Leader BIBLE STUDY Use Week of: 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. 2 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. 1
The BIBLE STORY Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 God s people were living in Babylon, far away from their homes and land. But many years before, Jeremiah the prophet had told the people a message from God. It was a promise! God had said that the people would have to stay in Babylon for 70 years, but then He promised to 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 over 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 and silver. They gave God s people animals to take back to Jerusalem. So 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. What would the land look like? 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. God s people were very careful to obey them. The priests made the altar in the same place the old altar had been. 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 get big logs and bring them to Jerusalem. 3
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. 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: Zerubbabel led God s people home to fix the temple. Jesus came to earth to save God s 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. The Exiles Returned 4
Small Group OPENING Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. 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. I Was Glad song offering basket Allergy Alert favorite toys LOW PREP What s Wrong with This Picture? activity page, 1 per kid pencils or crayons Welcome and Session Starter (15-20 minutes) Play I Was Glad in the background as you welcome preschoolers. Set an offering basket near the door and collect an offering at an appropriate time. Post an allergy alert, if necessary. Set out a few favorite toys such as puzzles and blocks. Activity Page: What s Wrong with This Picture? Follow the directions on the activity sheet to help kids find all the things that do not belong in the picture of God s people returning to Judah. Kids may need a gentle reminder that some items were not yet created when God s people returned from exile. Say Many people are traveling in our picture. Where do you think they are going? God had promised His people that after 70 years, He would lead them back to their homes in Judah. Today we ll find out in our Bible story how God kept His promise! Note for leaders: God had told His people through the prophet Jeremiah that the exile would only last 70 years. The ruler of Babylon at the time, King Cyrus of Persia, 5
issued an order that sent the people of Judah back to their land to rebuild Jerusalem. Cyrus gave them everything they would need to help rebuild the temple. Read Isaiah 44:24-28; God promised 150 years prior that Cyrus would help God s people! Now the day had finally come! It was a great day to be one of God s people, but they also had many years of hard work ahead of them. books (optional) blocks Transition cue: Ring the bell, show the countdown video, flip the lights, or clap a simple rhythm for children to copy to gain attention. Build a foundation Create an uneven surface by propping up one book with another so that it slants, or using an existing surface like a curved chair seat. Direct preschoolers to use blocks to create a tower on the uneven surface. Explain that the structure can t stand up properly because of the uneven surface. Now lay the book flat, or use the floor or a table to create a foundation of blocks. Say A building needs a strong foundation so it can stand straight and last a long time. Without a good foundation, buildings may fall or break apart. When God s people returned to Judah, they laid a new foundation for God s temple. They wanted the temple to last a long time. Make promises Play a game of promises. Invite each child to promise to do something, like hug a friend, run in place, sing a song, and so forth. When each child has decided on his action he may say, I promise to Then you say, OK, do what you promised. Watch as the child performs the action, and offer congratulations when he is finished. Say God made a promise to His people. Do you think God kept His promise? Transition to Bible study The Exiles Returned 6
Large Group BIBLE STUDY Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. 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. Large Group Bible Study (10 15 minutes) Introduce the Bible story Encourage children to pretend that you are on a long car ride together. As you describe the ride, they will play out actions accordingly. Talk about packing the car, putting on their seat belts, turning on the air conditioner, looking for stops along the way, playing with a brother or sister, and so forth. Talk about all the things that happen during a long drive (hunger, thirst, sleepiness, stiff muscles). Talk about landmarks that are close to your destination and the excitement that comes with seeing them! Rejoice about turning onto that last street. Stand up together and stretch after finishing such a long ride. Say Today s story is about how God s people were away from home for a long time. Can you guess how long they were away from home? Seventy years! But God finally said, It s time to go home. Do you think they were excited to finally go home? 7
