Unit 3, Session 1

LEADER BIBLE STUDY When we finish a big job, most of us like to celebrate. When Solomon completed the

building of the temple in Jerusalem, he, too, wanted to celebrate. His celebration was

a gathering of all Israel to give thanks to God and to worship Him. Solomon pointed

his praise and the praise of the people in the proper direction—toward God.

Solomon could have easily claimed the people’s praise for himself as they all

gazed at the glory of the finished temple. Instead, Solomon helped to focus their

attention on God, recalling God’s role in their lives as the ultimate promise keeper.

In his prayer, Solomon reminded the people that heaven could not contain God.

Solomon knew that God was far bigger than the walls of any temple they might

construct.

Even though that magnificent temple represented God’s presence among His

people, that building was not “the church.” The church in Solomon’s day and for us

today is the body of believers gathering to worship God.

How does recalling God’s goodness help you as you worship God and serve Him

today? __________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

How can you help preteens better understand that the church is the people,

gathered to worship God? ___________________________________________

________________________________________________________________

NOTE: Downloadable versions of items identified as CD are available in the Music and Print Extras Bundle. Items identified as DVD are available in the Digital Video Bundle.

Training for Bible Studies for Life: Kids is available at ministrygrid.com/web/biblestudiesforlife. Bonus teaching helps and a social media plan are available at biblestudiesforlife.com/kidshelps.

SOLOMON AND THE TEMPLE

LIFE POINT: the ChurCh is a Group of Christians worshipinG toGether.

SUGGESTED DATEweek of November 4

LEVEL OF BIBLICAL LEARNINGThe church is a fellowship of baptized believers who meet together to worship and serve God. Churches today are part of the movement Jesus and His followers began.

BIBLE PASSAGE1 Kings 8

CHURCH

WEEKLY BIBLE VERSEI rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the Lord.” Psalm 122:1

UNIT VERSECome, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. Psalm 95:6

6 6 U n i t 3 , S e S S i o n 1© 2018 LifeWay

›No advance preparation or supplies needed

›CD

›copy paper, markers, pens

›home magazines or magazines with photos of building interiors—Scan the magazines to make sure they are appropriate for preteens.

›DVD—Click on the missions tab on the DVD menu to find the video “Sweet Flight.”

›“International Missions: Amazon Jungle” (CD)—Print the “Missions in the Amazon Jungle” missions story.

PRACTICE BIBLE SKILLS ►Learn the Old Testament Books of History

1. Allow a volunteer to name the first five books of the Old Testament. Remind the

group that these books are known as the Law or Torah.

2. Introduce preteens to the books of Old Testament History.

3. Moving from your right to your left (their left to their right) hold up three fingers

for a moment. Then flash two fingers three times followed by three fingers again.

Explain that the books of Old Testament History are three singles, three pairs, and

three more singles. Continue to use the fingers each time you explain this.

4. Guide the group to name the three singles (Joshua, Judges, Ruth). Proceed

through the pairs (1 and 2 Samuel, 1 and 2 Kings, 1 and 2 Chronicles) and then

the singles (Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther).

5. Challenge groups or individuals to repeat the books as you show the finger signs.

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY ►Design-a-Church, “We Are Your Church” (CD, track 6)

1. Explain that your church would like to build a completely new building and has

requested the class’s input to make this new church building special.

2. Distribute magazines. Invite preteens to browse the pages to discover things that

should be included in the new building. Suggest that they cut out photos, draw

images they cannot locate, or write a brief description of desired features. Play

“We Are Your Church” while kids work.

3. Alternating between girls and boys, allow the group to share their suggestions.

4. Remind the group that the church is not the building in which it meets.

5. Point out that in today’s lesson preteens will determine what the church is.

MISSIONS EMPHASIS 1. Show the “Sweet Flight” video or tell the “Missions in the Amazon Jungle” story.

2. Remind preteens that Andy Kennedy uses his airplane to fly missionaries, doctors,

dentists, and other Christians to the Amazon jungle. The ministries that they

provide help many people with their physical needs.

