Teaching

King David loved God and wanted to build a Temple to worship and honor the Lord. At first, God’s prophet Nathan agreed.

Read 2 Samuel 7:3:

Nathan replied to the king, “Go ahead and do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with you.”

But on that same night, God corrected Nathan and said that David would not be the one to build the Temple.

What we think is good may not be what is really best. That’s why we should seek God in everything we do.

Bring out the two balloons and place them on the floor where everyone can see them. Point to the “US” balloon. This represents our thoughts and ways. Point to the helium “GOD” balloon, held down on the floor by the weight. This represents God’s thoughts and ways.

Untie the helium balloon from the weight and let it rise to the ceiling, with its long string trailing so you can pull it down later.

Let’s say the SuperVerse together. Isaiah 55:9:

“Just as the heavens are higher than the earth, My thoughts and My ways are higher than yours.”

Whose thoughts and ways are higher? God’s!

If we were outside, what would happen to the balloon? It would rise to the sky.

When King David grew very old, Adonijah was his oldest surviving son and could have been named king. In fact, Adonijah declared himself king without David’s blessing. Yet, God had a different plan.

Point to the “US” balloon. We all think we know what we want and what is best. Yet as humans, our thinking and vision are limited. We see a very small picture—like this. Hold up the folded world map so everyone can see the Superbook children. In the Superbook video, what problem was Chris focused on? Not being chosen to attend the robot battle.

Chris felt he should attend the competition since he designed the robot. But after visiting Solomon, Chris realized that he had missed the big picture, and his thinking was not best for the team.

Unfold the map and show children the whole world. God is high above the heavens, and He sees the whole picture. He created the entire universe and knows how everything works. He is working everything for our good and according to His master plan. He alone understands what is best in every situation. He is always faithful and good.

Raise up the “US” balloon and drop it to the floor. Our thoughts and ways are up and down and inconsistent.

Point to the two balloons. So, which balloon would you rather be like? Children answer.

Read Colossians 3:1–2:

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

Point to the “GOD” balloon. For us to grow spiritually, we must allow the Holy Spirit to change the way we think. When we accept Jesus, we become a new person. He washes away our sins and comes into our hearts to fill us with His love, power and wisdom. God will show us His perspective on things when we ask. The more time we spend with God, the more we can become like Christ!

Now let’s learn about a temple that is alive!

Discipleship Challenge/Practical Application

Give each child a God’s Temple page. Display the model craft and have children follow the instructions to make their crafts.

Solomon built the Temple during the time of the Old Testament. The New Testament explains that God’s Spirit cannot be contained in a building.

Read Acts 7:46–50:

“David found favor with God and asked for the privilege of building a permanent Temple for the God of Jacob. But it was Solomon who actually built it. However, the Most High doesn’t live in temples made by human hands. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is My throne, and the earth is My footstool. Could you build Me a temple as good as that?’ asks the LORD. ‘Could you build Me such a resting place? Didn’t My hands make both heaven and earth?’”

God created the entire universe, and He is much too big to fit inside any building made by human hands. Yet when we accept Jesus as our Savior, His Spirit comes to live in our hearts, and we become God’s holy, living Temple!

Read 1 Corinthians 3:16 (CEV):

All of you surely know that you are God’s temple and that His Spirit lives in you.

Solomon’s Temple took 7 years to build. The Holy Spirit will continue to build our Temple for the rest of our lives! As we walk in obedience to Him, our Temple will grow more and more like Christ. That is what this Discipleship Challenge is about. In each lesson, we will learn about some items or furnishings of Solomon’s Temple and compare them to what God does in our own Temples.

Let’s look at the two pieces for Lesson 1: “My Temple Is Holy.” The Bronze Sea was a large metal basin where the priests washed before serving in the Temple. At home, read 1 John 1:9 and discuss how Jesus cleanses us. Then ask Jesus to cleanse you and forgive your sins. The Bronze Altar was where the priests offered animal sacrifices to cover the sins of the people. At home, read Hebrews 9:14 and discuss how Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for our sins. Each day, thank Jesus for giving His life to pay the price for our sins so we can become right with God.

Next time we meet, we will talk about your experience with this challenge.

Optional: read 1 Peter 2:5:

And you are living stones that God is building into His spiritual temple. What’s more, you are His holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God.