Bible Passage: Ezra 1 8 (Return to Jerusalem and Rebuilding of the Temple) God Is Faithful REMEMBER VERSE This is what the LORD says your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 SERVICE SCHEDULE Explore Welcome & Engage 10 15 minutes Discover & Respond Large Group 30 minutes Respond & Bless 25 minutes 1
Inspire It was the summer of 1986. We d spend countless hours rehearsing, rewriting, and recording the music for the musical Hi-Tops. Our first show in Southern California was presented to a packed house. It was so full, in fact, that second and third shows were added to the opening day. My cast mates and I prepared to begin the national tour. The tour left for Florida for the first leg of our East Coast swing. The elaborate sets, which had taken six months to build, headed off in trucks to meet us when we arrived. On the way, the unthinkable happened. One of the drivers fell asleep and the truck careened off the interstate, flying about 50 feet into a ditch. Fortunately the driver was fine, but the set was completely destroyed. Our hopes of a national tour seemed dashed. When we got the news, our partner church in Florida jumped into action. They asked that all-important question, What needs to be done? In the 36 hours that followed, the cast, crew, and our host church worked around the clock building a new set. With the paint still wet, we began the first show right on time. The show continued on to complete a very successful national tour. God was gracious and allowed us to see Him work through the musical to change thousands of kids lives. We were undergirded throughout the tour with the phrase God is faithful. We witnessed firsthand how servants of God saw what needed to be done, and God was glorified. Looking back, I can see that when we serve God faithfully, we provide an opportunity for Him to display His faithfulness to us. Equip God is faithful. The last verse of 2 Chronicles describes how Cyrus the Great made a proclamation that the Jews could return home to rebuild their temple. In 605 B.C. Nebuchadnezzar had conquered the Jewish nation (eventually destroying their temple), beginning the period known as the Babylonian Captivity. With the decree by Cyrus in 538 B.C. (temple construction beginning in 536), the Israelites 70 years of captivity were finally over. The question is, why would Cyrus, king of the Persian Empire and ruler of the known world, care about the fate of such an insignificant people? Cyrus had recently unified the Medes and the Persians into one powerful coalition. He then conquered the supposedly impregnable city of Babylon without a fight, as we see described in Daniel chapter 5. Josephus, a well-known historian, also relates the account of the victorious Cyrus riding into Babylon. Daniel met Cyrus and presented him with a scroll the book of Isaiah written 150 years earlier. In it, Isaiah prophesied that Cyrus would eventually conquer Babylon (Isaiah 44:26 45:13). In Isaiah, God speaks directly to Cyrus, saying, [It is I] who says of Cyrus, He is my shepherd and will accomplish all that I please; he will say of Jerusalem, Let it be rebuilt, and of the temple, Let its foundations be laid (44:28). Cyrus was so impressed that he ordered the Jews be allowed to return to their homeland. He gave back all the gold and silver implements that Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon, had plundered from the temple. This is also described on the famous Stele of Cyrus, which can be seen in the British Museum in London. One year after the proclamation by Cyrus, 50,000 Jews returned home under the leadership of Zerubbabel. This was exactly 70 years after the captivity began precisely as Jeremiah foretold (Jeremiah 25:11). God truly is faithful. Did You Know... Cyrus s Victory The walls of Babylon were so thick that three chariots could be ridden abreast atop them. According to Herodotus, the father of ancient history, the walls were some 300 feet high and measured at least 150 feet wide. Another challenge to the invading Persians was the fact that Babylon had an endless supply of water; the Euphrates River ran directly through the middle of the city. The Babylonians could have easily withstood years of siege. Because of this, the key to Cyrus s victory was a battle in which Persia captured control of Babylon s canal system. The Persians diverted the water feeding the Euphrates. When the water level dropped, Cyrus s troops walked into the city under the walls during the night, with the water up to their thighs. They conquered Babylon without a fight. Support God is faithful. This theme runs throughout the book of Ezra. God s people had been taken captive to a foreign land and had seen their beloved Jerusalem completely destroyed. It had been 70 years since Nebuchadnezzar and the armies of Babylon had conquered them. They had to be plagued by doubts and questions about the power and faithfulness of God. Why would He let this happen? But then in the book of Ezra, we again see God s faithfulness. He miraculously rescued His people from their captivity, using the Persian king Cyrus to accomplish it. How has God been faithful in your life? We read about His faithfulness in the Bible and we re encouraged, but there are countless ways God demonstrates His faithfulness to us each day. Do we take the time to thank Him? When we remember and acknowledge God s faithfulness, we cultivate a true attitude of gratitude. This week, take a few minutes every day, perhaps at the breakfast table, to ask every member of your family how they re grateful. How has God been faithful in their lives? As an act of worshipful response, encourage each person to ask the Lord how He may want to use him in each new day. 2
