OLDER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW

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1 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group TEACHER BIBLE STUDY Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 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. 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.) 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. OLDER KIDS BIBLE STUDY OVERVIEW Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 1

2 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Welcome time Activity page (5 minutes) Session starter (10 minutes) Key passage activity (5 minutes) Small Group Time Bible story review (10 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Journal (5 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes) THE BIBLE STORY Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Many years before God s people were taken to Babylon, God made a promise. He told the people His promise through the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah said that the exile would last 70 years, and then God would bring His people back home. This was God s promise, and God always keeps His promises. Cyrus was king of Persia when God gave him an idea. King Cyrus made a decree. A decree is like a law; everyone had to obey it. Cyrus said, Let all of God s people go back to Jerusalem so they can rebuild the Lord s temple. Give them gold and silver and animals. Give them gifts for God s temple. What wonderful news! The exile was over! God s people were free to go back to Judah to their homes. God s people got ready. Their neighbors gave them gifts like Cyrus had commanded gold and silver and animals and other expensive things. King Cyrus gave them the things Nebuchadnezzar had taken from God s temple when the exile began. Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl) and the high priest led God s people back to Judah. They hadn t been home in 70 years. Many of the people were born in Babylon; they had never seen the land God had given their parents and grandparents. In all, thousands of people went back to Judah. They took with them all the gifts and many animals. They settled in their hometowns and set up their houses. Then the people met together in Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord s temple. First, the priests rebuilt the altar in the same place it used to be. They followed all the laws of God for building. When the altar was finished, they offered burnt offerings to God. The people also obeyed the law about special celebrations. They had a festival like God had told them to do, and they made sacrifices to God. Then God s people gave money to stonecutters and carpenters who would work on God s temple. They paid people to bring cedar logs to Jerusalem. Finally, when everything was ready, the people started to work. They laid the foundation of the temple. The foundation was Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 2

3 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group important; it would make the building strong. When the foundation was finished, the priests put on special clothes, and the people praised God. They sang, The Lord is good. His faithful love will last forever. Then the people shouted and praised God. They were so happy! The foundation of the temple was complete! Not everyone was happy though. Some of the older people remembered what the temple had looked like 70 years ago, before it had been destroyed. They cried. The noise of the crying and shouting was so loud that the people could be heard far away. Christ Connection: Zerubbabel led God s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God s people, and we will spend eternity with Him. SMALL GROUP OPENING Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Welcome time Small Group Visual Pack Greet each kid as he or she arrives. Use this time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group. Ask kids to name a time in the Bible when God kept a promise. Use the timeline map in the small group visual pack to help kids remember previously studied Bible stories. Activity page (5 minutes) Color Reveal activity page, 1 per kid colored pencils or crayons Lead girls and boys to color all of the triangles in the design on the activity page Color Reveal. When all of the triangles are filled in, a key word from today s Bible story will be revealed. Say What word did you find? (rebuild) Today s Bible story is about a building that the Israelites thought was very special. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 3

4 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Session starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Guess the number candy pieces, beans, beads, rice, or similar items clear containers Tips: To save time, look at nutrition labels to see how many items each bag or container has. You may also choose to only fill one or two containers. Fill one container with 30 of the same item. Fill the second container with 410 of the same item. Fill a third container with 1,000 of an item. And fill a fourth container with 5,400 of the same item. Invite kids to guess how many items each container is holding. After each kid has had an opportunity to guess, reveal the correct number or the kid who was the closest to the correct number. Say In our Bible story today, some of God s people traveled back to their hometown of Jerusalem. They were allowed to take with them 30 gold basins; 1,000 silver basins; 410 various silver bowls; and other items. The total number of gold and silver items the exiles took back to Jerusalem was 5,400. Option 2: Trail mix Allergy Alert O- shaped cereal square- shaped cereal candy- coated chocolate pieces or chocolate chips pretzels napkins ziplock bags Remember to always review a list of kids allergies before serving a snack of any kind. Check labels for products that may be cross- contaminated if you have a child with a severe food allergy. Provide each kid with a ziplock bag. Allow kids to create their own trail mix using the ingredients you provide. Invite kids to eat their trail mix as you discuss the following questions or statements. Say Usually we take trail mix on a long hike or a trip or journey of some kind. Who remembers the last big trip the Israelites took? Right, they were conquered and taken to Babylon. In our Bible story today, God changed someone s heart. And that person allowed God s people to go back to their home country. Do you think all of God s people went back home? Why or why not? Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 4

