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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

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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

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The Medo-Persian Empire conquered the Babylonian Empire. Darius was the new ruler of Babylon. When he saw that Daniel had served Babylon well, he appointed him a government official for Medo-Persia. Soon, he considered putting Daniel in charge of the whole government. Other jealous officials plotted against Daniel and put Darius in a position where he was forced to have Daniel thrown to the lions. God saved Daniel from the lions and caused Darius to show respect toward the Lord.

Bible verses used in this episode:

• Daniel 6
• Colossians 3:23

Outline:

1. The king’s officials are jealous of Daniel and trick the king into making a law to trap him. (Daniel 6:1-9)
2. The king reluctantly has Daniel thrown into the lion’s den. (Daniel 6:10-18)
3. God protects Daniel’s life and the king punishes those who tricked him. (Daniel 6:10-18)

Tips for teaching children:

• Help the children make a craft depicting lions.
• Sing the song “Good Old Daniel”
• Discuss Daniel’s work ethic and how he was a good official for the king because he worked as if he were working for God. Talk about Colossians 3:23 and what our work ethic will be.

Tips for teaching adults:

• This is a story that should be read during class. Since there is quite a bit of dialogue, I would suggest dividing up the reading into parts. Choose someone to read the narration, and other class members to read the parts of Darius, the other advisors, and Daniel.
• If you know the song “Rescue Me” (by Keith Lancaster), I recommend singing it during class time. The theme of the song fits the lesson today. It even has lyrics about “lions."
• Praise & Harmony Singers "Rescue Me"
• Rescue Me by Tim Parish (with musical notes)
• Use these questions for discussion: 1) Why could Daniel continue his regular devotion to God in the face of this threat? 2) What can we learn about Daniel’s character from this story? What character or actions of Daniel do you need to imitate?
• Daniel’s courage didn’t begin in the lions’ den—it was formed long before. What spiritual discipline(s) can you practice regularly that will help shape your faith so that you can respond faithfully in times of crisis?
• End with a prayer asking God to help us rise to the challenge of practising our faith consistently and faithfully, so we can respond to times of crisis and threat as Daniel did.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Daniel and the Lions

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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Belshazzar held a drunken banquet for royal guests. To add excitement to the party, he called for the gold goblets that had been taken from the temple in Jerusalem many years before. The revellers praised their false gods and used the holy temple objects to drink wine from. In the midst of this disrespect, a human hand mysteriously appeared from nowhere and wrote on the wall. The king’s court could not interpret the writing, so Daniel was brought to the feast. Daniel interpreted the writing to mean that Belshazzar and the kingdom would fall. That night, Belshazzar was killed, and Darius, king of the Medes, took over Babylon.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Daniel 5

Outline:

1. A mysterious hand writes words on the wall during King Belshazzar’s drunken party. (Daniel 5:1-9)
2. Daniel is brought in to interpret the words. (Daniel 5:10-28)
3. Daniel is promoted and the king falls to a new king. (Daniel 5:29=32)

Tips for teaching children:

• Spend time talking about respect for God in the light of the king’s disregard.
• Allow the children to show their best interpretations of the king’s partying and then extreme fear.
• Before class, use a white crayon to write “Mene, mene, tekal, parsin” on white paper. These words should not be visible to others. As you tell the story, brush dark paint over the words to make them appear.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Read the text, dividing up the reading according to outline in the show notes.
• Discuss the following questions: how did Belshazzar demonstrate his inability to rule over the kingdom? What can we learn about who he was from this story? What does Daniel do and say to demonstrate who God is and what God does or can do? What do you think is the primary point to this story?
• Hand out blank paper to the class members. Ask them to draw four lines in a row across the page. If God were to write four words to describe your life, what would he write? If appropriate, ask class members to share what they wrote..
• End the class with a prayer asking God to guide the political leaders of your nation and to guide your life into deeper obedience and trust.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Writing on the Wall

