The following lesson was used with a small group of students ranging from 1st Grade to 4th. The lesson coincided with the sermon series taught from Proverbs at our church. The wisdom of this Bible book is much needed by children today.
Bible Passage: Proverbs 1:1-5; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12
Bible Story Title: Proverbs-Wisdom is applying God’s Truth
Target Age Group: Ages 5-11 (K-5th Grade U.S.A.)
Target Time Frame: 60 Minutes
Original Teaching Context: Sunday School
Supply List: Bibles, 3 pronged folders, loose leaf lined paper, items for students to decorate their journals (stickers, foam shapes of crosses, etc.), markers, pencils, Index cards for the memory verse (our class is younger so the cards were prepared before class)
Learning Goal: Students will learn that we need God to put into practice the truths we know about Him (wisdom).
Learning Activity #1: Students decorate their Proverbs Journal that will be used each week they learn from Proverbs. After the Bible lesson give the children time to write in their journal what they learned from Proverbs. An example would be to write the day’s question- Why do we need God? We need God for wisdom. If students can’t write they can draw a picture of what they learned.
Learning Activity #2:
- Download our free Proverbs coloring pages
- Another coloring Page and word puzzle activity
Learning Activity #3: Scripture memory with our family-Encourage students to take their index card with this week’s memory verse with them in the car to practice with your family as you drive, or put somewhere they will see often.
Test: Review Questions
Memory Verse: Proverbs 2:6-7 “For the LORD gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity,”
Bible Lesson: Proverbs-Wisdom is applying God’s truth
(Begin with prayer)
Today we begin a new Bible study that your parents are studying too. It will be exciting for you to talk with your parents and share with them what you learned and hear what they learned!
Let’s turn to the Book of Proverbs. We are going to going to be studying Proverbs 1:1-5.
Proverbs was mainly written by a man named Solomon. Does anyone know who Solomon is? King David was the king of Israel. God had promised David that a son born from his family would rule forever as king. (2 Samuel 7:8-16) After he died his son Solomon became the new king. Soon after Solomon became king, the Lord appeared to him at night. The Lord said to Solomon, “Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.” Solomon could ask for anything he wanted from the Lord. He said, “O LORD God, let Your word to David my father be now fulfilled (Solomon was remembering God’s promise that a son born to David would reign forever), for You have made me king over a people as numerous as the dust of the earth. Give me now wisdom and knowledge to go out and come in before this people, for who can govern this people of Yours, which is so great?” The Lord was pleased with Solomon’s request and gave Solomon wisdom and knowledge. (2 Chronicles 1:7-12)
King Solomon the king that God had given great wisdom and knowledge wrote many of the proverbs in the Book of Proverbs. A proverb is a short, wise, easy-to-learn saying that calls a person to action.
Our question for today is “Why do we need God?” We need God for many reasons. Our focus today as we study our Bible passage is that “We need God for wisdom”.
Read Proverbs 1:1-3. There is a difference between knowledge and wisdom. It will help us to define what knowledge and wisdom is. Knowledge is to have an understanding about information. Wisdom is taking that understanding and putting that understanding into practice.
As followers of Christ we believe the Bible is God’s Word. It is absolute truth. Many of us know what the Bible says. Knowing what the Bible says is knowledge. Taking God’s truth and putting it into practice is wisdom.
Many times knowing is so much easier than doing. Can you think of things believers know we are to do, to live lives that please Jesus? (Allow responses-the following are a few options)
- Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)
- Love your enemies do good to those who hate you. (Luke 6:27)
- Obey your parents. (Ephesians 6:1)
These are only a few things we know about God’s truth. How many of these do we completely obey by putting into practice every day?
Why do we need God? We need God to help us put into practice what we know about Him. We need God for wisdom.
Since knowledge is knowing God’s truth and wisdom is putting into practice what we know, who needs wisdom? (Everyone)
Let’s read together Proverbs 1:4-5. Did you see the different groups of people who need wisdom?
- The simple (naïve,gullible)having or showing unaffected simplicity of nature or absence of artificiality; Having or showing a lack of experience, judgment, or information)
- The youth
- The wise who hear will increase in learning
- The one who understands will gain guidance (wise counsel)
Gospel Connection: We need God for salvation. We can never have true wisdom until we put our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. You may know many facts from the Bible. You may know that you are a sinner. You may know that Jesus died on the cross for your sins, was buried and rose again. You may know that if you believe in Jesus you will have forgiveness of sin. Unless you move from knowledge to putting your faith in Jesus you cannot please God by obeying all the things we learn in the Book of Proverbs. (Without faith it is impossible to please God. Heb. 11:6)
When a person moves from knowing to believing he/she becomes a child of God. The moment a person believes the Holy Spirit comes to live in their heart. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity: God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps you understand the Word of God. He teaches you how to please God by learning God’s truth. He gives you power to put God’s truth into practice in your daily life.
Review Questions:
- Why do we need God? (We need God for wisdom)
- What is Truth? (God’s Word is truth)
- What is knowledge? (Knowing God’s truth)
- What is wisdom? (Putting into practice what we know about God’s truth)
- Who gives believers the power to put into practice God’s truth? (Holy Spirit)
For more ideas, be sure to compare this other free Proverbs Bible lesson from our website. You can use the search feature to find even more ideas from Proverbs. We also have a Bible object lesson using pizza that could relate to this lesson plan.