3-5s
Theme: God is building
his people from trouble and shame, and has provided a wonderful , loving leader
Intros:
·
Building – give them some objects to build with
– do they like it? How would they feel if it was knocked down?
·
What makes them sad, afraid, worried? – have
some pictures to help them think
Teaching:
Context
A long, long time ago, long before Jesus came, God gave His
people, the Israelites, a land to live in [mark out a space on the table]. They
lived here happily for a long time. God gave them kings [place small crowns in
the ‘land’] – Saul, David, Solomon. They lived in the city of Jerusalem [build
a city out of small jenga bricks] and even built a temple, a big building, to
worship God in.
Sadly God’s people didn’t love and obey him and God sent an
enemy army from Babylon to come and take them away [bring in little army
figures] They destroyed the temple and broke down the walls of Jerusalem. [break
down the walls]
After 70 years God’s people returned to the land. First they
rebuilt the temple and then they listened to God’s rules and tried to make
themselves right with God again.
But not everyone came home. Some were left in Babylon under
King Artaxerxes [have a small king figure on a throne outside the ‘land’]. One
of those was Nehemiah, who was the King’s cupbearer. That meant that he tasted
the King’s drinks before bringing them to him. [have a small figure with a
cup].
A message came to Nehemiah from his friend, Hanani, in
Jerusalem. [Bring out message and read from v3]. Did you hear what was going
on? The walls around Jerusalem are still broken down. Nobody has rebuilt them.
How do you think Nehemiah felt about this? [take
suggestions, could use emotions to get responses]
Nehemiah cried. He was so sad about this. He didn’t eat for
days. Because God’s city was in a mess, it made it look like God didn’t care
any more. And God always cares for his people. He wants to build them up and
protect them.
So Nehemiah prayed. And he prayed an amazing prayer. He
started by saying, ‘God you are amazing’ Read v5 and then get them to repeat
‘God you are amazing’. [thumbs up?]
Then Nehemiah said sorry. Sorry for all the things that he
and the people had done to make God angry. Read v6-7. Get them to say together,
‘Sorry God’ [thumbs down]
Then Nehemiah reminded God of the promises he had made to
make right those who say sorry. Then he asked God to listen to him as he went
before the king to ask the king to help. [thumbs in and say ‘please’ together]
So what have we seen in Nehemiah’s prayer [repeat words and
actions]. These are things we can pray at any time.
Did you know Jesus also cried about Jerusalem? He was sad
because the people there were still ignoring God hundreds of years later. Like
Nehemiah, he loved and wanted to protect the people.
Does it make you sad when some people don’t love Jesus? How
can you pray for them?
Craft:
·
Stick brown oblongs onto broken wall picture
·
Stick and colour sad face and pictures from the
prayer
Songs:
·
Jesus loves me, this I know
·
Jesus loves the little children
5-11s
Theme: God is building
his people from trouble and shame, and has provided a wonderful , loving leader
Intro:
·
Building activity – they have a pile of boxes
and have to build the walls of Jerusalem
Teaching:
Ask – what makes you sad? Today we’re going to see someone
who was very sad. And he was sad about a broken wall. Does that sound a bit
strange?
First, we need to do a bit of timeline: [recap bible history
from entering the land, Kings, exile to Babylon (take down their wall at this)
and return]
So, when they returned they rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem.
But some people didn’t return from Babylon. One of those people was Nehemiah,
he was cupbearer to King Artaxerxes of Babylon. That meant that he drank the
king’s drinks to make sure they were ok for him. [dress up two characters]
One day a message came to Nehemiah from his friend Hanani,
in Jerusalem. Here is what it said, [bring message from Jerusalem to Babylon
with v3 on]
How do you think Nehemiah felt about this? [Take
suggestions]
Here’s how he felt – read v4. Is that how you would feel
about a broken down wall? Why do you think he felt so sad? [take suggestions]
I think he felt so sad because it was bringing shame on
God’s name and reputation. People saw the broken walls of Jerusalem and thought
that God didn’t care about his people.
So, Nehemiah prayed [Nehemiah on knees]
[Nehemiah reads v5] Nehemiah says, ‘God, you’re brilliant!’
Always the best way to start a prayer.
[Nehemiah reads v6-7] Then Nehemiah says sorry for all his
sins and the sins of his people. It’s right that we say sorry to God for all
the times we disobey Him.
[Nehemiah reads v8-9] Then Nehemiah reminds God of His
promises. As if to say, remember what you said you would do!
[Nehemiah reads v10-11] Then Nehemiah asks God for help as
he goes before the King.
Do you know that for 400 years after the end of this book
nothing happened? Then Jesus came. And do you know what Jesus did? He wept over
Jerusalem. He cried because they had still rejected God. Jesus loves and cares
for us and weeps over those who say no to Him. Is that how you feel about the
people in your class who don’t love and trust Jesus? Is that how you feel about
those in your family who don’t love and trust Jesus?
Jesus wants to build up his church, not the building but the
people. That’s what He’s doing in us today and around the world. Isn’t it
amazing to be part of it?
Table Time: [add
a Jenga block to your ‘wall’ for each good contribution]
Knowledge
·
What was the problem in Jerusalem?
·
What was Nehemiah’s response to it?
Understanding
·
Why did Nehemiah feel so sad?
·
How is Nehemiah pointing us forward to Jesus?
Application
·
How do you feel about your friends and family
who don’t love and trust Jesus?
·
What can you be praying for them?
·
How can you honour God as Nehemiah wanted to do?
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