Bible Story: Ezra Read the Law (Ezra 7:1 9:5; Nehemiah 8) Bible Phrase: For the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV). Bible Truth: My joy comes from God. Old Testament Unit 12: Prophets and Esther Lesson 4: Ezra Read the Law God s Unfolding Story 1. God created everything. 2. People disobeyed God. 3. God chose a special people. 4. God sent Jesus to help us. 5. Jesus began the Church. Suggested Schedule: Arrival Centers 25 minutes Clean-up Time 5 minutes Bible Story Time 15 minutes Craft Time 10 minutes Snack Time 10 minutes Game Time/Dismissal Hour B 6. Jesus is preparing heaven for us. Unfolding God s Story for Teachers Israel has been a divided kingdom for over 400 years. During this time, prophets like Amos and Jeremiah warned God s people of the dangers of following other gods. Yet, despite their warnings, the people chose to break covenant with God so He allowed them to be taken into slavery by other countries. In 722 B.C. the Assyrians deported the Northern tribes and scattered them over their kingdom. Around 612 B. C. the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar overtook Judah and left Jerusalem in ruins. For seventy years the people of Judah were held captive by the Babylonians until the Persians defeated them. During the reign of the Persian King Cyrus, the Hebrews were allowed to return in stages to their homeland and to rebuild the temple. Zerubbabel headed the first group to return and completed the rebuilding of the temple in 516 BC. The second group was led by a man named Ezra. Ezra was a scribe and a teacher who was very devoted to God s Word. He was a contemporary of the prophet Nehemiah, who led the effort to rebuild Jerusalem s walls. Ezra s teachings and life example already had begun a spiritual reformation among the people. Persian King Artaxerxes commissioned Ezra to lead the second group to reestablish temple worship and essentially to organize life in Jerusalem under the Mosaic Law. A man of order and detail, Ezra carefully put in place all the people and materials he needed for the long trip before him and the task ahead. His arrival, however, was bittersweet. It was wonderful to be back in God s chosen land, but the pervasive spiritual decline weighed heavily on this godly leader. Ezra spent his days directing the people back to fellowship with God. Thirteen years later, King Artaxerxes allowed the prophet Nehemiah to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the walls. After the walls were complete the people gathered and Ezra read from the books of the Law. This event took place during the seventh month, a sacred time on the Jewish calendar. During this month would be the Feast of Trumpets, the Day of Atonement, and the Feasts of the Tabernacles. As the people listened to the reading of the law, the light shined into the darkness of their souls and they saw their sin. Their hearts were pierced as they listened and wept (see Heb. 4:12-13). Repentance paved the way for true celebration. Ezra wanted the people to realize the depth of God s mercy and love and the abundance of His grace. Ezra proclaimed, Do not grieve, because the joy of the LORD is your stronghold (Neh. 8:10). This is the concluding lesson of our Old Testament study of God s Unfolding Story for Older Preschoolers. While little is known about the period between the Old and New Testaments we know that God was at work preparing the world for the coming of His Son. New discoveries await as God s story continues to unfold. Lesson Plan Arrival Greet children at eye level and express how happy you are to see them. Be sure each child has a name tag and the security measures of your church are followed. Label all coats and personal belongings. Strongly encourage children who have brought items from home, such as toys and books, to place them on a shelf while they are working with other materials. Assure children their items will be safe and they can take them home at the end of the session. Help each child make a choice where he or she would like to begin his or her Center Time. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B Page 1
Puzzle Center: Work Puzzles Offer a variety of non-fantasy wooden or cardboard puzzles for children to work. What to Do: Encourage preschoolers to finish puzzles they begin. Affirm children as they work together to complete the puzzles. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, look for opportunities in conversation to say the Bible phrase or to briefly tell the Bible story. Home Living Center: Play with Playdough Small rocking chair, sink and stove unit and small table and chairs; plastic dishes, child pots and pans; pretend food items; doll, doll bed, and doll accessories Playdough and accessories What to Do: Home living items naturally encourage children to act out roles and activities they observe at home. Adding the playdough will provide additional opportunities to share and to interact with friends. Link to the Bible Story: As children work and play together, listen for opportunities to talk about the Bible story. Say, Our Bible story today is about a man named Ezra. Ezra loved God and wanted the people of Israel to love God and follow God s way. Ezra read to the people from the Bible to help them learn about God. Back then, God s Word was written on a scroll. We also can learn about God when we come to church and hear stories from the Bible. Center Time Art Center: Class Collage Long sheet of white paper Crayons and washable markers Bible and Bible story picture books or past Bible story pictures What to Do: Print today s Bible Phrase, The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV) at