Download - Preschool Leader Guide - Clover Sitesstorage.cloversites.com/firstbaptistchurch95/documents/Preschool... · Fini ere Ce ot or ti and reore or an additional or in te Wori Gide Mae

P r e s c h o o l L e a d e r G u i d e

Exile and Return

Ed Stetzer General Editor Trevin Wax Managing Editor

B.C.

A.D.

The Gospel Project for Preschool: Preschool Leader Guide

Volume 2 • Number 2WINTER 2016–17

Eric GEiGEr

Vice President, LifeWay Resources

Ed StEtzEr

General Editor

trEvin Wax

Managing Editor

Brian dEmBoWczyk

Publishing Team Leader

Landry HoLmES

Manager, Kids Ministry Publishing

Jana maGrudEr

Director, Kids Ministry

Send questions/comments to: Publishing Team Leader

Preschool Leader GuideOne LifeWay Plaza

Nashville, TN 37234-0172 or make comments

on the Web at www.lifeway.comPrinted in the United States of America

CONTENTSUNIT 16: GOD THE SUSTAINER

12/4 1: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God .......6

12/11 2: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego .......18

1/11 3: Daniel Was Rescued ..............................30

1/8 4: God Brought His People Home ........... 42

1/15 5: The Temple Was Completed .................54

UNIT 17: CHRISTMAS

12/18 1: Anticipating the Coming King ..............68

12/25 2: Jesus Was Born ..................................... 80

UNIT 18: GOD THE PROVIDER

1/22 1: Esther Became Queen ............................94

1/29 2: God Saved His People Through Esther ....106

2/5 3: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem ... 118

2/12 4: Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt ............130

2/19 5: Ezra Read the Law ................................142

2/26 6: Malachi the Prophet ............................ 154

Suggested Use Dates

The Gospel Project for Preschool: Preschool Leader Guide (ISSN 2168-7773; Item 005508635) is published quarterly by LifeWay Christian Resources, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234, Thom S. Rainer, President. © 2016 LifeWay Church Resources. For ordering or inquiries, visit www.lifeway.com, or write LifeWay Church Resources Customer Service, One LifeWay Plaza, Nashville, TN 37234-0113. For subscriptions or subscription address changes, email [email protected], fax (615) 251-5818, or write to the above address. For orders with three or more issues shipped to one address, mailed monthly, at the ministry rate, visit lifeway.com/mediaoptions, fax (615) 251-5933, or write to the above address.

We believe that the Bible has God for its author; salvation

for its end; and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter and that all Scripture is totally true and trustworthy. To review LifeWay’s doctrinal guideline please visit www.lifeway.com/doctrinalguideline.

All Scripture quotations are taken from the Holman Christian Standard Bible®, copyright 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission.

NOTE: Some Internet addresses given in this periodical are outside the LifeWay Internet domain. At the time of this posting, the specific pages mentioned were viewed and approved by LifeWay editorial staff. Because information on these pages may have changed by the time of your viewing, the LifeWay editorial staff cannot be held responsible for content on pages outside their control. Specific page addresses referenced in this periodical possibly may link to inappropriate material.

While preschoolers might not be ready to respond to the gospel, use this guide to help little minds begin to grasp big truths about Jesus and the kingdom of God.

GOD IS KING.Ask: “Who is in charge at home? Who is in charge over the whole world?” Explain that God made everything! He is King over everything, and He is in charge.

WE SINNED.Ask: “Have you ever done something wrong?” Tell preschoolers that everyone sins, or disobeys God. Our sin makes God sad.

GOD SENT JESUS.Explain that God must punish sin. He loves us and He sent His Son, Jesus, to earth. Jesus came to take the punishment for sin.

JESUS LOVES.Ask: “Do you like presents?” Explain that Jesus gives us the best present. He never did anything wrong, but He was punished in our place. Jesus wants to take away our sin because He loves us.

Pray that God will save your preschoolers. As you faithfully teach the Bible, you are planting gospel seeds in children’s hearts. Ask God to grow the preschoolers into children who love and trust in Jesus.

Start here

Small Group Opening

Engage preschoolers and introduce the day’s

Bible story.

Activity Page

Opening Activities

Suggested timesThe times provided allow you to

complete the session plan in an hour and fifteen minutes. Lengthen or shorten the session as needed.

Large Group Leader

Communicate the day’sBible story and discover

God’s big story.

Key Passage

GiantTimeline

Sing

Big Picture Question

Bible Study at a Glance

Leader Bible Study

Familiarize yourself with the content and context of the Bible story and how it

relates to God’s plan of redemption.

Bible Story

Preparation

Pray for your preschoolers and contact families during

the week. Gather and prepare session

materials.

Send a parent e-mail

Pray for your

preschoolers

Assemble supplies

Print/down-load printables

Prepare videos

Say what?Use the suggested “Say” dialogue to easily move

between segments.

2 Preschool Leader Guide

Finish here

Check out our tips

and resources for an additional hour in

the Worship Guide!

Make it fitCustomize the session plan to fit the needsof your church or classroom.

1 room

1 or more rooms

1) Use the Small Group Opening to welcome preschoolers to Bible study. Preschoolers may work the activity page and/or complete an activity together.

2) Transition to an area within your classroom that can be designated as the Large Group Bible story area. Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible story. Incorporate any large group elements that fit your space and your time constraints.

3) Regroup to the Small Group area by using a countdown video. Set up activities in one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time; in small groups that rotate through each activity; set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose.

1) Use the Small Group Opening to welcome preschoolers to Bible study. Preschoolers may work the activity page and/or complete an activity together.

2) Use the countdown video or other transition signal as you move your small group to join the other small groups in the large group area. Watch the Bible story video or tell the Bible story. Incorporate any large group elements that fit your space and your time constraints.

3) Regroup to the small group rooms where you will reinforce what preschoolers learned from the Large Group Leader. Set up activities in one of these ways: as a group, all at the same time; in small groups that rotate through each activity; set up as centers, allowing preschoolers to browse and choose.

Small Group Activities

Reinforce the Bible Story by engaging in fun

activities for multiple learning styles.

Activities

Snack & Transition

3Exile and Return

Unit 16: God the Sustainer

Unit Description:After years of living in sin, God’s people were sent into exile. The Southern Kingdom of Judah was captured by Babylon. Through Daniel and other faithful men, God showed His power to the people of Babylon and eventually Persia. When the time of exile ended, God brought His people home and helped them rebuild the temple.

Key Passage: Daniel 2:20

Big Picture Question: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him.

4 Preschool Leader Guide

Unit 16: God the Sustainer

Session 1:Bible Story: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed GodBible Passage: Daniel 1Main Point: Daniel obeyed God.

Session 2: Bible Story: Shadrach, Meshach, and AbednegoBible Passage: Daniel 3Main Point: God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire.

Session 3:Bible Story: Daniel Was RescuedBible Passage: Daniel 6Main Point: God rescued Daniel.

Session 4:Bible Story: God Brought His People HomeBible Passage: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13Main Point: God brought the Israelites back home.

Session 5:Bible Story: The Temple Was CompletedBible Passage: Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22Main Point: God helped His people rebuild the temple.

5God the Sustainer

1

UNIT 16Session 1

Leader BIBLE STUDY

God’s people had been warned. The prophets had come with messages from God: “Turn from your sin, and turn back to God!” But the people did not listen. The nation of Judah was consumed by idol worship; the kings did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. So God kept His word—He allowed His people to be taken from their land.

Nebuchadnezzar was the king of Babylon, the strong and powerful nation that overtook Judah’s capital of Jerusalem and brought God’s people from Israel to Babylon. Daniel was a young man in Judah when this happened. He might have heard about the prophet Isaiah’s warnings; now he witnessed their fulfillment. (See Isa. 39:5-7.)

Use Week of:

Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God

BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 1MAIN POINT: Daniel obeyed God.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

SMALL GROUP OPENING (15–20 MINUTES)

PAGE 10

LARGE GROUP BIBLE STUDY (10–15 MINUTES)

PAGE 12

SMALL GROUP ACTIVITIES (20–25 MINUTES)

PAGE 14

6 Preschool Leader GuideUnit 16 • Session 1

1

Additional resources for each session are available at gospelproject.com. For free training and session-by-session help, visit www.ministrygrid.com/web/thegospelproject.

King Nebuchadnezzar called for the best young men from Judah to be trained for service in the palace. Among these teens were Daniel and three of his friends. The chosen boys were given new identities—new names, new education, new culture. But Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah stayed faithful to the one true God and refused to make themselves unclean by eating the king’s food.

God blessed Daniel and his friends. Daniel’s obedience to God led to his favor with King Nebuchadnezzar, and Daniel’s life would be a testament to God’s control over all things. God remembered His people during the exile and promised to bring them back to their homeland and set up a new kingdom.

As you share this story with the preschoolers you teach, explain that obedience is not always easy, but we trust God to give us strength to obey Him. Point out that Daniel lived about 600 years before Jesus—the perfectly obedient promised One. We can trust that Jesus will return someday to set up His kingdom forever.

Check out the video “The Big Story” for a picture of this quarter’s part in God’s big story of redemption

7God the Sustainer

Daniel and His Friends Obeyed GodDaniel 1

Many years ago, God’s people lived in a country called Judah. They had a king whose name was Jehoiakim (jih HOY uh kim). Jehoiakim did bad things, and God’s people did bad things too. God was not happy, and He punished His people. God let another king come and take over Judah. The king’s name was Nebuchadnezzar (NEB yoo kad NEZ uhr), and he was the king of Babylon.

Nebuchadnezzar and his army marched into Jerusalem and took over the city! They went into God’s temple in Jerusalem and took things that did not belong to them. Nebuchadnezzar wanted boys to be brought to Babylon to serve him in his palace.

So a group of healthy, handsome, and smart boys were taken to Babylon. King Nebuchadnezzar gave them the same kind of food that he ate. He gave the boys the same kind of drinks that he drank. He chose men to be their teachers for three years. Then they would be ready to serve in the king’s palace.

Four of the boys were different than the others. Even though they weren’t in Judah, they still wanted to worship and obey the Lord, the one true God. These boys were named Daniel, Shadrach (SHAD rak), Meshach (MEE shak), and Abednego (uh BED-nih goh).

God’s rules said that His people were not supposed to eat the kinds of food that Nebuchadnezzar gave them. Daniel and his friends wanted to obey God. Daniel asked the man in charge if he and his friends could have vegetables and water instead.

Daniel said, “Give us vegetables and water for 10

The BIBLE STORY


days. Then see if we are strong or weak.”So the guard brought Daniel and his friends

vegetables and water. After 10 days, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the young men who had eaten the king’s food. So the guard let them eat vegetables and drink water instead of eating the king’s food.

God was happy that Daniel wanted to obey Him. God was kind to Daniel and his friends. He made them wise and smart. Daniel served the king for many years.

Christ Connection: Daniel and his friends wanted to obey God, and God helped them. In a greater way, Jesus always did what God wanted Him to do. Jesus never sinned, but He came to earth to rescue sinners. God forgives and helps everyone who trusts in Jesus.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!

Invite preschoolers to check out this

week’s devotionals to discover that

before Daniel and his friends were

taken to Babylon, Isaiah prophesied about the Prince

of Peace (Isa. 9:6) bringing hope to

the captives. Order in bulk, subscribe

quarterly, or purchase individually. For

more information, check out

www.lifeway.com/devotionals.

9God the Sustainer

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed GodBIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 1MAIN POINT: Daniel obeyed God.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Welcome timePlay the unit theme song in the background as you greet preschoolers and follow your church’s security procedures. Set an offering basket near the door to collect at an appropriate time. Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Set out a few favorite theme-related toys, such as puzzles and blocks.

Activity pageGuide preschoolers to examine the foods in each row and draw an X over the ones that do not belong.SAY • Good job deciding which foods did not belong. In

today’s Bible story, Daniel and his friends had to make a choice. The king of Babylon wanted them to eat food from his table, but God’s rules said that His people were not supposed to eat that kind of food. Let’s find out what Daniel and his friends did.

Play a marching gameTape several different colored sheets of construction paper on the floor in various places around the room. Lead preschoolers to follow you as you march around the room.

When you come to a sheet of construction paper, make up an activity preschoolers must complete, such as clapping

• “It Is Well” song• offering basket • Allergy Alert download• favorite toys related to

the Bible story theme

• “Which Does Not Belong?” activity page, 1 per child

• pencils or crayons

• construction paper• marker • tape

LOW PREP


10 times, doing 4 jumping jacks, touching their toes 3 times, or making 5 arm circles. Then continue marching. Play as time allows. Consider inviting preschoolers to make suggestions for what activities to complete on their march.SAY • We did fun things as we marched around the room!

In today’s Bible story, the Babylonian army marched into Jerusalem, but they did mean things! They marched into God’s temple and took things that did not belong to them. King Nebuchadnezzar even took boys to serve him in his palace in Babylon. We are going to hear about some of those boys today. Their names were Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.

Play out shopping for groceries Invite preschoolers to play out shopping for groceries.SAY • In today’s Bible story, Daniel and his friends

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken to Babylon to serve the king. God’s rules said that His people were not supposed to eat the kinds of food that King Nebuchadnezzar gave them. Daniel and his friends could not just go to the store to get different food. Let’s find out what they did.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to tell you their favorite food as they move to Bible study.

• toy shopping cart• toy cash register • toy food • toy money• clean, empty food

boxes

• countdown video (optional)

11God the Sustainer

Introduce the Bible storyDisplay vegetables and water for preschoolers to see.SAY • In today’s Bible story, Daniel asked if he and his

friends could eat vegetables and drink water instead of the food from the king of Babylon’s table. Listen to our Bible story to find out why.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Daniel 1 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is the most important book there is. The

Bible is a true book, and it’s the only book that has God’s words in it. Today’s Bible story is from Daniel.

Show the Bible story video “Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Disobeying God by eating the king’s food would

have been easy for Daniel and his friends to do, but Daniel obeyed God. God made Daniel and his friends healthier than the young men who ate the

• vegetables• water

• bookmark• Bible • “Daniel and His Friends

Obeyed God” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster

• Main Point Poster• Giant Timeline or

Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed GodBIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 1MAIN POINT: Daniel obeyed God.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


kings food. God was kind to Daniel and his friends. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions:

1. Who marched into Jerusalem and took things from God’s temple? (Nebuchadnezzar and his army)

2. What were the boys who were taken to Babylon like? (healthy, handsome, and smart)

3. What did God’s rules say about the kind of food the king ate? (not to eat it)

4. What did Daniel ask the man in charge? (if he and his friends could have vegetables and water instead)

5. After 10 days, did Daniel and his friends look healthier or less healthy than the men who had eaten the king’s food? (healthier)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Our big picture question for the next few weeks is,

How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Daniel and his friends wanted to obey God, and God helped them obey Him. God will do the same for us. God forgives and helps everyone who trusts in Jesus.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Daniel 2:20. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Forever and Ever.”SAY • Our key passage tells us that wisdom and power

belong to God. He is the only One who deserves our praise.

Transition to small groups

• Big Picture Question Poster

• Key Passage Poster• “Forever and Ever” song

13God the Sustainer

Small Group ACTIVITIES

SESSION TITLE: Daniel and His Friends Obeyed God BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 1MAIN POINT: Daniel obeyed God.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Play “Would You Rather?” Ask preschoolers questions that begin with “Would you rather…?” Make some questions silly and some serious. You may use the following questions or create your own:

• Would you rather ride in a train or fly in an airplane? • Would you rather eat a whole pizza or a whole carton of ice cream?

• Would you rather pet a bunny or a porcupine? • Would you rather play in the snow or go swimming?• When you grow up, would you rather have lots of kids or only one?

• Would you rather be able to fly or turn invisible?For the last question ask preschoolers, “Would you rather obey God or obey people?”SAY • Most of the time, we can obey God and people at

the same time, especially those people God has put in charge of us, like our parents or our teachers. But sometimes, people will want us to do things that disobey God. Choosing to obey God is always the right choice. We can ask God to help us obey Him in those times, and He will! How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him.

LOW PREP


Work food puzzlesSet out an assortment of puzzles depicting food. Review the Bible story as preschoolers work.SAY • Is the most important thing in today’s Bible story

what foods to eat? No! Today’s Bible story is about God. We learned how God protects His people when they want to be obey Him. Daniel obeyed God instead of the king, and God protected Daniel and his friends by making them healthier than the other young men.

Paint with vegetablesBefore the session, slice vegetables so preschoolers will be able to hold them as painting tools. Squirt different colors of paint onto paper towels laying on foam plates. Provide a sheet of paper for each preschooler. Demonstrate how to dip the sliced end of each vegetable in paint and press the paint onto paper. Encourage preschoolers to be creative with their designs. Write the key passage or main point on each preschooler’s artwork.SAY • You made art with vegetables similar to those Daniel

and his friends may have eaten. Daniel and his friends wanted to obey God, and God helped them. Daniel obeyed God by not eating food from the king’s table. In a greater way, Jesus always did what God wanted Him to do. Jesus never sinned but He came to earth to rescue sinners. God forgives and helps everyone who trusts in Jesus.

Sort vegetablesPrint and cut out several copies of the “Vegetables” printable. Tape one of each vegetable image on a separate

• puzzles depicting food

• Allergy Alert download• various vegetables

(carrots, celery, zucchini, potatoes, broccoli)

• knife (teacher use only)• foam plates• paper towels• washable paint• paper• marker

• “Vegetables” printable• scissors• bins, 8• tape

15God the Sustainer

bin. Set out the remaining vegetable images. Guide preschoolers to put each vegetable image in the appropriate bin.SAY • Daniel and his friends knew God gives us rules

because He loves us. They trusted God to help them obey His rule. Daniel obeyed God, and God was happy with his choice. God protected Daniel and his friends and made them healthier and smarter than the other boys. Jesus always obeyed God. Jesus never sinned but He came to earth to rescue sinners. God forgives and blesses everyone who trusts in Jesus.

Assemble food bagsLead your group in assembling food packs for families in need. Include items such as pop-top canned food that does not require heating like beef stew, pasta, or soups; tuna packets; granola or protein bars; instant oatmeal; fruit cups; and individual cereal boxes. Be sure to include bottled water and a set of plastic utensils. Form an assembly line to place all items in individual gallon-sized ziplock bags. Guide preschoolers to draw pictures to include in each bag. Identify a group in your church to distribute the bags to or donate them to a local food pantry.SAY • Daniel obeyed God by not eating the king’s food,

and one way we can obey God is by giving to others. God gave us everything we need when He sent Jesus to earth to rescue us from sin. We can share what God has given us with others. Some people do not have places to live or food to eat. Let’s pray for the people who will receive these food packs so they will hear the good news of how God forgives and helps everyone who trusts in Jesus.

• gallon-sized ziplock bags

• food items• bottled water• construction paper• markers or crayons

Option: Contact preschool families before the session and invite them to donate items for the care package.


SnackPlay the countdown video to signal the end of activities. Guide preschoolers to clean their areas. Take a restroom break and wash hands. Gather preschoolers for snack time. Thank God for the snack.

Serve vegetables such as baby carrots, celery sticks, and miniature bell peppers with vegetable dip for snack. Talk about how God blessed Daniel and his friends when they obeyed Him. After 10 days of eating vegetables and drinking water, Daniel and his friends looked healthier than the young men who had eaten the king’s food. Daniel obeyed God, and God was kind to Daniel and his friends. He made them wise and smart.

Transition When a child finishes his snack, guide him to throw away any trash. He may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with play dough or a favorite toy, or color the Bible story coloring page.

Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of a way they can obey God. Remind preschoolers that sometimes obeying God can be hard, but God is there to help us. How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You that when You give us a rule to obey,

You will always help us obey it. Thank You that Jesus always obeyed You and that He died and came back to life to rescue sinners like us. Amen.

If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards for families.


• Allergy Alert download • snack food• paper cups and napkins

• books• puzzles • play dough • Journal Page printable,

1 per child • Bible Story Coloring

Page• crayons• Big Picture Cards for

Families: Babies, Toddlers, and Preschoolers

17God the Sustainer

2

UNIT 16Session 2

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Nebuchadnezzar built a tall gold statue and issued a new law: “When you hear music, you are to fall down and worship the statue.” The penalty for defying this law was severe. “Whoever does not fall down and worship will immediately be thrown into a furnace of blazing fire” (Dan. 3:6).

