READ the Scripture: 1 Kings 2-3

TALK about the Scripture: If you could ask for anything in the world, what would it be? You might ask for money, fame, or superhero powers. You could even ask for a lifetime supply of candy, but then you’d probably need to ask for a dentist!

When God gave Solomon the chance to ask for anything in the world, Solomon asked God for wisdom. Solomon wanted wisdom to know right from wrong and to help him honor God as king over Israel. God gave Solomon the wisdom he requested, and God added to it long life, riches, and honor. Solomon became the greatest king of his generation, and all of Israel was blessed because of the gifts God had given to him.

James 1:5 says, “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.” God wants to give us wisdom to know Him and honor Him with our lives. He wants us to know what is right and good so that we can follow Him. Most of all, God wants to give us wisdom to believe in Jesus and trust in Him as Lord!

The temple was a place where God met with His people. The people could go there to make sacrifices and worship God. Today, when we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go. We can look to Him for forgiveness and help.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: August Week 1

LEARN the Scripture:
Toddlers & Younger Preschool: The Lord is a kind and loving God. Exodus 34:6

Older Preschool: The LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth. Exodus 34:6

Elementary Kids: The LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. Exodus 34:6-7

PRAY as a Family: God, thank You for the gift of wisdom. Give us wisdom to know You and the forgiveness You provide through Jesus. Amen!

READ the Scripture: 1 Kings 6-9

TALK about the Scripture: Do you get excited when your grandparents or another relative is coming to visit? To get ready for their visit, the whole family begins cleaning the house, preparing special meals, and making special plans to entertain them. You pull out all the stops to welcome them and spend quality time while they’re with you.

When Solomon became king, the people of Israel spent seven years building a temple for God. The temple had cedar panels with ornamental flowers. The furniture and equipment were made of bronze, and everything inside the temple was covered in pure gold! Every detail of the temple was special. The people worked hard to prepare a place for God to come and dwell with them. It was worth their effort to have a place where they could spend time with God and know that He is with them!

The first chapter of John describes Jesus like this: “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14 CSB) We no longer need to go to a temple to visit God because He came to us! All who believe in Jesus receive eternal life, which means we will dwell with Him forever and ever!

The temple was a place where God met with His people. The people could go there to make sacrifices and worship God. Today, when we trust in Jesus, He is with us wherever we go. We can look to Him for forgiveness and help.

Pray: God, You created the universe and rule over everything, but You still love us and want to live with us. We praise You for giving Israel the temple to know that You were with them, and we thank You for the promise of eternal life through Jesus—to know that we can live with You forever!

WATCH the Bible Story Video: August Week 2

LEARN the Scripture: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2

PRAY as a Family: God, thank you for your local church and the people who worship with you each week. Although we no longer need a temple to worship God, we can thank God for the community and facility He gives us to worship Him. Give us wisdom to find ways to support our local church. We also thank you for the Holy Spirit who is God living in every person who trusts in Jesus. We praise you God for sending His Spirit as a reminder of the promise of eternal life.

APPLY what you've learned:

For Fun - Look up and drive to local church buildings. Discuss how the beauty of these buildings honors and glorifies God, but that we don’t need a beautiful building to meet with God. Because of Jesus, we can meet with God anywhere.

To Serve - Volunteer to clean or care for your local church. As you work, talk with kids about how we no longer need a building to worship God. At the same time, we can work to make the building more beautiful to serve the community and introduce them to Jesus.

READ the Scripture: 1 Kings 10-12

TALK about the Scripture: God blessed Solomon with wisdom, riches, fame, and power; yet Solomon still wanted more. Solomon turned away from God and worshiped idols. The people of Israel followed Solomon, and they began to worship false gods. Solomon built the temple for God, and now he was building altars to worship false gods!

Solomon’s sin had major consequences for him and his children. God gave most of Solomon’s kingdom away to his servant. The punishment for sin continued into the next generation as Solomon’s son saw the kingdom of Israel split into two parts. The sin of Solomon was passing down with each generation.

