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Preschool track
Overview of Haggai
God's people come home. The people spent many years as prisoners in a distant country, but King Cyrus of Persia declared they could finally return to their homeland. He also gave them permission to rebuild God's temple that was destroyed when their nation was invaded (2 Chron 36:23).
The people were happy to be home, but they came back to a land that was destroyed. They found much work to d. They needed to build homes, plant crops and make a living. The people were so busy with these tasks that they forgot about rebuilding the temple. The people had nowhere to gather for worship. The hadn't done their most important job.
The book says that the prophet Haggai began to preach during the reign of Persia's King Darius. Haggai pointed out that the people built themselves houses with beautiful wood walls. He asked if it was right for God's people to live in fine houses while God's houses, the temple, remained in ruins. With Haggai's help, the people soon got to work. Enemies tried to stop their rebuilding, but they finally got the job done (Ezra 6:15-18). This book shows us that it's never too late to serve God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The people were happy to be home, but they came back to a land that was destroyed. They found much work to d. They needed to build homes, plant crops and make a living. The people were so busy with these tasks that they forgot about rebuilding the temple. The people had nowhere to gather for worship. The hadn't done their most important job.
The book says that the prophet Haggai began to preach during the reign of Persia's King Darius. Haggai pointed out that the people built themselves houses with beautiful wood walls. He asked if it was right for God's people to live in fine houses while God's houses, the temple, remained in ruins. With Haggai's help, the people soon got to work. Enemies tried to stop their rebuilding, but they finally got the job done (Ezra 6:15-18). This book shows us that it's never too late to serve God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Overview of Zechariah
The prophet Zechariah was probably a priest, and this book calls him a "young man" (Zech 2:4). Like the prophet Haggai, Zechariah challenged God's people to rebuild the temple. Although Zechariah began preaching just two months after Haggai spoke his message from God, this book doesn't mention Haggai.
This book has two main parts. Zechariah 1-8 contains seven visions of a future temple. The words encouraged God's people to work hard at their task, to be different from their ancestors, and to stop doing evil. Building the temple would bring God close to the people. Zechariah 9-14 tells the people to rebuild the temple to prepare for the arrival of a new king, a savior God would send to help the people. This section speaks of a future "day of the Lord" when God will be king over the whole land.
New Testament writers looked to this book for details about this king. Zechariah 9:9 says a king would ride into Jerusalem" on a colt, the offspring of a donkey." Matthew refers to this verse when he writes about Jesus' victorious entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday (Matt 21:1-11).
The book of Zechariah says God's work can only be done with God's help (Zech 4:6). This teaching reminds us to count on God when life gets tough!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This book has two main parts. Zechariah 1-8 contains seven visions of a future temple. The words encouraged God's people to work hard at their task, to be different from their ancestors, and to stop doing evil. Building the temple would bring God close to the people. Zechariah 9-14 tells the people to rebuild the temple to prepare for the arrival of a new king, a savior God would send to help the people. This section speaks of a future "day of the Lord" when God will be king over the whole land.
New Testament writers looked to this book for details about this king. Zechariah 9:9 says a king would ride into Jerusalem" on a colt, the offspring of a donkey." Matthew refers to this verse when he writes about Jesus' victorious entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday (Matt 21:1-11).
The book of Zechariah says God's work can only be done with God's help (Zech 4:6). This teaching reminds us to count on God when life gets tough!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Overview of Malachi
After many years as prisoners in a distant country, God's people returned to their land. They constructed home, planted crops, and began to earn a living. They event rebuilt the temple destroyed by the army that conquered their nation. Now they looked around and felt disappointed. Why wasn;t life as good as they hoped.
The first words of this book point to the problem. God said to God's people, "I have loved you." But the people didn't believe God. They asked, "How have you loved us?" (Mal 1:2).
The prophet Malachi explained what was wrong. The people didn't love God and didn't love each other. The nation's priests ignored God's rules for worship. People made no effort to obey God's commands. They turned away from God and worshipped other gods. It was no surprise that they felt far away from God.
God promised to send a messenger to prepare the people for God's arrival (Mal 3:1, 4:5). Not everyone would like the messenger. He would purify the people to remove their sin, like metal is heated in a fire to remove its impurities. This would be painful. But the messenger would bring people closer to God.
Malachi told God's people not you give up hope. They should expect God to act. This book tells us to look forward to God's arrival!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The first words of this book point to the problem. God said to God's people, "I have loved you." But the people didn't believe God. They asked, "How have you loved us?" (Mal 1:2).
The prophet Malachi explained what was wrong. The people didn't love God and didn't love each other. The nation's priests ignored God's rules for worship. People made no effort to obey God's commands. They turned away from God and worshipped other gods. It was no surprise that they felt far away from God.
