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After nearly one hundred years in Jerusalem, the city walls were still in ruins. Nehemiah was the cupbearer to King Artaxerxes and successfully petitioned the king to go to Jerusalem and help. The neighbouring countries complained and threatened Nehemiah, trying to distract him, but he kept to his purpose and finished the job.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Nehemiah 1-8

Outline:

1. With King Cyrus’ support, Nehemiah travels to Jerusalem to rebuild the city wall. (Nehemiah 1:1-2:9)
2. Despite opposition, Nehemiah oversees the rebuilding of the wall. (Nehemiah 2:10-6:14)
3. The wall is completed and Jewish families are registered. (Nehemiah 6:15-7:73)
4. Ezra reads the Law to the people which leads to celebration. (Nehemiah 8:1-)

Tips for teaching children:

• Have the children draw a wall of bricks. Follow up with conversation about words and thoughts from the story. Write these on the bricks, one word or thought per brick. For more explanation, follow this link: Drawing Out an Idea
• Nehemiah continued to build the wall despite opposition. Encourage older children to share situations and people that might distract them from doing what God wants them to do.
• Younger children can build walls with wooden blocks.
• Sing Building Up the Temple

Tips for teaching adults:

• The Book of Nehemiah can be read to learn about real-life leadership, community rebuilding, and spiritual renewal. Have the class read Nehemiah 1-8 and make personal notes that relate to these three themes before the class. And ask them to bring their notes to class.
• When the class begins, divide the class up into three groups with each group focusing on only one of the three themes. Each group is to discuss where they see these themes in the book, collate their discussion in writing summarising their theme. Give each group about 30 minutes to discuss and write down their discussion.
• Have the three groups come together to share with the other groups what they have learned and written down.
• Following this have the class discuss the following questions: How can we incorporate more of these themes in our life in the classroom and in our personal lives? What can we learn personally from Nehemiah to help us to become more mature as a follower of Jesus?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Return to Jerusalem-Rebuilding Walls

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

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The Lord had always promised that the people would return to their land someday. After 70 years in exile, many of the Jewish people finally returned. Zerubbabel led one group back to Jerusalem to rebuild the temple. Ezra led another group back to teach the people and restore God’s Law.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Ezra 1-10

Outline:

1. A group of Jews leaves captivity and returns to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1-6)
2. Ezra leads another group from captivity to restore the law in Jerusalem. (Ezra 7-10)

Tips for teaching children:

• Build a temple with wooden blocks or Lego
• Help children make a scroll and write a letter to God thanking him for keeping his promises.

Tips for teaching adults:

• If you wish, you could show this brief video explaining some of the significance of The Cyrus Cylinder. This piece of archaeology directly connects with the story of the Bible in Ezra and in 2 Kings.
• Since this book is too long to read during the class time, encourage the class members to read it before they come to the class.
• Questions for discussion:
  • What questions do you have for God about this story?
  • Why is the rebuilding of the Temple in the book of Ezra important to the life of the community?
  • What were some of the things in the book that stood out to you and why? Get the other class members to engage in the conversation.
• Have each class member write on a piece of paper a sin of unfaithfulness to God or the church, they want to confess. Wad these pieces up and throw them into a waste bin. Then call on someone to pray a prayer of confession for these sins but end the prayer with thankfulness, forgiveness and renewal.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Return to Jerusalem-Temple & Law

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org

Send us Fan Mail

King Xerxes now ruled Persia. Because he had deposed his queen in a drunken feast, a search was made throughout the kingdom for a new queen. Under the direction of her cousin, Mordecai, Esther was put forward and chosen. Not knowing that his beautiful queen was Jewish, Xerxes fell in with a plan to destroy the Jewish exiles living in his land. Queen Esther saved her people by revealing her Jewish origins to the king and convincing him to let the Jews defend and protect themselves.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Esther 1-10

Outline:

1. Esther becomes queen.(Esther chapters 1-2)
2. Haman attempts to destroy Mordecai and all the Jews. (Esther chapter 3)
3. Esther saves her people. (Esther chapters 4-8)
4. The Jews defend themselves and celebrate. (Esther 9-10)

Tips for teaching children:

• Make a crown.
• Provide paints so that children can paint a portrait of Queen Esther.
• Write talents or gifts on individual cards (cooking, singing, money, etc.). Have children take turns picking a card and then explaining how that gift might be used to help God’s people.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Plan an evening together with the class that reflects 9:13 – feasting and giving of gifts. Traditionally the book of Esther is also read at Purim but have the class read it before the evening. On the designated evening, eat together and follow with the exchange of a gift that takes its theme from Esther. As host, prepare another traditional Feast of Purim food, Hamantaschen (ears of Haman) – triangular shaped pastries. Here’s a link to the recipe: https://bellyfull.net/hamantaschen-cookies/
• Just enjoy the evening together talking about what you have learned from your reading of the book. You may want to especially discuss 4:13-14 and 6:13 and what these verses have to do with the idea of the providence of God. Where else in the book is the providence of God possibly seen?
• End the time by reading Romans.8:28 and thanking God working in our lives.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Queen Esther

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

For questions or comments email: mary@missionbibleclass.org