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 5:1-19; Leviticus 25:35-42 BIBLE STORY SUMMARY: In the middle of rebuilding the wall, some of the poor came to Nehemiah and complained that the rich Jews among them were taking advantage of the poor during a time of famine and hardship. Nehemiah became angry at this injustice, and he talked to the people who were taking advantage of their neighbors. When that didn’t work, he called a meeting of the leaders, and made his case before them. They all agreed to do what was right and to give back to the poor what they had taken and to not take advantage of their countrymen any more. LESSON FOCUS: We should live to gain God’s favor, not to get all we can get in this life. When we are looking out for the poor, we are obeying God and pleasing Him. Caring for others shows God that we love Him.
Nehemiah Defends The Poor
WHAT WE LEARNED ABOUT GOD: God is concerned about the poor.
Standing Up for what is right RESPONSE: We need to look beyond ourselves, like Nehemiah, so that we will notice the needy around us and ask God for direction in the role we can play in meeting their needs by sharing our abundance.
This Week’s Memory Verse: Each of you should look not only to your interests, but also to the interests of others. Philippians 2:4
Copyright 2009 Berean Baptist Church 309 E County Road 42 Burnsville, Minnesota 55306 952.432.7168
February 17, 2013
Monday—A Big Problem
Read Nehemiah 5:1-5
What difficult thing was happening during the building of the wall? The people ran out of building supplies A severe rainstorm flooded part of Jerusalem The people experiences famine throughout the land
Who was taking advantage of the poor Jewish people during this time?
_____ The rich Egyptians
_____ The rich Jewish people
Saturday—This Week’s Puzzle Grab your Bible for this week’s puzzle! Each of the passages below shows u show we can honor God in caring for others. Match up the Bible verses by drawing a line between the Bible reference and the correct verse.
James 1:27
“Love your neighbor as yourself”
Philippians 2:4
“When you give a banquet, invite the poor, the
_____ The rich Romans _____ The rich enemy In what ways were the rich people taking advantage of the poor people?
Check three of five.
_____ They took away their land in order to pay for food.
Crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be
_____ They accepted the people’s children as slaves as payment for their debt.
Blessed.”
_____ They made them build their houses outside of Jerusalem’s wall. _____ They gave them scraps of leftover food.
Matthew 22:39
Faultless is this: to look after orphans and
_____ They charged them high fees and taxes on loaned money. Draw a picture of how the poor people felt:
Write a sentence prayer thanking God for providing all of your needs! Dear God,
__________________________________________________ __________________________________________________
“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure Widows in distress.”
Matthew 25:35
“Each of you should look no only to your own Interests, but also to the interests of others.”
Luke 14:13-14
“For I was hungry and you game Me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me Something to drink.”
Nehemiah 5:14-19
Tuesday—Nehemiah Hears Their Cry
Friday—Nehemiah Leads By Serving
Read
Nehemiah 5:6-8
How long was Nehemiah appointed Governor? Circle. 12 Days
12 months
12 weeks
12 years
Read
When Nehemiah heard the outcry of the poor people, how did he feel? Circle.
What did the previous governors do to the people?
_______________ and took ____________ and wine.
They taxed them 40 shekels of
Did Nehemiah act in the same way?
Yes
No
Not sure Who did Nehemiah blame for this trouble?
How did Nehemiah serve God and serve the people? Check four of six.
____ He stepped down as their governor. ____ He did not take any land. ____ He set up a farm and raised crops. ____ He devoted himself to the work on the wall. ____ He paid for the meals of 150 people who were with him. ____ He paid for his own things without using taxes.
The N
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ and
O ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___. What did Nehemiah tell them?
_________________ from your own countrymen! You are selling your ____________________, only for them to be sold back to _________________!” “You are exacting
What is the usury Nehemiah spoke of? A. A useful tool B. A healing ointment C. A tax D. A bank vault There are people in need in our neighborhoods, at our schools, and where our parents work. What are two ways YOU can serve others in need? Talk to your family and do it together!
1. ____________________________________________ 2. ____________________________________________
How did the leaders respond to Nehemiah’s charges? They yelled back at Nehemiah They kept quiet because Nehemiah was right. They tore their robes and heaped ashes upon themselves.
Wednesday—Fearing God
Read Nehemiah 5:6-10 Leviticus 25:35-42
Thursday—Doing The Right Thing
Read Nehemiah 5:9-13
Nehemiah called a meeting of the leaders. Nehemiah told the
(honorable, not right). Shouldn’t you walk in (joy, fear) of our God to avoid (criticism, anger) of our Gentile (enemies, friends)?” leaders: “What you are doing is
In today’s readings, the passages mention the importance of fearing God. What does it mean to “fear God”?
To honor and please God with our thoughts, words and actions. To shy away from doing things that would please God and give Him the glory. Nehemiah knew what the Scriptures of Leviticus said about caring for the poor. How were the Jewish to care for their fellow people? Check four of six.
____ Help them so they can live among you.
Nehemiah knew right from wrong. How did he know to do the right thing? A. He knew God’s Word in the Scriptures. B. He often prayed to God and asked God to guide him, C. He wanted to obey God and make God look good. D. All of the above. What did Nehemiah order the leaders to do?
(continue, stop)! Give back to them (immediately, next month) their fields, vineyards, (apple, olive) groves and houses, and also the usury you are (charging, giving) them.” “Let the exacting of usury
Did the leaders agree to Nehemiah’s demands?
____ Send them into exile until they can pay.
Yes
No
Not sure
____ Release them from their debt on the Year of Jubilee.
In front of the priests, Nehemiah made the leaders take:
____ Do not take profit of any kind from them.
A vitamin pill
____ Do not make them work as slaves. ____ Let them fend for themselves. Can you remember to fear God by honoring Him with your thoughts, words and actions? Yes
An oath Glory to God!
An offering A loan
Did the leaders do as they promised? Yes
No
Not sure
No Maybe
Can you recite this week’s memory verse? Tell it to each member of your family!