Series Overview
Sometimes it’s easy to know what the wise choice would be. Let’s say you’re choosing between having expired milk with your cereal or eating some fruit and a sandwich. You probably aren’t reaching for the milk! What about choosing to stay up all night when you have a road trip the next day, or getting some sleep because you’re driving first? Every decision you make starts out with a choice. As we “dive deep” into the Bible this month, we’ll discover that God is always there to help us make wise choices. God has given us people who can help us make those wise choices too.
Memory Verse
“If any of you needs wisdom, you should ask God for it. He will give it to you. God gives it freely to everyone + doesn’t add fault.” – James 1:5, NIRV
Week One (August 4)
Jesus Grows in Wisdom
Bible Story: Luke 2:41-52
Key Question: What does it mean to be wise?
Virtue: Wisdom – Finding out what you should do + doing it
We start the month in Luke 2:41-52. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus had just traveled to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast and were headed home. Except . . .Jesus was no longer with them. Instead, He was at the temple, listening and asking questions. Jesus knew how important it was to gain wisdom. When we ask God for wisdom, we will find it too.
Just because something is the wise choice to make doesn’t always mean it’s the most obvious choice to make.
Sometimes we have to dive a little deeper to figure out what true wisdom looks like. As preteens think about this
question, our hope is that it helps give them a starting point for making the best decision they can when they don’t know what to do.
Week Two (August 11)
Speck + Plank
Bible Story: Matthew 7:1-5
Key Question: What are you learning about yourself?
Virtue: Wisdom – Finding out what you should do + doing it
In Week 2, we head to Matthew 7:1-5, which is part of one of Jesus’ most famous recorded messages, the Sermon on the Mount. Throughout this sermon, Jesus touched on many important lessons. One of these truths was that we shouldn’t judge other people. When we judge others without first looking at ourselves, we miss out on the work God is doing in us to shape us and help us grow.
Preteens are living through a time of change. Maybe they’ve just picked up a new skill and they really love it, but they still have some improving to do. Or maybe they’ve noticed that their taste in foods has started to shift. Everyone is always learning something at some point in their life. We hope this question allows kids to begin to see how they can offer grace to others as they learn and grow with one another.
Week Three (August 18)
Rehoboam Listens to Fools
Bible Story: 2 Chronicles 10; Proverbs 13:20
Key Question: Who are some wise people in your life?
Virtue: Wisdom – Finding out what you should do + doing it
For Week 3, we head to 2 Chronicles 10. King Solomon’s son, Rehoboam, was now king, and the people came to ask him to lighten their workload. However, when presented with the opportunity to gain the people’s trust, King Rehoboam sought out wise counsel . . . and unwise counsel. Unfortunately, Rehoboam chose to listen to his unwise friends, which led to catastrophic consequences for him and for God’s people.
Who’s someone you know who gives good advice? What made you think of that person? Is it because they teach
you new things or help you make hard decisions? Or maybe it’s because you trust them and they offer a great
outside perspective. Whatever the reasoning, we hope this question begins to help preteens identify the wise people in their lives . . . and think about how they can learn from those people over time.
Week Four (August 25)
Renew Your Mind
Bible Story: Romans 12:2
Key Question: How are you wise than you used to be?
Virtue: Wisdom – Finding out what you should do + doing it
We wrap up the month in Romans 12:2. Paul was writing a letter to the Romans in which he encouraged them to “let [their] way of thinking be completely changed.” Paul wanted to remind the believers that God could continually change the way they thought, which would allow them to focus on God’s plan. When we spend time talking to God, learning from Scripture, and listening to others who follow God, we’ll be able to figure out what God wants to do in our lives.
Think back to the first time you learned something new, like tying your shoes or learning how to read. It wasn’t
enough just to see someone do it. You had to practice it for yourself too. This question allows preteens to begin
exploring all the different ways they’ve grown . . . and to consider what steps they can take to continue learning
and growing as they gain wisdom.