5 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group SMALL GROUP LEADER Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity. Key passage activity (5 minutes) Key Passage Poster markers index cards or paper tape Print each word of the key passage on index cards or sheets of paper. Challenge kids to arrange cards in the correct order to resemble a tower or wall. Provide tape for kids to secure their tower to the wall. You may prefer to arrange the towers on the table or floor and eliminate the need for tape. Remove two pieces of the tower and challenge kids to say the key passage, supplying the missing words. Say Name a way you can rejoice that Jesus has come. If time permits, allow kids to try saying the key passage from memory. Bible story review & Bible skills (10 minutes) Bibles, 1 per kid Small Group Visual Pack dry erase board dry erase marker Option: Substitute chart paper and a regular marker for the dry erase board and marker. Review the timeline in the small group visual pack. Point out the fall of the Southern Kingdom of Judah from a previous poster. Note some of the events that happened while the Israelites were in exile (Daniel). Lead kids to focus on Ezra 3:8-13. Guide kids to answer the questions who, what, when, where, why, and how as they review these verses. Invite kids to record the answers on a dry erase board. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 5

6 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Say How did the people respond to God in Ezra 3:11? Do you think they said those things about God when they were conquered for their sin? Do you ever praise God when bad things happen? Why or why not? Is God worthy of our praise all of the time? It is easy to praise God when good things happen. When we praise God when bad things are happening, it is a sign that we are following and loving God. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Who will restore a greater home for God s people? (Jesus came to earth to rescue God s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.) If you choose to review with boys and girls how to become a Christian, explain that kids are welcome to speak with you or another teacher if they have questions. God rules. God created and is in charge of everything. (Gen. 1:1; Rev. 4:11; Col. 1:16-17) We sinned. Since Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Rom. 3:23; 6:23) God provided. God sent His Son, Jesus, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. (John 3:16; Eph. 2:8-9) Jesus gives. Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again so we can be welcomed into God s family. (Rom. 5:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; 1 Pet. 3:18) We respond. Believe that Jesus alone saves you. Repent. Tell God that your faith is in Jesus. (Rom. 10:9-10,13) Activity choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Dream home paper markers Invite kids to draw their dream home or dream room. Encourage kids to be detailed. What would be inside? What color(s) are the walls? What electronic features are in the house or room? What toys, furniture, and supplies are present? Invite kids to share about their dream homes/ rooms. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 6

7 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Say Have any of you moved homes before? What was it like? Did you miss your old home? Was it exciting to be in a new home? The Israelites had waited 70 years to be able to return to their homes. The consequence of their sin was that they were conquered and taken to Babylon. God promised the Israelites that He would bring them back home one day. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Option 2: Bible promises game Bibles index cards marker Print Bible promises on individual index cards. Write all of the Scripture references on another index card. Create one set for each pair or trio of kids. Challenge each group to locate each Bible promise in the Bible and write the Scripture reference on the correct Bible promise card. 1. The Lord will never leave us. (Hebrews 13:5) 2. The Lord will be our helper. (Hebrews 13:6) 3. The Lord will complete what He has started in us. (Philippians 1:6) 4. Jesus words will last. (Matthew 24:35) 5. All things are possible with God. (Mark 10:27) 6. People who believe in Jesus have eternal life. (John 6:47) 7. God will supply the needs of His people. (Philippians 4:19) 8. Those who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. (Joel 2:32) 9. Jesus will be a shepherd for God s people. (Micah 5:4) 10. The Lord is a strength and refuge to His people. (Psalm 28:8) Say Who always keeps a promise? God does. He is completely trustworthy. If He promises something, it will happen. It might not happen when we think it should, but He will keep His promises. The Israelites waited 70 years for God to keep His promise. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 7

8 Sunday, May 11, 2014 Kidzone 2nd- 4th Grade Small Group Journal and prayer (5 minutes) pencils Bibles Journal Page, 1 per kid Back to Jerusalem Maze activity page, 1 per kid Say Think about a time your plans failed. What went wrong? Why do you think God allowed your plan to fail? God s plans never fail. He always knows what is best for us. Write your thoughts in your journal. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus s heart so the Israelites could go home. God s plans and promises happen in His perfect timing. Provide kids with a few minutes to journal. Invite a volunteer to close the group in prayer. As time allows, lead kids to complete the activity page Back to Jerusalem Maze. Dismiss to parents Make sure to check security tags when dismissing children. Unit 21 Session 2 Older Elementary 8

9 Unit 21 Session 2 Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home OK TO PRINT The Exiles Returned 2013 Lifeway

12 UNIT 21 Session 2 Older Kids Activity Pages 2013 Lifeway Instructions: Color the triangles to reveal a hidden word. The Exiles Returned

13 UNIT 21 Session 2 Older Kids Activity Pages The Exiles Returned Instructions: Help Zerubbabel lead the captives on the correct path home. The right path will pass through 30 gold basins.

God Brought His People Home

Unit 16 Session 4 Use Week of: God Brought His People Home BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 MAIN POINT: God changed the king s heart so the Israelites could go home. KEY PASSAGE: Daniel 2:20-21 BIG