B-9 Revival and Reformation

 Theme: Treat others fairly (Nehemiah 5)

Supplies:

• fake dollar bills, Bible with bookmark in Nehemiah 5.

Directions:

Say. "I'm going to give each of you some money. Please hold it quietly in your hand."

• Give 1-2 children five $1 bills.
• Give 2-3 children one $1 bill.

Say: "After returning from captivity. There were Israelites who had enough money. There were other Israelites who didn't have very much money. The Israelites who had enough money wanted more. They charged very high prices for food. And when someone needed money for taxes, they loaned money at very high interest rates. Soon, those who started with only a little money had none, and those who started with a lot of money had even more! (Take money  from the children who have only one and give it to the children who already have $5.) 

Ask: 

• "Was this fair? What did Nehemiah think about this?" (Have a child read Nehemiah 5:6.)
• "What did God think of this arrangement?" (Have a child read Nehemiah 5:9.)
• "What did the selfish people promise?" (Have a child read Nehemiah 5:12.)
• "Did they keep their promise?" (Have a child read Nehemiah 5:13.)

Have those who are "rich" give back what was taken from those who were "poor."

Discussion questions:

1. How did you feel when the money was taken away from those who had less?
2. Why do you think God was angry about this?
3. How do you think the poor people felt when their money was taken? How do you think they felt when it was given back?
4. How does God want us to treat people who may not have as much as we do?

B-8 For Such a Time as This

OPTION 1

Theme: Spreading the Good News Quickly

Background:
In Esther’s day, they didn’t have TVs, radios, the internet, or cell phones. News was carried by relay messengers. A rider would travel on horseback to a station and give the message to the next rider. That rider would hurry to the next station and pass it on. In this way, important messages spread quickly across the kingdom.

Instructions:

• Choose children to be Esther, Mordecai, and a scribe.
• Choose one child to stand at the classroom door (this child represents the first relay station).
• Have all the remaining messengers stand together in the hallway at one location (the "hub").
• Assign each messenger a different Sabbath School classroom door where they will eventually deliver the message. Give each messenger a pen and paper.
• Have the scribe write this message: “Happy Sabbath! We are so glad you are at church today.”
• The scribe gives the message to the child at the classroom door.
• That child carries the message to the messenger "hub" in the hallway.

At the hub:

• Each messenger must copy (transcribe) the message onto their own paper.
• After copying, they run to their assigned classroom door and attach the message.

Challenge: See if the whole process can be completed in 5 minutes or less!

Discussion Questions:

• Why was it important for the message to spread quickly?
• How do you think the Jews felt when they received the new law?
• What good news does God want us to spread today? (Three Angels' Messages)
• Why is it important to work together to spread this message as quickly as possible?
• How can you participate in spreading the message?

OPTION 2: 

Theme: Identified

Instructions:

• Give each person in the room (children and adults) a sticky note. Ask them to write one of the following (without their name):
• A favorite food
• A hidden talent
• A favorite Bible verse
• Etc.
• Collect all the sticky notes.
• Read them aloud one at a time, and have the group guess who wrote each one.

Connection:
When Esther told the king about the plot to destroy her people, he didn’t know who was responsible. Imagine his shock when he discovered it was his own most trusted advisor, Haman. 

Discussion questions:

• Why do you think Esther didn’t speak up right away?
• Why was timing important?
• How do you know when it is the right time to speak?
• How do you think the king felt when he learned the truth?

B-7 From Orphan to Queen

Option 1:

Theme: Standing Strong
Supplies: Four pieces of paper with the following labels: 

1. Suffering for consequences (Esther 1)
2. Reporting evil (Esther 2)
3. Pride and revenge (Esther 3)
4. Courage in the face of death (Esther 4)

Directions: Place labels in four different sections or corners of the room. Have children run to the correct label based on the scenario that is read.

• Your friend laughs and makes fun of another child. You refuse to participate, and your friend now shuns you.
• You tell the principal that someone is planning to hurt another student.
• You get angry because someone didn’t show you special respect.
• You speak up even though you might get in serious trouble.
• You overhear something dangerous and decide to report it.
• You want revenge because your feelings were hurt.
• You choose to do the right thing even if it could cost you friends.
• You choose to do right and suffer the consequences for doing it.
• You expose a secret plan that could harm others.
• You build yourself up and demand that everyone honor you.
• You step forward to protect others even though you are afraid.
• You refuse to lie for your boss and lose your job.
• You help your friend finish her book report even though she never says "thank you."
• You try to get even with someone who embarrasses you.
• You risk your safety to help someone.
• You report something wrong instead of pretending you didn’t see it.
• You become angry when someone doesn't treat you the way you think you should be treated.
• You prepare carefully, pray, and then face a frightening situation bravely.

Discussion: 

1. Which situation would have been hardest for you to stand strong in? Why?
2. What is the difference between pride and healthy confidence?
3. Why does courage sometimes require preparation (like prayer, planning, or advice)?
4. How can one brave decision affect many other people?

B-6 Rebuilding the Temple

 Theme: Rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 1-6)

Supplies: Legos or Jenga blocks

Directions:

1. Divide the class into three groups: Group 1, Group 2, and Group 3.

2. Place a pile of LEGO bricks or Jenga blocks in the center of the room.

3. Tell the class:
   “Your goal is to build God’s temple. Each group will get a chance to help.”

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Round 1: The Work Begins

4. Group 1 comes to the center and builds for about 2 minutes.

5. Stop them and say:
   “The Samaritans have written a letter to the king of Persia, accusing you of rebellion. The king orders the work to stop.”
   Have Group 1 return to their seats.

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Pause the Story

6. Say:
   “Sixteen years went by. The temple was still unfinished. God sent prophets to remind the people to start building His temple again.”

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Round 2: The Work Restarts

7. Group 2 comes up and begins building for 2 minutes.

8. Pause and say:
   “The Samaritans accuse you before the king of Persia again. This time, you choose to trust God and keep building.”

9. Let Group 2 continue building for 1 more minute.

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Round 3: Help Arrives

10. Say:
    “The king of Persia searches the records and discovers the original command to rebuild the temple. He sends supplies and help.”

11. Invite Group 3 to join Group 2 and finish building the temple together.

Discussion

• Why did the building stop the first time?
• What helped the people start again?