E MAIL. Unit 18, Session 1: Esther Became Queen. Dear Parents,

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1 Unit 18, Session 1: Esther Became Queen Unit 18, Session 2: God Saved His People Through Esther Unit 18, Session 3: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem Unit 18, Session 4: Jerusalem s Walls Were Rebuilt Unit 18, Session 5: Ezra Read the Law Unit 18, Session 6: Malachi the Prophet **Note to leaders: Use the tweets, status updates, and s included in this document to keep parents informed of the Bible learning that their children are experiencing in the Gospel Project for Kids. Choose a method that works best for your church.**

2 Unit 18, Session 1: Esther Became Queen TWEETS Haman s evil plan could not stop God s plan to rescue His people from sin through His Son, Jesus. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 119 Characters) Haman made an evil plan to destroy all of the Jews, but Queen Esther was willing to risk her life to save her people. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 139 Characters) STATUS UPDATE God s plan all along was to send the Messiah through Abraham s family. Haman s evil plan might have stopped 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. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 1: Esther Became Queen Dear Parents, This week we began a two part session on Esther and how God used her to save His people. 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, also known by his Greek name, Xerxes. 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. 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

3 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. God s plan all along was to send the Messiah through Abraham s family. Haman s evil plan might have stopped 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. Help your kids understand that the survival of God s people was essential to God s plan and that Satan tried to stop God s plan any way he could. But God used Esther to rescue His people and make the way for His Son, Jesus, to come into the world. Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. God made Esther queen. Esther asked God s people to pray for three days. Jesus hears us when we pray. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. Esther became queen. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. Esther agreed to help her people. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK God Saved His People through Esther (Esther 5 10)

4 Unit 18, Session 2: God Saved His People through Esther TWEETS Like Haman, Satan thought his plan worked. Jesus died on the cross but God raised Him from the dead to defeat Satan. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 138 Characters) Esther revealed Haman s plan to destroy the Jews and the king made a law to keep God s people safe from their enemies. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 140 Characters) STATUS UPDATE God was in control over 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. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 2: God Saved His People through Esther Dear Parents, 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 have come to your royal position for such a time as this (Esth. 4:14) 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

5 ordered that Haman be killed instead! God was in control over 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. Help your kids understand that Jesus is the greater Esther. Esther risked her life to rescue God s people but Jesus gave up His life to rescue God s people. Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. Esther trusted God to help her talk to the king. God used Esther to keep His people safe. God sent Jesus because He loves us. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God used Esther to save His people. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. God used Esther at just the right time to save His people. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem (Nehemiah 1 2)

6 Unit 18, Session 3: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem TWEETS Like Nehemiah trusted God, when we trust in Jesus, we believe God will keep His promise to give us His people a home. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 139 Characters) When Nehemiah heard about Jerusalem, He trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 138 Characters) STATUS UPDATE Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. When we trust in Jesus, we believe God will keep His promise to give us His people a home. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 3: Nehemiah Heard News of Jerusalem Dear Parents, This week and the next two weeks, we are studying the story of Nehemiah and Ezra. 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. 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

7 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. Nehemiah trusted that God would keep His promise to protect His people and give them a home. When we trust in Jesus, we believe God will keep His promise to give us His people a home. Jesus obeyed God perfectly. He died on the cross and rose again so we can have a home with Him forever. Help your kids understand that 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.) Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. Nehemiah prayed for God to keep His people safe. God used Nehemiah to build the city walls. Jesus hears us when we pray. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. Nehemiah prayed that God would help His people rebuild Jerusalem s walls. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK Jerusalem s Walls Were Rebuilt (Nehemiah 3:1 6:16)

8 Unit 18, Session 4: Jerusalem s Walls Were Rebuilt TWEETS Nehemiah went to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls to protect God s people. Jesus came to protect us from our enemy sin. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 139 Characters) Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 119 Characters) STATUS UPDATE Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. Jesus came to protect us from our enemies. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue people from sin and death. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 4: Jerusalem s Walls Were Rebuilt Dear Parents, 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 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. Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. Jesus came to protect us from our enemies. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue people from sin and death.

9 Help your kids 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.) Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. Nehemiah led the people to build the city walls. God kept His people safe as they worked. Jesus always obeyed God. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God led Nehemiah to rebuild the walls. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. God used Nehemiah to lead His people as they rebuilt Jerusalem s walls. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK Ezra Read the Law (Nehemiah 8:1 12)

10 Unit 18, Session 5: Ezra Read the Law TWEETS Jesus is "the Word." Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 136 Characters) God's Word is powerful. When Ezra read God's Word, the people changed their ways and loved God more. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 122 Characters) STATUS UPDATE God's Word is powerful. When Ezra read God's Word, the people changed their ways and loved God more. The Bible says that Jesus is "the Word." Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 5: Ezra Read the Law Dear Parents, Ezra traveled to Jerusalem with a purpose. God s people had spent 70 years in exile, and they needed to be reminded how 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. When Ezra read God's Word, the people changed their ways and loved God more. The Bible says that Jesus is "the Word." Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts.

11 Help your kids 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. Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. Ezra read God s words to the people. The people heard God s words and loved God. Jesus spoke God s words. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. Ezra taught the people God s Word. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. Ezra read God s Word to teach the people how to obey God. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK Malachi the Prophet (Malachi 1 4)

12 Unit 18, Session 6: Malachi the Prophet TWEETS Like Malachi and John, Jesus was a messenger sent by God but Jesus was different as the final Messenger and God s Son. #thegospelprojectkids ( Christ Connection 140 Characters) Malachi was a messenger a prophet who told God's people to repent and that God was sending another messenger, John. #thegospelprojectkids ( Content 137 Characters) STATUS UPDATE Malachi was a messenger a prophet who told God's people to repent. Malachi also told about another messenger God would send. This messenger, John the Baptist, would call people to repent and get them ready for a final Messenger, Jesus Christ. Jesus would bring good news of salvation. E MAIL Unit 18, Session 6: Malachi the Prophet Dear Parents, This week was our final week in the Old Testament as we looked at the Book of Malachi. 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 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.

13 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). Malachi was a messenger a prophet who told God's people to repent. Malachi also told about another messenger God would send. This messenger, John the Baptist, would call people to repent and get them ready for a final Messenger, Jesus Christ. Jesus would bring good news of salvation. Help your kids understand 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! Check this session s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. FAMILY STARTING POINTS Babies and Toddlers God keeps His promises. Malachi told people God s words. God promised to send a messenger before the Messiah. Jesus is God s Son, the Messiah. Preschool Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful. God told His people to repent. Kids Does God keep His promises? Yes, God is always faithful even when we are not. God told His people to repent and get ready for Jesus. UNIT KEY PASSAGE Lamentations 3:22 23 NEXT WEEK From Abraham to Jesus (Matthew 1:1 17)