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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