Begin by printing out the Scripture verses included here and hiding them around your home as clues.

You’ll also need a “treasure” for your kids to discover at the end of the hunt that suggests the tremendous value of God’s Word. Gold-covered chocolate coins make good treasure. Dried fruit, granola bites or mini cookie packets are good alternatives. If you prefer not to use food, real money can be the treasure, or use a children’s book containing Biblical wisdom.

Here are the Scripture “clues” to print out and hide:

• Keep this clue to read at the beginning of the hunt: Proverbs 3:21-22
• Hide this clue on a necklace: Proverbs 8:18-19
• Hide this clue in a bowl of fruit: Proverbs 8:20-21
• Hide this clue on a path or walkway leading to your house: Proverbs 8:10-11
• Hide this clue in your wallet or purse: Proverbs 8:33-34
• Hide this clue in a doorway: Psalm 119:103
• Hide this clue under a honey pot or bowl of sugar: Psalm 19:9-11 and Psalm 119:127-128
• Also hide your choice of treasure, for the final reward, with your Bible.

To begin your treasure hunt, explain to your children that you’ll be reading out verses from the Bible that talk about wisdom. Their job is to listen for the words in the Bible verses that describe wisdom; these words will be hints to help them find where the next clue is hidden.

Use this parent’s clue guide so you know when and how to provide assistance:

Parent’s guide

To start the hunt, read aloud Proverbs 3:21-22 “My son, do not lose sight of these – keep sound wisdom and discretion, and they will be life for your soul and adornment for your neck.” (Give additional hints if your children need help recognizing the connection to a necklace.)

Read clue 2 (found on the necklace): Proverbs 8:18-19 “Riches and honor are with me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and my yield than choice silver.” (The key word is “fruit.”)

Read clue 3 (found in the fruit bowl): Proverbs 8:20-21 “I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries.” (The key word is “paths.”)

Read clue 4 (found on the path): Proverbs 8:10-11 “Take my instruction instead of silver, and knowledge rather than choice gold, for wisdom is better than jewels, and all that you may desire cannot compare with her.” (The key words are silver and gold. Give hints to help your children discover that you keep your “silver and gold” coins in your purse or wallet.)

Read clue 5 (found in your purse or wallet): Proverbs 8:33-34 “Hear instruction and be wise, and do not neglect it. Blessed is the one who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting beside my doors.” (The key word is “doors.”)

Read clue 6 (found in the doorway): Psalm 119:103 “How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” (The key words are “honey” and “sweet.”)

Read clue 7 (found under a honey container or sugar bowl): Psalm 19:9-11 “. . . the fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; the rules of the Lord are true, and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, even much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.” And also read Psalm 119:127-128 “Therefore I love Your commandments above gold, above fine gold. Therefore I consider all Your precepts to be right; I hate every false way.” (If they need help, encourage your children to look for your Bible.)

At the conclusion of your treasure hunt, if you used a children’s book as a reward, read the book and talk about how valuable it is to gain wisdom from the Bible. Alternatively, read a story from the Bible stories section of this lesson.

Finish by praying, asking God to help you love Him more than anything else.

Questions for discussion

• How much does God want us to love wisdom?
• Where can we find wisdom?
• Why do you think I hid the treasure with the Bible?

Key concepts

God wants us to love and value His Word, and to eagerly desire to learn more about Him. He wants us to seek out His wisdom every day, and to want this even more than we desire sweet treats or money.