Print this chapterPrint this chapter

Leader Guide

Teaching

  • Inventor Sign Pattern
  • Bible—physical book
  • One sheet of cardstock
  • High stool or chair
  • Dry-erase board and marker; if a large one is not available, a smaller, inexpensive, personal-size, dry-erase board and marker
  • Sixth grade helper or a volunteer to play “the professor”
  • Optional: a graduation cap and gown for the professor to wear as a costume
  • One team container and measuring cup from Game
  • Discipleship Challenge Mag-Sys Outside Pattern and Mag-Sys Inside Pattern for children who missed Lesson 1
  • Mag-Sys model craft from Lesson 1

Make one copy of the Inventor Sign Pattern on cardstock in color or black and white.

Tell the sixth grade helper or volunteer playing the professor to come in and sit on the high stool or chair when you introduce him/her, and to hold up the Inventor Sign so children can read it. Later, when you ask for help, the professor should remove the cap from the marker.

Place the high stool or chair up front, where all children can see.

For the Discipleship Challenge, make copies of the Mag-Sys Pattern on cardstock for children who missed Lesson 1. See Lesson 1 for details.

Let’s say our SuperTruth together: “I will ask God for wisdom.”

God came to Solomon in a dream and told him that he could have anything he wanted. What did Solomon ask for? Wisdom.

Why? He needed God’s wisdom to do the job God gave him to do.

By choosing wisdom, Solomon showed he wanted the things of God first over any selfish desires. Do you remember God’s response? God was so pleased that He gave Solomon what he asked for and also things he didn’t ask for.

Yes, God was very pleased with Solomon’s answer. As we learned in today’s SuperVerse, God said He would give Solomon what he asked for—and then God gave him even more! Read 1 Kings 3:13:

“And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life!”

God is pleased when we ask Him for wisdom. It shows that the desire of our heart is to make right choices to please Him and do as Jesus would do. Jesus taught this in Matthew 6:33:

“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.”

When we put God first and ask for His wisdom, He will give us everything we need—and more. Solomon said he felt like a little child who didn’t know his way. (See 1 Kings 3:7.) He humbly admitted that the job of being the king of Israel was too big for him to do on his own.

It’s important for us to be humble, too. We may be tempted to say, “I’ve got this! I can figure this out on my own!” Yet in reality, we need God’s help, and we should be quick to ask Him for it.

One of King Solomon’s most famous sayings is found in Proverbs 3:5–6:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.

Have “the professor” sit in the chair and hold up the sign so the children can read it. Let’s welcome our special guest today—the professor who invented the first dry-erase marker to be used in churches. Have the class clap. Now, I will write the SuperTruth on the board so we can discuss it.

Attempt to write on the board using the marker with the cap on. Look perplexed and say: I don’t understand; this is really strange! I’ve never had this happen before. Shake the marker and try again, tapping the marker—still with the cap on. Then just give up and walk toward the class to continue.

Well, I give up; I think the SuperTruth is short enough that we can remember it. Wait a minute; I just got an idea! Look over at the professor. Professor, you invented the dry erase marker for churches; can you help me fix this marker?

The professor calmly removes the cap from the marker and gives it to you. Oh, how silly of me; I didn’t remove the cap; thank you, Professor! I should have asked you to help when I first had trouble! Write the SuperTruth on the board: “I will ask God for wisdom.”

Now, class, you know this is not a real professor who invented dry erase markers for churches. This was just a fun skit to help me illustrate a point. An inventor of a product would have more knowledge about it than anyone else. If you’re having trouble with the product and the inventor is right next to you, wouldn’t it be smart to go right to that person?

Well, God is the ultimate inventor! What did He invent or create? The world and everything in it, the heavens and the earth, humans, animals, plants, etc.

So, who should we go to for wisdom? God.

Yes, He is the creator who formed everything from absolutely nothing! He knows us inside and out. He knows everything about His creation. Jesus came to the earth to live as a man. He experienced everything that we face, and He can help us! In our skit, the professor was with me the whole time I was having trouble with the marker. All I had to do was ask for his wisdom! It is the same with God; He is always near; all we need to do is ask Him for wisdom! Let’s read the SuperTruth on the board together: “I will ask God for wisdom.”

Hold up the “team container” from the Game and scoop out some “wisdom.” As we receive and store God’s wisdom in our hearts, we can apply it in different situations in our lives. Pour a little back into the container. We can also share His wisdom with others who need it! Pour the remainder of the “wisdom” back in the container.

Yes, God gives wisdom for us to apply and share; He is generous so we can be generous, too! Here is God’s promise to us in James 1:5:

If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and He will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.

Asking God for wisdom is what our Discipleship Challenge is all about for this course.

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Display the model craft that you made. Give a Mag-Sys Pattern to any children who missed Lesson 1 so they can complete the craft at home.

Who remembers our challenge for Lesson 1?

Our challenge was to pray for wisdom as we speak and to use wise words. We were supposed to read and discuss Proverbs 12:18:

Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

Did any of you have an opportunity to use wise words last week?

How can this verse change our thinking about the power of our words? Words can be negative or positive; they can hurt or heal. We need to be careful and use wisdom when we speak.

Let’s continue to ask God to help us use wisdom as we speak each day. We want to encourage others and bring honor to God.

Hold up the Mag-Sys craft and have a child open Door 2 and read the words aloud. Proverbs 4:23.

I will use wisdom when I make choices.

Our challenge for Lesson 2 is to use wisdom in making choices. We make choices every day; like who we hang out with, or what we read or watch. Our choices can affect our lives two ways: they can help keep us on God’s path, or our choices can cause us to stray from it. Read and discuss Proverbs 4:23 with your family if possible. Then ask for God’s wisdom in making wise choices each day. You will also have a chance to share your experiences the next time we meet.

As we learned in Lesson 1, Jesus said that wise people not only listen to His teachings—they also obey and apply them to their lives! (See Matthew 7:24.)