Lesson Overview: Ezra 1-8 Experience Time Summary Supplies/Prepare Explore Welcome & Engage 10 15 min. Exploration stations create space intended to transition children to lead them from the external world into an environment where they can commune with God, just as they are with all that they are. Rebuild It (per small group) Building toys (suggestions: linking blocks, wooden blocks, legos etc.) Play Tools Coloring Page (per child) Lesson themed coloring page Discover Large Group Respond Large Group 30 min. Facilitate interactive games, songs, and storytelling, allowing children to participate in discovering God s Word. Create space for children to respond to the Holy Spirit in worship and community. God Is Faithful Worship songs Mail Time/Remember Verse What sit: Gold and Silver Coins The Big God Story Today in the Big God Story we will hear about the return to Jerusalem and the Rebuilding of the Temple. Worship through response Respond Review/Bless/ Connect/Create 15 30 min. Further process the story through discussion and interaction with others, and respond to God in worship through creative expression. Wonder Questions Resource (campus optional) Blessing Blessing/Remember Verse Bless 5 min Bless the children that they may experience God fully and be a blessing to others. Create: Faithful Frames (per child) Construction Paper (various colors, 1 sheet for every 2 children) Art Medium of your Choice Glue Sticks Engage: Temple Build (per small group) Building Blocks or Cardboard boxes (5-10) Masking Tape Stopwatch Family First Look (hand out) 3
Explore 10-15 minutes Rebuild It! Today in The Big God Story, children will discover how God s people returned to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the temple. SUPPLIES (per small group) Building toys (suggestions: linking blocks, wooden blocks, etc.) Play Tools SET UP In the center of the table, construct a small building out of the blocks, or stack blocks in a pattern that children can recreate. Place additional blocks on the table for children to use and build with. Lay the tools alongside the blocks. RELATE Welcome children to the EXPLORE Station. Explain that their goal is to try to recreate the object they see in the center of the table, using the blocks provided for them. Is it difficult or easy to recreate the building in the center of the table? What makes it difficult or easy? Does having someone help you make it easier to rebuild the model? Why? Would it be harder for you if I took blocks, or jiggled the table? As an alternative for younger children, allow them to use the blocks to create their own buildings without the prepared model. Ask: What kind of building are you creating? Encourage them to use the tools to pretend as they are building. Ask about the tools and how they would be used to help building. Clean up/move to Large Group 5 min. A CD with clean up music will be played. At this time, please encourage and assist the kids with clean up and proceed to the large group programming area. Be sure to model for the kid s large group behavior. Please participate in all aspects of today s large group time. Transition Tips To help transition children between activities, consider giving them a five-minute warning. Choose something simple like flickering the lights or a sound signal such as a bell, rain stick, or music clip. When the five minutes are up, give the signal again along with two simple instructions to help them end their activity and move into the next. For example (cue signal): Friends, it s time to clean up. Please put all the toy animals and people into the EXPLORE bin. Then line up quietly at the door. This process will help children prepare and move through transitions with ease. 4
LARGE Group Discover: (22 minutes) Host/Storyteller Children move into a large group setting and participate in discovering God s Word through storytelling, worship, and interactive experiences. Ponder Point God is Faithful - this icon will help the tech or storyteller to know when to advance the slides in the Wonder playlist. Spot s Rules Mail Time Wardrobe of Wonder > > > SUPPLIES Countdown video w/ theme song (in playlist) Spot s Rules slide (in playlist) Worship music (in playlist) This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Hold One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 REMEMBER VERSE MOTIONS: This is what the LORD says: Point up to God your Redeemer: Point out in front of you the Holy One of Israel: Bring both hands together, flat against each other, in prayer stance, in front of chest. I am the LORD your God: Make L with right hand. Cross right hand over front of body from left shoulder to right hip. who teaches you what is best for you: Touch forehead with both hands and move hands forward. who directs you in the way you should go: Hold palms facing each other and move them forward in a snakelike motion. SUPPLIES Remember Verse image or video Bible What sit Gold & Silver Coins God used the Persian king Cyrus to release His people to return to Jerusalem. The king heard the words that had been spoken of him in Scripture long ago. He gave money to provide the resources the Israelites needed to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He also returned the expensive items that had been taken from the original temple when it was destroyed. The Israelite people gave gifts of gold and silver to help pay for the rebuilding. When we see these coins, we can remember how God was faithful to provide valuable items for the rebuilding of the temple. The Big God Story > Worship Response > SUPPLIES 6 large boxes or building blocks SUPPLIES worship song Instrumental Music PREPARE AHEAD -nothing 5