the top of the paper. Invite preschoolers look through the Bibles and Bible storybooks or pictures. Ask children to draw a picture of their favorite Bible story or Bible character. Link to the Bible Story: As preschoolers work, say something like, In our Bible story today, a man named Ezra read from the Bible. Back then, God s Word was written on a scroll. What Ezra read helped people learn about God and how God wanted them to live. Listening to Bible stories and learning Bible phrases help us learn about God. Our joy comes from knowing God and following His ways. Bible Learning Center: Color by Number Copies of Activity Page: Color by Number (Reproducible) Crayons or washable markers What to Do: Explain the color code to the children. Color the spaces with a 1 blue, 2 yellow, 3 red, and 4 green. Ask the children to color the spaces with the numeral 1 first. Link to the Bible Story: As children work, say today s Bible phrase. Explain that the part of the picture that is colored blue is a word, and that word is Joy. Explain, When we hear Bible stories at home or at church, we are learning more about God and how He wants us to live. True joy is found in knowing and loving God. Block Center: Build with Blocks Wooden blocks What to Do: Provide a small carpet if possible. Blocks are best located in a corner of the room away from the traffic flow. Link to the Bible Story: While children are engaged in building with the blocks, listen for opportunities to share part of the Bible story, Bible phrase, or Bible truth. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B Page 2
Clean-up Time Encourage preschoolers to help at clean-up time. Assign specific tasks for preschoolers to do such as placing all the crayons in the basket, throwing away the trash, gathering all the glue sticks, etc. Guide children to the Bible Story Time area. Bible Story Time Bible Teaching Picture Ezra Read the Law (Reproducible) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Reproducible/Cardstock) Paper sack with a Bible inside. On the outside of the bag print the word, Joy. Introduction Show the God s Unfolding Story Cube. Express to the boys and girls that even though we find many stories in the Bible, the Bible really tells one big story, and all the little stories are a part of the big one we can call God s Unfolding Story. Tell children that each picture represents a chapter in God s Unfolding Story. Turn the cube and talk about each part of the story. (Refer to page 1.) Express that every story from the Bible is from one of these main chapters in God s Unfolding Story. Today s story is from the third chapter, God chose a special people. Introduce the story by saying something like, Boys and girls, today I have brought a paper sack. There is something very special inside this sack, and I want to see if you can guess what it is. The word on the outside of my sack is Joy. This is a clue to what is in the sack. What do you think might be in my sack? [Accept all responses.] You had some good guesses. Our Bible story is about the source of true joy. Listen to our story and then we will try to guess again what is in my sack. Bible Story Ezra Read the Law (Ezra 7:1 9:5; Nehemiah 8) The Israelites had disobeyed God, and many of them had been taken to another land called Babylon to live. During that time there lived a man named Ezra. Ezra loved and served God. Each day he studied the Bible. Ezra helped the Israelites in Babylon learn more about God and how they were to live. One day the king gave permission for Ezra and other Israelites to return to their home in Jerusalem. This group was the second group to return. The king wanted Ezra to help those in Jerusalem remember God s law and continue to worship in the temple. It was a happy and joyful day for the Israelites as they began the long journey home. Yet when Ezra and his friends arrived in Jerusalem, what they saw made them sad. The people had not been following God s laws and had not taught their children about God. The city walls and buildings were broken. Ezra and his helpers had a big job ahead for them, but Ezra loved God, and he and his helpers began the work of teaching the people God s ways. A few months went by, and all the people of Jerusalem gathered in front of one of city gates. The people asked Ezra to read God s Word from the scroll. As Ezra stood before the people, everyone was quiet. As Ezra read, the people realized they had disobeyed God. They were saddened and began to cry. Ezra was pleased the people understood that they had disobeyed God. He told them that now that they were sorry for their disobedience, they should be joyful because God was their strength. The people joyfully celebrated God s blessings and love. Talk Time 1. Show the teaching picture for today s Bible story. Review by using these or similar questions. When Ezra reached Jerusalem, what made him sad? What happened when Ezra read from the scroll? After the people were sad for disobeying God, what did Ezra tell them? 2. Read the Bible phrase on the teaching picture. Say the phrase together, The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV). Explain, When Ezra read God s words from the scroll, the people understood they had not followed God s laws. It was important that the people realize they had disobeyed God. Ezra wanted the people to know their joy and strength was from God. Let s talk about our sack again. The word on the front of the sack is Joy. From where do we get our joy? [The Lord God.] Where is one place we learn about God? [The Bible.] What do you think is in my sack? [Take the Bible out of the sack.] Our joy comes from loving God and following His ways. 3. Express the following, Boys and girls this is the last lesson we will study from the stories of the Old Testament. Let s look at the cube and review the first three chapters of God s Unfolding Story we have studied this year: God created everything. People disobeyed God. God chose a special people. Remember boys and girls, God told the Israelites one day he would send His Son Jesus to help the world know more about His love. The next stories we will study will be about Jesus. These stories will help us learn about the last three pictures on our cube. These stories will be from the New Testament. 