Searching for Treasure: A Guide to Wisdom and Character Development

by Marty Elwell

Noble Publishing Associates

Scripture is the most powerful character changing “resource” available to us, and this guide offers a simple, effective arrangement of Scriptural studies on character traits.

Study is divided into seven major themes (understanding wisdom, developing right relationships, controlling yourself, controlling what you say, avoiding the way of the wicked, and following the way of the righteous), with each theme then divided into three or four, week-long units (for a total of 20 lessons).

Daily lessons are fairly brief--the introductory lesson for each week will probably take more time than each daily lesson. The introduction opens with discussion questions leading up to the Scripture reading, then follows up with more discussion questions, prayer suggestions and the key verse for the week. Delightful line-drawing illustrations of the Scripture reading can be reproduced for coloring.

The next four days, we delve into specific aspects of wisdom relating to the week’s topic with Scripture reading and discussion questions. For example, the first week’s lesson asks questions such as, “How would you define wisdom?” On the second day, we read Proverbs 1:1-9, then answer from Scripture four questions: “How does wisdom help us?”, “What is called the beginning of wisdom?”, “What is it that fools despise?”, and “What persons should you listen to?” An additional, optional memory verse is given for each day. A sixth day can be used to do the summary for the week-long lesson, or it can be squeezed into the weekday studies.

Lessons can be used on different levels depending upon the ages of children. Younger children can color pictures, listen to the Scripture readings, and learn simplified versions of the memory verse(s). Older children can participate at whatever level beyond that which is appropriate for them.