Archive for month: June, 2020

Featured Passage: Ezra 7-8

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A group of Jews had returned from exile to rebuild Jerusalem and to restore the temple. They had met with some adversity, but ultimately they completed what they had set out to accomplish. Another group of Jews was planning to come back to Jerusalem to help with the job and to help restore the true worship of God in Jerusalem. Among this group was a scribe named Ezra. He was very skilled in knowing the scriptures and teaching the law, but more than that he possessed a heart prepared to seek God’s Law and to do it with all his might. As it turned out, he is just what the people in Jerusalem needed. 

Discuss: 

• Who was the king of Persia who gave support to Ezra and the others with him returning to Jerusalem? What did he do to show his support? 
• When the King of Persia promised Ezra his help and support, to whom did Ezra give the credit? 
• When Ezra returned with the group of people to Jerusalem, he wrote that he was ashamed of something. What was it? What does this say about the kind of person Ezra was? 
• How did God protect the people on their return to Jerusalem? (Ezra 8:31)
• When the Bible says that Ezra “had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord” what does that mean? How can we follow this example? 

Memory Challenge: 

Ezra 7:10 

For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

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Featured Passage: Nehemiah 1-6

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The temple in Jerusalem had been rebuilt by the group of captives that had been allowed to return to the city. However, even though the temple was completed and rededicated, there was still trouble for the people. The walls of the city were broken and Jerusalem was not protected from the attacks of the surrounding enemies. At the time, a man named Nehemiah worked as the cupbearer for the Persian king Artaxerxes. Nehemiah heard that the people in Jerusalem were in distress and he became very sad, and cried out to God for help. God, hearing Nehemiah’s prayer, had a plan to help the people through the kindness of a king and the leadership of a cupbearer. 

Discuss: 

• What was Nehemiah’s first reaction when he heard about the situation in Jerusalem? What can we learn from his actions? 
• What are the responsibilities of a cupbearer? How did the king notice something was wrong when Nehemiah came before him? What does this tell us about the kind of person Nehemiah was? 
• How did Nehemiah organize the building of the wall? Why do you think he did it this way? 
• What kind of difficulties did the people have as they were trying to build the walls? What was the response of the builders to the adversity they met? What should our response be when we have difficulties trying to accomplish our goals in life? 
• How long did it take the people to finish rebuilding the walls? What roles did Nehemiah play in helping the people finish the job so quickly?

Memory Challenge: 

Nehemiah 2:17

Then I said to them, “You see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste, and its gates are burned with fire. Come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach.”

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Featured Passage: 2 Samuel 9

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Jonathan, the son of Saul and David’s closest friend, had a son named Mephibosheth who was only five years old when his father died in a terrible battle. The nurse who was taking care of little Mephibosheth panicked when she heard the news of the battle. She was scared of what might happen, so she picked him up to leave quickly, but in her hurry, she dropped the young boy in such a way that his feet were badly hurt and he was lame for the rest of his life. The years went by, and one day, King David sat thinking about his friend Jonathan and wondered whether anyone in his family was still alive. That was when one of Saul’s old servants told David about the son of Jonathan. David was eager to meet him and to honor the covenant he made with his friend many years before. 

Discuss: 

• Why did David want to find out if anyone in Saul’s family was still alive? 
• Who was the person who told David about Jonathan’s son? 
• What did Mephibosheth do when he was first brought before King David? What are some ways that we can show respect to people who are in authority? 
• The Bible tells us that Mephibosheth was lame in both of his feet. What do you think it would be like to be lame in both feet? What kinds of things would you not be able to do if your feet didn’t work properly? 
• What did David do for Mephibosheth? Why did he show kindness to him?

Memory Challenge: 

2 Samuel 9:7

So David said to him, “Do not fear, for I will surely show you kindness for Jonathan your father’s sake, and will restore to you all the land of Saul your grandfather; and you shall eat bread at my table continually.”

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Includes the lessons:

• Lesson 50 “Ezekiel the Watchman”
• Lesson 51 “Zerubbabel”
• Lesson 52 “Ezra”
• Lesson 53 “Nehemiah”

Featured Passage: Daniel 1-2

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The nation of Judah refused to repent of their sins, so God allowed the Jews to be carried away as captives to Babylon. Some of the first to be taken to Babylon were noblemen and their families; Daniel was most likely taken captive with this group. When they arrived in Babylon, Daniel was selected to be among the young men who would be taught the language, literature, and culture of the Babylonians. Even though he was a captive, Daniel was determined to live according to God’s laws which were certainly not practiced by the Babylonians. The first test came when Daniel’s first plate of food was set before him. 

Discuss: 

• Who was the king of Babylon when Daniel was taken captive?
• Why do you think Daniel did not want to eat the king’s delicacies? What did Daniel propose that he eat instead? Has there ever been a time when you have had to courageously stand up for your desire to follow God? 
• What position did King Nebuchadnezzar give to Daniel? How did he get the position? What can we learn from this in relation to Proverbs 22:29?
• When the astrologers and magicians could not reveal to the king his dream, what did the king command be done to all the wise men? What did Daniel do when he heard about the proclamation? 
• Who revealed to Daniel the dream and its meaning? What is important about Nebuchadnezzar’s dream?

Memory Challenge: 

Daniel 2:20-22

Daniel answered and said:

“Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.

And He changes the times and the seasons;

He removes kings and raises up kings;

He gives wisdom to the wise

And knowledge to those who have understanding.

He reveals deep and secret things;

He knows what is in the darkness,