God promised to send a messenger to prepare the people for God's arrival (Mal 3:1, 4:5). Not everyone would like the messenger. He would purify the people to remove their sin, like metal is heated in a fire to remove its impurities. This would be painful. But the messenger would bring people closer to God.
Malachi told God's people not you give up hope. They should expect God to act. This book tells us to look forward to God's arrival!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Bible Readings
Prepare the Way! (Malachi 3:1-4) Reading
The people in Jerusalem call me my messenger.
Whose messenger am I? GOD"S messenger!
When I open MY mouth, GOD speaks.
MY words are GOD'S words.
God called many messengers before me:
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Jonah, to name a few.
We are all called prophets.
I am also called my messenger.
I deliver MANY messages
to God's people, the Israelites.
Sometimes the Israelites fogrot
to follow God's commandments.
Sometimes they forgot how to worship God.
So God asked ME to be a messenger to remind them.
This is what I told them.
Listen up! God has a message for YOU.
It's time to get ready!
God promised you a Messiah.
And the Messiah will come!
But you aren't ready!
You break God's commandments.
You work on the Sabbath.
You steal and lie.
STOP what you're doing and CHANGE!
Like SOAP makes cloth clean,
God will make YOU clean.
Like FIRE purifies silver, God will purify YOU.
All your mistakes will be washed away!
God will forgive All your sins!
God will forgive EVERYONE!
Prepare the way!
Follow God's commandments.
Be king to each other.
Share your things and love your neighbors.
Tehn you'll be READY for God's Messiah!
*Taken from Whirl Kids StoryBible: Lectionary Edition
Whose messenger am I? GOD"S messenger!
When I open MY mouth, GOD speaks.
MY words are GOD'S words.
God called many messengers before me:
Isaiah, Jeremiah, Daniel, and Jonah, to name a few.
We are all called prophets.
I am also called my messenger.
I deliver MANY messages
to God's people, the Israelites.
Sometimes the Israelites fogrot
to follow God's commandments.
Sometimes they forgot how to worship God.
So God asked ME to be a messenger to remind them.
This is what I told them.
Listen up! God has a message for YOU.
It's time to get ready!
God promised you a Messiah.
And the Messiah will come!
But you aren't ready!
You break God's commandments.
You work on the Sabbath.
You steal and lie.
STOP what you're doing and CHANGE!
Like SOAP makes cloth clean,
God will make YOU clean.
Like FIRE purifies silver, God will purify YOU.
All your mistakes will be washed away!
God will forgive All your sins!
God will forgive EVERYONE!
Prepare the way!
Follow God's commandments.
Be king to each other.
Share your things and love your neighbors.
Tehn you'll be READY for God's Messiah!
*Taken from Whirl Kids StoryBible: Lectionary Edition
I Wonder....
- how the people felt when Malachi told them to be prepared?
- if there are modern day prophets?
Discussion Questions
- What names are you called?
- How can you get ready for someone to come?
Songs
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Micah 6:8 by KidSpring Children's Ministry
This song is 2:03 minutes long
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Micah 6:8 by Slugs and Bugs
This song is 3:39 minutes long
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Tips for Adults
The book of Haggai tells how God's people worked hard to build a temple for God. The book is named for the prophet Haggai, who challenged and encouraged God's people to complete this important task.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Zechariah was named for the prophet Zechariah, who encouraged God's people to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed when their land was invaded.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Named for the prophet Malachi, it describes the time about a hundred years after the temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem. Even though people had a place to worship together, they still felt far away from God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Elementary Track
Overview of Haggai
God's people come home. The people spent many years as prisoners in a distant country, but King Cyrus of Persia declared they could finally return to their homeland. He also gave them permission to rebuild God's temple that was destroyed when their nation was invaded (2 Chron 36:23).
The people were happy to be home, but they came back to a land that was destroyed. They found much work to d. They needed to build homes, plant crops and make a living. The people were so busy with these tasks that they forgot about rebuilding the temple. The people had nowhere to gather for worship. The hadn't done their most important job.
The book says that the prophet Haggai began to preach during the reign of Persia's King Darius. Haggai pointed out that the people built themselves houses with beautiful wood walls. He asked if it was right for God's people to live in fine houses while God's houses, the temple, remained in ruins. With Haggai's help, the people soon got to work. Enemies tried to stop their rebuilding, but they finally got the job done (Ezra 6:15-18). This book shows us that it's never too late to serve God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The people were happy to be home, but they came back to a land that was destroyed. They found much work to d. They needed to build homes, plant crops and make a living. The people were so busy with these tasks that they forgot about rebuilding the temple. The people had nowhere to gather for worship. The hadn't done their most important job.