So when music played, all the people bowed down and worshiped the gold statue. Well, almost everyone. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down and worship the statue. They loved and worshiped the one true God. Only He was worthy of their worship.

Use Week of:

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 3MAIN POINT: God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


PAGE 22


PAGE 24


PAGE 26


2


The Book of Daniel says that the Chaldeans—a group of astrologers and dream interpreters (see Dan. 2:2,4)—took this opportunity to go to the king and tell on Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. But not even the threat of death could convince the three friends to renounce their loyalty to God.

As you teach, lead preschoolers to consider the possibilities: God could keep the friends from being thrown into the furnace. Or, once in the furnace, God could keep them from being harmed. Or if they perished, God would receive them into heaven. The friends’ trust in God enabled them to stand firm no matter what—even as they were tied up and thrown into the fire.

Then something miraculous happened. Nebuchadnezzar saw four men in the fire! They were walking around, unharmed! The Lord not only rescued Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, He was with them.

On the cross, people mocked Jesus: “He saved others; He cannot save Himself!” (Mark 15:31). Jesus was not physically unable to save Himself. He chose to do His Father’s will, and His love for sinners kept Him there. Jesus chose not to save Himself so that He could save others.

19God the Sustainer

Shadrach, Meshach, and AbednegoDaniel 3

Nebuchadnezzar (NEB yoo kad NEZ uhr) was the king of Babylon. He did not love God. One day, King Nebuchadnezzar made a tall statue out of gold.

Then one of the king’s officials gave a new rule to all the people. He said, “When you hear the sound of music, fall to your knees and worship this gold statue. Anyone who does not obey this new rule will be thrown into a very hot fire!”

When music played, everyone in Babylon fell to their knees and worshiped the gold statue. Well, almost everyone. Three men from Judah did not fall to their knees and worship the statue. They worshiped God, and they knew God did not want them to worship anyone or anything else. These men were Daniel’s friends. Their names were Shadrach (SHAD rak), Meshach (MEE shak), and Abednego (uh BED-nih goh).

Some of the people in Babylon went to the king. “These men do not obey you,” they said. “They do not bow down to the statue.”

The king was angry! He called for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and said, “If you do not fall to your knees and worship the statue, I will throw you into a very hot fire!”

The three friends said, “King, we worship God. He can save us from the fire. But even if He does not save us, we will not worship the gold statue.”

Now the king was very mad! He told his workers to make the fire even hotter! The soldiers in the king’s army tied up the three friends and threw them into the fire.

The BIBLE STORY


The fire was so hot that the soldiers died when they got close! Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego fell into the fire, all tied up.

All of a sudden, the king stood up and said, “Didn’t we throw three men into the fire?”

“Yes, King,” his helpers said.“Look!” the king shouted. “I see four men walking

around in the fire! They aren’t hurt or tied up! The fourth man looks like an angel!”

The king said, “Shadrach! Meshach! Abednego! Come here!”

The friends came out of the fire. They were not burned. They had not even been hurt at all! God was with them and had saved them from the fire!

The king praised God. He said, “God sent an angel to save these men! They trusted in God, and He saved them!”

So the king made a new rule for all the people. “Anyone who says anything bad about God will be punished. Only God can save people from death!” Then the king gave Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego important jobs in Babylon.

Christ Connection: God saved Daniel’s friends from a fire. Jesus came to save us in an even better way. Jesus died so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!



God alone has the power to save His people. Hundreds of years later, God sent Jesus to save people from sin.

(Matt. 1:21) Order in bulk, subscribe




21God the Sustainer

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Shadrach, Meshach, and AbednegoBIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 3MAIN POINT: God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Welcome timePlay the unit theme song in the background as you greet preschoolers and follow your church’s security procedures. Set an offering basket near the door to collect at an appropriate time. Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Set out a few favorite toys, such as puzzles and blocks.

Activity pageInvite preschoolers to examine the two pictures and circle the four differences they see.SAY • How many people do you see in the fire in the first

picture? How many people do you see in the fire in the second picture? In our Bible story today, we are going to hear how Daniel’s friends ended up in the fire and how God kept them safe.

Play hot and cold Select one child to be the finder and another child to be the hider. Instruct the finder to close his eyes while the hider hides a Bible somewhere in the classroom. When the Bible is hidden, invite the finder to open his eyes and search for the Bible. Lead the rest of the group in saying “cold” when



• “Find the Differences” activity page, 1 per child


• Bible

LOW PREP


the finder is far from the hidden Bible and “hot” when he is near the hidden Bible. When the finder locates the Bible, choose another finder and hider and play again as time allows.SAY • We said “hot” when you were near the Bible, but you

were not really hot. We were just playing a game. In today’s Bible story, Daniel’s friends Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to go somewhere that really was very hot. They were not playing a game. They were in danger. Listen to our Bible story to find out where they had to go that was so hot.

Make play dough statuesGuide preschoolers to make statues out of play dough. Explain that statues are usually made to look like a person or animal. Often they are the size of the person or animal in real life or even larger. Ask preschoolers to tell you about their statues.SAY • Statues can be good just to look at or to remind us

of someone or something important. In our Bible story today, King Nebuchadnezzar made a tall statue out of gold. The king’s gold statue was used for something that was not good. In fact, this statue was used for something that was sin. Listen to our Bible story to find out what this gold statue was used for.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to pretend to play a musical instrument as they move to Bible study.

• play dough • play dough tools


23God the Sustainer

Introduce the Bible storySAY • Who remembers Daniel’s friends who joined him in

obeying God and not eating the king’s food? [Allow responses.] In today’s Bible story, Daniel’s friends had to make another choice whether to obey or disobey.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Daniel 3 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • God has given us a great gift in the Bible. The Bible

tells us who God is and what He has done for us. Today’s Bible story is from the Book of Daniel.

Show the Bible story video “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Daniel’s friends wanted to obey God no matter what,

even if it meant dying. God did not leave them on their own. God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire. God rescued them from the fire and showed the

• bookmark• Bible • “Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abednego” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 3MAIN POINT: God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


king that He alone deserves worship.Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions:

1. What did the king make? (a tall, gold statue)2. What were the people to do when they heard music?

(fall to their knees and worship the statue) 3. Who did not worship the statue? (Shadrach, Meshach,

and Abednego) 4. How many men did the king see when he looked in

the fire? (four)5. What new rule did the king make? (Anyone who said

anything bad about God would be punished.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Who remembers our big picture question? How can

we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Obeying God can be hard, but just like God didn’t leave Daniel’s friends on their own, God does not leave us on our own either. God gives us help. Jesus died so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Daniel 2:20. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Forever and Ever.”SAY • Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew what our

key passage says is true. They would not worship the statue. Only the one true God is worthy of worship.




25God the Sustainer


SESSION TITLE: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 3MAIN POINT: God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Pray to God at the sound of musicLead preschoolers to walk around the room. When music starts to play, they must stop, fall to their knees, and bow their heads in prayer. Lead preschoolers in a short sentence prayer of worship, such as “God, You are kind to us,” “God, thank You for showing us mercy,” or “God, thank You for sending Jesus.” Stop the music. Direct preschoolers to stand up and walk around the room again. Continue starting and stopping the music and praying as time allows.SAY • When music played we worshiped the one true God,

but everyone in Babylon was supposed to worship the gold statue. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego would not worship the statue, and they ended up in the fire. But God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire. God saved them. Jesus came to save us in an even better way. Jesus died so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

Make a life-sized gold statueInvite a preschooler to strike a pose. Then invite two

• “It Is Well” song (optional)

LOW PREP

• gold tinsel


or three other preschoolers to wrap or hang gold tinsel on the child. When the human gold statue is complete, lead preschoolers to shout, “We worship God!” Allow preschoolers to take turns being and wrapping the statue.SAY • Our gold statues were silly! Worshiping anything

other than God is silly! God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire, and the king learned that only God can save people from death. Jesus came to save us in an even better way. Jesus died so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

Make a fiery furnace craftProvide a paper plate cut in half for each preschooler. Lead preschoolers to color their “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” printables. Guide preschoolers to cut out the figures and glue them onto the paper plate. Invite them to tear small pieces of red, orange, and yellow tissue paper and glue the pieces on the paper plate around the figures. Write the main point on each preschooler’s artwork.SAY • God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire. Shadrach,

Meshach, and Abednego obeyed God, and He saved them. Jesus came to save us in an even better way. We have disobeyed God, and that is called sin. Jesus died so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

Practice countingWrite different numbers and draw the corresponding number of dots on separate sheets of paper to make

Tip: Supervise children to ensure a child is not wrapped too tightly.

• “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego” printable, 1 per child

• scissors• paper plate• red, orange, yellow

tissue paper• glue stick• marker

• counters• paper • marker

27God the Sustainer

counting sheets. Be sure to include the numbers 3 and 4. Set out the counting sheets. Provide counters such as counting bears or other manipulatives. Guide preschoolers to practice counting by placing a counter on each dot. SAY • When the king looked into the fire, he did not see

three men. He saw one, two, three, four! God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire. God saved them. The king praised God. He learned only God can save people from death!

Invite a firefighter to classInvite a firefighter to visit your class to talk to preschoolers about fire safety. Include time for preschoolers to ask questions. Consider asking the guest to retell the Bible story.SAY • Fire is very dangerous. What should have happened

to Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego when they were in the fire? They should have been hurt, but instead God saved them. God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire and showed everyone He has power over His creation.

We are sinners and we should be separated from God because of our sin, but God sent Jesus to show He has power over sin and death! Jesus died and rose again so we wouldn’t be punished for our sin. He was punished instead. When we know and love Jesus, Jesus saves us so we can be with God forever.

• guest

Tip: Ask church staff to identify any paid or volunteer firefighters in your congregation you could invite to class.



For snack, place three bear-shaped cookies, a few marshmallows, and a few chocolate chips on a graham cracker. Toast the snack in a toaster oven. When you serve the snack, point out how the marshmallows and chocolate melted but the bears did not. Talk about how God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire. God saved them and showed everyone that He is the one true God.

Transition When a child finishes her snack, guide her to throw away any trash. She may select a book or puzzle to examine, play quietly with play dough or a favorite toy, or color the Bible story coloring page.

Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves with Jesus standing beside. Remind each preschooler that just like God was with Daniel’s friends in the fire, God is with them too. God will help us obey Him even when it is hard. How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You that You are with us. Help us to

obey You even when it is hard or scary. Thank You that Jesus died and rose again so we can be with You forever. Amen.



• Allergy Alert download • snack food• paper cups and napkins • toaster oven (optional)





29God the Sustainer

3

UNIT 16Session 3

Leader BIBLE STUDY

The fifth chapter of Daniel ends with the death of King Belshazzar when the Persians took over Babylon and Darius was put on the throne. Babylon was on the decline—no longer the powerful, prosperous empire it once was. By this time Daniel was an old man, probably in his early 80s. He served the new king as one of the three leading supervisors in the kingdom.

Daniel was very good at his job. So good, in fact, that King Darius planned to put him in charge of the entire kingdom. The other supervisors and governors were jealous of Daniel. They watched for him to do something wrong so they could complain to the king. Read Daniel 6:4. Daniel was

Use Week of:

Daniel Was Rescued

BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 6MAIN POINT: God rescued Daniel.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


PAGE 34


PAGE 36


PAGE 38


3


“trustworthy, and no negligence or corruption was found in him.”

Through the malevolent persuasion of the king’s leaders, King Darius passed a law that no one could pray to anyone but him, the king, for 30 days. Daniel continued to pray boldly to God.

Guide preschoolers to imagine how Daniel might have felt. Was he worried about getting caught? Did he have nightmares about being eaten by lions? Even the king’s threat of death did not stop Daniel from praying. The jealous officials turned him in, and Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den.

As you teach preschoolers, emphasize that Daniel was faithful to God—the true King—and God rescued Him. God’s protection of Daniel served to show all the people that the God of Daniel “is the living God, and He endures forever; His kingdom will never be destroyed, and His dominion has no end” (Dan. 6:26).

God also calls us to trust and obey Him no matter what. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from something much more dangerous than lions. Jesus rescues us from sin and death. Pray that through your faith, and that of the preschoolers you lead, “may the name of God be praised forever and ever” (Dan. 2:20).

31God the Sustainer

Daniel Was RescuedDaniel 6

Darius (duh RIGH uhs) was the new king of Babylon. King Darius picked Daniel to be one of his helpers. Daniel worked hard, and he was good at his job. The king liked Daniel. He decided to give Daniel a more important job.

The other helpers heard that Daniel was going to get a better job. They were not happy. They watched Daniel very carefully. They wanted to catch him doing something wrong, so they could tell on him. But Daniel did what was right.

The helpers thought about Daniel. They knew he loved God and obeyed Him. They knew Daniel prayed to God, so they made a mean plan to get Daniel in trouble.

The helpers went to the king. “King, we think you should make a new law that says everyone can only pray to you.” Of course, every law needs a punishment for breaking the law. So the men said, “Anyone who breaks the law will be thrown into the lions’ den!”

King Darius made the law: people can only pray to the king. Daniel knew the new law said he couldn’t pray to God anymore. But Daniel went into his house and prayed three times every day, just like he had always done.

The men spied on Daniel and saw him praying to God. Then they hurried to the king. “Daniel broke the law! We saw him praying!” they said.

The king was sad. He did not want to punish Daniel, but that was the law. So the king ordered Daniel to be thrown into the lions’ den. “I hope God saves you,” the king told Daniel.

The BIBLE STORY


That night, the king could not sleep. He did not eat. He sat in his palace and thought about Daniel with the lions.

As soon as the sun came up the next morning, the king hurried to the lions’ den. He hoped Daniel was OK. “Daniel!” he called out. “Did God save you from the lions?”

“Yes!” said Daniel. “God sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths! I am safe!”

The king was so happy. Daniel came out of the lions’ den. He wasn’t hurt. Daniel had trusted God to keep him safe. The king made a new law. The law said that everyone must respect God. God had saved Daniel and kept him safe from the lions.

Christ Connection: God saved Daniel from the lions. God is powerful! God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from something more dangerous than lions. Jesus rescues us from sin and death.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover that God

was with Daniel in the lions’ den.

Believers can take courage because

God promises to be with us through His Son, Jesus, forever. (Josh. 1:9) Order in bulk, subscribe




33God the Sustainer

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Daniel Was RescuedBIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 6MAIN POINT: God rescued Daniel.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


Activity pageLead preschoolers to follow the directions on the activity page and mark the lions accordingly.SAY • How many lions did you count in the lions’ den?

In today’s Bible story, Daniel had a choice to make. He could obey the king or obey God and be thrown into a den of lions. Can you guess whom he chose to obey?

Sit like animalsChallenge preschoolers to sit like animals. Use the following animals and suggested positions or create your own.

• Fish: lie on tummy, bend knees, lift chest, reach arms back toward toes, and make a fish face

• Rabbit: sit upright on heels, bring arms in front,



• “The Lions’ Den” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


touch floor• Eagle: stand tall, wrap one leg around the other, bring bent arms out in front of you, hold out arms like spread wings, slightly bend knees

• Turtle: sit on heels, bring forehead down to rest in front of knees, place palm of hands flat out in front

• Giraffe: stand tall, look up, reach arms up to skySAY • How does a lion sit? [Lead preschoolers to demonstrate

how they think a lion would sit.] In today’s Bible story, the king made a rule that said everyone could only pray to him. Anyone who broke the law would be thrown into a den of lions! Listen to today’s Bible story to discover what happened.

Play an animal matching game Print and cut apart the “Animal Matching” cards. Lead preschoolers to take turns matching an animal’s head to the rest of its body. For older preschoolers, lay the cards facedown on the table and play a memory game with the cards.SAY • Good job matching the animals to their bodies. We

are going to hear about some lions in today’s Bible story. Lions can be scary, but God has power over lions and everything He created.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to roar like lions as they move to Bible study and to close their mouths when they sit down.

• “Animal Matching” printable

• scissors


35God the Sustainer

Introduce the Bible storyAsk preschoolers if they have ever been to the zoo. Ask them to tell about some of the animals they saw there.SAY • Who has seen a lion at the zoo? Did you get to pet

one of the lions? Of course not! Lions are powerful and dangerous. In our Bible story today, Daniel was put into a den of lions! Let’s find out what happened!

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Daniel 6 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • God’s words are in the Bible, and all God’s words are

true. Today’s Bible story is from the Book of Daniel.Show the Bible story video “Daniel Was Rescued,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Daniel knew obeying God was more important than

obeying the king’s law. Daniel continued to pray to God like he always did, even though it meant he would be thrown into the lions’ den. God rescued

• bookmark• Bible • “Daniel Was Rescued”

video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Daniel Was RescuedBIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 6MAIN POINT: God rescued Daniel.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


Daniel. God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from something more dangerous than lions. Jesus rescues us from sin and death.

Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions:

1. What did King Darius plan to do for Daniel? (give him a more important job)

2. Why did the other helpers get the king to make the new law? (They wanted to get Daniel in trouble.)

3. Did the king want to punish Daniel? (no) 4. Did God save Daniel from the lions? (Yes, God sent

an angel to shut the lions’ mouths.)5. What new law did the king make? (Everyone must

respect God.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Who knows the answer to our big picture question,

How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. God helped Daniel obey Him even when it meant Daniel might get eaten by lions. Sometimes obeying God can be hard or even scary, but God will help us. God is powerful!

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Daniel 2:20. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Forever and Ever.”SAY • Daniel knew that God is the true, forever King.

Wisdom and power belong to Him. He is the only One who deserves our prayers and worship!




37God the Sustainer


SESSION TITLE: Daniel Was Rescued BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 6MAIN POINT: God rescued Daniel.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Play “The King Says”Play “Simon Says” by the traditional rules but use king instead of Simon. Allow preschoolers to take turns being the king.SAY • Daniel did not do what King Darius’ law said to

do, but he did what God, the true King, said to do. Daniel chose to obey God, and God rescued Daniel. God showed He is the true King. Obeying God can be hard at times, but God will help us obey. How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Just as God helped Daniel, He will help us too.

Make a prayer chainWrite the names of individual nations on separate strips of construction paper. Include nations where your church supports missionaries as well as nations where Christians are not permitted to worship freely. Invite each preschooler to select a paper strip. Lead a preschooler to display her strip to the group as you point out the nation on a world map or globe. Explain that in some countries, it is against the law to worship or pray to God.

Lead children in praying a sentence prayer for each

LOW PREP

• construction paper • scissors• markers• tape• world map or globe


nation such as, “God, please change the laws in this country so Your people can worship You without getting in trouble,” “God, help Your people in this nation worship You even though it is hard,” “God, please protect Your people in this country,” or “Please help the people in this country to know that You are the only true God.” As you pray for each nation, link the paper strip to the others to form a chain. Display the prayer chain in your classroom.SAY • The king’s law said that Daniel could only pray to the

king. Daniel continued to pray to the one true God, and God rescued Daniel. Some of the countries we prayed for also have laws that say a person cannot pray to God. Let’s continue to pray for God’s people in these countries. Let’s pray God will keep them safe and the laws will change, but let’s also pray God’s people will tell others in their country that Jesus rescues people from sin and death.

Play with a parachutePlace soft balls or rolled socks on a parachute or large sheet. Explain that the balls or socks represent lions. Invite preschoolers to hold on to the parachute and move it up and down to “stir up” the lions. You may also lead preschoolers to hold the parachute high in the air as you call a preschooler’s name to “come out of the lions’ den” by running under the parachute and out the other side.SAY • Daniel knew obeying God was more important

than obeying the king, even if it meant going into the lions’ den. Our God is powerful! God rescued Daniel, and God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from something more dangerous than lions. Jesus rescues us from sin and death.

• parachute or sheet • soft balls or rolled socks

39God the Sustainer

Pray in “Daniel’s house”Before the session, use scissors to cut a door and windows in an appliance box to make “Daniel’s house.” Place pillows or cushions inside. Invite preschoolers to play out going in the house to pray. SAY • Prayer is a great gift God has given us. We can talk

to God anytime and anywhere. Daniel continued to pray to God even when the law said not to. There may come a time when laws tell us that we cannot pray to God, but we can continue to pray no matter what! We can remember how God rescued Daniel from the lions’ den. God sent Jesus to rescue us from sin and death. We do not have to be afraid of anyone or anything.

