1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home TEACHER BIBLE STUDY God’s people had been living in Babylon for 70 years. Some of God’s people had died in Babylon. Some of their children and grandchildren were born in Babylon and grew up there. But Babylon was not their home.
Before the people of Judah were exiled, God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These are the words of the Lord: “These nations will serve the king of Babylon for 70 years” (Jeremiah 25:11). Then the Lord said, “When 70 years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm My promise concerning you to restore you to this place” (Jeremiah 29:10). The time had come for God’s people to go back home.
Cyrus, the king of the Persian empire, overthrew Babylon. Cyrus took over the kingdom, including the lands of Israel and Judah. In the following year, the Lord did something miraculous in Cyrus’s heart. He prompted Cyrus to issue a decree: All the Jewish exiles are free to return to their ancestral homes.
The exile was over! God’s people were free to return to their own land. They were free to live as God’s special people. The first group of Judean exiles returned home under the leadership of Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl). Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, who had been taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. (See 2 Kings 24:8-13.)
Ezra 2:64-65 says nearly 50,000 people traveled back to Judah. When they got to Jerusalem, they began working to rebuild the temple that the Chaldeans had destroyed. (See 2 Chronicles 36:19.)
The temple was the place where God met with His people. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people from sin. When Jesus returns, He will restore the earth and will dwell with His people forever.
LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites ? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity.
Transition Time Welcome time
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
Activity sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes)
Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (1 minute) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (5 minutes) Key passage (4 minutes) Tell the Bible story (10 minutes) Discussion starter video (3 minutes) The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Prayer (4 minutes)
Table Time Timeline map (1 minute) Bible story review (10 minutes)
Large Group Review / Activities Key passage activity (5 minutes) Activity choice (10 minutes) Prayer (5 minutes)
THE BIBLE STORY/OVERVIEW Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13
Many years before God’s people were taken to Babylon, God made a promise. He told the people His promise through the prophet Jeremiah. Jeremiah said that the exile would last 70 years, and then God would bring His people back home. This was God’s promise, and God always keeps His promises. Cyrus was king of Persia when God gave him an idea. King Cyrus made a decree. A decree is like a law; everyone had to obey it. Cyrus said, “Let all of God’s people go back to Jerusalem so they can rebuild the Lord’s temple. Give them gold and silver and animals. Give them gifts for God’s temple.” What wonderful news! The exile was over! God’s people were free to go back to Judah— to their homes. God’s people got ready. Their neighbors gave them gifts like Cyrus had commanded—gold and silver and animals and other expensive things. King Cyrus gave them the things Nebuchadnezzar had taken from God’s temple when the exile began. Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl) and the high priest led God’s people back to Judah.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
They hadn’t been home in 70 years. Many of the people were born in Babylon; they had never seen the land God had given their parents and grandparents. In all, thousands of people went back to Judah. They took with them all the gifts and many animals. They settled in their hometowns and set up their houses. Then the people met together in Jerusalem to rebuild the Lord’s temple. First, the priests rebuilt the altar in the same place it used to be. They followed all the laws of God for building. When the altar was finished, they offered burnt offerings to God. The people also obeyed the law about special celebrations. They had a festival like God had told them to do, and they made sacrifices to God. Then God’s people gave money to stonecutters and carpenters who would work on God’s temple. They paid people to bring cedar logs to Jerusalem. Finally, when everything was ready, the people started to work. They laid the foundation of the temple. The foundation was important; it would make the building strong. When the foundation was finished, the priests put on special clothes, and the people praised God. They sang, “The Lord is good. His faithful love will last forever.” Then the people shouted and praised God. They were so happy! The foundation of the temple was complete! Not everyone was happy though. Some of the older people remembered what the temple had looked like 70 years ago, before it had been destroyed. They cried. The noise of the crying and shouting was so loud that the people could be heard far away.
Christ Connection: Zerubbabel led God’s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.
TRANSITION TIME Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites ? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity.
Welcome time Tip: As kids arrive this is a great time to collect the offering, fill out attendance sheets, and help new kids connect to your group.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
Arriving Activity: Sock Golf sock orange table tennis ball Place an orange in a tube sock; it will be the “golf club.” Provide a table tennis ball. Invite the kids to take a swing at the ball with the sock to see who can hit it on the ground the farthest. If you have several kids, make more than one club. Say • Babylon was a lot farther from Jerusalem than you could ever hit the ball. God’s people had been forced to live away from their homes for 70 years, but God had a plan to send them home.
Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “Way Back” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid pencils, markers or crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • In today’s Bible study, some of God’s people traveled back to Jerusalem. We will find out what they did once they returned home. If time remains, allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session.
Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: Take It tape small items, 3 per group Form two or more groups. Give each group three small items (maybe a ball, a toy, a pencil). Make sure each group has the same set of items. Place the items on one side of the room. Invite each group to line up single file near the items. Tape a finish line several feet away. To play, the leader should call out “Take it: ______(name one of the items).” The first kid in each group should grab the correct item and race it to the other side of the finish line. The first one to do so wins that round. For the next kids in line, the leader can call out either “Take it” or “Take it back” followed by the item. If the command is “Take it,” the item must be rushed to the finish line. If the command is “Take it back,” the kids must race to the finish line, grab the item, and get it back to the starting point first. Play until each kid has had a turn. Say • The people in Babylon took items from the temple when they forced the people of Judah to leave Jerusalem. In today’s Bible story, God’s people took the items back where they belonged.
Option 2: Food Jewelry O-shaped cereal or dry pasta string Provide cereal or dry pasta and 24-inch pieces of string. Demonstrate how to tie a knot on one end of the string, and then run the string through the food. For bracelets, use 10-inch pieces of string. String measurements do not have to be exact.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
Say • In today’s Bible story, we will see how God’s people were allowed to return home to Jerusalem with gifts from those who once took them prisoner.
Transition to large group
LESSON Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites ? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity.
Countdown countdown video (on provided DVD with lesson videos and worship) Show the countdown video as you clean-up table centers, set up classroom chairs for the lesson and set it to end as large group time begins.
Introduce the session (1 minute) retractable measuring tape [Large group leader enters with retractable measuring tape.] Leader • How many of you know how to use a retractable measuring tape? Who would like to come up and help me show you? [Invite a kid to come pull the end of the measuring tape.] You pull out the tape to measure how long something is or how far away something is. This is very important when trying to build something. You need to have exact measurements of everything. Even a few centimeters can throw everything off. This next part is my favorite thing about a retractable measuring tape. [Tell the volunteer to let it go.] It always comes back. That reminds me of a story from the Bible.
Timeline Map (1 minute) Timeline Map (small group visual pack – copies provided for Table Time Review) Leader • Last week, Obadiah warned the people of Edom that God saw how they stood by and watched the Babylonians force God’s people from their homes. Edom even mistreated the Israelites in Judah. They thought they were more important than God and His chosen people. That’s called pride. God judged Edom for their sin by allowing another nation to take their land. Why did God judge Edom’s pride? Pride steals God’s glory.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
Obadiah also promised that God’s people would return home while Edom would not. We will see how God’s people returned with a leader named Zerubbabel.
Big picture question (1 minute) Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? - 11x17 poster provided Leader • Can you say Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl)? Where would we look to find out more about Zerubbabel and how God’s people returned to Judah? That’s right. It’s all in your Bible. I hope you have a copy! Let’s take a look at our big picture question, How did God keep His promise to the Israelites?
Sing (5 minutes) Worship Song: “Broken Hallelujah” (on provided DVD) Leader • Life certainly wasn’t easy for God’s people while they were away from their homes. However, God had promised to be with them and lead them back. Following God isn’t always easy where we live either, but God is always faithful when we put our trust in Him. That’s why whether in good or bad times, we can still praise Him. Let’s do that right now. Sing together “Broken Hallelujah.”
Key passage (4 minutes) Key Passage Poster: Zechariah 9:9 (provided) Worship Song: “Look” (on provided DVD) Leader • We will find out that God did bring many of the Israelites home to the land He had promised them. However, another time is coming when God will bring His people back to Him to be ruled forever by a special King. That king is Jesus. Like many others, the prophet Zechariah talked about Jesus’ coming long before Jesus was born on earth. Let’s look at Zechariah 9:9. Show the slide or poster of the unit’s key passage, Zechariah 9:9. Lead the boys and girls to read the verse together. Sing together “Look.”