The book says that the prophet Haggai began to preach during the reign of Persia's King Darius. Haggai pointed out that the people built themselves houses with beautiful wood walls. He asked if it was right for God's people to live in fine houses while God's houses, the temple, remained in ruins. With Haggai's help, the people soon got to work. Enemies tried to stop their rebuilding, but they finally got the job done (Ezra 6:15-18). This book shows us that it's never too late to serve God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 5:36 minutes long
Overview of Zechariah
The prophet Zechariah was probably a priest, and this book calls him a "young man" (Zech 2:4). Like the prophet Haggai, Zechariah challenged God's people to rebuild the temple. Although Zechariah began preaching just two months after Haggai spoke his message from God, this book doesn't mention Haggai.
This book has two main parts. Zechariah 1-8 contains seven visions of a future temple. The words encouraged God's people to work hard at their task, to be different from their ancestors, and to stop doing evil. Building the temple would bring God close to the people. Zechariah 9-14 tells the people to rebuild the temple to prepare for the arrival of a new king, a savior God would send to help the people. This section speaks of a future "day of the Lord" when God will be king over the whole land.
New Testament writers looked to this book for details about this king. Zechariah 9:9 says a king would ride into Jerusalem" on a colt, the offspring of a donkey." Matthew refers to this verse when he writes about Jesus' victorious entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday (Matt 21:1-11).
The book of Zechariah says God's work can only be done with God's help (Zech 4:6). This teaching reminds us to count on God when life gets tough!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This book has two main parts. Zechariah 1-8 contains seven visions of a future temple. The words encouraged God's people to work hard at their task, to be different from their ancestors, and to stop doing evil. Building the temple would bring God close to the people. Zechariah 9-14 tells the people to rebuild the temple to prepare for the arrival of a new king, a savior God would send to help the people. This section speaks of a future "day of the Lord" when God will be king over the whole land.
New Testament writers looked to this book for details about this king. Zechariah 9:9 says a king would ride into Jerusalem" on a colt, the offspring of a donkey." Matthew refers to this verse when he writes about Jesus' victorious entry into Jerusalem on the day we call Palm Sunday (Matt 21:1-11).
The book of Zechariah says God's work can only be done with God's help (Zech 4:6). This teaching reminds us to count on God when life gets tough!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 8:10 minutes long
Overview of Malachi
After many years as prisoners in a distant country, God's people returned to their land. They constructed home, planted crops, and began to earn a living. They event rebuilt the temple destroyed by the army that conquered their nation. Now they looked around and felt disappointed. Why wasn;t life as good as they hoped.
The first words of this book point to the problem. God said to God's people, "I have loved you." But the people didn't believe God. They asked, "How have you loved us?" (Mal 1:2).
The prophet Malachi explained what was wrong. The people didn't love God and didn't love each other. The nation's priests ignored God's rules for worship. People made no effort to obey God's commands. They turned away from God and worshipped other gods. It was no surprise that they felt far away from God.
God promised to send a messenger to prepare the people for God's arrival (Mal 3:1, 4:5). Not everyone would like the messenger. He would purify the people to remove their sin, like metal is heated in a fire to remove its impurities. This would be painful. But the messenger would bring people closer to God.
Malachi told God's people not you give up hope. They should expect God to act. This book tells us to look forward to God's arrival!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The first words of this book point to the problem. God said to God's people, "I have loved you." But the people didn't believe God. They asked, "How have you loved us?" (Mal 1:2).
The prophet Malachi explained what was wrong. The people didn't love God and didn't love each other. The nation's priests ignored God's rules for worship. People made no effort to obey God's commands. They turned away from God and worshipped other gods. It was no surprise that they felt far away from God.
God promised to send a messenger to prepare the people for God's arrival (Mal 3:1, 4:5). Not everyone would like the messenger. He would purify the people to remove their sin, like metal is heated in a fire to remove its impurities. This would be painful. But the messenger would bring people closer to God.
Malachi told God's people not you give up hope. They should expect God to act. This book tells us to look forward to God's arrival!
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
This video is 7:09 minutes long.
Bible Readings
What Does God Want? (Micah 1:1; 4:1-4; 6:6-8) Reading
Sometimes we need people to help us see what's goingon. It's good when someone points out ways we can live as God wants, loving and caring for others. Micah wasa prophet who helped people see how God wanted them to live together.
Micah was from a small village outside Jerusalem. He grew up in a family of farmers. He spent every day in vineyards and fields. Sometimes people in these villages were treated badly by rich, powerful people in the cities. Micah knew this was wrong.
He traveled to the big city of Jerusalem and said, "God doesn't want rich and powerful people to treat poor or powerless people badly."
Images of fields and trees from his village filled his mind. All Micah could think about was the time he spent plowing and picking the grain with family and friends.
