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: Nehemiah 4:1-23 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: When the leaders in the areas around Jerusalem could see that the Jews were working on the wall, they made fun of them and tried to discourage them with words. Nehemiah turned to God and asked that God would turn their own words against them. When the wall reached half its finished height, and they began to close in the final gaps, their enemies became very worried and angry, and made plans to stop them by force. Those working on the wall were becoming tired and were getting overwhelmed. Nehemiah heard about their enemies’ plans, and they organized armed opposition. They gathered up weapons and guarded the city and the weakest points in the wall. Nehemiah reminded them that this was God’s work, and that God would fight for them. When their enemies realized that they could not scare them, they did not attack, and the work on the wall continued, and it was finished with God’s help. Everyone could see that God had helped them because the work was done so fast.
Nehemiah Encounters Resistance
LESSON FOCUS: When doing what God wants me to do, I will face opposition. We overcome opposition by praying, trusting God and doing what is right.
Standing Strong In Doing Good
Fighting opposition involves praying first and making a plan.
This Week’s Memory Verse:
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD: God allows opposition to come even when I am doing good for Him. God will fight for me when I trust in Him.
RESPONSE: We need to recognize opposition to godliness as an opportunity to draw closer to Jesus, to depend on God our Father, and to join Him in accomplishing His Kingdom here on earth.
For our struggle is not against the flesh and blood, but against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6:12
Copyright 2009 Berean Baptist Church 309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
February 10, 2013
Read Nehemiah 4:1-5
Monday—Nehemiah Calls On God
S ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ became angry at the news of rebuilding the wall.
Saturday—This Week’s Puzzle In this weeks lesson, Nehemiah faced opposition while doing good things for God. He was able to overcome it by praying, planning, and doing the right thing. When we face opposition, we can overcome it by remembering to pray, plan and do the right thing!
How did Nehemiah’s enemies try to stop the repair of the wall? Choose two.
They charged them an extra tax for their building supplies. They made fun of the builders. They stole the building tools. They laughed saying the wall wasn’t strong enough to hold the weight of a fox. When Nehemiah faced this problem, the first thing he did was to pray. Draw a line connecting Nehemiah to four requests he asked of God: Hear us, O God, for we are despised. Wash out their city with a rainstorm. Send a plague of frogs upon their homes. Turn their insults back on them. Sacrifice their cattle and sheep. Give them over as plunder. Do not cover up their guilt.
Do you think Nehemiah was frustrated?
Yes
No
Not Sure
Even though Nehemiah may have been frustrated, he first went to God for help. Write a sentence prayer thanking God that we can call on Him anytime to help us! Dear God,
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
Across 2. After 52 days the work on the wall was ___________. 4. Nehemiah made careful _____________ with God's help. 7. Nehemiah kept a messenger nearby who played this instrument. 8. When the ___________ was half its height, the enemies wanted to stir up trouble.
Down 1. 3. 5. 6.
The walls were broken in the city of ______________. Before Nehemiah took action, he would _________ to God first. ______________ led the workers to fix the wall. The gates and the wall needed to be re-_____________.
Friday—Praying, Planning, Doing
Recite Read your verse three times!
Tuesday—Nehemiah Faces More Opposition
Read Nehemiah 4:6-12
When we face opposition like Nehemiah did, there is a part of the battle we can see and a part that we can’t. What is the part we can’t see?
The physical part of our world. The spiritual part of our world. God could solve any problem right away, yet He often wants us to get involved in the plan. Nehemiah faced his wall-sized problems by: A. Praying to God
How did the people build the first part of the wall so quickly? Choose two.
God was with the builders. They had good weather for building. The people worked on the wall with all their heart. Nehemiah did the work himself. When the wall was built to half of its height, the enemies wanted to: A. Stir up trouble and fight against Jerusalem.
B.
Planning a solution
C.
Doing the right thing.
C. Host a celebration feast for them.
D.
All of the above.
D. Offer a sacrifice on the altar at the temple.
How does God want us to handle our own troubles and opposition? Check three of five. _____ Forget about God. _____ Spend time with God in prayer. _____ Submit to God. _____ Get angry at God. _____ Make a plan with God. Can you remember to go to God first with all of your troubles? Yes No Maybe
God loves to hear you pray and He is always listening!
B. Help them build the wall and the gates after all.
Nehemiah also had opposition from the builders. What troubled them? Check two.
_____ Too much rain fell upon the land. _____ Their strength was giving out. _____ They feared the enemies would attack them. _____ The bricks kept crumbling to pieces. Look at this week’s memory verse and fill in the blanks below: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the
______________ forces of evil in the ___________ realms.”
Wednesday—Nehemiah Has A Plan
Read Nehemiah 4:13-20
In yesterday’s reading, the people of Jerusalem feared being attacked while they worked on the wall. Nehemiah reassured the people saying, “Don’t be _______________ of them. Remember the
________________________, who is great and awesome, and _______________ for your brothers,
Thursday—The Wall Is Complete
Read
The builders continued to work to close the gaps. Circle the
Nehemiah 4:19-23 & 6:15-16
(expensive, extensive) and spread out, and we are (narrowly, widely) separated from each other along the wall. Wherever you (hear, see) the correct words. Nehemiah said, “The work is
sound of (tuba, trumpet), join us there.
your sons and your daughters, your wives and your
__________________.
Nehemiah encouraged the builders saying, “Our God will
What plan did Nehemiah carry out to protect the people?
The was completed in:
Half the men worked, while half slept and rested. Half the men worked, while half guarded them. Half the men worked, while half went for help.
_____ 52 years
The builders continued to work with a (v.18)
_____ 52 months
___________ for us!”
_____ 52 weeks
_____ 52 days
When the enemy heard the wall was finished, they were:
S ___ ___ ___ ___ at their sides.
Who stayed close to Nehemiah wherever he went? A. A noble
Why did they feel this way?
B. An officer
A. They liked the broken wall better than the new wall.
C. A priest
B. They knew the work was done with God’s help.
D. A trumpet player
C. Nehemiah boasted of the good work and made fun of the enemies. D. The crops win the fields were trampled by builders.
Dear God, thank you for forgiving me of my sins and restoring my place with you. I love you and want to serve you! In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.