Make a Daniel and lions craftProvide a sheet of construction paper for each child. Guide preschoolers to glue several yellow cupcake liners to their paper. Lead them to draw a lion’s face including whiskers in the flat part of each cupcake liner. Then invite them to draw Daniel on their paper. Write the main point on each preschoolers artwork. SAY • One day, you may have to choose between obeying

God and obeying people. Remembering how God rescued Daniel can help you in those times. God is powerful! We do not have to be afraid of anyone or anything because God sent His Son, Jesus, to save us from something more dangerous than lions or people. Jesus rescues us from sin and death.

• large cardboard box • scissors• pillows or cushions

Tip: Stop by a home improvement or appliance store and ask for an appliance box.

• construction paper• glue sticks• yellow cupcake liners• markers or crayons



Lead preschoolers to assemble a lion-shaped snack by laying a miniature pretzel upside down on a graham cracker to serve as the lion’s muzzle. Use chocolate chips to fill in the lion’s nose and create eyes. Arrange pretzel sticks around the graham cracker to create the lion’s mane. Remind preschoolers that God showed His power when He sent an angel to shut the lions’ mouths. God rescued Daniel. How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Daniel trusted God to help him obey Him, and God did!


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of something that scares them and then draw a picture of Jesus beside it. Remind preschoolers that we do not have to be afraid of anything because Jesus has rescued us from sin and death. Pray for the children.SAY • God, help us to obey You even when it is hard.

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus, to rescue us from sin and death. Amen.








41God the Sustainer

4

UNIT 16Session 4

Leader BIBLE STUDY

God’s people had been living in Babylon for 70 years. Some of God’s people had died in Babylon. Some of their children and grandchildren were born in Babylon and grew up there. But Babylon was not their home.

Before the people of Judah were exiled, God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These are the words of the Lord: “These nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years” (Jer. 25:11). Then the Lord said, “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place” (Jer. 29:10). The time had come for God’s people to go back home.

Use Week of:

God Brought His People Home

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13MAIN POINT: God brought the Israelites back home.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


PAGE 46


PAGE 48


PAGE 50


4


Cyrus, the king of the Persian empire, overthrew Babylon. Cyrus took over the kingdom, including the lands of Israel and Judah. In the following year, the Lord did something miraculous in Cyrus’s heart. He prompted Cyrus to issue a decree: All the Jewish exiles are free to return to their ancestral homes.

The exile was over! God’s people were free to return to their own land. They were free to live as God’s special people. The first group of Judean exiles returned home under the leadership of Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl). Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, who had been taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. (See 2 Kings 24:8-13.)

Ezra 2:64-65 says nearly 50,000 people traveled back to Judah. When they got to Jerusalem, they began working to rebuild the temple that the Chaldeans had destroyed. (See 2 Chron. 36:19.)

Explain to preschoolers that the temple was the place where God met with His people. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people from sin. When Jesus returns, He will restore the earth and will dwell with His people forever.

43God the Sustainer

God Brought His People HomeEzra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13

God’s people were in Babylon, far away from their homes and land. But God had made a promise. Through Jeremiah the prophet, God said that the people would have to stay in Babylon for 70 years, but then He would bring His people back home. God always keeps His promises.

Time went by. The children of God’s people grew up. They had families and children of their own. Then their children grew up and had families and children too. When 70 years had passed, God kept His promise.

King Cyrus was the king of Babylon. God gave Cyrus the idea to make a new rule. Everyone had to obey it. Cyrus said, “Let God’s people go back to their land. Let them rebuild God’s temple in Jerusalem.”

This was good news! Before, God’s people had to stay in Babylon like prisoners. Now they were free! They could finally go home. So the people got ready to go. King Cyrus and the other people living in Babylon gave them gifts like gold, silver, and animals.

God’s people started walking. A man named Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl) led them. They walked and walked and walked. Some of the people had never seen Jerusalem because they had been born in Babylon. When they got to Judah, each family set up its house. Then the people met together in Jerusalem to start rebuilding God’s temple.

God had special laws for how to build the temple, and God’s people were careful to obey them. The priests made the altar in the same place the old altar had been.

The BIBLE STORY


Then they made offerings and sacrifices to God.The people started building. First, they needed money

to buy supplies. God’s people gave money to the men in charge of building the temple. They paid people to bring big logs to Jerusalem. The workers made the foundation, or the bottom, of the temple. The foundation was very important. A strong foundation makes a building strong.

The people were so happy that the foundation was done! The priests put on special clothes. The people shouted and sang songs to God. “God is good! He is loving and always will be!” they said. What a happy day for God’s people.

Not everyone was happy though. Some of the older people remembered what the first temple had looked like long ago, before it had been knocked down. The people were sad, and they cried loudly. The sounds of people shouting and crying was so loud that it could be heard far away.

Christ Connection: God sent His people home to fix the temple. God sent Jesus to earth to save His people. One day, Jesus will come back. He will fix up a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will live with Him forever.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover God told His people to obey Him or face exile.

(Deut. 27:10) When they repented, God

brought them home. Later God sent Jesus to bring us to Him. (1 Pet. 3:18) Order in bulk, subscribe




45God the Sustainer

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: God Brought His People HomeBIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13MAIN POINT: God brought the Israelites back home.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to complete the maze to get God’s people to Jerusalem. SAY • God’s people were in Babylon, far away from their

homes and land. But God had made a promise. Through Jeremiah the prophet, God said that the people would have to stay in Babylon for 70 years, but then He would bring His people back home. In today’s Bible story, God kept His promise!

Make rulesInvite preschoolers to make up their own rules. Make up your some of your own silly rules to get preschoolers thinking. Examples of rules include “Eat pizza at every meal,” “Shake each other’s feet to say hello,” “Wear your



• “Get God’s People Home” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


clothes backward on Saturdays.”SAY • In today’s Bible story, God’s people were not living

in their own land. They were living in Babylon like prisoners. God gave the new king of Babylon an idea to make a new rule. This new rule was good news for God’s people! Listen to our Bible story to find out what the new rule was. Everyone had to obey it!

Play a walking gameWrite the numbers 1-10 on separate sheets of construction paper. Use more or less numbers based on the size of your group. Place the numbered sheets in a circle on the floor and secure with tape. Cut one sheet of construction paper into 10 pieces and label each with a number 1-10. Place the numbered pieces in a basket or bag.

Invite preschoolers to walk around the circle, stepping on one sheet of paper at a time as music plays. When the music stops, draw a number from the bag. The child standing on the number you drew gets to stop the music and draw the number in the next round. Continue playing as time allows. SAY • Did you have fun walking? In our Bible story today,

God’s people walked, and they walked, and they walked. They walked for a really long time. Listen to the Bible story to find out where they were going.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to walk a lap around the room before moving to Bible study.

• construction paper• tape• scissors• marker• small basket or bag• “It Is Well” song

(optional)


47God the Sustainer

Introduce the Bible storySAY • Can you think of a time when you just wanted to go

home? In today’s Bible story, God’s people had been away from Jerusalem for a very long time, but the time had come to go home.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Ezra in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is God’s Word. The Bible is a true book.

Everything in the Bible really happened! Today’s Bible story comes from the Book of Ezra.

Show the Bible story video “God Brought His People Home” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • After many years in Babylon, God brought the

Israelites back home. God sent His people home to fix the temple. God sent Jesus to earth to save His people. One day, Jesus will come back. He will fix up

• bookmark• Bible • “God Brought His

People Home” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: God Brought His People Home BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13MAIN POINT: God brought the Israelites back home.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will live with Him forever.


1. Where did God’s people live for 70 years? (Babylon) 2. Who said God’s people could go back to their land?

(Cyrus, the new king of Babylon) 3. What part of the temple did the people build first?

(the foundation) 4. How did the people celebrate that the foundation

was done? (The priests put on special clothes. The people shouted and sang songs to God.)

5. Why were some of the older people sad? (They remembered what the first temple looked like.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Our big picture question is, How can we obey God?

We trust God to help us obey Him. God wanted His people to rebuild the temple, and He made a way for them to do it! Any time God asks us to do something, we can trust Him to help us do it.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Daniel 2:20. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Forever and Ever.”SAY • God brought His people home just like He promised

them, and they worshiped Him. God’s name will be praised forever and ever because, just as our key passage tells us, wisdom and power belong to Him.




49God the Sustainer


SESSION TITLE: God Brought His People Home BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13MAIN POINT: God brought the Israelites back home.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Play “Follow Zerubbabel”Play follow-the-leader according to the traditional rules, but refer to the leader as Zerubbabel. Let preschoolers take turns being Zerubbabel.SAY • A man named Zerubbabel led God’s people as they

walked to Judah. God brought the Israelites back home. God sent His people home to fix the temple. God sent Jesus to earth to save His people.

One day, Jesus will come back. He will fix up a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will live with Him forever.

Create a city sceneBefore the session, cut out rectangles of various sizes from construction paper to serve as buildings. Cut out smaller rectangles to serve as windows. Provide each preschooler with a sheet of construction paper. Invite preschoolers to arrange and glue the rectangles on their paper to create a city scene. Write the main point on each preschooler’s artwork. SAY • God brought the Israelites back home to the city of

Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a special city that God gave

LOW PREP

• construction paper• scissors • glue sticks• marker


His people. One day, Jesus will come back. He will fix up a greater home for all of God’s people. We will live with God where we will worship Him forever.

Build on different foundationsInvite preschoolers to experiment building with blocks on different surfaces. Provide hard surfaces like a book, table, or shelf. Provide soft surfaces like a pillow, carpet square, or foam mat. Provide uneven surfaces like an upside down bin, a chair seat, or a three-ring binder. Invite preschoolers to predict which foundations will best support their block structures. Then lead preschoolers to build on the different surfaces.SAY • God brought the Israelites back home to fix

the temple. The workers made the foundation, or bottom, of the temple. The foundation was very important. A strong foundation makes a building strong. The Israelites wanted the temple to last a long time. Jesus will fix up a home even better than the temple for all of God’s people, and the home Jesus builds for us will last forever.

Play out the end of the Bible storySet a layer of blocks on the floor to represent the temple foundation. Choose several preschoolers to be priests and dress up in robes. Give the priests toy trumpets. Give other children toy cymbals. Choose a few other children to be the older people. Give the older people quilt batting to put on their heads and around their faces to serve as white hair and beards.

Lead the priests to make trumpet sounds, the older people to cry loudly, and the rest of the group to bang their

• hard-surfaced items• soft-surfaced items• uneven-surfaced items• blocks

• blocks• toy trumpets• toy cymbals • quilt batting

51God the Sustainer

cymbals and shout, “God is good! He is loving and always will be!” Allow other children to take turns being priests or older people and play again. SAY • God brought the Israelites back home. They

celebrated when the foundation of the temple was finished. Some people were sad because they remembered the old temple. The sounds of people shouting and crying was so loud that it could be heard far away.

One day, Jesus will come back for His people. He will fix up a greater home for all of us, and we will live with Him forever. That will be the happiest day of ever!

Work “foundation” puzzlesCut foam sheets into five or six pieces to create a puzzle. Use different colored sheets of foam to create multiple puzzles. Invite preschoolers to reassemble the foam pieces to form a rectangle, or foundation, shape.SAY • God brought the Israelites back home to fix the

temple. The day the foundation was done was a happy day for God’s people. God sent Jesus to earth to save His people.

One day, Jesus will come back. That will be the happiest day of all for every one of God’s people. Jesus will fix up a greater home for us, and we will live with Him forever.

• foam sheets• scissors



Serve graham crackers for snack. Lead preschoolers to stack the crackers to create a foundation. Explain to preschoolers that the temple was the place where God met with His people. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people from sin. One day, Jesus will come back. He will fix up a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will live with Him forever.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of the most beautiful home they can imagine. Remind them that God brought the Israelites back home, and one day we will get to live in the home Jesus is preparing for us. Our home with Jesus will be better than anything we can imagine. Pray for the children.SAY • God, You always keep Your promises. You brought

Your people back home just as You promised. Thank You that You promise to send Jesus back for us and we will get to live with You forever. Amen.








53God the Sustainer

5

UNIT 16Session 5

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Some time after the temple’s foundation was laid, the work stopped. With the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, God’s people resumed the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Approximately 15 years had passed without progress.

At this time, Darius was king of Persia. The Persian Empire was vast, so Darius appointed governors over the provinces. A man named Tattenai watched over the province that included the land of Judah.

Tattenai noticed the work of God’s people, and he was concerned. He sent a letter to King Darius. “Is this

Use Week of:

The Temple Was Completed

BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22MAIN POINT: God helped His people rebuild the temple.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


PAGE 58


PAGE 60


PAGE 62


5


allowed?” he asked. “The people say that King Cyrus said they could rebuild the temple and the city. Please investigate this matter.”

King Darius did investigate, and Cyrus’s decree was located in the Babylonian records. Darius instructed Tattenai to allow the people to rebuild the temple and the city.

Point out to preschoolers that God had turned the heart of the king for His people’s favor. (See Prov. 21:1; Ezra 6:22.) The people completed the temple. They dedicated it joyfully and observed the Passover.

God declared in Haggai 2:9 that the glory of this second temple would be greater than the first. This prophecy was fulfilled by the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus said that He is greater than the temple. (Matt. 12:6)

In Christ, we find the substance of which the temple was a shadow. The Lord was not confined to a building, yet deity lives fully in Christ. (See Col. 2:9.) Jesus is our High Priest. He entered the most holy place for us. (Heb. 6:19-20) The priest offered the blood of animals, but Christ offered His own blood once and for all. (Heb. 9:25-26) He gives us access to the throne of grace. (Heb. 10:19-22)

55God the Sustainer

The Temple Was CompletedEzra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22

God’s people were rebuilding the temple. They built the bottom of the temple. But their enemies did not want them to rebuild the temple, so God’s people stopped building.

But God wanted His people to finish the temple. God sent two messengers—Haggai and Zechariah—to talk to the people. Haggai and Zechariah said, “Keep building. God is with you.” So God’s people started to work on the temple again.

The land where God’s people lived was ruled by the king of Persia. The king’s name was Darius (duh RIGH uhs). Darius had put a helper in charge of the land where God’s people lived.

The king’s helper saw God’s people working. He asked their leader Zerubbabel, “Do you have permission to rebuild this temple?”

“Yes,” said Zerubbabel. The helper sent a letter to King Darius to find out if Zerubbabel was telling the truth. While he waited for the king’s answer, God’s people kept building.

The helper’s letter to the king said this: “Dear King Darius, I wanted to tell you that the people here are working hard to build the temple to their God. I asked if they had permission to build, and they said King Cyrus said they could build. Please find out if this is true.”

King Cyrus had been king before Darius. When a king made an important decision, someone wrote it down on a scroll. So Darius looked for the old scroll. His servants found it! The scroll said, “Let God’s people

The BIBLE STORY


rebuild the temple.” God’s people had told the truth!King Cyrus had also said, “Help God’s people pay for

the temple. Give them money from the royal bank to buy supplies.”

So King Darius wrote a letter to his helper. He said, “Stay away from the workers at the temple. Don’t bother them, and don’t try to stop them. Give them anything they need. Anyone who tries to stop them from building the temple will be punished.”

The king’s helper obeyed King Darius’s order. God’s people kept building, and soon the temple was finished! What a happy time! The people celebrated and thanked God.

Then God’s people celebrated the Passover. God’s people were so happy. God’s temple was finished!

Christ Connection: God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. People don’t need to go to a temple anymore to meet with God. Jesus is with us wherever we go.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover that because

of Jesus, we no longer need sacrifices to draw near to God.

Jesus has given us everything we need

for life and godliness. (2 Pet. 1:3) Order in bulk, subscribe




57God the Sustainer

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: The Temple Was CompletedBIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22MAIN POINT: God helped His people rebuild the temple.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


Activity pageLead preschoolers to connect the dots to build the temple.SAY • God’s people had built the temple’s foundation, but

they stopped building for many years. In today’s Bible story, God’s people finally finished the temple!

Run a letter relay Form teams, lined up single file. Place a bin and a stack of paper on a table for each team. Explain that each paper represents a letter. Give a sheet of paper to the first child in each line. Explain that when you say, “Go,” they must walk to their team’s bin, drop the letter in the bin, pick up a new letter from the stack, and walk the letter to the next person in line. The first team to “deliver” all their letters is the winner. Play again as time allows.



• “Dot-to-Dot” activity page, 1 per child


• paper• bins, 1 per team

Option: Use junk mail instead of plain paper for this activity.

LOW PREP


SAY • In today’s Bible story, the king’s helper saw the Israelites rebuilding the temple. He sent a letter to the king to ask if what God’s people were doing was allowed. The king sent a letter back to his helper. Listen to today’s Bible story to find out what the king’s letter said.

Complete unfinished tasksProvide several half-completed tasks for children to finish.

• Set out some toys and put some in a bin. Invite children to finish putting the toys in the bin.

• Draw a circle on a piece of paper. Ask a preschooler to finish drawing the face.

• Set out lacing cards. Lace the cards halfway and invite preschoolers to finish lacing the cards.

• Build a small tower with blocks. Guide preschoolers to finish the tower.

• Write or draw on a dry erase board and erase half of it. Encourage a child to finish erasing the board.

SAY • Last time, we heard how God brought the Israelites back home to rebuild the temple. God’s people finished the foundation, but then they stopped rebuilding. In today’s Bible story, God helped His people finish the temple.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to move to the Bible study area, but stop them before they get there. Then invite them to come the rest of the way to the Bible study area.

• toys• toy bin• paper• crayons or markers• lacing cards• yarn or string• blocks• dry erase board• dry erase markers• eraser


59God the Sustainer

Introduce the Bible storyBuild a foundation using one level of blocks. Display the foundation for preschoolers to see. SAY • God sent His people home to rebuild the temple, but

they only finished the foundation, or bottom. Why did they stop? Let’s find out in today’s Bible story.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Ezra in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is the most special book of all the books in

the entire world. The Bible is God’s words, and God’s words are true. Our Bible story today is in Ezra.

Show the Bible story video “The Temple Was Completed,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • God’s people stopped rebuilding the temple because

they were afraid of their enemies. God wanted them to finish, so God helped His people rebuild the temple. King Darius said anyone who tried to stop

• blocks

• bookmark• Bible • “The Temple Was

Completed” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: The Temple Was Completed BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22MAIN POINT: God helped His people rebuild the temple.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.


God’s people would be punished. God’s people kept building, and soon the temple was finished!


1. What did Haggai and Zechariah tell God’s people? (“Keep building. God is with you.”)

2. How did the king’s helper find out Zerubbabel was telling the truth? (He sent a letter to King Darius.)

3. How did King Darius discover God’s people were telling the truth? (His servants found the scroll that said King Cyrus had given them permission.)

4. What did God’s people do when the temple was finished? (They celebrated and thanked God.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him. God wanted His people to finish the temple, so God used King Darius to protect the Israelites as they worked and to give them all the supplies they needed. Like He helped the Israelites, God will always help us to do what He tells us to do.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Daniel 2:20. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Forever and Ever.”SAY • God is wise and powerful. He works out His good

plan. God planned for Jesus to be with His people on earth. We don’t need to go to a temple anymore to meet with God. Jesus is with us wherever we go.




61God the Sustainer


SESSION TITLE: The Temple Was Completed BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 4:1-7; 5:1-5; 6:1-22MAIN POINT: God helped His people rebuild the temple.KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him.

Find the scrollWrite the big picture question on a sheet of paper. Roll up the paper like a scroll and hide it somewhere in the room.

Invite preschoolers to search for the hidden scroll. Open the scroll and say the big picture question: How can we obey God? Lead preschoolers to say the answer: We trust God to help us obey Him. Hide the scroll and play again.SAY • How can we obey God? We trust God to help us

obey Him. God told His people to rebuild the temple, and then God helped His people rebuild the temple. Years before, God had given King Cyrus the idea to make a new law saying the Israelites could go back to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple. Then God showed the new king the scroll so that God’s people could have help to finish! When God tells His people to do something, He helps them do it!