4. Close the Bible Story Time by inviting the children to join you in prayer. You might pray, Thank You, God, that You are our joy and strength. Thank You for all the people who help us learn about You, and for the Bible, which shows us how You want us to live. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B Page 3
Craft Time: Musical Instrument Copies of Shaker Covers (Reproducible, 1 copy for every 2 children) Crayons or markers, glue Dried beans Small paper plates (2 per child) What to Do: Cut out shaker covers. Staple or tape plates together like a pocket (tops together) but leave a small opening to drop in some beans. Give each child a shaker cover to color. Glue each shaker cover on one side of each paper plate. Distribute a handful of dried beans to each child to drop inside his or her shaker. Staple or tape shut each shaker. Link to the Bible Story: Express to children that in today s Bible story, Ezra told the people not to be sad but to celebrate what God had done for them. Express that one way we can celebrate and worship is with music. Sing or play a worship song and allow the children to move their shakers in time with the music. Snack Time Be sure to wash hands or use hand sanitizer. Say a thank-you prayer to God for the snack. When snack time has ended, encourage preschoolers to help with cleaning up. Game Time / Dismissal: Follow the Leader What to Do: Ask children to stand in a circle in the Game Time area. Call out the following or similar statements and invite children to respond with a matching action. Show me how you would throw a ball. Show me how to hop on one foot. Show me how to turn around. Show me how to hold a book. Show me how to eat an ice cream cone. Show me how to kick a ball. Show me how to clap your hands. Show me how a bird would fly. Show me how you would touch your toes. Show me how to give a high five. Show me how to swim. Show me how you would be your favorite animal. Show me how to sit down. At the close of the game, say something like, The Bible is God s message about Himself and how we should live. Knowing and following God s ways will bring joy. Let s say our Bible phrase again, The joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10, KJV). Ask, Where does joy come from? The Lord! Dismiss children as parents arrive. Be sure to follow the security procedures of your church. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B Page 4
Resources and Supplies Old Testament Unit 12: Prophets and Esther Lesson 4: Ezra Read the Law Hour B Standard Art Supplies (Supplies that are generally in the room) Washable markers Crayons Child scissors Playdough and accessories Drawing paper Easel (optional) Glue/glue sticks Tempera paint, 4 colors Tape/masking tape Pencils/colored pencils Hole punch Teacher scissors Stapler/staples Permanent markers Watercolors Paintbrushes Yarn Standard Equipment (Equipment that is generally in the room) Bible Small beanbag for Bible Story Time Assorted wooden/cardboard puzzles Set of wooden blocks Small cars and trucks Doll bed Baby doll (soft plastic) Stove/sink unit Play dishes/pots and pans Small table and chairs Small carpet for block area Play food items Storage shelf for blocks Tables and chairs for art, puzzles, and Bible Learning Center CD player/children s Worship CDs Reproducibles (Included with the lesson plan downloads) Activity Page: Color by Number (1 copy per child) Shaker Covers (1 copy for every 2 children) Teaching Picture: Ezra Read the Law (1 copy per class) God s Unfolding Story Cube (Cardstock 1 copy per class) Parent Page (1 copy per child) Coloring Page, Ezra Read the Law Additional Art Materials Long sheet of white paper Bible story picture book or past Bible story teaching pictures Additional Craft Materials Small paper plates (2 per child) Dried beans OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B
2 2 3 4 JOY 1 3 4 1 4 1 4 2 Color the spaces: 1 = Blue 2 = Yellow 3 = Red 4 = Green The joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Activity Page, Color by Number, Ezra Read the Law Instructions: One copy per child. Color the picture using the code at the bottom of the page. Color the spaces with the numeral 1 first. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour B Bible Learning Center
God s Story Cube Instructions: Cut out on dotted lines, fold on solid lines. Glue or tape to form a cube.
The joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Shaker Covers The joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Craft Time: Shaker Covers Instructions: One copy for every 2 children. Cut out the Shaker Covers and color. Make a shaker by taping or stapling two small paper plates together like a pocket. Leave a small opening to insert a handful of dried beans and then close with tape or by stapling. Glue the Shaker Cover to one side of the paper plate. OT12 Lesson 4 Hour A Craft Time
For the joy of the Lord is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Coloring Page Ezra Read the Law OT12 Lesson 4 Optional