Bible Challenge Week 24: The Kingdom – Solomon’s Temple

David’s reign ended with an ugly scramble for a successor, but God already had someone in mind.  Once again, he passed over the older sons to settle on a younger one–a boy who may have been overlooked in the mad scramble of palace intrigue, but who, we are told, was loved from birth (II Sam. 12:24).  Solomon was known for wealth, wit, and wisdom–and later for women.  But his place in redemption history was secured by what he built.

After 500 years, the Lord would have his temple.  The Ark of the Covenant, after residing in tents and barns and (one one memorable occasion) side by side with a pagan idol, would come to its place of rest within walls lined with gold.  Finally there would be a focus for Israel’s worship: a central place for sacrifice, for service, for prayers and for preaching.  The festival of the Temple’s dedication, with a long prayer by Solomon himself, would be like nothing ever seen before or since.

But the people should know that even a building as magnificent at their new temple can’t contain the majesty of God–Solomon himself reminds them of that.  But the’re going to forget, and so will he.  And so do we, when we fool ourselves into thinking that our man-made constructions are sufficient to explain God.

For the printable download including scripture readings, discussion questions, and activities, click here:

Bible Reading Challenge Week 24: The Kingdom – Solomon’s Temple

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 23: The Kingdom – David’s Fall

Next: Week 35: The Kingdom – Wisdom

Bible Challenge Week 22: The Kingdom: David’s Rise

“The nation” is now a kingdom.  King Saul, as it happened, was a prelude.  Now the true king appears, the one God had in mind all along.  Every Sunday-school child knows about the boy who killed the nine-foot giant with a single stone, and the shepherd who killed predators with nothing but a stick and his bare hands.  David is also one of the few people in the Bible who receives a physical description.  From the minute he appears, it’s as if the Word is saying, “Watch this one: he’s special.”  But for all that, David’s purpose and place in salvation history outweighs his person.

Through David, the Lord wold accomplish two great milestones in the story of redemption.  What were they?  Click here to find out:

Bible Reading Challenge, Week 22: David’s Rise

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 21: Failure!

Next: Week 23: David’s Fall

 

 

Bible Challenge, Week 16: The Nation – Home at Last

Did you catch the change in headings from last week to this week?  We’re no longer talking about “the people,” but “the Nation.”  By crossing the Jordan, Abraham’s wandering descendants passed a milestone.  A promise made to that landless patriarch almost 500 years earlier is fulfilled by the dramatic events that open the book of Joshua.

After the tribulations of the wilderness and numerous setbacks, the book of Joshua seems like an unblemished triumph.  But there are problems, both within the text and outside it.  Some of them you’ll encounter in this week’s reading challenge.

Click here for the printable .pdf, with scripture references, discussion questions, and activities:

Bible Challenge Week 16: The Nation – Home at Last

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous: Week 15: The People – Blessings and Curses

Next: Week 17: The Nation – Failure!

Bible Challenge Week 7: The Promise – Jacob

Babylon has Gilgamesh, Athens has Theseus, Rome has Aeneas–but what nation or city ever had a founder like Jacob, the “supplanter”?  Even his name change is provocative: Israel, or “he wrestles with God.”

In spite of his checkered character, he is the last of the three great patriarchs whose name will echo throughout generations of Bible history.  His other name remains a rock of offense today: Israel, a stubborn, tiny nation that continues to exercise an influence far beyond its size.  There’s got to be a reason for that, and we get a hint of it in this week’s Bible challenge, where personality wrestles with destiny.

Click here for the pdf download:

Bible Challenge Week 7: The Promise – Jacob

(This is a continuation of a series of posts about the “whole story” of the Bible.  I plan to run one every week, on Tuesdays, with a printable PDF.  The printable includes a brief 2-3 paragraph introduction, Bible passages to read, a key verse, 5-7 thought/discussion questions, and 2-3 activities for the kids.  Here’s the Overview of the entire Bible series.)

Previous:  Week 6: The Promise – Isaac

Next: Week 8: The Promise – Joseph