Hammer golf teesWrite temple and Jesus on several foam blocks with a marker. Make circles where the lines connect on each letter. Invite preschoolers to use toy hammers to hammer golf tees into the circles you marked.

• paper• marker

LOW PREP

• foam blocks• marker• golf tees• toy hammers

Tip: Dip the tees in petroleum jelly for easy hammering.


SAY • God helped His people rebuild the temple. God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. Jesus is better than a temple. We don’t need to go to a temple anymore to meet with God. Jesus is with us wherever we go.

Build the key passageGather the same number of interlocking blocks as words in the key passage. Place a strip of tape on each block and write one word of the key passage on each piece of tape. Display the key passage poster.

Assist preschoolers in putting the words of the key passage in order by connecting the blocks. Say each word as a block is added. When the key passage is complete, lead preschoolers in saying the entire key passage together as you point to each word.SAY • God is to be praised forever and ever. God helped

His people rebuild the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. People don’t need to go to a temple anymore to meet with God. Jesus is with us wherever we go.

Sponge paint a finished templeBefore the session, cut sponges into rectangles. Cover a table with a plastic tablecloth. Provide a “Temple Foundation” printable for each preschooler. Squirt different colors of paint onto foam plates. Attach a clothespin to a sponge piece and show preschoolers how to use the clothespin as a handle to dip the sponge in paint and then gently press it on their paper. Encourage preschoolers to “finish building”

• Key Passage Poster• interlocking blocks• tape• marker

• “Temple Foundation” printable

• plastic tablecloth• sponges• scissors• clothespins• washable paint • foam plates• smocks

63God the Sustainer

the temple by adding blocks of paint to the foundation. Place artwork in a safe place to dry.SAY • God’s people built the bottom of the temple but

stopped building because they were afraid of their enemies. God sent Haggai and Zechariah to tell them to keep building because He was with them. God helped His people rebuild the temple. How can we obey God? We trust God to help us obey Him. Jesus is with us, too, and He helps us obey God.

Look at books about constructionGather books featuring construction tools and construction vehicles for preschoolers to browse. SAY • The Israelites probably did not have tools that looked

like these, but God helped His people rebuild the temple. God was with them, and He helped His people finish the job He gave them. The temple was a place where God’s people could worship Him. Now, we do not have to go to a temple to worship God. God sent His very own Son, Jesus, to be with His people on earth. Jesus is with us wherever we go.

• books featuring construction tools and vehicles



Serve sheets of fruit leather for snack. Lead preschoolers to roll their fruit sheets like a scroll. Talk about how God planned for King Darius to find the old scroll where King Cyrus had said to let the Israelites go home and rebuild the temple. God helped His people rebuild the temple. God used King Darius not only to help God’s people finish their work but to protect the Israelites from their enemies and to provide the supplies they needed to finish the temple.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves in their favorite place and Jesus there with them. Remind preschoolers that Jesus is with us wherever we go. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You for giving us something way better

than a temple built by people. You have given us Your very own Son to be with us! Thank You that Jesus came to earth to rescue us from sin. Help us to turn from sin and trust in Him. Amen.

If parents are picking up their children at this time, tell them something that their child enjoyed doing or did well during the session. Distribute the preschool big picture cards for families







65God the Sustainer

Unit 17: Christmas

Unit Description:God sent His Son, Jesus, to earth to be born as a baby in humble surroundings. Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was the One who would save God’s people from their sin. Christmas is the time to celebrate God’s greatest gift of Jesus Christ.

Key Passage: Matthew 1:21

Big Picture Question: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.

66

Unit 17: Christmas

Session 1:Bible Story: Anticipating the Coming KingBible Passage: Isaiah 11:1-10Main Point: Isaiah wrote about the Messiah.

Session 2: Bible Story: Jesus Was BornBible Passage: Luke 2:1-20Main Point: Jesus was born as God promised.

67Christmas

1

UNIT 17Session 1

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Isaiah’s name means “Yahweh is salvation.” God called Isaiah to be a prophet when King Uzziah’s reign was ending—more than 700 years before Jesus was born. At the time Isaiah spoke to the people of Judah, the kingdom of Judah was very wealthy. But the people did not follow God. They worshiped false idols, cheated one another, and mistreated the poor.

Isaiah spoke to the people of Judah at a critical time in their history. After King Uzziah died, the people were afraid. They were vulnerable to their enemies, and their new king was less than ideal. Isaiah’s prophecies warned the people that God would judge them, but Isaiah also spoke words of

Use Week of:

Anticipating the Coming King

BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 11:1-10MAIN POINT: Isaiah wrote about the Messiah.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


PAGE 72


PAGE 74


PAGE 76


1


hope. He told of how God would one day rescue those who were faithful to Him.

Perhaps the most amazing of all are Isaiah’s detailed prophecies about Jesus—His birth and His suffering and death. Jesus Himself read from the Book of Isaiah, telling the people that He was the One the Scriptures spoke of.

As you teach preschoolers, help them see how Jesus fulfilled God’s promises spoken by the prophet Isaiah. God kept His promise to send a king from the family of Jesse, the father of King David. (Luke 3:23-32) The Spirit of the Lord rested on Jesus. (Matt. 3:16-17) He was filled with wisdom and understanding. (Luke 2:40) He came to bring salvation to all the nations. (Acts 13:47-48)

Isaiah’s prophecies from God did not speak just to the people of his time; they also speak to us. Hundreds of years before it happened, Isaiah told of how Jesus would be born and how He would suffer and die to take away the sins of His people. We look forward to the day when King Jesus will come back and rule forever. Jesus is the promised Messiah. He will make all of the prophets’ words come true.

69Christmas

Anticipating the Coming KingIsaiah 11:1-10

God’s people in Judah were afraid. Their king had died. Now they had a new king—a bad king—and their enemies wanted to hurt them. But God was with His people, and He had a plan. God sent a messenger to tell them about His very good plan.

God sent a prophet named Isaiah to tell the people about something wonderful that was going to happen. “A King is coming!” Isaiah said.

Isaiah told the people about the King and what the day will be like when the King—the Messiah—comes to rescue His people.

“The King will come from Jesse’s family, and He will be King forever,” Isaiah said. Jesse was King David’s father. God had promised that someone from King David’s family would be King forever, and God always keeps His promises!

Isaiah said, “God’s Spirit will be with Him, and the Spirit will help Him. He will be wise and understanding. He will know God and respect Him.”

Isaiah said that the King will always do the right thing. He will be fair, and He will do what He says He will do.

Isaiah said that the King will bring peace. In His kingdom, the wolf will live with the lamb. The leopard will lie next to the goat. Calves and lions will eat together, and a child will lead them. Lions will eat straw like oxen, and young children will play near snakes. But none of these animals will hurt or kill anything or anyone.

“Everyone on the earth will know God,” Isaiah said.

The BIBLE STORY


“In the future, this King will bring together people from all over the world. All the people will come to Him, and He will be their wonderful King.”

Christ Connection: Long before Jesus was born on earth, Isaiah told God’s people about a King who would come and rule forever. Jesus is the King whom God promised to send. Jesus will make all these words come true.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover long

after Isaiah prophesied about

the Messiah, angels told shepherds the

good news: the Messiah was born! (Luke 2:11) Order in bulk, subscribe




71Christmas

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Anticipating the Coming KingBIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 11:1-10MAIN POINT: Isaiah wrote about the Messiah.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to circle four strange things in the picture. (Answers: leopard and goat napping near each other, child playing with snake, lion and cow eating straw together, wolf and lamb walking side by side) SAY • Today’s Bible story tells about a King who is coming.

In His kingdom, all the animals will get along with each other. Children will even be able to play with wild animals and not get hurt! Who do you think is the King of this coming kingdom?

Throw an animal paradeForm a line. Invite preschoolers to play out being animals walking in a parade.SAY • In today’s Bible story, the prophet Isaiah wrote about

something that will happen in the future. He said the

• “Christ the Lord of All” song

• offering basket • Allergy Alert download• favorite toys related to


• “What’s Going on Here?” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


wolf will live with the lamb. The leopard will lie next to the goat. Calves and lions will eat together, and a child will lead them. Lions will eat straw like oxen, and young children will play near snakes. But none of these animals will hurt or kill anything or anyone. How can this be? Listen to today’s Bible story to find out.

Make a people collageProvide a sheet of construction paper for each preschooler. Write the key passage on each child’s paper. Invite preschoolers to look through magazines and circulars and cut out images of people to glue to their papers. Cut out the images ahead of time for younger preschoolers.SAY • Look at all the different people in your collage. In

today’s Bible story, Isaiah wrote about something that will happen in the future. A King is coming who will make the world right again. When this King comes, everyone on earth will know God. He will bring together people from all over the world. Do you have a guess who this King is?

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to say or shout, “Praise to the King!” as they move to Bible study.

• magazines or circulars• blunt-tipped scissors • glue stick • construction paper• marker

Tip: Print images of people from different cultures from the Internet to ensure diversity in children’s collages.


73Christmas

Introduce the Bible storyInvite preschoolers to take turns wearing a crown.SAY • God’s people in Judah were afraid. They had a new

king who was not good, and their enemies wanted to hurt them. But God sent a messenger to tell His people something wonderful was going to happen!

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Isaiah in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible tells about things that will happen in the

future. Everything the Bible says will happen will happen because the Bible is God’s words, and God’s words are true! Today’s Bible story comes from Isaiah.

Show the Bible story video “Anticipating the Coming King” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Long before Jesus was born on earth, Isaiah told

God’s people about a King who would come and rule forever. Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. Jesus is the Messiah whom God promised to send. King Jesus

• toy or paper crown

• bookmark• Bible • “Anticipating the

Coming King” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Anticipating the Coming KingBIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 11:1-10MAIN POINT: Isaiah wrote about the Messiah.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


will make all these words Isaiah wrote come true.Point to “God Called Isaiah” and “Isaiah Preached About the Messiah” on the giant timeline or big story circle to show preschoolers where this story falls on the timeline as you ask the following review questions:

1. What prophet did God send to tell His people a King was coming? (Isaiah)

2. From whose family would the King come? (Jesse’s)3. Jesse was whose father? (King David’s) 4. How long will this King reign? (forever)5. Who will know God when the King comes?

(everyone)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Our big picture question is, Why was Jesus born?

Jesus was born to rescue us. Did you know you need to be rescued? We are sinners. Our sin separates us from God, but our coming King took the punishment for our sin. When we trust in King Jesus, we will be safe forever.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Matthew 1:21. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “His Name Will Be Jesus.”SAY • Our key passage tells us that Jesus will save His

people from their sin. Our sin separates us from God, but Jesus came to earth to take the punishment for sin. When we trust in Jesus, we get to be part of God’s forever kingdom.



• Key Passage Poster• “His Name Will Be

Jesus” song

75Christmas


SESSION TITLE: Anticipating the Coming King BIBLE PASSAGE: Isaiah 11:1-10MAIN POINT: Isaiah wrote about the Messiah.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.

Sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing” Sing the first verse of “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing”:

“ Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King; Peace on earth, and mercy mild; God and sinners reconciled.’ Joyful, all ye nations, rise, Join the triumph of the skies; With angelic hosts proclaim, ‘Christ is born in Bethlehem!’ Hark! the herald angels sing, ‘Glory to the newborn King.’ ”

Talk with preschoolers about how Bible story and the lyrics use some of the same words (king, peace, all nations). SAY • Jesus is the forever King who was born in Bethlehem.

Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. One day, King Jesus will come back. He will bring bring peace like no king before Him. King Jesus will bring together people from all over the world and will be our wonderful King forever!

Play out family scenesSet out dress-up clothes, toy food, baby dolls, and other

LOW PREP

• dress-up clothes• baby dolls• baby bed • blankets• toy food• toy utensils


fitting toys for preschoolers to play out family scenes. SAY • Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. He said the

Messiah would come from Jesse’s family. Jesse was King David’s father. God had promised that someone from King David’s family would be King forever; God kept that promise when He sent Jesus! Jesus will make all the words Isaiah wrote come true.

Make a crown Christmas ornamentBefore the session, cut 5-inch circles from purple felt and mount the circles on heavyweight paper. Trim excess paper. Cut 4-inch long crowns from yellow felt. Use fabric glue to attach the crown to the center of the circle. Write JESUS above each crown with a permanent marker. Provide a crown ornament for each preschooler. Invite preschoolers to decorate their ornaments with glitter glue, sequins, and adhesive gems. Punch a hole in each ornament and loop yarn through the hole to hang the ornament.SAY • Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. Long before Jesus

was born on earth, Isaiah told God’s people about a King who would come and rule forever. Jesus is the King whom God promised to send. Jesus will make all the words Isaiah wrote come true.

Look at books about animalsSet out picture books about animals for preschoolers to look through. As preschoolers look at the pictures, point out animals that do not get along with each other or can be dangerous for humans to interact with. Explain to preschoolers how animals do not get along with each other and hurt people because of sin.SAY • God created animals when He made the world and

• heavyweight paper• purple felt• yellow felt • fabric glue• scissors • permanent marker • glitter glue • sequins• adhesive gems• hole punch • yarn

• animal picture books

77Christmas

said they were good. When sin came, the perfect world God created was changed. Now some animals do not get along with each other and people.

Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. Long before Jesus was born on earth, Isaiah told God’s people about a King who would come and rule forever. In this kingdom, no animals will hurt or kill anything or anyone. Jesus is the King of this new kingdom that is coming. King Jesus will make the world right again.

Decide what is right and wrongWrite RIGHT on a green sheet of construction paper and WRONG on a red sheet of construction paper. Post them on opposite walls. Explain to preschoolers that you will call out an action. If a preschooler thinks an action is right, he should move to the RIGHT sign. If a preschooler thinks an action is wrong, she should move to the WRONG sign.

Use the following actions or create your own: • Hitting your little brother or sister • Sharing your favorite toy with your friend• Throwing a fit when you do not get your way • Helping your parents put away clean clothes • Inviting another child to play with you on the playground

• Saying you brushed your teeth when you did notSAY • Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. Long before Jesus

was born on earth, Isaiah told God’s people about a King who would come and rule forever. Isaiah wrote that God’s Spirit would be with the King and He would always do the right thing. Jesus always did the right thing. Jesus is the King whom God promised to send.

• red construction paper• green construction

paper• marker• tape

LOW PREP



Serve apple slices for snack. Cut a few apple slices early so they show some brown at snack time. Cut new apple slices and compare the slices. Explain that when sin entered the world, everything started to get old or wear out. Remind preschoolers that Isaiah wrote about the Messiah. When we live in the new kingdom that Jesus will bring, nothing will get ever get old or wear out. No brown apples!


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of what they think things will look like in this new kingdom. Lead preschoolers to draw themselves in the picture. Remind preschoolers that the words Isaiah wrote will really happen. We will get to live in that kingdom one day if we trust in King Jesus. Pray for the children.SAY • God, we cannot wait for all these words Isaiah wrote

to come true! Thank You that Jesus already came to rescue us from sin. Help us look forward to the day King Jesus comes back to rule forever. Amen.








79Christmas

2

UNIT 17Session 2

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Do you think it was just by chance that Caesar Augustus called for a census? Did it just so happen that Mary and Joseph were traveling to Bethlehem—the very place the Messiah was prophesied to be born? (Micah 5:2) God is in control of all things, which He showed by using a pagan emperor to bring about His plan.

After Jesus was born, Mary laid Him in a manger. A king in a manger! It was so unlikely. But Jesus was no ordinary baby. He was God’s Son, sent in the most humble of positions, “not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life—a ransom for many” (Matt. 20:28).

Use Week of:

Jesus Was Born

BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20MAIN POINT: Jesus was born as God promised.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


PAGE 84


PAGE 86


PAGE 88


2


Imagine the shepherds’ surprise when an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared. The Bible says that they were terrified! But the angel said to them, “Don’t be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David” (Luke 2:10-11).

What a relief! This angel had come to bring good news. First, he proclaimed a Savior. The people of Israel were well aware of their need for a Savior. They made sacrifices daily to atone for their sin. Finally, a Savior had come who would be the perfect sacrifice for sin, once and for all.

This is the best news ever! An army of angels appeared, praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors” (Luke 2:14).

When you share this story with preschoolers, remind them that Jesus came because we needed him. The purpose of Jesus’ birth was twofold: to bring glory to God and to make peace between God and those who trust in Jesus’ death and resurrection.

81Christmas

Jesus Was BornLuke 2:1-20

When Mary was pregnant with Baby Jesus, a man named Caesar Augustus sent out an order to all the people in the land: “Everyone must return to his hometown to be counted!” Caesar Augustus was the emperor of Rome, and he wanted a list of all the people who were living in the land.

Since Joseph was part of King David’s family, he and Mary left Nazareth and traveled to Bethlehem, the city of David.

While they were there, Mary was ready to have her baby. Mary and Joseph looked for a safe place to stay, but every place was full because of all the people who were in town to be counted. So Mary and Joseph found a place where animals were kept, and that is where Mary had her baby, Jesus. She wrapped Him in cloth so He would be snug and warm, and she laid Him in a manger.

Nearby, some shepherds were staying out in the fields and watching their sheep to protect them from thieves and wild animals. All of a sudden, an angel of the Lord stood before them. A bright light shone around the shepherds, and they were scared!

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid! I have good news for you: Today a Savior, who is Messiah the Lord, was born for you in the city of David.” Then the angel said, “Go find the baby. He will be wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.”

All of a sudden, many angels appeared. They praised God and said, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors!”

The BIBLE STORY


So the shepherds went straight to Bethlehem to find Baby Jesus. They found Him, and they told others about Him. Everyone who heard about Jesus was surprised and amazed. Mary thought about everything that was happening and tried to understand it. The shepherds returned to their fields, and they praised God because everything had happened just as the angel had said.

Christ Connection: Jesus was born! This was very good news! Jesus was not like other babies. Jesus is God’s Son. God sent Jesus to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!



Jesus was not like other babies. Jesus

is God the Son. Angels, shepherds,

and wise men worshiped Jesus. He is worthy of worship!

(Ps. 95:6) Order in bulk, subscribe




83Christmas

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was BornBIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20MAIN POINT: Jesus was born as God promised.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to count the people in the picture and then circle Mary and Joseph.SAY • When Mary was pregnant with Baby Jesus, a man

named Caesar Augustus sent out an order that everyone had to return to his hometown to be counted. Joseph and Mary traveled to Bethlehem. They looked for a place to stay, but every place was full because of all the people who were in town to be counted. Joseph and Mary stayed in a place where animals were kept.

Herd sheep Before the session, hide cotton balls around the room. Designate a place to be the “sheep pen.” Explain to

• “Christ the Lord of All” song



• “How Many?” activity page, 1 per child


• cotton balls

LOW PREP


preschoolers that they will pretend to be shepherds and must find all the cotton ball sheep and put them back in the pen. When all preschoolers have placed all the sheep in the pen, hide the cotton balls and play again.SAY • Shepherds watch their sheep to protect them from

thieves and wild animals. In today’s Bible story, some shepherds were watching their sheep in the fields and, all of a sudden, an angel of the Lord stood before them! The angel had a message for them. Listen to today’s Bible story to find out what the message was.

Play “Pass the present” Before the session, place the Baby Jesus figure in a box and wrap it with at least five layers of wrapping paper. Invite preschoolers to sit in a circle. Play music as preschoolers pass the gift. Stop the music. Whoever is holding the gift must unwrap one layer of wrapping. Continue playing until all the wrapping is gone. Lead a preschooler to open the gift to reveal Baby Jesus. SAY • In today’s Bible story, we are going to hear about the

greatest gift that has ever been given—Jesus! God sent His very own Son to earth from heaven. Jesus is God’s gift to all people. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sin and to be their King.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Say “Merry Christmas!” to preschoolers as they move to Bible study.

• Baby Jesus figure from a nativity

• box• wrapping paper• scissors • tape• “Christ the Lord of All”

song (optional)


85Christmas

Introduce the Bible storySAY • What is your favorite thing about Christmas? [Allow

for responses.] My favorite thing about Christmas is hearing the story of how God sent Jesus to earth. God’s people had been waiting a long time, and the Messiah was finally here!

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Luke 2 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is an important book. The Bible is the only

book with God’s words in it. Everything that the Bible says is true. Today’s Bible story comes from Luke.