"When the world is filled with peace, people will beat their weapons into farm tools. No one will make war. We will all sit under our grapevines and fig trees," Micah told the people in Jerusalem.
Micah knew what it was like to be poor. He knew deep down inside what it was like to be treated terribly by people who had power and money. He had big ideas about how God wanted people to treat one another.
Like other prophets, Micah had a difficult job. He had to speak hard truths to God's people. Truths that they did not want to hear about how powerful and rich people treated others unfairly. Micah talked about the destruction that was coming if God's people ignored how God wanted them to treat one another.
What God really wanted was for people to:
do justice,
love kindness,
and walk humbly with God.
That's how Micah said it. Now think about what it means for you! You are doing justice when you make sure that everyone is treated fairly. You love kindness when you share something that is really precious to you.
When you walk with your eyes open to see places where you and your family can help someone - like a refugee or someone who is sick or hungry or needs money to buy school supplies - then you are walking humbly with God.
Micah believed with all his heart that this is what God wanted everyone to do. And we can choose to live our lives this way today.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
Micah was from a small village outside Jerusalem. He grew up in a family of farmers. He spent every day in vineyards and fields. Sometimes people in these villages were treated badly by rich, powerful people in the cities. Micah knew this was wrong.
He traveled to the big city of Jerusalem and said, "God doesn't want rich and powerful people to treat poor or powerless people badly."
Images of fields and trees from his village filled his mind. All Micah could think about was the time he spent plowing and picking the grain with family and friends.
"When the world is filled with peace, people will beat their weapons into farm tools. No one will make war. We will all sit under our grapevines and fig trees," Micah told the people in Jerusalem.
Micah knew what it was like to be poor. He knew deep down inside what it was like to be treated terribly by people who had power and money. He had big ideas about how God wanted people to treat one another.
Like other prophets, Micah had a difficult job. He had to speak hard truths to God's people. Truths that they did not want to hear about how powerful and rich people treated others unfairly. Micah talked about the destruction that was coming if God's people ignored how God wanted them to treat one another.
What God really wanted was for people to:
do justice,
love kindness,
and walk humbly with God.
That's how Micah said it. Now think about what it means for you! You are doing justice when you make sure that everyone is treated fairly. You love kindness when you share something that is really precious to you.
When you walk with your eyes open to see places where you and your family can help someone - like a refugee or someone who is sick or hungry or needs money to buy school supplies - then you are walking humbly with God.
Micah believed with all his heart that this is what God wanted everyone to do. And we can choose to live our lives this way today.
*Taken from Growing in God's Love a Story Bible by Elizabeth Caldwell
I Wonder....
- What does justice mean?
- What humble means?
- Where I have heard this before?
Discussion Questions
- What are three ways that we can do justice?
- How can we treat others fairly?
- What do you want to remember about the message that God gave to the prophet Micah?
- What would the world look like if there were no weapons that could harm people? What would a peaceful world look like?
- How can you spread Micah's message about peace and caring for one another?
Songs
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Micah 6:8 by Slugs and Bugs
This song is 3:39 minutes long
|
Motions (Peace) by Saddleback Kids
This song is 3:14 minutes long
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Content for Adults
The book of Haggai tells how God's people worked hard to build a temple for God. The book is named for the prophet Haggai, who challenged and encouraged God's people to complete this important task.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
The book of Zechariah was named for the prophet Zechariah, who encouraged God's people to rebuild the temple that had been destroyed when their land was invaded.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Malachi is the last book of the Old Testament. Named for the prophet Malachi, it describes the time about a hundred years after the temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem. Even though people had a place to worship together, they still felt far away from God.
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
*Taken from Deep Blue Bible
Each Sunday there will be a class addressing the reading for that week. The classes will engage the particular Bible book for that week, paying specific attention to a theme or topic. A list of January's classes are below. These classes are hybrid and will meet each Sunday, in-person (EM307/308) and on Zoom, at 10:05am. The Zoom link is at the bottom of this email and is the same for each week.
Week Beginning on:
Time: Every Sunday 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89900787541?pwd=QXF5dzBnM1Y0K1FPczgvWVNwYnFmZz09
Meeting ID: 899 0078 7541
Passcode: 328476
Week Beginning on:
- August 7th - The Not So Minor Prophets | Minor Prophets [Haggai, Zechariah, Malachi] (Marsha Rydberg)
- August 14th - Jesus Christ and the Disinherited | Matthew (Will Wellman)
- August 21st - The Gospel of Suffering | Mark (Will Wellman)
Time: Every Sunday 10:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89900787541?pwd=QXF5dzBnM1Y0K1FPczgvWVNwYnFmZz09
Meeting ID: 899 0078 7541
Passcode: 328476