Spot s Rules (2 minutes) Host Each week children will begin their large group time with the rules of your preschool program. Spot s Rules is a time for simple reminders about how to be a part of a loving community by respecting each other. ENGAGE Welcome children as they re entering the large group meeting area. Direct the children to sit with their leaders in the designated area on the floor. Begin countdown video after the kids have all sat down. Be sure to introduce Spot to the children the first day he appears in your large group time. Say, Okay boys and girls, it s time to go over our rules! Show Spot s Rules slide and go over the two rules, Be Kind and Be Safe Once Spot s Rules are over, cue the Mail Time intro clip Mail Time (4 minutes) Host Each week children will receive mail in the mailbox you ve created. Written on the mail is the month s Remember Verse from the Bible. It s important for children to associate the message written on the mail as words from the Bible, so be sure to have a Bible visible for reference. Invite a child to come up on the stage to help you open today s mail. ENGAGE After the child opens the mailbox and retrieves the mail, ask your volunteer to be seated with their small group. The Host will then read the enclosed Remember Verse as it appears on the screen. Talk about the meaning of the verse while interacting with the children and other leaders onstage with you. Define any unfamiliar words for the children. The Host should lead the large group in reciting the Remember Verse several times together using a variety of engaging methods. Using the hand motions listed below, go over the verse two or three times with the kids. Use as much excitement and enthusiasm as you can! Treat this as a celebration an exciting time of introducing your children to God s Word. Applaud them for a job well done! Remember Verse Motions (Teacher Tip: Take your time, go slowly, break it down and explain the words as you go ) Cue Remember Verse motions video This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Hold One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 REMEMBER VERSE MOTIONS: This is what the LORD says: Point up to God your Redeemer: Point out in front of you the Holy One of Israel: Bring both hands together, flat against each other, in prayer stance, in front of chest. I am the LORD your God: Make L with right hand. Cross right hand over front of body from left shoulder to right hip. who teaches you what is best for you: Touch forehead with both hands and move hands forward. who directs you in the way you should go: Hold palms facing each other and move them forward in a snakelike motion. 6
LARGE Group Worship Song: Great Big God (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist After the Host asks the kids to sit down, cue Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip Wardrobe of Wonder (5 minutes) Host The Wardrobe of Wonder is a fun and interactive entrance point into God s story. Each week a new object called a What sit, which is connected to and sometimes used in The Big God Story, is hidden in the wardrobe. The Storyteller, Host, or Worship Leader will select a child volunteer to assist her with retrieving the What sit. Together as a community, the children will discover the identity of this object as they begin to ask questions from their observations and experiences. What sit Gold and Silver Coins God used the Persian king Cyrus to release His people to return to Jerusalem. The king heard the words that had been spoken of him in Scripture long ago. He gave money to provide the resources the Israelites needed to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. He also returned the expensive items that had been taken from the original temple when it was destroyed. The Israelite people gave gifts of gold and silver to help pay for the rebuilding. When we see these coins, we can remember how God was faithful to provide valuable items for the rebuilding of the temple. ENGAGE After putting on your silly thinking hats, lead all of the children in putting on their imaginary thinking hats and making their special thinking hat sound. Invite your child volunteer to spy on the What sit by peeking into the wardrobe. When the wardrobe is opened, cue the Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect. Have him/her whisper the identity of the What sit in your ear to ensure he/she knows what it is. Together, close the wardrobe, then sit at the edge of the stage (or teaching area) on two small stools. Lead the children in a few questions about the identity of the What sit. Children will guess what the object is by asking yes-or-no questions of you and your assistant (child). You can ask your own questions of your assistant if the kids are struggling with this activity. Once the children have finished guessing correctly, ask your assistant to retrieve the What sit from the wardrobe and bring it to you. Thank your volunteer and encourage her to sit with her small group. ASK (Child s name), what did you find in the Wardrobe of Wonder today? Children will answer. Why do you think there are gold and silver coins in the wardrobe this week? Interact with their answers. If these coins were real, would they be valuable? What could you do with these? Encourage responses. Let s find out how the coins relate to this part of The Big God Story. 7
