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 1:1 - 3:6; Jeremiah 25:1-14, 29:10-14, 31:15-20; 2 Chronicles 36:15-23; Isaiah 10:20-22, 44:24-28, 45:13 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: Under their kings, the people of Israel did not follow God’s Laws or obey His commands, and they would not listen to the prophets He sent, so He let them be taken captive by the Babylonians. For 70 years He let them be in captivity, one year for each seven that they had not kept His Sabbaths (His Laws). At the end of the 70 years, He stirred up the hearts of the king of Persia, Cyrus, and of nearly 50,000 of the exiles to return to Jerusalem and to once again put Him first and worship Him. They returned to their various towns and cities, and then quickly met in Jerusalem and built an altar and began to offer regular worship and sacrifice to God. LESSON FOCUS: God wants me to listen to Him and obey Him.
The Exiles Return to God and Jerusalem
God is looking for people who want to follow Him, and He will talk to them. God is faithful to keep His word and do His work through those who will listen to and obey Him.
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD:
A Change Of Heart Toward God
God is loving and kind and wants me to turn away from sin and obey Him. God is in control of everything, even the nations, and He has a plan for those who love Him.
RESPONSE: To look for ways that I can live for Jesus by seeing His actions around me and possibly giv-
ing something up that I value to show my worship of the Lord.
This Week’s Memory Verse: The Lord disciplines those He loves, and He punishes everyone He accepts as a son. Hebrews 12:6
Copyright 2009 Berean Baptist Church 309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
January 6, 2013
Read Jeremiah 25:1-11
Monday—God Gives the Israelites a 70-year “Time Out” Who was the king of Babylon?
N___________________________________
Why did God allow the Israelites to be taken captive by the Babylonians? A. They disobeyed God. B. They ignored the warnings given by the prophet.
Saturday—This Week’s Puzzle Our lesson this week shows us the importance of “time outs” in restoring our hearts to God. We can trust God to provide for us and lead us through all kinds of troubles. God is bigger than any problem we have, and He has good things in store for us. God is faithful to His promises. WE know this is true because the Bible tells us this is so. Cross out the incorrect words in the Bible verse below and write the correct words above them. Hint: The verse can found in the readings from Tuesday and Friday!
C. They worshipped other Gods. D. All of the above.
“For I know the plans I have for your lunch,”
How long were the Israelites held in captivity?
____ 70 days
_____ 70 months
_____ 17 years
_____ 70 years
Have you ever had a “time out” as a punishment for something that you did?
declares Jeremiah, “plans to feed you
Yes No Why do you think a “time out” is important? Check all that apply.
and not to sneeze on your plate,
To think about the consequences of our choices. To become sorry and repent for what we have done. To play with our toys and games.
plans to give you a milk mustache and
To catch up on homework. To restore our focus on doing the right things. To make good choices from now on.
a future of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
Jackson 5:11
Friday—We Listen to God; God Listens to Us
Recite Your memory verse 3 times
God had important things to say to the Israelites. Circle one way that God spoke to the Israelites thousands of years ago.
Tuesday—God Has Good Plans For Israel
After the Israelites spent 70 years in Babylon, what did God promise to do for them?
Read Jeremiah 25:12-14; 29:10-14;31:15-20
A. Free them from captivity
Carvings on rocks
B. Return them to their home land C. Punish the king of Babylon and his nation Through Camels
Through God’s Prophets
Rain Storms
God also has important things to say to us. How does God speak to us today? Check two.
D. All of the above Do you think the Israelites were hopeful about their future?
Yes No
Through His Word in the Bible.
Not sure
Emails from Heaven. Telephone calls. His still, small voice inside of us.
Draw a line to match the items on the left with God’s statements on the right:
In what ways can we hear God better?
_____ putting ear muffs on _____ being quiet _____ listening for His small voice
! out d n i ’s f ah 13 Let Isai 45: d Rea 4-28; 2 44:
_____ praying
God loves us greatly and cares for us deeply! He wants us to talk to Him about everything. Re-read Jeremiah 25:10-14. God makes a promise to us when we do
___________ upon Me, come to Me, p __________ to Me, and I will l ____________.” these things (verse 12): “C
Thank you God, for your promises to come to me and listen to me when I seek you with my whole heart! Help me to come to you and call upon you every day. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Jerusalem Cyrus Towns of Judah The Temple Watery deep Ruins of Judah Did God provide real hope for their future?
“They shall be built” “Be dry, I will dry up your streams” “I will restore them.” “He is My Shepherd.” “It shall be inhabited.” “Let its foundations be laid.”
_____ Yes _____ No
Dear God, thank you for the good plans you have for me. Help me to obey as your plans unfold in my life. In Jesus’ name, I Pray, Amen.
Wednesday—God Restores His People
Read Ezra 1:1-11; 2:1-2; 64-70; 2 Chronicles
At the end of the 70 year captivity, who was the king of Persia?
___ ___ ___ ___ ___
36:22-23 How did God speak to Cyrus?
____ Through the Israelite priests ____ Through a donkey ____ Through an angel ____ He moved Cyrus’ heart
Thursday—Israel Remembers and Honors God When God sent the Israelites to Babylon in exile, what happened to God’s temple and the treasures in it?
Read 2 Chronicles 36:15-21
(Check two)
The Babylonians took the treasures with them. The Babylonians left the treasures in the temple. The temple became a barn. The temple was burned and destroyed. Read Ezra 1:2-11; 2:68-70; 3:1-6 Where the temple’s treasures retuned to Jerusalem?
____ yes ____ no
Which announcements did Cyrus have for the Israelites? Check three of five answers.
Shortly after the Israelites settled in their towns, what important project did they work on?
The were free to return to the Promised Land.
A. They organized an army to battle their enemies.
They were free to battle the Babylonians.
B. They built an altar for God and began rebuilding the temple.
God appointed Cyrus to build a temple in Jerusalem.
C. They planted crops in their fields.
They were punished with 70 additional years of captivity. The people were to provide supplies and gifts for the returning Israelites. Draw a picture to show how the Israelites must have felt when they heard the news?
What was the name of the Feast they celebrated?
_____ Feast of the Temple.
_____ Feast of Tobiah.
_____ Feast of Tel Aviv
_____ Feast of Tabernacles.
Write a sentence prayer honoring God:
_____________________ ________________________________________________ _____________________________________________.
Did God keep his promise to return the Israelites to their land?
Dear God, I want to honor you with my gift of
Yes
Amen.
No