BIG TRUTH OF THE WEEK:

Sometimes we learn wisdom in surprising ways.

• Briefly discuss the Big Truth of the week: Sometimes we learn wisdom in surprising ways.
• Read Ecclesiastes 7:1-14.
• Remind your kids that we need wisdom from God to know how to live in the world. Wisdom doesn't just come through books. We learn wisdom through life experiences, and sometimes we learn wisdom through pain, sorrow, and suffering. When bad things happen, it's an opportunity to grow in wisdom and look more like Jesus.
  
• Pray together and ask God to teach you wisdom today.

• When you are traveling, ask your kids what they remember about Ecclesiastes 7:1-14. Discuss how you learn wisdom in driving through actually driving the car. You don't mainly learn how to behave on the road by reading a book, but by being on the road. You may not want to talk about car accidents while actually driving, but it could be an opportunity to share how much we grow and learn through even bad things.
  

• Remind them of the Big Truth: Sometimes we learn wisdom in surprising ways.
  

READ the passage together.

• Ecclesiastes 7:1-14
  

REFLECT on the passage by discussing the following questions:

• What is this passage mainly about? What words are important to this passage?
  
• What should we do in response to this passage?
  
• Do you think it's strange that the author says sad things are better than happy things (vv. 2-4)?

RESPOND to the passage.

• Consider making a list of some hard things your family has experienced. Think about and discuss how each of you has grown because of going through them.
  
• Pray. In your prayer, ask God to help you grow wiser and to understand that even difficult circumstances are opportunities to look more like Jesus.
  

Ask your kids what they have learned and how they feel about it.

• Ask them why they think it is better to deal with life face to face rather than acting like everything is okay.
  
• Ask your kids to share anything painful, frustrating, or difficult in their life now. Use this as an opportunity to apply this week's passage and Big Truth to shepherd them through a hard time
  

Refresh your kids with the gospel by making the following connection:

• Begin by asking your kids how this passage reminds them of Jesus and what he has done for us. Remind your kids that we currently live in a world full of pain, suffering, and sorrow. People and circumstances will hurt us and cause us to cry. But Jesus came to put an end to it all. When Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead, he crushed sin and Satan. God's people and God's world will one day be finally redeemed and made perfect, like him. Everyone who trusts in Jesus will one day live in a world where there is no sadness, no pain, no sin, and no death. All because of Jesus.

Remind the kids of the Big Truth: Sometimes we learn wisdom in surprising ways.

Relate to your kids by sharing how the Big Truth speaks to your life:

• Share one big thing you have learned from Ecclesiastes 7:1-14 and how it impacts your life
  
• Share some difficult experiences that have caused you to grow in wisdom and Christlikeness. Help your children see weakness in you with which they can identify. 
  
• Pray for them before they go to sleep.