The Big God Story Esther 5-10 PRAYER OF RELEASE The Prayer of Release is a time for children and leaders to pause, be still, and ask God to quiet their hearts and minds. If you d like, encourage kids to hold their open hands in front of them in a spirit of releasing worries and distractions, to better receive what the Holy Spirit might have for them. After the children quiet their voices and still their bodies, ask them to pray with you. LARGE Group TEACHER NOTE The lesson is written in such a way that there are interaction opportunities for the kids to participate verbally or with actions. YOU as the large group communicator can decide if you want to include them as you teach or if you want to skip over it. It may depend on how your kids are responding that morning and if you feel it will help or hinder the teaching for that particular day. RELATE Tech: Cue Wardrobe of Wonder intro clip and image. Hi, friends, how are you? Allow children to answer. I m so glad! Today we have a really exciting part of The Big God Story to discover. Before we get started, let s pray and ask God to teach us. Lead the children in a Prayer of Release. The last time we were together, we heard how God was faithful to use Queen Esther to save the lives of His people. Being faithful means that God does everything He says He will do. We can trust Him. Just as God was faithful to protect His people from harm, He was also faithful to help them return to their homeland the Promised Land of Israel. God s people had been living in a land that was not their own for many years. One day the land they were living in was taken over by the king of Persia King Cyrus. Well, many, many years before all this happened, God told a prophet all about King Cyrus-Remember we learned about prophets before. Prophets are people God used to tell about what was going to happen in the future. The prophet wrote down everything God told him. God said to the profit that it was His plan to use King Cyrus to help His people build a temple for God in Jerusalem. God s said that His people would return to their homes in Jerusalem. He also told the prophet that people everywhere would bring gifts for the Lord God of Israel: gold and silver, sheep, goats, and any offerings they chose. These gifts would be used in God s temple they were going to build in Jerusalem. Tech: Cue Wardrobe of Wonder sound effect. What was that sound? You re right! It s the What sit from the Wardrobe of Wonder! Take coins out of wardrobe. What were the people to bring as one of the offerings to the Lord God? Children will answer. That s right, silver and gold. When Cyrus heard what had been spoken by God to the Prophet so many years ago-cyrus knew what he had to do. Cyrus sent a message to the Jewish people that they would be able to return home soon! When the Israelites heard the news, many of God s people decided to leave the land of Babylon and return to the Promised Land with their families. When it was time to go, the people gathered everything together: gold and silver, animals, and everything to give to God for the temple. Place first building block in center of teaching space. Friends, why did the people want to rebuild God s temple? Allow kids to answer; interact with their responses. Good thinking. The temple was the place where God s people gathered to worship Him. 8
LARGE Group After many years of living in a land that was not their own, God s people, the Israelites, were finally able to go back to the land they d been taken away from so long ago. The people sang and praised God as they returned. Well, the very first thing the Israelites did when they got there was stop to give an offering to the Lord. Place second block. They worshipped God for who He is and all He had done! God is faithful. God s people the Israelites were home. The problem was, their home had been destroyed! They needed to rebuild it. So, the people got to work. Place third block. Together, the people worked for many years on the temple. Place fourth block. And as they worked, some people from neighboring towns tried to stop them! But God was faithful to His people. He was true to His Word and did what He said He would do by protecting them from their enemies. Place fifth block. When a new king came into power, he was given a letter that reminded him of the rule King Cyrus made for the Israelites. The king knew what to do to honor the promise King Cyrus made to God and His people. So, he honored the Israelites and the Lord God by sending even more silver and gold to the people so they were able to complete the temple. Place final block with big sigh. The temple was finished! God was faithful to bring His people home and to provide everything they needed to rebuild the temple. He brought the Israelites home and showed them what needed to be done so they could worship Him as His people! Friends, God knew that one day His people would be living far from home in Babylon. So He made a plan to be sure they could return one day. God was faithful to care for His people. And just as God was faithful to care for the Israelites so many years ago, He s faithful to care for us today. He s always with us and will always do what He says He ll do. God is faithful, and we can trust Him. Worship Song: God You re Big (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist Respond: 10 15 min. SUPPLIES Worship song RELATE Friends, today we heard how God was faithful to the Israelites by allowing them to rebuild the temple in the city of Jerusalem. Is God still faithful to us today? Children answer. Yes, He is! Do you think the Israelites celebrated God s faithfulness? Allow children to respond. Yes, the Israelites did a lot of celebrating. In fact, the Bible tells us that when the people were freed to return home and rebuild the temple, they began to sing! Today we can celebrate and praise God for His faithfulness to us. 9
Worship Song: Dance (3 minutes) Host Invite the kids to stand and sing with you, using motions Cue the worship song in the playlist *Close with a corporate prayer of blessing and dismiss 10