Show the Bible story video “Jesus Was Born,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • God’s people had been waiting for the Messiah to

come and now He was here! Jesus was born as God promised. Jesus was not like other babies. Jesus is God’s Son. God sent Jesus to earth from heaven.

• bookmark• Bible • “Jesus Was Born” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20MAIN POINT: Jesus was born as God promised.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.


Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.


1. Why did Mary and Joseph have to stay in a place where animals were kept? (Every place was full.)

2. How did the shepherds feel when the angel of the Lord stood before them? (scared)

3. Who did the angel tell the shepherds to go find? (Baby Jesus, the Messiah)

4. What did the many angels say as they praised God? (Glory to God in the highest!)

5. What did the shepherds do after they found Baby Jesus? (They told others about Him.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Why was Jesus born? Do you know? Jesus was

born to rescue us. We need to be rescued from sin. Sin messed up the wonderful world God made, including us. We are sinners, but Jesus came to take the punishment for sin so we could be saved.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Matthew 1:21. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “His Name Will Be Jesus.”SAY • Our key passage tells us that Jesus came to save

people from their sins. That is why the angel said, “A Savior was born for you.” We have a Savior King!



• Key Passage Poster• “His Name Will Be

Jesus” song

87Christmas


SESSION TITLE: Jesus Was Born BIBLE PASSAGE: Luke 2:1-20MAIN POINT: Jesus was born as God promised.KEY PASSAGE: Matthew 1:21BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us.

List wants and needsDraw a line on a large sheet of paper to form two columns. Label one column wants and the other column needs. Explain that a want is something you would like to have, but a need is something you have to have.

Name an item and help preschoolers decide if the item is a want or a need. List the item in the appropriate column. Suggested items include water, scooter, food, television, air, baby doll, clothes, movie, family, and so forth. Invite preschoolers to suggest items to add to the list.

Name Jesus last. Ask preschoolers if Jesus is a want or a need. Write Jesus in the needs column.SAY • We need Jesus. Jesus came to earth because we need a

Savior to rescue us from sin. Jesus was born as God promised. God promised to send His Son, Jesus, to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sin and to be their King.

Play with a nativityInvite preschoolers to play with plastic nativity sets. Review the Bible story as preschoolers play. Talk about each figure in the nativity.

• large sheet of paper• marker• dry erase board

(optional) • dry erase marker

(optional)• magazine cutouts for

younger preschoolers (optional)

LOW PREP

• plastic nativity sets


SAY • God planned all along for Jesus to come to earth as a baby. Jesus was born as God promised. Jesus was not like other babies. Jesus is God’s Son. God sent Jesus to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sin and to be their King.

Practice counting Set out plastic people figures. Invite preschoolers to sort and count the people. Challenge preschoolers to count the number of children in the room.SAY • Mary and Joseph traveled to Joseph’s hometown of

Bethlehem to be counted. The emperor wanted a list of all the people who were living in the land. Many years before, God said the Messiah would be born in Bethlehem. Jesus was born as God promised. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.

Make photo ornaments Before the session, gather a photo of each child. You may take pictures the week before and print them out during the week. You may ask parents to supply a picture. You may take pictures as preschoolers come in the door and then print them with a color printer at church. Be sure to follow your church’s policy on taking pictures of children.

Use hot glue to make a frame out of four craft sticks before the session. Help a preschooler use glue or tape to adhere her photo to the craft stick frame. On each child’s frame, use a permanent marker to write Jesus was born to rescue [child’s name]. Invite preschoolers to decorate their frames with pom-poms.SAY • Do you remember the answer to our big picture

• plastic people figures

• photo of each child • craft sticks • hot glue gun (adult

use only)• hot glue • permanent marker• glue • tape• pom-poms

89Christmas

question? Why was Jesus born? Jesus was born to rescue us. Us means you and me. God sent His very own Son to earth from heaven to rescue you! He loves you so much! God showed the world how wonderful He is when He sent Jesus to save His people from their sins and to be their King. Jesus was born as God promised.

Make Christmas puzzlesGather Christmas cards depicting elements of the Christmas story. Cut apart the cards so only the picture remains.

Provide a picture for each preschooler. Invite preschoolers to cut their picture into four to six pieces to create a puzzle. Lead preschoolers to work each other’s puzzles. Review the Bible story as preschoolers work. Store each puzzle in a ziplock bag to send home with preschoolers. SAY • Jesus was born as God promised. This was very

good news! Jesus was not like other babies. Jesus is God’s Son. God sent Jesus to earth from heaven. Jesus came into the world to save people from their sins and to be their King.

• Christmas cards depicting the Christmas story

• blunt-tipped scissors • ziplock bags



Serve birthday cake or cupcakes for snack to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Remind preschoolers that Jesus’ birth was very good news! Jesus became human like us, but He is different than us because He is God’s Son. God sent Jesus to earth as a human so He could rescue people from their sins. Only God’s perfect Son could do that!


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of Jesus in a manger. Ask preschoolers to think about what it must have been like for Jesus, who has all power, to leave heaven to come to earth and become something so tiny and weak as a baby. Pray for the children.SAY • God, we cannot fully understand what a great thing

You did when You sent Jesus to earth. How could Your Son be a human being like us? We do not understand, but we thank You for sending Jesus to be our Savior and rescue us from sin. Amen.








91Christmas

Unit 18: God the Provider

Unit Description:Many Jews returned to their land, but some remained in Persia. God used Esther to protect God’s people, and Nehemiah led them to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls. Even after returning home, the Israelites struggled to obey God completely and worship Him. Malachi the prophet warned the people not to be lazy in the way they worshiped God. Then there was silence.

Key Passage: Lamentations 3:22-23

Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful.

92

Unit 18: God the Provider

Session 1:Bible Story: Esther Became QueenBible Passage: Esther 1–4Main Point: Esther became queen.

Session 2: Bible Story: God Saved His People Through EstherBible Passage: Esther 5–10Main Point: God used Esther to save His people.

Session 3:Bible Story: Nehemiah Heard News of JerusalemBible Passage: Nehemiah 1–2Main Point: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.

Session 4:Bible Story: Jerusalem’s Walls Were RebuiltBible Passage: Nehemiah 3:1–6:16Main Point: God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls.

Session 5:Bible Story: Ezra Read the LawBible Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-12Main Point: Ezra taught the people God’s Word.

Session 6:Bible Story: Malachi the ProphetBible Passage: Malachi 1–4Main Point: God told His people to repent.

93God the Provider

1

UNIT 18Session 1

Leader BIBLE STUDY

The Babylonian captivity had ended while Cyrus was king of Persia. Some of God’s people—now referred to as Jews (people from Judah)—traveled back to Judah to rebuild the temple, the city, and their lives. Others, however, stayed in Persia where life among the pagans was relatively comfortable.

The king of Persia was now Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs), also known by his Greek name, Xerxes (ZUHRK seez). Esther was a young Jewish girl whom Ahasuerus had chosen to be his queen. The former queen had defied the king and was promptly replaced. Esther did not reveal to the king that she was a Jew.

Use Week of:

Esther Became Queen

BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 1–4MAIN POINT: Esther became queen.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 98


PAGE 100


PAGE 102


1


Esther had been an orphan, so her cousin Mordecai adopted her. Mordecai kept in touch with Esther while she lived in the palace. One day, the king gave Haman the Agagite a very important position in the kingdom. The king even commanded the people to bow down to Haman. But Mordecai refused.

Haman was a descendant of Agag, king of the Amalekites. The nations of Israel and Amalek did not get along. Haman was angry about Mordecai’s defiance, but instead of just punishing Mordecai, he planned to kill all the Jews in the kingdom.

Mordecai turned to Esther for help. After all, she was in a position of power, and the Jews were her people. The stakes were high. Esther could be killed for approaching the king without permission. But Esther was willing to take the chance and explain her people’s plight.

Remind preschoolers that the survival of God’s people was essential to God’s plan. God’s plan all along was to send the Messiah through Abraham’s family. Haman’s evil plan opposed God’s plan, but God was in control. He was working out a plan to use Esther to rescue His people and make the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world.

95God the Provider

Esther Became QueenEsther 1–4

Some of God’s people lived in Persia, and some of the people had gone home to Judah to rebuild God’s temple. A new king took over Persia. His name was Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs). Ahasuerus was looking for a queen. He chose Esther to be queen. Esther lived in Persia with her cousin Mordecai (MAWR duh kigh). Esther was very beautiful, and she was a Jew—one of God’s people. But Esther did not tell the king that she was a Jew.

One day, Mordecai heard about an evil plan. Haman, one of the king’s helpers, wanted to kill all the Jews. Mordecai was upset! He was a Jew, and his friends and family members were Jews. Mordecai did not want them all to be killed. Mordecai and all the Jews cried.

Esther heard that all the Jews were upset. She sent a message to Mordecai. “What’s wrong?” she asked. Mordecai told Esther about Haman’s evil plan.

“Help us!” Mordecai said. “You are the queen. Ask the king to stop Haman. Ask him to save the Jewish people.”

Esther was afraid. No one was allowed to go to the king unless the king called for that person first. If someone went to the king without permission, that person could be killed! But Esther also knew that sometimes the king held out his scepter; that meant the person would be allowed to live.

Mordecai said, “Esther, you are a Jew. If you do not stop Haman, he will kill you too. Maybe this is why you are the queen.” Maybe God made Esther queen so she could save her people!

The BIBLE STORY


Esther asked Mordecai and the Jewish people to meet together to pray for help. They also fasted; they did not eat or drink for three days. After three days, Esther planned to go to the king. She was going to try to save the Jews no matter what.

Christ Connection: God’s plan was to send the Messiah into the world through Abraham’s family. Haman’s evil plan might have stopped God, but God was in control. God had a plan for Esther to rescue His people. By saving the Jews, God made the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover that Esther chose to approach the king even if it

meant dying. Jesus also faced trouble on

earth; He can help us when we suffer. (Heb. 2:18) Order in bulk, subscribe




97God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Esther Became QueenBIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 1–4MAIN POINT: Esther became queen.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageLead preschoolers to find and circle Esther among all the other beautiful women.SAY • The new king of Persia was looking for a queen, and

he chose one of God’s people to be his new queen. Queen Esther was a Jew, but she did not tell the king that she was one of God’s people. God made Esther queen for a special reason. Listen to today’s Bible story to find out what that special reason was.

Play “cry” tagChoose a preschooler to be It. It chases the other children in the group, trying to tag them. When a preschooler is tagged, he must pretend to cry until another child who has not been tagged tags him. Choose another preschooler to be It and play again.

• “God Keeps His Promises” song



• “Where’s Esther?” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


SAY • In today’s Bible story, a man named Mordecai heard about an evil plan to hurt God’s people. Mordecai was upset! Mordecai and all the Jewish people cried, but God had a plan to use Mordecai’s cousin, Esther, to rescue them. Listen to today’s Bible story to find out more.

Draw crowns on mirrors Provide non-breaking hand mirrors and colorful dry erase markers for preschoolers. Invite a preschooler to use a marker to draw a crown on the mirror. Help a younger preschooler get started by drawing a crown outline on the mirror for him and guiding him to decorate the crown. Show preschoolers how to hold the mirror at an angle so they appear to be wearing the crown. SAY • Some of God’s people lived in Persia. A new king

took over Persia. His name was Ahasuerus (uh haz yoo EHR uhs). Ahasuerus was looking for a queen. He chose Esther to be queen. Esther was very beautiful, and she was a Jew—one of God’s people. God planned to use Esther in an important way.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to bow or curtsy before moving to Bible study.

• non-breaking hand mirrors

• dry erase markers• paper towels


99God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storyInvite preschoolers to take turns wearing the crown and sharing what they would do as a king or queen.SAY • In today’s Bible story, the king of Persia chose Esther,

one of God’s people, to be his queen. God made Esther queen for a special reason. Let’s find out why.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Esther 1 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is God’s very own words. Everything in the

Bible happened in real life, including today’s Bible story from the Book of Esther.

Show the Bible story video “Esther Became Queen,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Haman wanted to kill God’s people! Mordecai asked

Esther to help her people. Could this be the reason Esther became queen? We will find out if Esther was able to save her people in our next Bible story, but do you have a guess about what happened?

• toy or paper crown

• bookmark• Bible • “Esther Became Queen”


Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Esther Became QueenBIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 1–4MAIN POINT: Esther became queen.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.



1. Who made an evil plan to kill all the Jews? (Haman) 2. What did Mordecai ask Esther to do? (ask the king to

stop Haman) 3. Why was Esther afraid to go to the king? (If she went

to the king without permission, Esther could be killed.)4. What did Esther ask the Jewish people to do? (to pray

and to not eat or drink for three days) 5. What did Esther decide to do to help her people? (go

to the king)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Our big picture question is, Does God keep His

promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God promised to send the Messiah into the world through Abraham’s family. Haman’s evil plan might have kept God from keeping His promise, but God is always in control. By saving the Jews through Queen Esther, God made the way for Jesus to come into the world.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • God is faithful. Faithful means trustworthy. God

always does what He says He will do. God showed His faithfulness to His people by making a way for them to be rescued from Haman’s evil plan.



• Key Passage Poster• “Great, Great, Great”

song

101God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: Esther Became Queen BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 1–4MAIN POINT: Esther became queen.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Draw self-portraitsInvite preschoolers to draw pictures of themselves. Consider providing hand mirrors so they may look at their faces as they draw. As preschoolers work, talk about the things that make each of them unique. Ask preschoolers to think of words that describe themselves or tell what they like to do. Write those words on their self-portraits. SAY • Esther became queen because God planned for her

to save His people. By saving the Jews, God made the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world. God has a plan for you, too. His plan for you is part of His plan for the whole world—to show how great He is by rescuing people from sin through Jesus.

Dress up Provide plastic crowns, tiaras, and costume jewelry. Gather jewel-toned fabrics and adult-sized clothing to serve as “royal” clothes. Invite preschoolers to dress up as kings and queens. Explain that Esther wore special clothes because she was the queen. Encourage preschoolers to look at their reflection in a mirror.SAY • God’s plan was to send the Messiah into the world

• paper • crayons or markers• non-breaking hand

mirrors (optional)

LOW PREP

• toy crowns or tiaras • costume jewelry• dress-up clothes • mirrors


through Abraham’s family. Esther became queen so God could use her to rescue His people. Haman’s evil plan might have stopped God, but God was in control. By saving the Jews, God made the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world.

Dot names Write the names Esther and Jesus in large letters on separate sheets of paper for each preschooler. Show preschoolers how to use dot markers or daubers to cover the letters.SAY • Esther became queen. God planned for Esther to

rescue His people. God was going to send His Son, Jesus, into the world through Abraham’s family. Haman’s evil plan might have stopped God, but God was in control. By saving the Jews, God made the way for Jesus to come into the world.

Make finger puppetsPrint a “Bible Story Finger Puppets” printable for each child. You may print the black and white version for preschoolers to color their own puppets. Assist preschoolers in cutting out the finger puppets. Fit the puppets to a preschooler’s fingers and secure with tape. Lead preschoolers to play out the story with their puppets.SAY • Haman had an evil plan, but God had a good plan.

God planned to send the Messiah into the world through Abraham’s family. Haman’s evil plan might have stopped God, but God was in control. Esther became queen as part of God’s plan. By saving the Jews through Esther, God made the way for Jesus to come into the world. Jesus saves everyone who puts their trust in Him!

• paper• markers• dot markers or daubers

Option: Write preschoolers’ names on another sheet of paper for them to dot their own name.

• “Bible Story Finger Puppets” printable

• scissors • tape• markers or crayons

(optional)

Tip: Keep the finger puppets in a safe place to use again next week.

103God the Provider

Make a prayer calendarDraw six lines on a large sheet of paper to create seven sections. Write a day of the week in each section. Point to each day of the week and lead preschoolers to say the day of the week with you.

Invite preschoolers to think of things they can pray for on each day of the week. Prompt preschoolers with suggestions, such as “Pray that you will grow up to be men and women who love and follow God,” “Pray that God will help you to do the right thing even when it is hard,” or “Pray that you will one day turn from your sin and follow Jesus.”

Write a prayer request for each day of the week. You may also choose to draw a picture to illustrate the prayer. Allow preschoolers to use markers and stickers to decorate the completed prayer calendar.SAY • Esther became queen for a reason—to speak up for

God’s people. Esther asked Mordecai and the Jewish people to meet together to pray. After one, two, three days [count three days on the prayer calendar], Esther planned to go to the king. Sometimes you may have to speak up for what is right even if it is hard. You can ask God to help you, and He will. God uses people to work out His good plan.

• large sheet of paper• markers• stickers

Option: Share prayer requests with preschool parents via text, email, or mail.



Serve a snack. As preschoolers eat, remind them that while the Jewish people prayed to God for help, they also did not eat or drink for three days. Explain that this is called a fast. After the three days, Esther planned to go to the king. She was going to try to save the Jews no matter what.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of what they would like to do when they grow up. Remind preschoolers that Esther became queen because God planned it. Explain that God has a plan for each person’s life, and each person is part of God’s plan for the whole world. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You for Your good plan. You planned to

send Your Son, Jesus, into the world to save sinners like us. You even plan to use sinners like us to do Your plan. Help us to follow You and to do what You want us to do no matter what. Amen.








105God the Provider

2

UNIT 18Session 2

Leader BIBLE STUDY

During the time of Queen Esther—more than 450 years before Jesus was born—the Jewish people were scattered around the Persian Empire. The Book of Esther tells the unlikely story of a young Jewish woman who, as the queen of the Persian Empire, saved her people.

After Esther was chosen as the queen of Persia, she received news that an evil man named Haman had a plan to kill all of the Jews. The Book of Esther is the only book in the Bible that never mentions God by name, but God clearly worked through Esther and her cousin Mordecai to save the Jewish people. Mordecai even suggested to Esther that God’s hand was in the situation: “Who knows, perhaps you

Use Week of:

God Saved His People Through Esther

BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 5–10MAIN POINT: God used Esther to save His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 110


PAGE 112


PAGE 114


2


have come to your royal position for such a time as this” (Esth. 4:14).

Build the tension of the story as you teach. Point out that if Haman was successful in killing all the Jews, his evil plan would put God’s promises in jeopardy. God had promised to bless the world through Abraham’s family and to send a King from the line of David who would rule forever.

Esther had a choice to make. She could do nothing and face destruction (Esth. 4:13-14), or she could risk her life by approaching the king to plead for the protection of the Jews. Esther and the Jewish people prayed and fasted for three days before Esther went to the king.

Esther was welcomed by the king, who offered to give her anything she wanted—up to half of the kingdom. Esther told the king of Haman’s plot against her people. The king ordered that Haman be killed instead!

Emphasize to preschoolers that God was in control despite Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to destroy believers. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all.

107God the Provider

God Saved His People Through EstherEsther 5–10

God’s people in Persia were in trouble. One of their enemies, a man named Haman, made a plan to kill all of them. But Esther the queen was going to try to help them. Esther was also a Jew. So Esther and the Jews prayed and asked God for help. On the third day, Esther went to see the king.

Esther saw the king sitting on his throne. Esther was afraid. No one was supposed to go to the king unless he asked for them. Esther came closer, and the king held out his golden scepter. This meant that Esther was allowed to come to him. Esther walked toward the king and touched the tip of the scepter.

“What do you want, Queen Esther?” the king said. “I will give you anything, up to half of my kingdom.”

Esther said, “I have prepared a feast. Would you and Haman come eat with me today?”

“Yes,” said the king. So the king and his helper Haman went to Esther’s feast. After they ate, the king said, “What do you want, Queen Esther? I will give you anything, up to half of my kingdom.”

Esther said, “Will you and Haman come to my feast tomorrow?”

“Yes,” said the king.The next day, the king and Haman went to Esther’s

feast. After they ate, the king said, “What do you want, Queen Esther? I will give you anything, up to half of my kingdom.”

Esther said, “I am a Jew, and there is a plan to kill me and my people.”

The BIBLE STORY


The king asked, “Who is planning to hurt you?”“This evil enemy, Haman!” Esther said.The king was angry. He ordered for Haman to be

punished. Then he made a law to keep the Jewish people safe from their enemies.

Christ Connection: Haman had an evil plan to kill the Jews, but God was in control. God used Esther in His plan to rescue His people. When Jesus came to earth, His enemies killed Him. But Jesus did not stay dead. After Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead. Jesus has power over evil.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!



