WISDOM 3 - Spend time with wise people.

 Wisdom 3 - English files

Weisheit 3 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Kings 10:1-13 and Matthew 12:38-42

Solomon, the many-gifted king at the height of Israel's glory, is one of many types of Christ in the Old Testament. Signifying God’s wisdom in the earth, he points to­ward Jesus, the ultimate embodiment of that wisdom.

The Queen of Sheba, another head of state, is drawn from afar by Solomon’s reputation. We find echoes of this in the wise men’s visit to Jesus after His birth (Matthew 2,1-12) and in the parable of the Pearl of Great Price (Matthew 13:45,46). To all the seekers, the goal was well worth its price in travel and money.

In Matthew 12:42, Jesus said the Queen of Sheba, who'd come from “the uttermost parts of the earth” in pursuit of wisdom, was in a position to judge His contemporaries who were rejecting Him. Then with His second "greater than" statement, Jesus made a very thinly-veiled confirmation that He was the Christ (the first is in verse 41).

Lord, please give me faith to grasp the truths in your Word and to pass them on.

Downloading lesson files If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the fourth in the topic Wisdom.

WISDOM 2 - Listen up and be open for God!

Wisdom 2 - English files 

Weisheit 2 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Matthew 13:3-23

Jesus told a story set in the agricultural environment familiar to most of His hearers. A farmer scattered seeds on the ground (which he would normally later work under the surface with a plow).

Some seeds fell onto the hard path, and birds ate them up. Others fell onto ground with many stones in it, and the plants that quickly sprouted there soon died, being unable to develop strong roots in the shallow dirt.

Other seeds fell onto ground that was already growing a crop of thorny weeds, and when they sprouted, they had no chance against the thorns. But other seeds fell onto good ground and reproduced themselves to varying degrees.

Then Jesus closed the story with the enigmatic challenge that whoever has ears to hear ought to listen. Before telling His disciples the meaning of the parable, He quoted a passage from Isaiah about stubborn people refusing to believe.

As the coming explanation of the parable would show, there were various reasons why people would refuse or forget about God’s Word, but it would all boil down to their attitude and unwillingness to listen.

Lord, Thank You that Your Wisdom came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ. Open the kids’ eyes and hearts to listen to and believe Your message of salvation through Him.

 Downloading lesson files 

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the third in the topic Wisdom.

WISDOM 1 - True wisdom comes only from God

Wisdom 1 - English file

Weisheit 1 - German file

Devotional Thoughts about 1 Kings Chapters 3-5

Have you ever felt that sinking sensation upon learning that the consequences of an incredibly stupid decision—or a series of them—now impact a child or grandchild? Often you can’t do anything to avert them, no matter how much money you throw at the problem, because the mindset that caused it hasn’t changed.

Why do we make poor decisions, anyway? In some cases we’re truly swindled by people or companies out to do just that. But more often the reason is likely an immature desire to get what we want now—an idea supported by the current culture of instant gratification.

We desperately need wisdom. Young people aren’t known for it, and many older people, stuck in toxic habits, lack it, too. Even as a young man, Solomon knew that God is the source of wisdom.When He made the inconceivable offer of granting whatever Solomon wished, he chose wisdom and ended up with that and much more.

Lord, thank You that You’re willing to give us Your wisdom. Help me to seek You myself and to communicate Your offer to the kids.

Downloading lesson files 

If you're interested in the lesson file, simply click on the appropriate link above to download it in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the second in the topic Wisdom.

WATCHFULNESS 4 – Be ready when Jesus comes again!

Watchfulness 4 - English file 

Wachsamkeit 4 - German file 

Devotional Thoughts about Matthew 25,1-23

Even for those who are not quite able to unfold all the layers of this parable’s cultural context, its message still shines clearly through: Be ready, because Jesus will come just when we don’t expect Him!

Waiting is hard, especially when we’ve already endured a long time seemingly for nothing. Hebrews Chapter 11 tells of many people in the Old Testament who lived and died believing in God without the gratification of a fulfillment. Yet the very last verse shows that God’s plans are still on track; they’re just different from what we expect.

Weariness is normal and characteristic of fallen humanity; both groups of women in the parable fell asleep. Still, the wise ones were equipped with what they needed upon being awakened with news of the bridegroom’s coming.

Lord, thank You that Your Holy Spirit lives in me and that I’m ready for Your coming. Please help me communicate the “be ready” message to the kids.

Downloading lesson files 

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the first in the topic Wisdom.

 

WATCHFULNESS 3 - What does the Bible say?

Watchfulness 3 - English files 

Wachsamkeit 3 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about Acts 17:1.14

This passage, a page out of Paul’s missionary travelogue, spotlights a sharp contrast between two responses to a new message.

When most of the Jews in Thessalonica heard Paul argue from the Old Testament that someone named Jesus was the Christ whom God had promised to send, envy colored their reaction, and they rejected his words out of hand. They incited a riot to make things hot for the newcomers and get rid of them.

The Jews in the synagogue in Berea had probably never heard of Jesus, either, but they responded differently. After listening to Paul, they went to the trouble of studying the pertinent Old Testament passa­ges to see if what he said was actually true. Being convinced that it was, many of them believed on Jesus as did many non-Jews.

Some local churches even now have incorporated "Berea" into their church name to express their commitment to following the Bereans’ example of careful Bible study as the foundation for their belief and practice.

Lord, please help me cultivate the habit of digging into Your Word regularly and by it measuring everything I think, hear, see, read, say and do.

Downloading lesson files 

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the fourth in the topic Watchfulness.

WATCHFULNESS 2 - Watch and pray!

Watchfulness 2 - English file

Wachsamkeit 2 - German file 

Devotional Thoughts about Matthew 26:36-49 and Luke 22:43,44

The “cup” metaphor in the Gethsemane phase of Jesus’ progress toward the cross shows a terrible struggle between His deity and His humanity. The situation is very difficult even for adult Christians to wrap their minds around.

We, who have always lived undeservedly on an earth full of God’s blessings (see Matthew 6:45), surely have no idea how awful a world totally without Him would be. How much more dreadful would God forsakenness be for Jesus?

The passage is presumably yet harder for kids to understand, and yet—before we skip over this story—there’s also a message here for all who have been saved through His sacrifice: Watch and pray!    

Lord, please help me to watch for temptations and to keep on praying for strength to resist.

Downloading lesson files

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WATCHFULNESS - The Good Shepherd protects His sheep.

Watchfulness 1 - English files

Wachsamkeit 1 - German files

Devotional Thoughts about John 10:1-30

Here we find two of the most compelling metaphors of Jesus in the Bible—as the Good Shepherd who gave His life for and cares for those who follow Him, and as the Door through which they enter His care. These concrete word pictures are probably more accessible for children (once they know what a shepherd is) than are some of the other “I-am” metaphors in the Gospel of John.

This chapter emphasizes the interpersonal nature of the relationship between Jesus and those in His care: the familiarity between them, His fierce love for and protection of them, and their unity as one fold under one shepherd.

It also describes Jesus’ relationship to the Father, which aggravated His enemies to the point that they grabbed stones to kill Him for claiming to be the Son of God. In this case He escaped their clutches.

Lord, thank You that I’m a sheep in Your fold. Help me to follow You and to trust You.

Downloading lesson files

If you're interested in the lesson files, simply click on the appropriate link above to download them in the desired language. See the Informational Pages in the right column for more about the lesson series. The next post and the next lesson will be the second in the topic Watchfulness.