LESSON 06 Ezra: Faith and Action Preacher Lesson Overview umble Service—Ezra was a man who boldly represented God and His principles. He desired the Lord’s words and Week of April 11 H ways to be acknowledged, then followed. On one occasion, Ezra Life Need: humbly threw himself on the ground, bowing before the Lord 1 Discuss what it means to in the temple. He confessed and sorrowed deeply for the sin count the cost of following of God’s people. While Ezra lamented, several visitors in the God. temple gathered around him, and they too began to weep, fear- ing God’s wrath. Bible Learning: While observing Ezra, Shekaniah (KJV: Shecheniah), a pious Read about Ezra’s boldness 2 man who may have traveled with Ezra from Babylon, spoke in telling the people they must out. He realized the seriousness of the nation’s sin—specifically, obey God’s command. the Jewish men taking foreign wives. Shekaniah suggested the Suggested Material: sending away (divorcing) of the non-Jewish wives to preserve the N Adult Teacher’s Resource Kit: moral and spiritual welfare of God’s people. This act demonstrated Poster and reproducible hand- brokenness over their disobedience and also genuine repentance. out: Exile and Restoration Their repentance indicated hope, as the people started weeping Bible Application: over their sin and determined to do something about it. 3 Explore how taking a godly Decisive Action—Ezra agreed to Shekaniah’s counsel. Even stand requires faith, action, though this much had been accomplished, Ezra continued his and often sacrifice. mourning by entering into a strict fast. After Ezra met with the Suggested Material: princes and elders, the entire congregation had to gather within N Adult Teacher’s Resource three days. The leadership sent messengers to proclaim the urgent Kit: Reproducible handout: No meeting. The absent individuals risked suffering heavy penalties. Matter the Cost Therefore, the majority of Jewish men gathered at Jerusalem in the pouring rain to show their determination to please the Lord. Ezra Life Response: ordered the men to break all ties with any of their foreign family 4 Live God’s way, every day. and friends. The audience loudly agreed. Ezra pulled no punches. He wanted the Lord’s name and commandments to be upheld. Only quick and decisive action by the people would solve their problem. Church/Home Theme: Revive Us Again, As Your Students Arrive O Lord! Ask your students how often they consider the cost when Lesson Focus: they buy things. Is price always most important, or are there Act according to some things they are willing to pay more for because they are God’s ways, no higher quality, are more reliable when used, or are made local- matter the cost. ly? Counting the cost is an important part of this week’s lesson as we look at the cost of following God every day. Lesson Scripture: Ezra 10:1-12 Photo: © Blue Images/Getty Images 50 Lesson 6 Link to Last Week: Some of your students may want to tell how they shared God’s message of salvation and redemption with someone this past week. Discuss what it means to count the 1 Life Need cost of following God. Comprehensive Bible Study Student Book Reduction Read the story in the student book, then have the students form small Lesson 6 • April 11 • Page 40 groups to discuss their answers to Questions 1, 2, and 3. Ezra: Faith and Action Preacher For Question 1, students may remem- e’s doing what!?” Jordan asked his sister. ber a time, for example, when they held “He said it’s going to be a business investment,” their tongue in a tense situation in spite Hsaid Natalie. of very much wanting to say some- “A strip club!” interjected Jordan. “He says he’s going to make it a sports bar with ‘entertain- thing that God would not want them to ment,’ ” continued his sister. say. They may also have not gone with Tyler was their younger brother, who wanted to be a busi- friends to do something that was inap- nessperson. He had tried to get involved in a few question- able ventures—but never one this distasteful. Jordan had propriate for a follower of the Lord. been the older, stable brother, trying to help his younger sib- Question 2 reminds students that God’s lings get on, and stay on, the right path. Jordan was most concerned with Tyler because of his wan- ways are not the ways of the world. Not dering and mischievous ways. Jordan could not bear to think following the crowd when it includes of the “business” that Tyler was trying to