Esther trusted God to keep His promise

to hear her when she called for help. (Ps. 17:6) Jesus is

God’s answer to our call to be rescued from sin. Order in

bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase

individually. For more information,

check out www.lifeway.com/

devotionals.

109God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: God Saved His People Through EstherBIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 5–10MAIN POINT: God used Esther to save His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to draw on the plate what they would like to eat at a feast.SAY • In today’s Bible story, Esther prepared two feasts. She

invited the king and Haman to her feasts. The king was so happy with Esther that he said he would give her anything, up to half of his kingdom. Remember last week’s Bible story? What do you think Esther asked the king for?

Make invitations Explain to preschoolers that they will make invitations to invite friends to church. Provide a half-sheet of construction paper and markers or crayons. Show preschoolers how to fold the paper in half to create an invitation. Invite them to




• “What’s on Your Plate?” activity page, 1 per child


• construction paper • scissors• markers or crayons

LOW PREP


draw a picture on the front of the card. Transcribe a message from a preschooler on the inside of his card. Mail the finished cards to preschoolers who have not been to church in a while or to prospective families. SAY • Our friends will be so happy to get your invitations!

In today’s Bible story, Esther invited the king and Haman to a feast. Haman wanted to hurt God’s people. Why would Esther invite him to her feast? Listen to our Bible story to find out why.

Retell last week’s Bible storyPrint and prepare the “Bible Story Finger Puppets.” Retell last week’s Bible story, “Esther Became Queen,” using the puppets. Wear the finger puppets yourself or select preschoolers to wear them as you tell the story.SAY • Today we will hear the end of this story. What do

you think happened? Was Esther able to save God’s people from the evil Haman? Did Haman stop God’s plan to send the Messiah into the world through Abraham’s family? Can anyone stop God’s plan?

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. As preschoolers move to Bible study, ask them the big picture question and lead them to respond with the answer.

• “Bible Story Finger Puppets” printable

• scissors• tape


111God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storyInvite preschoolers to touch the end of the toy scepter.SAY • During Esther’s time, if someone went to the king

without permission, that person could be killed! But sometimes the king held out his scepter; that meant the person would be allowed to live. Let’s find out if the king held out his scepter for Esther.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Esther 5 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is to be treasured more than every other

book. The Bible is God’s words, and all God’s words are true. Today’s Bible story comes from Esther.

Show the Bible story video “God Saved His People Through Esther,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Haman had an evil plan, but God was in control.

God used Esther to save His people. When Jesus came to earth, His enemies killed Him. But Jesus did

• toy scepter

Option: If a toy scepter is unavailable, place a foam ball at the end of a cardboard tube and cover it with shiny paper.

• bookmark• Bible • “God Saved His People

Through Esther” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: God Saved His People Through Esther BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 5–10MAIN POINT: God used Esther to save His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


not stay dead. After Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead. Jesus has power over evil.


1. What did the king do when Esther came to see him? (held out his scepter)

2. What did the king say he would give Esther? (anything, up to half his kingdom)

3. Whom did Esther invite to both her feasts? (the king and Haman)

4. What did the king do when he found out Haman was planning to hurt Esther’s people? (punished Haman and made a law to keep the Jewish people safe)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Who can answer our big picture question? Does God

keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God had promised to bless the whole world through Abraham’s family and to send a King who would rule forever. If Haman’s plan had worked, all the people from Abraham’s family would be gone, but God kept His promise and stopped Haman’s plan.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • God is merciful and faithful. God showed mercy to

His people by rescuing them from Haman’s evil plan.




song

113God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: God Saved His People Through Esther BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther 5–10MAIN POINT: God used Esther to save His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Drown out Haman’s nameRetell the Bible story. Encourage preschoolers to listen for Haman’s name. When they hear it, they should shout, stomp, and make as much noise as possible to drown his name out. SAY • God used Esther to save His people. Jewish people

today still celebrate how God used Esther every year during a holiday called Purim. They read the story of Esther and make noise to drown out Haman’s name. Sadly, the Jewish people do not believe that God rescued them from Haman so He could send His Son, Jesus, to rescue them from sin. Let’s pray for the Jewish people to believe that Jesus is the Messiah who died on the cross and rose from the dead.

Roll out the red carpet Roll out a long sheet of red paper on the floor. Set a chair at one end of the paper to serve as a throne. Choose a preschooler to be king. Place a toy crown on his head and a toy scepter in the king’s hand. Lead him to sit on the “throne.” Form a line at the other end of the red paper. Invite preschoolers to move across the paper to the king

• noisemakers (optional)

Option: Consider telling last week’s story as well.

LOW PREP

• large sheet of red paper• toy scepter • toy crown


one by one, based on the instructions you give them. Suggestions include walking with baby steps, walking with giant steps, marching, hopping like a frog, and so forth. The king will hold out his scepter. When a preschooler touches the scepter, she may move to the back of the line. Choose another preschooler to be king and play again.SAY • God used Esther to save His people. Haman had

an evil plan to kill the Jews, but God was in control. When Jesus came to earth, His enemies killed Him. But Jesus did not stay dead. After Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead. Jesus has power over evil.

Answer “Who am I?”Say the following statements and invite preschoolers to guess the person. When a preschooler knows the answer, she should remain quiet and touch her nose.

• I was chosen to be the queen of Persia. Who am I? (Esther)

• I wanted to hurt the Jews. Who am I? (Haman)• My cousin became the queen of Persia. Who am I? (Mordecai)

• I held out my scepter so Esther could talk to me. Who am I? (the king)

• We prayed and fasted for three days for Esther. Who are we? (the Jews)

• I kept My promise to My people and saved them through Queen Esther. Who am I? (God)

• My enemies killed Me, but I did not stay dead. I came back to life to save sinners. (Jesus)

SAY • God used Esther to save her people. Haman had an evil plan to kill the Jews, but God was in control.

LOW PREP

115God the Provider

God used Esther in His plan to rescue His people. When Jesus came to earth, His enemies killed Him. But Jesus did not stay dead. After Jesus died on the cross, He rose from the dead. This was God’s plan all along. No evil plan can stop God’s good plan.

Host a Bible times feast Cover a table with a nice tablecloth. Set out festive paper plates and napkins. Serve bite-sized pieces of foods such as cheese, pita bread, raisins, grapes, figs, honey, and olives. Encourage preschoolers to try the foods, but do not force a preschooler to eat something he does not want to eat. SAY • At her second feast, Esther told the king that

Haman planned to kill her and her people. The king punished Haman and made a law to keep the Jewish people safe. God used Esther to save His people.

Divide things in halfSet out an even number of various counting items such as counting bears, blocks, pom-poms, and so forth. Place the counting items in a bin. Provide two empty bins. Show preschoolers how to divide the items in half by alternating putting one item in each bin. When the items have been divided, lead a preschooler to count how many items are in each bin to see if they are equal. Invite a preschooler to repeat the process with a different number of items.SAY • The king told Esther that he would give her

anything, up to half his kingdom. Esther only wanted her people to be safe. God used Esther to save His people. Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead to save people from sin.

• Allergy Alert download• tablecloth• paper plates• napkins• Bible times food

(cheese, pita bread, raisins, grapes, figs, honey, olives)

• counting manipulatives• bins, 3



For snack, serve the foods used in the Bible times feast activity. Talk about how Esther was afraid to go to the king, but she did anyway. Sometimes we might be afraid to do things God asks us to do, but God does not leave us to do them on our own. He is always with us. God gave Esther favor with the king, and God used Esther to save His people.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves praying. Remind preschoolers that we can ask God to help us when we are afraid. Pray for the children.SAY • God, no evil plan can stop Your good plan. Thank

You for sending Jesus to earth. Thank You that when Jesus’ enemies killed Him, He did not stay dead. He rose from the dead. Help us to remember that Jesus has power over evil. Amen.








117God the Provider

3

UNIT 18Session 3

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Nehemiah was a Jew living in Persia. He served as the king’s cupbearer, a position of great trust; the cupbearer made sure no one poisoned the king’s drink. Sometimes the cupbearer even tasted some of the drink himself to ensure it was safe.

When the Persian Empire conquered the Babylonians, King Cyrus allowed God’s people to return to Judah. Two or three million Jews had originally been deported, but only a remnant—50,000 people—returned. They set up their homes and rebuilt God’s temple in Jerusalem. Nehemiah’s story takes place after Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Judah.

Use Week of:

Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem

BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 1–2MAIN POINT: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 122


PAGE 124


PAGE 126


3


Nehemiah received word about God’s people who had returned to Judah. They were in trouble and living in shame; the walls of Jerusalem were broken down, and the city gates were burned. They lived in fear, unprotected from their enemies. Nehemiah sat down and wept.

Nehemiah fasted and prayed for days. He remembered God’s promise to His people. Their disobedience led to exile, but if they turned back to the Lord, their obedience would lead to blessing. God promised to restore their fortunes and give His people a home. (See Deut. 30:1-10.)

The king noticed Nehemiah’s sadness, and Nehemiah was afraid. No one was supposed to be sad in the presence of the king; it was an insult to his greatness. Nehemiah explained the plight of his city. The king granted him leave and gave him letters to ensure his safe passage. Nehemiah arrived in Jerusalem. He encouraged the people to rebuild the walls and stood confidently against opposition.

This story is the beginning of Nehemiah’s work to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. As you teach preschoolers, point out that Nehemiah trusted God’s promise to give His people a home. When we repent and trust in Jesus, we can trust His promise to prepare a place for us in His Father’s house, where we will be with Him forever. (See John 14:3.)

119God the Provider

Nehemiah Heard News of JerusalemNehemiah 1–2

Long ago, a man named Nehemiah (NEE huh MIGH uh) lived in Persia. Persia was the place where many of God’s people stayed after they were freed from Babylon. Some of God’s people went home to their country called Judah. Nehemiah was one of God’s people. Nehemiah had an important job in Persia. He served the king.

One day, some men came from Judah. Nehemiah asked them, “How are God’s people doing? Are the people who live in the city of Jerusalem OK?”

The men had bad news. “The people are in trouble,” they said. “The walls around the city are broken down, and the gates have been burned down.”

This was very bad news! Without a wall, the people could not protect themselves from their enemies. Nehemiah was sad. He sat down and cried. He prayed to God for several days.

When Nehemiah prayed, he said, “God, please hear my prayer. Your people have sinned. We have disobeyed You.”

Then Nehemiah asked God to remember His promise. Many years before, God told Moses, “If you turn away from me, I will scatter you.” And that is what happened! God’s people had turned away from God, and He scattered them far away from their homes. But God had also said, “If you come back to Me and do what I say, I will bring you back home.” Nehemiah wanted God to keep that promise.

The king saw that Nehemiah was sad. “What’s wrong, Nehemiah?” the king asked. “Why are you sad?”

The BIBLE STORY


Nehemiah was afraid. The king was an important man. Everyone who was with the king was supposed to be happy. Nehemiah told the king, “The city where my family is from is in trouble. The walls around the city are broken, and the gates have been burned down.”

“What do you want to do?” the king asked.Before Nehemiah answered, he prayed. Then he

said to the king, “Please send me to Jerusalem so I can rebuild the city.” The king agreed, and he gave Nehemiah everything he needed.

When he was in Jerusalem, Nehemiah went out to look at the walls in the middle of the night. When he was done, Nehemiah told the people there, “We are in trouble. The city is broken, and the gates have been burned. Let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.”

Nehemiah told the people how God had helped him. He told them everything that the king of Persia had said and done to help him. The people said, “Let’s start building,” and so they did.

Christ Connection: God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home. God always keeps His promises. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover

that Nehemiah remembered

God’s power and faithfulness when he asked God for help. (Neh. 1:5) God later sent Jesus to rescue us from sin. Order in bulk, subscribe




121God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Nehemiah Heard News of JerusalemBIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 1–2MAIN POINT: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageLead preschoolers to examine the pictures. Guide children to draw a line connecting the picture on top to the picture below that shows what happened before.SAY • Actions have consequences. God’s people had turned

away from God, so God scattered them far away from their homes. But God had also said, “If you come back to Me and do what I say, I will bring you back home.” Listen to today’s Bible story to find out if God’s people came back to Him.

Play a remembering gameInvite preschoolers to sit in a circle on the floor. Ask a question, such as, “What is your favorite food?” “What is your favorite toy?” or “What is your favorite color?” After




• “Why Did It Happen?” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


each child has answered, ask a preschooler if he remembers another child’s answer. Assure preschoolers that it is OK if they don’t remember. Give prompts as needed. Continue asking questions and asking preschoolers if they remember each other’s answers as time allows.SAY • Remembering can be hard. In today’s Bible story,

Nehemiah reminded God of a promise He made. Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. Listen to today’s Bible study to hear how God kept His promise.

Sample drinks like a cupbearerProvide bottled water and powdered drink mixes. Invite a preschooler to assist you in adding the drink mix to water. Seal the bottle tightly and invite her to shake the bottled water to mix the drink. Pour a small amount of drink in small cups for preschoolers to sample. Repeat the process with several drink flavors.SAY • Today’s Bible story is about a man named Nehemiah.

Nehemiah was the king of Persia’s cupbearer. A cupbearer made sure no one put anything bad in the king’s drink. Sometimes the cupbearer even tasted some of the drink himself to make sure it was safe.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to put their hands over their ears to make listening ears as they move to Bible study.

• bottled water• powdered drink mixes• small cups • Allergy Alert download


123God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storyDisplay a broken bowl for preschoolers to see. SAY • Can this broken bowl hold anything? No. When

things are broken, they cannot do what they are meant to do. Jerusalem’s walls were broken down. Without a wall, the people were not protected from their enemies.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Nehemiah 1 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is God’s Word. Every word in the Bible is

true. Today’s Bible story comes from Nehemiah.Show the Bible story video “Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Nehemiah was sad to hear that Jerusalem’s walls were

broken. Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people. God did help His people! He made a

• broken bowl

Tip: Be careful of sharp edges.

• bookmark• Bible • “Nehemiah Heard

News of Jerusalem” video

• Bible Story Picture Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Nehemiah Heard News of JerusalemBIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 1–2MAIN POINT: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


way for Nehemiah to go home and lead the people to rebuild the city.


1. What news did Nehemiah hear about Jerusalem? (The walls around the city were broken down, and the gates had been burned down.)

2. What did Nehemiah do when he heard that Jerusalem was in trouble? (He cried and prayed.)

3. What had God promised to do if His people came back to Him and did what He said? (God would bring them back home.)

4. What did the king do to help Nehemiah rebuild Jerusalem? (sent him there with everything he needed)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful. God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home, and He did. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • Nehemiah was right; God’s people had disobeyed

God. Our key passage reminds us that God’s mercies never end. God was merciful to His people and made a way to bring them back home.




song

125God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 1–2MAIN POINT: Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Sing prayer requestsInvite preschoolers to sit in a circle. Ask one preschooler at a time to share a prayer request. Explain that you will pray by singing to God. Sing the following song to the tune of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat.”

“I can pray, I can pray, I can pray to God.[sing prayer request here] God is always faithful.”

Sing and pray for each child’s prayer request.SAY • Nehemiah heard that God’s people were in trouble,

so he prayed. When we hear what is going on with people, we can pray for them too. Praying for someone is the best way you can help them because when you pray, you are asking God to help them.

Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people. God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home. Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

LOW PREP


Sort emotionsPrint and cut apart several copies of the “Emotions” printable. Tape one of each emotions card to the outside of a basket or bin. Invite preschoolers to sort the emotion cards. Guide preschoolers to make a face that expresses each emotion as they sort.SAY • Nehemiah was sad when he heard about Jerusalem.

Nehemiah was afraid when the king noticed he was sad, but then he was happy because the king sent him to help God’s people. Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people, and God sent Nehemiah to help them. God promised His people a home. God always keeps His promises. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

Look for holes Before the session, cut out hole shapes from black construction paper. Tape the “holes” in various spots around the room. Hide some holes and place others in plain sight. Dim the lights. Give each preschooler a flashlight. Invite preschoolers to use their flashlights as they search the room for holes.SAY • Nehemiah went out to look at the walls of Jerusalem

in the middle of the night. Nehemiah told the people, “We are in trouble. The city is broken, and the gates have been burned. Let’s rebuild Jerusalem’s wall.” Nehemiah told the people how God had helped him. The people said, “Let’s start building.” Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people, and God did!

• “Emotions” printable• baskets or bins• tape

• black construction paper

• scissors • tape • flashlights, 1 per child

Tip: Cover windows to darken a brightly lit room.

127God the Provider

Fix things that are brokenGather damaged or broken classroom items such as books, toys, puzzles, or posters. Invite preschoolers to help you repair the broken items. If damaged or broken items are unavailable, you may rip apart paper plates or print pictures to rip apart. Provide tape for preschoolers to tape the items back together.SAY • Nehemiah prayed that God would help His

people. The walls around Jerusalem were broken and needed to be fixed. God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home. God always keeps His promises. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

Make a God’s promises jarProvide a plastic jar and a copy of the “God’s Promises” printable for each preschooler. Guide preschoolers to cut out their promise cards while you read each one. Show preschoolers where each promise is found in the Bible.

Preschoolers may decorate the back of their promise cards with markers and their jars with stickers. Write God’s Promises to [child’s name] on a self-adhesive label to place on each preschoolers’ jar. Invite preschoolers to fold up the cards and place them in their jars.SAY • God always keeps His promises. We can remember

God’s promises like Nehemiah did, and then we can watch God keep them! Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people. God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.

• various broken or damaged items

• tape or other repair tools

• Bible • plastic jars, 1 per child • “God’s Promises”

printable, 1 per child• scissors • markers • stickers • self-adhesive labels



Serve crispy rice marshmallow treats for snack. Lead preschoolers to set the snack on its side to resemble a wall. Remind children that even though Jerusalem’s walls were broken down, God promised to keep His people safe and give them a home. God always keeps His promises. Jesus died on the cross for our sin so we can have a home with Him. When we trust in Jesus, we will be with God forever.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of a time they can pray. Remind preschoolers that Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people. God answered Nehemiah’s prayer and sent Nehemiah to help the Jews rebuild their wall. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You that You hear us when we pray. You

are always here to help us. Thank You for sending Jesus so we can have a home with You forever. Amen.








129God the Provider

4

UNIT 18Session 4

Leader BIBLE STUDY

When the Babylonians took God’s people to Babylon, they destroyed Jerusalem. God’s people returned years later to rebuild the temple, but when they faced opposition in rebuilding the rest of Jerusalem, they stopped. Some 70 years passed, and the walls and gates around the city were still ruined.

City walls and gates were very important in Bible times. Walls were built to be several feet thick. They protected a city from its enemies and provided a sense of safety and security. Gates were the center of city life, the meeting place for commercial and social transactions. Without these structures, the surviving remnant of God’s people struggled

Use Week of:

Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt

BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 3:1–6:16MAIN POINT: God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 134


PAGE 136


PAGE 138


4


and was vulnerable to attack.

Nehemiah traveled from Persia to Jerusalem to lead the effort in rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls. Nehemiah’s leadership was effective. Nehemiah 3 describes all the people working together to rebuild the gates and walls.

But it wasn’t long before Nehemiah met opposition from local governors who planned to attack God’s people. God’s people armed themselves and kept working. They completed the wall in just 52 days.

Note how their enemies reacted: “All the surrounding nations were intimidated and lost their confidence, for they realized that this task had been accomplished by our God” (Neh. 6:16).

Now God’s people were protected from their enemies. Help preschoolers see that God provided the way for us to be protected from our enemies, sin and death. He sent His Son, Jesus, to die on the cross for our sins. When we repent and trust in Jesus, He frees us from sin and death. We still sin, but we are no longer slaves to sin. (See Rom. 6:17-18.) We may die a physical death as a result of sin, but we have eternal life. (See John 11:25-26; Rom. 6:23.)

131God the Provider

Jerusalem’s Walls Were RebuiltNehemiah 3:1–6:16

Nehemiah (NEE huh MIGH uh) wanted to help the people in Jerusalem. The walls around the city were broken, and they needed to be fixed. Nehemiah and the people worked together to fix the walls and the gates in the walls.

