The Third Week of August

Printable Guide

We Read…

A big theme in this week’s readings is the idea of Godly wisdom. Solomon could have asked God for anything! Money, fame, a Dr. Pepper soda machine that never runs out…okay, maybe he couldn’t ask for that one at the time, but you get the idea. Solomon chose to ask for wisdom for the people he was leading, and God was pleased. Do you think you would have chosen the same thing?

Our psalm tells us that reverence for God is where wisdom begins, and our Ephesians passage challenges us to live wisely as we seek to understand God’s will for us. Why do you think it’s important to center our wisdom on God? We read repeatedly in the bible about how whatever is in our hearts will overflow into our lives; this is another example of that. When we are centered on God and want to grow closer to God, we will want to think, act, and live like God has cal. Part of that new life involves growing in wisdom, making selfless choices, and choosing what God would choose instead of what we want to choose on our own. 

1 Kings 2:10-12, 3:3-14

10 Then David lay down with his ancestors and was buried in David’s City. 11 He ruled over Israel forty years—seven years in Hebron and thirty-three years in Jerusalem. 12 Solomon sat on the throne of his father David, and his royal power was well established. 

3 Now Solomon loved the Lord by walking in the laws of his father David with the exception that he also sacrificed and burned incense at the shrines. 4 The king went to the great shrine at Gibeon in order to sacrifice there. He used to offer a thousand entirely burned offerings on that altar. 5 The Lord appeared to Solomon at Gibeon in a dream at night. God said, “Ask whatever you wish, and I’ll give it to you.” 6 Solomon responded, “You showed so much kindness to your servant my father David when he walked before you in truth, righteousness, and with a heart true to you. You’ve kept this great loyalty and kindness for him and have now given him a son to sit on his throne. 7 And now, Lord my God, you have made me, your servant, king in my father David’s place. But I’m young and inexperienced. I know next to nothing. 8 But I’m here, your servant, in the middle of the people you have chosen, a large population that can’t be numbered or counted due to its vast size. 9 Please give your servant a discerning mind in order to govern your people and to distinguish good from evil, because no one is able to govern this important people of yours without your help.” 10 It pleased the Lord that Solomon had made this request. 11 God said to him, “Because you have asked for this instead of requesting long life, wealth, or victory over your enemies—asking for discernment so as to acquire good judgment—12 I will now do just what you said. Look, I hereby give you a wise and understanding mind. There has been no one like you before now, nor will there be anyone like you afterward. 13 I now also give you what you didn’t ask for: wealth and fame. There won’t be a king like you as long as you live. 14 And if you walk in my ways and obey my laws and commands, just as your father David did, then I will give you a very long life.” 

Psalm 111

1 Praise the Lord! I thank the Lord with all my heart in the company of those who do right, in the congregation. 2 The works of the Lord are magnificent; they are treasured by all who desire them. 3 God’s deeds are majestic and glorious. God’s righteousness stands forever. 4 God is famous for his wondrous works. The Lord is full of mercy and compassion. 5 God gives food to those who honor him. God remembers his covenant forever. 6 God proclaimed his powerful deeds to his people and gave them what had belonged to other nations. 7 God’s handiwork is honesty and justice; all God’s rules are trustworthy— 8 they are established always and forever: they are fulfilled with truth and right doing. 9 God sent redemption for his people; God commanded that his covenant last forever. Holy and awesome is God’s name! 10 Fear of the Lord is where wisdom begins; sure knowledge is for all who keep God’s laws. God’s praise lasts forever! 

Ephesians 5:15-20

15 So be careful to live your life wisely, not foolishly. 16 Take advantage of every opportunity because these are evil times. 17 Because of this, don’t be ignorant, but understand the Lord’s will. 18 Don’t get drunk on wine, which produces depravity. Instead, be filled with the Spirit in the following ways: 19 speak to each other with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs; sing and make music to the Lord in your hearts; 20 always give thanks to God the Father for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

John 6:51-58   

51 I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever, and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.” 52 Then the Jews debated among themselves, asking, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?” 53 Jesus said to them, “I assure you, unless you eat the flesh of the Human One and drink his blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. 55 My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink. 56 Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me and I in them. 57 As the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me lives because of me. 58 This is the bread that came down from heaven. It isn’t like the bread your ancestors ate, and then they died. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” 

We Think…

• What stands out to you in these verses? Does anything confuse you or not make sense?

• How do these verses compare to your own experience in life or the church? What are you considering? What questions come to mind? 

• What questions come to mind?

• What does it mean to be wise?

• How can your gifts help the people around you?

We Feel…

• What emotions are you experiencing today? How are you making space for these feelings?

• Where have you seen God today or this week? What is pointing you to God (maybe something in creation, maybe a friend or adult who cares for you)?

• What has God made new in your life? In your heart? 

• When have you struggled to choose God’s wisdom over other things?

• How have you navigated learning God’s desires for your life? Who has helped you with this?

We Believe…

Ephesians 5 mentions that we should understand the Lord’s will. But what does this mean? It can be overwhelming to think about God’s will for our lives, especially when we’re trying to make a big decision or navigate small choices that may not have a clear “right” answer. What is God’s will for us in these moments? When we read about God’s will in this passage, though, it doesn’t seem like the author is trying to tell us about a specific path we must take. Instead, God’s will is seen in how we treat one another. If I am acting foolishly or disobeying God, I am not living into the way God desires for my life. But if I am focused on God, obeying when I am prompted, and in a God-centered community and connecting with Jesus, I am in the middle of where God wants me, where God’s will can be done in my life. 

We Practice…

What does your prayer life look like right now? And what do you ask God for when you pray? It can be hard to implement intentional prayer into our everyday lives. Sometimes, we forget to pray until we need something from God. But God wants us to be constantly communing with God! This week, challenge yourself to set aside time to pray each day. In this time, ask for what you need, but also praise God for the ways God has been present in your life. Take a few moments to sit in silence and listen. Ask for forgiveness. Maybe the best time to do this is in the morning, before bed, or in the car alone. Be intentional about scheduling a time out and being ready to meet with God.