In this Bible study lesson, we discuss the idea that Solomon’s Temple was a striking gift to God which He accepted, and He is looking to abide inside of us, and the human body is now considered the temple of the Holy Spirit.
These Bible study lessons help to teach the message of Solomon’s temple.
(Teacher words in bold.)
Get a small box with a lid. Hold it up in front of the class. Pull the lid up an inch.
Here’s what: I’m going to say my favorite Bible verses into this box and then shut the lid really fast. What do you think is going to happen?
Younger kids might hope for something; older children will be dubious. Say into the box: “God so loved the world He gave his only begotten son, that whosoever should believe in Him should not perish, but should have everlasting life.”
Shut the lid very quickly.
There. Do you think I captured some of God in that box? Younger children might want to peek inside quickly. Older children will say no. Let them look and satisfy themselves that the box is not swirling with mist.
Let me try again. This time I’ll ask more directly. Open the box lid an inch, and speak directly into it. “Father, I want you to come live in this box. I want to carry You around – in my house, in my car when I go out – so that I always have you with me. Close the lid tightly again.
There. Do you think God will honor my request and come live in that box? Younger children will be confused; older children will say that God is too big to fit in a box.
How am what I doing any different than what Solomon did? I mean, we all know that God created and heavens and the earth. He is infinitely vast. Solomon created a “dwelling place on earth” for God. Think of it: If God is that big, why would he accept Solomon’s invitation to use the Temple as a dwelling place on earth? It’s almost like asking Him to live in a box.
Let them discuss this. Some answers might arise, but return to the point: The Holy Spirit was not released for all men until after the death and resurrection of Jesus, a thousand years after Solomon built the temple. Today, the Holy Spirit is available to people of all backgrounds. We simply have to ask for the “indwelling” of the Holy Spirit, and God, through the Holy Spirit, can live in side of us. That makes us a Temple.
Now, we can put all boxes, big and small, silver, gold or cardboard”¦aside. If we want God to come and dwell with us, we say, “Come live inside of me.”
You need only ask Jesus into your heart once for him to fulfill that. We can renew that prayer every morning, simply to put the Holy Spirit at the front of our hearts.
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