The walls and the gates had special names. Some of the people worked on the Fish Gate. The Fish Gate was the entrance to the fish market. Some people worked on the Sheep Gate. The Sheep Gate led to the place where people went to sell sheep.

Other workers fixed parts of the walls, and some of them fixed towers in the wall. The workers put in doors. They added bolts and bars. They cut stones and stacked them on the wall. Some of the people filled in holes in the wall. Everyone in the city worked together on the walls. Before long, the wall was halfway rebuilt!

Some men who lived nearby were angry about the walls being rebuilt. They did not like God’s people, and they did not want them to have new walls to keep them safe.

The men made fun of God’s people. They said, “These people cannot rebuild the walls. They are too broken to be fixed.” But that wasn’t true. God’s people could rebuild the walls because God was helping them.

Nehemiah prayed. God’s people kept working on the walls, but their enemies made a plan to attack them. God’s people chose men to guard the walls all day and all night, but they were still afraid. “Our enemies are everywhere,” they said.

Nehemiah did not want the people to be afraid. “God

The BIBLE STORY


is great and powerful!” Nehemiah said. “If our enemies attack us, God will fight for us.”

So God’s people kept working. Some of the men stood guard with weapons, and others worked on the wall. The people were always ready to fight, just in case.

Nehemiah was a good leader for God’s people. He helped them when they had problems, and he told them to trust God. Before long, the wall was finished! The gates and the walls were fixed, and God’s people were safe. The people’s enemies were afraid because they knew that God was with His people.

Christ Connection: Nehemiah helped God’s people fix the walls around their city. The walls protected the people from their enemies. Jesus protects us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!



enemies tried to stop God’s people from

building. Nehemiah and the Jews trusted in God. We can trust

in God to save us. (Ps. 56:3) Order

in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase



devotionals.

133God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Jerusalem’s Walls Were RebuiltBIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 3:1–6:16MAIN POINT: God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to draw a line connecting each broken piece with where it goes on the wall.SAY • The walls around Jerusalem were broken, and they

needed to be fixed. God sent Nehemiah to help His people. Nehemiah and the people worked together to fix the walls and the gates in the walls. Some people were not happy about God’s people rebuilding their walls. Listen to today’s Bible story to find out what happened.

Sing a songSing to the tune of “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”:

“ God keeps all His promises; we can trust all that God says!




• “Repair the Wall” activity page, 1 per child


LOW PREP


God hears His people when they pray; He will save us in His way! God keeps all His promises; we can trust all that God says!”

SAY • Who remembers our big picture question and answer? Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God promised the Israelites that He would keep them safe and give them a home. In today’s story, we will hear how God helped His people rebuild the wall and gates around the city He gave them.

Look at protective itemsGather protective items such as a bike helmet, ear plugs, adhesive bandages, safety goggles, sunscreen, life jacket, sunglasses, rain boots, and so forth. Place the items in a pillow case or other opaque bag. Invite preschoolers to pull one item out of the bag at a time. Ask preschoolers how the items protect them.SAY • All of these items protect us. In Bible times, the

wall around a city was very important. The city wall protected the people by keeping enemies out. The walls around the city of Jerusalem were broken down, but in today’s Bible story Nehemiah and the people worked together to fix the walls.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to move to Bible study while pretending to watch out for enemies.

• pillow case• bike helmet• ear plugs• adhesive bandages• goggles• sunscreen • life jacket


135God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storyGive each preschooler a block and lead them in putting the blocks together to form a wall.SAY • You all worked together to build a wall! In our Bible

story today, God’s people worked together to rebuild the city of Jerusalem. Some people did not like what they were doing. Let’s hear what happened.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Nehemiah 3 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is a treasure. It is the only book with God’s

words, and all God’s words are true. Today’s Bible story comes from the Book of Nehemiah.

Show the Bible story video “Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah

helped God’s people fix the walls around their city. The walls protected the people from their enemies.

• blocks

• bookmark• Bible • “Jerusalem’s Walls Were

Rebuilt” video• Bible Story Picture

Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 3:1–6:16MAIN POINT: God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Jesus protects us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.


1. Who worked on the walls? (everyone in the city) 2. Why could God’s people rebuild the broken walls?

(because God was helping them) 3. When did the men guard Jerusalem’s walls while they

were being fixed? (all day and all night) 4. Who did Nehemiah say would fight for the people if

their enemies attacked? (God) 5. Why were the enemies of God’s people afraid? (They

knew that God was with His people.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Our big picture question asks, Does God keep His

promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God cared for His people. He was faithful to protect them from their enemies. We can trust God to keep us safe, too. One day we will be safe with God forever.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • Our key passage reminds us that God is merciful

and faithful. When God’s people turned to Him, He forgave their sin and kept His promise to bring them back home.




song

137God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: Jerusalem’s Walls Were Rebuilt BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 3:1–6:16MAIN POINT: God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Work together to build a wallLead preschoolers to line up shoulder to shoulder. Place a stack of blocks at one end of the line. When you say, “Go!” the first preschooler in the line should pass a block to the next preschooler. Preschoolers should continue passing blocks down the line.

When a block reaches the last preschooler in line, she should place it on the floor. As she receives each block, she should place it with the others so as to form a “wall.” Change up the line and play again. Consider timing older preschoolers and challenging them to see how quickly they can pass the blocks and build the wall.SAY • You worked together to build a wall. Nehemiah

helped God’s people work together to fix the walls around Jerusalem. God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. The walls protected the people from their enemies. A wall cannot protect us from our greatest enemy—sin. Only Jesus can do that. When we know and love Jesus, He forgives our sin and we will live with Him forever.

Work “fill in the holes” puzzlesCut different size holes out of a foam sheet. Invite a

• blocks• timer (optional)

LOW PREP

• various colored foam sheets

• scissors


preschooler to fill in the holes in the sheet by placing the pieces you cut out back in. Make several puzzles out of different colored foam sheets. SAY • God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls around

Jerusalem. Everyone had a different job to do in rebuilding the walls and gates. One of the jobs was to fill in the holes in the walls. Nehemiah helped God’s people fix the walls around their city. The walls protected the people from their enemies. Jesus protects us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.

Invite a construction worker to classInvite someone who works in construction to visit your class. Encourage the guest to bring pictures of construction projects he or she has worked on. Give time for the preschoolers to ask the guest questions. SAY • The enemies of God’s people did not want them

rebuilding the wall. They did not want God’s people to be safe, but God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. The people’s enemies were afraid because they knew that God was with His people. Jesus protects us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.

Guard the wallStack cardboard boxes or plastic cups to form a wall. Use tape to mark a “base line” a good distance from the wall. Choose four preschoolers to be guards. Lead the guards to stand around the wall. Explain that the other children are the people’s enemies. When you say “go,” the enemies will

• guest

• cardboard boxes or plastic cups

• soft balls• tape

139God the Provider

throw soft balls at the wall to try to knock it down. The guards should try to protect the wall by blocking the balls. If a guard catches a ball, the enemy who threw it must stop and then go touch the base line before trying again. Choose new guards and play again.SAY • God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Some of

the men stood guard with weapons while others worked on the wall. God’s people were ready to fight, but God protected them from their enemies. Jesus protects us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.

Repair cardboard wallsSet up a large cardboard box such as an appliance box. Provide toy tools for preschoolers to play out repairing the wall. Review the Bible story as preschoolers play. SAY • God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Nehemiah

helped God’s people fix the walls around their city. The walls protected the people from their enemies. God protects His people. God sent Jesus to protect us from our enemies. When we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever.

• large cardboard box • toy tools



Serve fish-shaped crackers for snack. Remind preschoolers that one of the gates in the wall was called the Fish Gate. The Fish Gate was the entrance to the fish market. Talk about how God kept His promise to His people. When God’s people turned back to Him, He brought them home and helped them rebuild their city.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of something they are afraid of. Remind preschoolers that Jesus protects us from our enemies. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You for protecting us from our enemies.

You defeated our greatest enemy—sin—when Jesus to died on the cross and rose again. Thank You that when we know and love Jesus, He keeps us safe and we will live with Him forever. Amen.








141God the Provider

5

UNIT 18Session 5

Leader BIBLE STUDY

Ezra was a priest in Babylon at the end of the exile. More than 50 years after the first group of exiles returned to Jerusalem and completed and dedicated the temple, Ezra led a second group back to Jerusalem.

Just as God had been with Nehemiah, He was with Ezra—granting him favor with the Persian king. The king gave Ezra permission to go to Jerusalem. He provided Ezra with a letter and access to resources to ensure safe travel. (See Ezra 7:11-26.)

Ezra traveled to Jerusalem with a purpose. God’s people had spent 70 years in exile, and they needed to be reminded how

Use Week of:

Ezra Read the Law

BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 8:1-12MAIN POINT: Ezra taught the people God’s Word.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 146


PAGE 148


PAGE 150


5


to live. As a scribe, Ezra was an expert on the law of Moses, and he had “determined in his heart to study the law of the Lord, obey it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel” (Ezra 7:10).

Under Nehemiah’s leadership, the people had rebuilt Jerusalem’s walls. They gathered together at the Water Gate to hear the law of Moses. Men, women, and children—anyone who could understand—came to listen to the reading of God’s Word.

From early morning until midday, Ezra read from the book of the law of Moses. He stood on a high wooden platform where everyone could see and hear him. Ezra opened the book of the law, and everyone stood up. The Levites helped the listeners understand the words of the law.

The people reacted strongly to hearing and understanding the law of Moses. Verse 9 says the people were weeping. The law revealed their sin.

God’s Word is powerful. The law reveals our sin and how short we fall of meeting God’s standard. As you teach preschoolers, help them recognize that we cannot meet God’s requirements. We need a Savior. God sent Jesus to obey the law perfectly and die for our sins. We can trust in Him for salvation.

143God the Provider

Ezra Read the LawNehemiah 8:1-12

Hurray! Hurray! The walls around Jerusalem were finished. The people had worked very hard. God had helped them, and they had fixed the walls and the city gates.

One morning, the people got together. Men, women, and children came. Everyone wanted to hear Ezra (EZ ruh) the priest read God’s Word. The sun was just coming up when Ezra carried out God’s Word so he could read it. God’s words were written on a scroll. Ezra stood on a tall platform made of wood. Some men stood next to Ezra. Men stood on his right and on his left. Ezra opened the scroll, and everyone could see it.

Ezra unrolled the scroll and began to read God’s Word aloud. Everyone in the crowd listened carefully. All the people stood up. Ezra praised God, and the people lifted up their hands.

“Amen! Amen!” the people said. Then they bowed down with their faces close to the ground. All the people worshiped God together.

Some of the men there explained God’s words to the people. They helped the people understand what Ezra read. When the people heard God’s Word, they were sad. All of the people cried. The words from God were about how to live, and the people had not been living the way God wanted them to live. They were sorry for disobeying God.

Ezra, his helpers, and Nehemiah (NEE huh MIGH uh) the governor said, “This day is special. Do not be sad. Do not cry.” This was a happy day.

Ezra said to the people, “Go home and get ready to

The BIBLE STORY


have a feast! Eat good food and drink good drinks. Share what you make with people who don’t have any food or drinks.”

Then Ezra said again, “Today is a special day. Be happy! God makes us strong.”

So the people did what Ezra told them to do. They got ready to have a feast. They ate good food and drank good drinks. They had a big party! The people were happy because God gave them His Word to help them do the right things.

Christ Connection: The Bible teaches us about God and Jesus. It helps us know the right things to do. We do wrong things a lot, but when we know and love Jesus, He helps us say no to sin. Jesus died to rescue us from sin.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!


week’s devotionals to discover that the people stood up to listen as Ezra read

God’s Word. The Bible is God’s Word, and it points to Jesus as our

hope for salvation. (2 Tim. 3:16) Order in bulk, subscribe




145God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Ezra Read the LawBIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 8:1-12MAIN POINT: Ezra taught the people God’s Word.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to find and circle the six Bibles in the scene.SAY • Do you know how many Bibles you have in your

house? The Bible is the most important book there is. God’s words are in the Bible. We should read it! In today’s Bible story, God’s people were happy because the walls around Jerusalem were finished. One morning, all the people got together. Everyone wanted to hear Ezra the priest read God’s Word to them.

Make scrolls Write the key passage on a sheet of paper for each child. Show preschoolers the key passage in a Bible. Explain that in Bible times, God’s words were written on a scroll rather




• “Find the Bibles” activity page, 1 per child


• paper • markers or crayons • string• scissors

LOW PREP


than in a bound book. Invite preschoolers to decorate their paper with crayons and markers. Show preschoolers how to roll up their paper on both sides like a scroll. Secure the scroll with a piece of string.SAY • Ezra read a scroll to God’s people in today’s Bible

story. God’s words were written on the scroll. It was a very important time for God’s people. Listen to hear what the people did when they heard God’s Word.

Examine BiblesSet up a reading area by placing floor pillows on a rug or carpet. Lay out several Bibles for preschoolers to examine. Use a Bible marker to mark the key passage and today’s Bible story, and show preschoolers how to open the Bible to those places.

Share a Bible verse or story that is meaningful to you. Show preschoolers its location. Talk about why the verse or story is important to you. Ask a preschooler to tell you his favorite Bible story, and show him where it is in the Bible. SAY • The Bible shows us what it looks like to live as God’s

special people. In today’s Bible story, Ezra the priest read God’s Word to His people. They had been in Babylon for a long time. The people needed to be reminded how to live as God’s people.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Roll a sheet of paper like a scroll. Open the scroll and play out reading each child’s name to call them to Bible study.

• Bibles • floor pillows (optional)

Well-known Bible stories:

• God Made the World (Gen. 1–2)

• Noah and the Ark (Gen. 6:5–9:17)

• David and Goliath (1 Sam. 17)

• Jonah and the Fish (Jonah 1–4)

• Jesus Was Born (Luke 2:1-20)

• Jesus Walked on Water (Matt. 14:22-33)


• paper

147God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storyWrap a Bible in ornate gift wrap. Invite preschoolers to guess the contents. Remove the wrapping to reveal a Bible.SAY • God had brought His people back home and helped

them rebuild their city. Now they would get to live as the special people of God that they were. They needed to be reminded of how to live as God’s special people, so Ezra read God’s Word to them.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Nehemiah 8 in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • The Bible is God’s Word. The Bible teaches us what it

looks like to live as God’s special people, too. Today’s Bible story comes from the Book of Nehemiah.

Show the Bible story video “Ezra Read the Law,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • Ezra taught the people God’s Word. The Bible

teaches us about God and Jesus. It helps us know the right things to do. We do wrong things a lot, but

• Bible• ornate gift wrap • tape• scissors

• bookmark• Bible • “Ezra Read the Law”


Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Ezra Read the Law BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 8:1-12MAIN POINT: Ezra taught the people God’s Word.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


when we know and love Jesus, He helps us say no to sin. Jesus died to rescue us from sin.


1. What did God’s people do when they heard Ezra read God’s words? (worshiped God)

2. What did God’s people do after some of the men helped them understand what Ezra read? (cried)

3. What did Ezra, his helpers, and Nehemiah say to the people? (Today is a special day. Do not be sad.)

4. What did Ezra tell the people to go home and get ready for? (a feast)

5. How did the people celebrate God’s words? (They had a big party.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Do you remember our big picture question? Does

God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God was faithful to His people even when they were not. God’s people disobeyed Him, but God forgave them and reminded them of His law.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • Our key passage reminds us that God shows us

mercy over and over again. God is faithful to forgive our sin when we trust in His Son, Jesus.




song

149God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: Ezra Read the Law BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 8:1-12MAIN POINT: Ezra taught the people God’s Word.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Play out the Bible storyLead preschoolers to play out the Bible story using the following script and actions:

• Everyone listened carefully as Ezra read God’s Word. [Cup hands around ears and lean in.]

• All the people stood and lifted up their hands to praise God. [Stand tall and lift up hands.]

• The people said, “Amen! Amen!” [Say, “Amen! Amen!”]

• Then they bowed with their faces to the ground and worshiped God together. [Bow down with face to ground.]

• Some of the men explained God’s words to the people, and they began to cry. They had not been living the way God wanted them to live. [Pretend to cry.]

• Ezra and the others said not to cry. This was a special day! [Pretend to wipe away tears.]

• The people had a party because they were happy God gave them His Word! [Jump up and down and clap.]

Play through the script and actions several times, moving faster each time. Have fun trying to see how quickly

LOW PREP


preschoolers can complete all the actions.SAY • Ezra taught the people God’s Word. The people

were sorry for disobeying God by not living the way God wanted them to live. We do wrong things a lot, but when we ask Jesus to forgive our sin, He does! Jesus died on the cross and rose again to rescue us from sin. When we know and love Jesus, He helps us say no to sin and to live the way God wants.

Sing “The B-I-B-L-E” song Sing the song “The B-I-B-L-E.” If you are unfamiliar with the lyrics or tune, look them up online before the session. SAY • To “stand on the Word of God” does not mean to

stand on top of a Bible. To “stand on the Word of God” means to believe and trust God’s words in the Bible as true. Ezra taught the people God’s Word. The Bible shows us how God wants us to live. When we read the Bible, we see how holy God is and how unholy we are. We also read in the Bible about how God sent us a Savior—His Son, Jesus! Jesus died and rose again to rescue us from sin!

Invite a pastor or Bible teacher to classInvite to your class a pastor or someone else in your church who is passionate about teaching the Bible. Ask the guest to talk to preschoolers about the importance of the Bible and to tell a little about what it is like to teach the Bible. Ask the guest to read a portion of Scripture to the children that is meaningful to him or her. Allow time for preschoolers to ask the guest questions. SAY • Ezra taught the people God’s Word. [Guest’s name]

teaches God’s Word too. The Bible helps us know

Tip: Consider downloading an MP3 of the song or playing the song from a CD for preschoolers to sing along with.

LOW PREP

• guest• Bible

151God the Provider

and love God and Jesus. It helps us know the right things to do, too. We do wrong things a lot, but when we know and love Jesus, He helps us say no to sin. Jesus died to rescue us from sin.

Host a “We Love the Bible” party Write We love the Bible! on a large sheet of paper. Display the banner near a table. Cover a table with a festive tablecloth. Serve special snacks and drinks. Play happy music in the background. Place a Bible in a prominent place for preschoolers to see during the party.SAY • Ezra taught the people God’s Word. God’s people

had a big party! They celebrated that God gave them His Word to help them do the right things. God has given us His Word too! We can know the right things to do by reading the Bible. The Bible tells us the best news of all—Jesus died and rose again to rescue us from sin! That’s the best reason to celebrate!

Decorate Bible bookmarksCut heavyweight paper into bookmark-sized strips. Write the big picture question and answer on each strip. Invite preschoolers to decorate their bookmark. Show preschoolers how to punch a hole in the top part of the bookmark and loop a ribbon through the hole. Demonstrate how to use the bookmark to mark a place in the Bible.SAY • Ezra taught the people God’s Word. God’s Word

helps us know the right things to do. Reading the Bible and memorizing what it says can help us say no to sin. We do wrong things a lot, but Jesus died to rescue us from sin. When we know and love Jesus, He helps us say no to sin.

• Bible• large sheet of paper • markers • tablecloth• paper plates• napkins• paper cups• drinks• snacks• Allergy Alert download• “God Keeps His

Promises” song (optional)

• Bibles• heavyweight paper • scissors • hole punch • ribbon • markers or crayons • stickers



Serve party foods from the previous activity for snack. Talk about how Ezra told God’s people to celebrate and not be sad. It was a special day! God had given them His Word. Explain to preschoolers that when we ask God to forgive our sin, He does. Jesus died to rescue us from sin. We can ask Jesus to help us say no to sin, and He promises to help us. Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of themselves reading the Bible. Remind preschoolers that Ezra taught the people God’s Word. The Bible is the most important book we can read because it teaches us about God and Jesus. Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You for giving us Your words in the

Bible. Help us to love Your Word so we will know how to live. Help us to believe that You love us so much, You sent us Your Son, Jesus. Amen.








153God the Provider

6

UNIT 18Session 6

Leader BIBLE STUDY

After many years living as prisoners in Babylon, God’s people had returned to Judah. They had worked hard and overcome opposition to rebuild the temple and the walls around Jerusalem. Surely God would restore them … finally! But nothing happened. As they waited, they faced drought and economic uncertainty. God’s people probably didn’t feel like God had blessed them at all.