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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King Nebuchadnezzar ordered a huge golden statue to be built. All the people were ordered to bow down to this idol or be thrown into a blazing furnace. The king heard that Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow. They had been educated in the king’s palace and now served as government officials, but they told the king they only worshipped the true God and would not bow down. They were thrown into the furnace but did not die. When they walked safely out of the furnace, the king was impressed by the power of God. He promoted these Jewish men to even higher positions.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Daniel 3

Outline:

1. King Nebuchadnezzar commands everyone to bow before his gold statue. (Daniel 3:1-7)
2. Shadrach, Meshach and Abedgego refuse to bow and are thrown in a fiery furnace as a result. (Daniel 3:8-23)
3. King Nebuchadnezzar witnesses God saving the men from the fire. (Daniel 3:24-30)

Tips for teaching children:

• Challenge older children to spell the name Nebuchadnezzar.
• Provide a paper and crayons (red, yellow, orange, brown, black) and let the children draw fire. Follow this up by adding drawings of four simple “people” in the fire.
• Sing the song: Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
  Three young men lived very long ago.
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
  To an idol, they would never bow.
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
  Into a fiery furnace, they were therefore cast.
  Nebuchadnezzar said they’d never last.
  God was there and He never let them go.
  Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
  
  
  

Tips for teaching adults:

• If you can bring a clay brick to class or a clay-fired piece of pottery. Ask the class to guess how hot a furnace or kiln had to be to fire pottery in the ancient world? The answer is about 1000o C (1800o F). Ask if anyone knows the melting temperature of various metals (silver – 960, lead – 330, glass softens at 800 and is workable at 1000).
• Read chapter 3 dividing the reading according to the outline in the show notes. As you are reading you can show a slide of the famous Ishtar Gate found here: https://www.britannica.com/topic/Ishtar-Gate Tell the class that this gate that led into the city of Babylon was built by King Nebuchadnezzar and represents his wealth and power.
• You may want to ask these discussion questions: What could these three have done before this that prepared them to face this threat? What can we do to prepare ourselves to act faithfully before we are faced with a crisis? What is the primary point of the story – the faithfulness of these three men from Judah or the honour of the God of these three men? Why?
• How is this story an illustration of what Jesus says in Matthew 5:16? What is one thing you can do this week to demonstrate your faith in a public way that will not draw attention to you but to God?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: The Fiery Furnace

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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When the Kingdom of Judah turned away from God, God allowed the enemy nation of Babylon to capture the Jews and take them away to Babylon. The temple and the city walls of Jerusalem were destroyed. King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon commanded that the brightest and most handsome captives be educated and taught to serve in the Babylonian courts. When Daniel and three other young Jews were told to eat the king’s food, they refused because it was food that God had forbidden Jews to eat. When the officials saw that these young men were healthier and stronger when they obeyed God’s food laws, they allowed them to continue obeying the Lord. These four young men impressed the king because they were smarter than all the men in the king’s court.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Daniel 1

Outline:

1. The King of Babylon captures Jerusalem and takes captives. (Daniel 1:1-2)
2. Daniel and three other young men honour God by refusing to eat the king’s food. (Daniel 1:3-17)
3. The king recognises that Daniel and his friends are the best of his servants. (Daniel 1:18-21)

Tips for teaching children:

• To tell the story, use this slideshow made by young men. Link to slideshow.
• Provide a large piece of paper. Have the children write the following along the bottom of the page, “I will honour God with my body. 1 Corinthians 6:20”. Then decorate the poster with drawings of body parts. Add footprints, fingerprints and handprints. Children could even glue on a lock of hair.
• Place vegetables in two small plates. One should be clean and the other should have crumbled chocolate cookie on it so it appears to be dirt. Talk about how the food God approved was clean and the king’s food was unclean. Which food would they want to eat? Be sure and let them eat the clean vegetables.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Use the same vegetable activity as for the children above.
• Read Daniel chapter one, dividing the reading up into outline provided in the show notes.
• After the reading, use some or all of the following questions to begin a discussion:
  • What are some lessons you see the text teaching?
  • How is Daniel being faithful to God by not eating the king’s food?
  • What is the point of eating only clean food, not unclean.
• Follow up with these:
  • What kinds of things sets Christians apart from the world or what marks us off as being followers of Christ?
  • Challenge the class to generate a list of boundary markers that should separate Christians from the world.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Daniel and the King’s Food

