class. Ask your students if they remember the first 3 of the Ten Commandments. (Exodus 20:3-5: “3. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 4. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image … 5. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them …” Read today’s memory verse together with your class. Help them understand this verse using the following definitions:
serve: obey; serve in bondage hold: to hold firmly, cleave to
despise: to neglect or not care for mammon: all kinds of possessions; the god of materialism
Today we will look at the life of Solomon. We see what happens when he turns from serving the one true God to allowing idol worship to come into his life. He could not serve both.
Summary: I Kings begins with King David’s death and his son, Solomon, taking the throne. David had encouraged his son to walk with God and obey His commands. Solomon obeyed his father, David, and the kingdom was established. God then came to Solomon himself, asking what he desired. Solomon asked for wisdom and God gave it to him, along with riches and fame. God, too, told Solomon to obey His commands and walk in God’s ways, and God would bless his kingdom as He had promised David.
Solomon was allowed to build the temple that his father, David, had wanted to build. But, Solomon allowed his heart to be turned from God to the gods (and idol worship) of his many “strange” wives. When King Solomon turned his heart from God to idols, we see the nation decline from one of the greatest kingdoms ever to the promise of a divided kingdom; with David’s house only ruling two tribes (Judah and Benjamin: see I Kings 11:30-35).
Encourage your students to bring their Bibles and use them!
Emphasis: Just as King Solomon was blessed and established as long as he walked in God’s ways as his father, David, we must make a choice – obey God or our own desires in the flesh. When King Solomon “loved” many women, he allowed his heart to be turned from God. We cannot choose the things of the world over God.
Optional Worksheets to be downloaded:
Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Worksheet 1
Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 1
Lesson 38 – Volume 1 Children’s Reinforcement Worksheet 2
Ideas for children:
Stickers always work well with children. Often times I watch Wal-Mart or Oriental Trading Company for specials or deals on things I can use for crafts for Sunday School (i.e. foam sheets, Bible Story scene stickers, crowns, stick on jewels, construction paper, etc.). I keep a stash and when I need something, I go search in my stash! Pinterest always has great ideas!
You could have a coloring sheet that goes with the lesson.
One idea for today’s lesson: (See picture below). For today’s lesson we traced footprints and wrote I Kings 2:3 on them. We then glued them to a piece of construction paper. The idea is to help them remember the importance of walking in God’s ways and keeping His commandments.
Mural idea:
Refer to the wall in your classroom that has become a mural.
By now your class should be in a groove as to the direction and areas in which they need to focus and work on to improve their Christian lives. Use this knowledge to help you address specific areas in each lesson that your class can discuss and share as you add new things to your mural. Continue to watch as your class grows in their knowledge of not only God’s Word, but areas in their lives that can be corrected, drawing them closer to the Lord.
Have them each add anything else they may have brought to add to the wall. Encourage everyone to participate.