“It is useless to serve God,” they said. “What have we gained by keeping His requirements?” (Mal. 3:14).

Did God still care? It wasn’t long until they fell back into the same patterns of sin that led to their exile in the first

Use Week of:

Malachi the Prophet

BIBLE PASSAGE: Malachi 1–4MAIN POINT: God told His people to repent.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


PAGE 158


PAGE 160


PAGE 162


6


place: idolatry, covetousness, hypocrisy, arrogance, and abuse of the poor.

But God did still love His people. He had been working out His divine plan of redemption, and He never gave up on them. God sent a message to His people through the prophet Malachi.

Malachi was the last of the Old Testament prophets. He spoke to God’s people approximately 100 years after the end of the Babylonian captivity. Malachi’s message from God was a wake-up call.

God communicated through Malachi that the people’s lack of blessing didn’t mean that God didn’t care. God exposed His people’s sin and made clear that their actions merited a curse. God’s people needed to repent and turn back to God. “But for you who fear My name,” God said, “the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings” (Mal. 4:2).

Explain to preschoolers that 400 years of silence followed Malachi’s prophecy; God did not communicate to His people. This period brings us to the New Testament, when the silence would be broken by the last prophet before Jesus, John the Baptist. His words about Jesus in John 1:29 offered hope to all who heard: “Here is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

155God the Provider

Malachi the ProphetMalachi 1–4

The Jewish people were home in the promised land. They had worked hard to rebuild the temple and fix the walls around the city. The people were ready for God to bless them. They waited, but nothing happened. Some of the people were sad. They wondered if God really loved them.

God did love His people! They had been doing wrong things, and God wanted His people to obey Him. So God sent the prophet Malachi (MAL uh kigh) to talk to His people. God gave Malachi a message, and then Malachi told the people what God said.

First, Malachi told the people what they had been doing wrong. The priests were supposed to make sacrifices to God. God deserved the very best sacrifices, but the priests offered animals that were stolen, hurt, or sick. The priests were also supposed to teach the people about God, but the priests taught things that were not true. God said, “I am not happy.”

Then Malachi gave a warning. He said that a day was coming when God would judge people on earth. God said, “I am going to send My messenger, and he will get people ready for Me.”

The messenger God was going to send would have a very big job. The messenger would say, “Another messenger is coming! Get ready!” The other messenger would be God’s special Messenger, the Messiah God promised to send.

What else did God’s people do wrong? Well, some of God’s people were robbing God! When God gave people

The BIBLE STORY


good gifts—like money and wealth—the people kept it all for themselves. They did not share. They forgot that everything belongs to God.

God said, “Share what you have! Just a little bit of it. See what happens. I will give you even more blessings—more good things than you can count!”

What else did God’s people do wrong? Well, some of God’s people were saying things about God that weren’t true. They said, “Serving God is no good. People who do not serve God have better lives than we have.”

“A day is coming,” God said, “when everyone who is wicked will be punished. They will see that it is good to serve God. People who honor Me will be happy, and they will jump and play like calves.”

Christ Connection: Malachi was a messenger for God. He said another messenger was coming. That messenger was John the Baptist. John’s job was to get people ready for the last Messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son. He came to rescue people from sin.

WANT TO DISCOVER

GOD’S WORD? GET

MORE!



Malachi told about a messenger who would prepare the

way for the Messiah. John prepared people

for Jesus. (Mal. 4:6; Luke 1:16-17) Order

in bulk, subscribe quarterly, or purchase



devotionals.

157God the Provider

Small Group OPENING

SESSION TITLE: Malachi the ProphetBIBLE PASSAGE: Malachi 1–4MAIN POINT: God told His people to repent.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


Activity pageInvite preschoolers to use a pencil, crayon, or their finger to trace the path from Malachi to John the Baptist and then from John the Baptist to Jesus.SAY • Today’s Bible story comes from the Book of Malachi.

Malachi is the last book in the Old Testament. Malachi was a messenger for God. He said another messenger was coming. That messenger was John the Baptist. John’s job was to get people ready for the last Messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son. Let’s hear what else God had to say to His people through Malachi.

Make a “What We Know About God” list Invite preschoolers to tell you what they know about God, such as “God loves people, “God sent Jesus,” “The Bible tells about God.” Write down what they say on




• “Trace the Path” activity page, 1 per child


• paper • marker• dry erase board

(optional) • dry erase marker

(optional)

LOW PREP


a sheet of paper or a dry erase board. Use this time to teach preschoolers additional characteristics of God such as unchanging, wise, powerful, loving, good, in control, creative, providing, self-sufficient (does not need anything), attentive (listens to us and sees what is going on), never-tiring (does not get tired), and so forth. SAY • Wow! Our God is a great God! There is no one like

Him! Everything you said about God is true. In today’s Bible story, some of God’s people were saying things about God that weren’t true, and some of the priests were teaching things that were not true. Why would God’s people do that? Listen to our Bible story to find out.

Lace heartsCut heart shapes out of foam sheets. Write God loves you on each heart. Punch holes around the edges of each heart. Cut lengths of yarn and secure the ends with tape. Guide preschoolers to lace the yarn through the holes of the hearts. Tell preschoolers that the hearts say God loves you.SAY • Your hearts say God loves you, and He does! In today’s

Bible story, God’s people wondered if God really loved them. Do you think God really loved His people? Of course! Listen to the story to find out what made God’s people think that.

Transition to Bible studyTo gain the attention of all the preschoolers to move them to Bible study, show the countdown video, flip off the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for the children to copy. Invite preschoolers to “jump like calves” to Bible study.

• foam sheets• scissors • hole punch • yarn • tape • marker


159God the Provider

Introduce the Bible storySit in silence. If preschoolers question you, say, “Let’s wait.” SAY • God’s people waited for God to bless them, but

nothing happened. They wondered if God really loved them, but God did love His people. He sent a messenger to explain why He was not blessing them.

Watch or tell the Bible storyPlace a bookmark at Malachi in your Bible. Invite a preschooler to open it. Reverently display the open Bible.SAY • Everything God says in the Bible is true. Today’s Bible

story comes from the last book of the Old Testament, Malachi.

Show the Bible story video “Malachi the Prophet,” or tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. Use the bolded version for younger preschoolers.

Talk about the Bible storySAY • God’s people wondered why God was not blessing

them, but God’s people were disobeying Him. God sent Malachi to tell His people what they were doing wrong. God told His people to repent. Repent

• bookmark• Bible • “Malachi the Prophet”


Poster


Big Story Circle

Large Group LEADER

SESSION TITLE: Malachi the Prophet BIBLE PASSAGE: Malachi 1–4MAIN POINT: God told His people to repent.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.


means to turn from sin and follow God. Point to the Bible story picture on the giant timeline or big story circle as you ask the following review questions:

1. What kind of animals were the priests sacrificing to God? (stolen, hurt, or sick animals)

2. What would be the job of the next messenger God would send? (to tell people to get ready for God’s special Messenger, the Messiah)

3. What were the people doing with the money and wealth God gave them? (keeping it for themselves)

4. What were the people saying about serving God? (People who did not serve God had better lives.)

5. What did God say about people who honored Him? (They would be happy.)

Learn the big picture questionSAY • Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful. God is faithful even when His people are not faithful to Him. Malachi said another messenger was coming —John the Baptist. John would get people ready for the promised Messiah—Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son who came to rescue people from sin.

Practice the key passage Open your Bible to Lamentations 3:22-23. Read the key passage aloud several times. Sing together the key passage song, “Great, Great, Great.”SAY • Our key passage reminds us that God’s mercy goes

on and on. When we trust in Jesus, God is faithful to forgive our sin. God shows us mercy every day.




song

161God the Provider


SESSION TITLE: Malachi the ProphetBIBLE PASSAGE: Malachi 1–4MAIN POINT: God told His people to repent.KEY PASSAGE: Lamentations 3:22-23BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always

faithful.

Play a quiet gameInvite preschoolers to sit in a circle. Choose a preschooler to go first. Instruct her to walk around the circle and gently tap a quiet person on the shoulder. Then she will take that child’s spot while he walks around the circle and gently taps another quiet person. Continue playing as time allows.SAY • God told His people to repent. God was quiet for

400 years after Malachi gave God’s message. Then God sent the messenger whom Malachi told about. That messenger was John the Baptist. John’s job was to get people ready for the last Messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son. He came to rescue people from sin.

Run a message relayWrite Get ready! Jesus is coming! on a sheet of paper. Invite preschoolers to form two lines facing each other on opposite sides of the room. Read the paper to preschoolers. Give the paper to the first child in the first line. When you say “go,” that child must run the paper to the first child in the second line.

When she hands off the paper, she must say, “Get ready! Jesus is coming!” Then she sits down at the back of that line

LOW PREP

• paper• marker• timer (optional)

LOW PREP


while that child runs the paper to the second child in the first line and says, “Get ready! Jesus is coming!”

The last preschooler to get the message must run the paper to you and say, “Get ready! Jesus is coming!” Rearrange the lines and play again. Consider timing older preschoolers and challenge them to improve their time each round.SAY • Malachi was a messenger for God. Through Malachi,

God told His people to repent. Malachi said another messenger was coming. That messenger was John the Baptist. John also told God’s people to repent. John was getting people ready for the last Messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son. He came to rescue people from sin.

Make patterns with coinsPlace several coins in a line to form a pattern. Challenge a preschooler to continue the pattern. Change the pattern and play again. Invite preschoolers to create patterns for each other to complete. Allow younger preschoolers simply to place a matching coin on top of the coins in the pattern.SAY • God told His people to repent. Repent means to

turn away from sin and follow God. God wanted His people to turn away from keeping all their money for themselves and to share what they had with others. When we repent of our sin and follow Jesus, we will not be punished for our sin. We will be happy and will jump and play like calves.

Make play dough animalsInvite children to form animals with play dough. Encourage preschoolers to make animals that would have been used for

• quarters • dimes• nickels • pennies

Tip: Make sure children do not put coins in their mouths.

• play dough• play dough tools• animal-shaped cookie

cutters

163God the Provider

sacrifices such as bulls, goats, sheep, and so forth. SAY • God deserved the very best sacrifices, but the priests

were offering animals that were stolen, hurt, or sick. God told His people to repent. Malachi was a messenger for God. He said another messenger was coming. That messenger was John the Baptist. John’s job was to get people ready for the last Messenger, Jesus! Jesus is God’s Son. He came to rescue people from sin. Jesus is the best sacrifice!

Make a giving bankProvide a milk carton for each preschooler. Encourage preschoolers to cut and glue pieces of construction paper onto their milk carton. Help preschoolers form a small cross out of a chenille stem and attach it to the top of the milk carton to look like a steeple.

Guide preschoolers to decorate their banks with stickers and markers. Show preschoolers how to put money into the bank through the open mouth of the carton. Explain to preschoolers they may use their banks to keep money to give to the church or people in need.SAY • Some of God’s people were keeping all the money

God gave them for themselves! God told His people to repent. He told them to share what they had. God would give them more good things than they could count. God gave us everything we need when He sent Jesus to rescue us from sin. We can share what we have with others.

• clean, empty pint-size milk cartons, 1 per preschooler

• construction paper• blunt-tipped scissors • glue • chenille stems• tape• stickers • markers

Option: Paint the milk cartons before the session to make a clean slate.



Serve animal crackers for snack. Remind preschoolers that the priests were offering animals that were stolen, hurt, or sick to God. God’s people thought God did not love them because He was not blessing them, but God was not blessing His people because He loved them. For God to bless them when they were doing wrong things would not be loving. God told His people to repent, or turn away from sin. God loves us too much to let us continue to do wrong things. God wants us to repent from sin and follow Him.


Offer the journal page and invite preschoolers to draw a picture of Jesus. Explain to preschoolers that the next Bible story will be from the New Testament. Get ready! Jesus is coming! Pray for the children.SAY • God, thank You for giving us the Old Testament.

Thank You for being faithful to Your people even when we are not. Thank You for keeping Your promise to send a Savior. Amen.








165God the Provider

11 Ways to Strengthen Your Church’s Children’s MinistryMORE THAN ONE PERSON HAS SAID, “OUR STUDENTS AND CHILDREN ARE

THE FUTURE OF THE CHURCH.” THAT STATEMENT IS TRUE, BUT IT’S ALSO

INSUFFICIENT. CHILDREN AND STUDENTS ARE PART OF THE CHURCH NOW,

AND WE’LL LOSE THEM IF WE DON’T MINISTER WELL TO THEM TODAY. HERE

ARE ELEVEN WAYS TO STRENGTHEN YOUR CHILDREN’S MINISTRY.

Enlist your best workers for this ministry.

Don’t allow just anyone to work with children; find your absolute best leaders, even if it means pulling them out of adult classes.

Train the workers well.Willingness to serve does

not automatically equal ability to serve. Enlist your best, and then continually train them. Help them know how to lead children today. The strategies aren’t the same as in the 1980s.

Establish clear security protocols.The bottom line: Nobody

who hasn’t passed a background check should be working with

minors. And wandering through your church’s children’s ministry area without clearance should be almost impossible. Take all steps necessary to protect your children.

Upgrade your facilities for children.

Provide sufficient space for them. Make sure every door has a window for security purposes. Purchase furniture that’s appropriate for children. Paint the walls bright colors. Get rid of the clutter. Make your children’s areas a place where children want to come.

Don’t lower the bar when teaching children.

Find the best material, and teach it well. Assume your children want to


learn about God. They’re probably more open to it than many of your adults are.

Capitalize on media resources.Our children have grown

up with video, computers, and the Internet. To not use strong Christian media-based resources is to miss an opportunity to teach our children well.

Develop a church membership and beginning

discipleship class for elementary-aged children.When children choose to follow Christ, the biblical demands on their lives aren’t different than adults. Help them get started well as new believers.

167God the Provider

Hang out with the children.If you’re a church staff

member, your church’s children need to see you and know you apart from “big church” and the pulpit.

Walk through their areas every time you meet. Talk to them. Get to know their names. Listen to their stories. Love them.

Assume your children want to learn about God. They’re

probably more open to it than many of your

adults are.

Kneel when talking to children.Respect and love them

enough to lower yourself to their eye level when speaking to them. Something is just different when they see us face-to-face.

If you’re a preacher, remember the children in the audience.

Use illustrations that appeal to children. Call them to attention occasionally by saying something like, “Boys and girls, let me tell you a story” or “Kids, let me explain this word to you.” If your children are listening, it’s more likely your adults will be, too.

Establish prayer partners with children.

Imagine what might happen if assigned people in your church prayed weekly for every child in your ministry. Connect the generations by establishing an intentional plan to do so.

Chuck Lawless currently serves as Professor of Evangelism and Missions and Dean of Graduate Studies at Southeastern Seminary. You can connect with Dr. Lawless on both Twitter and Facebook. This article was posted to www.thomrainer.com.


Order today: 1.800.458.2772 • gospelproject.com

The Gospel Project for Kids: Bible Book Posters show kids how each book of the Bible fits into the gospel story. Every poster includes a Christ Connection and is color-coded according to the division of the Bible. Hang a set in every class!

TEACH KIDS ABOUT THE BOOKS THAT BUILD

THE BIG STORY!

MAJOR PROPHETS

DANIEL

THE BIG STORY: The Book of Daniel is a record of God’s message to Daniel in his 60-year ministry. Daniel was a young boy

from the royal house of Judah taken to Babylon when Nebuchadnezzar fi rst attacked it in 605 BC. Even as a servant to foreign kings, Daniel

chose to remain faithful to God and His covenant. God gave Daniel wisdom, and God also gave Daniel a vision of Christ’s second coming.

HIGHLIGHTS: Daniel and his friends obeyed God; Nebuchadnezzar’s dream; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego; God humbled Nebuchadnezzar; God gave Daniel wisdom; God rescued Daniel; vision of the Ancient of Days and the Son of Man; vision of the ram and

goat; prophecies about Persia and Greece

CHRIST CONNECTION: Daniel’s visions of the future showed that God is in control at all times. God

used faithful people to continue His plan to provide salvation through Jesus.

GOD BLESSES OBEDIENCE.

TGP_Bible_books_posters CC.indd 294/16/15 10:01 AM

POETRY & WISDOM

JOB

THE BIG STORY: Written in the time of the Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Book of Job shows that God is all-powerful, sovereign,

and good—even in the most di� cult circumstances. God is always trustworthy because only God has the wisdom and power to create the

world and rule it according to His perfect plan.

HIGHLIGHTS: Job’s success, Satan’s test, Job lost everything, Job’s friends arrived to help, Job’s case for his righteousness, Elihu’s speech, God spoke to Job, Job responded, God restored Job

CHRIST CONNECTION: Job reminds us of Jesus. Jesus never sinned, but He su� ered and died on the cross. Jesus brought glory

to God through His life, death, and resurrection.

GOD IS IN CONTROL. WE DO NOT KNOW HIS PLAN, BUT WE CAN TRUST THAT HE IS GOOD.

TGP_Bible_books_posters CC.indd 20 4/16/15 9:59 AM

GOSPELS

THE BIG STORY: The Book of Matthew is the fi rst book of the New Testament. Matthew, a former tax-collector, wrote to show

that Jesus fulfi lled prophecies in the Old Testament about the Messiah. The Book of Matthew starts with Jesus’ genealogy and ends with the

resurrected Jesus giving His disciples the Great Commission.

HIGHLIGHTS: From Abraham to Jesus, Jesus’ birth, Jesus’ early ministry, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus’ healings, parable of the sower, Jesus fed the multitude, the transfi guration, parable of the unforgiving servant, the rich young ruler, parable of the vineyard workers, the

Triumphal Entry, parable of the wedding feast, signs of the end of the age, Jesus was anointed, Judas betrayed Jesus, Jesus’ crucifi xion

and resurrection, Jesus gave the Great Commission

CHRIST CONNECTION: The Gospel of Matthew shows Jesus as the Messiah and

King who fulfi lled the Old Testament prophecies.

MATTHEWJESUS IS THE MESSIAH. HE CAME

TO MAKE A NEW COVENANT.

TGP_Bible_books_posters CC.indd 42 4/16/15 10:04 AM

GENESISTHE LAW

GOD CREATED EVERYTHING AND

HAS A PLAN FOR HIS PEOPLE.

THE BIG STORY: Genesis means beginnings. Moses wrote

the Book of Genesis to describe the beginning of our world when God

spoke it into existence. God created all things for His glory. God created

people to enjoy a loving relationship with Him. Adam and Eve sinned, and

sin made a mess of God’s glorious creation. Genesis is the beginning of

God’s story of salvation through His Son, Jesus.

HIGHLIGHTS: God created the world, God created people, Sin entered

the world, Cain and Abel, Noah and the ark, the tower of Babel, God’s

covenant with Abraham, the sons of Abraham, God tested Abraham,

the promise rea� rmed, the stolen blessing, Jacob’s new name, Joseph

sent to Egypt, Joseph’s dreams came true

CHRIST CONNECTION: When sin entered the world,

God began His plan of rescuing people and redeeming

creation through His Son, Jesus Christ.

TGP_Bible_books_posters CC.indd 3

4/16/15 9:54 AM

HISTORY

1 SAMUELTHE BIG STORY: God’s people struggled under leaders who had abandoned the Lord. Even the sons of Eli the priest disregarded God’s laws! God prepared a new prophet and priest—a young boy named Samuel—to lead the people. When the people asked Samuel to give them a king, God gave them Saul. Saul was not a perfect king. No earthly king could lead God’s people perfectly. God would one day send Jesus to be our King forever.

HIGHLIGHTS: Hannah prayed for a son, Eli and boy Samuel, the ark was captured, the Israelites demanded a king, God rejected Saul as king, David was anointed and fought Goliath, Jonathan and David became friends, Saul and Jonathan died

CHRIST CONNECTION: God wants leaders who follow Him. God takes care of His people and gives them victory over their enemies. Through Jesus, we have victory over sin and death.

GOD GAVE ISRAEL A KING.

TGP_Bible_books_posters CC.indd 11

4/16/15 9:56 AM

67posters for only $29.99!

range tobottom edge

range tobottom edge

Kids

Kids

TGP_BooksOfBible_CP3Ad.indd 1 8/6/15 1:50 PM