Message Theme & Verses: Ezra
Memory Verse: Ezra 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and heads of fathers' houses, old men who had seen the first house, wept with a loud voice when they saw the foundation of this house being laid, though many shouted aloud for joy.
Happy Family Lesson:
God’s has just freed His people from exile in a foreign land. He moved the heart of the foreign king to let them go and now the people arrive back in a Jerusalem where the temple has been destroyed and foreigners are all around. Ezra, a priest and scribe begins to teach the people how to love and follow God. God’s people have been freed to love and serve Him in accordance with the Covenant because God’s mercy exceeds His anger.
This book was originally combined with Nehemiah, the next book, and still is in Jewish Scriptures. The written word is very important in this book. A written decree frees God’s people and letters start and stop the rebuilding of the temple. It is during this time, as God’s people return from exile, that the prophets begin to be silent and will not speak for 400 years until John the Baptist becomes the final prophet. The people of God then, just like us now, must rely on the written Word of God to teach us who God is and what He has to say to us. Here, in the Bible, we have our authority, our encouragement, and our hope.
God’s people belong to Him not simply based on their race or birth, but they are a covenant people, chosen by God to be separate from the world, to worship Him, and to bless others. Worshiping God in the way He chooses shows God that the people love and honor Him. Ezra is sure to restore proper worship and the people worship God with great joy.
It is beautiful to see that the story of God’s people did not end with them being sent into exile. God has great mercy on His people and is faithful to His promise to spread the light of His Kingdom across the world, through His people. The people have felt God’s wrath in the exile, repent, and seek to remain faithful to our mighty God. There is celebration in the midst of conviction and confession as the people hope in the ancient promises of freedom to serve God as His holy people.
Read Ezra 7:25-28
· Have the kids write a letter to someone telling them about God.
· See how many of God’s laws the kids can list – give prizes
Barkadang Lesson:
Once again, though they have sinned and felt the judgment of God, we see God’s people turning back to Him in repentance as they are convicted by the Word of God. Ezra is willing to confront the people with their sin, just as Jesus will in the New Testament when He comes preaching the message, “repent and believe.” We see the hearts of God’s people softened by God’s great mercy and grace, and they long to worship in a way that is pleasing to God. The people build a physical temple because they want to feel God’s presence, dwelling with them. Jesus will later call Himself the temple and is a much better way for God to be with His people, than through bricks and stones. We will also see that God’s people, the church, becomes the temple as the Holy Spirit dwells within believers to empower them as ambassadors of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We no longer need the temple and there will be no temple in the New Jerusalem, because Revelation 21:22 tells us that “its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb.” When Jesus returns, we will rejoice and celebrate with even greater joy than when God’s people saw the new temple built after their exile.
Questions
1. What is the biggest building you have ever seen?
2. Have you ever been both happy and sad at the same time? Tell us about it.
3. What is the best party you have even been to? What made it so fun?
4. Cyrus had the temple built in Jerusalem by issuing a decree. What is one law that you think is very good and helpful to the people here in the Philippines?
5. God could have made a temple appear in Jerusalem, but instead, He used people like the King, craftsmen, priests, and Levites. Why do you think God uses people? (God loves to include people in His plans. This does not always seem to be the best or most efficient way because people are sinful and not perfect like God. But just like when a father lets his son help to repair a broken wall to teach him and give him purpose, God uses His people. God is drawing His people closer to Himself, teaching them to love and be like Jesus, and giving them purpose in life.)
6. If you were Ezra and came into your community today, what do you think would be the biggest sins that you would tell the people to repent and turn away from?
7. Tell us about the best teacher you ever had.
8. Some people who did not listen to Ezra’s teaching were executed. What is the worst punishment in your school?
9. Why do you think it was so important for the people to follow God’s law? (The people were rescued by God from being strangers and prisoners in a foreign land. The first thing they did when they returned was to rebuild the temple to show God was the center of their lives. They didn’t obey the law to get God to rescue them. They were already rescued. They obeyed the law because they loved God and God knew the best way for them to live. It is the same for us. We have already broken God’s law by lying, stealing, worshiping things other than God, wanting what is not our, and dishonoring our parents. We can never follow the law perfectly. We cannot save ourselves. We need a Savior. Thankfully, God sent Jesus to be our Savior. Turn from your sins today and follow Jesus!)
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