purchase. His close friends, or standing for God on an brother had strayed away from the God-fearing young man he once was. issue where many people disagree with Over the next week, Jordan fervently prayed and also you, may cost you relationships, time, fasted for his brother. At the end of the week, Tyler called and money. his big brother, and he asked to see Jordan for “some help.” Lastly, for Question 3, students may “This business deal seems to be going south, big brother, say that following God’s ways brings and I would like a loan that I will pay back when I can,” peace, satisfaction, and contentment in a asked Tyler. “Tyler, you know I’m not going to support you in this way that nothing else can. Because they unholy venture,” said Jordan. “I have been praying for you are pleasing God, they are doing the and will continue to pray that you follow Christ and the right thing for themselves as well. things of God.” 1. Describe a time when you acted the way God wanted you to—but it was very difficult. 2. Why is it often costly for us to follow God’s ways? 3. Why is it better to follow God’s ways? LESSON FOCUS: Act according to God’s ways, no matter the cost. LESSON FOCUS: Act according to God’s ways, no matter the cost. Lesson 6 51 Read about Ezra’s boldness in telling the people they must obey 2 Bible Learning God’s command. Before starting front of the temple because of the sin of Israel in this step, put marrying foreign wives. up the poster • While he was praying, a huge crowd of men, “Exile and women, and children gathered around, weeping in Restoration” repentance. Shekaniah was acting as spokesman. from the • Shekaniah proclaimed that they betrayed God Resource Kit by marrying foreign wives. He announced that and make copies there was still hope, and they would renew their of the handout that goes with it. You will covenant with God. use the poster and the handout today • To keep that covenant, they would send away and in the next two lessons. Read the first three paragraphs on the handout, Comprehensive Bible Study Student Book Reduction then note on the poster the engraving of Week of April 11 • Page 41 the exiles rebuilding the temple and the photo of a fresco from an ancient syna- gogue showing Ezra holding a scroll to Ezra Mourns, the People Confess read to the people. Ezra 10:1-6, KJV Ezra 10:1-6, NIV 1 Now when Ezra had prayed, and 1While Ezra was praying EZRA MOURNS, THE PEOPLE CONFESS when he had confessed, weeping and confessing, weeping and casting himself down before and throwing himself down Read Ezra 10:1-6 with students and the house of God, there assembled before the house of God, a discuss the following points: unto him out of Israel a very great large crowd of Israelites— congregation of men and women men, women and children— • Ezra prayed and wept bitterly in and children: for the people wept gathered around him. They very sore. too wept bitterly. 2Then BIBLE EXTRA 2 And Shechaniah the son of Jehiel, Shekaniah son of Jehiel, one one of the sons of Elam, answered of the descendants of Elam, and said unto Ezra, We have tres- said to Ezra, “We have been Ezra passed against our God, and have unfaithful to our God by mar- After the conquest of Babylon by the Per- taken strange wives of the people rying foreign women from of the land: yet now there is hope in the peoples around us. But in sians, the Jews who had been exiled as much Israel concerning this thing. spite of this, there is still hope as 70 years earlier began returning to Israel. The 3 Now therefore let us make a cov- for Israel. 3Now let us make first wave of returning exiles, led by King David’s enant with our God to put away all a covenant before our God to the wives, and such as are born of send away all these women descendant Zerubbabel, arrived in Jerusalem them, according to the counsel of and their children, in accor- around 537 B.C. and soon began rebuilding the my lord, and of those that tremble at dance with the counsel of my temple. Ezra described these efforts in Ezra 1–6, the commandment of our God; and lord and of those who fear the although he himself did not come to Israel until let it be done according to the law. commands of our God. Let it 4 Arise; for this matter belongeth be done according to the Law. the second wave of migration, around 458 B.C. unto thee: we also will be with thee: 4Rise up; this matter is in your (His counterpart, Nehemiah, arrived with the third be of good courage, and do it.