Dear Parents, We hope the following summary of the Sunday School lesson will help you in discussing the lesson with your children and working through this booklet together.
Ezra & Nehemiah
SCRIPTURE PASSAGE: Ezra 3:7-4:24, 2 Corinthians 6:14-17 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY:
The exiles have now set up their homes, and have begun worshipping around an altar, and next begin to work on rebuilding the temple. They work hard to get the new foundation laid, and then celebrate when that work is done. There is cheering but also sadness from those who remember how grand the old temple was when they see how small this one will be. Soon the people around them begin to oppose them, first trying to pretend to work with them, and then writing to the king to get them stopped. Finally the opposition is successful, and the work is stopped. LESSON FOCUS:
God is pleased when I obey Him in small things.
Things are not going to be easy when I am obeying God.
Sometimes God makes me wait and be frustrated as part of helping me grow.
The Exiles Begin To Rebuild The Temple
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD: God
allows trouble in my life, not to harm me, but to help me grow.
God’s Work Is Opposed
RESPONSE: While
we are to work heartily for the Lord, we must also wait for His timing, practicing patience when we are living in difficult times.
This Week’s Memory Verse: Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
Copyright 2009 Berean Baptist Church 309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
January 13, 2013
Monday—The Exiles Begin Building
Read Ezra 3:7-9
Which two kinds of workers were hired to start building the temple? ___ Masons ___ Bakers ___ Singers ___ Carpenters
Saturday—This Week’s Puzzle Find and circle all eight words in the list below. When you solve the word search, a hidden message will be revealed! Write it out in the blank lines provided.
Temple Building Troubles
What building supply was carried by sea from Lebanon to Joppa?
C
B
A
E
S
T
T
F
M
R
E
O
R
N
G
A
E
O
E
S
Cedar Logs
D
N
T
D
C
O
M
U
L
T
Stone Tablets
A
G
A
U
R
A
P
N
A
O
R
O
X
B
U
I
L
D
S
P
G
D
E
E
O
U
E
A
U
S
Q
Y
R
K
S
P
S
T
R
K
A
Z
X
Z
S
B
D
I
E
S
F
X
E
L
C
A
M
O
J
Q
V
C
S
P
G
J
P
N
W
M
Iron Glue
After the Israelites returned from exile, when did they begin rebuilding the temple? A. Two decades and two years B. Two years and two months C. Two weeks and two days Who was chosen to supervise the work of rebuilding the temple? The L
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Building something new takes careful planning and perseverance. What is perseverance?
Determination to keep going
Artaxerxes
Foundation
God
Cedar
Build
Jerusalem
Stop
Temple
A strong weather storm A bag with handles worn over your shoulder A decision to give up and quit trying Dear God, thank you for giving me a mind that can think and plan. Help me to keep going with perserverance, even when I don’t feel like it. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
__ __
__ __ __ __ __ __
__ __ __
__ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ !
Friday—The Work Comes To A Stop
Recite Ezra 4:17-24
Tuesday—The Foundation Is Set!
Read Ezra 3:10-13
Did King Artaxerxes reply to the letter against the exiles?
____ Yes
____ No
____ Not sure
What part of the temple was complete? A. The foundation.
Artaxerxes commanded the exiles to: 1. Keep building
B. The foundation and four walls. C. The foundation, four walls, and doorways. D. The foundation, four walls and a roof.
2. Pay their taxes 3. Move to another city
How did the people show their praise and thanksgiving to God? Draw a line from the people to all the ways they celebrated in in today’s reading:
4. Stop rebuilding
When did Rehum and Shimshai deliver the order to the exiles? Immediately The next day The next week The next month
Draw a picture of how the exiles must have felt as they were forced to stop working.
The Israelites sang a song of praise and thanksgiving: “He is His ___________________ to Israel endures!”
Can you fill in the blanks of this weeks memory verse without peeking? Be strong and ____________________ . Do not be
___________ or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never ______________ you nor forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6
____________;
Not everyone shouted with joy. What did the older priests and family leaders do when they saw the foundation?
___ They laughed out loud. ____ They wept loudly. ___ They sniffed quietly. Could the people tell the difference between the should of joy and the sounds of weeping?
___ Yes
___ No
___ Not sure
Wednesday—Trouble Brews
Read Ezra 4:1-5 2 Corinthians 6:14-17
Thursday—The Enemies Take Action
Who offered to help with the building of the temple?
Who was the commanding officer?
Rack, Shack and Benny
R ___ ___ ___ ___
The Egyptians Enemies in Exile Friends of the exiles
Ezra 4:6-16
What was the name of the secretary?
S ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___
Were these enemies honest and sincere about helping build the temple?
What did they send to the king of Persia? Circle one.
_____ Yes _____ No _____ Not sure
Jewels
How did the exile leaders respond to this offer? Circle the correct words in the verse below:
“You have (some, no) part with us in building a temple to our God. We (alone, together) will build it for the LORD, the God of Israel, as King Cyrus, the king of Persia, (scolded, commanded) us.” Why did the leaders say “no” to the help offered from the enemies around Jerusalem? A. They wanted to win a contest for building the best temple. B. God wanted to keep the Israelites from joining closely together with people who could keep them from following God.
frankincense
a letter
an army of soldiers
What was the name of the king who received this? A. Spartaxerxes B. Bartaxerxes C. Martaxerxes D. Artaxerxes What did the letter accuse the exiles of? Check two of four.
Being rebellious and troublesome Stealing building supplies Refusing to pay taxes
C. They ran out of gold, oil and food to pay the workers.
Planning an attack against the king
D. They decided to move the location of the temple.
Have you ever been accused of doing something wrong?
What did the enemies do?
Read
___ Yes
___ No
___ Maybe
1. They set out to discourage the exiles from working. 2. They caused the exiles to be afraid. 3. They hired counselors to work against the exiles. 4. All of the above.
Dear God, Thank you for always being with me, even when I am in trouble. Help me to stand strong for You and to follow Your ways. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.