Tell the Bible Story (10 minutes) “Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home” video (on provided DVD) Bibles, 1 per kid Bible Story Picture Slide or Poster Leader • Let’s all get out our Bibles and turn to the Book of Ezra. Let’s listen as we find out the answer to our big picture question, How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? Show the “Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home” video, or choose to tell the Bible story in your own words using the script provided. For a shorter version of the story, read only the bolded text. Leader • The people who forced Judah to leave their homes were no longer in power. God used a new king to free His people to return home. God had promised that His people would not always be exiled. God used King Cyrus and Zerubbabel to keep that promise. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. God even used the people in Babylon to bless His people with supplies and gifts as
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
they left. When the people returned, they began to rebuild God’s temple, which had been destroyed after they were forced to leave Judah. After 70 years of being away, most of the people returning had never even lived in Judah before. They had heard the stories of God’s promised land but hadn’t seen it. They were overjoyed after the foundation to the temple was complete. However, those who saw the original temple were sad because they remembered how great it once was. Ask the following review questions: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. What were the people instructed to rebuild? (the temple, Ezra 1:2-4) Who led the people back? (Zerubbabel, Ezra 2:2) What did the young people do when the foundation of the temple was complete (sang praises and shouted for joy, Ezra 3:11) Why did the older people cry? (They remembered the old temple and how grand it was, Ezra 3:12)
Discussion starter video (3 minutes) Unit 21, Session 2 - Discussion Starter Video (on provided DVD) Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? - 11x17 poster provided Leader • Has someone ever promised you something? Did he or she keep that promise? Watch this. Show the “Unit 21 Session 2” video. Leader • Have you ever broken a promise? God never breaks His promises. God had promised His people that they would return to the land He promised them. God has given us promises too. God promised to send a Savior who would die for the sins of the world. Jesus is that Savior. When we repent and trust Jesus, we will be saved.
The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me (optional) Use Scripture and the guide provided with this session to explain to boys and girls how to become a Christian. Assign individuals to meet with kids who have more questions. If this is not possible, encourage boys and girls to ask their parents, small group leaders, or other Christian adults any questions they may have about becoming a Christian.
Prayer (4 minutes) Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? - 11x17 poster provided Show the big picture question slide or poster. Leader • Let’s see who can answer the big picture question now. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Form groups of two or more. Create a “home base” for each group. It can be a group of chairs, a spot on the floor, or a place on the wall. Ask the big picture question. The group must walk around or near the home base as they recite the answer. Once complete, they should all touch home base. Let the groups compete to see who can do it first.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
Before transitioning to small group, make any necessary announcements. Lead the kids in prayer. Pray that God will give them faith to always believe His promises.
Dismiss to small groups for Table Time
The Gospel: God’s Plan for Me Ask kids if they have ever heard the word gospel. Clarify that the word gospel means “good news.” It is the message about Christ, the kingdom of God, and salvation. Use the following guide to share the gospel with kids. God rules. Explain to kids that the Bible tells us God created everything, and He is in charge of everything. Invite a volunteer to read Genesis 1:1 from the Bible. Read Revelation 4:11 or Colossians 1:16-17 aloud and explain what these verses mean. We sinned. Tell kids that since the time of Adam and Eve, everyone has chosen to disobey God. (Romans 3:23) The Bible calls this sin. Because God is holy, God cannot be around sin. Sin separates us from God and deserves God’s punishment of death. (Romans 6:23) God provided. Choose a child to read John 3:16 aloud. Say that God sent His Son, Jesus, the perfect solution to our sin problem, to rescue us from the punishment we deserve. It’s something we, as sinners, could never earn on our own. Jesus alone saves us. Read and explain Ephesians 2:8-9. Jesus gives. Share with kids that Jesus lived a perfect life, died on the cross for our sins, and rose again. Because Jesus gave up His life for us, we can be welcomed into God’s family for eternity. This is the best gift ever! Read Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 5:21; or 1 Peter 3:18. We respond. Tell kids that they can respond to Jesus. Read Romans 10:9-10,13. Review these aspects of our response: Believe in your heart that Jesus alone saves you through what He’s already done on the cross. Repent, turning from self and sin to Jesus. Tell God and others that your faith is in Jesus. Offer to talk with any child who is interested in responding to Jesus.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
TABLE TIME LEADER Session Title: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Bible Passage: Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites ? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Unit Christ Connection: God saved His people who were in physical captivity as He would one day send Jesus to save and restore His people who are in spiritual captivity.
