Proverbs 3:1 Sunday School Lesson Idea

 Proverbs 3:1-5      
                                                  (For Children Ages 5-8)                    

The memory Verse is Proverbs 3:1 My Son, do not forget my teaching keep my commands in your heart.

      It’s important to understand that in the verse we’re teaching the writer is talking to his children. But if you don’t have Jesus in your heart other things are in your heart (what’s in your heart? Object lesson)

 

A heart without Jesus

Jesus comes and lives in our Hearts

    But when we accept Jesus in our hearts, he lives in our hearts and Jesus doesn’t leave us with empty hearts but he fills it. And He giving us directions (instructions) and commands (rules)

At this point have students look up the verse Proverbs 3:1-5 where we will begin a breakdown of the verse. Because it’s a Sunday school for younger readers we use NIRV (New International Reader Version)  

   My son, do not forget my teaching.
    Keep my commands in your heart.

 Why does it say don’t forget. Because we can forget! Have your parents ever said don’t forget to…? (Lock the door, put away our shoes etc) They’re reminding us because we tend to forget. But what is the verse saying not to Forget? His teachings (how to live our lives) what are some of your parent’s important teachings that we shouldn’t forget? (Eating healthy, How to behave and how to treat others) those are lessons but what are Commands? Command is another word for rules. So what’s a rule you shouldn’t forget? (Strangers Danger. Don’t go outside alone). God and our parents don’t have rules because they want to be mean but because they want us to live well and for a long time.

   When we read the verse my son we can sometimes over look that he’s speaking to us! Its personal here have students place their name in the line in the heart. Who is the verse talking to? To you! Where should we keep his commands and teachings… on our wall? At home? No with us, where we are, in our minds and hearts. where do we learn about God?  Here I printed a small book from http://www.kidssundayschool.com that gives the children a book they can color on where we can learn about God such as prayer, reading the bible, church, family and friends.

 

Have the child write their name on the line of the heart

² They will help you live for many years.
    They will bring you peace and success.

What does it bring? (a long life) If someone doesn’t follow the rules and they cross a red light will they live a long life? What if they eat just junk will they live a long life? (no) because they didn’t follow the commands (rules) and teachings.

   What does bring you peace mean? What happens when you don’t follow the rules of God or your parents?  (Here I told the children a story of them playing near some special cups I then Broke several plastic cups and hid them under a blanket) … if you’re not caught you’re always worried you’re going to get caught. Do you live happy? (no) If you break the law you don’t have peace or success. But if you follow the commands and teachings you have success with a good job, maybe lots of money but most important a happy family and a happy heart and no fear of death or the lawmakers.

³ Don’t let love and truth ever leave you. 
    Tie them around your neck.
    Write them on the tablet of your heart.

 The verse says it can leave you! So what should we do? (Here I placed a key on a chain around my neck and explained that I didn’t lose my key because it was tied around my neck! I didn’t forget it at home) Can you lose something that way? It goes with you. Have the kids feed the yarn through the holes and tie it around their necks keep in mind its two hearts together creating a purse.

Tie them around your neck write them on the tablet of your heart

 The verse says to write it on the tablets of your heart. Here I gave the children spoken information and when I finished a long list of information I asked the students the first points of information at which point they were unable to answer. I then wrote the information on a white board and had them answers my questions. Students were able to remember because they were written. That’s what we have to do with our hearts write His commands and teaching so we don’t forget.

 

⁴ Then you will find favor and a good name
    in the eyes of God and people.

What is favor? Having favor is people liking you… but what is a good name?  when you hear a person’s name how do you feel? What do you think of that person? Do you think here comes that mean kid that lies, steals, and is mean? Is that a good name? (no) but when you follow the rules and keep his commands people are happy to hear your coming and want to be with you. But most important is God likes you and when He likes someone He blesses them.

⁵ Trust in the Lord with all your heart.
    Do not depend on your own understanding.

Trust in who? (God) should we trust God with just a piece of our hearts? (no, with all our heart) And not on what we think is right! Because we can be wrong but God is never wrong. It’s important to understand that God made our hearts and He knows what’s best for us. He loves us and won’t guide us wrong.

  Finish the lesson in asking the kids if they have Jesus in their hearts. Have all the children bow their heads and repeat a simple prayer accepting Jesus into their hearts.