In the garden, God gave Adam and Eve everything they could possibly need; yet they still wanted more. They chose to disobey God, and the curse of their sin has been passed on to every generation since. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s glory. The good news is that God sent a better King—Jesus—to bring people back to God. Jesus perfectly obeyed God. His righteousness is credited to all those who believe in Him!

King Solomon’s sin led to the division of the kingdom. God’s people needed a better king. Through David’s family, God would send His own Son, Jesus, to be a perfect King over God’s people forever. Jesus is greater than Solomon. Jesus brings His people together and leads them back to God.

Pray: God, forgive us for the ways we turn away from You. Remind us that there is no one like You and nothing will ever be more satisfying than knowing You. Help us to trust in Jesus as the Perfect King who shows us how to honor You.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: August Week 3

LEARN the Scripture: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2

PRAY as a Family: God, we praise you for providing everything we need in Jesus. Help us be satisfied with Jesus as our source of love, peace, comfort, and joy. Help us see how Jesus is the ultimate provider of these things in our life.

APPLY what you've learned:

For Fun - Research pictures of idols online and talk about why people groups might worship these images. Discuss how an idol is not just a statue but anything we love or worship more than God. In this way, we all worship idols, and we all need forgiveness. Spend time asking God to show your family any idols that might be taking the honor and glory that belongs to Him.

To Serve - Choose a missionary supported by your local church or find a missionary contact through the International Mission Board. Pray as a family for those missionaries this week. If there are any needs you can provide, send those to the missionary or consider making a donation to the organization in their name.

READ the Scripture: Luke 18

TALK about the Scripture: When it comes time for a peacock to choose a mate, the male peacock has a special way to make himself known. The male peacock will stretch out his long, colorful feathers and strut around the territory to draw the attention of other birds. The most colorful and ornate-feathered bird usually becomes the pride of the flock! The Bible gives many warnings about pride. Proverbs 16:18 says, “Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” Pride is thinking higher than you should of yourself or your accomplishments.

Jesus also spoke against the pride and self-righteousness He saw in people. Jesus’ story of the Pharisee and tax-collector shows how pride can make us reject God. We can think so highly of our own selves that we don’t find any need for God. In contrast, the tax-collector humbled himself and cried out for mercy from God.

The example of the tax-collector is how we should all approach God. When we set our eyes on God’s holiness, we become very aware of our sinfulness. We quickly realize that we are unworthy and undeserving, but God offers us mercy through Jesus! Just as Paul said to the church in Corinth, if we’re going to boast about anything, we can boast about the Lord!

The tax collector knew he needed God to forgive him, and he cried out to God. Everyone is a sinner who needs God’s mercy and forgiveness. Jesus took the punishment for our sin by dying on the cross. We can cry out to God like the tax collector and because of Jesus, God will have mercy on us.

Pray: God, humble us and make us aware of our need for You. Help us see Your holiness and know that only You are worthy. May we know Jesus and the mercy You’ve given through Him so that we can boast in Him alone.

WATCH the Bible Story Video: August Week 4

LEARN the Scripture: “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” - Colossians 3:2

PRAY as a Family: God, help us to increase your love and compassion for others. Guide us to friends, neighbors, or others who need to feel loved by someone else. Help us love others through difficult times to give us the opportunity to tell them about Jesus. Help us to see who in our life needs to feel love in this season.

APPLY what you've learned:

For Fun - Reenact the story Jesus tells with one family member as the religious leader and one family member as the tax collector. As a family, think of times when you considered yourself better than others. Pray and ask God for forgiveness and to change your heart to see that all people are equally valuable in God’s eyes.

To Serve - Choose a friend or neighbor who has recently gone through a difficult situation. Make encouraging cards, bake cookies, or deliver a meal to show them love. Talk about how much God has loved your family through Jesus and how that is motivation to love others.