Bible Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home video Timeline Map Key Passage Slide Poster Look song Big Picture Question Slide or Poster Tip: Do activities 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 Watch or tell the Bible story Point to the story in your Bible in the Book of Ezra. Say The Book of Ezra was written around the time when God s people returned to Jerusalem. The book that follows it, Nehemiah, is about the same thing. Play the video Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home, or tell the story with your Bible open. Ask kids to celebrate with you at appropriate moments in the story by cheering. Talk about the Bible story Point to the Bible story picture as you show where the story is located on the timeline map. Ask the following review questions: Who told God s people that they could go home? (King Cyrus) Who led the people on their way home? (Zerubbabel) What did the people need to do when they got back to Judah? (rebuild the temple) How long had the people been in Babylon? (Seventy years) Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. Say Zerubbabel led God s people home to fix the temple. Jesus came to earth to save God s 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. Review the key passage, reminding the children that this verse was written long before Jesus came to earth. It was written by the prophet Zechariah, one of God s messengers. Sing the key passage song. Transition to small groups The Exiles Returned 8
Small Group ACTIVITIES Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1 2:2; 2:64 3:13 Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. 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. Small Group Activities (20 25 minutes) Mention the big picture question and Christ connection in each activity. As kids work together in the activities, reinforce details from the Bible story. LOW PREP paper art supplies I Was Glad song book cup pillow megaphone Party on paper Play happy music such as I Was Glad and ask kids to show you what a party looks like on paper. Let kids paint, color, stamp, or add stickers to their own works of art. Encourage them to draw or paint pictures of things that remind them of a party. Say When God s people laid the foundation of the temple, they had a big party. Everyone was shouting, playing music, and thanking God for keeping His promise to take them home after 70 years of being away. Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. Make a loud shout Experiment with preschoolers to make their voices louder and softer. Cover your mouth with your hands or cup your hands as you speak through them. Cover your mouth with various items like a book, cup, pillow, or megaphone. You 9
can make a simple megaphone by rolling up a piece of paper. Say When God s people laid the foundation of the temple, they shouted because they were so happy. They praised God with all their might. Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. large suitcase or duffel bag piles of clothes travel items blocks various soft or uneven materials such as a pillow, rock, or bowl of uncooked rice hardcover book or large wooden block Run a packing relay At one end of the room, place a large suitcase or duffel bag. At the other end of the room, form two teams of kids. Assign each team a pile of clothes or items they might need on a long trip such as a pillow, a blanket, snacks, favorite toys, and so forth. Line up the children. One at a time, they will take one item from their pile, run it to the suitcase, pack the item, and return to the back of the line. The first team to pack their items completely wins! Say Have you ever gone on a long trip and had to pack a suitcase? What kinds of things did you take with you? What kinds of things do you think God s people packed when they returned to their homeland? I bet they took everything they owned. They didn t worry about going back to Babylon. God kept His promise to lead them back to Judah. Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. Is this a foundation? Invite children to build towers using blocks on their choice of materials for a foundation. Provide a soft pillow, an uneven rock, a bowl of uncooked rice, and various other soft or uneven materials. Also provide something solid like a hardcover book or a large wooden block. Ask what makes a good foundation. If kids choose the solid materials right away, congratulate them and ask them to experiment with the uneven materials as well. The Exiles Returned 10
Say Let s see what happens when we try to build on each type of foundation. God s people knew that they needed a strong foundation for the new temple. Building a foundation like that would take a lot of money and a whole lot of work, but they knew that God would give them what they needed when they returned. Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. Big Picture Question Slide, 1 per kid crayons hole punch string or yarn walking rope (optional) Lead me home Print one big picture question for each child. Instruct preschoolers to use crayons to decorate the words. Punch a hole in one end of the paper and tie a long piece of string or yarn through it. Remind children that Zerubbabel led the people home to fulfill God s promise. If your classroom uses a walking rope, use it to lead the kids around the classroom. Mention that you are leading them. Encourage kids to lead the big picture question paper around the room as they pull it by the string. Feel free to act out the story with children as though they are the returning exiles. Say God kept His promise to lead the Israelites home. Does God keep His promises? God always keeps His promises. 11