Kids' Guides to God's Word

The book of 1 Kings is one of the Bible's most dramatic stories. But how do you teach it to your kids?Stretching from Solomon's golden age to Elijah's showdown on Mount Carmel, 1 Kings covers some of the highest highs and lowest lows in all of Scripture. The wisest man who ever lived builds the most spectacular temple the world has ever seen-then throws it all away for foreign gods. A united kingdom tears itself in two over a single foolish speech. Prophets call down fire from heaven, raise the dead, and outrun chariots. And a wicked queen nearly succeeds in wiping out the worship of God altogether.But this isn't just an ancient political thriller. It's a book about what happens when God's people stop listening to God's word. It's about the difference between wisdom and obedience-and how having one without the other leads to ruin. And it's a story that keeps asking the same question from beginning to end: Is there a king worthy of the throne?What Is the Book of 1 Kings? makes this sweeping narrative accessible for today's young readers. Written in a warm, conversational style that doesn't shy away from hard questions or talk down to kids, this guide walks through all twenty-two chapters of 1 Kings with:Engaging illustrations from pop culture-from The Lord of the Rings to Inside Out to The Hunger Games-that connect biblical themes to stories kids already know and loveHonest engagement with difficult content-handling topics like political corruption, religious compromise, and the cost of standing alone for the truth in age-appropriate ways that spark real conversationsReal-life application-helping kids see how the failures of Israel's kings and the courage of God's prophets speak to their own struggles with peer pressure, compromise, and trusting God when it feels like nobody else isWhether your child is learning what it means to stand for the truth when everyone disagrees, wrestling with why smart people make terrible choices, or ready to explore one of the Bible's most action-packed books, What Is the Book of 1 Kings? will show them that the God who answered by fire on Carmel and spoke in a whisper on Horeb is still the God whose word never fails.Perfect for family reading, church classes, or independent study. Michael Whitworth is a minister and the author of several books and Bible commentaries. He considers M&Ms his brain food and is fond of large Mason jars. He's a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Alabama Crimson Tide. In his spare time, Michael loves reading, drinking coffee, and watching sports. He lives in Central Oregon.

The books of 1–2 Chronicles are the Bible's most overlooked retelling. But how do you teach them to your kids?Covering much of the same history as Samuel and Kings, Chronicles is the book most families skip-too repetitive, too full of genealogies, too stuffed with lists of Levites and temple measurements. Why read the same story twice?But this isn't the same story. It's the same history told for a completely different reason. Written for a shattered community trying to rebuild after exile, Chronicles answers the questions that matter most when everything has fallen apart: Does God still care? Is it too late to come back? Do worship and faithfulness still matter when the world around you lies in ruins? And it contains some of the most powerful stories found nowhere else in Scripture-a battle won by a choir, the worst king in Israel's history finding mercy, and a pagan emperor issuing the invitation that closes the entire book: Come home. God is with you.What Are the Books of 1–2 Chronicles? makes these underappreciated books come alive for today's young readers. Written in a warm, conversational style that doesn't get lost in the details or talk down to kids, this guide walks through all sixty-five chapters of 1–2 Chronicles with:Engaging illustrations from pop culture-from Tarzan to The Little Mermaid to Don Quixote-that connect biblical themes to stories kids already know and loveClear focus on what makes Chronicles unique-highlighting the stories, speeches, and themes found nowhere else in the Bible, so readers discover what they'd miss if they only read Samuel and KingsReal-life application-helping kids see how Chronicles' themes of worship, humility, and seeking God speak to their own struggles with pride, failure, and wondering whether God is still thereWhether your child is learning that no one is beyond God's mercy, discovering that worship is more than singing on Sunday, or ready to explore one of the Bible's most surprising books, What Are the Books of 1–2 Chronicles? will show them that God's invitation to come home never expires-and that the story is never over.Perfect for family reading, church classes, or independent study. Michael Whitworth is a minister and the author of several books and Bible commentaries. He considers M&Ms his brain food and is fond of large Mason jars. He's a big fan of the Dallas Cowboys and Alabama Crimson Tide. In his spare time, Michael loves reading, drinking coffee, and watching sports. He lives in Central Oregon.