Bible story review (10 minutes) Tip: Divide children into small groups for table time. Each group should include an adult leader at the table. Bibles, 1 per kid Timeline (small group visual pack – extra copies provided for Table Time Review) Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? (11x17 poster provided in classroom) Encourage the kids to find the Book of Ezra in their Bibles. Help them as needed. Say • Is Ezra in the Old Testament or New Testament? (Old Testament) Ezra is in the division of the Bible called History. Ezra describes the Israelites’ return to their homeland after being held captive in Babylon. Use the small group visual pack to show kids where today’s Bible story is on the timeline. Review the Bible story provided using the bolded text, or summarize the story in your own words. As you talk about the people returning to their homes, lead the kids on a walk. You can create an obstacle course in your room or walk to somewhere in the church and back. As you talk about the people receiving and taking gifts, encourage the kids to pretend to give each other gifts. When you return, lead the kids in a praise song or familiar chorus. Say • Many of those who were captured from Judah were allowed to return home. God had promised them even before they were taken that He would return them to their land. Seventy years after being taken from Judah because of their sin, the people would have a new start. Those who had never seen Judah and the old temple were happy, but those old enough to remember the first temple were sad. Show the big picture question slide or poster. Say • How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
LARGE GROUP REVIEW AND ACTIVITIES
Key passage activity (5 minutes) “Fill in the Blank” Worksheet Key Passage Poster: Zechariah 9:9 (provided) Lead kids to complete the Key Passage Review worksheet. The number of “blanks” increase each time they complete the verse. Say • Name a way you can rejoice that Jesus has come. If time permits, allow kids to try saying the key passage from memory.
Activity Choice (10 minutes) Option 1: Things at Home Encourage the kids to think about something they really love at home. It can be a pet, a game, a family member, and so forth. Let them share. Then, invite the kids to form a large circle. Name something that might be found in their homes. Encourage them to run to the middle of the circle if that item is in their home. Name pieces of furniture, types of pets, food items, and so forth. Play as time allows. Say • Home is a very important place for all of us. The people of Judah had been away from their homes for 70 years. That means many of them had never even seen the land God gave His people. God promised that His people would get to return, and God always keeps His promises. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home.
Option 2: Create a Compass foam cup bottoms, 1 per kid metal paper clips, 1 per 2 kids paper or foam bowls strong magnets, 1 per kid water scissors Before the session, cut the bottoms off several foam cups, enough for each kid to have one. Also, straighten small metal paper clips and cut them in half. Each kid needs one of the halves. Provide each kid with a bowl. Fill it about halfway with water. Distribute to each kid a cup bottom and paper clip piece, along with a magnet. Demonstrate how to hold one end of the paper clip on a flat surface with one finger. Rub the magnet against the paper clip piece from your finger to the other end. Always rub the same direction all the way to the end. Repeat this at least 30 to 40 times. Invite the kids to place the cup bottom in the bowl of water, and put the paper clip piece in the center of it. It should point north to south. The kids can rotate it, but it should always go back to a north and south direction.
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1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 2: Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home
If it doesn’t work, rub the paper clip with the magnet several more times. If you have a smartphone, you can download a compass app to show the kids how accurate the paper clip compass is. Say • A compass is used to help you find the direction you need to travel. After the exile in Babylon, God’s people had to travel a long way to get home, but God kept His promise to get them back. How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home.
Prayer and Clean-Up (5 minutes) Say • Here’s our last look at the big picture question, How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. If time remains, take prayer requests. Pray, thanking God for always keeping His promises. Pray for each child by name, asking God to bless the homes of all the kids.
Clean-Up Room
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Instructions: Help the Israelites find their way back to Jerusalem.
UNIT 21 • Session 2 • Younger Kids Activity Pages © 2013 LifeWay Christian Resources. The Exiles Returned © 2013 LifeWay Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 © 2013© 2013 LifeWay LifeWay Christian Resources. Family Journal Page The Exiles Returned Zerubbabel Led the Captives Home Ask family members to name promises they have made that Ezra 1:1–2:2; 2:64–3:13 were hard to keep or that they failed to keep. Talk about how Preschool we fail to keep our promises, but God always keeps His promises. Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Review the big picture question and answer. Discuss promises Big Picture Question: Does God keep His promises? God has made to His people. Draw a picture depicting one promise God always keeps His promises. God has made. Christ Connection: Zerubbabel led God’s people home to x the temple. Jesus came to earth to save God’s people. One day Jesus will come back. He will x up a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will live with Him forever.
Kids Key Passage: Zechariah 9:9 Big Picture Question: How did God keep His promise to the Israelites? God changed King Cyrus’s heart so the Israelites could go home. Christ Connection: Zerubbabel led God’s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.
Unit 21 • Session 2 OK TO PRINT Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is he, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9
Unit 21 • Key Passage Poster (ESV) OK TO PRINT The Exiles Returned ª-JGF8BZ