3. Invite volunteers to pray for Andy and the other missionaries as they travel to the

Amazon jungle. Invite other volunteers to pray for the people, many of whom are

hearing about God and His Son, Jesus, for the very first time.

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 67© 2018 LifeWay

›Pack Items 23, 24

›Teaching Picture 10

›Activity Pages

›DVD

›dry erase board and markers—Write the following headings across the top of the board: People, Places, Things, Actions.

STUDY THE BIBLE

GETTING TO THE POINT►“Worship God at Church Title Banner” (Pack Item 23), Worship Definitions”

(Activity Page)

• Refer to the title banner and point out the key word, worship.

• Direct preteens to the two definitions of worship on the Activity Page. Briefly

discuss what these definitions have in common and how they are different.

• Ask the group to name some things other than God that people sometimes

worship (Examples: a sports team, a musician, a nation). Emphasize that while

people can admire or enjoy those things, they should never receive our worship.

• Explain that this month’s lessons will focus on one of the most important jobs of

the church: worshiping God together.

LOOK IN THE BOOK►Teaching Picture 10

• Invite preteens to locate 1 Kings 8 in their Bibles. Allow someone who

participated in the Practice Bible Skills activity to identify the place of 1 Kings in

the books of Old Testament History.

• Preview the Bible story by watching “Solomon and the Temple: Bible Story” video.

• Explain that you will be reading a portion of the verses aloud. Point out the

headings written on the board: People, Places, Things, Actions. Instruct preteens to

follow along as you tell the story and raise their hands when they hear a new item

that should be recorded under one of the designated headings. Invite a volunteer

to record the findings as they are mentioned.

• Read aloud the story summary located on the back of Teaching Picture 10,

pausing when hands are raised or when you should have been interrupted.

Direct the recorder to write one or two word descriptions of the items under the

headings.

• Ask the following questions after reading the passage and recording the items:

-Where did the people gather? (Jerusalem, in the temple)

-Who led them? (Solomon, the Levites, and the priests)

-What filled the temple? (the glory of the Lord)

REVIEW CHALLENGE►Teaching Picture 10

• Display the Teaching Picture. Lead preteens to refer to their Bibles to determine

which verse in 1 Kings 8:1-11 is best represented in this image.

6 8 U n i t 3 , S e S S i o n 1© 2018 LifeWay

LIFE POINT

OPTION: Memorize the Weekly Bible Verse: Psalm 122:1.

• Allow volunteers to identify the various people, places, things, or actions

represented here.

• Ask the group to consider the single most important lesson that they can take

from today’s story.

• Emphasize that the church is not the building, just as Solomon worshiped God,

not the temple being built. The building is a place where God’s people can gather

to worship Him.

UNIT VERSE CHALLENGE►“Psalm 95:6 Unit Verse” (Pack Item 24)

• Display the Psalm 95:6 poster, asking the group to repeat it aloud with you.

• Invite volunteers to identify the four verbs in the verse. (come, worship, bow, kneel)

• Ask:

-What do those verbs used in the verse mean that worship should look like?

-Should you worship by yourself or with others?

-Should you try to impress God with how great you are?

• Lead the group in repeating the verse once more.

APPLY THE BIBLE AND PRAY • Show the “Solomon and the Temple: Life Action” video.

• Remind preteens of the two definitions of worship from the Activity Page.

Emphasize that all worship has an object or a thing that is being worshiped.

• Confess that sometimes Christians can think that worship is simply some actions

that people do at church.

• Emphasize that true worship happens in people’s hearts and minds as you see

God for how great He is and tell Him about it.

• Lead the group in a prayer asking that God will reveal His glory in worship as

powerfully as He did in the temple during Solomon’s time.

the ChurCh is a Group of Christians worshipinG toGether.

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 69© 2018 LifeWay

LIVE IT OUT

CHOICE 1 (GIRLS)►“Way Back Machine: The Temple” (Activity Page)

1. Point out “Way Back Machine: The Temple” on the Activity Pages. Invite the

group to examine worship from the past to help them to understand worship in

the present.