Respond 30 min. Snack/Wonder Questions Today in The Big God Story, we heard about God s faithfulness to the Israelites. We saw how He was faithful to give them everything they needed to rebuild the temple. God was faithful to help them complete the work they started. SUPPLIES (per table/small group) Snacks Resource (campus optional) What did the people do when the y found out their home was ruined? How do you think God s people felt when the king gave back everything that had been taken from the temple? How do you think the people felt when they were able to worship God together in the temple again? What are some ways we can celebrate God for his Faithfulness? Extra Resource: (Campus Optional) Each week additional questions/images are provided for your group to go a little deeper in its exploration of The Big God Story during your snack time. You can show this picture to your group to help remind them of the story as they are answering the Wonder questions listed in your curriculum. If time allows, there are also questions on the back of the picture. Please use your own Bible or the Bible provided in your small group bin to look up the specific verses that correspond with the questions. The kids will be challenged to listen for the answers while you read scripture as well as helping them learn how to look for truth in God s Word! Bless Gather the children around and remind them of the time they just spent together talking about God s faithfulness. After hearing today about the Israelites returning to Jerusalem and rebuilding the temple, what can you tell me about God and faith? Allow children to share answers. In God s Word, Lamentations 3:23 24 says: Great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him. Bless your group in saying the following blessing based on 1 Thessalonians 5:24 over the children, go around and bless each child in the circle. Blessing: (Child s name), God is faithful. He will give you everything you need as you serve Him and others. 11
This is what the Lord says-your Redeemer, the Hold One of Israel: I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17 This is what the LORD says: Point up to God your Redeemer: Point out in front of you the Holy One of Israel: Bring both hands together, flat against each other, in prayer stance, in front of chest. I am the LORD your God: Make L with right hand. Cross right hand over front of body from left shoulder to right hip. who teaches you what is best for you: Touch forehead with both hands and move hands forward. who directs you in the way you should go: Hold palms facing each other and move them forward in a snakelike motion. Create: Faithful Frames SUPPLIES (per small group) Construction paper (various colors including white, 1 sheet of each for every 2 children) Art Medium of your choice Glue sticks PREPARE AHEAD Cut the sheets of colored construction paper in half. Cut the white paper into slightly smaller rectangles so it can be framed by the colored piece. Near the upper corner of each white piece, write the words God Is Faithful. Prepare one set per child. RELATE Before children begin Create, explain: God was faithful to the Israelites when He worked through King Cyrus to serve them. God continued to be faithful to His people as He provided not only the materials they needed, but also the time and space to completely rebuild the temple. There are many ways God is faithful to us (examples: parents to guide, older siblings to help teach, leaders to help learn, etc.). What are some other ways God has been faithful to you? Remind them of the definition of faithful-(faithful: to be trustworthy; synonyms: loyal, correct, and true) After discussing, invite children to glue the white piece of paper onto the colored sheet. Encourage children to draw an image on the white paper inside the frame that shows a way God has been faithful to them. For instance, children could draw a picture of their family or the food in their kitchens. Have them take the drawing home as a reminder of God s faithfulness. 12
Engage: Temple Build SUPPLIES (per small group) Building blocks or cardboard boxes (5 10) Masking tape Stopwatch SET UP Place blocks or boxes together in a pile. Create a starting line with masking tape. RELATE After children have gathered, ask: What part of The Big God Story did we hear about today? Children answer. That s right. We heard how God was faithful to bring His people home to Jerusalem. What did the people do when they returned to their homeland? Children answer. They began to rebuild the temple, the place where they would meet to worship God. Though it was a very big project and took a long time to finish, God was faithful to provide all the materials the Israelites needed. Today we re going to play a game to remind us of God s faithfulness to help the Israelites finish the temple. You may choose to have the small group complete this game together, or you can split children into two teams that will race against one another. On one side of the room, place the blocks or boxes in a pile. On the other side, line up children. One at a time, children will race to the other side of the room and retrieve a box or block. Once a child has retrieved a box, she ll race back to the starting line and stack her box or block on top of another one. Each child will take turns adding to the stack until all of the boxes are used. If boxes fall, direct children to return the boxes or blocks to the original pile and start over. Time them to see how quickly they can complete their building. Consider having kids repeat the building to see if they can beat their previous time. WANT MORE? You may have children stack the boxes directly on top of one another, or have them form a pyramid or other pattern. Family First Look Be sure to hand out this week s Family First Look to the parents as they pick up their child. This resource will help parents review this week s lesson with their child and look ahead to next week s lesson. It also has this week s Blessing and the current Remember Verse their kids are learning. 13