Subscribe on Apple Podcasts or Spotify for weekly updates!
Key Verse - John 20:31
These are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
Ezra Taught God’s Law (Ezra 7-10; Nehemiah 8)
In His providence, God raised up Ezra to be a leader who realized the people of God needed to do more than just rebuild the buildings and walls in Jerusalem. If all the buildings and infrastructure of Jerusalem were completely rebuilt, but the people did not know God and His good commands, then all their rebuilding would be in vain.
Ezra was a faithful scribe and priest who returned to Jerusalem with a clear mission: to teach the law of God to the people. Ezra 7:10 tells us that Ezra had determined to know the law, obey the law, and teach the law to the people of God in Jerusalem. Ezra's commitment and desire to teach the law was not merely to speak its truth; he intended to live the truth of it as well.
From dawn until noon, Ezra read from the law of Moses, instructing God's people in His commands and reminding them of God's faithfulness. The response of the people to the reading of the law was overwhelming. They wept when they heard God's Word because they were confronted with the reality of their sin. Ultimately, the people repented of their sins and made a commitment to follow God's law.
Ezra's commitment to living and teaching the law reminds us of the importance of devoting ourselves to knowing, understanding, and living out God's Word. This opens our lives to God's transformative work through His truth and the power of the Holy Spirit who conforms us into the image of Jesus. Through our study of God's Word, we also realize our absolute need for Him. God's Word reveals our sin and reminds us that we are incapable of saving ourselves. Because of God's faithful love, He sent His Son to take our sin upon Himself so that we can be forgiven and receive eternal salvation.
Ezra’s ministry reminds us of the power of Scripture to transform lives. God's Word reveals our sin, leads us to repentance, and shows us the way to restoration.
Let’s pray, Thank You, Lord, for speaking to us through Your Word. Help us grow in understanding as we read the Bible. Give us the desire to obey You and follow You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Family Discussion Questions:
How can we respond when we sin?
- [Parent prompt] When we sin, we should be quick to confess our sin to God, turn away from sin, and turn to God. The Bible tells us that if we confess our sins to God, He will forgive us and make us clean (1 John 1:9).
Who helps you understand God’s Word?
- [Parent prompt] God places godly people in our lives to help us understand His Word, such as parents, church leaders, pastors, and even our friends. Encourage kids to see how going to church offers believers a community to study and know God’s Word better. Through the church, believers can encourage each other to grow more like Jesus as they study His Word, pray together, and serve one another.
Why did God want the people to celebrate?
- [Parent prompt] God wants us to celebrate His mercy and kindness in our lives. While sin should grieve us, we can also rejoice in God’s salvation, knowing His mercy is greater than our sin.
Christ Connection
- Babies & Toddlers: Jesus taught and obeyed God’s Word, died for our sins, and came back to life to rescue us.
- Younger Preschool: Like Ezra, Jesus also taught people about God’s rules. But Jesus did even more! He obeyed all of God’s rules perfectly, died for our sins, and came back to life.
- Older Preschool: Ezra taught the people about God’s rules. Jesus also taught about God’s rules, but Jesus did even more—He followed all of God’s laws perfectly, died for our sins, and came back to life!
- Kids: Ezra taught God’s law, and the people recognized their sin. Jesus came to fulfill the law and gives us power to turn away from sin through His death and resurrection. Through faith in Jesus, our hearts are changed so we can love and obey God.
Check out Gospel Project At Home for weekly family Discipleship tools!
(Content by Lifeway Christian Resources, link here)
Resource Info