2. Lead girls to write three important words from today’s Bible story in the space

provided in the Way-Way Back section. Allow girls to share their words. Comment

on their ideas, encouraging them to add the word temple if it is not mentioned.

3. Direct girls to look to Jesus’ time. Point out that Jesus spent a good deal of time at

the temple in Jerusalem.

4. Assign the verses in the Way Back section. Challenge girls to read these verses

to determine things that Jesus did in the temple. Allow them to share their

discoveries. If you have a large group, guide them to form pairs and then assign

the verses.

5. Point out that just as Jesus predicted, the temple in Jerusalem was destroyed a

few years after the church began.

6. Turn the “Way Back Machine: The Temple” to the present. Allow volunteers to

read the passages listed to discover how the destroyed temple has been replaced

by a living temple.

7. Prompt girls to read Hebrews 10:24-25 in their Bibles and to consider how and

why Christians should get together to worship.

CHOICE 2 (BOYS)►“Worship Definitions” (Activity Page)

1. Remind boys of the definitions of worship found on the Activity Page. Ask: “Do

either of these definitions describe your worship experience?”

2. Challenge boys to write on pieces of scrap paper their own definitions of worship

from within the church and share them with the group.

3. Point out that the Bible does not make it completely clear what Christian worship

should look like. Emphasize that it should always be directed toward God and

should make Him the most important thing.

4. Place the trash can a challenging distance away from the tape line. Direct each

boy to crumple up a piece of scrap paper. Challenge boys to toss their papers

into the can one at a time. If a boy hits the can with his paper ball, ask him to

name something that would be seen in worship within the church building. If

CHOICE 1

›Activity Pages

›pens

CHOICE 2

›Activity Pages

›scrap paper, trash can, dry erase board and markers

›masking tape—Place a “start” line in an open area of the room.

70 U n i t 3 , S e S S i o n 1© 2018 LifeWay

LIFE POINT

he misses, guide him to name something that could take place outside of the

building but still be worship. Remind boys as needed of the definitions found on

the Activity Page.

5. Move the trash can farther away and play another round.

6. Share as time permits your own experience or that of others in worship that

occurred beyond the walls of a church building. Point out that while one can

worship God while doing woodworking or gardening, God still calls the church to

gather together and share in a time of worship.

CHOICE 3 (BOYS AND GIRLS)►Walking Tour

1. Review the “Design-a-Church” plans created earlier in the Introductory Activity.

Ask the group to reflect on the best and silliest ideas for a new church building.

2. Ask preteens to consider the question: “Where is the church?” Listen to their

answers without providing any of your own.

3. Guide the group on a tour of the facility seeking to answer the question, “Where

is the church?” Go to various locations, as is feasible, repeating the question at

each stop. Possible stops could include the worship center, lobby, classrooms,

kitchen, closet, and so forth. At each stop, ask whether you are getting warmer or

colder in finding the “church.”

4. Close out your tour by briefly reviewing the story of Solomon and the dedication

of the temple. Ask preteens to recall some of the groups of people who were

present for that event.

5. Suggest that one of the reasons God wanted the people of Israel to build the

temple was so that the people would have one place to gather.

6. Emphasize that the church is not the building. Admit that people sometimes

refer to the building as the “church,” but that the church is God’s people gathered

together to serve and worship Him.

7. Point out that your group, at this moment, is the church. Conclude the session

with prayer.

WRAP UP • Remind preteens that the church is much more than a building.

• Emphasize that God formed the church so that Christians could worship together.

• Remind kids to give their One Conversation™ pages to their parents.

CHOICE 3

›church plans from Introductory Activity Teaching Tip: If your church has a facility manager or director, ask him to take preteens on a tour of the facility.

WRAP UP

›Bible Studies for Life: Kids Take-Home Cards (005786492)

the ChurCh is a Group of Christians worshipinG toGether.

B I B L E S T U D I E S F O R L I F E P R E T E E N S 71© 2018 LifeWay