1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 5: The Temple Was Completed TEACHER BIBLE STUDY With the encouragement of the prophets Haggai and Zechariah, God’s people resumed the work of rebuilding the temple in Jerusalem. Approximately 15 years had passed without progress. At this time, Darius was king of Persia. The Persian Empire was vast, so Darius appointed governors over the provinces. A man named Tattenai watched over the province that included the land of Judah. Tattenai noticed the work of God’s people, and he was concerned. He sent a letter to King Darius. “Is this allowed?” he asked. “The people say that King Cyrus said they could rebuild the temple and the city. Please investigate this matter.” King Darius did investigate, and Cyrus’s decree was located in the Babylonian records. Darius instructed Tattenai to allow the people to rebuild the temple and the city. “In fact,” Darius wrote, “give them whatever they need from the royal treasury. And if anyone gives them any trouble, he will be punished.” God had turned the heart of the king for His people’s favor. (See Proverbs 21:1; Ezra 6:22.) The people completed the temple. They dedicated it joyfully and observed the Passover. God declared in Haggai 2:9 that the glory of this second temple would be greater than the first. This prophecy was fulfilled by the presence of the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus said that He is greater than the temple. (Matthew 12:6) Charles Haddon Spurgeon explained, “He who dwells in the house is greater than the house in which he dwells.” In Christ, we find the substance of which the temple was a shadow. The Lord was not confined to a building, yet God lives fully in Christ. (See Colossians 2:9.) Jesus is our high priest. He entered the most holy place for us. (Hebrews 6:19-20) The priest offered the blood of animals, but Christ offered His own blood once and for all. (Hebrews 9:25-26) He gives us access to the throne of grace. (Hebrews 10:19-22) LESSON OVERVIEW/SCHEDULE Session Title: The Temple Was Completed Bible Passage: Ezra 4:24–6:22 Big Picture Question: Why did the people rebuild the temple? The people rebuilt the temple to worship God. 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. 1 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 5: The Temple Was Completed Transition Time Welcome time Activity sheet/Table Centers Session starter (10 minutes) Lesson Countdown Introduce the session (1 minute) Timeline Map (3 minutes) Big picture question (1 minute) Sing (4 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 The Temple Was Completed Ezra 4:24–6:22 When God’s people returned to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple, they built the foundation of the temple. But their enemies didn’t want them to build the temple. God’s people didn’t want any trouble, so they stopped. God sent the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage the people. So the leaders—Zerubbabel and Jeshua [Joshua]—started working on the temple again. At this time, a governor named Tattenai (TAT ih nigh) saw the rebuilding had started again. Tattenai worked for King Darius (duh RIGH uhs), the king of Persia. Tattenai had been put in charge of some of the land, including Judah. Tattenai talked to Zerubbabel and the others working on the temple. “Do you have permission to rebuild this temple?” Tattenai asked. Tattenai sent a report to King Darius. While he waited for an answer, God’s people kept building. 2 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 5: The Temple Was Completed This is what Tattenai’s letter to King Darius said: “To Darius the king—This letter is to tell you that the people in Judah are building the temple of the great God. They are working very hard and will complete the temple soon. I asked them if they had permission to rebuild the temple, and they said King Cyrus gave them permission. Please search the royal records to see if this is true. Then please write us back to let us know what you find.” King Darius read the letter and told his officials to search the royal records for Cyrus’s order. They found it—a scroll with a record from King Cyrus. This is what was written on the scroll: “Let God’s temple be rebuilt. It will be a place to offer sacrifices. Let its foundation be rebuilt.” King Cyrus had also ordered for the cost of building the temple to be paid for out of the royal treasury. He ordered all the gold and silver things that King Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the first temple to be returned to Jerusalem. So King Darius sent a letter back to Tattenai. He gave this order: “Stay away from the workers in Jerusalem. Don’t bother them, and don’t try to stop them. Give them whatever they need. And if anyone tries to destroy God’s temple, may God destroy that person!” Tattenai and the other officials obeyed King Darius’s order. The Jewish leaders kept building, and they finally finished the temple of God. What a happy time that was! The people celebrated and made offerings to God. They chose priests and assistants to serve in the temple. Then God’s people celebrated the Passover. They killed the Passover lamb and ate the Passover meal. God’s people were so happy because God had changed King Darius’s heart so that he wanted to help them. Now the temple of God was finally complete. Christ Connection: God’s people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Now God dwells not in the temple, but directly with His people. Because of Jesus, we don’t need a temple anymore. TRANSITION TIME Session Title: The Temple Was Completed Bible Passage: Ezra 4:24–6:22 Big Picture Question: Why did the people rebuild the temple? The people rebuilt the temple to worship God. 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. 3 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources 1st-3rd Grade Kids Bible Study Guide Unit 21, Session 5: The Temple Was Completed Arriving Activity: Too Long paper (optional) markers or crayons (optional) As kids arrive, invite them to share things that seem to take forever. Examples might include going to the doctor, waiting on food at a restaurant, a school day, and so forth. You may also choose to provide paper, and let the kids draw something they think lasts a long time. Then talk about it. Say • After returning from Babylon to the promised land, God’s people seemed to be taking forever to do something God asked of them. We’ll see what in a moment. Activities/Table Centers (5 minutes) Table centers (Miscellaneous Activities) “Brick by Brick” activity sheet / Bible Story Coloring Sheet, 1 per kid pencils, markers or crayons Guide boys and girls to complete the activity page. Say • After years of building, God’s people were getting closer to completing the temple. We’ll see if they finished it in today’s Bible study. If time remains, allow kids to complete the coloring page provided with this session. Session Starter (10 minutes) Option 1: King/Queen, may I? tape Play a variation of “Mother, May I?” Tape a long start line and finish line. Choose a volunteer. The volunteer will face away from the rest of the kids, who will be lined up at the start line. Choose a kid who will ask, “King/Queen, may I?” followed by a request to move forward. For instance, they might say “May I jump forward three times?” Give them four request options: jump, skip, walk, and crawl. The volunteer may approve or deny the request by saying “Yes, you may,” or “No, you may not.” Before the game, tell the volunteer one of the four options that he may not deny. If a kid requests that option, the volunteer must approve. The first person to reach the volunteer replaces him. Repeat as time allows. Say • God’s people faced a challenge from a Persian official as they rebuilt Jerusalem. We will see if they were granted permission to continue. Option 2: Worship List paper pencils Provide each kid with a piece of paper. Invite the kids to list ways they can worship God. See who can come up with the most. Keep in mind that kids can worship God in just about anything they do. Talk about how worship is more than singing. It is about the heart or motivation behind why we do something.