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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Ezekiel was a Jewish priest who was captured and taken to Babylon a few years after Daniel. God chose him to prophesy about all of the things that were happening back in Jerusalem. After Jerusalem was destroyed, Ezekiel began prophesying about the hope that God would restore the Jews to their land someday. God showed Ezekiel how he could bring a bunch of old dry bones to life. In the same way, God could bring His people back to life if they would turn to Him.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Outline:

1. In a vision, Ezekiel witnesses God bringing dry bones back to life. (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
2. God explains that, in the same way, he will bring life back to his people. (Ezekiel 37:11-14)

Tips for teaching children:

• Collect items so that children can learn about bones. These might be toy skeletons or x-rays. Make a point to have children feel their bones through their skin.
• Show pictures of bones, muscles, flesh and skin.
• Discuss hope and how it is more than a wish. It is a belief that something will happen.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Have the text read in the class. Use outline in show notes to divide up the reading.
• Ask the class to think about the following questions and then get a few people to share their responses with the class. Have you ever felt hopeless? Why? What happened to move you from hopelessness to hope?
• This story is one of the most powerful texts on hope in the OT. Another one is in Ephesians 2:1-10. Read these verses and ask class to compare this text with Ezekiel 37. How are they similar? What’s the message of hope in the Ephesians text?
• Write down some of the promises God has made to us as his people? Close in prayer by thanking God for his promises and the hope we have in Jesus.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Ezekiel & the Valley of Dry Bones

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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Jeremiah continued to warn the people of Judah that their nation would be destroyed if they did not repent (say they were sorry and change their ways) and follow God. The Lord commanded Jeremiah to write these warnings on a scroll and read them to the people. Jeremiah dictated the words to his secretary, Baruch, and then told him to go to the temple and read it to the people. Eventually, the scroll was read to King Jehoiakim. He did not want to repent, so he cut the scroll into pieces and threw the pieces into a fire. He wanted Baruch and Jeremiah arrested, but the Lord kept them safely hidden. Jeremiah and Baruch wrote the scroll again and began preaching that the nation of Judah would be destroyed because the king and the people did not repent.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Jeremiah 36

Outline:

1. Baruch transcribes Jeremiah’s words onto a scroll and then reads it before the people. (Jeremiah 36:1-10)
2. King Jehoiakim burns the scroll. (Jeremiah 36:11-26)
3. God has Jeremiah and Baruch recreate the scroll. (Jeremiah 36:27-32)

Tips for teaching children:

• Make a scroll. Children can write “Jeremiah 36:2” on the scroll. Older children can write out part or all of the verse: ““Jeremiah, get a scroll. Write on it all the words I have spoken to you about Israel and Judah and all the nations. Write everything I have spoken to you since Josiah was king until now.”
• Research Hebrew letters and copy them onto the scroll
• Talk about the concept of repentance and turning to God. It may be helpful to use a road sign that depicts a “U-turn”.

Tips for teaching adults:

• As a teacher I would plan on using props for this story. You may use a PowerPoint slide of a fire burning in a brazier. And bring a large sheet of paper with writing on it and rolled up as a scroll, and a box-cutter knife.
• Divide the reading up into sections. You can use the outline in the show notes. Choose a few readers to read the story. When the reading gets to the place where Jehoiakim cuts the scroll, one person will cut strips from the scroll and let them fall to the floor. He can keep cutting as the text is read until the whole scroll is cut.
• Here are some questions for discussion: 1) what do you think Jehoiakim was thinking when he was cutting up the scroll and throwing the strips into the fire? 2) Why did he respond like this instead of fear?
• Read Jeremiah’s comment on King Jehoiakim in 22:13-19. What did God expect the king of Judah to be like? What would make him a good king? What can we learn about this for our lives?

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Jeremiah and the Scroll

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